It's a dreary Sunday morning. It looks like it might rain again, but I don't care. It's the first Sunday I've been able to go to church in two weeks. Last Sunday not only was I sick, but my husband was in the hospital. The Sunday before my son was very sick and I wasn't feeling well either. I'll be glad to get back.
This afternoon is supposed to be sunny, maybe my husband will feel like getting out to play a game of bago. The boys would like that as well.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Friday, February 23, 2007
Time to Make Bean Sticks
No it's not a new food idea. It's an easy, homemade math manipulative that helps to teach the concepts of borrowing and carrying. I made my first set about 14-15 years ago and got the idea from a news letter from Rod and Staff. I made a set for each of my sons as they became old enough to need them and now it's time to make a set for my youngest.
All you need are:
Beans (any kind will do but dark ones are easier to see)
Tongue Depressors
White Glue
Take the beans and about 20 tongue depressors and glue ten beans on each tongue depressor. Allow these to dry, then go back and add more glue over the top of the beans. This sounds like over kill but really its not. The skin on the beans will loosen if you don't and the beans will drop off.
After the bean sticks dry again toss them along with a couple handfuls of beans into a gallon size zip lock bag and your set. When you teach borrowing or carrying just teach that ten bean can be traded for one bean stick or one bean stick may be traded for ten beans. Your bean sticks represent your tens and your beans the ones in a math problem.
This gave the boys something concrete to hang on to until they understood what they were doing well enough to just use the symbols. Fun, cheap, and it works!! What more could you ask for? Especially if you have to homeschool on a shoestring like I do.
All you need are:
Beans (any kind will do but dark ones are easier to see)
Tongue Depressors
White Glue
Take the beans and about 20 tongue depressors and glue ten beans on each tongue depressor. Allow these to dry, then go back and add more glue over the top of the beans. This sounds like over kill but really its not. The skin on the beans will loosen if you don't and the beans will drop off.
After the bean sticks dry again toss them along with a couple handfuls of beans into a gallon size zip lock bag and your set. When you teach borrowing or carrying just teach that ten bean can be traded for one bean stick or one bean stick may be traded for ten beans. Your bean sticks represent your tens and your beans the ones in a math problem.
This gave the boys something concrete to hang on to until they understood what they were doing well enough to just use the symbols. Fun, cheap, and it works!! What more could you ask for? Especially if you have to homeschool on a shoestring like I do.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
My Husband is Coming Home Tomorrow
He is glad in a very tired sort of way and so am I. Actually he tends to be like a wounded dog when he is sick. He just wants to crawl into a familiar corner and lick his wounds even if he would be better off staying in the hospital.
I remember a few years back when he was in the hospital and determined to come home. His doctor was away over the weekend at a convention and his associate was taking care of his patients. That is probably the only thing that kept my husband from coming home. First the Doctor tried to reason with him and said "Mr. Hassett, I don't think you understand how sick you are." (Never try to reason with a sick Hassett. They are not reasonable.) Then as a last attempt he said "You know, really you aren't my patient so I can't release you. You need to wait for you doctor to come back on Monday and see if he will release you." That wasn't exactly true but I wasn't about to say so. He was too sick to be coming home. When his doctor got back he was able to convince my husband to stay three more days and then let him go.
I just got back home. It sure is a beautiful day out. I had the healthiest of the boys help me open the windows so that we could get some fresh air in this place. It's so stuffy in here. Maybe the air and sun light will help us to get well. If I had, had a lounger outside I might be considering sleeping out there instead of in here. Opening the windows will make it better.
I'm so tired. I'll be glad to have him back so that I can rest a little. I seem to be taking one step forward and two steps back where this flue is concerned. I've gotten a little done today. I washed the dishes and did three classes with my youngest and then I was so washed out I couldn't do any more. I went back to sleep for three hours. That's where I need to be right now. I'll go as soon as I get done with this.
Well, I've got to go. As a navy friend of mine would say, "The rack monster is calling me." More later after I get my husband home.
I remember a few years back when he was in the hospital and determined to come home. His doctor was away over the weekend at a convention and his associate was taking care of his patients. That is probably the only thing that kept my husband from coming home. First the Doctor tried to reason with him and said "Mr. Hassett, I don't think you understand how sick you are." (Never try to reason with a sick Hassett. They are not reasonable.) Then as a last attempt he said "You know, really you aren't my patient so I can't release you. You need to wait for you doctor to come back on Monday and see if he will release you." That wasn't exactly true but I wasn't about to say so. He was too sick to be coming home. When his doctor got back he was able to convince my husband to stay three more days and then let him go.
