Spring, Construction and Some Cards for Your Perusal

Spring is beginning to show her face.  Over the past week or so we've seen the American Goldfinch getting yellower.  Some trees are budding out and getting more colorful everyday.  How do I know?  We keep driving past or walking past the same trees as we visit the doctor offices.  I think I've seen Bluebonnets but I'm sure they'll be incorporated into the highway and not dug up and transplanted

We've seen a lot of changes along  Highway 281.  From the 1406 loop north of San Antonio to where we are is being expanded.  I find it amazing how quickly a treed section of the highway can be stripped of vegetation and the next day and industrial chipper/shredder comes along and makes mountains of mulch.  The next day they load it all into a big 18 wheeler.  It would be interesting to see what they do with all the rocks.  Do they become part of the new roadbed?  Are they crushed?  Do they haul them away?  Inquiring minds want to know!

We are in waiting mode.  Diagnosis made, scans taken care of and we don't know when surgery will happen.  We're also waiting for a call about Jim's Cpap machine.  Apparently Jim quits breathing while asleep and thus it makes him tired!

I'm now taking medications for Type 2 Diabetes (Metformin) and my cholesterol (Atorvastatin Calcium).  I also get to take a glucose reading every two days.  Today I actually feel human.  With all the diving back and forth the last two weeks we've both gotten worn out.  So adjusting to medications didn't help.  I'm also trying to get back to my plant based diet so I can drop these meds.

Handmade cards because:

No one displays an email on the mantle

or shows off a tweet on the fridge

or saves a Facebook post in a box of treasure

I've previously posted my cards on the Paper Craft Page.  Just click on the link and you can see my previous work. 

For the year of 2019 I've challenged myself to 500 cards think I can do it?

27 February 2019 63 cards 

Most of the supplies used on these tropical cards are from Stampin' Up!  Pink isn't a favorite color of mine but these are Spring like

These are different.  The rectangle of striped paper is called Franken Paper.  Basically you take scraps of paper that are then glued to a strip.  In this case a twelve inch strip was used and then I cut it into three panels.  The other papers are from Paper Source  and didn't photograph well, it's more peach than orange.  I used a Stampin' Up! embossing folder for more texture

We had a lovely early dinner with Sara Jane and Jerry yesterday.  We met them and Jerry's sister Marlene and her husband Bob at La Hacienda.  Good food along with laughter and conversations that didn't just contain medical problems!  

Since we intend to stay in this area my blog will be more of my crafting.  Of course I'll let everyone know of our day to day life...and I'm sure once we get Jim mended we'll cruise the Hill Country! So stay tuned!

All is getting better in our world

Perhaps not the best way to inform everyone

But we are discovering that we are actually old! 😂

Since we’ve been here in Spring Branch we’ve been setting up medical visits. Establishing ourselves in the community and generally settling in.  Well, our doctor visits are revealing medical issues.

 Jim’s cardiologist said all is well with his heart etc.  But we were both concerned about his lack of energy and breathlessness after doing simple things.  So, enter a pulmonologist.  Did a breathing test and passed within acceptable parameters.  So said doctor set him up with a sleep apnea test which Jim did last night.  He also had an exray of his lungs where they discovered a spot that happens to be cancerous.  Stage one lung cancer.  Now he has two scans, PET and MRI to see if the cancer has spread.  After which I assume we’ll talk with the doctor about what happens next.

I have established myself at the VA.  Did labs and saw my doctor.  I’m now taking metformin for my type 2 diabetes and a statin for my cholesterol.  I get to poke my finger every other day to check my glucose levels.  I’ve got appointments for a dermatologist to check on my nose, for head and leg lesions.  I’ve had all for years but thought why not get a professional to look at them.  Because of my numb thumb and numbness on my feet I’m also having a vascular test.

Oh the joys of aging!

For the last couple of weeks we’ve had to drive to one appointment to another 3-4 days a week.  We now have to update both our calendars so we can keep track of everything! Never had so many engagements, ever!

We’re trying to make everything all right in our world!

Life in the Hill Country

We love this area of Texas.  I’ve found it enjoyable to have a ‘cold’ winter.  I know the northern part of our country has endured a COLD winter.  I think we may need some warmer clothes but that’s not a problem.

Since arriving here last November we’ve been getting settled in and getting to know our doctors. Jim especially. Found a clinic and they’ve referred him to a cardiologist.  All is good with his heart...but we asked about his tiredness and shortness of breath.  Each little chore exhausted him.  So, enter a pulmonologist.  Passed his breathing test (who knew there was such a thing?) within normal parameters.  But... he scheduled a cat scan and exray.  Found a spot on his lung.

So today he’s having a biopsy

I too have registered with the VA here. Had my blood work done last week and tomorrow I get to meet my doctor and get the results.

On Thursday Jim will see his pulmonologist and get set up with a machine. I expect it will be a cpap to monitor his sleep .

Getting older sure keeps you active!