AND WITH A BIG SIGH OF RELIEF WE HEADED HOME THROUGH THE QUIET COUNTRYSIDE

 AFTER SO MANY GRAY DAYS HOW GREAT IT WAS TO SEE B LUE SKYS TODAY

How nice to have a sunny day for Kelly's first day home from the hospital.  However, it turned out to be a busy one. Pheebs and I headed out first thing for our Jeep ride which took us into Bayfield and to Bayfield's cemetery for a brisk walk around a field and an amble into a nearby forest.  With only about an inch of snow on the ground, it was easy walking.

 CANADA GEESE AND A SEAGULL ON THE BAYFIELD RIVER

 OUR WALK IN THE CEMETERY THIS MORNING

 THE FOREST FLOOR ON A WINTER'S MORN

 HEADING BACK TO THE JEEP

Home again, we switched the Jeep for the Subaru, loaded Miss Kelly up, and off we went.  Our first stop was Bayfield's post office where Kelly had a parcel to mail.  From there it was over to the carwash to get all the road salt off the Subaru and from there we headed straightaway north up highway 21 to Goderich and stopped at Walmart.  Kelly slipped inside to the Pharmacy to get a couple new prescriptions filled.  Of course with the busy Christmas season upon us,  Walmart was a zoo again and the prescription was going to take an hour to get it together.  With other stops scheduled we slipped next door to Zehr's Supermarket to pick up a few groceries and a frozen turkey.  So far, despite the crush of humanity, the day was going reasonably well, but then we went to Harveys/Swiss Chalet for a nice hopped for sit-down Swiss Chalet chicken dinner.  For starters, they were out of chicken and it would be a forty-five-minute wait, plus they were short staffed and people were lined up.  Just wanting to get out of there we settled for a Harvies burg for me and a grilled chicken wrap for Kelly.  We ate our mediocre stuff in the car:((  We have noticed how local fast-food eateries have been going downhill in our area.  All of them have signs out 'Help Wanted' and one has only their drive-thru open.  The service is poor and the food quality is suffering.   

WHAT!!! NO SWISS CHALET CHICKEN!!!!

THE PARKING LOT SNOWPLOW'S VERSION OF MOUNT WALMART 

Back to Walmart we went to pick up Kelly's new prescriptions and they weren't ready yet.  In the meantime, the stores were a zoo which meant the large con-joined parking lots were akin to a demolition derby with cars and shoppers crisscrossing everywhere.  Parking spots were rare so Pheebs and I would drop Kelly off at the store doors and then head out to do battle with the frenzied drivers and Christmas shoppers milling about in the parking lots.  Kelly insisted on going into the stores because after laying in a hospital bed for nearly four days she wanted to get some strength back into her legs.  Kelly phoned me from inside Walmart saying the prescriptions still weren't ready so I said come on out and we'll go get ourselves a much-needed Tim Hortons coffee.  Pheebs by this time was needing a pit stop, so with coffees in hand we went to the farthest corner of the Canadian Tire Store parking lot far from the maddening crowds and had ourselves a short break from the madness.  Fortified by our coffees and bolstered by half a dozen Tim Bits we soon headed back into the fray.  I dropped Kelly off at Walmart's door and once again commenced driving around dodging Mad Max drivers and frenzied shoppers.  But the end of the madness was in sight.  I stopped near Walmart's entrance and spotted Kelly in my rear-view mirror with prescriptions in hand heading for the car.  Minutes later we cleared the congested area, breathed a big huge sigh of relief, and happily headed for home through the quiet countryside.  

  PHEEBS WATCHING FOR MOM TO COME OUT OF THE HOUSE THIS MORNING

 PHEEBS WATCHING FOR MOM TO COME OUT OF ZEHRS SUPERMARKET

 PHEEBS WATCHING FOR MOM TO COME OUT OF WALMART

Aside from feeling a bit weak and tired today, Kelly is doing well and was able to get a decent Tuesday night's sleep.  The next bunch of days will be days of rest for her.  We won't be going anywhere!!  Well, not anywhere where there are masses of people that's for sure!!!!

