We are on the downslope of our roller coaster ride with DH.  Boys and I went yesterday to celebrate DH's birthday.  They called me when we were on the way and said he was dehydrated again and shaking. When we got there he was sound asleep and we could not wake him up. They had increased his dosage from .05 to .1 and instead of decreasing the three times a day it was now increased to four times. They said he had been awake all morning and was alert. Then his B/P dropped and heart rate went up and they are going to start him on an IV. Today they called me and said his vitals are good now and he is much better. He is off the meds as of today because he has the start of pneumonia so he's on an antibotic.  I don't know what to think. He is not eating or drinking and is losing weight. This is a short term facility and I don't know how much longer he can stay there. I asked the nurse to have the Dr. call me. I have a lot of questions as to where we are going. I don't know if they can help him. The nursing home is still holding his bed.  I also have a call in to the financial dept. of both places. I need to know if insurance is paying or am I. I am very unstable right now. I just can't seem to get it together.  I went to the grocery store and right in the aisle I started crying.

My sister in law called this morning and my BIL is in the hospital with blood clots in his lungs. They will keep him several days and get those dissolved. Boy when it rains, it pours. I hope they can get him fixed up and back home soon. She is already going through this with her brother.

Today is Molly's birthday, she is seven. She had a french fry as a treat instead of frozen green beans. She has made this pillow her own and always sleeps on it. Be kind to one another.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone today. I am so thankful for all of you that come to visit and leave such uplifting comments. We saw hubby yesterday and he has started on new meds. When we came in his face lit up and we got a big smile. Then he looked at me and said "I love you". Oh my. He said it several times while we were there. I couldn't have a more blessed Thanksgiving. He made us laugh out loud with his facial expressions and some of the things he said. My favorite is about the exercise ball. They toss it to him and he tosses it back as exercise. He told us that lady throws that thing at him and he said "I throw it right back at her"! We enjoyed this visit so very much. I hope this works. They give it three times a day and want to cut down to twice a day. They are very conservative about meds and want the smallest dosage possible that works.

I made another card for Thanksgiving. It is Lawn Fawn mice and a Spellbinders die for the frame. Enjoy the day, love each other and don't eat too much.

Today is the last day that our family doctor is here. He is retiring and it is so hard to say goodbye. We have been with him for over 30 years and he is the most caring, compassionate person. It's hard to start over with someone who hasn't been along with us on this journey but the new Dr. won't be taking care of hubby, only me. That should keep him busy enough! This is the card I made for him. It is an NBUS stamp from Cornish Heritage Farms called  The Saturday Evening Post Common Cold. That's how long I've had it! The date on the back is 2009. It was kind of hard to color since some of the images are so small. I love the hot water bottle and his feet in hot water. People today might not know what a hot water bottle is.  The inside says "will be missed". Be kind to one another.

Oh my, it is so cold here. We had a beautiful snowfall yesterday. It didn't really stick but it was fat, gorgeous flakes that came down so fast. I went to GS's basketball game that was so exciting. They lost by one point but the game was great to watch. Today I plan to watch football and do laundry. I need to catch up with things around here so I can start my Christmas cards. I've done no shopping and don't have a clue what I want to get for anyone. I can't actually believe it is almost here. Where did this year go?

At our visit to DH Friday the nurse came out and told us he was having a bad day. He had been shaking and picking all morning when she came in. We were taken back to his room, which was a first, to see him. He was sound asleep and did not wake up while we were standing around his bed talking. I know they are doing their best and it takes time so I am trying not to get upset. I can only hope he won't remember them taking blood tests every day and giving him shots to get his meds in him.

It is exciting to have a family of coyotes in our field but I am always worried for Molly. Every time she goes out I check the yard. At night I scan the yard and field with my huge flashlight before she can go out. I have to do that anyway because for some reason there are bunnies inside our fence. I have to chase them out before she can go outside.

I got another card made. Very simple with just SU burlap ribbon, a die cut leaf and some dew drops. Brushed the leaf ends with ink and added a sentiment by SU. Be kind to one another.

The boys and I went to see DH yesterday. We met with the Dr.'s assistance as he was called away while we were on our way there. Said DH would be there at least seven more days. Because of his health problems, heart, TIA's, fatty liver, kidney problems (first I've heard of this) and so on they couldn't start decreasing his meds right away. He has to have three good days with no aggression or combativeness before he can go back. She said he had a good weekend. Then we went in to see him. He was slumped over the side of the recliner chair picking at the side of the chair. There was no recognition of us, nothing he said made any sense and most of the time they weren't words. He shook the entire time. He was combative when the nurses lifted him back up and propped him up. They took him off a lot of the meds and we have to wonder if it was cold turkey. Clonazepam is one you should not just suddenly stop. He looked like he was coming off drugs and having a violent reaction. It was a brutal visit and we were totally unprepared after hearing he had a good weekend. I have a call in this morning to speak to her again. She also said that the Lisinipro he was on probably caused the kidney issues. He was not on that drug, so another question for her.

The day before yesterday I had Molly out and was waiting for her to come in when out of the corner of my eye I spotted our coyote. He was standing perfectly still and watching the dogs in the yard to the north of us. He was like a statue so I went and got my camera and was able to get a few pictures. As I was ready to come in the house, a small baby coyote came out of the weeds, followed  by a really big one. OMG, a family! I didn't get pictures because they ran into the weeds and were gone. These pictures were taken from our sun porch and they were just on the other side of the fence. That is the neighbors rain gauge that is in the picture and our black chain link fence. Be kind to one another.

