Friday the 29th

Now I'm sitting here trying to highlight this day to separate it out from all the other days, trip to post office, trip to hardware store it is a real hardware store with people that answer questions and will help with projects as required, when we got back from our trips I took a nap when I woke up I started to work on one of my work projects.  I seemed to have the stamina for a few good hours on the project that kind of marks the day I guess.  Also hearing from people is good also and I enjoy doing my email everyday so that is my day I'm sure that reading about it is harder then living it.

 

Now just a continuation of the cottage story.  When Mom died I was left the cottage which I had been keeping up for several years.  When the kids were young they enjoyed going to the cottage just because they had nothing to compair it to.  Well Sharen and I maintained as best we could we went through the big flood after which we had to strip the wall covering and insulation get rid of all the overstuffed furniture and paint the inside bare walls with a yellow paint this seemed nice for awile and years went by with I think a roof job or so.  Finely about 5 years ago we went up and found the roof had finely opened and was that way all winter.  So we decided to fix the roof for good.  We found John the almost honest contractor and had him put poles around the outside of the old cottage and build a roof above the old roof by about 6 or 7 feet.  The next project was to reside the cottage by using the poles as the outside and when it got almost covered tear the old cottage out, since John had a person from the city consul working with him we think they approved him tearing the old cottage down I didn't press very hard about how approved it really was.  John called one day and said he was able to get a permit for the cottage and I said I didn't think we were going to get one and he mentioned that he was there at another building and noticed ours.  So we raised the floor and started the siding project with an actual permit I had never done anything like that before.

 

Please keep us in your prayers and may God continue to bless us all. 

Wednesday the 27th

finely back to our cottage after a busy 2 days on the road.  So far all testing is looking very good and we will know more Friday the 5th which is our next trip to Ann Arbor again I need to say that a Bone Morrow Transplant requires many road miles back and forth for testing.  Tuesday night we stayed with Vinnie and Sue which gave us a chance to go to our Tuesday night bible study with many friends at least friends of Sharen.  The other day I got my printer working and it printed very well.  So today the first page printed indicated I needed a new ink cartage so back on the road to find one here not sure where but I will track it down.  We got our first mail in our box at Six Lakes and was surprised at all the get well cards.  Our address is Ralph Robertson, box 48, Six Lakes Michigan 48886.

 

Please continue to pray for us and may God continue to bless us all.

Sunday May 24th

Today was a nice day it seems like it has been months since I have been able to go to church I need a church that isn't to crowed so I do not have to ware a mask and scare the little kids.  Sharen went to a good fitting church so next week I will go with her.  Had a time to read and dose while she was gone and a nice lunch when she returned.  I at last got my printer up and running which sad to say took over two hours I continue to hate Windows but my printer works fine.  After lunch Sharen wanted me to take a nap how nice is that then she added after words I can take my walk it is hard living with someone this mean.  We had a nice walk and went to the neighbor baby christening.  Now when I am done with this We will watch a movie not sure which one but will let you know if it is  good.

 

Please continue to pray for us and may God continue to bless us all.

Friday the 22ed

We left Vinnie and Sue's Thursday afternoon and went to Ann Arbor got there at 6:00 and we were ready for the tests this morning.  I had a blood test and met with the Dr. and the best everyone knows everything is working as it should.  Then home to our cottage and I will explain the difference between the old cottage and our cottage in the future.  Vinnie and Sue have effectively opened there house to us when we come thru Delton, The house we used to have in Delton has been turned over to our daughter for the summer.  So Sharen and I could be considered homeless half way.  We are very comfortable at the cottage and our son in laws added the last connivance which was a wall heater so things continue to be good and I am getting more strength weekly and trying to walk more but I have found it  is more fun to ride in a car.

 

Please continue to Pray for us and may God continue to bless us all.

Thursday already??

Well we had to be at Borgess for a pulmonary test at 11:00 Wednesday so we rush around and make it in time now we need to be in Ann Arbor Friday early so instead of going back we met with friends at Grove street and spent the night with friends.  By the time we got there I fell asleep so no blog.  This post BMT puts miles on your car we will go to Ann Arbor tonight then after the tests head back to the cottage Friday afternoon.  I am becoming more stable on my feet and walking is less difficult not sure if my memory is improving its hard to judge for your self and I didn't want Sharens opinion on the subject.  

