The JuJu Bean Christensen

My Brainy-girl is hyperthyroid. I will pick up medicine for her tomorrow.
For the next two weeks, I am to give it to her 2x a day, then she has her follow-up for her wound and this. Her willingness to take this medicine, determines if she will need to make alternate choices. Either way, this requires frequent blood work, which requires frequent vet visits. It can, long-term, develop in to chronic kidney disease. Nooo! Not that, again.

What is interesting, lately I find myself watching them and feeling sad that one day they will die and I will miss them. Most of all, they will have to be my last. My health and age are not good enough to eventually rescue another animal. I will miss this kind of companionship.

Yesterday, Cozy had a vet appointment and this morning Brainy had her annual wellness visit. Ironically, my (Medicare) annual visit is this Friday. We’re all getting a tune up 😽

Both are well. Cozy did not need major ear surgery. No polyps were found. Some ear debris was cleaned and his nails trimmed. He is on hydrolyzed food for the next 2 months to see if it helps with his chronic yeast and the itchiness it causes.

Brainy is also well. She’s 14. She has a sore on her left back leg. Probably from getting nicked when she was outside. Connie is right. She mentioned she thought Brainy had a slight limp. Nothing infected or serious, but as a precaution, she needs a topical ointment for the next 2 weeks, then a recheck. No signs of fleas or ticks. She has 2 back teeth that need to be removed within the next 3 months.
Her nails are trimmed and she is microchipped. She is playing with a toy mouse.

We continue to have frost warnings. I did not move seedlings outside over Mother’s Day weekend. Mostly likely I will plant them the end of this month. I just started seeds for summer vegetables. Everything is late, but better late than never.
It’s 56 degrees, cloudy and spits rain in between the sun’s peekaboo behavior. Back in February this was considered warm. Today, it’s “chilly” I packed my slicker, my winter coat, a spring jacket, a sweater, a short-sleeved shirt, shoes, socks and sandals, shorts or capris, a scarf, gloves, a hat, umbrella, sunscreen, sunglasses, water, tea and coffee, a swim suit and beach towel, so I can dress for today 😄😄😄 Typical Michigander humor.

The wind has been bad enough that most of the tulip petals were blown away. I think we enjoyed 3. The Lilacs are in full blown, and smell amazing. The trees have leaves. The Japanese Maples are gorgeous.
The Iris’, alliums and peonies have tiny buds. The Lily of the Valley have small blooms. Usually they are in full bloom.
I am delaying planting dahlias, sedum, zinnias, marigolds, and herbs because of the cold, and the summer vegetable seeds. I just planted those this week. It will be several weeks between growing and hardening the plants before they can go outside. It will be an interesting growing season.

I return to outpatient rehabilitation, tomorrow. That’s 1-1/2 hours 2x week for at least 8 weeks.
Neurology is sure I am not experiencing post stroke seizures, epilepsy, or uncontrolled movement (TKD), which is good news, but not certain what is causing the tremors; possibly fatigue or cold, but will get better and resolve itself as I gain strength and the season gets warmer. It will feel nice when I can leave the house without a walker and/or cane, “just in case. “

Hope everyone enjoyed their Mother’s Day weekend.

That went better than expected.

My podiatrist mentioned my health must be getting better because my toes are growing faster. I’ll see her every 8 weeks instead if 10. She also mentioned my calluses were better and not as deep. Well, that because I have been better about using foot masks pumice and coconut oil.

For my toes that are curling due to arthritis, she makes a homemade soft ‘splint’? It fits over my 2 toes and keeps them from curling. No pain. No stiffness.

My broken right toe has not hurt in a while. I see that podiatrist Thursday morning. Having a boot cast from some long ago injury helped to keep the toe isolated, distribute weight and balance.

Later, in the afternoon, I saw my ophthalmologist. The fluid behind my left eye is gone. The fluid behind my right eye is significantly decreased. This is due to diabetes. I do not have to be referred to a retina specialist.
My vision can be improved to 20/20 vision in both eyes with a new eyewear prescription so, I do not cataract surgery at the end of this year, more like, 2-3 years.

