Common Ground Coffee House #116

[Friend of God]

Good Afternoon Everybody,

Sorry I've been missing in action for so long, but things have been a bit disorganized around here lately.

Brenda's been in the hospital for a week with a Migraine headache that they can't get to break. Poor Girl is really hurting too. Can't get the pain level any lower than a "7" on the pain scale, and today it was back up to around 8 to 9. Her Neurologist saw her today, and hopefully, will be able to help her get over this.

Since Brenda's been in the hospital the daily childcare and cooking schedule has gone right out the window.Which helps to explain why I haven't visited here much lately.

I'm supposed to see the same Neurologist Brenda has this thursday about my left hand which still shakes like a maracha, however; we are bracing for a major winter storm here starting tonight and going thru Wednesday. The Weather Pros are predicting anywhere between 12-14 inches of snow for us, with some ice mixed in. Supposed to have blizzard-like conditions here on Tuesday and Wednesday. We'll see, but if the driving is as hazardous as is predicted I'll probably re-schedule the Neurologist. Not worth wrecking the car and possibly me over.

Hope everybody is well, and safe and sound.

 

[annsni]

Poor Brenda!! I'll be praying that she gets some relief really soon and will be home with you guys. I'm so sorry!! Also, please be safe in this weather! It's been crazy!

Well, I've been sick too. I'm on week 8.5 now of this stupid asthmatic bronchitis and I'll be seeing the doctor again next Monday if I'm not better this week (don't expect to be). I'm on Symbicort and I'm not sure if it's working or not but I guess it's not since it's getting worse. OY!! So I'm a little like Sue - stuck inside most of the time. I can go out but am trying to severely limit it so that I'm not out in that freezing cold, dry air that we're having now.

 

[menageriekeeper]

Let's make it 3 in a row.

I had an MRI done this morning. I've had a "catch" in my back since Christmas. An odd catch since it hurt on the right side when I lifted something with my left side. When it simply wouldn't go away I went to the doc and while she was doing x-rays of my back, I had her also do xrays of my neck where I already knew I had two bad discs.

Well now I have 3 bad discs and apparently they are the cause of my "catch". My doc is not exactly happy with the idea that I've had this going on so long without treating it. (though what they can do for degenerative disc disease excepting surgery is beyond me) She wasn't the doc that originally diagnosed me and told me to "go live life until the pain gets bothersome". Advice I have followed, of course. The MRI is to ensure that I don't need surgery. I'm not in that much pain, I don't need surgery. I do need what pain I am in to stop, as I have work to do and at the moment movement=pain and sitting still=no/little pain + extreme boredom.

Anyhow.

At least I'm not facing more snow! Cold and wet I can deal with. Snow would not make me happy.

 

[Melanie]

Been catching up with the family in Queensland....they were saying I am so glad I don't live in wobbly New Zealand, and I am saying well, we don't have torrential monsoonal rains,floods,cyclones and bushfires.

The cyclone crossed into Queensland at the preferred entry port, and Cairns copped a real hiding, power out and female relations FORCED to consume icecream melting away to nothing. No power and water out for a bit. The Tully crowd are up for new roofs again and the banana crop has been destroyed.

Melbourne has been getting flooded....this is very unusual. Brisbane is getting back to normal.

So where does all the water go....any natural world buffs should keep an eye out for Lake Eyre in South Australia...usually a salt pan but will be the epicentre of a huge population explosion in bird and animal life and the desert will bloom...

 

[Friend of God]

Good Morning Everybody,

Brought Brenda home on Sunday. It took two nerve blocks to relieve the Migraine Pain she had. She's home but she still tires easily. Thanks for your prayers everybody.

We got about 10 inches of snow from the Groundhog Day Storm, so it took us awhile to dig out.

Things are slowly starting to approach normal around here again, or as normal as it ever gets that is.

Brenda requested a Roast Beef dinner for tonight so I've got to start getting the ingredients ready.

Will check back in when I can.

 

[menageriekeeper]

Good Morning everyone!

Just a quick post before I get back to work.

After a couple of weeks of sorta consistant meds and figuring out how much/how often I could take them and live with my poor stomach, I feel almost human again! It goes against the grain to take every day meds, but appears I am at the point of no longer having a choice. bleck. The doc and I have an appointment the first of March to discuss things. bleck again.

So, I am making hay while the sun shines, evidently. In the last 3 days I have altered or hemmed (or both) 3 pageant dresses, replaced a half dozen zippers, hemmed a couple of pair of pants, gone to church!(for the first time since Christmas. I've been unable to sit for that long for 6 weeks now!), AND I spent all day helping a friend to clean out her garage in preparation for her turning it into a sewing room. She may never ask me to help clean out again. That garage is quite clean however!

All of that is on top of the regular housecleaning (which is done) and doing school with the kids (all weekend long since we were a little behind because we've all been sick).

Today I have another pageant dress to hem before I load up and go to my friend's shop to see what damag--I mean work, I can find there. She is entirely behind and has two big pageants to get dresses ready for. Then a local dance studio wants me there at 7 to pin up clogging costumes.

Yep! It must be almost spring! (spring and fall are my busiest times for alterations)

Ya'll stay warm with this cold air that is attacking us. My weather man claims it'll be spring by Saturday, though we have to freeze until then and may just get some more white stuff to go with the cold air!

Cuz, I'm glad Brenda finally got some relief! You are a good man to be so understanding!

Melanie, that is interesting about the salt pan. I'm thinking my kids might need a science lesson based on your Lake Eyre. Don't suppose you have any local links (local to you) that will watch the happenings in real time? We like doing science that involves current events (two subjects in one, science and social studies ya know?)

