Feeding time

These aren't the best shots in the world, but it's a small sample of what we see at feeding time in the evenings, minus the bream.

 

 

the gas crisis

The line for gas at Sheetz at White Oak, Tuesday, May11.

 

Side view, heading toward Jones Sausage Rd.

And this line of cars has turned in from Hwy 70.
(We were leaving Zaxby's.)
The arrow shows where the gas station is.

Fence gate

 Last week we attended an estate sale for a friend of Mrs. Bryan's. It was quite an interesting house and I wish I had taken pictures inside. But as we headed toward the barn out back, I had to stop and take a few pictures of the gates that led to different pastures/orchards/lots.

When turned sideways, it left just enough room for us to get through. Bobby's chair fit, so I'm sure a small lawnmower would fit through as well.

The chain connects to the frame. I guess it holds it in place when the wind is blowing.  Absolutely loved this!

Best Mother's Day ever

 

So thankful to be able to spend Mother's Day with Mom this year. She is now out of quarantine, is progressing each day in her non-oxygen time, and is slowly regaining strength. I feared the day was a bit much for her, but the laughter and company did her soul good.

I wish we lived closer, but I enjoyed what little time we had together.

The plan

 My small garden space is never large enough for everything I wasnt to plant. So this year I did what the catalogs tell you to do, and I sketched out my garden space. Granted, I didn't measure and plot it out, but just having a plan in place made such a difference. We'll see how things go this year, but I've already got a few ideas on how I can modify things a little next year.

All seeds are now in the ground. The brussel sprouts and snow peas didn't go in early enough so I don't know if we'll get anything other than plants from them or not. Hoping to fertilize them this week.

I also tried something new this year by planting my peas that climb between corn plants. That cut down on the amount of corn planted but increased the peas. We'll see how it turns out! 

On my to do list this week is to figure out a watering system so I don't have to stand outside with a hosepipe for 30-40 minutes every night that it doesn't rain. I have two ideas. Fingers crossed that they work!

Home

 Mom got home today about 4pm EST.  

When Dad called her this morning, she told him to bring her some clothes. She had been up since 1:30AM and was ready to go home. She wanted to be dressed and ready when the doctor came in the room.  I don't think that quite happened the way she wanted.

A little before noon she mistakenly sent a text for Dad to me, wanting to know if he was at home because the home health care services would be delivering oxygen to the house before she could be discharged. A nurse should come out to the house tomorrow to check on her and do an evaluation for the insurance to see what she might need.

Dad sent us a picture of her at home. She looks wiped out and very sick, but it is SOOOO much better than the picture he sent us the day before he called the paramedics. After we saw that picture, we honestly didn't know if we would ever see her again. (Granted, we still don't know that because we are never guaranteed tomorrow, but there is still the possibility of that now.) I'm just so relieved that she is home. She will be quarantined for the next 20 days. While that part will be hard on Dad, it will probably be good for her. Otherwise all four of her kids might descend on the house to "help" and in her condition that is not what she needs right now.

My mother has been through so many things in her lifetime, but she says this has been the hardest ordeal of her life. 

My last vaccine is the 28th of this month. You're supposed to wait 2 weeks after the last shot before you consider yourself fully vaccinated. If we plan to see her around Mother's Day, that will be just a tad before my 2 weeks, but two weeks after her quarantine period is over.

So that is the current state of things in the Jerry White household.

the waiting game

The ending of March and beginning of April did not go as any of us had dreamed or planned.

Long story short:

Dad is in quarantine until April 6th.

Mom is in the hospital. As of noon today she is fever free and the doctor told Dad she is "much improved". At this point we do know she will be in the hospital at least through Sunday, though it could be longer. The doctors do not think she ever had bronchitis, but that the entire month of March, even before her first vaccine shot, she has actually had covid.  I don't know how they figure that, but I wasn't there for all the tests and explanations, so I'll just take their word for it. She still has headaches, but felt like texting last night and this morning, so we are all so thankful for that. She and Dad face timed this morning, and I think that made him feel a lot better. I am so thankful for modern technology.

She did have a plasma treatment, and is going through ongoing breathing therapies. They are hoping to start reducing her oxygen levels a little bit today.  They say when she does go home she will still be on oxygen and will need home health care for several weeks. 

So today has been much better than yesterday (and Tuesday night). Since I was up most of the night Tuesday, I feel like my days are all mixed up. I know Dad does as well. He was thinking today was April 1st.  I would love for all of this to be one big April Fools Joke, but it's not. So we wait for the doctors and the nurses to call and give updates, then for Dad to relay it to us.

I pray that today was not just a high on the covid roller coaster, but that we are truly heading toward healing.