May 24, 2018

This post is just to help me remember.  It's not very interesting.

Last year on this day I woke up in the hospital self aware enough to take a selfie. 

I think that was the day I noticed a phone in my room and dialed the only number I could think of at the time.  I called my office number and talked to Altha.  She said I sounded very weird.  She thought I was joking about the accident - who gets hit by a bus?? Then she noticed the hospital name on the caller id.

It's funny how spotty my memory is of my time in the hospital.  On TV medical shows they always ask people their names in the emergency room.  I only remember when they cut off my dress.  I was annoyed because I made that dress and liked it.

I heard lots of screaming.  It sounded like my mother's night terror screams. I barely moaned during child birth.  My shattered hip was so painful it must have been my voice I heard.

I remember talking to the police and telling them my son Kevin's address.  Around midnight they went to his house pounding on the door and flashing lights.  Kevin thought it was a home invasion and called the police.  Poor Sweetsie had been stuck in the back of the police car for hours.
Kevin came to the hospital while Tomoko took care of my puppy.

I remember seeing Kevin bending over me in the hospital that first night, maybe?  He told me that he and family visited every night.  My poor son had to go to my apartment and find my insurance card, etc.  The next day he had to be there because my stuff was arriving from Houston.  I guess he had to make other medical decisions for me.

There are no nurses in my memory.  I remember being stuck in a dark hallway after being x-rayed.   Legacy Emmanuel Hospital is old and dreary inside.

I don't remember eating any meals until I woke up after being transferred to the skilled nursing home.  I still had a piece of hamburger in my mouth so the hospital must have fed me occasionally.

This photo was taken on May 22, 2018, the one year anniversary of the accident.

May 22, 2018: I won Survivor!

It has been one year today since I survived being hit from behind by a metro bus running a stop sign. The impact shattered my hip, threw me to the ground thereby giving me a concussion, multiple bruises and tearing my scalp.

I'm not going to sit around at home and feel sorry for myself.

First,  I'm going to a session with my physical therapist at 11 AM.  Then I'm going to lunch with a friend and to Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden in southeast Portland.  (I could only look at the gardens from above.  The paths were too steep for me to be able to go down.)

Tonight I'm taking my family out to dinner at our favorite restaurant.  I think that my survival is worth a celebration!

Marvel Comics has not yet written me into any of their Avengers' stories.  My super power is stopping buses with my butt.  It definitely beats spinning webs, turning into a giant green man or warping reality - BIG TIME!

May 8, 2018: Newport OR

Newport aquarium

I made it off the waiting list for a trip to Newport on a Multnomah County senior trip.  The bus left at 8 AM.  It was a 3 hour drive.  I remembered my travel pillow and snoozed most of the way there.

The bus left us off on the main street in Newport.  We walked around looking for a place for lunch and ended up at The Chowder Bowl.  I had the chowder cannonball - clam chowder in a bread bowl.  It was very tasty.

The beach was a a long walk down a hill, past road construction.  I couldn't walk that far but I could see the ocean from the road.  I ended up walking a short way down the main street and popping into a shop.

At 1:30 the bus took us to the aquarium.  There was no close to the door parking.  I don't understand why Oregon doesn't follow ADA laws.  I'm glad I was able to make the walk to the entrance. The displays inside were interesting but a bit confusing.  The descriptions on the walls didn't always match up with the fish in the tanks.

My favorite tank was the one with the jellyfish.  They are so beautiful in the water.

jellyfish

Moray eel

sea nettle

It started raining hard so I missed seeing the outside displays.

I did a bit of walking with my cane.  That was good exercise for me.

The bus made a pit stop at a Dairy Queen in Salem on the return trip. It was a long day.  We got back at 7:30 PM.  Sweetsie spent the day with Tomoko.  My poor doggie was so exhausted when she came home.

