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Flu Shots

My husband and I got our yearly flu shots today.  There are those that believe in getting them and those that don't.  We have been getting them for years and feel they are very important to get.  Some say you can still get the flu even if you get the shot and that is true.  There is nothing out there that will give you 100% protection but I feel that getting it gives me a better chance of not getting the flu than if I had not received the shot.  In all the years my husband and I have gotten the shot we have never had the flu.  If you are one that gets the shots this is a reminder that it is that time of year to get your shot.  If you have not received the flu shot in the past talk to your doctor about it and see if they feel you would benefit from getting it.

I Love Craigslist

I have a couple "wanted" ads that I renew twice a week on craigslist.  I have the one for canning jars that has netted lots of free jars and an ad that I am looking for egg cartons.  Someone answered my ad today for egg cartons and I was able to trade 2 dozen of eggs for 102 egg cartons.   Canning jars, egg cartons, 3 chickens and the breeding pair of turkeys all free from craigslist.  Last year I got a bunch of treated wood that I used to make a couple raised garden beds and Renee made several raised beds for her yard.
People throw away good useful items and most would rather find someone to use them.  Try it, you need to make sure you renew the ad every few days and of course if you use craigslist make sure you follow all security precautions.
I also read the "wanted" ads to see if someone has a need I can help with but so far haven't seen anything. 

24 Hours Makes a Big Difference

Last night I was able to get the pain under control and got lots of sleep, about 13 hours of much needed sleep.  Very manageable pain today, now if the itching under the cast would stop that would be nice.  This cast/brace is on until the 16th; the stitches will come out and I'm not sure what's after that.  I'm just glad the pain is better.

A Mouse in the Chicken Coop

Late yesterday afternoon I went out to see if there were anymore eggs and as I was stepping out the door a mouse ran in front of me and out the door.  I'm positive there has been mice in there before but we have never saw any or evidence of any.  The coop is at the edge of a hay field with woods behind it so there would be no way to prevent them.  Some people hate snakes or spiders, for me it's mice.  We went into Menards today and picked up 2 of those metal live trap things, they can go into it but can't get out; we also got some poison.   The directions on the traps say you can relocate the mice when you catch them; at our house that will never happen.  The only relocation they will get will be a trip to a bucket of water.  When we got back home Ron cleaned out the whole coop and put fresh straw in there and we sat up the 2 traps and I moved the decorative rocks by the coop and placed some poison under the coop.  I just read someones blog the other day about how she had let the mice get out of control in her coop before she did something about them and I didn't want that to happen.

Feeling Better

I'm feeling a little better than I did early this morning.  I laid back down at 7 AM and got back up at 9 AM.  Slept off and on for the 2 hours, the itching kept me awake.  We went to town and picked up a few groceries this morning and then had a salad and sandwich at Applebee's before we came back home.    Took 1 of the pain meds when I got home, didn't take 2 because it makes me itch too bad even though I take the Benadryl.
Thanks to Renee for coming up to the hospital yesterday and helping pass the time.  Also Brandon has called several times to check on his old grandma and I really appreciate that.   Brandon and I are going to make our own incubator to hatch turkey eggs and he is anxious to get it started.  I sent him a list of the things we are going to need so he can start gathering the supplies and he already has started to collect things.  He likes when we do things together, he craves the one on one time.

Surgery

Yesterday I had surgery to replace the basal joint in my left hand.  It was a long day, had to be at the hospital at 9 AM and  didn't go to surgery until 1 PM, the 2 ahead of me took longer than expected.  We left the hospital at 5 PM, stopped and picked up pain meds and ice for my ice pack.  Wednesday I made  a pot of vegetable beef soup to have after surgery and came home and had a cup of it, it was simply delicious.
By 8:30 I was in bed and I was up and down all night trying to get the pain under control.  I've been up since 4 AM and am not having much luck with the pain.  There is not a lot of pain meds I can take because they make m itch.  She went ahead and wrote for one that makes me itch and when I take it I also take Benadryl so I won't have that problem.  So I have 2 different pain meds and neither are helping much.
I started a log this morning to record what I took and when so I don't get mixed up and take too much.
I for sure will be doing something I haven't done in years and that will be taking a nap or two today.