Oh Beans

"Oh beans" is a common, lighthearted expression used to indicate mild disappointment or frustration, often used to acknowledge a mistake or setback.  I was feeling this way (and then some) about my current body injury and restrictions because of the stupid bumper cart monkey business I had foolishly (accidentally) executed. 


Beans can actually bring up a whole lot of unrelated visions because there are so many uses of the word and there are so many different types of beans.

This image made me think of beans, the musical fruit, from the short little ditty we used to chant when someone farted.  When I saw this picture, I thought those were music notes coming out the rear of the bean, but now I realize the bean is having a bigger digestive elimination... or is it giving birth to baby beans?
Which reminds me, I am happy to report that the probiotics, digestive enzymes, psyllium, and Beano have all been helping me with the intestinal issues I have been experiencing.

Saturday 3/22 - I had declared the weekend a time to rest, to recuperate and let my ribs heal.  I continued taking ibuprofen and massaging an icy/hot menthol cream onto the sore muscles over my ribcage.  I was getting some relief, but I felt like I had lost strength and range of motion, plus it hurt to twist, bend, or reach.  I also feared this might need more time to get better.  Oh beans!  

Do you see what I saw?  →
In the photo, about an inch above the bird bath, Rose was climbing a tree.  Below I got a close up photo of her coming back down.  Silly girl.







I basically spent the whole day, blogging about our wonderful Florida get-a-way.

Two cats enjoying the sunshine, which felt good.  It seemed cold to me (in the 50s) after being in the Florida warm air.  





It was a beautiful sunny day though, so during my breaks from blogging I went outside to remove sticks from the deck, and the yard.  There were a ton of small sticks and many larger branches that had come down in last Saturday's storm. 

Joe had gone to the ranch to take care of storm damage there.  He used the tractor to pull this dogwood off the wall, but said it was too dead to save, so he cut off all the branches.  He also cut up the Leland Cypress that had fallen down near the wall outside our front gate.  I hate loosing any trees, but when it is par for the course of nature, there is no preventing it. 

Sunday 3/23 - I was up early and finished and posted last weeks blog.  I scampered into the shower because I'd never gotten out of my PJ's all day yesterday. 
And I was off to meet Shirley at church. 
Do you see what I see?  →
...Monita's toe beans.  ↓

When I sat down after lunch to start writing, these toes are what gave me the idea for this week's blog title. 

As usual, I kept an eye out the window for wildlife.  It was a joy to see these deer romping in the creek (video).  It is difficult to see the deer in a photo because they are not moving.

I also got distracted scrolling through Facebook and reading posts.  And there were communications via Messenger, texts, and e-mail I read and responded to.

While conversing with my twin sister Carol (retired Physical Therapist) she said my symptoms sounded like a displaced rib. 





So I looked up what is called a popped rib and found a list of symptoms; these of which I am experiencing:
-Pain in the lower chest that may come and go.
-A popping, clicking, or slipping sensation.
-Pain when applying pressure to the affected area.
-Lifting, twisting, & bending may make the pain worse.
-Reaching overhead or rolling out of bed might trigger it. 
 

Knowing the problem is half the battle.
So I had already followed the protocol and got the x-ray to be sure nothing was broken.  Now I am doing the ibuprofen, hot/cold therapy, and rest regiment recommended.
Late afternoon, while laying on the floor with the cats and dog, I twisted and pushed up to get up, and I felt a twang like sensation with sharp pain.  Now that I realize the rib can be separated from it's proper location, I know that's what I've been experiencing.
 

Monday 3/24 - I was really wanting to speed up the healing process but knew rest was the most beneficial thing for now.  So, I had no plans for the day.  Mama Styx making it difficult for me to computerize, and notice Monita under my desk. 








It was an overcast day and I was feeling likewise. 
Rose had been seeking warm sunshine, but there was little to be found.  I contacted our potential renter and discovered that she had found a place to stay, so at least that matter was resolved.    

I couldn't sit still any longer, so at 1:00 I headed out on a shopping trip.  I hit five thrift stores, Tractor Supply, Rural King and finally Walmart.  I did buy two more pictures for the ranch house, returned a malfunctioning power strip, and priced baby chicks (none available).  The market for chicks has sky-rocketed but they are in short supply with added precautions concerning the bird flu outbreak and increased demand for eggs.

Oh Jelly Beans! I had to buy me some.  Undecided between spiced and black licorice, I bought both.


