Jan. 20-26, 2019
Snow, Cold, Red Wolf Moon, Dh Released, Migraines, Doc's, Bulletin Board
A lot was packed into this week; the complete opposite of the light week we had last week. The biggest news is that, on Thursday afternoon, we fought horrible snowy/icy roads to go to Dh's eye doctor appointment.
Eye Doctor Appt:
With the roads being so bad it took longer than our normal forty-five minutes to arrive, but we had left plenty early and still arrived with ten minutes to spare.
Dh noticed the gas bubble they had injected into his eye during the surgery, which had been shrinking all along, had finally disappeared!
Dr. Gindzin looked his eye over and agreed the bubble was gone and that cleared Dh for released from ALL restrictions!
Dh can go back to work next week; but most importantly he can go back to sleeping on his back, laying down in a bed!
No longer will he have to sleep sitting up in a high-backed chair in our living room every night!
Shop Work:
With Dh being released to move around more he has been slowly working in spells in his shop. He continues the month's long job of building his own workbench and then building attachment holders to lock in the tool to a specific spot; so it will always have a very specific spot as its home. He is having a great time; we call this kind of work "piddling" and it is great fun!
Dh noticed the gas bubble they had injected into his eye during the surgery, which had been shrinking all along, had finally disappeared!
Dr. Gindzin looked his eye over and agreed the bubble was gone and that cleared Dh for released from ALL restrictions!
Dh can go back to work next week; but most importantly he can go back to sleeping on his back, laying down in a bed!
No longer will he have to sleep sitting up in a high-backed chair in our living room every night!
Shop Work:
With Dh being released to move around more he has been slowly working in spells in his shop. He continues the month's long job of building his own workbench and then building attachment holders to lock in the tool to a specific spot; so it will always have a very specific spot as its home. He is having a great time; we call this kind of work "piddling" and it is great fun!
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| The holder for the flashlight/beamer (ignore the muddy fingerprints, please!). |
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| A permanent spot for the emergency flashlight/beamer. |
Eyeglasses and/or contacts:
Now that Dh can go back to work he needs to sort out something for his vision. We had just bought him TWO pairs of glasses in October, of course! The surgery on his eye has completely changed his prescription. The two eyes were different before, but now they are at extreme ends and therefore the solution isn't easy.
Dr. Gindzin thought the ophthalmologist would prescribe one contact for the old eye and tell Dh to get a pair of reading glasses for reading. The ophthalmologist; she was very confusing and offered all sorts of odd things--like wearing contacts and glasses--both?! and, I don't know, it was very confusing. We were not at all impressed with this part of the office!!! Unfortunately, we go back to see her in two weeks, right before our check-in with Dr. Gindzin. For now, she gave Dh two kinds of contacts to test out (for a charge) and he bought an expensive pair of good reading glasses at Meijer to help him with work in the meantime. I pray this will sort itself out, he will need to read a computer screen, paperwork, and drive, which is three different distances and they only have sorted out one of those at this point.
Dr. Gindzin thought the ophthalmologist would prescribe one contact for the old eye and tell Dh to get a pair of reading glasses for reading. The ophthalmologist; she was very confusing and offered all sorts of odd things--like wearing contacts and glasses--both?! and, I don't know, it was very confusing. We were not at all impressed with this part of the office!!! Unfortunately, we go back to see her in two weeks, right before our check-in with Dr. Gindzin. For now, she gave Dh two kinds of contacts to test out (for a charge) and he bought an expensive pair of good reading glasses at Meijer to help him with work in the meantime. I pray this will sort itself out, he will need to read a computer screen, paperwork, and drive, which is three different distances and they only have sorted out one of those at this point.
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| He put in shelves last week |
Sleeping:
Isn't it funny, Dh's first night back in bed and it was very difficult for him. His body ached all over and he kept waking up! All those muscles that got accustomed to sleeping in a chair were not happy with the change!
I'm hoping he can sort out the sleeping change in time for his return to work, don't want him having to go back to work without sorting that out! Weather: Winter has really landed this week! It was -10 on Monday morning and we had snow a few times this week too.
Closings: Olympians
Both last Wednesday and again this Wednesday our Olympians program at church was canceled because the local schools were closed due to our horrible weather. In Indiana, it was common for things to close, but we quickly learned that in Michigan it had to be a big deal for something to close.
The roads are treacherous! On Friday, when I was driving Dd to her Grace classes, we passed six auto's that had slid off the road. One of the auto's, a truck, actually was right behind me and I had just happened to look back and watched him slid across all lanes of traffic and into the median; so crazy.