 

When we last left the cottage project we had a 6' by 20' building and a 20' by 26' cement slab connected waiting for the rest of the building.  Before we start this part its important to know an additional bit of information Dad is a free style carpenter which means if you have 10 2 by 4's and a wall is to be between 12 to 20 feet you just adjust the spacing and you will always have enough 2 by 4's.  If you need an 8 foot 2 by 4 and you only have short ones they can always be spliced together to make the length you need.  Some how Dad met a person that had lumber from a fort Custer barracks in his back yard that he wanted it gone so my memory is weak on this but I think we made three trips to disassemble fill our Dodge station wagon to the bottom of the springs then up to the cottage with just room for Dad and I.  So that was the walls and with some 4 by 4 screens and a few windows from who knows where.  The roof for this part had new 2 by 4's over to much span and spacing started at 16" and by the end was 22".  The roof was covered by new plywood I had not heard of 3/8's plywood but it worked well if you could step on the 2 by 4's and not between seemed to have allot of bounce.  As an additional point if the plywood didn't hit the rafters instead of cutting to mate and wasting new lumber. He put boards under the overlap and started the next run.  The good news is somehow I don't remember working on this part but showed up at the end to admire the final product.

 

Thank you for your prayers and please continue God continues to bless us.  May God continue to bless us all and I continue to marvel at the blessing.    

Monday the 18th

The kids were here Sunday Sonja Garett and kids so we had a very nice day.  In the beginning or back when Sharen and I got married I had no idea what a wonderful treat kids and grand kids are and  I continue to marvel at the richness they have added to my life.  If my memory serves me it seems I slept all day Saturday and started to come to Sunday and I was all ready to start my long rest but we had to go to Kalamazoo for my blood test to keep track of my counts which so far have been very good.  Today I find out we need to go back to Kalamazoo on Wednesday for additional testing and then on Friday we will be in Ann Arbor I think a  BMT could wear out a car at the rate we are going.  After Friday I should have  a few weeks until our next check up but we shell see and I will keep tabs for you.

 

I want to thank everyone for all there prayers and may God continue to bless us all.

Sunday at cottage

We got to the cottage Friday afternoon from Ann Arbor, Friday and Saturday I only remember sleeping but this morning I feel rested and fairly alert as much as possible.  I seem to be improving my balance and getting more exercise so I am on the mend.  At last food is starting to taste better so life continues to be good.  We will be on the road over the next week as I will need a blood test at Dr. Baileys and Sharen needs to pick up stuff which will be a continued process for the next 3 months and Friday we go back to Ann Arbor for additional testing not sure what.  The rule is if Ann Arbor wants me to stand on my head for a week I will comply as I am a compliant patient.

 

More later and please continue to keep us in your prayers and may God continue to bless us all.  

Tuesday day 2 out of tunnel

Today was the second day out of tunnel and I feel very good it looks like I will be discharged Wednesday and on to the cottage.  Spent most of today getting my eyes checked and setting up one more MRI to  check brain stuff.  So I am starting my semi seclusion part of the trip which will be for 3 months with hopes of good cure, time will tell and it continues to be in Gods hands.  Some good friends came in for a visit and we had a good time but we are ready to get to the next phase to start soon.  I kind of forgot to tell people that our cottage is built on the outline of the old one solid and fresh the full history will be forth coming as I while away the summer.  

 

I thank every one for the prayers they offer and please continue and may God continue to bless us all. 

Monday I know I am overdo will try to improve.

Well today is Monday the 11th with many surprises in the last few days looking back over the last few days it was like I went into a fog then I was either sleeping or in a sleep wake mode. I woke up Sunday more alert and got started to read an old Travis Mc Gee 60s trash book which was the first time I felt like reading and my mind was less clouded or as Sharen says out in la la land. Today I feel very good and I think my mind is clear or at least as clear as normal. When I look back I kind of went into a tunnel and now feel like coming back out I am alert and feel well but decided I would complete my blog before I pick up my book. Saturday started as a normal day when out of the blue I slipped coming out of the bathroom and took a header. Our body's normally run at a fairly low resolution as far as input goes but when an exciting change starts you go into a high resolution mode so walking out of the bathroom pulling the IV pole with my left hand then with my right hand reach for door handle and start out the door as the door swings out right foot slips on the small metal ramp which is under the door so we have a system out of control and gravity has full control, you get to watch with few control options only eye inputs. So when the right foot slips and solid grip on door that is swinging out you are over balance and the trip starts first you see is your top body going to land on floor no obstructsons, glance to right and lags seemed wrong and twisted as the fall ended not sure how left lag got that way but thought it could be broken so untwisted and lag seemed good but looked at foot and noticed my this little piggy ran home toe was at a 90 degree angle to my foot so I pushed back in position I thought. Then Sharen noticed blood under my foot and I looked at my foot and I only had three toes she looked and last two toes were piled up and with out a moments thought she moved them back in line and they seemed to hold and work. Sharen she was going to call the nurse but I was blocking the door and I wanted to asses the damage so she helped me up into a chair got me away from door and hit the call button witch started a flurry of activity with nurses checking blood issue and checking toe issue and one going to page the Dr. who came with in moments and ordered IV bag for occasion, PA to stitch cut on foot bottom and set up for xrays. Well I am back to the room resting in just over and hour and an hour later we got the results that no bones were broken which was unbelievable but in reality my toes seemed fine so that counts as a input from God. Other things to remember when adding the second bag of blood which was interrupted by the fall my main port stopped working do to blood clot after working for over a year. So to keep things going they added an IV under my right arm which was used to complete blood transfusion. When the port issue started a drug was added to the main port to clear the clot it was like carb cleaner for blood but it worked and I got full function of the port back and we continue the journey.

