SPRING BUSTING OUT ALL OVER HERE, GOOD NEIGHBOR, GENEVELYN, MOVES TO TOWN AND SIS JEANETTE IS A STEEL MAGNOLIA AND EYE-LID SURGERY SET IN A FEW MORE DAYS

May 31, 2013

By Olivene Godfrey

We've had so much rain and periods of sunshine this year and Spring is busting out all over here in northwest Georgia.  Barry recently bought baskets of impatiences and mini petunias for the patio and plans to buy marigold potting plants for the large containers on the patio this weekend.  The house plants that were moved outdoors are perking up, too.  The huge cactus plant is about to burst into bloom because of the cool nights and warm sunshiny days.

My good friend, Genevelyn, who has been a wonderful neighbor for a number of years, has sold her farm and home which is across the road and has bought a nice house in Chatsworth where she's now living.  She visited Tam and I one day this week and she brought me a bouquet of huge pink roses from her yard which is a thing of beauty.  I'll miss her but she will be visiting us and we hope to see her new home soon.

My sister, Jeanette, had serious eye surgery in Atlanta this week and I talked to her on the phone yesterday and she was doing fine.  She's had so many surgeries and personal tragedies in her life and is a tough lady.  A real Steel Magnolia!

I'm recovering, I hope from my bad cold or whatever the sickness it is, and have an appointment tomorrow with my doctor and hope for some relief.  I will write more after I've been to the doctor.

Later:  Tam drove me to my primary care doctor's clinic yesterday.  The x-rays I had recently showed that my COPD is worse which I suspected.  More on this later.  

My eye-lid surgery is set up for this coming week.  My doctor says it should improve the quality of my life, and she doesn't think I'll have any problems.  Please pray for me and I hope to be back with you soon.

See you next time.  (As told to Tam)

FRESH FLOWERS WARM MY HEART, COLDS, KNEE TREATMENT AND DOCTOR VISIT

May 16, 2013

By Olivene Godfrey

Last year, Tam, gave me a knock out red rose bush.  Barry planted it in the front yard and took care of it with help from Tam.  Now it's blooming it's heart out and Barry has been cutting the beautiful roses and putting them in vases in my bedroom suite and on the dining room table.  Then, today Tam brought me a lovely, delicate bouquet of white peonies from her garden.  I'm really enjoying the fresh flowers and they warm my heart.

Barry, Tam and I are still feeling bad from what appears to be a cold or allergies.  I started wheezing last week, scaring myself and the home health workers.  These  nurses and a therapist, along with my primary care doctor and her nurse all went into action to try to prevent the pneumonia I had a year ago that kept me in the hospital for a long stay from reoccurring.  I'm still taking the breathing treatments with my nebulizer several times a day, and they seem to be helping.  But, I'm still not feeling chipper.  Part of my problem is my COPD and my Anemia which are acting up, too.

I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow and may have another shot in my knees, also she will check my breathing.  I had a chest x-ray last week and will also discuss that.

Later:  Tam drove me to my doctor's clinic yesterday and a lot was accomplished and planned for the future.  My eye lid surgery is scheduled in three weeks and I've had to stop taking aleve for my arthritis and fish oil supplements.  Following the surgery, I will begin a plan with my doctor regarding my breathing problem (COPD).  The knee treatment didn't work for me.  So, I was given cortisone shots which I hope will help with the pain.  She also decided to prescribe antibiotics for my chest congestion.

See you next time.  (As told to Tam)

NEW KNEE TREATMENT TRIED

May 9, 2013

By Olivene Godfrey

Yesterday, I had my second knee treatment at my doctor's clinic.  A solution of high molecular weight hyaluronan, which is similar to healthy syn vial fluid, a substance that lubricates the joints, is injected directly into the knee joint to restore the cushioning and lubrication properties of normal joint fluid.

If this treatment doesn't stop my knee pain, caused by my arthritis, the doctor will give me cortisone shots for the intense pain.

Tam, Barry and I are suffering from what appears to be very bad colds.  So far, mine has been in my throat and head.  I credit this with the new medicine for my nebulizer, which my doctor prescribed this week, and has kept me from feeling too bad so far.

With Mother's Day almost here, Barry and I will need to feel better if we dine out this Sunday as we have in the past.

Hoping each of you have a good Mother's Day.

See you next time.  (As told to Tam)

GREEN LUSH SCENERY AND NEW BATHROOM FINISHED AND THOUGHTS ON GROWING OLD

May 2, 2013



By Olivene Godfrey

This spring we are having lots of rain and the trees and foliage are the greenest green we've ever seen.  Unfortunately, all of this spring weather and high pollen count is rough for we allergy sufferers.  I take prescription medication for my allergies and it has kept me from having bad allergy attacks, until the contract workers had to have the door open as they remodeled my bathroom.

And, speaking of my new bathroom, the workers finished the work yesterday, and I am enjoying using the new bathroom.  And, Barry is glad to have his bathroom back, and I'm happy being in my own bathroom, too.

As I write this, I'm waiting on Tam to arrive so I can try out the shower.  Since I fell in the old bathtub recently, I've been traumatized to the point that I've had to ask Tam to assist me in the shower.

It's depressing to become old and need to ask younger people to assist me in so many ways.  For instance, I can't do any cooking any more, and Barry does a wonderful job preparing our meals.  Until recently I made a detailed grocery list for Barry.  I also typed the list.  Now, Barry does this chore, too.  I tell myself, I did all the cooking, house cleaning, and family shopping and more over the years and it's nice to be retired.  But, I still feel worthless some days.  Tam, bless her, does so much for us, and we wonder how we managed before she came into our lives.

Since I had to stay in the den while the contract workers were here, I missed my cozy bedroom suite (my bathroom adjoins the bedroom and sitting area).  Barry and Tam are still in the process of putting things back in order in the bedroom and bathroom.  Barry put enough personal things back in the bathroom to make it seem like my bathroom and not a hotel bathroom.

Tam just came in with a perfect, beautiful red rose she picked this morning from her rose garden.

See you next time.  (As told to Tam)