May 5, 2018

Oregon Convention Center

Last Saturday I went to the "Gathering of the Guilds" at the Oregon Convention Center with Sheila,  a friend I made at an ASG meeting.  It was a big show including the bead, woodcrafting, glass, weaving and metal arts guilds. (I had to use my walker to be able to walk that far.)

One woman made jewelry out of legos.

Here is a sewing basket in the shape of a house at a beader's booth. It was very detailed inside and out.

This was an interesting layering of plastic bags.  No one was available at this booth to talk to me about it.

I put my name on one ticket for the free door prize drawing.  The next day I received a call that I had won second place!  I won a silver, amethyst geode ring with a small diamond that retails for $495.00.

I like big chunky rings so this ring is perfect for me.

I hope winning this drawing signals that my luck has changed. 

Today we went to the Crafty Wonderland show at the convention center.  (I had to use my walker to be able to walk that far.)

 It wasn't as big an affair as the Gathering of the Guilds.  There were t-shirts, jewelry, art and lots of cat-themed things at the show. I did get to catch a glimpse of Mosho the Cat Rapper.  I couldn't see over the heads of people to see his cat DJ.  About 5 minutes of listening to his rap was enough for me.  I've included his link in case anyone wants to hear him.

Spring has come to Portland.  A big park is just around the corner from me.

And the flowering trees are just beautiful.

Last month the cherry tree across the street from my house was gorgeousl.

The dogwood trees are in bloom now. PINK!

April 18, 2018: More Sewing

Kenny was sweet and posed for a photo in the outfit that I sewed for him.
I made him a pair of shorts.  I added a pocket to a purchased blue t-shirt.  I thought it would be fun to make a double pocket.  The elephant fabric was a great match and it's a little pocket on top of the big pocket.  He says that he likes the pockets the best.
I didn't have enough fabric suitable for a boy to make him a pair of pants.  The outfit was a present for him (along with a couple toys, of course) on his sister's birthday.

I will be on the lookout for more boy fabric.  I've got tons of girly fabric but I can't sew for one grandchild and not the other.

I was working on a little unicorn doll for Miho's birthday.   I've finished it too late for her birthday but I'll give it to her for another occasion.  But, it's sooo cute that I might just keep it for myself!

April 10, 2018: Finally sewing stuff!

Rapunzel

My sweet granddaughter is celebrating her 4th birthday this week.  Now that I have my sewing room set up I've been busily making her some birthday gifts.

First I made 2 princess aprons.  I got the idea from pinterest and etsy.

Belle

Miho loves pretending she's a dog.  I bought a pinkish vest on Amazon, added ears, paws, tail of pink fake fur.  I made a little skirt for her using the best match from my pink poodle fabric collection.  Then she needs a little purse to hold a cabbage page doll wearing a matching skirt.  And she needs a top so I appliqued some of the skirt fabric on a white tshirt.

 I'll try to take some photos of her wearing my gifts but 4 year olds can get feisty so she may not cooperate.

I plan on making a pair of pants and appliqued tshirt for my grandson, too.  I've got to get busy and start working on them.

March 1, 2018

Yesterday I had an appointment with my trauma surgeon.  He said my current x-rays showed improvement.  My bone has filled in now to about 90%!  That is great news. 

The trauma to my body from the bus colliding with me was so severe that my hip bones (top of my right femur) had been widely displaced.  The trauma also disrupted the blood supply to the area, plus, of course, damaged my muscles.  That is why it has been taking so long for me to recover.

Now I feel like I am on the final leg of the journey to my recovery.  Maybe when the year anniversary of the accident, May 22, 2018, comes around I'll be much closer to feeling as well as I did when I arrived in Portland. (update - 5-28-2018: I still get muscle spasms but they are not as bad now.)

I look forward to being able to explore the city.  I can walk with a cane but not that far.  I have to resort to using a walker if I need to go more than a block or so.  The doctor said that I will get stronger with time.

My grandkids think using a cane is so cool.  They always want to be the ones to use it.  Wish I enjoyed it like they do.