A Very Sad Day

This morning my beautiful Mom (94yrs young) passed away.  She was at home with my sister and my niece Amy and granddaughter, Driana at her side.  She was doing really well at home and yesterday Driana called and told me they were having a great time making some Greek food.  She even sent me a photo of her and my Mom and sister making Dolmadas.  (stuffed grape leaves) I talked to Mom and she asked how I was doing.  So typical of a loving mother!  I said I was fine and I asked how she was and she said she was doing fine too and was happy we were all well.  I told her I loved her and after hanging up I was filled with a peace that I can't explain. I was really happy hearing her voice and seeing how she was enjoying herself.  But God has his plan and today he took her home.  She was a strong lady and the smartest women I ever knew.  She loved our Dad and they had a wonderful relationship.  Dad died when Mom was only 50.  She never remarried but went on to live a full and adventurous life.  She traveled the world, worked for 32 years at Memorial Hospital and then after retirement she worked at various other jobs as well as catering many events at her church.  She was a fabulous cook! I learned so much from her over the years.  She and Dad raised 6 kids, and she lived to see 15 Grandkids and 33 Great-Grandkids.  I hope I have all those numbers correct! I might have missed a few!  I have many wonderful memories of my childhood and her lessons on life to keep in my heart.  One of my fondest memories was the year she met Jack and I in New York city.  Jack had a conference for work so Mom and I headed downtown and took a tour of the city. We took the ferry to Ellis Island and she was able to see where her parents came to America from Greece.  I had my Grandparents name put on the wall at Ellis and she was able to see that and it brought tears to her eyes as she sat on a bench and wondered if her own Mother could have sat there waiting for family to come and get her.  It was a touching moment for me to be a part of.  These last years have been a bit more difficult as she navigated the gates of aging.  She never thought she'd live past 80 since none of her family had.  She had always been so active and lead a healthy life style that brought her well over that age.  But our bodies give out and falls and hospitalizations took a toll this year.  When my sister fell ill and then Covid came and Mom found herself in the hospital with a fractured leg the whole picture changed.  Without family in the rehab center she was having cognitive issues. She lost a lot of weight and her strength lessened. We were all happy when she could come home. We had high hopes of getting together this summer as she was eating better, gaining some weight back, and seeming to have better memory issues. But it wasn't to be.  So today I'm sure there's a happy reunion with Dad, her parents, her siblings, and her Grandson Jono, and many other family and friends who went before her.  RIP Mommo..you will be so missed.

The three witches of Chicago!

Me, Midge, and Mom..the 3 musketeers!

One of many selfies!

I will miss sitting at your kitchen table Mom.  Love you  

The Usual

Usually I post a Memorial Day blog but never got to it this year. I don't know about you but I'm feeling a bit off kilter.  With all that's happened in the last few months and Covid thrown in I feel like the days are flying by with not much happening!  Ashland usually has a parade with a lovely memorial service for our fallen heroes to follow.  The parade never happened but there was a small service in the cemetery.  Such a small remembering for such big sacrifices from our military to keep our freedoms.  Thank you all who are serving or who have served. My Dad and brothers served and I'm very proud of them.  Jack and I usually put in our garden on Memorial Day weekend and that did happen.  We worked hard on Saturday to get it done.  Jack had added 2 more raised beds and we filled them with veggies that hopefully will be enjoyed by harvest time.  Our blueberry bushes look promising but the raspberries don't.  Oh well, we'll probably look for some new bushes to add and then next year could be better.  Our weather has turned from this snowy pic a few weeks ago:

To this:

Unusually warm yesterday: almost 90de and today in the 80's.  Much cooler by the weekend but thankfully no snow!  I have more outdoor work ahead with painting our porches and getting the yard spruced up for our Grandson's, Anthony, graduation party.

He graduated with "social distancing" and only parents allowed.

Here  he is with his Dad,our oldest son, Jack...Congrats Anthony! He'll be off to Bowling Green University in the Fall.   He's a great kid!  We also had another graduation.  Anthony's sister, Driana, finished her nursing school for her RN!  She worked 2 jobs (at a nursing home and hospice) while going to school full-time.

She'll be a fabulous nurse with her sweet, caring attitude and tons of spunk too! Love you girl!  She actually flew into to Chicago to  help with my Mom (Her Great-Grandma) who made it  home from the rehab center last Thursday.  We really appreciate her willingness to do this after having to cancel a vacation due to Covid.  She's a gem!  One other graduate in our family is our sweet Granddaughter, Katie!

