Spring time activities include John trimming many trees. Tamaracks this week (no photos), and Black Walnut tree last weekend.
Sunday, Apr 24
For Apr 23 CPAP. Reported figures. Time on 5 hrs 24 min with AHI=3.14. Events: 5 CSR, 17 H, 10 RERA. No major mask leaks (max= 21 L/min).
I did not have a good start to my morning. My laptop shut down on its own from a Sleep mode and messed up my morning trying to get it restarted. I hooked up my backup external drive and for some reason, it appears to be backing up everything again, not just adding ones since the last backup. It has sat at 8% for over 2 hours. I’m not sure what to do, so I have been going through filing cabinets recycling class materials back to 1991 !!! I am reorganizing the file folders in my most accessible filing cabinet to put all my monthly records. Some were there but not all. I have filled one wine box already this morning with office paper, and half another with magazine type paper (both to be recycled and out of our way). I thought I had tossed all the old (make that OLD) overhead transparencies but I found a few more this morning, brown with age. They and several CDs went to trash for the landfill. I found a few books still usable that I will carry to Dean Hall and donate to the students. I’d better hurry before they are gone for the summer. I suppose the best time is the start of a fall quarter.
John came in and fixed lunch for us, helped me correct some errors on the blog, and has gone back to unload all the Tamarack (aka Larch) trimmings he made this morning and put into his old truck. I’m still waiting for the backup drive to get above 8%. But now, I’m typing in my blood pressure readings for the past week, which my cardiologist wishes to see, each visit. When done, I’ll continue filing. I made good progress and accomplished much, but I still have a ton more sorting within months to do.
The most frustrating part of the day has been dealing with the new backup external drive. I thought it would backup only files that were new since the last time and not spend all day and night doing it. I think there is something I need to know that I do not.
I finally used my combo 4-USBs plug in component to run my oximetry data and mouse off the same USB port on the right side of my laptop, because the other external drive is still in use on the left. It’s only 10% done, so likely will run all night. That was a slick use of my new toy.
John picked asparagus and we had dinner with it as part, along with fried cauliflower, chicken, pears, and a neat toasted dipping bread with cheese atop. Such a gourmet supper.
Monday, Apr 18
For Apr 24 CPAP. CPAP off because of nose irritation. I wore an oximeter all night.
Up, dressed, and ready to go to Yakima. Took data and printed from Oximeter both SpO2 graph and results. Shows the need for the CPAP to keep the SpO2 up all night.
Crazy day. We left early to drive around the rural block to deliver extra asparagus John picked last night. Then on to Thrall Rd, via No. 6 road, only to be turned away at Tjossem, requiring us to make a detour to get on I-82 for Yakima.
This link below gives the story I wish we had known before leaving this morning. Interesting valley history in this little piece, primarily meant to explain the road closure.
No. 6 Road approach to Thrall Rd.
We made it back to Ellensburg, late afternoon and were strongly buffeted coming into the valley. The airport’s thermometer must have been destroyed in the winds yesterday. It did not start reporting temperatures until 12:53 p.m. today, after being out all night and morning. By then, we were in Yakima. The wind anemometer did fine the entire time. I just checked and found the highest gusts today were at 39 mph, exactly when we came into the valley.
My doctors’ visits were okay. I’m not happy with their consideration that I may have to have another CT scan on my lungs**, and possibly switch from a medication to one that requires 3 nights’ stay in the hospital to regulate the dosage.
[**John says: this is routine diagnostic stuff – some people develop scarring of lungs with the one drug she is on. This is to be done every 2 years. Last time the outcome was fine.]
Another concern was a kidney function test that I might have been dehydrated for after my exercise class. That was also the day they withdrew 5 vials of blood. I think that would dehydrate anyone.
From there we went to the tooth surgeon for him to remove all the sutures from a month ago. That procedure was more painful than expected. I must go back in a month to see how it is healing and if the bone is grafting properly in my jaw to support an implant.
Next Tuesday, I have an appointment with my family physician in Cle Elum to see if he will approve a referral to a massage therapist or a physical therapist. My left shoulder’s range of motion has deteriorated since the Dec 18, 2015 surgery on my changed defibrillator, and I have decided that a cortisone shot I first thought I would ask for, is not what I need. I’m confident my family physician will agree. I have spoken to a woman here in town who owns her own physical therapy business and comes highly recommended. The place is Canyon View Physical Therapy.
Tuesday, Apr 26
For Apr 25 CPAP. Reported figures. Time on 6 hrs 36 min with AHI=0.76. Events: 0 CSR, 5 H, 8 RERA. No major mask leaks (max= 9 L/min). Good night’s seem to follow being worn out during the day.
Spent all morning trying to sort out the donation of money John and I donate to a Distinguish Service Award Scholarship for an undergrad and a graduate student each spring. I found out one that was supposed to be distributed last year was withheld (not given as we and the Geog. Folks thought). I’m contacting the recipient to see if I can get her the money, but she has to fill out a FAFSA form on line through Student Financial Aid. Perhaps she did not want to. She has not responded to my inquiry via email.
Then I started working with another person in the University to change my donation from my bank account so that next May there will be enough saved up to take out $ for the two scholarships.
John went to town to have his tires rotated at Les Schwab. They were new 6,000 miles ago, and he needs to drive twice this weekend to WTA trail maintenance.
John worked on some old plastic pipe and valves he put in years ago in the high end of our irrigation ditch. He moved the garden spot years ago but not the pipe and valves. He killed and cut the many little trees that had grown there and now is digging it all up, smoothing and moving dirt. He bought 2 tomatoes and a package of Gladioli bulbs today and some sort of daisy seeds. The veggies got planted but not the flowers – yet.
We also dropped by the Ace Hardware store to spend our $20 to get $7 off. We bought two cans of paint, two plastic hose connectors, and a set of 3 of the N-95 face masks for me to wear when we are starting a fire, or adding to the fuel, in the wood stove.
Finally, our last stop of the day was the Kittitas Valley Hospital to visit our friend, Rosy Carvo, from Selah, who had a knee replacement early this morning. Both sons were able to come with her and stay until after lunch. We were there from about 3:30 to 5:00.
Wednesday, Apr 27
For Apr 26 CPAP. Reported figures. Time on 4 hrs 16 min with AHI=0.23 Events: 1 H, 6 RERA. No major mask leaks (max= 8 L/min). Oximeter ran out of charge before midnight.
I stopped to get Gloria and carried her Costco purchases, from Tuesday, into the house. Carried a hen & 3 chicks plant to a gal who met me at the parking lot of the Food Bank. I got there early because two of our instrumentalists were arriving late. We had played about 6 songs when they arrived. We had a huge crowd today. I did stop on the way from the Food Bank to SAIL exercise class and buy two bags of horse feed pellets. John did yard work all day, in the cold and wind. Winds hit 44 mph gusts today and were 41 for a couple hours.
Midweek beauty – pastel tulips and a special burgundy one, in our kitchen window:
Thursday, Apr 28
For Apr 27 CPAP Reported figures. Time on 6 hrs 46 min with AHI=0.15. Events: 1 CSR, 1 H, 16 RERA. No major mask leaks (max= 7 L/min).
Oximetry on while CPAP was on, and off for 2 more hours, showing a lowering of the SpO2 during that time.
We had an 8:00 a.m. visit from a neighbor 1/2 mi away on Thomas Road, Kay Powers, who lost her bridge with the high creek waters. She saw our logs at the end of the driveway, and stopped to ask the source. She thought they were utility poles. John took her down and showed her our pile of wood from the Naneum fire and offered her two of them. Some fellow is going to come get them and carry them over to install a bridge for her moving her goats from one side of the stream to the other, and not having them going onto Thomas Road. Her place is less than ½ mile away, although by county roads it is 1.6 miles.
Now, John is back down in the pasture spraying weeds after feeding the horses and cats.
I played music today at Hearthstone and drove by the pharmacy beforehand to give them my new Amiodarone pills to quarter for me. They are from a different manufacturer, and they are too hard to break by hand. They have a 1/2 split mark, but it is not even easy. No way I can half the halves, even with a pill splitter.
We had 12 players there today, and a full house of audience.
Friday, Apr 29
For Apr 28 CPAP. No CPAP report. I apparently did not push the SD card in far enough. Dang. I hate wearing it all night and not getting results. My oximeter was on for the entire time, even after I got up at 5:00, so I have those results that show okay figures all night with a jump to 85% SpO2 before awaking, with CPAP off.
At 8:00 a.m. we had an unannounced visit by the woman from yesterday with her friend to check out the logs for her bridge he will build from our donated two Ponderosa pine logs. We were supposed to have a telephone call but did not receive advance notice.
Our Internet connection started bouncing on and off last night, and seems to be doing the same this morning. It has been several months since it last did this sort of thing.
John got a lot of yard work completed. I did some kitchen chores, but spent a lot of time (a couple hours) updating my medical records in my Medic Alert Data Base. Oh, well, if ever needed, my Medic Alert bracelet will notify medical providers of all my medical information. That is reassuring.
I need to get back to filing, or blog writing or both alternately.
John spent the rest of the afternoon and evening getting his stuff ready for his trail work trip tomorrow.
Saturday, Apr 30
For Apr 29 CPAP. Reported figures. Time on 6 hrs 9 min with AHI=0.16. Events: 1 CSR, 1 H, 9 RERA. No major mask leaks (max= 10 L/min).
I had my oximeter on. all night.
John goes to do WTA work at a place called Boulder Cave up the road from Naches, WA just past Cliffdell, WA.
Boulder Cave has Bats
I’m going to a lunch and concert by the Issaquah Singers Community Choir.
I picked up my quartered pills before the lunch at the Activity Center and also a new prescription refill for my Coumadin. I had gone by the Food Bank bread room to get 5 items of bread stuffs (loaf, two hotdog bun packages, bag of soft dinner rolls, and a package of some sort of dessert sweet bread. Several in the community are trying to help out a woman and her grandchildren from the shock of losing her grocery money. She lost a $50 bill in the Dollar store, yesterday, but when she checked back to see if one had been turned in, she was told a man claimed it, when he saw a woman turn it in, but it was not his. Rather sad.
The Adult Activity Center fixed a meal and hosted the Issaquah Singers:
Intro to Issaquah Singers Group
Third Sing-along – Happy Trails
More scenes around our place to end on. A couple of days ago you heard the story of the woman 1/2 mile away who drove by our place and saw the Ponderosa pine logs John pulled to the entrance of our driveway.
Here’s a view past the logs onto Naneum Road, into the hay field of our neighbors, and toward the hills beyond.
Walking back toward our house down the drive to the edge of the corral, I found a showy wildflower of the shrub-steppe the Indians favored along with Bitterroot.
Arrowleaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata)
Hope your week was fine.
Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan