Very Special People

There have been some special people who have touched my heart this week. A very special lady brought a delicious dinner for Scott and I to enjoy, someone got unlimited text messages so I could talk to them as much as I want, and my parents who continue to do so very much for me.

I do hate to never have anything wonderful to report, but life continues as it is ~ more of the same.

I did finish Book 15 of 2011 - Home to Big Stone Gap. I plowed through this one after our visit on Saturday.

Hopefully I will be visiting Casey and Bentley tomorrow. It has been a week and a half since I have seen them. From pictures it appears that Bentley's hair is back in thick and black, which makes Casey very happy. She wanted for him to have hair like his dad.

Here is some of my knitting on my favorite model.

His little hat is still a touch too big but it was a fun knit with scrap yarn. The pattern is  Kyle's Kap (CH-1) by Bev Galeskas

Guest Blogger

Scott has written an account of yesterday's outting to Big Stone Gap, VA. This trip left me pretty much helpless. Scott had to help me out of the car and in to the house. Yes, sitting in a car all day can completely exhaust me and left me cramping in muscles I did not realize that I had. LOL

It turned out to be a beautiful day, and opportunities to go on these trips are very rare. I am glad we were able to go.

Here is Scott...

TRIP TO BIG STONE:

TODAY IS 8/27/2011:


I had been planning a trip to Big Stone Gap, VA for some time. Today it finally was able to happen.


Those who attended were my darling wife Cindy, my father Elmer Ray, and my step-mother Dorothy Roberts.


We were hesitant about our journey due to hurricane Irene which was just off the mainland coast as of this morning. However, I was determined to proceed. We were just worried about rain and high wind. I’m not some idiot who does not understand about a hurricane or tropical storm. I realize we are hundreds of miles inland lol!


Cindy had been up since 3am so she was not really up to a road trip, but being the wonderful woman she is, she was up and ready to go 2 hours before me. We had a laugh about that later when we arrived at dad’s house.


Even though this outing was less than 200 miles round trip, it still was a very big even to all of us. You must understand that Cindy was diagnosed with I.A. and my father has chronic COPD. They are both diabetic.


We began our journey from dad and Dottie’s house to Big Stone Gap, VA. I had become very intrigued about my family heritage for many years, as so many people do. When I had got to my great grandfather I hit a brick wall, and could get no more solid information. You would have to know the Roberts side of my family to really understand where I’m coming from.


The drive up was very pleasant and although it was race weekend we did not encounter any heavy traffic. When we got to the train trussle between Duffield, VA and Big Stone Gap, VA, we stopped to stretch our legs and take some photos. This was really cool since this piece of railroad history has carried everything from coal, lumber, and countless other items in and out of this section of our country for centuries. I also found myself wondering about the numerous people who had crossed that gap going and coming for whatever reason. Our trip took us 2 hours at most one way. That also included a late lunch. In the railroads day it took the most of a day and probably the biggest part of the evening to get from Big Stone to Unicoi. Not forgetting Cindy and I drove from our home in Mountain City, TN which is an additional 36 miles give or take. We truly have came a very long way technologically speaking ,but we still refuse to get along with each other in our own towns,cities,all across the country and the rest of the world. Hey, isn’t that what someone named Jesus tried to teach us about? Sorry I started rambling on there for a moment, I do that from time to time.

So after arriving in Big Stone, Dad took us by the house where my great grandfather had lived for some time. He also showed us a building at the end of his property which my great- grandfather donated for a church, which is now a union meeting hall. This is something else I am very proud of, being a union man myself. So yes, I’m going to ramble a bit more. I’m very proud my beloved great grandfather had no objection to letting the land and building, which he donated and also helped build as a church, once it outgrew its purpose, become something for the working man. Like it or not this country was stronger when organized labor was instated .You could do a honest days work and be paid what your skill or trade was worth no matter if you lived in New York City or Big Stone Gap VA. In my opinion, there will be a SPECIAL PLACE IN HELL for the ones who helped break up the unions of this country and thank God there are still some of us around.


After arriving at Powell Valley Cemetery, I took a very good suggestion from Cindy, and thankfully there was someone working in the office who told me the location of my great grandfather’s grave. With just a little searching, there it was. I saw it even though I had been there as a child. I felt a little more complete seeing it now. I hope to return to his graveside again with my two beautiful daughters and my wonderful grandson, but if not here is a record of it. I’m sorry it took me so long great-grandpaw, but we made it.

I write this for my beloved wife, Cindy, my father, Elmer Ray, his loving wife Dorothy and for my great-grandfather, Sam W Roberts.


I love you all and thanks for the trip. I will cherish it always


Scott Roberts




Scott also visited his Uncle Smiley Smith's grave. Smiley was married to Loretta, Elmer's sister.

I thank Dottie for being so kind to me. She made coffee for me to take on the trip and helped me so much.
 