She's out in Portland, Oregon . I haven't gotten any pics of her in her graduation garb yet and not sure how it's all going down out there.  We were suppose to fly out next week for her graduation but it was cancelled. If it's moved to later in the summer we may be able to fly out then.  But who knows what will happen...not the usual I'm sure! We love you Katie and are so proud of you!  We have much to be thankful for even if it isn't business as usual right now.  Finally, the usual flowering is happening here....

The azaleas look beautiful

The rhododendron is loaded with blooms.

Snowball bush is a blizzard of white.

Miss Kim lilac is blooming with fragrance!  I wish I had smell-a-blog! So I may have said not much is happening but after writing this I realize that life is happening...fast paced and filled with the usual growing season with family members and plants!  I hope everyone had a good Memorial Day filled with remembering and honoring fallen heroes or anything else that you usually do on this first weekend of the start of the Summer season.  Let's all hope for good things ahead.

One Flew Over The Robin Nest

Good morning from Chicago.  I made a quick trip to help Midge get ready for my Mom coming home next week.  There are tons of phone calls from agencies that will help with home care and other preparations.  I was going to help take Mom to a doctor appointment but we felt that picking her up for the appointment and then dropping her back at the rehab facility would be very upsetting to her.  She wants to come home and can't understand why she's still there.  She pulled out the tube that was draining her infected gallbladder so they cancelled the appointment anyway. She has had more dementia issues since being there but we're hoping that being back in her own home will be more helpful. My sister has to stay away for a 2 week period to make sure Mom doesn't have Covid 19, She's one of the few in the facility that hasn't gotten it.  She tested negative (if you can even believe the tests) and will be tested again before coming home.  My brother will be here along with home care and then my Granddaughter, Driana, will come the next week.  I'll probably be back for the 3rd week if necessary. We just don't have a clue as to how this will go since we haven't seen Mom since early March. It's a bit of a stresser for sure.  But while I've been here we've gotten my sister's office taken apart and moved upstairs and the room prepared for a hospital bed.  Lots of things need to be in place and then we hope Mom stays healthy until then. On a lighter note,  my sister has a robin that built a nest on her lamppost on her deck.  It's been fun watching the parents take care of the newbies.

Not sure if this is Dad or Mom..

Getting the eagle...or I should say, Robin's eye!

A quick flip of position and the nesting continues.

Fuzzy wuzzy babies! Good luck kiddos.  It's a crazy world out here! Just ask Arnie

I took Arnie with me but he really needs a groomer bad! Thankfully the Barker Shop is open in Ohio and I will continue to call for an appointment.  He's so over it! Have a good weekend. I hope to catch up with my blog buddies today. I'll be heading back home tomorrow.  Jack has held the fort down.  Thanks Babe! See you soon!

 

Happy Mother's Day (and other stuff!)

Happy Mother's Day! I'm sure it's being celebrated very differently in many places than it has been in the past.  Yes, we are still in our....pardon the overused phrase..."New Normal".  I hope it's a beautiful day in your neighborhood on this Sunday.  First I will give a shout out to my Momma.  She is still in the rehab facility but doing good.  Her leg has healed and they are getting her up and walking.  However, it's been a touch and go situation because she is having bits of forgetfulness..aka dementia.  This whole situation has made it confusing and difficult for her. She was already having some forgetfulness issues and the stress of my Sister getting sick and then her accident really has done a number on her.  She has good and bad days and we've kept in touch with zoom and phone calls. We all send her letters, packages, photos and flowers to make sure she knows we haven't forgotten her and we are hopeful she will be able to come home with home care in a few weeks.  Our biggest concern is the amount of Covid 19 in the facility.  There are 65 residents and there are 60 cases of Covid there.  Part of those cases...1/3..are staff members.  Mom was tested yesterday because she's having a doctor visit next week and thankfully she tested negative.  We hope to get her out of there with that same diagnosis. 

Love you Mom! Hope to be with you soon!  Another thing that happens in our new normal is time marching on. May is a big month for birthdays in our family.  May 7th our Lexi.turned 14 on the 7th.

She's a sweetheart, a straight A student and a joy! Love you Lex! Yesterday was her Dad's birthday. Phil turned 40! How in the heck did that happen? He went from this cutie:

To the Dad to two of his own cuties:

Love you Phil! You're the best! We have other birthdays to celebrate this month and a holiday at the end so life is marching on and we'll just have to do the same. Happy Mother's Day! Take care and stay safe everyone!

Merry May!