  MORNING WALK

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Signs of the times::

In the front yard of a funeral home, 'Drive carefully, we'll wait.'

On an electrician's truck, 'Let us remove your shorts.'

Outside a radiator repair shop, 'Best place in town to take a leak.'

On a maternity room door, 'Push, Push, Push.'

On a taxidermist's window, 'We really know our stuff.'

On a butcher's window, 'Let me meat your needs.'

On a fence, 'Salesmen welcome. Dog food is expensive.'

On a muffler shop, 'No appointment necessary. We'll hear you coming.'

In a dry cleaner's emporium, 'Drop your pants here.'

On a desk in a reception room, 'We shoot every 3rd salesman, and the 2nd one just left.'

In a veterinarian's waiting room, 'Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!'

In a Beauty Shop, 'Dye now!'

In a restaurant window, 'Don't stand there and be hungry, come in and get fed up.'

In a cafeteria, 'Shoes are required to eat in the cafeteria. Socks can eat any place they want.'
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When is a knot not a knot? 

A: When it’s not.

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'YAAAAAAAY' TEAM' KELLY'S HOME:)))))

 MORNING SUNRISE COMING HOME FROM CLINTON

An early start this morning and I was out the door before the Sun was up on my way to Clinton Ontario for a bone density test.  It was the first time I had the Subaru out on a few icy snow-covered secondary roads and I was impressed with Subie's handling.  The AWD (All Wheel Drive) was just as steady, secure, and stable as our Jeep Liberty's Four Wheel Drive.  Yay Subaru:))  

 NICE TO HAVE EARLY MORNING BARE AND DRY HIGHWAYS

My bone density test went off without a hitch.  I was glad the density machine didn't do my head because my Nurse Practitioner might have received a report next week saying something like, "hey, this guy is really dense".  The bone density machine was funded by the Clinton Public Hospital Foundation.  And, it was announced yesterday that Goderich's Alexandra Marine Hospital has received provincial approval and a one million dollar grant for an MRI diagnostic machine.  It will be the 49th MRI in the province of Ontario.  The MRI machine was also made possible by the Alexandra Marine General Hospital Foundation.

 I'M THE ONLY ONE IN CLINTON'S HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM

 THIS IS HOW I LIKE TO SEE HOSPITAL HALLS....'EMPTY'

 NICE TO SEE THE BONE DENSITY AND X-RAY PEOPLE HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR

 THE WORDS SAY 'YOU POSE WE EXPOSE':))

 SORRY ABOUT THE OUT-OF-FOCUS 'BONE DENSITY MACHINE PHOTO...I MUST HAVE HAD ONE OF MY SHAKY SENIOR MOMENTS

Here is Kelly's first email this morning...."Hopefully, they will be around soon for rounds.  My hemoglobin went up 2 points and I feel ok, so I'm counting on coming home today". Being optimistic about Kelly coming home I again left the Subaru parked in the driveway ready for a quick departure to London's University Hospital.

 MORNING'S SUN CLIMBING INTO THE CLOUDS

It was sure nice to finally see some genuine sunshine this morning.  It energized me enough to head outside, grab the snow shovel, and move a little bit of snow around.  I was outside less than ten minutes when my cell phone rang.  It was Kelly saying, "come get me I'm coming home".  'Yaaaay Team' I thought as Pheebs and I and Subie rumbled out our driveway heading for London:))  

GREAT HIGHWAY DRIVING CONDITIONS TODAY EXCEPT FOR THE SECONDARY ROADS WHICH HAD ICY PATCHES 

The front entrance at University Hospital was an absolute zoo.  I could see Kelly standing outside behind her wheelchair but I couldn't get to her at first because of the traffic congestion.  Eventually, I got close enough to stop and quickly jump out of the car, race around, get the door open, load all Kelly's stuff inside including Kelly, and move the wheelchair back to the sidewalk. I wonder what the line-up of cars behind us thought when we actually took half a dozen seconds for a big hug in the middle of the manic traffic melee. I figure they must have designed that front hospital entrance access route back in 1929 before they even built the hospital.  Back at a time when there weren't many cars on the road.

