Some days seem longer than others...

This is the 12th day since I sprained my foot but it seems much longer to both Ron and me.   Ron continues to take care of me and do almost everything.   Although I can walk with the boot, he wants me to stay off of my feet as much as possible.   It is still slightly swollen and sore on the side where the bone is fractured.    I guess it is slowly improving but progress is hard to see each day.  Finding a comfortable way to sleep is difficult.   I hope I can realize that there is improvement soon.

Our plumbing problem turned out to be easier than expected.   The workers started in our condo on the lst floor at 8:30 a.m. on Monday morning.   By the end of the day, we had the use of our facilities again. They said we got the work done first since we live on the first floor.  They continued to be in and out on the 2nd day as they continued upward with the installation of a new drainage pipe.   The men were very kind and professional.    We are now waiting to hear when the drywall and ceiling will be replaced.  We will be responsible for the painting but that is not a major problem.   The cut in the wall was done neatly and no tile or other things were damaged.

Ron will have a CT scan of his kidneys on the 29th.   He has cysts on both kidneys and a CT scan is needed to determine what, if any, treatment is needed.   We just pray this is not a problem for now and it can just be checked again later on for complications.    

Ronald still has no confirmation for a doctor or schedule for removal of the polys in his colon.    The doctor we hoped he could get does not have an opening in his schedule until May.   When I have more information, I will post again.

Weather for January is difficult for many people as many places in the world are experiencing a very cold winter.   A new winter storm is heading across the southern states this weekend.  We pray for people who suffer with the cold, power outages and potential accidents that are weather-related.  We hope Ronald will not have frozen and broken pipes in his condo in Cartersville if they lose power this weekend.

It is chilly here in Florida but more like fall weather this far south.  

Our work goes on normally without anything to report.    Our girls and the children at the orphanage in the Philippines are doing well.   We are thankful for routine and ordinary times for them to attend school and live normal lives.

I have, somehow, from a couch, sent out the majority of the tax letters to donors.   I expect to complete the task by the end of this week.   Again, we thank our sponsors and supporters for continuing to help our work in Asia.

God bless you during this cold winter!  

Can we go back about six months?

 I was working in my little lanai office Friday afternoon just moving ahead as I prepare tax letters for our donors.   It was a beautiful day.   Ron was out on the patio painting something.    The front wood door was open and the glass storm door was letting sunshine into the kitchen.   Someone knocked on the front door and I stood up to go to the door.   I realized my right foot was asleep and I stood there a minute, shook my foot and the lady at the door knocked louder.   I hollowed and told her "just a minute."   I started slowly walking and my foot twisted.   I did not fall but hobbled to the closest chair and told the lady to "come in."  It was a neighbor upstairs that I had not met before.   She only stayed a minute and Ron walked in from the patio door.   I told him I needed some ice as I had sprained my foot.   Saturday and Sunday I used the internet RICE suggestion  (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation).    We had a compression sock we wore on international flights and it was perfect.    Monday, it was better but I went by the clinic and they X-rayed it.   This morning they called and said there was a small fracture so I needed to wear a boot.   I went and got the boot and it feels like I am walking and balancing on stilts.    I will use it some but I also taped my foot where the small bone on the side is apparently the spot that got the most action.    My foot is still swollen some and it has turned dark from my toes to my heel but the soreness is about gone.

Ron has been my nursemaid....nursing and keeping house, fixing my meals, keeping the kitchen neat and asking me what I need.

We went to St. Pete to his Parkinson's doctor yesterday and traffic was horrible both directions.   He will take another cognitive test the last of May but the doctor said he seems to be stable without much change since the last visit.    She wants him to continue to do all the physical exercises he can as this is the best help for Parkinson's and mental stability.     It is too cold to swim now but he is going to L.A. Fitness for exercises and he can increase the days he goes there.  

