FAITH: Why Mormons no longer want to be called Mormons

A friend of ours in Kamloops wrote this  : FAITH.Why Mormons no longer want to be called Mormons: Maybe you’ve heard the news. If not, here it is: For almost 200 years, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been called Mormons. This year though, that . . .

Thursday

We have at least one HAPPY occupant in our home! Yesterday we had a visit with Ron's thoracic surgeon in Victoria.  The doc said that the chest x-ray from last week came back clear, the cancer had extended a bit into the muscle, but NOT the lymph nodes. Finally, the doctor said Ron can use his teeth again!

Yesterday's menu included a Wendy's chocolate frosty, yogurt, and gelato. Today's included beef broth (with shredded beef pieces) and a bowl of fresh watermelon, strawberry, and peppermint salad. He has no diet restrictions, other than quantity. He will be eating many small meals each day from here on out.

He's still having some pain where the chest tubes were, and isn't moving a whole lot yet. His feeding tube is due to come out in about 3 weeks when we next visit with the thoracic surgeon.

The weather has been gorgeous! Our garden is blooming and growing like crazy. I'm so grateful we get to spend more time at home so I can putter around out there.

Victoria Day

Happy Victoria Day! The girls came down for the weekend and we had a nice lunch of barbecued chicken on the deck with Ron's mum and stepdad yesterday.

It was quite warm and pleasant. Unfortunately, Ron is still unable to join us in any food consumption yet. He had a chest x-ray last Friday and we will be talking with the surgeon this week about his progress.

I finally got around to doing a sign for the gate on Saturday. I have also made incremental progress on the floor project. I'm trying not to disrupt life too much, since Ron is still not moving very well yet.

The lily of the valley in my shower are blooming (the scent is heavenly) and I have now added a pink/burgundy calla lily to the mix. It has been great therapy to have my hands in the soil and watch the garden come back to life.

Yesterday I saw a bright yellow black headed grosbeak on the feeder- I wasn't quick enough to get his picture. Today it's sprinkling a little bit and there are napping feline, canine and human bodies all over the house. We could do with more rain, but it's pretty hard to complain about the gorgeous weather we've been enduring here.

May 14, 2019

Ron came home on the 9th as planned. He's still moving slowly and on tube feeding. He is supplementing that with non-fat liquids like mint tea, juice, and broths. We'll see his new doctor on Gabriola today for a follow up. Next week will be another chest x-ray and a visit with the thoracic surgeon in Victoria. At that point we hope he will be able to advance his diet and begin cutting back on the tube feeds.

I feel like I am almost caught up with the house and garden stuff. I have planted a few vegetable starts, moved my fig and cherry trees out of pots into the ground, and filled in the flower beds with a few annuals.

I haven't finished the floor project yet, but the house is livable again and I can work on it more this week.

Ron's mum, stepdad, sister and brother in law came over for lunch on Sunday afternoon (Mother's Day). I cooked macaroni and cheese and a small ham on the barbecue grill. His sister, Jan, brought a nice strawberry cheesecake for dessert. We enjoyed it out on the front deck in the sun.

Today we are finally getting some much needed rain and Aurora has staked her claim in front of the heater.

May 8th, 2019

Ron's probably going to be coming home tomorrow! He's still on a liquid diet and tube feeding for the next couple of weeks. This time he's not allowed any fat either, so his go-to bone broth and shakes are off the table for now.

In other “news” I was at the local thrift store with Mum and SIL, Jan, on Saturday. I saw this oil lamp and thought Ron would appreciate the aesthetic of it. I picked it up for under 20 bucks. When I got it home and took a better look at it I realized it is an Aladdin kerosene lamp. We had one when I was a kid and I remember it was expensive, but provided a very bright light.  When I looked it up online this is what I found-

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Burns Aladdin brand Lamp Oil or Kerosene. 24" Tall with the Glass Chimney. 10" diameter shade, with brass shade ring included.
List price: $350.00
$339.97

Vermont Lanterns
127 Park St #A,
Rutland, VT 05701

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We'll need to replace the chimney and mantle, but I feel almost like I won a lottery!

I have the house completely upside down at the moment, but hopefully I can get it back to some semblance of normal by the weekend. We're hoping to host Ron's mum et al for lunch on Sunday afternoon.

May 3rd, 2019

Ron's improving a bit more every day. He's sounding much stronger than I have heard him in quite awhile.

He's been out of ICU since Tuesday afternoon. He's still not allowed to swallow anything and is getting his nutrition via IV. He will have a barium swallow tomorrow to check for leaks. The surgeon anticipates releasing him home sometime in the middle of next week.

I am picking away at the floor project and doing a lot of reading and talking on the phone with/about Ron. I am relieved about his progress, but will be much happier with him here.

Mum & Lloyd and Bruce & Jan are on Gabe for a few days. I am planning to have a “girls trip” to Victoria one day with them to visit with Ronnie.