It’s a win.

It’s cool, windy sunny day. No rain or flurries. Lots of green coming up, including ‘w**ds’, buggers. The peonies, alliums and Lily of the valley are coming up as the daffodils and narcissuses are fading. The tulips are budding The trees are starting to get buds, including the Forsythia and Lilacs. The red bud trees are blooming. I saw a dogwood in bloom.

Unfortunately, the gout w**d is coming back with a venegeance. Sometime this week or weekend I need to use vinegar homemade w**d killer, lay down cardboard and cover with leaves; mulch, then use barrier fabric and cut holes for the daffodils, narcissus, dwarf hyacinths tulips and dahlias. Spread compost and new top soil so I scatter delphinium seeds. It shouldn’t be too much work, it’s simply laying down and spreading stuff, but what should take less than day will be a day or two, or three 😀

I had a short-lived hand seizure activity at the ophthalmologist . I do not garden without proper shoes, gloves and a cane. Gaylene found a wheelie and a wheelbarrow to help move things around, and My OT always ends therapy asking me what’s too heavy or tall for and he takes care of it.Jingles adores him. She barks when he arrives and leaves. It’s obligatory for a chihuahua, but she settles herself in his lap in between.

The squirrels are frisky, keeping Jingles busy. Bird watching has become a favorite activity for the cats, keeping them busy. Every day is a little different. We have several Maple trees volunteers. It’s time to trim branches around the address sign.

I did 4 loads of laundry between yesterday and today, took back some recycles and vacuumed the car. I still need wash it. I’m done for the day.

I have dialysis tomorrow. Nothing will get done, except a nap, and that is ok.

And now, while it is on my mind, I need to get a towel to clean muddy, wet paws when they come back inside. I keep forgetting. I’m off. Enjoy your week.love all of you ❣️

What will Mother Nature do today?

20 minutes down the road , where Connie is, it rained this morning and flurried at noon. Drizzled around 3, when I left. Windy the whole day, but it is sunny at home. It’s a pretty drive, not too far down the road from Portage lake, and on your way to Hell (MI) and Paradise (MI), maybe 30 and 50 minutes from WellBridge.

Connie is back in rehabilitation. Her goal is to be able to stand and walk to be able to come home safely. If, after a few weeks to a month, she can’t, then we will have to consider assisted living.
This is her second time at this facility. It’s a nice place and, and so far, the nursing staff , techs and activity’s are real nice. Because she is often incontinent, they automatically clean and change her every 4 hours until she can stand and walk to the bathroom.

She is able to do PT and OT reclined in her bed and sitting up, whether it’s on the side of her bed or in a wheelchair, like we do at home.
Her actual therapy appointments are in the PT room.
2pm is definitely her nap time, but it’s my nap time, too.

My home therapy ends next Friday, then I go back to outpatient at Team Rehabilitation.

I’ve given up,temporarily, cleaning the yard. When Mother Nature decides which season she wants, then I will clean up again. There is no damage to the buildings or cars. The potholes are minimal. No danger.

The cooler weather plants are fine. As one member of a gardening group said, “broccoli laughs at 28 degrees.” Most summer vegetables are planted or transplanted Mother’s Day weekend.

My 3-day EEG did not show abnormal activity. I tremor when I’m fatigued. I had 1 seizure-like activity. I see neurology next week.

This past week and weekend I’ve been trying to keep up with laundry and keeping the pets paws clean, though, lately, the cats have not been interested being outside beyond the porches, or not at all.

The only meal planning I have done in the last week is put make a chicken and broccoli casserole, a vegetable soup and I thawed a cabbage soup, which was tasty and warm. I’ll leave with your knowledge and imagination how my gut reacted. I was never uncomfortable or bloated, so it was a bit startling. It scared Jingles 😲😂🤪

May your April showers bring May flowers 🌹🪻🌷🌻🌼💐