September 2006 Archives
The miracle of modern medicine never fails to amaze me.
Gracie is doing so well one could imagine she was never sick at all.
She finishes up her courses of steroids and antibiotics monday. The doctor wants her to end the breathing treatments over the weekend unless she gets into trouble with excessive coughing.
She is not participating in P.E. now just in case. No running around and getting hot and sweaty and getting those lungs inflamed again.
I believe one of the reasons she suddenly progressed when we got home is because of the air. Here the air has been light and cool, so easy to breath. Back in Georgia and South Carolina the air is still very hot and heavy. The humidity in the air is oppressive. Before Gracie had shown any signs of illness I had mentally noticed it took a little more work to breath.
I am so happy to be back home. Not only is it easier to deal with sickness and life in general at home but fall has come to the mountains of Virginia and it is gorgeous. The leaves are beginning to change but more importantly the temperature has made a major change.
The nights are down in the 40's (44 last night). The days are still topping out in the lower 70's. This is the most perfect weather.
While we were gone I had extremely limited internect connections. I missed Badger's big Four Oh (40) on September 20th. Happy belated birthday! I did think of you but I know you understand other things were going on.
So, for Badgers missed birthday I give my gift:
A poem by Emily Dickinson.
There is no frigate like a book
To take us lands away,
Nor any coursers like a page
Of prancing poetry.
This traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of toll;
How frugal is the chariot
That bears a human soul!
May you always find pleasure, joy and treasure in your books.
Thursday - 8 hour road trip to Georgia.
Friday - Good times with family in South Carolina.
Saturday evening - In local hospital ER, Gracie was in acute respiratory distress.
How long has she had asthma?
She hasn't.
Let's do a chest x-ray, she probably has pneumonia.
No, she doesn't have pnuemonia. Neither does she have bronchitis.
IV antibiotics.
IV form of prednizone.
Liquid form of prednizone.
Vomit.Vomit.Vomit.
5 albuteral treatments.
Discharged early Sunday morning with 3 oral prescriptions.
Drove home lickety-split Monday.
Straight to pediatrician.
Change of treatment plan.
Proud new owners of our very own nebulizer machine.
Taking antibiotics and prednizone 2 times a day. The nebulizer twice a day and more as needed due to the coughing.
In 3 weeks we do pulmonary tests for asthma.
I am exhausted.
Steven cut another tooth over the weekend.
Colby colored and highlighted her hair.
I'll tell you more when I get a tiny bit of sleep and get over this tired to the bone feeling.
In previous posts Badger and I have spoken of a few older books we have enjoyed. One that we share is A Thousand Ways To Please A Husband (with Bettina's Best Recipes).
It is a delightful old book written in a quaint story form so as to impart household tips, economy of the household budget and recipes. Some of the recipes I find to be not to my pallet but others I have tried or plan to try.
I thought today I would share a bit of the book with you all. I scanned a few pages so you could enjoy it just as Badger and I have.
The book is in excellent condition. There is very little wear.
I love the inscription here. Edith purchased the book in 1925 with money her father had given her for Christmas. That just pleases me to no end for some reason. I do wonder if it was new or used by the time she came about it.
Soory, Badger, my books is the 1917 edition.
The book is filled with these little poems and rhymes.
Sometimes you just should not turn down a supper out.
I don't think I care for creamed tuna on toast.
I love the idea of her emergency shelf. However I think that is what we would refer to as our stocked pantry and I keep a lot more in there than she does.
On the homefront, Steven is 7 months old. I am not so sure I am ready for this just yet.
All your spoons belong to me!.
It's all behind me now!
On the homefront, Steven is 7 months old. I am not so sure I am ready for this just yet.
Typhoid Mary came to our house while we weren't paying attention and left lovely packages of disease for us all.
Steve and I have a severe case of sneezing and running noses.
Colds require many naps.
Gracie has a terrible sounding but non-productive cough.
Colby was gifted by Mary with the grandest disease of them all! She went to the doctor with (and I am quoting) "one of the worst cases of strep throat I have ever seen" -said the doctor. She is on two antibiotics, a gargle and oxycodone for the pain. Colby likened the pain to swallowing shards of glass. Yikes. Bless her heart I do not know how she has managed to get by as long as she had before I sent her to the doctor with orders not to leave that office before she was seen by the doctor no matter how late she was for class.