Mostly I bought necessities, but sometimes a little junk food is needed.  Another tasty 'bean' candy is Boston baked beans, or chocolate candy covered peanuts. 
Home with supplies unloaded, I filled the candy jar.

About this time, I had heard from Courtney that she heard that nephew Patrick's wife had had a baby.  I was sure she was 'full of beans.'  No way, Tamika had not even been pregnant.




 

But, lo and behold, while Joe and I were watching Survivor on TV, I got this Facebook post from Tamika.  She had given birth to a son whilst on the toilet yesterday, not even knowing she was pregnant.  This is known as a cryptic pregnancy.  Man, do she and Patrick now have a story to tell.  Crazy! 









Meanwhile, the cats were feeling frisky, or 'full of beans,' another use of the same idiom.  Mama Styx was grooming her daughter Babe, but it always ends up in a good game of chase.

Tuesday 3/25 - I had woken at 2am and got out of bed 30 minutes later, unable to go back to sleep thinking about the impact of the golf cart accident and how much one dumb action was really going to affect me for several weeks.  There's just no getting around it - I have to avoid upper-body activity. 

Nephew Patrick and their newborn baby boy, also named Patrick.  Aren't they adorable? 

Soy beans, a good form of protein, are best eaten as Edamame (young, immature soybeans that are harvested before they ripen).  I buy them roasted and shelled, and eat them daily as a snack. 

Yesterday's sun was spotty due to a fair amount of cloud coverage.  But today, after lunch, it was sunny, although very windy and rather cold.  I decided to 'cat' for awhile, and laid on the living room floor in the warm rays along with several fur babies. 



My James Patterson book had gotten good, and I was content to lay and read it, taking care not to strain or over stretch my rib cage.  Being sleep deprived, I took a little nap as well.

I was alerted by a message from Juan Carlos - He was at the emergency room in San Jose Costa Rica with Britney, who had a terrible headache that has lasted over a week.  It was so bad it woke her up this morning.  It was possible it was the early stages of a shunt malfunction, that could get worse quickly.  OH BEANS! 


Right away I recruited my Prayer Warriors, because I know prayer works.  And it is the only thing I can do from a distance. 


The public emergency room referred Britney to a specialist, so they went to the private hospital. 



There they did a CT scan which showed enlarged ventricles, so next they tapped the shunt drawing 15cc of cerebrospinal fluid from her port to relieve the pressure. 

Juan Carlos was with Britney the whole time and sent photos to keep us up-dated.  Britney's shunt has a pump under the skin on her head. 




These photos show the process of the doctor preparing and then tapping the shunt pump. 

Britney then got a bag of IV fluids, taking two hours to drip in.  At this point I had gone to bed.

They thought that Britney's shunt did not exactly malfunction, but it needs to be re-calibrated (set to the correct pressure).  Since it is a programmable shunt, Dr. Cáceres told her it could be de-calibrated by the MRIs, which is what probably happened.  So it wasn't pumping out (removing) enough fluid, and the build up caused the horrible headache that wouldn't go away... and is the typical sign of a shunt malfunction.  Thankfully, no surgery was necessary, but she will go to her doctor to get the pump re-calibrated to the correct pressure.  We thank God and our prayer warriors.
 

Wednesday 3/26 - 'Cool beans' - several deer down back snacking on corn this morning. 

I sat at my computer longer than necessary.  Britney reported that she had slept well but felt disoriented.  I urged her to get the shunt pump recalibrated as soon as possible.  She said that the public hospital did not have the tools to do it so she was trying to contact her neurosurgeon (Dr. Cáceres) but he was not answering her text messages.

It was a gorgeous day so I sat out on the deck and read (finishing) my James Patterson novel.  However, I was getting tired of laying low, resting, and being inactive.  So after a late lunch I went to the ranch.  Patty, Karen and Betty were planning to go for a ride and I had some jobs for Joe to help me with. 
'Old man' Zorro is really getting a lot of white hairs on his face, and his forelock has thinned and shortened. 


Just as we arrived at the ranch, we had gotten news from Juan Carlos that Britney's headache had returned, much worse than yesterday's.  So they were going in to the private hospital, looking for Dr. Cáceres.

I was confused by the terms public vs private hospital so looked it up later:  In Costa Rica, public hospitals, part of the CAJA system, offer universal healthcare but can have longer wait times and limited options, while private hospitals, often with English-speaking staff, offer quicker access and specialized care, but at a higher cost.

