It's Pus Week

  

Terry's greenish-white finger.

Well, readers, my accident-prone (at least lately) hubby has us returning to the urgent care facility through the VA. A couple of nights ago, he tells me he needs to heat up a pin and lance his finger. I was relaxing on the couch, watching television and looking at my phone until he mentioned the need for piercing his skin with a nasty needle ... I do have to say it brought me out of my relaxation state and into a "Now what?" position. This is why women live longer. 

He hobbled over to me with his one working, uninjured leg, and showed me a horrible looking, green-colored, infected finger. When asked how that happened, he replied it was due to what he believed to be an ingrown nail. Hmm. It's green. Filled with pus. Yes, it could be an ingrown something. That, or your finger is raging against unfair wages or against the machine, who knows at this point?

The idea of lancing his diabetic finger made me cringe. I looked at him and asked, "Please, let's take you to urgent care. You are diabetic and lancing it yourself is not a brilliant idea. You get that infected even worse and you won't see the end of it." He walked away, mumbling something about feeling stupid for going in for a fingernail. 

I didn't care how many big, bad ass naval men and women, marines, or people who served in the armed forces of any branch saw him in there for an infected finger. He was not going to touch it himself if I had anything to say about it. Sitting down on the couch beside me, I could see he resigned to the fact he needed to leave it alone. At least for the time being.

Waking the following morning, Terry informs me we need to go to urgent care. He said the finger was much worse. I got out of bed, walked the dogs, and got myself ready. Off we went. 

The wait was ridiculous, but we were told they had an emergency patient that they had to send off to the hospital. Also being short staffed, it took a while. Terry also had to make it to a physical therapy appointment at 2:30 for his knee. This day was just getting better and better. It was now 1:30, and still no doctor. Not only did we need the procedure done, but I also had to grab his medications I was guessing she would prescribe. That was upstairs in another department and typically meant more time involved. 

Finally, a doctor came in. She was a woman around our age, possibly a bit younger, and seemed to be caring and sweet. Setting up the tools to get the finger back to normal, she told Terry she would lance it and send him home with antibiotics. We settled in for a cutting of the skin ceremony.  

She sliced the skin to release all of the pus inside the skin, then informed us she would be cutting the infected skin away as well. The infection went deep, and so did the cuts. As she dug deeper under the top layer of skin, she made light of the amount of pus she was seeing this week. She jokingly remarked, "I have seen so many infections and abscesses this week. It seems everyone is coming in for them. It's pus week." Of course, we laughed, but my first thought was, "Blog post!" And here we are. 

Terry is now taking antibiotics and keeping his finger in a knuckle bandage to help it heal. I have yet to look at his newly created injury, as he told me she cut all the way "down to the meat." That did it for me. Every cell in my body turned inside out. So much for my thought of being a doctor when I was growing up. Yeah, not happening. 

But Terry survived. We owe it all to the doctors at the VA urgent care and also the yellow, "fall risk" bracelet they pinned around his wrist when we arrived. Terry asked what it was for and was told it was the fall risk bracelet. He smiled and asked, "What am I supposed to do? Grab it on my way down?" That drew some laughter and on we went, with the magical, lifesaving bracelet around his wrist. Bless modern inventions.

I would like to reiterate, if you have an infection in your finger, foot, or other appendage, please do not try the lancing project at home. Go in to have a professional help you with that injury. As you lance, one, just one little germ can cause you misery that will last for weeks. Especially any diabetics reading this post, please take this to heart. You do not want to take chances of having a digit or two get badly infected. It's not a good thing. 

The yellow fall risk bracelet that saved my husband's life while at the VA urgent care. 

***

So, after medical appointments, and you've been a very good boy, your mom typically takes you out for a treat. We pulled into Dairy Queen, and my big boy got a chocolate sundae that I could not eat and a malt. Ah, his dietician would be so proud of him. 

I do have to say though that I'm proud of him. Not for eating the crap, but for remaining in a good mood and keeping that sense of humor after all he has been through for the past few weeks, with his knee exploding as he stepped off the porch and now his finger being cut open. This too shall pass. Just another hurdle life throws in front of us and it's our choice if we jump it or let it take us down. Terry is jumping, and quite high I might add, with broken parts and all. 

