I do feel like I am running a board and care home--no doubt about it!
Just to let you know that I am still putting one foot in front of the other. Sort of go down some every year and more so the past 6-9 months. I think a lot of this is brought on by stress. My dear hubby has been having one thing after another the past couple of years and it has intensified. He was just diagnosed with congestive heart failure and had a very lousy past 4-5 weeks with 3 ER visits without much help. Finally got into his cardiologist and started on lasix. He is not good. It seems like he keeps adding health issues that demand more care. We live "on the edge" at our house.
One of our sons moved in with us in March as he is getting a divorce. His son comes every other week and stays for one week. This has added a new dimension to our lives and there is never a dull moment. I just manage to keep 1 ball in the air on a good day. lol
Everyone seems to be having a fair share of crises or flares and my thoughts and prayers go out to all of you. This has been a hard year for all of us here on this forum. I guess we just have to keep our lives simple and so the best we can while always being thankful for what we have. So much tragedy in the country lately that it is hard to keep up with it. Please take care all and stay positive, Hugs to all . Irish
Dear Irish
I think about you and your hubby often, and add you to my prayers. You have had such a long run of challenges, yet you still find time to speak with us.
Keep your chin up.
God bless.
Kathyx
You and your husband are in my thoughts. I am concerned about your travel time for care. I hope that your son and grandson are able to help with chores around your home.
I can't imagine doing all you do with your illnesses. Thoughts and prayers for you my friend and thank you for taking time for us too!
I hope your hubby can take CoQ10 and Lcarnitine. It helps my uncle with his symptoms of congestive heart failure. Thoughts & prayers for him too!
Thoughts and prayers to you Irish. I hope you can find some time to just relax. Even if it is just a quiet 15 minutes a day for yourself.
(((((((((HUGS))))))))))
My prayers are with you. Life never seems to slow down anymore, just gets more complex. Those ads in the magazines showing people happy and relaxed as they age, where does anyone get that idea from? LOL I told a friend just today, the older I get it seems the less I know. Aging with an illness is certainly not for the faint of heart. That said , I certainly appreciate everything you contribute to this message forum. You have so much going on and yet you take time to share yourself and your wisdom with us.... so thanks. Take care of yourself and your husband. CK
Dearest Irish,
You have a lot going on.....just when it would be nicest to have complete peace and quiet.
Sending you hugs and calm thoughts.
Elaine
Sending you positive thoughts and prayers.
(((Irish))) - it's always nice to hear from you - I'm sorry things are still like a roller coaster ride for you and Mr. Irish with health issues. :-\
I can only imagine the added challenges of having your son move back home, along with a semi-weekly stay of your grandson. I hope your son pitches in to help you and your husband when he can - things are a lot different this time around versus when he was growing up under your roof as a child.
Knowing you, Irish, you take care of everyone else and put yourself last on the list. Please be sure and make some "me" time for yourself - you deserve it!!
I hope the weather there hasn't been too bad lately - we've had a lot of rain here in Central IL. I've seen a lot of your state bird in my neck of the woods (mosquitoes) - which I would really rather they stay up North. ;)
Keep doing the Irish shuffle with one foot in front of the other . . . . take it one day at a time and know we all wish you all the best.
Hugs to you and Mr. Irish.
Bucky
Thanks for all the kind words. You are all such a great group of on-line friends.
Bucky, yes, indeed, the mosquitos are in full force. The grandkids are getting some really bad bites. It has rained so much. I remember our own grilled our supper about 5 weeks ago or so and since then the sun has hardly shown and it has rained off and on--forever it seems. The farmers still haven't gotten all the crops planted. I have never seen it like this in my lifetime.
We have now officially had every son (plus 2 sons with their wives) live with us for some months during relocations, etc. I don't remember this happening when I was growing up. Seems like the kids left home and didn't move back in again.
I see the ads with the older people looking fit and healthy and having a great time golding, fishing, etc. Who are these people??? Guess we all missed that boat!!!
