Headache, sore throat, body ache, etc.

          Richard’s birthday is October 3.  Every year around his birthday or sometimes not until before Thanksgiving he will catch a cold that will seemingly linger more each year.  This year happened within a few weeks after his birthday.  He happened to be in San Diego at the time.  He picked up a cold!  I told him NOT to bring it home.  But he did.  First he shared it with our youngest son and brought it home to me.  Oh, gee.

         Cold symptoms effect different people in different ways.  For me, it was like getting hit by a MACK truck – not that I’ve ever really been hit by a MACK truck mind you.  I just imagine that is partially how it would feel.  Like every tissue and organ within your body has felt the weight of heaviness smacking into it until it is too weak to function on its own. 

         I asked Richard to bring the walker from the shed just so I could use it to support myself as I slowly maneuvered myself from the bed to the toilet – moaning in pain.  For a few brief moments I had considered that it could be COVID but overall I felt too weak to even care.  I certainly wasn’t about to leave the comforts of home to maybe possibly be tested.  That was Monday. Richard (though he still has a nasty cough) waited on me hand and foot.  And kept me drugged.  Niquil, Dayquil, Alka-selzer whatever.  I am misspelling those drug names?  I feel like I am.  I continued to remained drugged – not that I wasn’t far from disoriented without them.

         I hadn’t gone to Church on Sunday – neither of us had.  But I did attend a meeting that I probably shouldn’t have.  But I felt much better Tuesday and yesterday – not enough to attend the luncheon  I don’t think Richard should have either.  I feel better today than yesterday but do tend to hack up phlegm if I have to talk – which I am trying so hard not to do.  But I do want to play games with Jaime – who must think I sound like Darth Vader.  But I am getting better.  I feel better.  I have ditched my walker.   I doubt I have COVID. I’m certain that Richard doesn’t have it.  Still he could have brought it home.

         I’m grateful for modern day medicines and technology.  I’m grateful for restored health.

Oh, The Beautiful Sound of Rain!

        Though I am certain there are many who would not agree with the title of this post, particularly those who have been affected by Irma and Harvey. Even my brother who had planned on taking his husband to see the gardens in Victoria after selling Joh's art in Washington 

but took the rain as an opportunity to rest and visit with family rather than spend yet another day driving.   For those of us who have been surrounded by smoke and fires, it has been a desired gift for some time.  Hopefully more fires will be put out, much of the smoke has already cleared.  I know it will help with my breathing, my poor dry skin, and my balance. 

        I actually hadn't considered my balance before, but have been fighting off ear infections in my right ear.  That would be related to my balance, right?  Sometime after Roland and I had moved to West Valley, I started having issues with my balance.  My theory was low ceilings and lack of ventilation had contributed to my instability of movement.  Of course, the balance thing was even a greater challenge when I felt distorted whenever I’d first wake up or because of the tremendous amount of sinus infections I would experience (all in the West Valley house; I have not experienced that degree before or since)

        After my dad had had a series of strokes and was unstable on his feet, we had purchased him a tall cane and then a tall walker.  He must have been bent over when using the walker though, as I can reach my arms out at a comfortable position and I don’t have to bend     After we had cleaned out my mom’s house, Patrick ended up taking my dad’s walker.  Apparently, he also had the one that had belonged to my maternal grandma but I did not know that at the time.

        Because of my instability to move around during the night (because I drink a lot of water and my bladder is not as large as it used to be) I asked him if I could have the walker and started using it not long after my mom had passed away.  That’s when I realized he had two walkers as he had given me both as he thought dad’s might be too tall for me. 

        Oh, like a really could have used grandma’s!  I don’t even remember her being that short!  She must have really been hunched over!  I don’t even think that thing came up to my knees!  I think that is seriously the tiniest walker I have ever seen. .  What is it with getting such short walkers to assist with the walking.  I don't recall many walker users who haven't ended up leaning over and creating an even greater problem with their deformed backs as they had with their unstable legs.  But that's beside the point.

        We brought dad’s walker with us to Oregon.  I had no need for it when we were living in the first house we had rented.  I never felt distorted or unbalanced and hadn’t used it for over two years now.  But I have recently started using it again.  Ever since our trip to Medford.

        I think if we had a vehicle that rides high up – like a truck – where I have my legs bent at the knee in a dinner-chair-seated position, it might not be an issue.  But long rides with my leg in a straight or semi-bent is too much hard on my right leg.  I noticed that before we arrived in Medford last month that my right leg was really hurting.

        I believe I could have done without the assistance of the walker this morning.  I no longer feel distorted.  My hair feels soft again and so I think the rest of me will be feeling better like how I was meant to feel - our entire purpose of moving to Oregon.  I'm very grateful for the rain.  Overall, I really love this time of year.  Still missing my Utah family.  I know that coming to Oregon was/is the right move for me.  Now that we've had a wonderful rain, I can breathe again.