Southern Porch Extension

[Laurie]

I hadn't seen anything about Jess at Facebook, so I asked here and this is what I found out.

Sunday she went into Cardiac Arrest, by Tuesday, Jess was on the ventilator, however she was responding to all commands and they had lowered the settings to the vent to 'assist mode'. Later Tuesday, Jess's dad posted that she had been transferred from the vent to the a trach. On Wednesday, Jess's dad posted that Jess was alert and awake but very uncomfortable. Sedation has been lowered once again and we are now waiting to hear anything new.

[ready2go]

I hadn't seen anything about Jess at Facebook, so I asked here and this is what I found out.

Sunday she went into Cardiac Arrest, by Tuesday, Jess was on the ventilator, however she was responding to all commands and they had lowered the settings to the vent to 'assist mode'. Later Tuesday, Jess's dad posted that she had been transferred from the vent to the a trach. On Wednesday, Jess's dad posted that Jess was alert and awake but very uncomfortable. Sedation has been lowered once again and we are now waiting to hear anything new.

That poor girl!!! I just can't imagine everything Jess and her family must be going through.

"Oh, Lord, Jess needs Your healing touch. Let it begin soon!"

Prayers continuing....

Don

[ready2go]

I'm not quite sure what happened or why, but Monday through Thursday of this week I was one miserable creature. On Sunday I had ordered some take-out food from a local restaurant that must have been so toxic to me that it would have made hydrochloric acid seem like fresh drinking water. The food didn't taste right, either.

On Monday my stomach and back were in such pain and ache...the likes of which I have never felt before. My head also ached non-stop. Nothing I did would bring any relief. I felt stuffed after just a few bites of food. I suspect something in the food caused a big-time immediate inflammation of the stomach lining and kidneys...and it got worse each day.

I couldn't sleep, either. Lying down only made it the pains worse. There was no position in bed that would help. Standing up was the only thing that would lessen the pain. Wednesday night I only got one hour of sleep, and not much more than that on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights. My lower intestinal tract was never affected.

Finally, Friday (yesterday) there was considerable improvement. I slept all night last night with almost no pain...and today I feel great...almost. I believe the "what ever it was" is gone! I don't complain much, especially here on the porch because there are others here that endure worse things, but this was relentless and very painful. However, I was very close to going to the ER mid-week...something I would almost never do for myself.

By the way, Carol's different meal was fine. But in spite of that, I don't have any desire to go to that restaurant for take-out food any time soon. One never knows what someone might have added to the food.

Don

[Verna]

So glad you're better, Don.

Thanks for the inspiration, Edy and Carol. My husband and I sat in the second row when Paul Harvey was in our town MANY years ago.

Mariane, that's frightening information!

Laurie, Thanks for the update on Jess. I can't imagine the roller coaster feelings of her parents and her. And I'm hardly the EC queen--haven't had one in over six months, I think. The latest entry was 15th over-all and 10th in Masters.

And here's a cute thing a friend (Pat Guy) posted on Facebook.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wt824D1Bqg&sns=fb

[ready2go]

And here's a cute thing a friend (Pat Guy) posted on Facebook.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wt824D1Bqg&sns=fb

That little guy has some great moves!

The only time I ever moved like that was when I was trying to shake a couple of dozen fire ants from my pant legs...and a few kept climbing.

Don

[Green Leaves]

Dn, I'm glad you are now feeling better. I am so sorry to hear what you went through.

[ready2go]

After a wimpy winter (if one could even call it winter) in MN, spring came upon us at least a month early. Most of the country has experienced that as well. That just isn't right.

Where were the sleigh bells this year? The roaring of snowmobile engines was not heard. We can't have winter without a good blizzard or two, and a string of bone-chilling, sub-zero temperatures. Dog sled races were cancelled. New snow blowers with price tags still on them were not used. That is just awful...Minnesotan's expect to have some winter weather, ya know.

Our lake opened up on Mar. 18th...the earliest on record. The daffodils are blooming...tree leaves are popping out...lawns are turning green...robins are building their nests...and people are planting gardens. A brave water skier was already on the lake a few days ago.

