March Miserableness

Well, this was a rather interesting week.  First off, Steve’s back pain has continued to be an issue.   He had his first physical therapy appointment on Thursday and the therapist believes it is his femoral nerve starting in the back and going down the inside of his left leg.  This makes sense as, for months, he has had slight pain and discomfort in his inner left leg and Ben-gay and over the counter pain meds have sort-of kept it in check.  Meanwhile, early in the week, the back pain was getting worse and worse to the point that he was unable to sleep.  He would rotate from bed to couch to recliner all night in search of a comfortable position.  He would rotate Excederin and ibuprofen and Ben-gay and Blue Imu salves and nothing would help.  Between Tuesday and Wednesday night, he got maybe two hours total sleep with occasional cat naps during the day when his body just got so exhausted.  So, FINALLY, on Thursday, with a blessing from Steven and lots of family prayers, and an e-mail to the doctor, he turned a corner.  He got a prescription for a muscle relaxant that enables him to sleep.  He will see PT twice a week for a month, at least, and he has daily exercises to do at home.  He still has pain but, with a good night’s sleep, he is able to deal with it. 

Last Sunday, we celebrated Tamara’s birthday.  She didn’t want a cake – she wanted homemade pecan praline ice cream.  Yum!  

 

 

Here is a photo of our houseguest last weekend, Derek Ellingson.  It was so good to see him.

 

I pruned the grapes Monday and made three grapevine wreaths with them.  I have given two away and have one left – anyone want it?  Spring has come earlier this year and I have been anxious to spray the fruit trees for fungus and pests but with predicted rain all week, and strong southern breezes, I was thwarted.  At last, on Wednesday morning, I was able to take care of that chore.  Steve ordered three hybrid raspberry plants that arrived Thursday so he supervised my planting of them Friday morning.  I bought and painted a birdhouse to add to the other three we have outside.   

 We got our taxes finished and it was not too bleak.  Whew.  I am continuing to sew quilt tops and watching movies:  Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, the final episode of Downton Abby (LOVED IT!), and Pawn Sacrifice (a sad story of Bobby Fischer).  Saturday afternoon, I went to my last pottery class for a while – at least until May.  Speaking of quilt tops, anyone recognize the critters I appliqued on this quilt?  Remember that I made stuffed toys from this very design over twenty years ago?  

 

 

We had an older single adult get-together at Bob Evans yesterday morning.  Here we all are.

 

Aaron and Laura got married

 The biggest event of this past week happened yesterday.  Aaron Howard married Laura Williams in the Kansas City temple.  The event by itself was joyous enough but, because both parties touched so many lives, it became a reunion, too.  Two former Young Men leaders who have moved away returned to Missouri – David and Heather Brockbank, who now live in Lehi, Utah came and Derek Ellingson flew all the way from Alaska for the event!  He actually missed his flight so he couldn’t make the temple ceremony but he arrived in time for the reception.  He is staying with us, actually, until he flies home Monday.  Both Aaron and Laura have lived in the Columbia Stake long enough that friends from all over mid-Missouri were present to celebrate.  It was great to visit with so many of them.  Sadly, Aaron’s mother was not there but I know she was celebrating in heaven.  Steve performed the ring ceremony at the start of the reception.  That was nice.  And the delicious dinner was 100% gluten-free (well, not the rolls.  BUT, if I had wanted bread, they had gluten-free available).  Right down to the cupcakes.  I was VERY happy. 

Steve and I drove to the Kansas City temple early so we could attend a temple session and we brought along Betty McKinley.  She is such a trooper – willing to leave at 5:30 in the morning and drive all that way and back. 

The next biggest event of the week is Steve’s health.  He has been dealing with another sinus infection and then a pain in his lower back – off to the left side – that also affects his left knee.  But, Tuesday night, some scrapes he got down his shin from our Monday morning bike ride started to send shooting pains that were really acute.  Combine all these aches and he has not been able to sleep well.  He finally went to see the doctor on Thursday and got more antibiotics for the sinus infection and the shin pain and an x-ray for the back.  I feel so badly for him because I still sleep like a log and am so healthy.  I’d really like to enjoy a few years of healthy retirement before we both start to fall apart! 

Otherwise, it was a regular week.  I’m sewing quilt squares together for Laura and watching more “Enterprise” (I am on the final season).  Steve, Elise, and I all watched “Leap Year” Monday night.  (well, Steve dozed through it but, considering his sleep deprivation, I don’t blame him)

Nothing really new

I really have nothing much to write about this week.....

