Thanksgiving Recap

R had doctors' appointments last Tuesday and Wednesday, and there is so much daily stuff that has to be done with only me to do it, and the taking to appointments as well (all of R's doctors are at least an hour away), that I didn't even give a thought to whether or not I would make any of my traditional foods for a proper Thanksgiving Day meal.  Thank goodness for sisters...my one sister that lives within an hour of me actually brought a box of her home-cooked food to us at the doctor's office on Wednesday afternoon so that we would have some special Thanksgiving Day food.  What would I do without my sisters, and especially the one that lives closest to me?

As of last Tuesday (November 20), R's blood work was "better, but not normal", according to lab work done on the 20th.  We will take "better", and hope that things continue to improve. 

Time is a funny thing.  The days each seem to speed by from morning to dark, yet at the same time, the minutes and hours can seem to stretch out into days'- long brackets.  I don't think I knew that a person could be so chronically, bone-deep tired and weary.  I seem to be going full speed most days, and then there will be a day or two thrown in the mix somewhere that I am just collapsed in a puddle in the middle of the mess. 

R has an appointment next Monday, December 3, with a Nephrologist (kidney specialist).  We are both apprehensive about it, and yet I will be relieved to have him seen by someone who can  hopefully tell us what is actually going on with his kidneys.  He is still retaining a ton of fluid, even though he's on a daily dose of Lasix.  He has developed another edema blister, this time on his left foot.  I'm still cleaning and dressing the wound each night on his right foot from a huge edema blister that got broken.

I look back over the path my life has taken to this point, and still can't figure out how this is where we have landed, at least for the near (and maybe far) future.

*I haven't been on the bike/trainer in at least 2 months, maybe longer.  I just got on it today and rode 1 mile, 9.20 minutes, avg speed 6.7.  Piddly amount, but at least it's another beginning.  Wasn't sure I would ever get on it again.  I have to say, though, my knees were so much better when I was riding more days of the week than not.*

Humble Quilts: Paradise: How We Can Help

Humble Quilts: Paradise: How We Can Help: So many heartbreaking stories coming out of California. I'm not sure why this tragedy has pulled on my heartstrings so much. Maybe it...

Trying

“I just do the best I can to face what life brings. That’s the secret, you know. That’s the way you change your fate.”

— ALICE HOFFMAN, THE RULES OF MAGIC

“Surrender means wisely accommodating ourselves to what is beyond our control.”

— SYLVIA BOORSTEIN

*Our hearts still ache for Bayley--October 2016*

“Let it come, as it will, and don't
be afraid. God does not leave us
comfortless, so let evening come. "
― Jane Kenyon, Let Evening Come

“The soul's bliss and suffering are bound together.” 
― Jane Kenyon

Happy Thanksgiving

From our home to yours, Happy Thanksgiving.

Not Qualified for the Job

By reason of default, and certainly not by qualification, I have been put in charge of weighing R every day, and trying to determine if he should take some Lasix each day, based on loose guidelines that one of the doctors has given me.  It is not a position that I would have willingly taken on because it is such a serious thing, and it weighs heavy with worry on my mind.  We are in a holding pattern right now, with bits of progress in some areas, and I hold breath and pray that he can at least maintain where he is right now, with his foot and leg slowly healing, but healing, and that he can continue to just go forward without more serious kidney issues or falls until he has regained significantly more strength.  Every day is such a huge challenge for him. 

The daily chores, along with the nursing thrown in for good measure, leave little time for me to even think about how I'm doing---physically or mentally.  I fall into bed each night, exhausted to my soul, knowing I've done the best I could this day, and fitfully and fretfully try to get enough sleep for the challenges ahead in the coming day. 

No Treats---Just Tricks on Halloween

Our internet went out on Halloween, and it was just restored late last night.  R has had multiple doctors' appointments in the last two weeks, and we have desperately needed to do some medical research online, as well as health insurance and Medicare changes needing our attention, but we were reduced to pacing the floor (me) and bemoaning how much we needed to do and couldn't do with the DSL out (R).

We had an appointment with the Vascular Surgeon last Friday (11-9-18), and he said R is not well enough to withstand the aneurysm surgery at this time.  He set up an appointment with a Cardiologist in the same group for today (11-15-18).  Leaving the Heart Center last Friday for another appointment at another location, R had a hard fall on the concrete sidewalk.  Was sent for CT of the brain to make sure there was no brain bleed.  There wasn't, thank goodness.  At the second appointment, they told us he was on the verge of his kidneys completely shutting down.  His blood pressure was way too low, and he was severely dehydrated due to Lasix.  He was given IV fluids and then released to come home.  It was a long, harrowing day.