I just got back home. It sure is a beautiful day out. I had the healthiest of the boys help me open the windows so that we could get some fresh air in this place. It's so stuffy in here. Maybe the air and sun light will help us to get well. If I had, had a lounger outside I might be considering sleeping out there instead of in here. Opening the windows will make it better.
I'm so tired. I'll be glad to have him back so that I can rest a little. I seem to be taking one step forward and two steps back where this flue is concerned. I've gotten a little done today. I washed the dishes and did three classes with my youngest and then I was so washed out I couldn't do any more. I went back to sleep for three hours. That's where I need to be right now. I'll go as soon as I get done with this.
Well, I've got to go. As a navy friend of mine would say, "The rack monster is calling me." More later after I get my husband home.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Another Update
My husband is out of ICU; they moved him back into a regular room this evening. He is still having tremors but they are mild. They still aren't sure what is causing them but they have started him back on his meds today. They did two CT scans today, one with dye and one without. I'm hoping that we will know something soon. On the other hand medical science really doesn't know as much as people think. In many ways medicine is more an art than a science and God still has many mysteries where the human body is concerned we cannot understand. We may never figure out what is happening.
Our pastor has been wonderful. He has dropped by every day. It's an hour drive so I feel that, that is well beyond the call. He has also called me everyday to see how I'm doing and to make sure I understand that if I need anything at all I should let him know. When we were on the floor the first time, my husband had an older gentleman for a roommate who is dying of cancer. His daughter is taking it rather hard. Bro. John had been passing by the waiting room when he felt the Lord drawing him into that room. When he walked in he found her setting there in the dark crying. He talked with her and prayed with her. He really wasn't sure that he did much good but today she was talking about what a nice guy he was and how much he had helped. I told her we where pretty proud of him. I think he's a keeper. He definitely has a heart for God and His people.
So to make a long story short; my husband seems to be doing better. By the time I left he was beginning to get that spark to his personality back and was even teasing me some, though it cost him a lot in energy to do it. Still, I don't think they will let him come home tomorrow, maybe Thursday.
Oh, and one last thing, we all need to be sure thank to God for our pastors rather than roasting them over Sunday dinner. They work harder than any of us understand.
Our pastor has been wonderful. He has dropped by every day. It's an hour drive so I feel that, that is well beyond the call. He has also called me everyday to see how I'm doing and to make sure I understand that if I need anything at all I should let him know. When we were on the floor the first time, my husband had an older gentleman for a roommate who is dying of cancer. His daughter is taking it rather hard. Bro. John had been passing by the waiting room when he felt the Lord drawing him into that room. When he walked in he found her setting there in the dark crying. He talked with her and prayed with her. He really wasn't sure that he did much good but today she was talking about what a nice guy he was and how much he had helped. I told her we where pretty proud of him. I think he's a keeper. He definitely has a heart for God and His people.
So to make a long story short; my husband seems to be doing better. By the time I left he was beginning to get that spark to his personality back and was even teasing me some, though it cost him a lot in energy to do it. Still, I don't think they will let him come home tomorrow, maybe Thursday.
Oh, and one last thing, we all need to be sure thank to God for our pastors rather than roasting them over Sunday dinner. They work harder than any of us understand.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Update on My Husband
The hospital called me today to tell me that they were moving my husband up to ICU because he was having seizures. I had the healthiest of the boys run over to our pastors house to tell him what was going on so that he could start the prayer chain, (he lives down the field and across the street.) He sent my son home to tell me that he would be at the hospital as soon as he finished his school bus route.
I rushed to the hospital and talked to my husbands ICU nurse. She said that she felt the nurses down stairs had over reacted. That he was too aware of his surroundings and too able to answer questions during these episodes to be having seizures. The doctor, based on the reports of the nurse, had ordered some heavy duty anti-seizure medication. She said that she wasn't going to give it to him because she didn't feel he needed it.
I explained that whenever they gave him large doses of steroids and albuterol that he tended to have mild tremors in his hands and sometime his feet. She told me that was good to know and called the doctor to tell him. She then cut off all his medication. They are going to keep him over night and watch him to see if he improves as the medication wares off. The problem is when he gets like this he needs the steroids and albuterol to help clear out his lungs.