I went visiting teaching
The broken left passenger door on the truck was fixed.  I hope it was worth it (meaning the truck lasts another year or two to justify the expense)
I had MMCO and Easter Cantata rehearsals
I watched all three of the Star Wars prequels while sewing quilt tops.  I am not using anything of my own but I am using random quilt square collections that Laura Jost had.  Most likely these were quilting projects begun and never finished by whoever and eventually, they get put into the piles of fabric that gets donated to Laura.  Some are just squares of fabric.  Some are actual pieced quilt squares.  The Star Wars prequels are tedious - too many battle and/or chase scenes, painful acting, excessively weird creatures.  They do have fantastic, imaginative worlds, though. 
I watched White Nights.  Still a good movie.
Elise and I are thoroughly enjoying this last season of Downton Abby!
I went to pottery.  I threw five pieces.  And cleaned three.  I was on a roll, for sure....
I pruned apple and peach trees yesterday
I prepared the talk I am to give today

Kind of an odd week

Well, weather, health, and one-time events all combined last week to alter our RRR or regular, retirement routine.  First, the weather at the first of the week was bitterly cold.  But, by Thursday, we had temperatures in the high 60's and low 70's for three days straight!  When the temperatures are so low, we have decided bike riding is out of the plan.  But, by the time we had the nice weather, I had come down with a cold so the last part of the week we were on a bare-bones schedule so I could get as much rest as I could.  I substituted in seminary Tuesday and Wednesday mornings which always throws us out of sync.  And, I taught a food storage class in Relief Society Thursday evening so I cancelled my lessons that evening.  We decided to go to St. Louis Friday afternoon and that cancelled all of my Friday lessons.  Oh, and my one Wednesday lesson cancelled.  I didn't teach cello lessons for three days! 

Steve and I watched Noah, Lucy, and Quinn Friday night so Emily and Joe could have a date.  We went to the 8:00 am temple session on Saturday morning and after that, I was set apart as an ordinance worker.  Steve, because of his calling in the stake presidency, cannot be an ordinance worker but he will still do other types of work in the temple (desk, baptistry, etc) when I am there.  We really cannot start until after April due to previous commitments on most of the Saturdays up to the first of May (and Saturdays are when they need the most workers, apparently) but then we will be at the temple twice a month. 

I went to pottery class Saturday afternoon where I cleaned up a large bowl and a vase, threw two plates and another large bowl and I picked up these six pieces I glazed the week before. 



Saturday evening was a Civic Orchestra concert - the theme was Slavic dance music and it was really fun to perform.  Steve, Steven, and Elise came.  I am now going to start attending Easter cantata choir rehearsals Tuesday nights so this was my last CCO concert for this season. 

Elise took this photo during intermission.  She had not been in the Missouri Theater since its complete renovation.  It is so beautiful.

Happy Valentine's Day!

It was a quiet week here at the Lambsons.  Sarah continued to recover – getting stronger daily. 

 She had her post-surgery doctor visit on Thursday and her staples were removed and she graduated from lifting 10 pounds to 25 pounds.  She started driving that day and we took walks with Bones that afternoon and on Friday.  She moved back into her apartment Friday night.  I figure she will still get tired easily for a couple more weeks but otherwise, she is “just like new”. 

It has been REALLY cold all week and Steve has been fighting a cold (as well as the cold) so bike-riding has been put on hold for now.  We have managed to walk the dogs each day – much to their delight.  But, for the most part, they have been content to hunker down with their humans in the warm house.

It is a good thing I have projects to do to make the bleak months of January and February go faster.  I finally finished a project I started last year – my wool felting attempt.  Here are the little purses I made from the felt that has been sitting at the bottom of my project basked for months!  I started them while watching grandkids last week and finished last night.  

 

You can’t see but they have a zipper on top and a lining inside.  My sister, Juli, gave me a similar felt purse a few years ago that I used as a pattern.  I got the cute owl and dog appliques from a friend who was purging some of her scrap-booking supplies. 

Laura Jost, our stake humanitarian project coordinator, has sent me home with a bunch of quilting projects that should keep me busy for a few weeks, at least.  And, my pottery class continues – I glazed six pots yesterday.  Can’t wait to see how they turn out!  I am going to attempt to make a plate next time  - and a few more large bowls.  Maybe even a pitcher!

Our ward had a Valentine breakfast yesterday morning.  We were all supposed to come in our pajamas.  Well, most of the adults did NOT come so dressed.  I felt a little awkward in my lamb p.j.'s  Here is Melanie in her matching pair along with Elise giving me the stink-eye

   We shared a table with the Davis family.  Violet, in the middle, is the one I had lunch with a few weeks back.

Love and Hugs to all on this Valentine's Day.....

 

The rest of the story....