April slipped out and May day arrived.  I know many were looking forward to this month in the hope that things would be getting back to normal, or I should say a "new normal".  Some states have moved forward quicker than others but it's slowly happening.  Ohio's stay at home order has been pushed to May 29th but some businesses are allowed to open and more will open next week.  Yesterday we were able to start doing elective surgeries that don't require an overnight stay.  We had a 6:30 am meeting that involved an in-service on chest tube care and then a short staff meeting. I wish I had taken a picture of all of us sitting around wearing masks.  I know that we all wear masks in the OR but for some reason this just made me laugh looking around at everyone.  It looked like a bank robber convention.  We were all glad to see our co-workers again on our home turf.  I had posted the Oscar the Grouch song about not letting the "Sunshine ruin your rain" on Facebook and promised I wouldn't complain about anything all day! And I kept that promise!  (Monday however is fair game... Ha!) Before patients can have surgery they have to test negative for Covid 19.  So they come to the hospital and drive up, roll down their window, and a nurse sticks a Q-tip up the patient's nose.  30 seconds  up each nostril.  Not fun!  Friday was a rainy, cold day and standing outside doing that chore for hours had nurses soaked and cold.  Some of the patients were not very nice about it but it's either that or no surgery. I'm sure everyone is having a change of life plans these days but it will get better.  One of my co-worker's family owns a donut/coffee shop.  It's called "Brewed" and it's the cutest place ever and they make the absolute best donuts.  Brewed has kept the hospital in donuts these past weeks and Friday we were treated again:

It didn't take long for those babies to disappear!

Thanks Brewed! (Libby's Mom!)
The only other news worthy item around here is we bit the money bullet and bought a new/used (I mean previously owned) car:

Jack's jeep was on it's last legs and it was just time to say bye-bye to it and hello to this. Oh, and I got a couple pairs of new shoes.   A pair for work and then these:

What's so special about these?  First they are new and not "previously owned" and they have some kind of technology that counts your steps.  I haven't plugged it into my phone yet and might not ever do that.  Why did I buy them then? Well, for the best reason ever.  They were on sale.  Probably because pink, flowered shoes aren't as popular as others I guess!  That's all there is folks...have a good weekend! I wish everyone a Merry May!

The Good Old Days

Today was a beautiful Spring day with sunshine and temps in the 50's.  It felt great to stroll around the Pines this evening and take Arnie out for a walk this afternoon.  I felt like my last post was a bit on the whiny side so I'm going for a little more upbeat today!  I'm sure many folks are yearning for the "Good Old Days" of a few months ago but there are positives about the "Good Old New Days" happening now.  I think many families are getting closer and without the rushing around we usually do we can take some time to organize, regroup, set  priorities, check on friends and neighbors...even remotely...and perhaps find ways to do more service for others that doesn't involve face to face action.  You probably have many ways that you've found to serve others.  I know lots of folks who have sewing skills are making masks for friends and families.  Food gets dropped off at the hospital daily by businesses that are saying thanks for those on the front line. I was at the hospital today and noticed the chalk drawings on the sidewalk.  I wish I had clicked a pic! The messages of thanks really uplifts the folks working there under more stress than usual.  This time away from surgery has made me appreciate my coworkers from the "Good Old Days" more! We see each other in passing now and then, and can't hug, but the smiles and the "I miss you!" greetings are truly heart felt.  We'll look back on these days and remember how we felt, how we worked, how we survived, and how we appreciated the good moments in every day life.  Today a friend who was cleaning out "stuff" in her home found an old newspaper clipping from 36 years ago.  I was featured as the cook of the week in our local newspaper. I had just had my last son, Jordan, who was around 6 months when this appeared.  Thanks Bryn for the memory!

Ahhhh...the "Good Old Days!" 

