Merry Meet and Merry Part, and Merry Meet again

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Beltane Blessings

Who doesn't love Beltane?! Celebrating the turning of the Wheel to a warmer, lighter time of growing things of all plants and species. Definitely a party atmosphere. Of course here, not so much due to the situation, but I still wanted to acknowledge Beltane and send out love and light to all!!

As for my husband, Interventional Radiology performed a procedure on Sunday to try to correct this awful draining. He is in new pain, but please, oh please, we are hoping this will take care of it!! And I, of course caught a head cold and am having to stay away from the hospital for a couple of days; do not want to give my cold to him!

Have a beautiful day and night!

Friday, April 26, 2013

Back To the Hospital

Yesterday (April 25th) I took my husband for a CT scan and today we received the results. There is another abscess and all this drainage he has been enduring from three sites is from that abscess. This explains his failure to grow stronger, the complete loss of appetite and inability to eat and the loss of close to thirty pounds in the last month! He has been experiencing a lot of pain from the infected sites.

So the doctor said he must be admitted to the hospital ASAP, started on intravenous antibiotics, etc and prepare for another procedure to find and treat the abscess, which is hiding out in a portion of his intestine.

He is such a trooper even with all of this added misery. We have had to change his dressings several times a day over the last week due to the drainage (sorry about the "ick" factor). Right now he looks like the merest shadow of his former self. We want to get him strong and healthy because golf season is here!!

This is not the news I wanted to be blogging about! I was hoping by this time he would be so much better and able to go out and help me choose a small tree or two that we could plant for Arbor Day today. My son was looking forward to digging a hole and getting a tree into the ground. I hope someone out there planted a tree today!!!

All for now; hopefully back soon with better news!  Bright blessings from Robin.


Monday, April 22, 2013

Popping In

Here I am, almost at the end of Earth Day to say hello to my good friends. This region of the planet was beautiful today, though brisk; beautiful sky, new buds on the trees, so many of our dear wild birds returning. A glorious day on Earth.

As far as my husband's progress; the healing of the surgical site is quite good. He still has a problem with a terrible drainage of an infection at the site of one of the surgical staples that were removed. It is causing a lot of problems. The other problem is weight loss due to a serious lack of appetite, though we are working daily to correct this. He will be having a CT scan this week to see about the infection. He has much less pain now, but still quite weak. I believe most of this is all entirely normal. If not for the staple site infection, he would be doing much better.

Obviously, I don't have much else to talk about as my days and nights are centered around my husband's care. I am going to try to visit everyone's blogs this week; it will probably take me a while to get around, as I have a lot of posts to catch up on. I hope you have not all forgotten me!!! Because I think of all of you every day.

I have been doing a lot of reading and have some fabulous books to recommend. Hopefully I can do that soon. And I am dreaming of the summer garden. We could not do much last year garden wise as my brother was recovering from the two strokes. Now this year, my husband is ailing, but my son and I are determined to do a few things. We shall see!!

And so I shall say farewell for now. My forget-me-nots are starting to bloom! That beautiful sky-blue tiny blossom. That is my message to you: Forget-me-not! Hugs from Robin.

Friday, April 12, 2013

Curious, but also Significant

Rain fell most of the day and when it was not raining, it was cloudy, drippy, misty. The garden was active, though with birds, voles, a large rabbit, squirrels and green shoots pushing up from the awakening earth.

While my husband was napping on this quiet, gray day, I took the opportunity to enjoy a music meditation. There are three types of meditations I practice; meditating in silence and alone, which opportunity does not present itself too often; candle meditation on esbats (full moon observance), for specific purposes, for communing with the God and the Goddess; and my music meditation where I put my headphones on and play some of my favorite celtic cds. I have special selections for various applications, and sometimes just for a few minutes of relaxation.

Anyway, having said all that, let me tell you what happened this afternoon.

I was listening to some beautiful music from my Scottish Moors cd and spent a lovely 30 minutes drifting through the Unseen world, breathing slowly, focusing on healing and peace. The last 10 minutes or so, I felt a strong energy surrounding me, and began using my hands and arms in harmony with the music, drawing in the energy, pulling it toward me. It was a beautiful experience and I strongly felt the presence of Deity.

When the meditation ended, I plucked off the headphones and got up from my glider/rocker and headed for the kitchen for something to drink. This was less than 60 seconds after my meditation. My son Nick called to me just a few feet away. "Mom, look what is in the garden!" I turned around and looked through the glass doors.

A beautiful hawk was walking in the garden. Walking! I have never seen a hawk walking before. Usually soaring or sitting in a tree or on the fence.

We watched him stroll around for a few seconds, obviously drawn to the garden by the various creatures that had been busy throughout the day.

Suddenly he ran around the small arborvitae in the garden. Completely circled it once, then twice, then thrice in a widdershins movement (counterclockwise). We were amazed at this sight. Goosebumps rising.

The hawk then flew up to the fence, sat for a few minutes fluffing his feathers, fanning his tail and then launched himself toward the sky.

I found this curious, but also significant. Coincidence?  I shall reflect on this event.  It actually was quite wonderful.


Thursday, April 11, 2013

Off-Planet?

It must seem like I have fallen off the face of the earth, but no...still here!

Yes, it is so good to have that husband of mine home, though now the work is a little tougher as I am doing all that fetching, carrying, feeding, dispensing, helping, etc. Some days I feel a little dizzy, to be honest!!

He does have a Visiting Nurse three days a week to check progress on the rather large and impressive canyon in his abdomen, as well as the two other sites involved. He changes his dressings himself the other times with my assistance, though I do keep my eyes closed during part of that process.

We were sad Syracuse lost their game, but secretly I was relieved as hubby didn't expend a lot of energy with all the cheering (since there were not many opportunities for cheering).

Pleasant weather has been around which helps the spirits, and we actually have daffodils budding up and the noise of birds in the throes of spring "activities", ahem.

Kittens are doing great, growing well and are so endearing. Dogs are thrilled Dad is home, though Lexie has to be curtailed in her joy, as she has a big tail and the desire to get as close as possible to him.

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods, and we thank you again, most sincerely for your kind and lovely comments. I have the very best followers EVER!

Bright blessings from Robin!


Saturday, April 6, 2013

Cue the Hallelujah Chorus

He is HOME!

I brought my husband home from the hospital this afternoon!!

He will still need a lot of care and convalescence, but just being home will scare away those hospital blues!

And he is home in time for the Final Four Basketball Tournament tonight, where Syracuse is gonna kick some butt!

Happy Times!!!

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

April Arrives

Welcome to April! Except today, we are having heavy snow, already about 8 inches! Not funny, no.

Still I loved turning the calendar over to a spring-y picture, and seeing dates like Earth Day, Arbor Day and Beltane.

Over the last couple of days, my husband has made good progress. Almost all IVs are gone, and he is able to take oral meds. No longer on oxygen, hurray! He is walking three times a day now. His main problem right now is having no appetite and he needs to eat. Hospital food being what it is, though, can you blame him?!? He has been on a special nutritional IV for almost two weeks, so they are reducing the calories in that, and hoping to stir up his appetite.  He is beyond crazy about Syracuse University basketball, and since SU has made it to the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament, he has really perked up. Amazing what a few guys playing ball can do for the spirit. (And healing light goes out to the Louisville player who broke his leg horribly during the game the other night!)

I am happy to say things are looking up and I actually think we will be having a great Spring.

Blessed be!!   Robin.