Last week a confused chipmunk was sitting near our front porch trying to figure out what was going on this year. The warm weather woke him up from where he was enjoying a nice winter nap in his snug den. He was no doubt thinking, "Whoa! I could use another month of sleep."

It is just not right, I tell you. There is another whole week of March left. I'm not putting my snow shovel away yet.

Don

[Laurie]

Don, it sounds like you were really miserable. I'm glad you're feeling better now.

A friend I had in high school passed away last week. And Christine Hartline passed away yesterday. She's the founder of ED Referral, a top name comprehensive site to find treatment for eating disorders. I don't know her age, but she sure looks young in her picture at Facebook. We'd exchanged some messages at Facebook in past months. In addition to those close to her, this will hit many out there who have eating disorders.

I did work on some things for my mom as well as some business related matters this weekend. I know I should just take time away completely from things, but the weeks fill up so fast. And I need to keep up on Mom's matters, and I feel I need to try to get back into promoting my ministry/business since I've taken a couple of months away from that now. I did take some time to journal, though, and went back to bed for a while both mornings since I woke up so early.

Family dynamics are never fun, but it's especially challenging at times like this. If we can just get through all of this without someone popping their cork (including me!). Helping my mom and being there for her on top of my own grief and trying to get this business going is enough. Add family stuff on top of it, and it just about puts me over the edge. But this too shall pass.

[ready2go]

About two hours ago a 7.2 earthquake hit central Chile. Damage reports are not yet available.

There has been a lot of strong earthquake activity on the IRIS Seismic Monitor today.

http://www.iris.edu/seismon/

Don

[ready2go]

I clearly remember seeing a large, framed sign hanging on a wall inside the entrance of the company where my dad was employed during the mid-1950's. This is what the sign said:

"THE WORLD OWES NO MAN A LIVING -- ONLY THE RIGHT TO EARN ONE"

That message should be resurrected and reproduced a million times...with every company in America required to display it. It also needs to be posted on every street corner. A serious change of attitude and mind-set is in order, but will it happen? I doubt it, for we have gone much too far to turn around.

Don

[ready2go]

In the past 30 hours there have been six postings on the porch...and four of them were mine.

I'm starting to realize that when I show up here, people quickly scatter and hide.

What's up with that??? I don't bite!!!

Don

[ready2go]

...Four hours later...

Well all right, then...

I'll just pick up my toys and go home.

( sigh )

Don

[Carole L]

Hello, just a quick stop to say hi. Planning a picnic lunch at Daytona Beach tomorrow. Going with Pattys friends from the neighboring mobile, they are from Canada. Love listening to their accent!

Beautuful weather, in the 80's with a cool breeze.

Tomorrow will be a busy day. It's about a two hr druve to the beach, lunch, some play time in the water (none of us swim) trip back, then packing and early to bed. Need to leave Ocala about 3 AM for a 5:30 arrival at the Orlando Airport. Flight leaves at 6:30.

One transfer in Memphis, then home by noon. Hopefully I'll be able to get a nap afterwards.

[Verna]

Don, don't think your porch friends don't care--On the week-end is the least busy time on the porch, and I rarely get e-mails that day. You should post on FW your lament about the lack of winter in Minnesota this year.

Carole, sounds like a fun day. Be safe and enjoy it.

Laurie, seems like you have had a spell of bad news. It will be nice to have your mom nearby.

I hope you all have a good week ahead.

[Edy]

Thanks, Don, for being the Porch weekend warrior, handling guard duty all by your lonesome. I usually do check to see if anything is going on weekends, but mostly find myself too tired to post what I think of to tell. Thanks, too, for that seismic-activity link. Gracious! What a lot of jiggling going on! I tried to find Haiti, but didn't see any circles in that vicinity. That is where my nephew and his young family will be serving, beginning in July. His sister-in-law has been a physician's assistant in Haiti for a number of years, so Christopher and his family have made several trips there, including right after the big earthquake a couple years ago, to help with relief work.
http://thompsonstohaiti.blogspot.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZuqkMxw ... e=youtu.be

Forgive me, if I've posted these links, here, before now. My forgetter always works better than my memory. These relatives are some of my most favorite people - especially "Baby" Kate with those sweet chubby cheeks and winsome ideas!