On the other hand he can't go one the way he was. These weren't mild tremors, they were rather violent. While I was there, after they cut off his medication, he got better and better so maybe they have it right. They are running blood tests and are planning to do a CT scan tomorrow. I don't know what the answer is but the Lord does. In the dark times like this I always hang on to Psalm 139:12.
"Even the darkness is not dark to You, and the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You."
I don't know the answer but the Lord does and what ever the out come I know that it will be for the best. I know that the Lord will hold us firmly in His hand. On the other hand this is not just my husband; this is my best friend on this earth. He knows me inside and out and has always loved me. Sometimes because of myself and sometimes in spite of myself; but he has always loved me. And while I know the Lord would see me through this; I would hate to lose my best friend. Pray for us.
I rushed to the hospital and talked to my husbands ICU nurse. She said that she felt the nurses down stairs had over reacted. That he was too aware of his surroundings and too able to answer questions during these episodes to be having seizures. The doctor, based on the reports of the nurse, had ordered some heavy duty anti-seizure medication. She said that she wasn't going to give it to him because she didn't feel he needed it.
I explained that whenever they gave him large doses of steroids and albuterol that he tended to have mild tremors in his hands and sometime his feet. She told me that was good to know and called the doctor to tell him. She then cut off all his medication. They are going to keep him over night and watch him to see if he improves as the medication wares off. The problem is when he gets like this he needs the steroids and albuterol to help clear out his lungs.
On the other hand he can't go one the way he was. These weren't mild tremors, they were rather violent. While I was there, after they cut off his medication, he got better and better so maybe they have it right. They are running blood tests and are planning to do a CT scan tomorrow. I don't know what the answer is but the Lord does. In the dark times like this I always hang on to Psalm 139:12.
"Even the darkness is not dark to You, and the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You."
I don't know the answer but the Lord does and what ever the out come I know that it will be for the best. I know that the Lord will hold us firmly in His hand. On the other hand this is not just my husband; this is my best friend on this earth. He knows me inside and out and has always loved me. Sometimes because of myself and sometimes in spite of myself; but he has always loved me. And while I know the Lord would see me through this; I would hate to lose my best friend. Pray for us.
I Think I'm Finally On the Mend
I woke up this morning sweating something awful. That doesn't sound very good except that for the past week I have been running a fever and freezing to death. I was cold in the hospital yesterday, but when I left by the time I got to the car I was shivering to badly that I had a hard time getting the key in the door. I also finally have a voice. That could be good or bad depending on your point of view. Lastly I'm beginning to have a little energy. Now if I could just get some appetite back I'd be fine.
My Husband is still in the hospital. They started him on steroids last night to try to get his lungs cleared out. I was pretty sure it would come to that. It always does anymore. The bad part is that the steroids have started messing with his blood sugar, so now when they put him on them he always ends up having to take insulin as well. The dietitian told us that it will only get worse as time goes on and that he may well end up being insulin dependent all the time. Some people do.
When the put him in the hospital they said they were just keeping him over night. They almost always say that and they almost always keep him several days. I sometime wonder if they really believe what they are saying or if they are trying to keep me from worrying and think that I am still that gullible after all this time. I don't know. I guess in the long run it doesn't really matter.
On top of everything else the car has started giving me trouble. I also have jury duty tomorrow. Our pastor has said that he will pick up my husband if he gets to come home tomorrow while I'm at the courthouse, so that is taken care of in a way. I would still prefer to be here when he comes home though.
My Husband is still in the hospital. They started him on steroids last night to try to get his lungs cleared out. I was pretty sure it would come to that. It always does anymore. The bad part is that the steroids have started messing with his blood sugar, so now when they put him on them he always ends up having to take insulin as well. The dietitian told us that it will only get worse as time goes on and that he may well end up being insulin dependent all the time. Some people do.
When the put him in the hospital they said they were just keeping him over night. They almost always say that and they almost always keep him several days. I sometime wonder if they really believe what they are saying or if they are trying to keep me from worrying and think that I am still that gullible after all this time. I don't know. I guess in the long run it doesn't really matter.
On top of everything else the car has started giving me trouble. I also have jury duty tomorrow. Our pastor has said that he will pick up my husband if he gets to come home tomorrow while I'm at the courthouse, so that is taken care of in a way. I would still prefer to be here when he comes home though.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
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