AEDM Day 7- Red leaf- 400th post

Wow i was surprised when I looked at my stats for this blog to realize this is my 400th post.

I also realized today that when I signed up to do Art Every Day Month yesterday that since I am in the hospital I don't have access to my scanner so I could post my artwork.  However there are other types of artwork that I can create because I do have my computer and my photos. 

I had signed up to do a new note card swap on Swap-bot which was a scavenger hunt for three themes  on three cards.  The themes are leaves, red and nostalgia, so I went on a scavenger hunt through my photos to turn into cards.  I have a purchased Georgia O'Keefe (love her art) card with one of her leaf paintings on it which I will send, but in going through my photos I found this wonderful red leaf photo to edit.

I edited it to look more like a note card drawing and that edit is on the top of this post.

I also found this photo which fits the nostalgia theme, it was already edited, but one that I love.

Or maybe I'll send this one- which I also edited earlier but love the way it turned out.  What do you think?

When I get home I will be able to print them on textured or lightly patterned card stock to finish this art project.

Enjoy

☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

Pollen count 3939

This is how I survive the pollen

As I have severe allergies and asthma; I do whatever it takes.  Believe me people notice my bright pink mask even if I am in the car just driving by; I sure get some s-t-r-a-n-g-e looks.  But you can also believe me that it sure beats ER visits and hospital stays which were the norm before my husband bought this for me. He researched on the Internet to find one that would be effective, as we had tried the paper hospital ones and the cheap Wal-Mart shop masks which did nothing to help me.  Since I have been using this I have not had a single trip to the hospital due to pollen.  My Doctor laughed when I gave him a copy of the photo and he does not recommend it it other patients because most people will not go to these extremes to keep from being hospitalized. I think it is kind of sad that people will not use something that could benefit them so much for fear of embarasment; although I have been guilty of it myself at times. I have learned that those who know me are very accepting of my mask and will even ask where it is if I am out without in the spring.  I am learning to not be afraid to

DO WHATEVER IT TAKES

ENJOY

☺☺☺Johnina ☺☺☺ 

A different kind of pain

Boredom

Most hospitals are not known for their decor and the two hospitals I was at were no exception.  Blinds on the window, maybe some drapery sashes at the top and if you are really lucky a picture on the wall.  My room had a pretty nice scene form my window, but still it was small and to change it you had to get out of bed which was painful but actually helpful in recovery..  I took several photos out my window from different angles and then cropped and edited them differently which helped me to cope with time and the distract me from the pain.

Sylvan Grove; the rehab hospital encouraged patients to bring pictures and belongings from home, of course then you had to sign a waiver so the hospital was not responsible for them.  I noticed that those who had pictures or quilts or such from home got better so much faster and went home earlier after having passed their goals.  In the rehab hospital goals are set up for being able to take care of yourself and when you reach those goals you go home, if you take too long you go to a nursing home.  I went home a little over a week early.
One of the things that the nurses attributed to this early going home especially since I should have been there longer due to me many medical problems was my computer.  They were amazed at how much having the computer with me helped me in spite of the fact there was no wi-fi.  I could listen to music, movies of my choice, edit my photos, organize my photo.  Where all patients have TV how often is nothing on and you watch because you are bored and stay bored.  With my computer I stayed more alert and active and complained a whole lot less or so I was told, because I had my choice of activity due to having a laptop computer.  One of the therapist bought a laptop before I left because she saw how versatile it was.
I have packed for the hospital many time for many years and over the years what I bring has became more tech savvy form walkmans to MP3's to laptop computers and what I bring continues to help me through the tough hospital stays.

Good-bye Slyvan Grove

So Happy to be Home

Sylvan Grove was the second hospital hospital; the rehabilitation hospital.  It was a small old hospital that needed some rehabilitation itself.  They were working on some restoration while I was there and it made for some very noisy nights, but I am still grateful for having been able to go there.  I got physical and occupational therapy 2 - 3 times a day so that by the time I went home I could pretty well take care of myself.  I am still in a lot of pain and I get tired easily which is why I didn't write my blog yesterday. 
I was exceptionally glad when I went to my surgeon on the way home from Sylvan Grove because he was exceptionally glad with the progress I had made at Sylvan Grove.  I was glad of this as this doctor has high expectations of the therapist that he sends his patients to.
But by the time I packed went to the doctor and got home and got what needed to be unpacked, unpacked I was exhausted and slept must of the day, so no blog.
I'm still in intense pain and this was distracting me but the pain is increasing so for tonight; I say Good-night and I wish you well.  JOHNINA  :^A

View from my hospital window

A friend of mine said this was sad but lovely. A lovely photo capture, but sad because I was in the hospital. This was taken on Thanksgiving Day.

Home again, Home again

I'm home again, actually I've been home a couple of days, I just have not been up to my normal speed yet. After running a low grade fever with a high white blood count for six weeks, then having a horrible Fibromyalsia flare, then developing cruddy sounding lungs the doctor decided to put me in the hospital to find out what was going on. As it turn out from the tests I had pnuemonia. For me only having pnuemonia is a good thing. Anyway they started treatment in the hospital and sent me home. I was still running a low grade fever when I left but by then I could do for myself at home what they could have done for me in the hospital even if I was not completely well.

I'm certainly glad to be home and it has made me grateful for some things I normally take for granted, like hot water and the Internet. It's amazing how fast new technologies get accepted as part of our daily life and get integrated into our lives so we really miss it when it was gone. This hospital has no Wi-Fi and even if I knew it going in, I sure missed it while I was there. I can't even imagine what it would be like without TV. Even though I watch little TV in the hospital most others do. You can hear the many different channels down the hall; which is why I wear earphones and listen to music. It's just a cacophony in the hall. Until I learned the trick with the earphones the noise of the hospital used to keep me always on edge. Anyway back to to getting used to change and new technologies in our lives; I remember when TV was a luxury that you paid extra for; now it is a right and loud would be the protests if the charged 'extra' for it. I imagine that in the not too distant future there will be Wi-Fi in the hospital to. Already people bring their computers and use them, not long ago the would have been locked up as valuables or not brought at all. If you think about it Laptops have not even been around that long allowing people the option to even bring a computer. Come to think of it a personal computer of any kind has not been around for all that long either. I was able to do some editing while in the hospital. I was extremely grateful for having just gotten a laptop that I could take with me. While editing I even came across a couple more funny pictures.

The other thing I missed the most was hot water, a little step backward there. They turn down the water temperature so that sick people who are not thinking well can not burn themselves; which left me with cold showers. I hate cold showers and with a fever I hate them even worse. It might have been good for me, look on the bright side type thing but I couldn't think that way with cold showers. I hate cold showers period. I hate them even worse with a fever cuz they give me chills.

Of course I missed my family and Thanksgiving which wasn't fun at all. I did get lots of sleep in between everyone checking on me. I really needed that sleep. I really needed to be in the hospital.

I am really grateful to be here still to be with my family and friends, to feel of their love and concern, to know and feel their prayers and best wishes for me. Many people expressed their concern and kept me in their thoughts and it truly touched my heart. Thank you it was a most memorable Thanksgiving; one truly felt in the heart.