Influenza or Salmonella

Influenza or Salmonella

Influenza or salmonellaHi, I must confess something I allowed my adult children do as kids. Please keep in mind, my husband did not want to live in town and we have been living on our ‘farm’ for the past 30 years. Kevin has always had a garden, cattle and chicken.

After leaving work, I would pick the kids up from after school care. We would go home and I began cooking dinner. The kids would do their chores and then they would come in and want to have some of the hamburger or whatever I was preparing as a small snack. I would let them take a piece or two.

The kids were always wanting to have samples of the food I was cooking. This included desserts. Cookies and cakes were the main desserts. After mixing the batter and dough they were right there with their tongues sticking out ready to lick the spoon/bowl. Kevin said our home eggs were better than the store bought eggs but even still would tell me to not let the kids eat the batter/dough. Bad mom was I. Not only did I let them lick the spoon, I would too! A few years we made homemade ice cream using raw eggs. Never had issues. We transitioned to recipes that the eggs were cooked or did not require eggs.

Influenza or salmonella
This past weekend I was down right sick. It started Saturday morning. I had a brunch date with my friend at Perkins. I ordered from the senior menu! All was good until after we ate. My stomach was beginning to feel not right, a bit achy. I suggested we go to the second hand store. Getting up and walking made my stomach feel better.

I did not do my usual go to the library and getting groceries. Instead, I went on home. Once home I got the chills and I climbed into bed. It was downhill from there. It ended up lasting the whole rest of afternoon/evening throughout the night. Every two hours going to the bathroom to sit on the throne with the trash can between my knees. Sunday I stayed in bed all day resting and sleeping.

I was trying to think of the possibilities of where I could have caught the flu. I work from home, only leaving on the weekends to go to library and pick up groceries. My husband did not get sick. Then it dawned on me. When I baked the brownies I made for my neighbors, I did lick the spoon…..

I panicked. My Google search was on. Most people with Salmonella infection have diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. These were the symptoms I experienced.

Symptoms usually begin six hours to six days after infection and last four to seven days. I licked the spoon Friday evening. However, some people do not develop symptoms for several weeks after infection and others experience symptoms for several weeks. I am suspecting I had the influenza. My symptoms were the weekend only, thank goodness.

This grandma learned a hard lesson. I will not allow my grand girls to lick the spoon or bowl after making brownies, cakes or any dessert. Influenza or Salmonella, whatever I had, I will not chance it again!

Take Care. Best wishes, Debra
Gma’s photo

Bake a Treat for Neighbors

Bake a treat for neighbors.

Hi, this week I baked treats for the neighbors, which is #94 on my 101 in 1001 goal list. One day while browsing my Facebook, I saw a post about these mounds brownies. I absolutely love the mounds candy bar. So I decided to make this for my neighbor friends. This is the first time I have made this recipe.

Bake treat neighbors
Mounds Brownies

Bake treats for neighbors

101 in 1001
#94 Bake treats for neighbors

These are delicious! As my pictures show, I made two pans of mounds brownies. Thank goodness my grand girls, daughter and son-in-law came over to see the baby chicks and eat dessert. Took a plate full to my mom and dad. Had plenty to take to two different neighbors. Next time I will make just one pan and still share with the neighbors!

Take Care. Best wishes, Debra
Gma’s photo

Bake treats for the neighbors.

I Have Crohn’s Disease

I have Crohn’s Disease.

Hi, this past week I was not feeling well. It affected my regular weekend activities. One of which is going to the library to write my weekly post. I was debating on what I would post this week. This week post will be about Crohn’s Disease. In a nutshell, it’s ulcer’s in the colon.

It was the summer between my junior and senior year of high school I was diagnosed. My first flare was the diagnoses itself. The second was just before my wedding. And the third was during the dark time of a close family member’s diagnosis.Crohn’s disease

Thursday evening is when I began feeling uncomfortable. Friday was the beginning of the worst. I knew I was constipated. Constipation and Crohn’s who would have thought the two would be associated! Friday night I did not get much sleep. I moved to the couch so I wouldn’t wake Kevin up each time I had an urge getting up to go to the restroom with no results. I did manage to have a couple trips that produced, TMI 🙂 And felt somewhat better by Saturday morning.

Kevin took me out to breakfast which I looked forward to. I never ate Friday and was rather hungry by Saturday morning. I had gotten up, took a shower, got dressed, put on make up. After we got home I felt uncomfortable. The exercise must have stirred things up! The grand girls were coming to the house to spend the day. Well I retreated to the bedroom to get as comfortable as I could. I resorted to taking stool softener.

Sunday evening I was finally feeling better and comfortable. I had to Google on how to prevent constipation Include plenty of high-fiber foods in your diet, including beans, vegetables, fruits, whole grain cereals and bran. Eat fewer foods with low amounts of fiber such as processed foods, and dairy and meat products. These are not on the diet for people with Crohn’s Disease!

What I can do is Drink plenty of fluids and stay as active as possible and try to get regular exercise. One of my 101 in 1001 goals is exercising more.

I look forward to aging. There was a time aging was not a certainty for me. So each day my feet touch the floor I praise to God. Getting older presents some new challenges and constipation is just one of these!!