 LONDON'S UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL DEAD AHEAD

 THIS TELEPHOTO SHOT WAS THE ONLY ONE I GOT OF KELLY AT THE HOSPITAL ENTRANCE

Minutes later we were at Wendys' for coffee to go plus a burg and fries for me and a Taco Salad for Kelly.  And a bit of everything for Pheebs although she wasn't too fussy about the Taco Salad.  With bare and dry highways and no snow in the air, we pulled into our Bayfield Pines driveway about an hour later.  Kelly was sure glad to be home and Pheebs and I were sure glad to have her home.  She spent most of the rest of the afternoon resting in her living room recliner.

 HERE COMES THE GRUB

 NOW HOW'S THAT FOR A HAPPY LITTLE FACE PEERING INTO A BAG THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN HOSPITAL FOOD

An old Tavistock friend of mine dropped by this afternoon to say hello.  Gary Burton and I go back all the way to the early sixties when we both lived on the same street.  Always good to get caught up with a few of the old hometown boys.  Well, for those of us that are left.

 AND BY GOLLY KELLY EVEN SAVED ME HER THREE-DAY-OLD BUTTER TART....AND THAT'S ANOTHER 'YAAAAAY TEAM'

How nice to have Kelly home and the Bayfield Bunch back together in our usual form of what we consider normalcy.  Last Friday morning after Kelly's second emergency hospitalization Thursday night, Pheebs and I were out for our morning Jeep ride, and my mind was once again dealing with questions, answers, and feelings that most people's minds do not like to deal with until the time comes and they do have to deal with them.  Sobering thoughts...........  

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A man went to apply for a job. After filling out all of his applications, he waited anxiously for the outcome.  The employer read all his applications and said, "We have an opening for people like you."  "Oh, great," he said, "What is it?"  "It's called the door!"

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“Did you hear about the lost sausage? It was the missing link.”

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Teacher: "Why are you late this morning?"

Student: "It's my alarm clock. Everyone got up except me!"

Teacher: How did the alarm clock make you the only one not to get up?"  

Student: "There are eight of us in my family and the alarm clock was only set for seven."

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A DISAPPOINTING DAY

At 10:06 a.m. I sent this email to Kelly...."I got the Subaru in the driveway configured for travel.  Front seat forward, backseat armrest/coffee holder down, doggy towels on the front seat and center glove box, and your black winter coat with hood on board".  Minutes later she sent this email back...."Talked to one doctor,  he is consulting with the gastrointestinal team. Probably 99 percent chance of being discharged but not until later.  Another round of antibiotics IV first. He's coming back in a few minutes.  He's actually out in the hall talking to another Doc". 

 THIS WAS POSTED TODAY ON THE CURTAIN BETWEEN KELLY'S BED AND THE LADY BESIDE HERE

 KELLY'S SON BEN BROUGHT THESE FLOWERS FOR HER SUNDAY

I sometimes fall asleep with the TV remote in my hand and last night was one of those times.  Every night I fall asleep with low-volume instrumental soothing music playing and it plays all night.  Occasionally in my sleep or semi-sleep, I might accidentally press one of the buttons on the remote and wake up with a blank screen and no sound.  Now, because we have one of those darn fangled 'smart' TV's that needs two remotes to operate it the TV cannot simply be returned to normal again.  When this happens it takes a mind smarter than the smart TV to get it operational again.  Unfortunately, our 'smartest mind' was in London's University Hospital and this is one of the first emails I sent to our 'Smartest Mind',  "I must have pressed a wrong button on the TV remote in the night and despite trying to get the TV going again by pressing buttons it's just a blank screen now.  If the doctor says this morning that you have to stay another day just tell him you can't because you have to go home to get the TV working for your technically challenged husband".

