Sunday afternoon lazy thoughts ...

Found this in my phone after one of the granddaughters had been playing on there. LOL -- made me smile ... made me want to just grab them both up and hug them and hold them close always!!! 
Wonder if that is how God feels when I tell Him how good I think He is? 

This has been a very trying week to us ... some good ... some not so good ... and some? Just bad (at least in our little world, by our own standards, BAD.) ... 
Yes, we have survived to another day ... the beginning of another week. Thank you Lord. 

Rick had 3 PT appointments this week - and thankfully, he was able to make and keep them all. Jeff (therapist) is not pleased with his strength in the shoulder. Passive strength and range of motion? Very pleased. But overall strength? No. Jeff said that Rick should be much farther along in the healing. 
We have not heard on the MRI that Dr. Devinney requested. I will call tomorrow to see if his office has heard anything. Dr. Devinney wants to see how the healing looks in the shoulder and rotator cuff - and to make sure there isn't another tear. 

We also went to the Dialysis Center. A check up. Dr. Greenwell has changed medications for Rick - putting him on 2 different kinds of blood pressure medication and a different diabetes medication. 
So far, all the dialysis solution coming out has been clear! Praise the Lord!!! No sign of infection!!! Praise the Lord!!! Also, his catheter site is looking good. His feet check good. Lungs are clear. Praise the Lord on all counts!!! 

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After leaving the Dialysis Center on Wednesday evening, rather than coming back to the house, Rick took me to Hochatown, OK ... and we stayed at the Lodge that is across the road from the entrance to Beaver's Bend State Park. A very nice place to stay. Quiet and clean rooms. Large rooms. Felt good to just "run away" for one night =). 

On Thursday, after doing the 2 exchanges of the morning, we left the Lodge and drove over into the Park. I took many pictures, and will upload those soon. Since it was not the busy season, we had a lot of the park to ourselves =)...course it was too cold to get out and do anything, but we sure enjoyed seeing the mountains, the trees, the creeks and the rivers! 

We stopped at the gift shop and Rick bought me a pretty pair of earrings and found him a walking stick. Enjoyed just the quietness of the gift shop, too. 
Afterwards, we got to go thru the Museum. That was interesting. We are looking forward to taking the grandkids there soon. 

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Coming back here was a let down. I wish it were not that way. But sadly, it was. Not sure why ... except we feel so disconnected and isolated here. The house is high maintenance and with neither one of us 100%? Well, it just gets so discouraging at times - seems that we fight that battle more than we don't any more. Sigh. 

Payday came and went ... but the frustration with the new insurance program remains ... OMW!!! We are having to pay $73 more a paycheck for Rick's insurance and it isn't worth the $50 it was costing with the other insurance last year!!! We talked to Rick's sister, her husband works for the same company, and she had a few choice words for the insurance too!!! 
The discouragement over the 45% of salary that worker's comp remains, too. I know that God is providing and HE alone is taking care of us. It's just frustrating that you work for a company pouring your heart into it, giving up so much of your life and time, and when you get hurt and need some help - rather than being fair and right ... well ... guess it could be that Rick was getting nothing right now. So, we thank God and pray HIS provision for all our needs! 

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I am having some "issues" ... my feet are swelling. They have been swelling for a long time, but always before they would go down at night when I went to bed. Not any more. Especially the left one. The ankle is so swollen it makes walking difficult and painful. Also, I have a knot on the inside of my left leg @ the calf, as well as a knot on the outside of the same leg @ the calf also. The white tips of my nails are "growing" towards the bed of the nails, and wherever they are white, they are also turning loose of the finger beneath the nail. A LOT of pain in my hands, my knees, my back, just all over. Not sure what is a result of the hysterectomy, and what is something else. So ... I finally gave in and went to the doctor on Friday. 
Blood work ... urinalysis ... results to be back early this week. And she is scheduling a "doppler" on my legs. My first thought was the dopplar radar on the weather channels - but she said, no that wasn't it. LOL ... Rather, a sonogram of my legs to check for blood clots or "anything" else. 
She gave me a fluid pill in the meantime, trying to pull some of the fluid from my legs and feet. And she gave me a pain pill to take along with the hydrocodone that we are already taking. So ... more waiting to see ... 

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Plans are to leave here on the 8th of February and drive down to Joshua's. Stay with them until the 13th. Leave there for Houston. Spend that night with Al & Christine. Appointment with oncologist on the 14th. Drive out to the Woodlands and enjoy some fellowship and time with Mike & Nina. We have been asked to spend the night there as well. =) Then, we will be coming back here on the 15th. 
I know that this is a doctor's appointment time - but you know, I am SO looking forward to the time away, and the time with family and friends. 

Rick and his daddy are working with the wood splitter today, since the weather is so much warmer. Rick isn't doing anything but pulling the lever down and then up. His daddy is doing all the handling of the wood. I heard them talking a little bit ago during a break. I know that it is good for Rick to be outside, and to be talking to someone besides me!!! And it is good for me to have the house to myself for just a little while. 

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Well, guess I had better get some other things done ... time sure has a way of speeding past some days. Seems like we just did an exchange a few minutes ago ... but I look at the clock and we need to do another one in just a little bit. My oh my ... where does the time go??? 

Praying for each one that reads this ... and even those who don't. God, take care of each one. Meet their needs according to your riches in glory thru Christ Jesus. 

Bless us Lord! Bless us INDEED!!!!! Enlarge our territories. Keep your hand on us. Keep us from evil and from temptation - that we won't cause pain or harm. 

Blessed be the Name of the Lord ... He gives and He takes away -- BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!!! 

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