Today, we see the the Cardiologist and have lab work again to see how his kidneys are doing.  This is the scariest journey I have ever been on in my life.  And Winter is setting in.

Update on Randy

A quick update on  Randy...got a call from the vascular surgeon's office this afternoon saying they've changed his surgery date AGAIN  from November 5 to November 8.  This whole mess is so bizarre, and I don't know what to do with my anger, fear, and loss of all trust in this doctor.  Randy is totally resistant to going to another doctor.

The Passage of Months

From March through today has been full of challenges, mostly for my husband, who has a rare vascular autoimmune disease which has been progressing for about 4 years now.  Their best medical guess is Giant Cell Arteritis and Polymyalgia Rheumatica, or worse, Wegeners Disease.  They all have similar or overlapping symptoms.  There seems to be a new issue every day or two that we have to deal with. Scary, scary shit.

This year has been particularly challenging as he was also diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm which doesn't have normal parameters and is getting close to a size that would be in danger of rupturing.  The surgery, which is a 6 to 7 hour ordeal even without complications,  has been scheduled twice now, and then canceled by the doctor for varying reasons.  The surgery is now back on for November 5.  However,  his health is so precarious due to the autoimmune disease that the surgery scares me to death for him, and I struggle every day to hold myself together, and to keep him up, both mentally and physically.  He really has no choice but to go through with the surgery.   Where we live is a difficult place to be with serious health issues and heading into the Winter months.  We live in an isolated place prone to power outages and road blocks from downed trees during winds, or heavy rains, or snow, as Winter deepens.  And there will be numerous follow-up appointments.

I miss my blog, and the blogging community , so I've decided to try to record our journey here.  I am relatively healthy, thank goodness , and Marlee is my constant little sidekick.

Have been MIA

Life has been hurtling at me and my family at a dizzying speed.  I truly don't accept change with even a speck of grace.  I bow up like a cat hissing, and dig my heels in like a stubborn dachshund.   Just not in my DNA to do it gracefully.  Makes it hard to get out of bed a lot of days. 🙄 

Happy Solstice Blessings

Clouds

Embracing leaves shivering in the breeze cold trees

No-Bake Avalanche Cookies

With love from our simple kitchen to yours. 

RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM

Do you  ❤ love ❤ TSRI?  Don't miss another recipe.  Click here to Subscribe to The Slow Roasted Italian by Email and receive new recipes in your inbox every day!

Don't miss a thing! Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram ❤ ❤ ❤ 

Check out some of our favorite fabulous desserts:  Click on the image or the bold recipe title and it will open each one in a new tab.

Crockpot Candy is the easiest and most impressive homemade candy ever.  A rich chocolaty, peanutty 4-ingredient recipe that you simply toss in the slow cooker, stir a few times and scoop it out. It doesn't get much easier than that!

Reese's Peanut Butter Fudge is luscious and creamy, made with chunks of peanuts throughout the fudge to give it the perfect crunch. This Reese's Peanut Butter Fudge is a simple recipe with just 4-ingredients! It comes together in just 10 minutes.

Crockpot Turtles Candy is an incredibly simple and impressive candy. A rich chocolaty recipe with perfectly roasted pecans and creamy caramel that you simply dump ingredients into your slow cooker, stir and scoop. Then garnish and gift (or serve).  It doesn't get much easier than that!

=================================================================

No-Bake Avalanche CookiesMAKES 18 LARGE COOKIES

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
16 ounces vanilla-flavored candy coating (Almond Bark or CandiQuik)
1 (15-ounce) jar creamy peanut butter
2 cups Rice Krispies cereal
1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows

Prepare 2 cookie sheets with a Silpat mat or parchment paper. Set aside.

Place chocolate chips in the freezer, until ready to use.

Melt Almond Bark in a heat safe bowl, microwave at half power for 30 seconds at a time until melted and smooth. Meanwhile: Add rice krispies to a large bowl. Set aside.

Add peanut butter to Almond Bark. Stir to combine. Pour vanilla candy mixture over rice krispies. Stir until combined. Allow mixture to cool to room temperature (or until barely warm). Add marshmallows. Mix until combined. Add frozen chocolate chips. Stir to combine.

Use a 2 tablespoon scoop to portion treats onto prepared cookie sheet. Allow to set in a cool place, until firm. You can pop them in the fridge if your kitchen is too warm.

Serve and enjoy!