Prayers going out for Paris. When will this end?

The hospital called us Wed. night and said they had to adjust DH meds because he said he was going to shoot them. So he's not quite there yet. My sil and I went yesterday to see him. We were in a different room this time and they brought him in first, then came and got us. He was in a wheelchair this time and he was dressed. I don't know whose clothes they were as the nursing home didn't send any clothes with him. He smiled again when he saw me. He talked the entire time we were there but it was in a loop. Same stories over and over but he talked and stayed awake the whole time and seemed more alert than last time. My sons and I have a meeting with his doctor there on Monday. We have some questions about treatment and what they expect.

I made this card for Thanksgiving using a Cuttlebug embossing folder, Lawn Fawn mice and glitter paper for the pumpkin. The background is DCWV paper. I inked over the e/f to make it visible.  I didn't make fall cards like I thought I would. I still have hopes to get started. Be kind to one another.

The place was like a fortress. We had to leave all contraband in the car (which turned out to be my purse) and go through three locked doors to get in. We signed in and a nurse used a card to swipe the doors for us to go through. They took us to a windowless room with three chairs like you see in a cafeteria. Then they wheeled him in. He sits is a leather recliner with drop trays on both sides and it is on rollers. He has not walked since being brought in. He is on an IV because he was dehydrated. I leaned over him and said a soft hi. He focused on me for a minute, then his face broke out in a huge smile. He said "I haven't seen you in a long time". I tear up as I type this. He told us a story about something that happened at work many years ago and repeated it over about 5 times. That was okay. Then he told us his wife left him there and took everything! He did fall asleep for about 5 minutes while we were there, then woke up and said he was tired. Before we left he looked at me and said "You can come back anytime". He did not really know who we were but it was okay for us to be there. He didn't seem drugged but any question we asked he said he didn't know or couldn't remember. He didn't ask us where he was or for us to get him out.

I can't tell you how nervous the boys and I were. We talked about it on the way there. I felt like I would throw up all day. When he smiled at me all that feeling fell away and I was at peace. I hope that will continue. I had it in my mind that they would make him all better and he would come home but now I see that won't happen. It's time for our new reality. I can only hope he will be as sweet when he comes back to the nursing home. I don't know if they will be able to do physical therapy when he gets back since he hasn't walked in so long. He may be in a wheelchair from now on. I wanted to tell you all how it went because you have all been so kind and caring. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am still not quite in the new place yet until he comes back and gets used to the nursing home. Then I will be okay. Yesterday went a long way to calming me down. I just needed to see him. Be kind to one another.

I made a card. It's very basic but I do like it. Lawn Fawn paper with a strip cut from designer paper of acorns. I sponged DI on paper and punched the leaves from an EK punch. Then Versamark ink and UTEE. The sentiment is DeNami.

I call the hospital every day and found that DH is off nine meds and has been given something to help with the aggression. He's not eating a lot but is awake and in the common area. He is not talking, but is watching everyone.  The boys and I are going to visit tomorrow. I'm very nervous and hope he will not want us to take him home. If we can just talk to him instead of him getting so upset that will be great. It sounds like he is just so confused about where he is and what is happening to him. We'll see what happens.  Be kind to one another.

Today hubby is being transfered to a psychiatric hospital about an hour away from here. They feel they can help him get rid of the hostility and anger. At first I was resistant but I do see the value in the treatment for him and if it can help it will be worth it. They did get him to the dining room Tues. night. I hate that he is just getting used to that place and they are going to move him to a new facility with different people. It's been nine days since I've seen him. I know he wonders where I am and leaving him alone is the hardest thing I've ever done. We will be able to go see him after he has been in the new hospital for a week. I'm anxious to see how he is and what he says.

I feel like my life is on hold until we get results and see what happens. I can't seem to get organized to do anything and truthfully I'm not doing anything. This week has been in the mid 70's and just lovely. I cleaned a little bit in the garage. That was always hubby's job and there are things out there that I don't even know what they are. They boys will go through that stuff.

I did send out some cards earlier in October and I have to apologize if your card came postage due. I bought a roll of stamps online from the PO that said they were forever stamps. There is no denomination on the stamp so I assumed (and you know what happens when you assume) they were just regular stamps. Only one card was returned to me from the PO with this little note below. Turns out they are not 45 cent stamps. Oops. Be kind to one another.

Just wanted to pop in and tell you SIL and I went to NH yesterday. I signed all the paperwork and we walked down to his room. The director knocked on his door and he was awake so she and SIL went in. He told the director to get out and leave him alone. SIL asked if she could stay and he said yes. He wanted to know where I was and she said I was sick and couldn't come now. She isn't sure he knew who she was but that he knew he knew her. They said he was very combative and won't settle down. Today they will get him dressed so he can go to PT. If he will. He told SIL he doesn't like all those people coming in his room. Just wants to be left alone to sleep. I will call tonight and see if he got dressed and if he went to PT. If not, he goes to a semi private room. I don't know how he will do with a room mate.

Thank you all again for your love and prayers and support. I am getting used to being here alone however I find myself having a lot of chat with the dog. It seems to be fairly one sided as she is not much of a conversationalist. She does listen though and cocks her head so she is trying. Be kind to one another.