Take care all. Hope the summer gives us some nice days to warm our souls. Hugs Irish
Praying for better tomorrows for you and your family!
Judy
Irish
So sorry you and hubby are having such a hard time. My thoughts are with you.
Thanks Cricket, Hubby is doing some better, at least the fluid in his legs is less. He is still not very good. The cardiologist called the other day and hubby was out weeding. She had a fit. I told her that he just does what makes him happy. He always tells me he will die doing something.
He always tells me that he could die fishing and he would be happy. Today I told him that to die weeding didn't sound like the best idea to me. He sure got a chuckle out of that. He weeds 2 minutes and sits for 15 minutes and stopped to have a nebulizer treatment. We have been married 49 years this August 1st and he knows that his days are numbered and says that he is going to do what he wants to. Go for it is all I can say.
I do encourage him to rest and keep hydrated as he is having trouble with his creatinine level now so his kidneys are probably getting involved. With all of his ailments he has lasted a lot longer than either of us thought he would. Weigh every morning, 5-6 nebulizer treatments a day, blood pressure twice a day, prednisone, antibiotics, IVIG every month and a bloody 2000 mgm salt restricted diet plus gluten free lactose free diet for 35 years and life still goes on. Oxygen is probably looming on the horizon and he will figure a way to mow the lawn with it. His pulmonary said he could mow lawn if he wears a mask so he is doing that also. Where there is a will there is a way. THanks Irish
Thinking of you Irish - take care.
Genko
Irish,
I am sorry to hear about your husband's health but it sounds like he wants to continue to live life on his terms it has to be hard to watch him struggle with his health. It also sounds like you guys have had an amazing marriage. What a gift to be in a loving relationship so long.
Sending support your way.
Irish,
What a strong-willed man your hubby is!
And what a wonderful wife he has to take care of him and still let him be who he has to be!
Take care & I hope Mr. Irish takes a day off yard work soon for some much deserved fishing!
Engy, Hubby just went fishing for a week with some friends plus our oldest son who sort of kept an eye on dad plus did his nebulizers. It was his last fishing trip and he came home in increased heart failure. It was a very hard trip for him and very emotional as he told his friends it would be his last trip. This is the first time he has showed this kind of acceptance of his health status.
It is very hard to watch a spouse with chronic health issues that continually cause decline in health status. He has almost died 5 times and the constant stress sure keeps us on our toes. We know that some day an "event" will be the last one. Until then he will keep going as much as he can.Sometimes he can hardly walk 25 feet and then he will improve. Hard to keep track of the interaction of COPD and CHF. They have so many symptoms that co-mingle. Thanks for your remarks. Irish
Irish,
I'm glad your hubby had a fishing trip with your son & friends. I'm very sorry it was his last.
I'm sorry he is having such a hard time & I'm sure it is difficult for you too.
You are both an inspiration for me.
Blessings, engy
Hello Irish..Yes, it is very difficult to watch and feel helpless...but a touch and a word is so powerful, comforting. Just to see them smile. My Dad would drive my mother crazy when he wanted to do something physical around the house, but she let him..LOL Then he took a nap, and she could de-stress.
Oh my goodness a fishing trip... and with his son...such a wonderful gift for you husband and son, friends. Amazing!
Prays of strength and calm to you
Irish
Good he had a fishing trip! As we age it sure pops up in our mind a lot of dying, it has for me. I guess that is the way life is. But I am not going without a fight. Sounds like you and hubby aren't either, you are one tough lady!
Prayers for both of you and lots og hugs!
Cricket~
A Boy and His Dad
Edgar A. Guest (from When Day Is Done, 1921)
A boy and his dad on a fishing-trip?
There is a glorious fellowship!
Father and son and the open sky
And the white clouds lazily drifting by
And the laughing stream as it runs along
With the clicking reel like a martial song,
And the father teaching the youngster gay
How to land a fish in the sportsman?s way.