After dropping her off in Grand Rapids I had to make the long drive back alone. The highway that I had just traveled up to take her there was now closed because, as I saw, a white truck had rolled across the road. That poor truck's top had been battered in the process. I hope the occupants are okay--hard to say with that kind of damage. It is days like this that I am glad we homeschool but wish we didn't have to make the long commute once a week for her co-op classes.
Red Wolf Moon:
Dd and I stayed up to see the amazing moon on Sunday night. It was so cold, something like -2, so we would only be out there for a few minutes and then come in and get warm before heading back out again.
It was interesting to see how much the moon moved and how much more of the moon went into shadow in just those few minutes.
We took pictures, Dd used her tripod and fancy camera to get some great shots; but my camera was practically horrible!
But, the memory is in my heart. I cherish doing these kinds of things with her!
Doctors & Dentists & Orthodontists:
This week was so full of doctor's visits---I went to the dentist, Dd went to the Orthodontist, Dh went to eye surgeon (Dr. Gindzin) and an ophthalmologist, and had his annual doctor exam. That was FIVE different doctors for us in one week! We were so busy Dh and I didn't get out Bible study fit in each day; which was disappointing. I've really enjoyed seeing him have time for Bible study and treadmill.
Pastor Ron's Last Sermon:
Sunday was our pastor's last sermon. Afterward, our church had a big pitch-in, or as they say in Michigan, a 'potluck.' It was really special and sad.
Babysitting:
Dd was fortunate to be asked to babysit again for Teresa! We love T & J's two kiddos! It is so great seeing Dd grow up and continue to love caring for kids--always has and probably always will. She had to drive home after 11 pm, all by herself on these snowy roads. Dh and I waited up anxiously for her safe return.
Bulletin Board:
I've been working on a new board for our church--almost done.
Chickens:
The girls are all doing okay. With the crazy cold weather I haven't let them out as much or for as long. I hate this weather for them---I know they want to be outside in warmth---eating fresh greens, but that just isn't part of Michigan winters. I'm trying to bring in fun foods for them and boost their morale, but there is only so much I can do now.
Migraines:
Well, I hadn't had a migraine all January...so I was due. I started a headache on Friday and it turned to a major migraine by Saturday. Saturday and Sunday were really horrible; extreme pain and nausea. I hate to miss church, but just walking to the bathroom was extremely painful, much less all the work of getting to church. Dh and Dd went without me. I am thankful I went three weeks without any major migraines or headaches, so that was a blessing.
Academics for the Week:
Bible:
Volunteering:
Library: Story Time: 9:30 - 11 am
(Olympians canceled this week due to bad weather)
Church: Nursery: 1 hour
Home Economic's:
No-Knead Brioche: This week Dd made two loaves of bread. It was an ordeal that took two days! But, it looked amazing! I can't eat that kind of bread but it smelled and looked fantastic. She did a great job researching and doing it all on her own.
P.E.:
Dd had workouts this week: 2
Grace Classes:
Cultural Geography: BJU
Algebra I: Saxon
Spanish I: BJU
Introductory Logic
Exploring Economics: Started This Week! She has the same teacher that teaches her Geography class. This teacher seems to make learning extra fun for her! Joy!
Next Week:
POLAR VORTEX! LOTS more snow and the high temperature for Wednesday is "0." Wind chills -30 to -60 degrees in southern Michigan, but we won't be that cold luckily! Maybe -20? ish?
Dh is going back to work!!! Yay! Nov. 16 is when he was diagnosed with the torn retina and hasn't been back to work all this time and our HSA account has been dwindling down each week as his work hasn't had to contribute to it with him being off. I am SO thankful not to have to deal with Mutual of Omaha starting next week! This week they are still trying to get the information from our doctors or something---we haven't had a check in three weeks from them; which is ironic with the government shut-down and we get to be in the same boat as all those workers. I'm praying for us all to get back to work and get back to being paid!
....
I'm hoping he can sort out the sleeping change in time for his return to work, don't want him having to go back to work without sorting that out! Weather: Winter has really landed this week! It was -10 on Monday morning and we had snow a few times this week too.
Closings: Olympians
Both last Wednesday and again this Wednesday our Olympians program at church was canceled because the local schools were closed due to our horrible weather. In Indiana, it was common for things to close, but we quickly learned that in Michigan it had to be a big deal for something to close.
The roads are treacherous! On Friday, when I was driving Dd to her Grace classes, we passed six auto's that had slid off the road. One of the auto's, a truck, actually was right behind me and I had just happened to look back and watched him slid across all lanes of traffic and into the median; so crazy.
After dropping her off in Grand Rapids I had to make the long drive back alone. The highway that I had just traveled up to take her there was now closed because, as I saw, a white truck had rolled across the road. That poor truck's top had been battered in the process. I hope the occupants are okay--hard to say with that kind of damage. It is days like this that I am glad we homeschool but wish we didn't have to make the long commute once a week for her co-op classes.
Red Wolf Moon:
Dd and I stayed up to see the amazing moon on Sunday night. It was so cold, something like -2, so we would only be out there for a few minutes and then come in and get warm before heading back out again.
It was interesting to see how much the moon moved and how much more of the moon went into shadow in just those few minutes.
We took pictures, Dd used her tripod and fancy camera to get some great shots; but my camera was practically horrible!
But, the memory is in my heart. I cherish doing these kinds of things with her!
This week was so full of doctor's visits---I went to the dentist, Dd went to the Orthodontist, Dh went to eye surgeon (Dr. Gindzin) and an ophthalmologist, and had his annual doctor exam. That was FIVE different doctors for us in one week! We were so busy Dh and I didn't get out Bible study fit in each day; which was disappointing. I've really enjoyed seeing him have time for Bible study and treadmill.
Pastor Ron's Last Sermon:
Sunday was our pastor's last sermon. Afterward, our church had a big pitch-in, or as they say in Michigan, a 'potluck.' It was really special and sad.
 |
Garden: Not looking like spring just yet! |
Dd was fortunate to be asked to babysit again for Teresa! We love T & J's two kiddos! It is so great seeing Dd grow up and continue to love caring for kids--always has and probably always will. She had to drive home after 11 pm, all by herself on these snowy roads. Dh and I waited up anxiously for her safe return.
 |
| Close-Up of board |
Bulletin Board:
I've been working on a new board for our church--almost done.
 |
| As you can tell- the chickens weren't outside this week! No dirt-baths for them! Bah. |
Chickens:
The girls are all doing okay. With the crazy cold weather I haven't let them out as much or for as long. I hate this weather for them---I know they want to be outside in warmth---eating fresh greens, but that just isn't part of Michigan winters. I'm trying to bring in fun foods for them and boost their morale, but there is only so much I can do now.
 |
| Honeysuckle |
Migraines:
Well, I hadn't had a migraine all January...so I was due. I started a headache on Friday and it turned to a major migraine by Saturday. Saturday and Sunday were really horrible; extreme pain and nausea. I hate to miss church, but just walking to the bathroom was extremely painful, much less all the work of getting to church. Dh and Dd went without me. I am thankful I went three weeks without any major migraines or headaches, so that was a blessing.
Academics for the Week:
Bible:
Church, Sunday School, Youth Program
Word of Life daily Bible Study
Audio:
My Antonia by Willa Cather
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Audio:
My Antonia by Willa Cather
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Volunteering:
Library: Story Time: 9:30 - 11 am
(Olympians canceled this week due to bad weather)
Church: Nursery: 1 hour
Home Economic's:
No-Knead Brioche: This week Dd made two loaves of bread. It was an ordeal that took two days! But, it looked amazing! I can't eat that kind of bread but it smelled and looked fantastic. She did a great job researching and doing it all on her own.
P.E.:
Dd had workouts this week: 2
Grace Classes:
Cultural Geography: BJU
Algebra I: Saxon
Spanish I: BJU
Introductory Logic
Exploring Economics: Started This Week! She has the same teacher that teaches her Geography class. This teacher seems to make learning extra fun for her! Joy!
Next Week:
POLAR VORTEX! LOTS more snow and the high temperature for Wednesday is "0." Wind chills -30 to -60 degrees in southern Michigan, but we won't be that cold luckily! Maybe -20? ish?
Dh is going back to work!!! Yay! Nov. 16 is when he was diagnosed with the torn retina and hasn't been back to work all this time and our HSA account has been dwindling down each week as his work hasn't had to contribute to it with him being off. I am SO thankful not to have to deal with Mutual of Omaha starting next week! This week they are still trying to get the information from our doctors or something---we haven't had a check in three weeks from them; which is ironic with the government shut-down and we get to be in the same boat as all those workers. I'm praying for us all to get back to work and get back to being paid!
....
