Ancestry for the Decline

I have had a rough week.  Haven’t forgot about blogging, just not well enough to think.  I have spent the down time organizing all the different genealogy documents from many families that I have gotten over the years.  I have totes and totes of them, but every one was mixed - all families in all tubs.

Finally I have them divided by families and even individuals.  His family, my family, generations of our families, other families and friends mixed in there.  Goodness.  Now I am working/entering in ancestry.com

Steve tries to get me out of the house when I get worse health wise.  Most likely because it dumps me into a deeper depression.  So earlier this week he made a ‘date’ with me today to go to estate sales.  We didn’t get much, but I found 20 preprinted Oklahoma quilt blocks for $15!  I am only sharing 3, but I love them!  Hopefully, I will make the quilt soon.  

************

I get my IGIV Monday, so hopefully I will make a turnaround next week.  I have a bad sinus infection, I have been on antibiotics for 6 weeks for it.  This week, Dr changed my prescription to two antibiotics at a time.  The headache is terrible.  Then the full body itching again.  No rash, just itching from head to toe.  And the shaking.  Let’s just say this past week sucks.

Wednesday I went and got my second Covid vaccine.  It gave me an awful headache to add to the one I have had for over a month.  I have been miserable-er.  If that is possible.

Anyhoo, that is where I am this week.  Hopefully, things will turn around soon.  Later gator.

Mooo an Booo!

I am down for the count for a bit.  My sinus infection got worse and threw me into a lupus flare.  This one a pretty bad one.  Boo!

Something that happens with me randomly and pretty often is the shakes - I have always trembled, but these are beyond a tremble.  We have no idea why I do, but it is pretty scary.  

   

Here are the south pasture kids.  I had been feeding them until I crashed.  They are funny... moo-talks - I am sure because I am a new person.  Can you imagine what they are saying?  Moo!!  

And Jake insists on a ride in the evening to come in.  It’s a bribe for Steve to catch him.  Steve falls for it every day.  Occasionally, Chelsea joins, she did here.  Crazy fur babies.  ❤️

Night all.  I am beat.

Oh!  Second Covid shot today!!   Waiting to glow, talk Chinese or turn into a Rona-ite.  🤣

We Saved a Baby Bull Again !

Megan, thankfully, waited to have her calf until we were above sub zero temps.  We kept checking on her and it was just after dark when she had him.  We watched them both close and she was frantically trying to dry him off.  The temp outside was 17, so we knew we had to watch closely.  Steve went back to check on them about and hour later, and the calf was shivering terribly.

He loaded the calf on the 4-wheeler and brought him home.  Having been through this before, we backed my truck into the garage, put a soft blanket in the bed of the truck, put a heating pad on low down, put an old sheet down, put the baby (boy) down, put another sheet on him, then a nice warm blanket on him. We put an oil heater out in the garage and turned it up high.

Little guy was still shivering uncontrollably.  I ran and got my blower dryer with the defuser and dried him off.  He has a very thick curly coat!  🥰  He is adorable.  😍

After we dried him, we covered him with the sheet and blanket and went to bed at 1am.  I set the alarm to check on him for 3:30.  He was dozing and still covered.  Checked again at 6:20, got dressed in many layers and drove my truck out to him mom who was pining in a corner for him.

It took her a few minutes, but once she smelled his umbilical cord she started tending to him.  He has nursed and is fine❤️

A few years ago, a mom had her calf during a freeze and we found him with his eyes froze open and rigid.  Our vet has told us not to consider them dead until they are warm and dead, so we brought a stiff icy calf into the garage and did the exact same thing for him.  

It took hours for him to loosen up and unfreeze.  We settled in for the long haul and by the time we though he had a chance we went to bed.  We checked on him several times, and when we went to check on him in the morning he was standing in the bed of my truck and bellowed the instant the door opened.  🎉

We took him out to his mom who was waiting by the gate and she immediately started tending to him.  

Farm life.  ❤️

Dr Idiots and the Weather

Dr tales, just in the last 7 years, but I quit after 5 year of going to idiots.

Went to a neurologist for my uncontrollable shaking with a list.  He valiantly tossed it over his shoulder and said “anyone that brings me a list like this I handle by doing THIS.”  Never have been back.