At the first of the week, it was very much in the air as to when Noah and Sarah would be well enough to be released.  Steve and I drove to St. Louis Sunday afternoon to visit Noah and he was still not very perky.  And Sarah was dealing with a great deal of post-surgery pain.  Monday and Tuesday we spent a lot of time driving back and forth to University Hospital to be with her.  Happily, Noah turned a corner Monday and he came home from the hospital on Tuesday.  Sarah was still having pain episodes but she came home late Wednesday night and she is staying with us until she is able to drive.  Bones rejoined his person on Friday.  And, even though it might seem incongruous, Emily left Wednesday morning for a long-planned trip to Hawaii to visit Beckie.  But, it was all good because Noah was home and doing great and I had been planning to watch the grandkids all along.  

 
Steve took me to St. Louis to take care of the grandkids that morning and I had a wonderful time with Noah, Lucy and Quinn for three days. 

 Fiona helped me unpack....She is so adorable!

We didn't do much - Noah didn't return to school until Friday morning and then, it was for just half of the day.  Lucy had her pre-school Wednesday and Thursday.  The boys and I watched Despicable Me 2 Thursday morning while she was gone.  We watched the volcano DVD Steve and I bought while we were in Hawaii....several times.   I worked on projects in the morning while the kids played.

do you see Quinn up in the corner?

 
 Lucy enjoyed play-dough Friday morning

I napped and returned to working on projects every afternoon while the kids slept.  I caught up on Downton Abby and Enterprise-season 3.  Cooking was pretty easy since the refrigerator was still full of left-overs from kind ward members.  I returned home Friday evening. 

I believe I had the easier load as Sarah's recuperation has definitely had it's ups and downs since being home.  She is doing better today and Steve and I went to her apartment this morning to fetch some of her things.  I expect she will be here through the week.  She has a follow-up doctor's appointment this Thursday. 

I went to my third pottery class yesterday afternoon.  It is just so much fun!  I cleaned three pieces and threw these two pieces:

The last week of January

Wow, the last week of January was a DOOZY!  It started out calm enough. 
Ricky Remus installed some new lights for us in the sports room and the kitchen.  Steve and I were tired of the old florescent light fixtures - the ones that use the long skinny tubes - in those rooms.  The one in the sports room had become quite finicky and it was never certain, when the light switch was turned on, if there would be full light or the dim half-light that occurs from a bad bulb or ballast.  Evidently, the ballast was really bad - starting to leak? - so good thing we had it replaced. 
Here are the new lights:


 

 At some point we will need to paint the ceiling, I guess....

Lizzy and I took Violet out to lunch at Bob Evans on Wednesday.  Violet turned 91 this month and we wanted to celebrate.   

Sarah was our server.  She was at work even though she was in pain.  Tuesday morning, around 3:30, we were awakened by her in our bedroom.  She had driven over from her apartment wanting a Priesthood blessing from Steve because of the extreme back pain she was experiencing.  The blessing helped a little.  She went to see a chiropractor on Tuesday where he got her medical history, took an X-ray, but did no treatments.  An appointment was made on Thursday for that!  Frustrating. 
 Here she is Tuesday trying to rest.  Sadie and Bones are helping :)

 Wednesday, at the restaurant, she was still in pain but had to work.  Thursday, the pain was now in her chest and stomach and intense enough that she went to Urgent Care where they did a chest and stomach X-ray and took blood work.  Didn't give her anything for the pain, really didn't do anything else!  She had to open at Bob Evans Friday morning but got someone to cover for her at 8:00 so she was sitting at our dining room table eating something when the Urgent Care doctor finally called her to tell her to come back for a CT scan.  Then, in the late afternoon, she had an ultra sound.  She and Bones were hanging out with her work friend, Emily, in the meantime.  FINALLY, after the ultrasound, the doctor called her to send her to the ER for a surgeon to examine her!  And, we finally had a diagnosis - a gall bladder that would likely need to be taken out.  That happened Saturday morning and, it was so inflamed that they had to remove it surgically rather than laparoscopically.  It took 4 hours.  Here she is post-surgery



In the meantime, in St. Louis, Noah started to vomit Wednesday night.  Since Lucy had strep, and had thrown up, it was just assumed he also had strep.  He went to the doctor Thursday and, sure enough, it was.  Check out Quinn in the background - what a mischief maker!

 

Only, Noah's stomach pain continued through Thursday and, by the middle of the night (early Friday morning), Emily and Noah were on their way to the ER and, turns out, he had a bad appendix!  And they took it out Friday.  



A small amount of the inflamed appendix perforated so Noah had to stay in the hospital a little longer than usual to get IV antibiotics. 

Stay tuned for the next blog for the rest of the story....