Please continue to pray for us and may God continue to bless us all.

Friday time to catch up

Today is Friday and I had  to check when was the last entry which to my surprise  was Monday.  So I need to catch up I continue to improve with less pain and am almost able to think normally, if there is a way to tell.  well yesterday was my birthday and I getting ready to go out of the bathroom and there was a strong Knock on the door and they said police since the police were here  in the morning. when I walked out there were at least 15 nurses with a birthday cake.  and they sang the birthday song.  now that was a good birthday.  Now as far as Tuesday to Thursday I would put ow, ow, ow, and a lot of sleep with bouts of wakefulness.  The Police were here to tell Sharen someone had hit our car and broke a small piece out of the tail light which was already done at some point before so it seemed like it could have been the police.  I will be more descriptive in the future as my mind comes back.

 

You can't believe how important your prayers are please continue them and may God bless us all.

Monday day 5

On day 6 I will get started getting neupogen  shots. I didn't do my blog Sunday ad I seemed to sleep all day and most of the night,  So I ran out of steam and did not move but to sleep.  The stuff that I have been given causes mouth sours and that is what is causing most of the pain.

 

Please continue to pray for us and may God continue to bless us all.

The end of the day Friday day 3

It is the end of the day Friday and today I felt fine and have not had a nap all day food does not look good to me but it could be the hospital food but I will continue to eat as I have to to get out of here.  I slept most of yesterday and didn't feel this good so we will take any positive input that comes our way so we will see what Saturday brings.  We got a visit from a good friend our pastor and that was very nice.  Sharen and myself are starting to think that this could be successful. To keep an even temperament we keep all possibilities open but we now have a glimmer of hope which continues to get stronger.  But time will tell.  I was able to go 10 laps today and yesterday I only went 3. 

 

Now onto more important stuff which is the cottage saga and we were at a cottage that was 6ft X 20ft and a form set for 4 inches of cement that is 26 by 20 ft. the scary part is the night before dad and I were arguing about how much cement we needed and we came to an agreement of 5 yards.  The best I can remember I was 12 or 13.  now dad knew that when you did a slab you needed to secrete the cement off with a board that would even the cement with the form now we were ready for the cement not sure when it got there but it was hot and sunny.  So then the sequential vortex started.  The cement guy pulled into the wrong driveway.  The cement truck went in up to the axles my memory was around 200 ft from the target so normally the contractor would refuse the load since dad wasn't a contractor the driver was able to add water and dad and him went for a wheel barrow.  The next part of the vortex was dad had just had a back surgery so I was elected as driver of the wheel barrow so the day started.  I was taking the cement to the form and mom and dad were to smooth the cement as I unloaded it.  Now the next part of the saga was we had a slab that was 26 ft by 20 ft now you can't get a normal board that is that long but that would not stop dad he had a bunch of 2 X 6's that were short so he was ready he built a 29 foot secrete by bolting a double 2 X 6 together.  It was heavy enough to distort the forms.  Cement sets very fast when the sun is on it and that day was no different before I got the cement half unloaded it started to set up and since the secrete must have been 250 lbs the people on that task were getting very weak.  The good news is the wood used for the secrete was some of the best support members of the final cottage and the bad news is it wasn't a workable secrete and no time to fix the problem so we drove ourselves to get through it and the final slab which looked rough and left a history of the day and lasted for 20 years and we never went bare foot for all those years.  The 20 year fix was because the slab and cottage started to sink in to the marsh.

 

Please continue to keep us in your prayers and may God continue to bless us all.