I fancy I hear them talking there
In an open boat, and the speech is fair;
And the boy is learning the ways of men
From the finest man in his youthful ken.
Kings, to the youngster, cannot compare
With the gentle father who?s with him there.
And the greatest mind of the human race
Not for one minute could take his place.
Which is happier, man or boy?
The soul of the father is steeped in joy,
For he?s finding out, to his heart?s delight,
That his son is fit for the future fight.
He is learning the glorious depths of him,
And the thoughts he thinks and his every whim,
And he shall discover, when night comes on,
How close he has grown to his little son.
A boy and his dad on a fishing-trip?
Oh, I envy them, as I see them there
Under the sky in the open air,
For out of the old, old long-ago
Come the summer days that I used to know,
When I learned life?s truths from my father?s lips
As I shared the joy of his fishing-trips?
Builders of life?s companionship!
Thank you all for the words of support and thank you lighthouse for that nice poem. It was so good that this son could go fishing with his dad as he hasn't been around much over the years. He is now though as he is living with us. Thanks again all. Irish
Irish, I am so sorry for all the tough times you and your hubby are having to go through. I said a prayer for both of you.
I don't know how we put one foot in front of the other sometimes. The stress is something we sometimes don't even know what to do with it all. We know we are not suppose to have a lot of stress, but life is stressful.
We lost our big white cat Charlie last week, and now I realize that two of our dogs are getting at that age, and have just been closing that part off, because I am tired of things (people and animals) dying.
I am always thinking of you guys both in your home, and all on the board here, as me and my husband keep plugging away one day at a time.
As you said too, the world is a mess, and I don't see it getting better. lol... But, I am thankful for today, and each day we are given. I can tell I am really going down in my energy (is that what it is called? hehe), and all the other symptoms or whatever.
As is popular to say these days. It is what it is....
go irish go .... go irish go .... go irish go ..... ;)
susanep
Oh, Irish, what a bittersweet story and trip. Prayers and blessings to all of you.
Hugs, Sharon
Irish,
I'm at a loss for words today, thinking how to encourage you and let you know how much we love you.
Darn brain fogginess...Others have said just what I would like to express. I know how hard it is to see your husband decline and yet he still has determination and a bit of stubborness. :) It's good to hear your son is around now to help out and spend time with him and support you.
Keep hanging in there, my dear, and please know that so many of us are thinking of you and your family daily.
Many hugs,
Melinda
Ah dear Irish,
We have our younger son (43 on Saturday) living with us while he sorts out his marriage.
From Thursday to Sunday afternoon we also had his three kids and the dog.
They'll all be back for Tuesday through Thursday, with the dog. Saturday we're taking the kids and son (sans dog, thank goodness) with us to the beach and a big family clan gathering.
Today the kids and the dog are with their mother, and I am spending the entire day recovering.
Last night we were invited out to dinner, and while we were gone our son cleaned the house, unloaded the dishwasher and dried and folded our laundry!
That gave me a day to recover today.
He is also helping to pay for housecleaning, weekly, which is another blessing. And contributing towards groceries generously.
However, the relationships are, as you can well image, very stressed right now, and the strains on my almost 51 year marriage are really showing up, of course.
At some point down the line, when he has a clearer idea of how things are going, he will get his own place, but for now it makes sense for him to be with us. We have a lovely neighborhood pool, room (almost) for the kids and dog, and it helps everyone to have more adults around.
Still, I have to pace myself, and I'm so grateful for a day with no kids.
The kids are 6, 11 and 14, and the older boy is very difficult for a variety of reasons. He's very very bright, but socially inept and at 6'2" plus, he takes up a lot of room emotionally and physically. Of course, he would be happy to bury himself in a computer, but that isn't a good option, so we are trying to manage good options, good food, and our sanity!
I am working at sanity and realizing that I'm not in charge of the world, even my own small part.
Do keep us posted on what your situation is like!
Hugs
Elaine