THE LOWE FAMILY NEWSLETTER: VOLUME #
120 MARCH 2018
Dear Readers,
February was a very gloomy month for me
(apart from the weather) as within days of a mandated visit to my
doctor's office I was in bed with the flu. As you all know I do not
make visits to a doctor's office unless I believe that death is
imminent. Unfortunately, in order to receive my supplemental
insurance benefits, now that I am on Medicare, I have to be
physically seen by my family doctor to get my generic Zoloft
prescription renewed twice yearly. So in early February I went to my
doctor's appointment and was shocked to see only two other patients
in the waiting room. I expressed my surprise to the receptionist
since the flu epidemic had caused massive strains on the healthcare
system and some facilities had set up tents in their parking lots.
She explained that all suspected flu patients were directed to the
urgent care section of the building in order to avoid contaminating
others. Much relieved that I wasn't going to be coughed all over by
germ ridden patients I was in and out with my prescription in
minutes. If I was running things I would have offered video
appointments to all patients who did not need a physical exam.
A couple of days later I picked up my
prescription at the pharmacy and very fortuitously decided to
replenish my supply of cough and cold medications as they had been
depleted by my children's Christmas visits. That night my throat felt
scratchy but nothing too serious so I was quite sure I would be able
to enjoy lunch with Sarah, Coryn and Kay the next day and then spend
the afternoon at a huge home show with all kinds of projects to get
our creative juices flowing: but on Saturday morning I awoke to find
myself frequently visiting the toilet with very juicy bowel
movements, worse my head was aching, my nose was congested, my throat
was raw, I was coughing, ached all over and was burning hot one hour
and teeth chattering cold the next. My medical expertise immediately
diagnosed the flu. I texted Sarah that I was too sick to go but she
suggested postponing it a day in hopes that I would feel better by
Sunday. She rearranged everything but I was still in bed on Sunday.
Thankfully my diarrhea was gone but all my other symptoms remained.
Thank goodness I had lots of ginger ale in the fridge as I had no
appetite at all. I decided that if I managed to cheat death I would
at least be a few pounds thinner which was a definite plus.
Unfortunately I was not able to watch
the children for two weeks or so. Jeremy missed work one day to
babysit and one of the children's teachers took another day. Coryn
came over a couple of times to check on me, bringing the kids- who I
was terrified would catch my germs but they didn't. She bought
groceries and washed my bedding for me and suggested making another
appointment with my doctor. I confidently explained that there was
nothing the doctor could prescribe at this point that would work any
better than the stuff I was already taking. Sean stopped by after
work one day and looked at my self prescribed over the counter meds
and announced that they didn't seem to be working- claiming I looked
and sounded like death as I coughed all over him. He went to a
pharmacy and came back with a bottle of cough syrup which apparently
contained an ingredient guaranteed to help me cough up all the gunk
in my lungs.
On the second weekend of being on my
deathbed Sarah and Sean bought lunch over for me and I decided that
I would go to the doctors the following day if there was no
improvement. Something several of my children had suggested for days.
That night I was watching Victoria, a
mini series on PBS which I really enjoy, when I realized that I was
not taking anything in because I was having to work so hard to
breathe. I debated my options. I realized that I could have pneumonia
and that it might get worse during the night. I certainly didn't want
to call one of my children or an ambulance out in the middle of the
night so I called Sean and asked him to take me to ER so very close
to my house. We spent six hours there – most of it waiting. The
doctor felt my illness had lasted too long to be just the flu and
sent me for a chest X-ray and ordered a breathing treatment. I was
diagnosed with bronchitis, and given a prescription cough medicine
and an antibiotic since I had a fever. It was about two in the
morning when we left and I was so grateful to Sean for being more
patient about the long delays between the appearances of the doctors
and nurses. I was exhausted and just wanted to be sleeping in my bed
the whole time we were there. The next morning I went to the pharmacy
to get my prescription filled in my pajamas, no make-up and no hair
spray! A first for me. Once home I spent the rest of the day in bed
and thankfully after a couple of days on the antibiotic I was feeling
much better and the following week I was back to being able to care
for the kids. My cough lingered and although I never get a flu shot,
and even though this year's shot was not very effective I might
consider getting one next year.
Thankfully I was fully recovered by the
time Josh unexpectedly arrived one Monday evening just before I
arrived back from babysitting the kids in Lees Summit. He immediately
demanded supper so I pulled out a frozen pizza and promised a
home-cooked meal the following night. Of course I had to listen to
him complain about how he thought he would be coming home to a feast
but I told him that I required more than a few hours of notice to
create my meals and besides Monday's were always my easy supper day
as between dealing with Owen and rush hour traffic I was beyond more
than a can of soup or a cheese sandwich.
Unfortunately since Josh has returned
from Mexico and a short stay in Texas the weather has not been very
welcoming. I had high hopes of getting several outdoor projects done
whilst Josh was around to help me but he has been spending about
eight hours a day working at his job and his spare time has been
spent helping Sean and Sarah build all kinds of furniture: a bar in
their basement, bar stools, an ingenious fold out picnic table that
appears to be a park bench at first sight, and built in bench seating
and shelving for the nook area in their living room. I spent
yesterday fabric shopping with the three of them as I have been
tasked with making an upholstered cushion for the nook bench and
padded seats for the bar stools. Coryn texted me and asked if I could
pick up some clear strap material for a dress that needed to be fixed
while I was at the fabric store – that week I had already sewn a
button on one of Jeremy's shirt, fixed a ripped seam in one of her
tops and removed stains from it which she claimed she had no idea how
to do. I shook my head .In May I am heading to Orlando to help
Leslee-Ann recover a love seat: I will be working while she points
her finger and talks non stop. Fortunately Ray will be demanding a
lot of my attention too so I should get lots of play breaks!
Bryn has returned to Los Angeles and
was lazing on his brother's couch as he told me that he will be
moving into an apartment in Long Beach as he has accepted a job offer
there – one of many he claims despite my misgivings about his
extended vacation impacting his chances.
Craig will be flying in this coming
weekend to attend the Kansas City Film Festival where his documentary
Smoke and Ribbons will be shown. It has done well on Amazon Prime and
we are so all proud of Craig ! Josh is going to fly back with Craig
to Orlando to spend a few weeks with them until he departs for Spain
in May, apparently he plans to work in Europe again this summer. As
he leaves I will be moving into his spot in the Remsburg's home for
an extended weekend, to see my Ray who turned 2 on April 4th.
Josh surprised me yesterday by
announcing that he was going to make some new tables and shelves for
my sewing room -I have wanted to replace the huge three piece desk
that your dad used for some time as it overwhelms the space and isn't
very practical for my needs. I was looking forward to shopping for
lumber. Josh said there was already plenty of material to create his
vision in the existing furniture pieces-so why would I need to buy
new when the old was adequate. I couldn't focus on his vision but
know that if you want Josh to do something for you it will be done
his way .I put my rose colored glasses on and told him to do his
thing. He did take apart the wooden screen enclosed structure that
protected my air conditioner from my neighbors cotton wood trees that
have thankfully been removed. He used some of the lumber to rebuild
the wagon that Ming Jon made me nearly forty years ago to take Marc,
Coryn and baby Josh on rides in! It will be a focal point in my
garden again this year as he did a great job on the project.
Since recovering from my illness I have
spent a lot of time with my grandchildren: Owen has had three
sleepovers and Ava Claire one and of course it is even more special
to them as Josh has been here! And sometimes Uncle Sean stops for a
visit after work when they are here to add to their happiness. Once
again Sean and Sarah invited them to decorate Easter eggs at their
house and I guess they must have painted themselves as well because
they needed a bubble bath to get clean. Good thing Sarah and Sean
have a plentiful supply!
Kay took a trip to Austin, Texas over
her Spring break so she enjoyed the warmer temperatures. She is
currently dating a guy, Richard, who lives close to me so she is
spending quite a lot of time in Overland Park now! Theo is thrilled
because he is a welcome visitor in her boyfriends house and gets to
spend some of his days there enjoying the yard when Richard is
working from home. Much better than being crated in her apartment all
day.
Claudia is visiting us all for a long
weekend in July, her first solo trip! I know it will be a fun time
with all her Kansas City family! Ming Jon has a trip planned here in
August. Our homes are always open to you!
My trip to Savannah is looming and I am
looking forward to feeling the sun warming my old bones. It has been
so much colder these last few weeks than it is usually at this time
of the year. It will be so great to spend time with my friends of so
many years once again.
Josh is periodically calling me down to
my sewing room to check on the height of shelving or location of a
stripped down, recycled, reinvented piece. I think he is going for a
more streamlined, modern look than I had perhaps envisaged but it
will definitely be much more practical. Hopefully I will be able to
find some new flooring to pull my bright Mexican inspired walls and
Joshua's design together. Something I can install myself of course!
I still have a few other projects that
I am hoping to accomplish this Spring so if anyone wants to come to
my deck painting party, my power washing feast or my hillside weed
whacking contest out on Quivera let me know. I always have room for
one more! Pizza and beer will be provided along with plenty of
motherly love.