 LOTS OF DARK-EYED JUNCOS IN OUR YARD TODAY

Kelly and I were in touch by email and phone as the day began to grow longer and longer.  Every time the phone rang I figured it would be Kelly saying....come get me:))  But, as the hours rolled by and we drifted into late afternoon I began to lose hope that Kelly would be coming home today.  And, she didn't.  Update:: Kelly just sent this at 6:30 tonight.....Wonder if they are Worried about the fluid build-up in my abdomen and legs,  they just came and Weighed me at 6:00.

 WITH LOTS OF TIME ON HER HANDS KELLY CONTEMPLATES HER 'LEMON-DROP' SOCKS

 AND SHE DID A LOT OF READING TOO

 KELLY'S SUPPER LOOKS A LOT MORE ENTICING THAN MY PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH SUPPER

I didn't take these last three photos.  They are the three winners of our Park's Christmas Decorations contest. 

I have a bone density check at 8 a.m. in the Clinton Hospital so the day is going to be an early start.  From Clinton, I will head right back home and wait for Kelly's call to come get her and bring her home:))

GROANER'S CORNER:((   A man in Amsterdam felt that he needed to confess, so he went to his priest.  "Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned,” he said. “During World War II, I hid a refugee in my attic."  "Well," said the priest. "That's not a sin."  "But I made him agree to pay me $20 for every week he stayed," the man explained.  "I admit that wasn't good, but you did it for a good cause," the priest replied.  "Oh, thank you, Father. That eases my mind,” the man said. “I have one more question, though."  "What is that, my son?" the priest inquired.  "Do I have to tell him the war is over?"

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FINGERS CROSSED FOR KELLY COMING HOME MONDAY

 AND YES IT IS EVERY BIT AS COLD AS IT LOOKS

Kelly didn't feel as well today as yesterday.  She didn't have the energy to slip out and down the elevator to Tim Hortons for a coffee so one of the nice nurses did that and brought one back for her.  The doctor told her she had lost a total of 6 pints of blood Thursday.  Her body's bone marrow is now working hard to replace that blood loss.  Kelly's youngest son Ben from Cambridge drove over to see her for a visit today and at Kelly's urging, he brought lots of food with him.  Kelly phoned again tonight and I could tell she was filling better.  Probably had something to do with all the food Ben brought:))  And plans are still on to bring her home Monday so Pheebs and I will be raring to get on over to London and bring her home.

 FOR PATIENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE CELL OR SMARTPHONES THE HOSPITAL HAS THE NEWEST AND  LATEST IN PHONE TECHNOLOGY  

 KELLY'S HOSPITAL LUNCH TODAY WAS A SPINACH FAJITA (I HOPE SHE SAVED THAT TART FOR ME)

 KELLY AND BEN OUT FOR A WALK IN THE HALL

Needing to pick up a prescription, Pheebs and I ventured to Goderich for a stop at the Walmart Pharmacy.  We drove down around the harbor but it was pretty cold and windy down there.  Roads were snowy but plowed.  We got about an inch of snow overnight and it snowed on and off all day.  All the front yard bird feeders were very busy.  Well, at least we are over halfway through December and are slowly but steadily inching our way toward Spring:))

 A FEW BRAVE SOULS OUT FOR A WALK ON THE BOARDWALK

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A police officer pulled this guy over for speeding and told him that his eyes were bloodshot, and asked him if he'd been drinking. The guy said, "Your eyes are glazed, have you been eating donuts?"

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Wife: 'What are you doing?'
Husband: Nothing.
Wife: 'Nothing...? You've been reading our marriage certificate for an hour.'
Husband: 'I was looking for the expiration date.

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Two friends, Jim and Paul are in a bank, when, suddenly, armed robbers burst in.  While several of the robbers take the money from the tellers, others line the customers up against a wall and proceed to take their wallets, watches, etc.  While this is going on, Jim slips something into Paul's hand. Without looking down, Paul whispers, "What is this?"  Jim replies, "It's that $50 I owe you."

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