I did find one something to laugh about as usual. Check out the butt on this tree! LOL
 

Sorry!

I apologize to those who depend on the blog for updates. The denial put me in to a bit of a depression that has been hard to shake. My long term disability insurance has hired a company to help me with my Social Security Disability appeals. I have requested the hearing with the Administrative Law Judge but got a notice from Social Security that it can be up to 24 months before the hearing. My long term disability insurance ends in 14 months, so I need your prayers.

I did not have a fracture in my foot. It was neuritis caused by trauma to the nerve. I have 2 numb toes still. I also injured a toenail on Wednesday so I am on antibiotics to prevent an infection. I am still such a klutz.

I continue to have the same problems but have managed to go 2 weeks without going into anaphylaxis - knock on wood! I still get terribly weak and tired with activity and my heart races. I keep getting fatter and fatter. I cannot stand to look in the mirror or see pictures of myself. I am inside this fat blob but you can't tell that it is me anymore.

Bentley is growing and doing very well. He is making cute little sounds and is very strong. He is starting to hold his head up. He has very expressive eyebrows like his mom.

I am able to knit very little. Cramping in my hands and just plain weakness and fatigue keep me from doing much of anything. I can sit in my recliner, but cannot sit without something to support my head for more than a few minutes. Standing and walking are pretty much the same. I never really appreciated health until I didn't have it anymore.



Denied!

I got a denial letter from Social Security today on my disability appeal. They say that even though I cannot do any of my previous jobs that there are jobs I can do. Can you send me a list of those jobs please????? I am going to request a hearing with the administrative law judge.

This was expected, but it makes me very angry! So many people I know who are already getting disability are able to do much more than I am. I can't even take care of myself and my home! I can't hold my grandson for long without pain. I can't cook for myself, I can't drive, I can't walk through a store. What job do they think I can do???  Is there someone who pays people for sitting and watching TV??? I take so many medications that it is too complicated for me to even prefill my medication boxes for myself. I really want for someone to tell me what job there is that I can do. I will gladly take it. I'm sure that if there is a job that I can do there are 20 million people trying to get it.

Now on to something that makes me happy:

Bentley is growing and changing. He is such a joy. Just looking at him makes me smile.

I finished book 14 - Evergreen: A Christmas Tale by Richard Taylor. It is a free Kindle book. It is a short one but I liked it very much.

Mama brought me a peach pie today. I think I will eat the whole thing to drown my sorrows.

Book 13

This book is a light, easy read. Pure entertainment.

While kicked back reading I have had my feet up on a big stack of pillows. With the elevation and the increased Lasix dose, I have found my feet again. They have wrinkled, baggy skin but they are close to a normal size. There is still excess fluid on the top but they have shrunk so much I can't stop looking at them. Scott says I have shrunk all over. Yeah!

My side pain is much better than it was. It hurts to get up and down, bend, cough or sneeze. I can now use my arm at least. Heat helps the most, so I am spending lots of time with my heating pad.

Don't Ever Say Things Can't Get Worse

Monday night I had an episode of choking on reflux during the night. I woke up choking and coughed very hard for several minutes. In the process I managed to pull the muscles between my ribs and possibly crack a rib. It is so painful! It hurts to move.

The even sadder news is that there isn't really anything that will fix this except time. I can apply heat and ice and take anti=inflammatory drugs.

While seeing the doctor I did get my Lasix dose increased to try and get some of the swelling out of my feet. Running to the bathroom has been a thrill - NOT!

The end result is that I am even more helpless than I have been. It is so hard to get up and down that I am very dependent on someone to help. Kristen is here for a couple of days and she is an angel when it comes to helping me. She makes sure I have something to drink.  \

The end of the pity party post.

Bentley Michael Harris

Bentley arrived on June 23rd at 11:52AM. He weighed 7 lb 7 oz and was 20 inches long. As soon as I held him he became the love of my life.

Bentley is doing well. He is a breast fed baby and spends most of his time eating or sleeping. I got to spend one night with him before getting sick and having to come home.

I am getting a little stronger. It is easier to get up and down and I can go a little farther than I could. It is very slow progress, and I know it won't take much to knock me back to where I was. I am enjoying every moment that I am able to do more.  I have a cast boot on my left foot right now from a little accident with a tool box. LOL  I hope to get out of it before Labor Day.

Things are staying pretty much the same for us overall. There is rumor of a big cutback at ASU but we are hopeful that Scott's position will not be effected. Once again we are living on faith. Generous gifts have gotten us through the past year and we are trying to remember that and not worry.

Scott and I are spending the holiday weekend alone. It has been many years since it was just us for the 4th. Scott is cooking ribs that were a gift a good while back that we kept in the freezer. They are always excellent. We got a watermelon too. We are enjoying sitting on the porch listening to oldies on the radio.

Everyone have a safe holiday!