Man Purse?

The infection (the redness around a center area) on B's thigh is gone, but.... the center area itself, which had been just a darker area, actually got larger and necrotized (died off) so that it had to be surgically debrided twice this past week. After the last time, they put a "wound vac" on it. This machine totally seals the area, pulls out "stuff" that shouldn't stay there, helps with circulation, and just generally promotes healing of the wound. It stays on continuously, runs very quietly, and is in a portable bag. Imagine B. with a "man purse"! Maybe I can add a picture later. (added Feb. 12) We're told to expect some rapid improvement, though we'll still just take one day at a time.

As to what let the original infection get started, we will probably never know. It could have been a tiny scratch, a bug bite, a superficial blood clot, a tiny ruptured vessel, even an ingrown hair! B's being on Coumadin seems to be a possible factor in how things progressed to where they are now, but again, nothing is really certain right now.

Thank you for your continued prayers. They are much appreciated!

You Just Never Know

You just never know what the day will bring.

On Wednesday, the 21st, I went to school for a short day of substitute teaching. Soon after getting home, B showed me a small dark area with some redness around it on his thigh, plus he was having terrible chills. We're always cautious about the possibility of blood clots (he's been on coumadin since a clot in 2001), so we called and went to the clinic. The dark area kind of looked like a bruise. Well, our doctor had him admitted to our local hospital, put him on an antibiotic for what seemed to be a virus of some kind, and did a CT scan of his lungs, just to be certain no clot had traveled there. None had!

It became obvious that the area on his leg was an infection, and both the center area and the redness around it continued to grow, despite a change in antibiotics. So, on Sunday he was transferred (M and I drove him) to Lincoln to be treated by an infections specialist. They changed him to yet another antibiotic, and this one (along with tons of prayers from friends and family) seems to be taking care of it. He was able to come home the middle of this week, with a 10-day, 4 times a day, prescription.

The infection was deemed “cellulitis.” We definitely need those prayers to continue so that it gets all cleared up.

Because..... needing to do the CT scan of his lungs turned out to be a blessing. The lungs were fine, but part of his kidneys were also in the picture, and our doctor spotted a small, most likely cancerous, tumor on one of them. Otherwise it likely would not have been found until it was larger and causing trouble. As it is, B’s urologist was able to get a full scan done while he was up at Lincoln. The tumor is relatively small, only one, and appears to be contained. An appointment is scheduled in a couple of weeks, once this cellulitis business should be done, when we’ll talk with him more and see what course of action will be taken.

You just never know.

Pencil Sketch #1 of ???--Shoe

Priscilla decided to keep a sketch journal, and plans to use this list for inspiration. Sounds like a great idea! I make no promises as to keeping up, but here's a start anyway! And who knows, maybe I can get better at this.

Disclaimer: This and any subsequent sketches are done merely for my own enjoyment; not with any claims of being an artist!

A Couple of Recipes

This first recipe is similar to GMJ's cake mix cookies recipe. As with them, add whatever baking chips, etc. that you want. For Christmas, I found some red and green striped white chocolate chips to use.

Crackle Cool Whip Cookies
Mix 1 egg in 1 cup of Cool Whip. (Chill.) Then mix with 1 regular size cake mix, whatever flavor you want. With powdered sugar-covered hands, shape into round balls. Dip in powdered sugar. Bake 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees. Yield: 3 dozen.

Pringles and Peanuts Candy
Crush one can of Pringle's potato chips (or approx. 6 ounces of another brand).
Mix with 1 cup of unsalted nuts.
Melt 4-5 squares of white almond bark.
Coat the chips/nut mixture.
Either drop by spoonfuls on waxed paper, or spread out and crumble into pieces.

December Delights

I told some that I'd try to post more often. So does a third post in December count as more? There were only two each in October and September! : )

December has been full, as I'm sure everyone's has been, just with different activities. Mine has included, in no particular order:

• caroling
• elementary subbing
• friends over for Christmas gatherings
  
• trying (not done yet) to finish end of the year bookwork
• singing in the annual Christmas cantata
• ice skating--in the barn!
  
• shopping
• gift wrapping/gift opening
  
• baking
• enjoying family being home
• getting together with extended family
• church
• thinking about (in other words, also not done yet) what to write in a Christmas letter
• trying to stay warm
• dealing with a flat tire in zero degree weather an hour from home (fortunately for me, B. was along and did most of the "dealing with"!)
• blowing out candles and eating birthday brownies
  
• being frustrated with my photo application, that doesn't want to open :0
• enjoying Christmas letters and posts from others
• candlelight
  
• thanking God for all his blessings
• wishing friends and family (that's YOU!) a very blessed Christmas and New Year!
  

One Talented Group

Straight No Chaser

Soup's On!

My church circle, hubbies, and pastor had our annual Christmas caroling/fruit plate delivering on Sunday. Lovely weather this year. No bitterly cold wind. No ice. Hooray! And I think we stayed longer singing and visiting with some of the people, since we weren't miserable.

Afterward, everyone came to our place for soup, snacks, and visiting. Since we were hosting, I said I'd provide the soup, and then everyone else brought whatever snacks they wanted to bring. Now, I always volunteer to make chili for soup suppers, because I know I can make that. But now I was committed, so I found a couple of new recipes and plunged ahead.

The chili was as usual. Turkey noodle soup, with home style (but not enough time for homemade) noodles, turned out pretty good. And the potato soup was definitely thick and hearty, but tasted pretty good, if I do say so myself! I think I'll keep the recipes. Can't believe I didn't take a picture!

Now it's Christmas baking time, with more to come!

Crackle Cool Whip Cookies
Chex Party Mix
Pringles and Peanuts Candy
Chocolate Chip Bars

Come on over for a visit and a sample!

Orange You Glad.....

that I didn't use all of my orange pictures for October Orange? Here are a few more pieces of orange to try to figure out.
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And now,
if you're ready,
if you're confident
that
you've figured out
what the snippets
are part of,
here are the
complete pictures.


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2.

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5.

6.

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8.

9.

6th in the 6th

I've been tagged by Kim.

The rules…
* Go to your sixth picture folder, then pick your sixth picture.
* Pray that you remember the details.
* Post it on your blog.
* Tag 5 others, and leave a comment to let them know they’ve been tagged.

This was from five years ago. It's one of the hamsters that T had, but I don't remember its name now. I know, I know...... it should have been labeled. : / Anyway, this one was quite the acrobat. He had a route that he took over and over that included walking across the top of the cage upside down!

I tag Wanda, Heather, Janet, Cobapple people, and Jerm & Pooks.

His Answers

"Yes."
"No."
"Not yet."

But how do you know
(without waiting the rest of your life)
if the "not yet" you thought you heard is really "no"?