Old Eyes ... And The Passage of Time

UPDATE 9/27: Here's a link to the Owl Optical Wallet Light My mom paid about $5-10 at a store, but you can get one at a decent price online.
I'm just nearing the end of my 40's and the 'ole eyes are starting to get fuzzy! I already wear bi-focals for my clear vision glasses ... that after trying the blended lenses and getting vertigo. But my sunglasses are a single vision prescription and make for a rather awkward fumble at the checkout counter as I can't see to write a check with them on. I sometimes forget to bring along my indoor glasses when shopping, so go around the stores hiding behind the dark shades. My latest purchase for a watch included the largest face and numbers I could find. No more little lines and dashes to signify the hours. I need the large numbers with a contrasting face for best use. My mom sent me the neatest little gizmo for my wallet the other day. It's the size of a credit card ... but a little bit thicker. In the center there is an area that is a magnifyer ... and a little place you can squeeze along the edge for an illuminating light. Have you ever visited a restaurant only to not be able to read the fine print on the bill or the menu with or without glasses ... due to the ambiance lighting? This little device solves that problem. Now my mid-vision is getting weaker ... trifocals are in the not so distant future. If my eyes are going ... the rest of me will start the decline in the next few years too. As my dh is always reminding me, as you age, your hair disappears, your ears and nose grow larger, you return to diapers and eating mushy foods ... sounds very appealing? Right!

HIVES ... NO MORE!

Finally, after a week of alergy meds, oatmeal baths, lots of prayers and drinking gallons of water, I'm finished with the hives. What started as a bad reaction to OJ was just the beginning of a domino affect from too much stress. Not that I'd ever think of myself as a stress case, but I sometimes heap on too much of a helping of life; after all, I'm not supermom! Last week, my dog was driving me crazy. Poor thing, she's use to a nice fenced-in backyard. Our rental home was "SUPPOSED" to have the fencing completed soon after we moved in ... but to date that has not materialized. So, except for the few walks around the block each week, she's on a yard line 99% of the time. She's a golden retriever that is just beginning to mellow out ... after nearly seven years! Anyway, last week around the time of the hives episode, she kept yipping, which forced me to put a muzzle on her ... which in turn only frustrated her even more ... it wasn't a pretty sight people. Me with hives ... and her with a muzzle and staked to the back patio post ... when she got too wired, I'd put her in her kennel. I would have traded places with her if my kids promised to throw away the kennel key :) They could fend for themselves, Nathan would probably have run away, and I'd have hives and fleas ... NOT PRETTY! Now that my sanity has returned (?), and I decided to put the kennel outside again, life is back to "normal" ... who defines normal? When my three oldest give me headaches, I proudly tell them that little Nathan is the only normal one in the family :)

Today I went to a beautiful local nursery to begin the task of landscaping plants. You say, but your house isn't even finished! ... Ah, but this is a good time to plant trees ... and there are some things that can be done now. So I leave you with a few of my favorite pictures from the garden. And check out the progress at This New House.

NEWS FLASH ... Go check out my friend's link at "Shallow Thoughts From Iowa" about Facing The Giants ... an actual God praising movie from Hollywood! Coming soon to a theater near you!!
Top photo: Nathan and Elizabeth posing for their dad 9/23/06

signed: Restored in Idaho

On The Mend

The past few days have found me driving myself nuts suffering from hives. Seem to bother me more at night, which makes me grouchy during the daytime from lack of sleep and overdosing on Benedryl (which makes me hyper too) ... not a pretty combination!

The rain has finally returned after I think 95 days of dryness. Now I have to figure out the sprinkler timer and cut down on the watering ... for now it's turned off.

I should resume blogging in a day or two when I'm feeling better. In the mean time, check out the progress on our new home at This New House.

Orange Juice - NO MORE

Friday night I enjoyed about 9 ounces of OJ throughout the evening. To cut down on the acidity, I mixed it with some diet lemon-lime pop. It tasted so refreshing, I never gave it a second thought, that is until my skin started itching. I honestly thought maybe something had bitten me ... then I took a nice hot bubble bath ... and suddenly broke out in HIVES. Well, to help alleviate the rash, I took a Benedryl, which knocked me out for the night :) ... I took another Benedryl yesterday which made me "goofy" ...last night while getting off the freeway, I thought I had dementia as I wasn't sure where I was??? (I think this is called DUI of alergy medicine)! Today, I still have some hives. This happened to me once from eating too many oranges as a kid ... only then I didn't have car keys so I wasn't a danger to other people :) ... Any home made remedies for hives would be greatly appreciated. At my age, hives and hotflashes together are lethal. Signed Miserable in Idaho

Back To School Night

Last night I attended Back to School Night at Nathan's school. He has quite a day and is mainstreamed for part of his socialization skills. There is a group of kids in his 5th grade homeroom class that has taken to him and watches out for him. Tonight when I took him to the library, I overheard soft whispers, "Nathan, Hi Nathan" ... some of his classmates were there and made a point of saying hi. He returned their greeting in his "jibber-jabber language and not one kid made fun of him. Seems wherever we go, there's someone calling out his name. Last month at Spokane's Children's Hospital, a man came up behind and said, "Hey, aren't you Nathan?" It was the uncle of one of Ann's friends that works there. I hardly know two people in town and am beginning to feel left out (sigh). Have a blessed weekend.

Ushering In The Fall Season

It's in the air and near the lake shore, in the busy little ants making preparation for what is to come. As I drive along the country roads, there it is again ... just starting to show its true colors. The colors of AUTUMN. One by one the leaves on the trees are painted in hues of crimson, burnt orange, and golden yellow. One, by one ... until the whole tree explodes in magnificent color. The lake and river gains more beach as man empties out some of the summer fun to make way for winter's snow melt. Once crowded streets busy with visitors will belong to the locals. The quiet time of the year is nearing. Each day is changing ... goodby my summertime carefree days. Goodby sandles, peddle pushers, and bright painted toes! Hello my old favorite sweater and toasty warm shoes. Hello hot tea and cider with cinnamon sticks. Hello chili with cornbread, my favorite soups and beef stew. HELLO FALL my favorite time of the year.

Feeling Better

My little man is feeling much better today! Thanks for the prayers. He just hopped on the school bus for a day of mischief, learning, and fun ... maybe not in that order. The weather has turned chilly and we're supposed to get some much needed rain. I'm off to run my errands ... or as my pop used to say ... "Make hay while the sun is shining."
If I have anything brilliant to write ... I'll post later :) ... otherwise your stuck with just this dribble. May you bless the Lord with the work of your hands today.

9/13
Update ... The pediatric nurse called this morning to say that Nathan's thyroid blood test recheck was normal. Thank you Lord!



Photo of Nathan 9/13/06