WE'LL SEE HOW SHE FEELS IN THE MORNING

 A QUICK SHOT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD CAUGHT THIS STATELY WILLOW TREE NORTHWEST OF LONDON THIS MORNING

Despite a good night's sleep, Kelly felt very weak and nauseous this morning but with a 9 a.m. Endoscopy appointment at London's University Hospital she was not deterred.  Loading her overnight hospital bag into the car just in case, we rolled out of our driveway at 7:40 under a light cloud cover.  With Kelly not feeling well it was a quiet drive to London.  Just over an hour later Pheebs and I dropped her off at the hospital's front door and she felt strong enough to walk in by herself.

 TREES BUDDING OUT ON A LONDON STREET

Pheebs and I headed for Mcdonalds' and snagged a coffee and one burrito to go.  The burrito we shared in the parking lot and the coffee I drank on our way to our first pit stop which was the Medway Cemetery.  We had ourselves a short walk and I didn't need the cane.  Following the cemetery stop we headed west along a country road but we didn't stray too far because I expected my cell phone to ring at any minute.  With Kelly feeling as bad as she did I thought they might keep her overnight for additional tests.  We ambled into the Arva cemetery closer to London where Pheebs and I had ourselves a second short walk.  

 THE ARVA CEMETERY IS A CONVENIENT PLACE TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE AT LONDON'S UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

No sooner back in the car and my cell phone rang with a nurse saying Kelly would be at the front door ready to go in about twenty minutes.  Fifteen minutes later Pheebs and I picked her up and we headed north out of London.  It was 10:45 a.m.  

 THE NURSE ON THE ENDOSCOPY FLOOR INSISTED KELLY NOT TRY TO WALK TO THE FRONT ENTRANCE

After a quick stop at Tim Hortons in Lucan, we were home shortly after noon.  Kelly immediately stretched out in her living room recliner and stayed there for a long time.  Still feeling very weak she contemplated again canceling her Plasmapheresis treatment scheduled for Saturday at London's Victoria Hospital.  We'll see how she feels in the morning.  

 SHE WAS SURE GLAD TO BE HOME TODAY

Now, this is how it went this morning for Kelly and this is what her liver doctor told her.......Kelly's endoscopy found a bleed in her esophagus and they were able to repair it.  Blood pooling in her stomach may have been causing some of the nausea.  Kelly's liver doctor was present at the endoscopy and she was able to talk to him about her condition.  He said he is referring her to the Liver Transplant Committee and they should be in contact with her in about a month.  He also said it is up to this committee to decide if Kelly is strong enough to withstand major liver surgery.   He did tell her she looked frailer than the last time he saw her.  He also said her anemia and esophageal bleeds will continue and more endoscopies will be needed as well as additional iron infusions.  She has two out of six Plasmapheresis treatments left (Saturday and Monday) and that will conclude those treatments which so far have not given her any relief from the itching.  Maybe the next two treatments will do the trick. 

 A PAIR OF GRACKLES AT ONE OF OUR FEEDERS

Al's Music Box:)) I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry by BJ Thomas from the album, 'I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry'.  1966

 MOURNING DOVES IN OUR FRONT YARD THIS AFTERNOON

GROANER'S CORNER:(( My 7 year-old-nephew showed me with pride the "telephone" he had just made from a string and two tin cans.  I pulled out my iPhone and said, "That's nice, but... look at the phones that kids your age are making in China!"

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Two golden-agers were discussing their husbands over tea. "I do wish that my Elmer would stop biting his nails. He makes me terribly nervous."  My Billy used to do the same things," the older woman replied, "but I broke him of that pesky habit."  "How?"  "I hid his teeth!"

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Gladys was the preacher's wife and accompanied her husband each Sunday to church. One particular Sunday when the sermon seemed to go on forever, many in the congregation fell asleep. After the service, to be sociable, she walked up to a very sleepy-looking gentleman. In an attempt to revive him from his stupor, she extended her hand in greeting, and said, "Hello, I'm Gladys Dunn." To which the gentleman replied, "You're not the only one!"

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KELLY DID NOT HAVE A GOOD NIGHT AND CANCELS ONE OF HER FRIDAY MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS

 FLOWERS IN MEDWAY CEMETERY

All three of us in the Subaru again heading out our driveway this morning at 7:45 a.m.  Our destination was London's University Hospital where Kelly had a 9 a.m. appointment for an Iron Infusion procedure.  Pheebs and I dropped her off at the main door at 8:50 and then headed north out of town.  Once again our first pit stop was at the Medway cemetery on Ten Mile Road where buoyed by my better-feeling hip, I had hoped to do a brisk walk around the cemetery grounds.  But, it wasn't to be.  After two days of very little pain, my hip threw me curve again.  Disappointed, Pheebs and I were back in the car and headed west to put in a little time before having to pick Kelly up.  We wandered through Ilderton where I spotted a Time Hortons coffee shop so I snagged a coffee to go.  With sunshine peeking through the clouds and enjoying the peaceful countryside we began making our way back toward London.  I had just pulled into the Arva cemetery to await Kelly's call when my cell phone rang with her on the other end saying she was ready to go.  Ten minutes later under brightening skies, we were all headed for home again.  A quick stop at Lucan's Tim Hortons for a couple sandwiches to go and we were back on the road again arriving home forty-five minutes later.  We were both very tired and especially Kelly because she did not have a good night.  Itching, nausea, and stomach pains had kept her awake the entire night.  She had two appointments in London scheduled for Friday with the first one being at 9 a.m.  It Is an  Upper Endoscopy at London's University Hospital followed by her second to last Plasmapheresis and Plasma Exchange treatment at London's Victoria Hospital scheduled for 12:30.  This afternoon, dealing with fatigue and disappointment she called Victoria Hospital and canceled Friday's afternoon Plasmapheresis treatment because she felt she just didn't have the strength to do it.  All these medical procedures have been wearing her down and she reached a point where tomorrow was just too much in one day.  They were very understanding at Victoria Hospital and rescheduled that procedure for Saturday.  As strong as Kelly's resolve is, to say she is becoming increasingly discouraged would be putting it mildly.  These are very difficult days for her with seemingly no end in sight.  It appears her Plasmapheresis treatments to stop the constant itching are not working.  She had been counting on those treatments to relieve her from the terrible itching..................  

 YOU CAN TELL KELLY FELT THE COLD THIS MORNING AS SHE HEADS INTO THE HOSPITAL WITH HER WINTER COAT ON

 I AM ALWAYS IMPRESSED WITH THE ARTWORK ON MANY TOMBSTONES

WITH MAPLE SYRUP SEASON OVER THIS COUNTRY SYRUP STORE AWAITS NEXT SPRING'S HARVEST

 A SUGAR SHACK IN THE WOODS

 PHEEBS IS FOCUSED ON TIM HORTONS DOOR WAITING FOR MOM TO COME OUT WITH THE SNACKS

Al's Music Box:)) Time Of The Season by The Zombies from the album 'Odessey and Oracle.  1968

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Just reading that there's a small Island off the coast of Italy with 5 million Sicilian people.  That's the biggest number I've ever heard.

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A man received two sweaters for Hanukkah from his mother. The next time he visited her, he made sure to wear one of the two sweaters. As he entered her home, instead of the expected smile, she said, "What's the matter? You didn't like the other one?"

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A little child was in church for the first time and watched as the ushers passed the offering plates.  When they neared the pew where he sat, the youngster said in a little voice loud enough for everyone to hear:  "Don't pay for me, Daddy. I'm under five."

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WITH MY CANE IN ONE HAND AND MY CAMERA IN THE OTHER HAND

ON THIS CRISP APRIL MORNING THESE HORSES WERE KEEPING WARM WITH THEIR PEACOCK FEATHER-DESIGNED BLANKYIES

Well, at least it wasn't raining, snowing, or ice pelleting when we rolled out of our driveway under cloudy skies at 8:10 this morning, and hey we were one degree above freezing.  Kelly's CTscan appointment at London's University Hospital was for 9:30 and we were there in good time.  London's morning traffic wasn't too bad.  After dropping Kelly off Pheebs and I headed straightaway north out of London and headed for the little cemetery east of Highway four on Ten Mile Road.  The air was cold and it was a crisp walk we had around the perimeter of the cemetery.  My hip did good but I carried my cane anyway.

 HEADING NORTH OUT OF LONDON THE DAY'S FIRST RAY OF SUNSHINE BEAMED THROUGH THE PASSENGER WINDOW AND SOFTLY ALIGHTED RIGHT ON THE PHEEBS

 THIS CREEK RUNS ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF THE CEMETERY

SPRING FLOWERS WITH SPECIAL MEANING FOR SOMEONE

 FORSYTHIA

From the cemetery, we deaked south then picked up Nine Mile Road heading west.  How nice I thought to myself to be out ambling along slowly through the countryside.  Looking around I could see the landscape was greening up nicely and with the cloud cover breaking up and blue skies appearing it warmed up my feelings.

