Wednesday, December 21, 2011

No Ho Ho.


I know I will forget what we have been doing unless I post about it. 
On  Tuesday Dec. 13th  we attended Bernie's professional organization's Christmas party.
It was held at a Fine Art museum.

A nice jazz trio played...
The food was good, the people not particularly friendly. 

After we dined, we wandered about the galleries enjoying the art. 
Not a bad way to spend a very cold Monday evening in December.
Not bad at all...

Wednesday afternoon was the staff Christmas party at work, a potluck held over lunch time.
Not quite as glam as the party the night before, but the people were a lot more friendly.

The guys even wore festive ties and such.



A few games were played; we visited and laughed together. 
Not a bad way to spend an hour.

Not bad at all.
This year Bernie has taken on the holiday chores; he has both shopped for gifts and decorated the tree and the house.


The tree...he decided to drape the deck railing with garland and lights and place the Christmas tree outside where it could well be seen from our kitchen, dining and living room, a scene framed through the garland and light trimmed sliding door.

At various times the tree has had snow on the branches and even some ice cycles.
Colorful birds have stopped by to enjoy the festive scene.
The flicker was an especially impressive visitor.




At one point all four cats held a meeting on the stairs. 
Trust me...the four of them rarely are seen this close together.


I'm not sure what the meeting was all about, but shortly afterward, there was a complete re-arrangement in the feline sleeping accommodations.
Why?
Who knows.
A grey icy fog has covered our area for a couple of weeks, trapping pollutions and making the world look uninviting.
Each morning new hoarfrost designs are to be seen outside on metal and glass surfaces.




I wonder how it works that a long streamer of frost designs will sometimes form while other frost remain in rounded clumps.

Fascinating stuff...or at least it is to me.

So after our staff Christmas party last Wednesday we went back to work and then I went home as usual.
The next morning, last Thursday, I woke up with a 101 temp.
Since I have no sick leave (new job/had to take time off without pay for cardiac procedure) I decided to just pop some Tylenol and tough it out.
When I got home my temp was 103.2

Next morning the temp was 102...but off to work again.
Around 10 am I noticed it kind of hurt to breath.
Decided I should at least let the cardio group know what was going on.
(They have shown absolutely no interested in a week of fever and chest pain earlier so I didn't think they would care this time either but just to be safe...)
Well.
This time I was ordered in for eight hours of tests.
CTs
Echocardiogram
Ultrasound
Bloodwork
Urine tests

All of which confirmed that there was absolutely nothing wrong with me.
(This bit of excellent news was delivered to me as I displayed a 102 temp.)
I was sent home with an anti inflammatory and percoset...oh how blissful those "percs" are when they kick in!

Anyway, that pretty much took care of all of Friday.
Saturday: More fever
Sunday: Our Anniversary.  More bed time with fever.
Monday: Same
Tuesday: Same

You know what is really bugging me?

Is that while the doctors were running all manner of amazing tests to discover why I was feeling so cruddy, NO ONE did a swab to see if maybe, just maybe I could have the flu?

I know...why didn't I ask?
It is such folly to assume doctors can think of these things on their own, right?

So I have been basically burning up, drenching in fever break sweat, sleeping, sleeping, sleeping, worry about what this is if it isn't the flu, worrying about how lame I must seem to my coworkers, worrying about what isn't being done for Christmas (Bernie really has handled all the needful things, and I keep telling myself that I can make Valentine day treats to give to the neighbors and coworkers later...)

This morning I didn't have a temperature.
Still feel yukky, but hopeful that maybe things are on the mend.

So for now...no ho ho ho here.
I think I am ready to go back to bed.

13 comments:

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

So sorry you aren't feeling well, Jill! Next year make sure to get a flu shot --I get one every year.

I returned home from Colorado with a bad cold, however, and have felt no energy, so I can understand the no "Ho Ho" feeling. I hope you feel better soon!

I love the idea of having the Christmas tree on your deck so you can see it in nature from many rooms. I never see such pretty birds where I live so I enjoyed seeing the photos you took of your visitors.

The four cats meeting on the steps made me smile. My daughter has three cats and while we stayed with her for two weeks the cats had many meeting trying to decide who would make the most commotion in the morning to wake us up to feed them at 4 AM..lol!

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas filled with many wonderful blessings!

ellen b. said...

Oh my girl! I do hope you are all better and fever free today! Hope you can stay in bed and rest. I'm really intrigued with the hoar frost. I don't think I've ever seen it in person. That flicker really is impressive.

Vee said...

Jill, is it time to seek a second opinion? If this fever kicks up again, please consider it. Feel better and enjoy the birds. The Flicker is particularly well coiffed. Yay for Bernie's brilliant handling of all things Christmas!

Just a little something from Judy said...

I am so sorry for you! I felt so bad as I read your journey of the last few days. I promise to pray for you, that you would soon feel much better. Maybe, just maybe you will have a Merry Christmas! I hope so.

Judy said...

Oh...poor Jill! I thought things had been a little quiet in your corner lately. Here's hoping you are on the mend...for good.

Tell Bernie he is a most excellent Christmas guy...decorating, shopping, baking (????). He deserves an extra-special stocking this year!

Judy said...

I meant to say...love your bird pic's!

Neabear said...

I hope you are feeling better soon. Love, love, loved your picture1. I am really impressed with the bird pictures. Those are awesome! Cool idea to have the tree outside.

Hoping you do have a Merry Christmas!

~Linnea

Kathy said...

Jill....I'll keep on praying for you....do take care of yourself.
Now....I may be without a tree if I had to leave it to Scot.....I don't enjoy putting up the tree and he likes it even less. Once it's up.....I'm happy.
Those bird photos are so nice! I'm thinking some seeds in the back yard may be needed for some of our feathered friends. Merry Christmas Jill and Bernnie!

Kathie said...

Awww - sorry you aren't feeling well Jill! You'll have to take it easy this Christmas and let others take care of you!

Love the flicker picture - we've had a few of them but not for a long while.

Get well soon!

Lovella ♥ said...

Oh Jill...praying you wake up refreshed and feeling much better tomorrow morning!

The cats are so fun...your birds are beautiful and the outdoor tree is brilliant.

a woman who is said...

OH no what a horrible time to be sick. So wonderful your husband pitching in and all. Your photos of the flicker and the frost were amazing.

Just rest up and get better. I know it is hard as women particularly to take care of ourselves, but we must. Hope you are enjoying some good reads.

Purrfect Haven said...

oh my, what a post... it built like a drama (and indeed is a drama). Hope you are feeling better, wise to check given your history. Knock that flu on the head in time to enjoy some time off. Ho Ho Ho... hope you do get to enjoy some. Helen, Darcy and Bingley xxx

Anonymous said...

all our birds, cats, dogs , persons here all had have a hatless christmas and year, we all do did just fine/judy (o: