Hello!
August
is hot- making a body sweat just going outside- with the heat index sometimes
reaching over 100 degrees. Last week we had a couple of good rainstorms to help
break the heat and humidity giving the ground a much needed watering. This time of year is when you are between the
summer and autumn blooms so the few hardy plants blooming are much
appreciated. Thankfully, things are
still green so far. I was heartbroken to discover after all my work- just as my
green beans were beginning to really produce- that either a deer or rabbits had
gone through and eaten up the leaves and beans leaving only the bare stalks. I
really miss having fresh green beans from the garden.
Meanwhile
in the kitchen the putting up of garden produce is speeding up. I bought a bushel
of beans and red beets that I canned. The tomatoes are fast ripening in the
garden in the heat- what bliss- and right now I'm harvesting my dark Concord
grapes.
Romeo,
the beautiful cream colored rooster died, I think from the heat when he got
stuck under the hen house one sizzling day. So I put fence wire and boards to
block the entrances off. I missed his crow. To my delight, Rufus, who is
looking like a Rhode Island rooster with his red feathers and black/teal tail
that glisten in the sunlight, is now beginning each day with a loud crow. The
little ducks are nearly grown and sometimes hard to tell apart from the
adults. I definitely have one drake with
the brown ones, but not sure yet about the yellow ducks, whose feathers have
turned white with only a faint tint of yellow underneath showing through. I
still get a couple of white eggs each day and now lots of tiny brown eggs.
The
day finally arrived for Annette's wedding and Dwight and I headed out in the
morning. What a thrill seeing my beautiful granddaughter's face light up and
her excitement when she saw me in her gorgeous white wedding dress. The wedding
was beautiful with all of Dawn's creative touches and meaningful as Randy and
Curtis' grandfather preformed the ceremony. Their former talented pastor and
family did the music. The two flower girls and Bible bearer were such a
delight. It was lovely meeting Curtis' family and friends we hadn't seen for
years. All too quickly the day sped by and we said our good-byes at the
reception to head back home again with a heart full of memories to cherish.
I'll be forever grateful for Joe, the male nurse, who offered so kindly to come
and stay with Dana for the day.
After
a honeymoon, Annette and Curtis have settled into the parsonage where they are
pastoring the home church. What a thrill for my granddaughter to be the fourth
generation minister's wife that my mother began years ago.
Dwight
began giving himself a new medicine almost a month ago where he only has to
stick himself every two weeks instead of three times a week. This will really
save his veins that have had a workout since he was born. It’s amazing what science
and research has come up with.
Dawn
and Randy have been busy all summer going to churches and camps doing
missionary services. With their hectic schedule, Dawn didn’t do any VBS this
year. They are hoping the Philippines will be open for traveling this fall so
they can go.
I’ve
been real concerned with Dana’s low ox levels, even on oxygen, for awhile now.
When I finally was able to talk with the lung specialist on the phone she
wasn’t real helpful. I made an
appointment with the local doctor. As
soon as Dr. Allred heard what was going on, he told me to take Dana to the
Cookeville ER. After doing all kinds of tests, they admitted Dana as they
discovered that his kidneys were only working 20%, which was causing him to
swell up with so much fluid and shortness of breath. The kidney doctor thought after a lasix IV
Dana could go home in a day, but a week later Dana is still in the hospital
with low ox levels as soon as he stands up. So far Dana has lost nine pounds
and thankfully his kidney function is getting closer to normal. They aren’t letting Dana get up by himself-
yesterday he had a seizure- so Dana is getting quite weak. I talked with one of the doctors, who said
they would get PT going.
Last
Friday when I went to go down to visit Dana, here didn’t the Durango begin to
cut out on me- thankfully when I was still at Jamestown. I called Dwight, who
said I could take his old truck, but he hadn’t driven it on the interstate so
didn’t know how it would do. I was able to get a hold of my pastor, who
insisted on coming and getting me where I was so I wouldn’t end up stranded,
and took me to the hospital to see Dana. Since then dear Dwight has worked on
the vehicle and has got it running a lot better.
Unfortunately,
all my traveling (for the wedding) and each time down to Cookeville sets off my
RA and puts me down for a couple of days while trying to get my high pain
levels back under control. It is quite frustrating as before when Dana was in
the hospital I’d be there every day sitting for hours by his side. Instead, I
am at home trying to keep my body going. I drive up the hill to get cell
service and call each day so at least we are in touch. Dana’s room is close to the nurse’s station
so I know they are keeping a close watch on him.
I
shall close before anything else major happens on my end.
Hope
you are staying cool~
Dorcas