I went to a podiatrist to get fungus on my toes checked as it seems to have “spilled” onto the toes it is on.  He said not to worry about it.  I told him I was susceptible to systemic fungal infections and I wanted to be sure it was cared for.  He asked why I am susceptible to them I told him my CD4 numbers and he rolled his eyes and said, “if you had those numbers you’d be dead.  Don’t worry about it” as he walked out the door.  🙄

I went to a hematologist and he looked at my numbers and said, “I don’t believe those numbers.  I don’t even know if they are yours!”  He did give me iron twice, but assured me I would be dead IF those were my numbers.

I went to an Infectious Disease Dr who saw my numbers and walked me out the door because I was “too susceptible to be exposed to the germs that could be in his office.”

🤦🏻‍♀️ 

I could go on and on, but I won’t.  I haven’t had good luck with specialists - even with documentation, and apparently I didn’t have luck with my Louisiana Drs who left me undiagnosed for 32 years.

I was 54 when I was finally diagnosed with Idiopathic CD4+ Lymphocytopenia and 56!when my igg antibodies plummeted and started IgIV, which are human antibodies to replace antibodies that my body cannot make.  Evert4 weeks, I get 21 days supply, but the expense of ($7,000+) Dr tries to stretch it to 28 days.  

Enough.  So many PI patients go through similar scenarios.  Very few Drs know what a primary immunodeficiency is.  Can you believe that?  We have 2,270 members in my Facebook group with one kind of PI or another.  Drs need to know about them.  Nearly all of us have to teach ER staff, specialty Drs and GP’s.

That’s all I will write about Drs.

**********************

Nothing medical except I am sick of sinus infections and today I shook so bad I couldn’t work a puzzle.  

The weather... 

This last 10 days have been miserable weather wise.  Just thought I would post the stats for the future.  We are on the up end of it for now.  Gotta love La Niña years.

My Problem With Drs; Part 1

              

                           Photo just because... 

I have been sick for years.  Many, many years I caught everything and had a chronic sinus infection.

I was with a team of Drs who oversaw my care for 32 years.  I trusted them both, but mostly saw one.  I kept asking why I always seemed to have a sinus infection.  His answer was “because you live in south Louisiana and are allergic to it.”

I got a yearly physical with my husband’s company and it said my lymphocytes were low.  I would alway ask my Drs why my lymphocytes were low.  Every year for 16 freaking years, I asked why they were low.  He said “Because you have a sinus infection!”  For 16 YEARS!  If he had bothered to do a subset test of my lymphocytes, he would have found out I was in dire straits medically.

We moved to and from from Singapore and eventually sold our home in south Louisiana and moved to Oklahoma.  I went to an immunologist for my sinus infection.  She listened to my frustrations and in 15 minutes told me that she suspected I had an immune deficiency.  

She also asked if I was sick all the time.  My answer was, “no more than anyone else.”  She said, “Strange.”

She tested my allergies with the shots in your arms and back; 300+ actually.  I did not test positive for even one - not even the false positive.  That was the second time as I had the same results with my immunologist in Baton Rouge whose statement was, “very strange”.  Nothing else was done.

She kept testing.  It took 8 months for her to diagnose me with a very rare and serious immunodeficiency: Idiopathic CD4+ Lymphocytopenia.  Nothing can help and she assured me I would soon die.  Then, since she couldn’t help me, she dismissed me from her care “as I can’t do anything for you to help.  Good luck.”

It took another year of going to a Drs and them walking me to the door as I “was in danger being in their office”.  Frustration was high so I went for a long time without a Dr.  Finally on an immune deficiency Facebook board, a nurse had me come in to her Dr.  I told her she had to SHOW him my blood results and be sure he would see me.  She did and he blocked off 2 hours for me.  He is still my Dr.  

One time I told him about my immunologist question about being sick all the time and me telling her no more than usual. He stopped what he was doing, and said “she should have asked if I had ever been well.”  It was like a reverse movie in my mind thinking of all the times I was well and I’ll be darned if I could think of even one!  I remember going to an ENT from the time I was 4!!

I said to Dr, “Good point.”  His response was “you have never been well to know how it feels because your entire life you have fought this.”

