Round Two

 Y'all remember last week when I said it had been a tough week?   Well, apparently Mrs J and I saying so offended Paean, the ancient Greek God of Physicians.  The episode had started Sunday a week ago.  Mrs. J had woken up with her hand swollen and painful.  Paid a visit to the ER, where the Doc said it wasn't Cancer related and prescribed some pain killers.  That's where I left off the story.

Shouldn't have.

Turns out the pain med he made a prescription for was in the Ibuprofen family.  But, like most medicine had some $20 name that few can pronounce and even less recognize.  So we dropped off the prescription at the pharmacy at the drive through.  We're waiting for filling, when the pharmacist asks us to confirm Mrs J is allergic to ibuprofen.

Why, yes she is, why do you ask?

Well, this medicine is in the ibuprofen family, what are your symptoms when you take it?

Oh, nothing serious, she just has extreme difficulty breathing.

Oh, so you'd like us to call the doctor and get a different type medicine?

Why, yes, please! @end sarc!

First thing in the morning, Mrs J called our regular Dr and got an appointment.  We showed up, explained the problem to him.  He took one look at the infected hand, (now hand, wrist and approaching elbow) and told us to head to the hospital, (do not pass go, do not get $200).  He phoned ahead and told them exactly what he needed test wise and to check her into a bed, let him know when that was done and he'd pay us a visit.  

He'll be my hero forever.  Again, not being a Doctor nor playing one on TV, there could be errors in the following description.  Medical friends in the audience, feel free to correct me.  

Apparently, one of the downsides to Chemo is your immune system takes a big hit in the chops.  So any thing that can cause an infection can have more severe consequences than usual as the body doesn't have enough oomph to fight it off.  As best we can figure, the infection was caused by a small scratch on her hand.  The scratch most likely was a result of one of our cats walking across it the night before.  As any cat owner knows, Cats like to bury their cat litter in the litter box by scratching the litter over it. So maybe a little of the bacteria was on his paw when he stepped on her.

I know, Sarge, EWWWW!

But that was the vector.  The scary part was, by the time we got to the hospital, the infection was at the elbow.  The staff seemed concerned.  All sorts of tubes, needles, monitors were very quickly set up.  

She ended up spending 3 nights there.  It wasn't til we checked out that I learned the reason for concern.  As long as the infection was limited to her arm, things were bad but handle-able.  If it reached her shoulder, it would begin to infect the rest of the body and things would be VERY BAD and difficult to control.

Fortunately the latter did not occur and the infection was brought under control and eventually eliminated.  

Yes, my ability to sleep at night has been somewhat restored also.

Thank You, Lord!  and Hospital Staff!

Changing subject to lighter material.

We had a very interesting family as guests at one of our Guest Houses this past weekend.  Because of all the hoop jumping earlier in the week, the Casseta wasn't readied to Mrs J's standards.  (I try, but usually fall short).  So, it's almost time for them to check in, when Mrs J and I grab the last things we need and head down to finish up.

Yep, as we get out of the truck, the guests pull up.  I give them a quick overview of what we need to do and ask if they can hold for a few minutes.  They said sure.  We got 'er done and stopped to say thanks.

Very nice folks, Dad, Mom and 3YO son.  We're chatting and they asked how we'd come to this property.  Told them about retiring from the Air Force and such.  They mentioned that they were both Army.  He'd been a Tank Driver in the recent festivities and had his tank shot out from under him. Oh Wow!

 His wife is a JAG.  He had recently retired and she was one year out.

Yes, Sarge, we had a conversation much like on your post yesterday.  Chatted for about an hour and he casually mentioned that he'd just been diagnosed with cancer and was beginning Chemo this next week.  Mrs. J asked what type he had, when he answered, Mrs J said "So do I".  He mentioned  he'd just completed the Radiation portion of his treatment and would be starting Chemo.  Since, Mrs J had just the opposite schedule for treatment, they had a mutually helpful discussion about what each could expect.  Nice to be able to talk to someone who's going through what you are going through and has completed the treatment you're about to enter.  I know Mrs. J was, well, "less tense".  I suspect he was also.

Great folks,  Wish them well.

On the woodworking front(s), obviously, there hasn't been a lot of progress.  The Pikler triangle is progressing, slowly, but progressing.  I've got all the legs drilled and painted.

 

I've got half the cross braces (steps) painted white. Maroon will be used for the rest.  Then it's pretty much final assembly and putting a certain University's logo on it and, voila', completed.

 Finally, it's Spring in Texas and for some reason or another, the wild flower's are really spectacular this year.

First we have a fairly hefty load of a wild flower (AKA a weed) known as "Gold Star".

Kinda pretty isn't it?

Yes, until it kinda takes over your field.

Then there's Verbena. 

My Cell phone doesn't do this field justice, it's almost completely purple.

Finally, there's the Blue Bonnet, the State Flower of Texas.

This is my "Guard Flower".  It's right inside my front gate.  Keeps the "Bad Guys" away.

These folks are better gardeners than I

Fortunately, it's been a fairly wet spring.  Usually this time of year it's two to three weeks between mowings and the grass is a greenish-brown color. 

 

This was last Saturday night, just under 1"

This year we're at once a week.  Oh well, I get my steps in.

Finally, I got this picture from MBD of León and his Paternal Grandmother.

Future Fighter Pilot?

Peace out y'all!