Steven is a little snotty but that is attributed to the teeth he is cutting. He has 3 top front teeth in and the fourth is just under the skin waiting to burst through. I have tried my best to get a photo but he is just not having it.
See my two little bottom teeth!
In other homemaking news - I bought drapes for my livingroom - after a year and a half of having only sheers in place. I love them! They are floral jacquard chenille and are wonderful. They hang beautifully. They are thick enough for winter but still nice for year round use plus they go very well with the upholstery on the living room furniture. They were a bit more expensive than I really wanted to pay but ...
Beautiful drapes that will finish being hung in my house by Friday.
What do I expect to get for a silly small amount of $$ to fit 95" windows? Yes, drapes and curtains for my windows have to be at least 95 inches long. Nothing standard works downstairs. I am fortunate that 84" works perfectly upstairs. It is an expense that had to be spent.
Steven is again screaming for me to hold him and let him nurse. I hate this teething thing! He doesn't sleep at night. He bites! But he doesn't realize he is biting. I will be so glad when this part is over. Any more of the biting and I may have to wean him very soon.
Oh, Badger mentioned a few books in my previous post comments. I have one of those and one is on its way to me via the US Postal Service. I have yet to find copy of the mothering book that is in good shape and a reasonable price.
I can't believe you all did not recommend something to read. Are you not reading these days?
While we sat and Steven played I worked on a new design for my journal. What do you all think of the snazzy new duds? Can you tell I am so very ready for fall to begin and winter to come?
In the comments for this post, Jo, from Counting Sheep, mentioned Martha Washington's Booke of Cookery (and Booke of Sweetmeats). She is correct that this is a wonderful book. I do have it and I love it. Not only for its historical content but also because the recipes are still valid and experienced cooks will be able to wade through it with mostly successes.
Another book of the same vein I have read recently is The Robert E. Lee Family Cooking and Housekeeping Book. Excellent. Excellent. Excellent. American History. Southern History. Family History. Wonderful Recipes - some of which I know from my grandmother's hand. I have a link with this kind of cooking that I do not want to pass by my children without notice. Thanks to Colby's talent in the culinary arts I believe she will carry on the traditions.
Other things I have read in the last 2 weeks and Things I have re-read - All good things that you might like to read also:
Read:
Lafayette - excellent read. I have a love affair with the Marquis de La Fayette. Even more so since I know he camped on our lowly corner all those years ago. It gives me wicked shivers of delight.
Martha Washington - the mother of our country needs a lot more respect and attention than she is given. Teach your daughter's about their fore-mothers.
Founding Mothers - this is the book from which the History Channel did its program, written by ABC new correspondent Cokie Roberts.
Children of Pride - this is a book mostly of letters between the Jones family members some of which are from where I am from and makes for a 'hometown' feel when reading.
Re-read:
American Cookery, 1796 - This is literally America's first cookbook.
The Virginia Housewife - this is the book by Mary Randolph that is the first fully southern cookbook MUCH different than the earlier ones and not at all like those brought from England by our fore mothers.
Want to Read:
Early American Cookery: "The Good Housekeeper," 1841 - I LOVE that these old works are being reprinted so that I can enjoy them. The connection to the past delights me and I do cook from the recipes sometimes.
I believe this last one is the only book of this nature that we do not currently have in the house. Colby and I have always collected these old reprints and we have TONS of them on the shelves and put away. We have spent years building our little library of the past.
Which reminds me to go pull out these to re-read:
The American Frugal Housewife and The American Woman's Home .
Anyone out there have any recommendations of something to read? I spend a few minutes every night before I go to bed consuming a book. I have books in all stages of being read scattered about. I keep one in the bedroom, one in the bathroom (oh you know you read in there, too), one in the family room and often one in the car. I confess to multitasking and often read 3 or 4 books at once.
So what shall I read next?
I am going to try and get a photo of all the teeth Steven has cut since Judy has asked. It will be like walking into the lion's den. His teeth are sharp! Look for photos tomorrow.
- a muddy, lawn chair, table, leaves and limb filled pool overflowing.
- a leaking kitchen roof.
- a leaking FALLEN dining room ceiling.
- a couple days without cable internet.
- a college student with a yucky nasty throat cold.
- a baby cutting all 4 top front teeth at one time. Three have broken thru at this writing, 4 is just sitting beneath the skin.
- lots of puddles.
- relief from the August heat.
Did Ernesto visit his wrath upon you?
