And Now for the Latest News

Hello everyone, all you good and wonderful friends! I think about all of you every day and am hoping all is well with you and yours.

April 4th, Friday, my husband had his fourth surgery. It was a 7 and half hour grueling affair and his surgeon is confident that this one has banished the source of the constant infections. The colon was straightened and rerouted and all fistulas were taken care of. For the next few days, he will be closely monitored for any tell-tale signs of infection. All his vitals are excellent, unlike the last three surgeries were he had terrible oxygen levels, high blood pressure, etc. He is dealing with the severe pain as much as is humanly possible, and has high expectations of being on the golf course sometime this summer!! He is also looking forward to eating again, as he has had nothing at all by mouth in four months. All his "food" and nutrition being administered by a feeding tube.

Spring brings us new beginnings, sunny opportunities and bountiful optimism.

I can feel that positive energy flying all around!!!

Brightest blessings and hugs from Robin!!!

Belated Blessings of Ostara! And Happy Spring!

source

The Spring Equinox on March 20th is a sacred day for Wiccans. Celebrating the lengthening days and new beginnings. A joyful time. Fresh starts for Nature and Humans alike.

Of course, as the image above demonstrates, in my neck of the woods we are still in the grips of chill, ice, snow and gray, morose skies. It's okay, though, that is how the Turning of the Wheel works, slow and steady.

Over the last few days, the sky and bare-limbed trees are filling with returning wild birds. Red-winged blackbirds, grackles and my sweet robins. Wonderful signs of spring, at least for me! Winter's silence can be quite deafening at times.

A medical update on my husband. His surgery is scheduled for April 4th at which time the surgeons will make a concerted effort to find and close fistulas that have formed in the intestinal track, as well as "re-routing" the colon. It will be a difficult surgery, but it should be the solution for all these months of suffering. So mote it be.

Another short post, but more will be forthcoming!

Cheers to all and bright blessings from Robin.

Happy St. Paddy's!

A bright, cold crisp start to the day. Got the green sweat shirt on, drinking coffee from my shamrock mug and will be playing lots of great Irish music today.

shamrock source

Other than that, we don't drink green beer or eat green eggs. We aren't Irish, but they say everyone's Irish on March 17th. Erin Go Bragh, and all that!!

Enjoy the day. 

image source

The Thing About Bears

scary grizzly

The thing about bears is that I have been having nightmares for two or three years. Scary nightmares of bears attacking, chasing me or family members, of bears crashing into the house and roaming throughout looking for us. Always waking up panicky.

Scary, scary bear

Well, not quite this scary, but still....!

One day last summer I had a discussion with son Nick about this. He thought about it for a little bit and said for me to try to look at these dreams  in a different way. Instead of running away, I should turn and face the bear. Perhaps the bear had a message for me.

Talking bear

Funny, huh? I wasn't feeling it.

But I told Nick I would think about it. And let my thoughts at night, before sleeping, focus on not being afraid of bear dreams, and possibly (possibly) trying to connect with the bear on a friendly level.

Months pass. Still scary bear dreams. I seem hopeless at controlling a dream, or the fear. Obviously I have a block.

A few weeks ago I read a book called "Zoo" by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge. A scifi novel about wild animals going bad. And of course there is a scene where our hero is sleeping in a hotel room and is awakened by bears breaking down the door and running into the room and killing him. Oh, the hero didn't actually die because it was a dream!
 

just a dream source

 Should I really be reading this kind of book?! I think not!

 

I finished the book. And gave it to my husband to read (I do recommend the book). When he finished the book we discussed it. I explained about the "wild bear" scene, that it was disturbing and did not help my bear fear. Then I raised my voice: "If these bears have a message for me, or they want to be my totem (or power animal) then the Universe has got to send me a sign!"  We laughed about it, but I was serious. I am tired of being scared of bears!

THE VERY NEXT DAY:  !!!!!!!!!!

 

A package arrives in the mail. It is from dear friend Stacy, the wonderful artist who writes the blog, Magic Love Crow,  http://magiclovecrow.blogspot.com/

 

Inside this carefully wrapped box is a sweet, charming, cute bear. A Boyd's Bear. Just adorable and tear inducing and then goose-bump raising!

EPIPHANY!!!

The Universe sent me my requested sign. A bear. Made possible by the somehow-knowing hands of Stacy and her mother. Bless their hearts and so many thanks for the love and the friendship.

(Of course I had to call her and we had a fabulous conversation, as if we talked on a regular basis at the kitchen table with tea and cakes)

And so my love affair with Bear is in its beginnings. Reading all I can, and hope to have a friendly loving meeting with Bear soon. 

I can bearly wait!!!!!!

unfortunately my camera is out of action at the moment, but I will post a photo of the sweet bear Stacy sent next time.

Hi There, My Friends

Oh, my goodness! Can you believe it! Here it is March, and so close to Ostara (spring equinox)! I have been reveling in the longer days of light! Beautiful, even on a cloudy, snowy day. And feckin' cold, yeesh!

Today finds me yearning to talk to all of you, in person, and pass out some hugs and a plate of delicious brownies. I have missed the Blog-o-Sphere so very much.

So medical update first:  No improvement, I am very very sorry to say. We are expecting a phone call today or tomorrow with the date of the surgery my husband faces yet again. I have no other words to say about this.

I have some fun stories to share, and some books, and a bit of other news. 

Time to put another log in the wood stove, chase a couple of cats out of the clean laundry and find a cozy spot to read.

Back extremely soon with an amazing story to share about nightmares, bears and an unforgettable sign from the Universe!

The Difference Between Dogs and Cats

Look at this video I found on Wimp.com.   A very good demonstration of the difference between cats and dogs!!!

dogs vs. cats

Update; and Belated Imbolc Blessings

My dear friends. Thank you for support, comments, emails and phone calls. Apologies also due for being such a gap in my posts.

So, things are still about the same for my husband. He was in the hospital from January 3rd till January 17th. Since he has been home, he is being treated by I.V. therapy, with different antibiotics, as well as TPN, total patient nutrition, which is a liquid food therapy that delivers total nutrutional needs via I.V. that goes directly into blood stream, bypassing digestive system. That is administered over 12 hours each night. He has had no food or drink, nothing by mouth in almost a month.
There is still pain, still drainage and general weakness. And there is a plan; the doctors expect the IV therapy and the TPN to shutdown the infection. Original time frame for this phase of treatment is 6 weeks. I believe we are just finishing up week 4. 

Long haul, but hanging in there as best we can. Wish I had more cheerful news, but then again, it could be much worse.

Imbolc came and went over the weekend, didn't it? Here in our neck of woods, we won't be seeing any signs of spring previews for another few weeks. But it is nice to know that this sabbat has come, because that means spring is closer. And of course, the days are getting longer too. Imbolc is symbolized by newborn lambs, tiny crocuses peeking out of the ground and perhaps the sight of burrowing animals emerging from hibernation (for example, groundhogs!). Our groundhogs are still snoring away; they are not forced into the noise of a large, loud crowd, with polka music playing and Bill Murray droning a grumpy weather forecast. (in case you haven't seen the movie, I am referring to "Groundhog's Day")

Anyway, so the countdown to Spring begins and I for one will be looking forward to warmer days so I can head out to Autumnwood and take pictures of all the apple blossoms on the property!!

I will be back quite soon, I promise!! I have missed the Blog-o-Sphere very very much!!

Hugs from Robin~~~~