Sunday, November 6, 2011

Change in Plans

It has been over a month since our last blog post. Kathy says “We should have stayed in Oregon!”

First we want to thank the many, many people that made blog comments and sent private emails of condolences over our loss of Raider. With the three of us living together in 400 square feet, 24 hours a day for the past 4 years, everything reminds us of him. We still miss him terribly.

Our plan had been to visit the San Jose area for just two weeks to see our youngest son and take care of the annual doctor’s visits. Then we would be off to Arizona to start our winter volunteer position on November 1st. We had been excepted as volunteers at Kartchner Cavern’s State Park. Kartchner Cavern’s are simply amazing and unlike any other cavern you have ever visited. They were only open to the public 11 years ago and due to tremendous effort and dedication are the most pristine caverns open to the public anywhere. Also unique to our experience, the caverns are a constant 68 degrees and 99% humidity!

Unfortunately, things haven’t gone that way. We both had some issues come up during our annual exams. We have spent 3 or 4 days of each week going either to see doctors or to have various tests run. Kathy has had multiple X-rays and a CT scan. We have put more miles on our truck driving back and forth this month than we put on it all this past summer.

After completing our physicals, Kathy’s doctor confirmed she had at least one hernia. Short version: she is now resting after hernia surgery. The surgeon found 2 large hernias and several small ones, plus discovered some of the sutures had come undone from her surgery back in Jan. 2009. So those were mended.

I have been busy keeping Kathy comfortable, playing nurse and cook.  (Editor’s note: He is beginning to get dish pan hands from all of the dish washing! And he thought I liked washing dishes and doing laundry as a hobby!)

Kathy claimed that I was suffering from hearing loss. I told her it was just wax build up in my ear. My doctor said there was no wax in my ear. So I had to visit the audiologist for suspected hearing loss to keep Kathy happy. With my new amazing high tech hearing aid, I now hear things I didn’t realize I was missing. Like the high pitch sound the propane makes when the furnace or water heater is on. Also bird calls, I can find birds a lot better now.

We contacted the volunteer coordinator at Kartchner Caverns that we were unable to make it by November 1st, due to the surgery. She has been very understanding and we are still hoping that we will be able to get there in time to be volunteers in January and February of 2012.

Bird Notes:

Due to all of the events of the past month we haven’t done any “real” Birding. However, there are a remarkable number of birds both in species and numbers just here in the RV Park. Just doing our daily walking around the RV we have seen:

Spotted Towhee, California Towhee, Golden-crowned Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, Eurasian-collared Dove, Great Horned Owl (heard only), Barn Owl (heard only), Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Anna’s Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Golden Eagles, Western Blue Bird, migrating White Pelicans in formation, Scrub Jay, Turkey Vulture, Valley Quail, Common Bushtit, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Rock Pigeon, Snowy Egret, Great Egrets, American Kestrel, California Thrasher, Yellow-rumped Warbler, House Finch, Brewer’s Blackbird, Common Raven, American Crow, Lesser Goldfinch, Say’s Phoebe, Black Phoebe, Dark-eyed Junco. An amazing 38 species without even leaving the RV Park!

 

 

19 comments:

  1. Sounds like things are getting better for you. Please take care, my friends. Rest and take good care of each other....

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  2. Glad to hear that Kathy is recovering nicely. Good for you, Grant, getting a hearing aid. There are lots of people out there that need them, not so many that have them though!

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  3. Always good to hear an update...glad things are moving ahead in a positive direction now! Happy hearing & healing...LOL!

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  4. I was wondering about you two. As, our cars, we too, need mending and maintainance. Hope you guys are back on the road soon.

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  5. To the "editor": I know exactly what you mean! I had foot surgery in September and am non-weight bearing for a couple of months, and my darling hubby has taken very good care of me -- but his dish pan hands, phew! Glad you all are on the mend!! :)

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  6. It's good to get the medical issues taken care of while you're near doctors. Best wishes for getting to Kartchner Caverns in January!

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  7. We were wondering what the two of you have been up to!...busy busy it sounds like!..take care of each other!..and hope Kathy feels better soon so you can get your hands back to normal!!

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  8. Good to hear from you two again. Sorry to hear about Kathy's surgery but glad she is on the mend. You all take care of each other!!

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  9. Please let us know if you make it in 2013. Jack would love to come visit!

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  10. Sorry to hear you had some trouble, but hoping this is it and you are on the mend now! Be careful of what you say behind Grants back Kathy.......now he will hear you!!! lol

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  11. Sorry to hear you two had a bump in the road to get over, but sounds like things are going ok. Thought about you as we arrived in Picacho Peak. Our set up is a little lacking (no sewer hookup and weak internet). Had our first and hopefully last dust storm and now cool weather. The cavern would be warmer. Hope to see you in Jan.

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  12. Sorry to hear about your medical woes; glad to hear that all's been taken care of successfully. Here's to a quick get well for Kathy.

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  13. Sorry to hear about your health problems but glad they are resolved. I, too, am going to get my hearing checked when we get to Florida. I know I need hearing aids, and I am way older than you, my friend! Hope the rest of the year is better for you guys! Jackie

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  14. It has been a rough time for y'all lately...but things are looking up for the future...I just know it!
    Hugs,
    ~K

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  15. Kathy I hope you're feeling better soon! Sounds like Grant is taking good care of those dishes, er, you. I'm still so heartbroken for you over Raider. It's ben a hard time I know.

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  16. sorry to hear of some health issues - and good that they are being taken care of. We loved the caverns!

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  17. Having just gotten to be 'blogging friends' it was good to see a post from you! I'm glad that Kathy is on the mend, and that both of your hearts are mending after the loss of your precious Raider.

    Finally, that is quite a collection of birds that you've spotted--It reminds me that I need to fill our feeders so I can 'spot some' too!!

    Enjoy your day, and take care!!

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  18. Hi Mr. Grant!!
    Bad Mom for being a slacker!! She says she has been in daily contact with Mrs. Kathy since her surgery. I guess I'll forgive her. Your bird list is amazing!!
    Oh and the slack one says Aveeno lotion might help your dishpan hands. MOL
    Madi

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  19. We're thinking of you here in Pahrump. Hope Kathy is on the mend and we'll see you in Benson in Feb.

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