Take Care. Best wishes, Debra
Gma’s photo

Weekly Routine and Ruts

Weekly Routine and Ruts

Hi, I have noticed that I am getting into a weekly routine. Do you live by routines? It’s been quite some time since I have done anything spontaneously. One of mine and (more so) Kevin’s weekend routine is eating either breakfast or lunch at a local restaurant. For us, local is either Tonganoxie, Oskaloosa, Winchester, Leavenworth and Lawrence. Lawrence more so for me on Sunday’s.

This weekend was no different. Saturday we went to Jalapeños Mexican Grill in Tongie. My lunch choice was the vegetarian quesadilla. I was pleasantly pleased. Kevin ordered the burrito lunch meal with the margarita. Kevin is not one to like his picture taken. Hence, the reason I have not featured him or his platter in the image below.
Weekly routine ruts If you ever want to take a short drive, Tonganoxie has several delicious restaurants serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Our big outing for Saturday was our lunch date. We spent the rest of the day around our home.

Sunday I did my regular weekend routine filling Adam’s pillbox, going to the library and picking up my groceries. At the Lawrence library one of the enjoyable experiences is the window by the table I sit. This Sunday the weather was so Spring, 70! The window view is the park across the street. So many people sitting on blankets, playing basketball and just plain walking. Everyone enjoying the outdoors. Most are wearing shorts and sandals. Too early for me, however I am wearing my Sketcher Slip In shoes without socks!

My mind drifts. Trying to stay focused, I am thinking of things to do out of my regular weekly routine and rut. My 101 in 1001 will be my inspiration. To be able to do my complete list I need to do 3 a month. My three for April will be:

    #4 Clean up photos on iPhone, transfer to external hard drive.
    #55 Schedule my yearly eye exam.
    #94 Bake treats for the neighbors.

Best wishes, Debra
Gma’s photo

Visit with the Grand Girls!

Gma’s photo

Visit with the grand girls!

Hi, I am excited to see the grand girls any time I have the opportunity. This past weekend was such the time. Their parents had a lunch date Saturday and needed me and Kevin to stay with the girls. Come on over was my response!!

The girls arrived in the morning about 10 am. First i had to get my hugs and kisses. Those are a necessity! Next we played Dominoes. The girls are fun to be with. Listening to the them talk. Every time I see them they seemed to have grown so much. It was a short visit. Just enough time to play a few games, eat pizza. Briella went with Kevin to feed the calves while Brynlee and I stayed in the house. The 3.5 hour visit went fast.

Kevin does not like to have his picture taken. When I am able to get a nice shot, I treasure them! In the set of images below, the top middle. The girls are getting ready to go home. Brynlee went to give Kevin a hug and kiss goodbye. I just happened to take the shot. Even though he is not looking at me, you can still see him smiling.

Visit grand girls

Later Saturday evening my mom called. She said Erika and her family were going to hang out at my folks house Sunday. Mom invited me and Kevin over to join them for lunch. Kevin had made prior plans to help with serving the homeless. Even though Kevin wasn’t there, it was still a special day. My son joined us as well. It’s not that often we all can be together.

Special grand girls visit
Unexpected pleasure time spent with family.

As I had mentioned in a past post, I wanted to get a picture of Brie’s handwriting. She had written everyone’s name and assigned the sitting at the lunch table. Her handwriting has improved from the list she made just this past Thanksgiving.

My goal #38 on the 101 in 1001 list is a work in progress.

Best Wishes, Debra
Gma’s photo

Grandgirls
Some of my favorite images of my grand girls!

Visit with the grand girls, priceless.

The Serenity Prayer

The Serenity Prayer

Serenity prayerHi, I have the Serenity Prayer hanging on my diningroom wall. A reminder I need to keep reading and re-read. Times like now when I hit a funk (depressed) is when I have to stop and remember the prayer.

I take “happy pills” daily for depression. The pills help keep the tears at bay. But the funk can creep up on me and that is where I am now. My funk is about things I can change like my weight and how I think about myself.

After many years I have come to the conclusion, I simply love and enjoy eating. My favorites (weakness) donuts, hot chocolate, ice cream, macaroni and cheese, pastas, baked potatoes, meats and so many others. Fiber does not fit in my diet for Crohon’s.

I am working at home now after COVID. Not getting out, no excersize and my love to eat. Guess what, yep, I have gained weight. And I am down on myself. So what am I doing about it you may be wondering. I have a plan.

I am beginning with this blog. An online diary of sorts. Working at home now, the idea of having a project and selecting a location such as a coffee shop, restaurant or the library to work on this blog/online diary. Getting out of the home, socializing will certainly be uplifting.

The thought of where I will go to write my next post is already exciting. Living near a college town, there are many different coffee shops and restaurants to choose. Heck, I can pick a different location each week!

Exercising is another goal I am interested in doing. Not that I plan on going hulk, but taking a walk or walking on the treadmill. Drinking water with my meals. I don’t like the taste of water. Water washes food down verses calories in sweet tea.

Just this past Saturday, I spent the day with Kevin. First we went to breakfast and drove the long way home, a scenic drive. Once home both of us took a nap. And to end the day we went grocery shopping. Proof we are now part of the senior group. Most of the shoppers were our age. Getting out of the house felt good.

Sunday the library was my chosen location to write my post.

Best wishes, Debra

tonganoxie library