Late Easter Greetings

I usually do post Easter happenings here at the Pines but since we didn't do the regular Easter happenings I really didn't have much to post about.  I miss the traditions we usually do but there will be another Easter and maybe we'll be able to have some fun in May.  Seems like a little light is shining at the end of this crazy virus tunnel. Curves are flattening, cases are down, social distancing seems to be working.  I just know that I'm really over it.  I shouldn't be complaining since I'm not at home all day, I'm actually out in public. That can be a bad thing too since the public I'm around are in the hospital or doctor office. But we're good so far and I hope I'm helping in some way. In my real job I don't usually talk much to patients since they are typically getting ready to fall asleep before surgery.  Mingling with the public that's awake has opened my eyes.  I realize the pajama wearing crowd isn't just at Wal-Mart.  Nope, folks come in to see the doctor, go get lab work done, or x-rays in pj's, flip flops, slippers, dirty clothes, bedhead hair, bad attitudes and frequently forget to put in their hearing aides. I have to ask 3 questions when I'm screening patients: (1) Have you been out of the country in the last 2 weeks?  So far nobody has left the USA. I'm glad because I can't imagine going on a cruise with Christmas fuzzy pajama bottoms and an old t-shirt on.  (2) Do you have flu symptoms today?  So far everyone says no...even the ones that are coughing, look like crap, and say: "No, I just have pneumonia and my Covid test hasn't come back yet"...oh and they aren't wearing a mask. (3) Have you been around anyone who has had Covid 19 in the last 30 days?  So far only one person said yes.  Well, at first they said no then said that they've only been around their daughter who tested positive but that was just to leave food at her doorstep.  Huh?  After taking their temperatures I let them enter in.  I've only had one guy who had a temp. I consulted with the powers that be and because he was feeling fine we let him get his lab work done.  I also gave him a mask and told him to monitor his temp and be on the lookout for flu symptoms.  Yes, I have my favorite phrase going through my head daily...:I LIKE PEOPLE...UNDER GENERAL ANESTHESIA!" Yesterday I was on call and we did have 7 surgeries scheduled.  I was on the bowel resection that took 6 hours and was glad they let another team work so it wasn't a repeat of last Tuesday where we were there until the next morning.  Life is going on and I'm sure we will be getting permission to lighten up on lock downs.  I miss my coworkers. I miss doing my job in surgery.  I miss lunch.  I miss my regular routine.  But so many folks are not working, or getting a paycheck, or are sick so I have nothing to whine about. Forgive me! I hope everyone had a nice Easter even if it was a bit unconventional. I made my lamb cake as I showed on my last post and then I made 2 more to give away:

A little herd!

I made a new recipe of chocolate chip cookies.  They are Joanna Gaines's  recipe. I took them to work today and I guess they liked them.  That's what they said anyway!

Did my first mowing of the season.  It felt good last week when it was warm.  We had snow today so I'm thinking it might be next week before it gets cut again.

Last of the daffodils. The cold and time have ended their season. It was nice to see them and welcome in Spring.

I'm not sure if Arnold is getting fatter or just fluffier.  Anyway, I did get to talk to my Mom on Easter and will be talking to her again tomorrow.  She's hanging in there, still a bit confused and asks if she's ever going home. It's been a struggle for her to be isolated from all she knew and hopefully she'll hold out until we can come and see her and also get her home with some home health care. Midge continues to get dialysis and is doing good so far too.  I'm glad she's been home.  Mom has asked about the dogs and doesn't know that we had to get them a new home.  They are living with a nice family. It was a hard decision for my sister to make but necessary all the same.  Take care everyone. I can still say Happy Easter since this weekend is Greek Orthodox Easter.  We used to celebrate both Easters when I was younger.  So Easter Greetings to all...stay safe, stay healthy, and wash your hands!

What Are The Pines Whispering?

 When it's windy...like it is today...the pine trees do seem to be whispering.  What's on their minds?  First,  work has had it's moments this week.  Tuesday was a bit of long haul.  After starting work at 7am and finishing at 3:45...called back at 6:30 (I wasn't even on call but they needed some help)..home by midnight...up on Wednesday morning to get to work by 6:30 am...home early only to be called back at 1:30-5pm (I was on call this day)...up today and back at 7 to do Covid19 screenings until 1pm...and so it went.  It matched the crazy weather this week.  The Cleveland area had 3 honest to goodness tornado touchdowns on Tuesday night into early Wednesday.  This morning started out raining...then hail..then snow...then sleet....then rain...then sun..then sun while it rained...need I go on?  The whispering was coming out like a shout!  Stop the madness!  So I'm happy that tomorrow is Friday.  Good Friday to be exact. Because virus or no virus it's still Easter weekend.  We're joining our Church and others across the world and participating in a world wide fast and prayer day tomorrow for an end to this Covid19 mess and for the health of our families, friends, healthcare workers and others so we can get back to normal soon.  I hope our Whispering Pines send that message to the Powers that be heavenward.   Here's my pics for this week:

Anyone missing an Easter Bunny?

He's hiding in our Whispering Pines.  Sort of friendly but not friendly enough to catch him. I do believe he lives next door so hopefully he hopped on home!

I made this Easter lamb for my Granddaughters..Lex and Addy .  Since we can't be together I can leave this with their Dad for Sunday.  However it did remind me of something...or someone...or some Arnold:

A little Easter grass and candy, throw in a bow..just sayin' !  The Pines are whispering that it's time for bed...night all!