So that is my ICL story.  Drs do not know how I am still alive but I guess the Lord isn’t ready for me and my body has worked around the t-cell deficiencies.

I would love to find any Dr who would care for me doing physicals and not so much my immune system.  I have finally got an amazing Immune Dr who focuses on immune problems, but physical stuff?  Not so much.  

But I don’t like being walked to the door when I go to a Dr.

I am writing this because I know someone needs to see it.  Someone else has an immune deficiency that they don’t know about and realize Drs don’t know it all.  If you are sick a lot, get to a CLINICAL Immunologist, please.

A Few Farm Shots Today

I love God’s art!  Look at the crystals!

The eyes were watching me:

Frozen cattle.  Actually the ice on them is a good thing, it means they are holding body heat in.

And this is true.

Too tired for more - and tomorrow will be worse.  5+ more inches of snow tonight.

 Night all.

 

It Is Freaking COLD!!

Coldest day yet.

Deep dry snow.

Temp at 8pm tonight.  

Windy.  Not happy.  See the ice cycles especially on her eye?  She is not happy. 

Pissed would be a good word.

See her side?

We have broken many records!

And look at they temps this next week

 - oh, and look at tonight’s temp!  

We will all be sick.

Steve feeding cattle.  It takes us both about an hour several times a day to check, feed, and water cattle.  But we are doing good.  Cattle are ok, baby is running and playing and Windy is mad.  

Jake?  Happy as a lark!  Ran across the pond for a coyote and came home and protected us - outside our back door of course.  😂

You can’t make him come in!

 

****************

This is the second time I wrote this.  Last was better, but I am exhausted and have an awful headache so this is it.  Sinus infections and cold cause miserable headaches.  Traipsing through the snow wears me slap out.  I ache all over and done sleep well because my right side is broke - shoulder and hip. One way hurts laying on them, the other way pulls on them.   Life as a chronically ill person.  Life as a farmer.

And who had time for Valentine’s Day?!?

 I am with him every day.

Negative 2!!

That is our temp right now!!  

It is freaking cold, the wind chill is in the negative teens - and we have cattle to tend to!

They need extra food, water that isn’t frozen (we have heaters) but these young cattle are cold, tired of fighting it, and the other (in another pasture) cattle are pregnant and due now.  Praying they will wait a week.

This is what I look like heading out to help feed and water them.  Actually, I water (the preggy ones drink about 200 gallons in 12 hours) so it takes me about as long to do water as it does for him to feed.

I need this many layers.  My glasses do come off because they fog.  

Remember, I said that I water?  The hose got away from me and got my jeans wet.  They froze on contact!

Jake?  He is fine.  We have to force him to come in - even with icy paws!  This dog just wants to play in this miserable weather!

I do worry about him and I am ver concerned for our cattle.  I just pray everyone can get through the next 5 days.  As of right now we have been under freezing 165 hours!!  We have been in single digest for 2 days and teens for 4 days.  Ya’ll this is as serious as it has ever been for us.  Pray please for these storms to get on out of here.

****************

My depression is rock bottom, anxiety at an all time high and I have a very bad sinus infection - and every part of my body just hurts.  Lupus probably doesn’t like cold either.  It’ll all work out, but I am trying to keep track for my counselor.  
 

Our 10 Day Weather Outlook

⛄️ ❄️ UGH!!  🧊  ⛄️ 

                                         🥶 

Weather; Then and Now

I am seldom concerned with the weather here.  In fact, I enjoy our 4 seasons.  This year, though, I am worried about the weather. 

43 years ago, Steve and I had just married.  We were living on our own in an apartment in Okmulgee.  He was in college full time and working full time.  It was winter 1978; January specifically.  He was working near Sapulpa, about 45 miles away from where we lived.  We only had a motorcycle, a Honda 750, and it was all he had to drive to and from work, to pay bills and to grocery shop.  

He had gone to school one morning and from there he went on to work.  I was terribly worried about him, we were in the middle of an ice storm and then it started snowing - but there was so much ice.  When I finally heard the bike pull up late at night, I raced out to him.  

He was literally froze to the bike!  I had to help with the kickstand, pry his hands off of the grips and then help him get upstairs.  I have never been so scared for someone in all my life!  His beard had long ice cycles, his hands frozen like he was still holding the grips, and he cold barely talk.  When we got upstairs, I started running him bath water so he could warm up.  He told me to run straight hot water.  I was terrified he would scald himself.  He had no feeling at all.  He recently told me he had never been so cold in all his life.  Once he was warmed up, he was proud not to have frostbite.  I have no idea how we lucked out, but he made it through that awful winter.  There is no end to the depth of love I have for this man.

This winter?  They just said the last winter we had like we have looking ahead of us was in January 1978!  My heart dropped.  We are looking at 10-12 days below freezing!  

Both of our kids and their families live here.  Raelee is specifically who I worry about. Aedan isn’t driving yet.  But Raelee drives 18 miles to work and 18 miles home - across multiple bridges.  She does not miss work, in fact, she is full time and takes up shifts others drop.  She is extremely dependable - and has a good head on her shoulders.  But this ice is enough to frighten any experienced driver!

Last night it was icy, and of course I was worried about her.  We know what days she is off.  She is a creature of habit, so they pretty much stay the same.  Knowing she was at work or getting off, I messaged Steph and she immediately sent this to me.

Punkin was doing 37 mph on a major 65mph highway.  No one was going 65 though.  Go girl!  

Thank God for that ‘creepy mom’ ap.  😂  Steph watched her get all the way home, let us in know that she was home safe and we all took a deep, thankful breath. 

43 years is a lot of water under the bridge, and some things you just never forget.  Steve’s dedication to us has never faltered.  There hasn’t ever been anything he couldn’t figure out or wouldn’t do.  I have no idea how we made it through some of the roughest times of our lives, but I am so thankful Steve chose me and that we have made it, but the best part is, we still like each other and our love for one another is enourmous.

This year we have families, kids and cattle and it is freaking bitter cold out there!

Keep us in your prayers.  We do have 2 snow days... tomorrow 2” is predicted, Sat 2”- 4”.  But lots of ice is in the forecast as well.

And this year, we have a nice warm home, a 4-wheel drive, a diesel truck, a fifth wheel and a PARKED Harley.  

The Covid Vaccine Story

 

When filling out the questionnaire for the Covid Vaccine I had to dishonestly answer the questions.  Oh, make no mistake, I knew what I was doing.  But take a look at the questions had to answer...

Here are some of the questions:

My true answers:

1.  Ummm, no, I don’t think so?

2.  Yes, I have a chronic sinus infection and asthma.

3.  No, I am a PI patient, I don’t run temps.

4. No, but  I haven’t tasted or smelled anything in years.  Again chronic sinus infections.

5.  Yes, I have half a colon now.  They took out the part that absorbs water.

6.  Nope!

More questions in the criteria:

7.  Have you ever had a serious reaction to a vaccine? Only one serious.  The pneumonia vaccine.  104 temp and huge red arm.

8.  Do you presently have any infections?

Every single day.  Always.

9.  Do you have muscle and joint aches?  Yes.

And now I get to listen to people 

“hoping you will be ok, I know 2 people who died after getting the vaccine - just in my state.”

“You know a Dr died after taking it.”

Or, “now you have the chip!”

Or “you never know the long term effects...”

My Dr blessed my vaccine and NIH approved it.  I am not thrilled to take it, I hate not answering the questions correctly, but if I did I would have never gotten a vaccine. I don’t know if it is a blessing to have gotten it or not, but I am trusting the Drs and more so God.  He seems to have a plan for me.

Today was an “off” day.  I tried making a gluten free pie again and made a mess of it.  I gave up and made a normal pie dough for my apple pie - which thankfully was delicious.

We made a gumbo.  As we were serving I realized I had forgotten the okra!  What the heck?!?  Okra is now added, but dang!  I was off today!!  Thank goodness it is nearly over!

*****************

Health wise, just awful fatigue and general (my normal) achiness.  Arm is just a tad sore, I still don’t speak a foreign language and I don’t glow in the dark.  I might make it.  

                                       😂

This Happened Today :-)

 We ran to the Asian grocery store for a specific noodle bowl, and while we were there I asked to go to my favorite Chinese restaurant.  If you leave there hungry it is your own fault!  I had this left over and sent this pic to Raelee:

Yes!  Those are my leftovers!!

And I immediately got her response:

Crazy child knew where we were and came to eat our leftovers!  Actually, this was Steve’s and she told me she would get mine tomorrow when she comes to eat gumbo!

This girl has a hollow leg.  

She is my sunshine.

*******************

No more side effects on day three of the first Pfizer vaccine.  Arm is barely even sore.  Fatigue is real - we had to leave the Asian store - I was pooped.  This is ‘normal me’ not ‘vaccine me’ though.

Crumb Quilt Progress

My crumb quilt is coming along quite nicely - and the memories are flowing!  I know where I originally sewed every piece of that fabric, which quilt or craft it went in to and who got it if it was given away, so resewing the fabric brings back wonderful memories.

My friend, Sharon, came over and brought her scraps!  She made her first block today.  How awesome is that? And she is as excited as I am!

My crumb quilts will become picnic quilts for families to take fishing or on day outings.  

I got this picture from our guys today!  I love getting their random pics!  Jeremy is good about sending me picture ‘hugs’ every few days.  I love it!

 

***************************

I feel much better today, the second day after my first Covid vaccine.  Still not glowing in the dark, not speaking Chinese or Russian, not hearing funny voices - and I haven’t croaked!  WHOOT!  

Got My Covid Vaccine!

Stood in line.  A long line.  In the cool wind.  Outside about an hour and a half, slowly moving towards the room of doom.  I was definitely apprehensive, in fact I still am, but after another hour in line inside I finally got it. 

Not sure if I am thankful or not.

There were 2 very long lines.  Be prepared!  Bring your walker chair or lawn chair.  There are chairs inside, but they are constantly moving them around for people who need them.  There is not enough for everyone and they are spaced out.  I got my shot in Tulsa by the Expo.

I got the Pfizer vaccine.  The nurse that gave it to me was exhausted.  At that point she slapped the shot in my arm with little concern.  Burned like the bejeebers!

Today I woke feeling like a truck ran over me - but honestly that often happens, so not sure it is the vaccine.  After getting up, my head started throbbing, I am kind of achy all over and the headache has slacked off, but still there.  I think the headache IS the vaccine.  My arm is sore at the infusion site but not terribly sore.  

I have taken it easy today; frogged (unstitched) a block of a quilt I am working on, worked on genealogy and rested as needed, so an easy day.

I haven’t started glowing in the dark, or hearing radio gibberish in my head, I haven’t started speaking Russian or Chinese and so far I am still alive... so far so good! 

No new cattle babies today.  We are waiting on 7.

It’s a Boy!

Our first calf of the season was born yesterday!  Steve went out to feed the cattle and when he does he counts heads.  He double counted and was still one short.  He knew who it was and found her on the dam nursing a newborn.  He went back and as he always does for new momas, he took her food right to her.  She is not a new mom and not aggressive as some are, but it was too dark to see if we had a boy or girl.

This morning he went to check everyone and said there was no doubt it was a boy!  😂   So Daisy has a son.  ❤️

Here he is next to his mom, Daisy is red.

I just love this time of year!  New baby watch!  They are so fun when there are several and they start playing... and head butting each other.

Next week, maybe I won’t like this time of year though - it is supposed to be freezing last cold!  The high one day will be 21!  Brrrr.... on that note, I am diving under the covers for a good night’s rest.  I am super dragging last tired.  I just can’t seem to find any energy.  Night all.

Oh!!  Tomorrow I am getting my first Covid shot!  I am nervous about it, should I be?  🤔

Top Up Day

Today was ‘top up’ day.  This is the first of 3 bottles of IgIV that I receive every 4 weeks.

Not feeling up to posting much.  I take a lot of pre-meds (antihistamines) and I just want to sleep.  

My infusion only took 7 hours today - and I don’t have an infusion migraine!  Praying it stays that way.  

We came home for Jake’s evening truck ride, then Steve went to feed cattle.  Every feed he counts cattle heads.  He was short one and found her on the dam - nursing her newborn!!  He always takes new momma’s food, so he fed her, but it was too dark to see if we have a boy or girl.  We will check that out tomorrow.

Night all.  :-)