I also looked up the hospital where they had gone:  Clínica Bíblica Hospital is the largest private hospital of Costa Rica.  It is a premier modern medical facility, one of the finest in America, offering specialized medical services.  Britney was in good hands. 





The girls got saddled up, mounted up, and headed out on the trail.  Betty doing a little ground work first. 

Meanwhile, I had Joe help me unload feed bags for horses and chickens, move hay, and get a brooder (100 gal. stock tank) set up in the ranch house laundry room. 



A sheath "bean" is a hardened ball of smegma (a waxy substance) that can accumulate in the urethral fossa of male horses and cause discomfort. 









Once the girls, and horses were back, Patty (because I couldn't bring myself to doing it) used Excalibur sheath cleaner to gently soften, loosen and remove accumulated body oils, dirt and debris (smegma) from Rico's sheath.  What a messy process.  He did well, holding very still, although would not 'drop.'



Arriving home from the ranch about 5pm, we got a text message from Juan Carlos.  They did a CT scan at 4:30 to compare with yesterday's.  Britney's hydrocephalus was worse.  So they tapped the shunt again, drawing out 32cc this time.  They also learned that Dr. Cáceres was out of the country until Monday. 









With the pressure temporarily relieved, Britney was feeling much better.  They were now waiting for their appointment with a different neurosurgeon, Dr Sánchez (who had trained under Dr. Cáceres) to re-calibrate her shunt.
 

As the evening progressed, so did Britney's saga.  Dr Sánchez was unable to re-calibrate Britney's shunt, so deduced it was probably a distal obstruction and she would need surgery. 

While Joe and I were watching Survivor after dinner, we got a call from Britney, Juan Carlos, and Dr. Sánchez.  It was decided to do surgery as soon as possible, and thankfully an operating room had opened up at 11pm (CT).  It was hoped that the shunt would clear once Dr. Sánchez pulled it out from its location in the heart, and then it could be reinserted = the most minimal trauma to Britney.  If not, they would need to replace the whole distal catheter, which goes from the pump in her head, down her neck, into her internal jugular vein and into the right atrium  of her heart.  
I went to bed later than usual, but was able to fall right to sleep, knowing Britney was in good hands and God was in control.

Thursday 3/27 - I was drifting back to sleep after taking my Levothyroxine at 2am when I got a  messaged from Juan Carlos using Google Translator: "Dr. Sánchez came to tell me that the operation was successful and that he had to change the entire catheter and it went well.  I'm in the room waiting for Britney to be brought in." 

When I woke back up at 6am, I saw this message, sent at 3:15 - Britney is in room 416 at Clínica Bíblica.  And Juanca had sent several photos.

It has been such a relief knowing Juan Carlos has been with Britney the whole time.  It has also been wonderful getting all of his up-dates and photos.  He is a great reporter. 

At 7:10 this morning, Britney messaged:  "Good morning.  I feel great.  I can't type very well with this monitor on my finger.  Everything is good."


OH BEANS!!!!
Blogger is doing it to me again...
not letting me move photos to where I want them.
I wasted more than an hour trying to figure it out.
I finally gave up!
UGH!!!

Enjoying coffee (ground beans) together. 

And then a little breakfast.



Before I left for the 9am FGCC board meeting and Joe left for his 'weekend' of poker, I had him help me put flea medicine on the cats.  Styx and Babe ended up 'hiding' way up on the shelves... not happy. 








Babe was having a fit in fact, mad and traumatized. 

The next photo was captured from the live video of the 9am morning's board meeting. 

Early on the agenda, the board president spoke about The Stables (Wildwood).  He announced that none of the four possible lessees (whom they had interviewed) provided them with a viable business plan and that they all requested fix ups (repair, rebuild, restore, or renovate) that would be way too costly.  Therefore, the board's decision to close the stables stands.  Later, during the member question time, I went to the microphone and asked if the stables was included in the strategic plan. They told me that it could be included in the future.  I believe they are still just stringing us along.

From the Confrence Center, I went to the gym and spent an hour on the elliptical. 

Britney got a 'bath' and had lunch, but then struggled with getting the hospital paid before she left.  The money transfers Joe was trying to do were not working.  Juan Carlos and Jeff both helped out with the bill, lending Britney many $$$. 




A look at Britney's sutures and new haircut. 
 

She also had incisions behind her ear and on her neck.








Patty and I met at Robin Hood Park to check out the Veterans and First Responders Memorial, still under construction, but with the engraved pavers laid.

