We're Home, and the race is on.

We got back to town mid-afternoon on Saturday. I'm happy to report that Joel is MUCH better. Still a small amount of lung left to pop open, but she's progressing and doing everything she was told to do.

The Nest, the new domestic violence shelter I'm involved with, is moving along very well, too. Most of the first floor will be ready for furnishing (and use) as of next week. So my committee is switching to high gear to catch up and locate what we need to furnish the administrative and counseling offices. The remaining downstairs will follow shortly and includes the common areas like kitchen, dining room, crafts/play area, laundry, salon and the first two sleeping rooms.

These will keep me busy with catch-up as well as the normal work, and there is still the house (which I must say, is not at the tip-top of my list!), so please excuse me if I don't get back here quite as often as I'd like.

Thanks for checking up on me!

OH!, I hear there is both video and still photo records of last year's concert, so you may get to take a peek one of these days!

Back soon!
:)

Late Afternoon sun in the Land of Enchantment

We are still in Albuquerque and will be for a while longer...don't know how much.
Joel is improving slowly and the docs have decided to let her continue doing the work herself: walking, coughing, using her I.S. (a breathing tool whose name I forgot...she sucks on it to increase the capacity of her lungs.)
The other treatment they could try at this point, would have a downside in that she would have to 'get over' the treatment in addition to regular general recovery.
............ahhhthe mysteries of modern medicine......................

The experience of being in the hospital (and home care as well) with someone who is/has been this sick is amazing. When I get a chance to step back and take a longer view (like here in this blog) I realize how easy it is to have tunnel vision; to focus only on Joel; to feel caught up in the drama; to worry and be afraid. It's easy to overextend. It's easy to forget that the experience is not happening just to Joel, but to both of us. I'm getting a really close look at the dragon known as Caretakerous. Whew! Does she have a hold on me!!!! Thank goodness I'm really getting a good look at her.

I'm at the hotel now (left the hospital before 4:00 PM) and will go out to dinner soon...and follow that with an evening alone in the room. I confess that I am really looking forward to it. I think Indian food... I know a great place...or maybe Thai...hmmm.

to all who are holding us in your hearts and wishing us well, THANK YOU!!!! Knowing you are out there makes a big difference.
TTFN
Kate

Quick Note from a Nifty Nuthouse...

We are still in Albuquerque. Joel is finally getting better but the left lung is still problematic. It just doesn't want to come out and play...
(or Joel has a crush on a cute nurse...:) )

Two procedures so far. A CAT scan this morning may tell the tale; we're just waiting on the doctor's report.

We're holding up fairly well in spite of the stress. And when we step into perspective, we realize that this is NOT cancer, or Alziemers, of AIDS, or any one of many really nasty things that could be going on.

We've made a great new friend of the 'flarpist' Sue, and may work with her further in the future. She even included Joel in a story to be written about Sue for the Albuq paper and a hospital newsletter. Good for our egos and good to spend extra time with Sue.


Back to the hotel for a little sleep...thanks for keeping us in your prayers.
:)

Spammers Make Me Nuts!

Why would anyone buy a product or service from a company who's practices are so reprehensible!?!?!

I've changed my email address yet again. gr8dame must have been one I used in the past....

Let's hope this new one will stay clean for awile.

Happy New Year!

We're having our usual holiday: Joel's watching football and I'm watching ice skating. Nice. Quiet. Peaceful. The black-eyed peas are at the ready, this year in the form of a spicy dip.
(old tradition...to ensure prosperity in the New Year...)


We hope your day is going just exactly as you would like.

Joel's a little better each day, thankfully.

I've been catching up on my favorite blogs lately, and have been especially captured by Laura's entry about her New Year's thoughts. Resolutions become a whole new thing with her ideas to contemplate.

The new year seems like the start a something really new to me, too. Even though I'm 58 now, it seems as if I have hit some type of graduation and now get to step up and step out to prove to myself that I have what it takes to make a difference.
...'prove'...that doesn't feel exactly right.

A thought I had last night was another one about surrender. I am really getting into this idea of relaxing into the arms of Spirit - of The Mother.
I'm not sure the exact nature of those names. I can't draw you a picture.
I just know that something holds the world together and draws us toward completion if we can only relax, relinquish the desire to control, and go with the flow ~ surrender.

There will be more coming about this shortly.
Meanwhile,
if you are making some New Year's Resolutions, include one or two about raising the bar for yourself - you are the only one who can do it.

TTFN
:)