April has brought the Spring season closer to us.  Our weather has been mild with only a few really chilly days sprinkled in here and there.  Rain was pretty strong last week but thankfully we've had some sun to dry things up a bit. Here's a pic of the farmer's field near us that turns into a lake every Spring:

That's the field from my car window. Surf's Up!  Makes it hard to plant without a submarine I guess! On the covid 19 front we're bracing for the surge that's predicted to hit us this week. My son, Jackie, works at a hospital in Wooster, Ohio just about 30min. from us.  They have 5 cases of corona and a couple of them are nurses.  I heard that they are suggesting we don't wear our scrubs out of the hospital because some weirdos are blaming healthcare workers for this virus and are attacking nurses when they are seen out of the hospital.  Like I always say: "You can't cure stupid".   In the mean time I'm doing health checks on folks going into one of our facilities that has lab and x-ray along with doctor offices. Most people are pretty nice about having to do a screening before going into the facility.  Then there's the jerks who act like I made up this whole thing and the virus is a conspiracy. Yep, I'm thrilled that I worry daily about my family who are healthcare providers, my Mom who's in a nursing home and can't have visitors and is getting more confused as the days go by.  My sister who's going to dialysis 3 times a week and is a perfect candidate to catch this. Yep, I just love not going to my real job like normal.  I'd much rather beg you to let me take your temperature to make sure you're OK. 

Here's my little desk..yep, I read while waiting.  I do this for 6hrs a day and it can be a bit boring...but hey, it's a paycheck!

Wear a mask!  One of the things that does make me smile is when I ask folks for their phone number.   Maybe my male blog buddies can clear this up.  How come most men don't know their phone number?  They have to think about it, hem and haw, check the phone, and one man had it written on a piece of paper in his wallet.  Women just rattle it off, no problem.  Just a little mystery here!  So that's what's happening in my world.  This weekend had nice weather and I did get outdoors and work on my flower beds.  Jack and I cleaned up the yard a bit and hopefully I will get the first mowing done next week.  We need some maintenance on the mower first.  I managed to bake some pies:

Strawberry..don't laugh at the crust.  A little whip cream made it look prettier!

Dutch apple.  I'll have to find someone to give a pie to.  That's really more than we'll ever eat! But it's fun to bake and it makes the house smell good too.

I ordered this Easter Creche and it came in the mail the other day.  I thought it was different and a good way to decorate that brings the real meaning of Easter.  It's not all bunnies and candy!  This is the week before Easter and usually I'm getting ready for the kids to come and have a nice dinner and an Easter egg hunt and going to Church on Sunday morning.  Not this year, but I hope we can celebrate in our own quiet way and not get too sad that it's totally different.  Please pray for an end to this madness and for the safety and well being of your families and friends.  For all those that are sacrificing in any way and helping everyone cope.  We will get through this.  I know that I will look back on posts and remember how it was and be so glad it's over.  Take care everyone!

March Madness

I believe I stated when March began that it came in like a lamb.  I never would have guessed how lioness it would be come by it's end.  The weather has been mild and Spring sprung with my daffodils in bloom:

I'll need to get out and pick some for inside but time has been flying by with work and all it's crazy schedules.  Because we're not doing elective surgery we've taken on jobs all over the hospital.  I had the opportunity to actually work in our cafeteria kitchen. I'm here to tell you that some of the heroes of this virus war are certainly behind the scenes. I had no idea how an institutional kitchen ran and how the food was created for us and for the patients.  My coworkers were excited I was going down there and said I needed to add some flavor to the food! I had to laugh because after watching how it's made I really had no intention of actually cooking anything.  I hung out with Ann..someone I've known here at Samaritan for a long time.  She gave me the skinny on making salads, sandwiches, checking stock, filling patient food orders, making some cookies and desserts along with cleaning, dating all the food that's prepared in packages, standing and chopping, sorting, washing, and anything else I could handle that didn't ruin the food! It was exhausting! I started at 5:30am and ran until around 12:30 until I took a 30min. lunch break.  The head cook never even took a break or lunch!  I won't be back there because I'm moving on to another position of checking temperatures of people coming into the lab/xray at another facility for the hospital.  I'll be doing that for the month of April along with working in the operating room when needed or on call.  The nurses and the other surgical techs are elsewhere.  Most hate it and miss our regular schedule but do it anyway.  Working 12hr shifts on the front line.  I also want to take a second to thank our housekeeping crew.  Everyone is working hard, doing special cleaning and making sure we do all we can to keep ourselves, our patients, and the community safe or at least getting through this time.  I've always said that hospitals are not Doctors and Nurses...it's EVERYONE!  Every job is important.  Healthcare cannot be healthy care without a team effort.  Thanks everyone!

Thanks Ann!

Thanks Becky!

The kitchen is safe...I'm moving on!

Thanks Ashley for letting your sweet face get all red from those N95 masks!  Call with you is always a good experience!

Night all!  Don't forget to wash your hands!