I wanted help looking for the brick I had engraved in honor of Dan's service in the Army Reserve, with active duty in Afghanistan and Kuwait.  And I thought it would be a fun outing with Patty.

The brick was in with this bunch of bricks dedicated to military personal.  Before long, we found it. 

I wish I had more information engraved on it, but I had kept it to the limited number of characters allowed with the donation I had made.

I went to Food City before returning home. 





Britney at the hospital, released and waiting to go home.

I got a text message after dinner from our farm vet Dr. Perry, saying that he had taken a job with the TN state department of agriculture as a field vet and would no longer be available, in most cases, to care for our horses.  UGH!  He was so good and there is only one other vet that we know of that services this area. 

Waiting for transportation home.  They probably took a taxi rather than the bus.
  





Oh, I forgot to include a photo of Britney with her 'new' brain surgeon Dr. Sánchez.

Britney finally got home, along with her pharmacy for pain management and suture care.  Oh, and also with her wonderful fiance Juan Carlos.  

Juan Carlos quickly made dinner and they both could now get nourishment and rest.

Friday 3/28 - Friday 3/28 - Britney was up and feeling good.
I struggled way too long, much of the morning, with blogging.  I could not get photos moved where I wanted them.  

I finally gave up on blogging, and took Maggie for a nice hour long walk.  We started, going up the Library Trail.





Maggie and I walked all around the Library complex where Druid pool and the Art Guild are.  I was kind of scouting out a possible place we might want to use for a part of Britney's wedding reception here.   

Maggie and I got home just in time to do Face-time with Britney, Juanca, and Joe, who had just arrived in Hills Iowa, so Tracy and Teresa were also on the call.

Britney told us there had been difficulties pulling the catheter out of her neck and vein, it was so encased and hardened.  And a piece had actually broken off that the surgeon had to retrieve so that it wouldn't end up in her heart.

Anyway, this caused more bruising and swelling than it normally would have. 





Britney also told us what a great job Juan Carlos was doing with her wound care.  She has to be very careful not to get the wounds dirty, no dust or cat hair.  So she is staying at Juanca's apartment, 200 meters up the hill from her tiny house.  And he goes to do her pet care. 

I had made some calls and it sounded like there was a selection of chicks to pick from at both stores, so I headed to town, since I had their brooder all ready to go.
 
I had the pictures in my car that needed some repair work (before hanging them at the ranch) and I was taking them there to work on them with Patty. 
 

Well, after slamming on my brakes to prevent hitting a truck that had turned in front of me, the pictures all pivoted forward, and this ended up breaking the glass of the largest of the three.  I could hear glass shattering.  Oh Beans!  I mean DANG IT!  I was mad.  This photo was taken later when I had it on the floor of the garage to clean up the remainder of the broken glass. 




Then chick shopping proved to be a challenge.  Tractor Supply only had 'straight run' which basically means more than half will probably be roosters.  Rural King only had two tubs of pullets, which are about 89% sure to be hens.  But they only had two different breeds, both black.  And neither store knew for sure when they were gonna get more and if they would be pullets, much less what breeds they would be.  I bought four Sapphire Gems.

Going straight to the ranch, I unloaded these 'girls' into their new home.  Then I went to the barn to check on Betty and Karen and start chores.  

I kinda of hit a low, feeling quite down on life. 
There had just been too many 'losses' recently.
Seeing Karen and Betty riding (I was so glad Rico was getting exercise) I felt like I was loosing out on fun.  My ribs are still slipping and cracking, so I am frustrated with the healing progress or what seems to be the lack of it.  (Although the pain is much less.)  And then there was the loss of the stables, losing our vet is a blow, and the big picture that's now broken and it had gotten scratched by the broken glass and there was the mess I had to clean up in the car.
All this on top of what had transpired with Britney, and I was just feeling down and discouraged.

Cowboy and Zorro had been scratching each other's back but I didn't get my phone out of my pocket quick enough.

After chores, I went into the house to check on the chicks.  I was glad to see they were up running around (video) and eating and drinking. 






How can one not feel good looking at baby chicks?  But I was thinking a lot about sister Jean, who we call Jean Bean (back to the blog title) and the fun she had with the chicks back then.  I was missing the good old days when she was here, or even when I had my horses at Wildwood Stables.  I was reflecting on all my days in the saddle on Amiga (and how I was going to miss those).  And then there was the loss of Stevie.  I was digging myself deeper into my hole of depression.  I came home, cleaned glass out of my car, fed the pets and did mindless scrolling through Facebook.