Tuesday, June 11

Up around 7:30, and did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Mother opted to stay home for the morning, since we were scheduled to go to a noon luncheon/talk at the hospital conference room.

Once I was ready for the day, I gathered supplies and ingredients for making jelly this afternoon. Around 11:30, we headed to the hospital. We like to arrive early enough to get adequate seating for Mother that will accommodate her wheelchair.

Lunch today was chicken breast fillets in sauce, oven baked potatoes, and sauteed yellow and zucchini squash, with fresh fruit (cantaloupe/pineapple/grapes) for dessert. Thank goodness, we didn't have to endlessly stand behind someone picking their favorite fruit out of the mixture, like we did a few months ago, when a woman stood there and picked out every last strawberry.

Today's speaker was a doctor who addressed the topic of MRSA (staph infection). He emphasized that we all carry MRSA with us in our hair follicles. It's not bothersome until we get an insect bite or a wound that activates the infection.

Should we get an insect bite, he said we should wash the site, treat it with alcohol and triple strength antibiotic cream, and cover it with a band aid. If the next day, it is red outside the band aid, we should see a doctor.

If a family member is infected with MRSA, all other family members are at greater risk of contracting it. Bleach is the best weapon...clothing, bedding, etc. And careful hand washing.

Those at greatest risk for MRSA are athletes, health care workers, people living in crowded or unsanitary conditions, like prisons, military barracks, and homeless shelters, people who live in homes where someone has MRSA, and people who are obese, are diabetic, and smoke. Also, people who have a history of frequent hospitalizations, or are in the hospital for a long time, or have had recent surgery.

The doctor stressed that if we get an infection due to a bite or wound, it's extremely important to see a doctor. Early treatment prevents the infection from becoming more serious and more difficult to treat.

Mother enjoyed the outing. A couple of water aerobics members joined us at our table, so we had a nice visit.

We were back home around 1:30. Mother and I changed clothes to get started making jelly. The first thing I discovered was that I didn't have enough pectin, so Hubbie made a run to the WDCS to get some.

By 2:30, we were ready to begin the project, and had the job done in about an hour. While the jelly processed in the automatic jelly maker, I got a phone call from our friend who lives in a town about two hours away. She is here visiting our other friend, and she wondered if Mother and I could drop by the local friend's house around 4 p.m. tomorrow for a visit. I accepted the invitation.

Usually, we meet earlier in the afternoon, but our local friend, who recently suffered a ruptured disk in her back, has an appointment with her physical therapist at 2 p.m. tomorrow, so she preferred that we visit at 4 p.m. That's fine with us, because we have a haircut appointment at 2 p.m. tomorrow.

Once the jelly was made, we relaxed for the rest of the afternoon. Mother worked on her jigsaw puzzle, and I read today's newspapers. Hubbie worked in the yard.

Later, we had leftover Dragon Soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for supper, because I discovered I didn't have everything I needed for making bagel pizzas. Hubbie did the honors of making the sandwiches.

Afterward, Hubbie accompanied Mother to her house, and then he and I went grocery shopping at the WDCS. I had a really long grocery list, since I haven't shopped in quite a while. Seemed like I was out of some of the most basic things.

It was after 7 p.m. before we got back home. We spent the rest of the evening in front of TV. Even though I didn't do anything particularly physically demanding, I was still pooped.