***

Saturday began with a walking of our Togo, the Siberian husky. I have an itchy photo shooting finger, even if it's just weeds. I find beauty in most everything in nature. Even the dandelions, which to us are simply weeds, but to a bee, they are life, and then, to us, bees are our life. That tiny blooming dandelion can mean a lot to us through ways nature intended. Anyway, I will shoot anything that exists that calls itself a living thing. 

I do love the little daisy-type flowers. The close-up beauty of the tiny flowers ignored on the side of the road are remarkable too.

The color purple always catches my attention, even in weeds. Hairy little leaves, yes?

Dandelions are getting ready to bloom ...

The bees will be very happy over the sight of these flowers coming out of their wintry shell. 

I do love these tiny purple flowers too. Small and yet standing tall among all of the greenery around them. 

So, you may be saying, "What in actual freaking nature is she doing?" Well, I'll tell you why these little flowers, or weeds as most call them, make me smile. Spring. Warm weather. Beautiful new life sprouting to give us a host of artwork to enjoy. Animals can find enough to eat once again. It is the rebirth of so much the planet offers and it's worth watching every little bud burst into a colorful flower, or to see our environment turn into a masterpiece created by Mother Nature herself. Awesome stuff!

This weekend, our clocks move forward by one hour. Longer days, warmer days, and fresh smelling beauty all around. I can't wait. Stop this weekend and enjoy the ornamental plum trees as they show off their tiny pink or white flowers. Look around and take in the scents and the colors of spring. Remind yourself why this planet is so beautiful and why it deserves our respect. In other words, stop and smell the roses. 

***

Since it is Saturday, I set my app for deliveries to come through. It didn't take too long to get a couple of them. I had a couple around town, and one in Sutherlin which is about 10 miles north of Roseburg. Off I went and what a gorgeous day! Temps were running up to 71 degrees today and I was driving with my air conditioner on low. It was warm in the car, so on it went. Circulating air is a good thing.

I have always noticed some statues sitting on top of a hill to the west as I drive north. These statues look bronze or metal of some type, but they are out in the middle of the hill with nothing in particular around it. Maybe a few cows grazing once in a while or deer grabbing a bite to eat on their way through. It is difficult to get a good look at them while driving 65 to 70 miles per hour down the freeway. So today, I stopped. 

Finding a safe spot on the side of the road on my way back from Sutherlin, I was able to pull over long enough to snag a couple of shots. Unfortunately, since they sit to the west of the freeway and it was in the afternoon, the sun was high in the western sky, preparing for its drop later in the evening. The sun was glaring on the statues, and I could not see a thing in my camera due to the brightness. I took a couple of pictures but will have to garner a few that are much better than these on the next trip through. 

I always thought these were pretty cool, standing high on the hill, overlooking the freeway. 

I will have to get some that are better to get a closer look. They look like native American statues to me. I've always loved them, sitting on the hill overlooking the land. What is your opinion? Are they native Americans or are they statues of someone else? The cap on the rider on the right almost looks like a Viking hat. What do you think? I know now that they are bronze and beautiful.

***

Wow. It's Sunday already. It seems the days are flowing one into the next, without a pause. This is why it is important that we enjoy every day. We tend to get involved in our daily tasks that we are not spending time in each moment. Living in the moment is a great thing. 

Off I go on another delivery or two. I can't wait to see what today brings in terms of adventure. Driving to Winchester, about five miles north of Roseburg, I delivered a package and took off again toward home. Next up, I delivered items out to Myrtle Creek again and a few others around Roseburg. Nothing much in the way of adventures to post about. I would love to snap some photos of a few scenic areas along the route and hope I can find a place to pull over next time to do just that. 

***

And just like that, the weekend is over. Terry and I are getting ready to head to bed for some sleep to start our new week. A new start, just as the rebirth happening all around us. May you have an excellent week, filled with laughter, love, and abundance. Peace be with you.

Until our next post,

Terry and Vicki Macrae

Two old people loving life