 

[annsni]

Hey all! Things are quiet here in NY. No bad weather in days - we've actually had a full stretch of sun!! It's amazing! AND - get this - I see some GRASS!!! Considering we've had literally tons of snow, this is incredible. It's the first time we've seen grass since Christmas Day. I even went for a walk outside yesterday and it was lovely.

Other than that, we're working hard on getting a new church website put together. Hubby put this one together a few years ago and it's been working great but now with the two new church campuses, we need a better working site. So he and I have been working on that today.

Rob - I'm so glad Brenda is home and I pray that this migraine thing will ease up for her. I know how bad migraines can be and to get them that bad is horrible.

 

[abcgrad94]

Menageriekeeper, did you know that JoAnn Fabrics is having a sewing contest? It's for teens making a prom dress. My oldest wanted to enter the contest, but the rules state the dress must be worn to a dance--and that isn't going to happen for my homeschooled 14-year old. You might want to check it out if you know of anyone who might be interested.

Today I saw my first spring robin. It was hopping along our snow-dusted driveway, scratching for food. I hope this is a sign we'll have an early spring.

 

[Karen]

Heat wave here! It has warmed up about 50 degrees in the last 5-6 hours.
It was -27 F here, an all time record for Oklahoma. Now it is up in the balmy 20's.

 

[menageriekeeper]

Well, just when I say we aren't facing snow, FOUR inches of it falls! :laugh:

Oh wait, this is Alabama. Snow this morning, gone by afternoon! Seriously. It is almost all melted away already. By Sunday, we'll be in the 60's. Not quite fair for all of you that are still in the path of the storm.

ABC, I'll check out the JoAnn's contest. We have a homeschool prom here that is put on by several of the church schools that sponser homeschooling. Don't know about the dancing, but they do call it a prom. To bad you don't have something similar up your way.

 

[annsni]

It's pretty normal around here for winter time - low 30s. Our snow is melting though!! All those feet of snow and I can see a little grass out the back door now.

Wanna see something cute? This is my son doing his homeschooling today. Realize the house is 67 degrees.

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/182621_10150096997407385_693967384_6697233_258339_s.jpg

 

[abcgrad94]

Ann, is your son really that cold or just being dramatic? LOL!

Tonight's dinner is slow-cooked pot roast, potatoes, carrots, and celery. The house smells so good.

 

[annsni]

Ann, is your son really that cold or just being dramatic? LOL!

Tonight's dinner is slow-cooked pot roast, potatoes, carrots, and celery. The house smells so good.

I asked him why he dressed that way. He said he likes to wear his snuggie and went to get it but then he saw his hat. Both are cammo so he ran and got his cammo slippers to be "covered in cammo". As he was sitting doing his work he realized he had cammo gloves as well so got those. He thought it was fun - but then he overheated. Now he just has on his slippers and his snuggie although the snuggie is even off his shoulders. LOL So no, he wasn't really cold.

 

[menageriekeeper]

That's hilarious, Ann. My kids loved to dress up when they were his age!

 

[abcgrad94]

I asked him why he dressed that way. He said he likes to wear his snuggie and went to get it but then he saw his hat. Both are cammo so he ran and got his cammo slippers to be "covered in cammo".

Oh the ever-lovin' snuggi. Ugh! I HATE those things. A friend gave my dd2 one and it's such a pain. You can't hang it up, it takes too much drawer space, and it won't fold flat to store with the other blankets. Of course she refuses to part with the thing. I tried to give it to Goodwill but she caught me. One of these days. . .

 

[annsni]

Oh the ever-lovin' snuggi. Ugh! I HATE those things. A friend gave my dd2 one and it's such a pain. You can't hang it up, it takes too much drawer space, and it won't fold flat to store with the other blankets. Of course she refuses to part with the thing. I tried to give it to Goodwill but she caught me. One of these days. . .

All 4 of my children have one. They tend to fold it and store it on the foot of their bed.

 

[Melanie]

Had a fabulous day in Napier yesterday with glorious sunny weather. Napier had a particulary wretched day in the 1930s where it was shattered by a very nasty earthquake, then a firestorm from the resulting chaos, then a sunami drenched the seaside town.

Because of the Depression which badly affected New Zealand, there was ample labour and charitable concern which saw Napier rise again in the glory of the Art Deco and Spanish Mission style popular then.

The revival in popularity of Art Deco has meant enthusiasts were able to influence the council to paint in Deco colours the many buildings intact. Every year the town has an Art Deco Weekend and wow it is fabulous.

I tootled over from Wanganui (a 3.5 hour drive). There were vintage vehicles and my favourite...steam traction engines, jazz bands, a surprise for me...aerial acrobatics by aeroplanes and a biplane. But the best thing was so many people cossied up in period costume....families with kiddies, couples etc. What a blast, I shall go again next year hopefully in costume myself.:type:

 

[dcorbett]

sure quiet around here.....:sleep:

 

[annsni]

It really is! I forgot about it!!

Lauren is in for surgery right now. I'm in the family waiting room. She went in around 7:30 and the doctor said it should be 3-4 hours. I'll keep everyone posted!

 

[dcorbett]

It really is! I forgot about it!!

Lauren is in for surgery right now. I'm in the family waiting room. She went in around 7:30 and the doctor said it should be 3-4 hours. I'll keep everyone posted!

So glad to hear she is out of surgery (via other posts) and I am praying for her pain to subside. We can all sit around in here, sipping our coffee, and keep you company!! :1_grouphug: