No Pics Today

 We did have a nice Christmas.  Breakfast and a couple games over in Herriman.  Thanks, son, for the invitation.  It was nice to be included.  Two years in a row for this which is somewhat astonishing for me.  Their holidays haven't traditionally included us.  The breakfast was lovely and she was up very early making a wonderful casserole and cinnamon rolls.  So kind of them.  The rest of the day was spent quietly here at home.  I was just two weeks post-surgery and feeling well though unwilling to do anything to hinder my recovery.

Yesterday morning The Husband  slept from about 9 until noon-thirty when I woke him for lunch.  Very unusual for him to sleep so much.  He woke and said he was in a bad way.  Hhmmm.  Took him right off to an urgent care.  (Went to one that was recommended to me because I'm always complaining that I want to see a dr. instead of a nurse practitioner and this one was supposed to pretty much always only staff physicians.  Not so for us yesterday,  nary a dr. in sight.  Though to be fair it was a holiday.)  

Tested for flu, Covid, Uti, blood sugar.  All negative.  Strongly urged us to go to the E.R.  The Husband was loathe to do that.  But over the afternoon he kind of worsened a little bit.  Had some strange vision things as well as the body trembling.  Little bit of fever (which rose a couple degrees in a bit over an hour).  Finally my concern reached him and he consented to the E.R.  They were great.  We left a couple hours later (thank heavens for my book) with a diagnosis.  Pneumonia.  In the lower left lobe.  Antibiotics prescribed, though they gave  him a dose before sending him home.  All of the bodily functions they tested were great, he's in good health (yay!) just pretty sick.  

Never seen him like that.  I was privately quite alarmed. Or maybe only sort of privately.  

So my worry:  that this is just a taste of what the new year has in store for us.  I already had decided that we weren't going to have December in 2026.  We've had such large (and feeling overwhelming) things going on the last three Decembers.  All the major appliances that needed replacing/repairing and then my surgery.  

The Husband seemed to have a decent night last night, we're off for haircuts this morning and hopefully picking up the prescription on the way home.  He needs to get better.  It's hard when he's so sick.

Grateful this morning for doctors and kind staff at the E.R. who helped me feel like I was doing the right thing getting him in for some help.  Also grateful for some insurance.  Haven't any idea (and it's a scary thought) how much yesterday's medical visits will cost us.  But at least insurance will cover some of it.  Still don't know how much my surgery is going to be.  We might have to mortgage the house. 😏 But hopefully our insurance will cover at least some of everything.  Grateful for hope of improvement in his health.  Grateful for the rain (snow in the mountains) and just plain grateful.

Christmas...

 ...was so hard for so many years.  It took me forever to figure out how to temper my expectations, to learn to focus on what is important and to just enjoy the day.  There are lots of thoughts I have about the holiday which I won't elaborate on right now.  Suffice it to say that I've finally made my peace with our situation and how the actual season/day unfolds. 

We ran down yesterday to Utah county to see our son and grandson.  We never stay long, an hour is about the max, but we love visiting with them.  Our grandson is a whipsmart dear that we don't get to see near enough (or get to see our son near enough).  They seem content enough which I always hope for all of our loved ones.  "Want" isn't a good place for anyone to be in. 

Surprisingly, we were invited to Christmas breakfast at our son's house. How kind of them, and I think this might be the second year in a row for that invitation.  I'm nervous as I always am to get together with them.  But we'll take our small gifts, stay for about an hour and spend the rest of the day at home.  Our finances don't allow us to spend as much as we used to so we hope that what we've done will be enough and accepted with grace.  I'm all for reducing stress - especially at Christmas time.  This year my surgery has impacted our lives more than I (foolishly) anticipated.  

The Husband was gifted an Advent Puzzle box.  Filled with 15 different small Christmas sweater puzzles.  He's had such fun completing a sweater every day. Such a thoughtful gift.

I love socks.  Have made no secret of that fact.  Have become quite fond of wool socks during the winter.  The ones I've worn the most have been ones we picked up at Costco a few years ago.  Was discomfited to find a hole in the one I put on (and promptly changed) this morning.  I'll save the good sock.  I don't really care if my socks don't perfectly match.  Sooner or later another sock from that batch will also have a hole and then I'll be able to wear two similar warm comfy socks.  

Was invited to read this child's picture book.  I loved it.  Even though I am no longer spending money on picture books (or books of any kind, really) this would be a contender to purchase.  So fun.  

I'm grateful today that we've some rain in the forecast - we so need it.  Our temps have been startlingly high - in the 60's.  Not good for December.  I'm grateful for an outing to look forward to this afternoon.  I'm grateful that so far my surgery recovery is going well.  On our morning walk, we commiserated with each other about how discouraging it is to have bodies that are aging - nothing super serious going on, just a lot of small gripes that impact daily living.  Arthritis being a big one for the both of us.  I'm grateful that the effect of the holidays on our eating (I'm complaining all the time about all the sugar!) will soon pass.  I'm looking forward to less sugar, I find too much of it bothers me more these days.  Must be that aging thing. I will ever be grateful for good books to read and a supply within driving distance - I'm a staunch supporter of our libraries. And I'm most of
all grateful for Christmas.  I've been trying to incorporate some contemplation of the huge blessing it is, our Savior was the best gift to the world.

Skies

Thursday morning.

This morning.

 I'm often gently chided for looking at the ground when I walk.  That's so I don't trip and fall, like I did a week ago.  Gotta see where those feet are being planted.  I do however, manage to still see the beautiful sky.  It is often stunning in the morning when I'm most often out.  Thursday's was the bright glow.  This morning's was the cloud ceiling.  I just love that I have a camera in my pocket to take pictures so I can remember the beauty. 

Last night was our symphony tickets. It felt good - sorta - to be out.  The Christmas concert is my favorite of all the ones we attend.  Last night was no exception. The guest singers' voices were beautiful and mellow and rich and clear.  The symphony, as always, was top notch.  We heard a version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" that I've never heard before and that particular one will always be at the top of my list of preferred Christmas music.  I've tried to find a recording online and there's just nothing that is even remotely as lovely as the one we heard last night.  And "Mary Did You Know" is perfect for focusing on the Savior.  I loved being there.

I didn't love being downtown Salt Lake City.  We rode trax, which isn't my favorite but is so much more convenient, particularly during the holidays when so many people are thronging downtown for all the events.  We had wanted to walk over to Temple Square to see the lights but it was raining and The Husband didn't even have a hat so it was an abbreviated attempt.  I am more easily overwhelmed with the crowds than The Husband so it was hard, not to mention that I always find crowds wearing/exhausting even when I'm feeling tip-top which I wasn't.  (Only five more weeks to go until I'm deemed fully recovered from the surgery.  Yay!)

We ate at Seven Brothers, were previously introduced to them by our son who loves them.  Me?  Not so much.  They're huge for one thing, and IMO overpriced.  The turn off for me was the fact that my burger was still very pink inside and worrywart that I am, I simply cannot abide uncooked ground beef.  I ate about half and then couldn't stomach any more.  The final item that will keep me from eating there again is the fact that they won't take cash.  Truly.  I know I'm old, but the currency used in this country should be acceptable at all places of business.  They just want it to be easier for themselves.  Nope, not helping them.  The food wasn't enough to tip the scales. And parenthetically, that particular location needs to work on their customer service.  They were busy - lines of people out the door.  But the person taking our order couldn't have been more robot-like.  Nary a smile.  Complete lack of interest in anything except hurrying us along.  He clearly wanted to be anywhere but there working. So I don't plan to go back to Seven Brothers.

This morning, I'm so grateful to have felt well enough to be out for what is a favorite holiday tradition of ours.  Fingers crossed we'll be able to continue our symphony tickets.  So grateful for the much needed moisture, though we need a ton more, especially in the form of mountain snow. I'm grateful for medication that can help my acid stomach, my dizzy inducing head congestion and the pain from arthritis.  I'm also grateful that Christmas is about wrapped up - in all definitions of the word.  Tomorrow will be the Sacrament meeting Christmas program - my turn on the organ - then Tuesday we'll run down to see our son in Utah County and by then all (very few) neighbor/friend gifts will have been delivered and we will have a quiet Christmas.  We are becoming accustomed to it being just us on Christmas day, life surely changes as one ages.  So grateful to be alive to see the dawning of a new day, a fresh try at being a better disciple of Christ.

Recovering

Even though this was a straightforward procedure, it is still considered major surgery.  Haven't had many of those in my lifetime. Thank heavens.  Somehow or other I figured after a couple days at home I'd be up and at 'em, doing my regular stuff, handling everything with aplomb.  Ha.

Tomorrow will be one week.  I'm still tired a lot.  Even napped a bit yesterday afternoon which isn't all that common for me.  I missed church on Sunday which felt odd.  The Husband and I are rarely separated these days and it felt strange to not be at church to take the Sacrament.  Still, I think it would have been too much for me.

We're off in a few minutes to pick up a couple last minute gifts.  We are really cutting back this year, spending much less, doing much less.  Hopefully that will be fine for everyone. Liked this article that I read about Christmas and stuff.  Following Christ into Christmas  And I'm hoping to get just this little bit done today as an evaluation of exactly what I'm capable of.  Was supposed to do lunch tomorrow but postponed it for a week to allow me just a bit more time.  Thursday night is dinner with our friends, also been postponed (darn surgery conflicting with everything) and Friday evening is our symphony tickets - the Christmas concert I look forward to every single year.  Riding trax downtown will be a relief but also kind of scary.  Fingers crossed I'll be just fine.

Truly, I'm pleased with my progress and recovery so far.  Yesterday I managed the laundry, albeit s-l-o-w-l-y and carefully. But I'm sleeping decently, everything seems to be functioning properly, I'm just a bit sore and without energy.  I want to get back to my shoulder exercises because they are so helpful for my back.

I keep talking to myself, encouraging health and chipper outlook.  Don't know if it helps, but I'll keep at it.

I'm so grateful it is all behind me and that so far things are going swimmingly. So grateful to have such help - The Husband is far better at vacuuming than I am, and he is always so cheerful whenever I ask him to help reach or lift or whatever.  He's definitely a keeper.  I'm grateful for friends that have reached out to ask how I"m doing.  I told basically no one beforehand, have told only a few more since.  As mentioned, I despise fuss and this has been fairly fuss free.  So:  that's great. I'm grateful to be in a position to rest when I need, to delay the pile of ironing - wearing wrinkly clothes isn't going to hurt us.  I'll get back to it.

Mostly I'm grateful for prayer and the blessings that have been granted me in this journey so far.  I'm not one to want or need a lot of medical things, but have garnered strength from those prayers.  Yes, grateful.