Back in Tennessee

We had an uneventful trip back to Circle P Farm (daughter Sharon's) near Lynnville, TN. Loretta still having problems, especially sleeping and hasn't been up to going to church or much else. I did get her out for shopping and some dining, but mostly she has been taking it easy. She did see the Kidney Specialist this week and he has started to taper her off the Prednisone. However that will take months so no real improvement on medication related symptoms as of now. Hopefully the symptoms will disappear as the dosage is reduced.

One bit of good news, great-granddaughters injuries weren't as bad as we had first heard. She does have a chip off on one of the vertebrae, but hopefully it will reattach itself. However she will have to wear a back brace and limit movement for several months. Pretty rough for an active 14 year old, and sure she is missing her work at the horse farm. Keep her in your prayers along with Loretta. Also, Sharon has been in hospital again but she is now back to work. She can use prayers too.

When we arrived here and I put the large slide-out out, I discovered that I could not put it back in as one end was not moving. It was too hot and humid to work on it at that time. However, since then Loretta's son Dave got under the trailer and with my assistance we were able to do the necessary repairs. It was only a bolt that had fallen out due to the nut coming off. Unfortunately it was on the front end between the axles and of course we checked the other end as access was much easier. I used a lock-nut this time, and hopefully that won't happen again. Of course I feared a sheared pin which would have been much harder to repair.

This morning, we had a heavy rainstorm, and the patio awning was holding water. I should have lowered one end a bit more to get it off, but instead put more pressure on it. This caused both support arms to bend badly. So now I will have to see if I can obtain replacement parts from Domectic (A&E) and do the necessary repairs there.

Loretta's sister in Missouri has been under the weather, and we had planned a trip to visit she and Cliff before Loretta's next doctor visit. Of course part of that is dependent on Loretta's health. Now, will have to see about awning repairs too. That should be done before we travel I expect also.

Guess that is enough "crying the blues" for now, HI
Till later

GOD Bless
Andy and Loretta

Andy@W2UCZ.us

About ready to leave NY

Sunset from our trailer in NY

Well, our visit here hasn't been as we had hoped. Loretta didn't feel up to doing a lot of visiting, so we were unable to get together with many friends and some family in the area. However, we were able to spend Fathers Day and the 4th with family and friends. Also it was nice to get together with friends at Wheeler Hill UM Church, but Loretta was too ill to go a couple of weeks.

Apparently the new plastic coating on her hearing aids worked and Loretta can now wear them regularly. I suspect that her discomfort, unable to sleep, shaking, weight gain and swelling are caused by the high dosage of Prednisone she is on. But based on the last test results, we expect that to be reduced in a couple of weeks. Sure hope so as it hurts to see her suffer so much. She goes in next week for tests then the week after to see the Kidney specialist when he gets results back.

In addition to some visiting, shopping and dining out, I was able to ggive the trailer a good cleaning. I also did a bit of work around the yard here and assisted friend Dave some in the woodlot here where he and some friends are harvesting firewood for sale. The property has been logged and an awful lot of good timber was left that is becoming fuel for folks to heat with.

My brother Clair has a summer place in the campground just down the road. He is an expert mechanic, so he assisted on some minor maintaince items with our truck. One of his grandsons graduated from high school in Warren, PA nearby this year. His daughter from North Carolina, son from Florida and their families came for the celebration and it was nice to see them again.

As Loretta has to be back in Tennessee next week for tests to be taken, we plan on heading back Wednesday. I belong to the local Teamster's Retirees Club, and they are having a Chicken Barbeque on Tuesday. As it is part of the membership and it is also nice to visit the old friends that attend, we will be doing that before moving.

One bad event to mar the visit - Loretta's great-grandaughter Cassandra has been working on a horse farm. On Friday, she fell or was thrown from a horse. She chipped her spine and will go to Children's Hospital in Buffalo tomorrow. Keep her in your prayers that she recovers well and soon.

Guess that gets you up to date.

GOD Bless
Andy and Loretta
Andy@W2UCZ.us