 WILLOW TREES ARE ONE OF THE FIRST TREES TO LEAF OUT IN THE SPRING

 WE ARE DRIVING THROUGH HORSE COUNTRY

My cell phone rang about 10:15 with Kelly on the other end saying she was ready to be picked up.  They had taken her in early for her CTScan.  Ten minutes later I scooped Kelly at the hospital's main entrance and the race was on.  She had a second appointment at Victoria Hospital for 11 a.m. clear across the city.  Kelly had snagged two Tim Hortons coffees on the main floor of University Hospital so the only stop we had to make was at Subway for a couple of messy sub sandwiches.  From there it was east on Fanshawe Road to Adelaide Street and then south to Victoria Hospital dealing with the London locals all the way.  Dropping her off at 10:55 Pheebs and I immediately headed for our 'Serenity Acres'.  (the old Veterans Hospital grounds behind Parkwood Hospital)

 HERE COMES OUR SUB SANDWICHES

 MAJOR CONSTRUCTION ON ADELAIDE STREET AT THE BUSY RAILWAY CROSSING MAKES ME WONDER IF THEY ARE FINALLY GOING TO HAVE THE ROAD GO UNDER THE TRACKS

 HOMELESS PEOPLE IN LONDON'S EAST END

With my cane in one hand and my camera in the other hand (I had forgotten my camera strap) Pheebs and I headed off for a walk in the crisp morning's mid-April air.  My right hip did well and I was careful not to overdo things.  Hardly had to use my cane at all.  I didn't move too fast, stayed on even ground, and knew enough not to try going down a steep rutted path through a patch of nasty brambles to the pond's edge.   If this keeps up I should be fully walkable again before too long.  Back to the car, Pheebs and I relaxed waiting for Kelly's call.  I did the reading and Pheebs did the snoozing and watching out the window.  I think it was shortly after 1 p.m. when a nurse phoned saying Kelly was ready to be picked up.  Ten minutes later it was all three of us in the Subaru making fast tracks north out of London heading home with no stops for coffee or food along the way.  I think it was shortly after 3 when we rolled into our driveway.  No place like home Toto:))  Tomorrow we will be on the road early again and Kelly will undergo an iron infusion at London's University Hospital.  Feeling like a pin cushion, her arms are bruised and swollen from so many needles over these number of days:((  

 NO, THAT IS NOT A SNAKE COMING OUT OF THE WATER,,,, IT'S A TREE ROOT

 LOOKING SOUTH ACROSS WALKERS POND

 A FEW DAYS AGO I HAD A COUPLE PHOTOS SHOWING SOME STONE SLAB STEPS LEADING UP A HILL TO A BENCH WHERE I TOOK A PROFILE SELFIE....TO THE LEFT OF THAT YELLOW WILLOW YOU CAN SEE THE STEPS GOING UP AND THE BENCH OVER TO THE LEFT

 I'M ASSUMING THIS IS SOMEONE'S HOME AT THE FAR SOUTHWEST CORNER OF WALKERS POND

I did get a call from the Goderich Hospital to come in for hip X-rays on April 27th.  I also had a call from the Russett Physiotherapy and Habilitation Center in Exeter Ontario saying they have me slotted in for the 25th of May. A couple readers had wondered if I was put on a hip transplant list and I think that will depend on what the X-Rays show.        

 A COUPLE OF PHOTOS OF AREAS I WOULD NORMALLY WALK THROUGH BUT NOT TODAY

 THERE WERE A LOT OF SNAIL SHELLS IN THIS AREA

 I SPOTTED THE SUBARU THROUGH THE TREES ABOUT A QUARTER MILE AWAY

 I HAD WALKED PAST THIS BENCH SEVERAL TIMES AND FAILED TO NOTICE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE IRONWORK....LOOK CLOSELY TO SEE HOW IT BEFITS THE OLD VETERANS HOSPITAL THAT ONCE STOOD HERE

 ALMOST BACK TO THE CAR

 PHEEBS IS WATCHING A COUPLE DOGS GOING BY TAKING THEIR OWNER FOR A WALK

 PICKING UP KELLY AT VICTORIA HOSPITAL EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON

 SAW THIS OLD CAR EAST OF ELGINFIELD ON OUR WAY HOME

 IT TURNED OUT TO BE A NICE DRIVE TO LONDON AND BACK TODAY

Al's Music Box:(( Rainy Night In Georgia by Brook Benton from the album 'Brook Benton Today'.  1970

 MY VERY BEST PAL:))

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A woman phoned her dentist when she received a huge bill.  "I'm shocked!" she complained.  "This is three times what you normally charge."  "Yes, I know," said the dentist. "But you screamed so loudly, you scared away two other patients."- 

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- What's the best sport to play if you are hungry?  Squash.

- Which letter is silent in "scent"... Is it the 'C' or the 'S'?

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Q: When is a bike not a bicycle?

A: When it turns into a driveway.

Q: What do you call two hippos riding a bicycle?

A: Optimistic!

Q: What's the difference between a boy scout and a guy fixing bicycle horns?

A: One's motto is ‘be prepared’, the other's is ‘beep repaired’.

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Why do basketballs and footballs have goosebumps, but not baseballs?  Baseball is played in the summer.

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