The clinic made me an appointment to see an orthopedic doctor in St. Pete but I cancelled it and said it is too far and the traffic is horrible going there.   We will see our P.A. on Friday for an update on my foot and find out what she recommends about Ron seeing a urologist about the cyst on one kidney.

Ron and I are reminded of friends in Alabama who have gone to their heavenly rewards now.   When Ron used to call them, they would say they were well off enough to make their doctor appointments.  I am not a good patient...I think the healthcare system is OverKill on appointments and people are not in any better health than they were many years ago when we had nothing but a family doctor and only went to see him in a real emergency.

Last Thursday night, before my foot-twisting, I heard water running and went to the bathroom and found it flooding with water pouring from the ceiling vent.    My neighbor and I went upstairs to the man above us and he went to check his bathroom and found it flooding too.  He said water was coming through the wall so he didn't have an overflowing toilet, as I suspected.  I reported the problem to management and soon the water stopped.   I thought they had turned the water off but we still had water.   Friday morning, the management people came and said a plumber was coming soon.  In a few hours, we learned that they had corrected the leak but it was the drainage pipe and it would be replaced from lst floor to 3rd floor.   They brought in a big fan and dehumidifier and cut a hole in our ceiling to dry it out.  The fan and dehumidifier ran all weekend.  I learned today that they will come back next Monday and tear out a wall or two to replace the drain pipe.  We have a beautiful bath with wainscoting which they will not put back.   They will only replace the opening with drywall and we have to repaint it ourselves.  I don't know how many days it will be in a mess next week.  

Our three-story condo building is strong but upon inspection they found the metal and concrete stairwell on each end of the building must be replaced and they are supposed to start that very noisy work soon (it was actually suppose to have started last week).  Each condo owner had a monthly increase of $226 for a year to pay for the stairwell replacements.

Now you know why I want to go backwards (or maybe forwards) about six months...before our last reported health problems (Ronald, Ron and me) as well as our building problems.  We are not starting the new year off right but things could be a lot worse and we are still blessed.   Just listen to one day's news and then count your blessings as I do every day

I hope all of my blogspot followers have started off on the right path and have a wonderful year, day by day throughout the entire year.   God bless you all!

January update

We enjoyed our holidays with Leigh Ann and Tatum.    We did not do anything spectacular but we enjoyed some good food, exchanged some gifts and quality time with our girls here in Florida.  As always, we are thankful for health, peace and family.    We enjoyed brunch at our condo Christmas morning instead of a lunch or dinner meal together.   We enjoyed high-calorie foods that are not healthy but were delicious.

Our weather was cold during the holidays but has moderated with 50-60 degree mornings and afternoons in the 70's.    

Ronald has made contact with a possible surgeon who he hopes will remove the polyps from his colon when they return to the U.S. in February.   Gigi was able to successfully get a renewal of her VISA/Green Card from Immigration.

The children at CEA had a wonderful Christmas with parties, good food and gifts from many sources.

Sagar, our worker in Nepal is gradually improving in health once again and the young girl in the hospital in Nepal has recovered and returned to the safe house.

Ron had some medical testing done two weeks before Christmas.  The tests revealed a cyst on one kidney.   We are awaiting the doctor's advice, but we believe he will be seeing a urologist soon to get an opinion.     

It is tax season.  I am busy preparing and sending tax letters to our donors.  It was a good year for our mission work and things continue onward as we take care of up to 350 very poor girls who need an education and care.   We love and appreciate all of our supporters who are tenderhearted toward the young girls and are willing to sacrifice to make it possible for them to have a safe life, everything they need and the opportunity for an education and hope of heaven.    Many of the girls would never go to school past the 5th grade and none are likely to ever open a Bible if they were not under the care of our ministers and their wives.     We see the great changes in the girls' lives and we are thankful that you make it possible.   Please pray for our workers and the girls.  

Wishing good health and happiness to each of you.   Praying for peace and the love of God to be with you in your daily walk with HIM.    God bless you all in this new year!