For the first time, I've seen a trace of the aurora borealis, jut a red glow above the northern horizon. I definitely want more.

I'm almost done with Tom's Christmas sweater, just another inch of sleeve and some ribbing around the neck remaining. Should be done before we go to see Tom's doc tomorrow. I expect him to pronounce Tom's hand healed, and remove the PICC line. He'll have a few more weeks of occupational therapy, as he doesn't quite have full range of motion, and only about 1/3 normal strength, but I think the infection is gone, gone, gone. Good riddance.

I mostly stayed home today, with a backache, but it wasn't so bad that I couldn't move the sofa to retrieve a $10 coupon I wanted to use. Hey, $10 is $10.

Finally. Tom set up my new computer yesterday, and I couldn't get into a lot of my accounts, as they didn't recognize the computer. This was one of the hardest to get into.

Working away on the second sleeve of Tom's Christmas sweater. I'll be glad to have it over with.

The last couple of days have been full of wonder and delight, but I'm not going to put it down here. Nyah.

Well, it was drizzly this morning, and foggy now, but in between it was gorgeous and blue. That's the time Tom and I chose to drive out to the eagle sanctuary. That's a gorgeous spot of channels and islands in between the forest and the river. We still haven't seen an eagle in the sanctuary (we've seen them close by), but today we saw an aerial dogfight between a redtail hawk and a crow. There were a lot of hawks out today.

I was in such terrible pain yesterday that I switched back to the meds my old doc in LA had prescribed, and made an appointment with him. It's worth driving to LA a few times/year to be pain-free. While we're down there, we'll see some friends, and bring back more stuff. Win-win-win. (Note-- if you can avoid rupturing a disk and getting arthritis in your spine, do so.)

Now that my back doesn't hurt so much, I've reconciled with Tom's sweater. I finished one sleeve today, but late enough that I didn't pick up for the second.

Yesterday was gorgeous and blue, but the intermittent stomachache sucked a lot of the joy out of it. Same today, but we did manage to have a nice drive to Seaside yesterday, and to Cannon Beach today.

I heard a rumor this evening that Ringo Starr is in town. In Los Angeles, that would be nothing, but here, it's a major big deal.

And I'm sick of Tom's Christmas sweater. Once it's done, I never want to see a skein of unvariegated navy blue yarn again. Would the knitting gods hurt me, if I knit the second sleeve in a different stitch pattern?

It rained again today, but that didn't keep us away from the crafts fair. There are only three weeks left in the season, so we have to make hay while the rain shines. I bought a small skein of lovely handspun; iirc, it is hand-dyed silk and natural black alpaca. I could be wrong about that, but it's a lovely, rosy black. There's only enough to make something small, maybe 115 yards of something finer than sportweight but heavier than laceweight. I'd call it sock weight, but it's much too delicate to use for socks, and not nearly enough.

I bought some lovely sole for lunch, and then was flattened by an 8-hour stomach bug. I wonder whether I'm well enough to attempt some dinner? That sole won't be nearly as delicious tomorrow.

First really rainy day in months. Nice.

My back hurts today, and, after looking up the potential side effects and interactions in my current treatment regimen, I'm pretty much terrified about my prognosis.

On the upside, Tom went out by himself today, and ran his own errands while I stayed home. That's the first time in weeks that he's been able to do that sort of thing for himself.

And Sarah is perky and happy today. The medications the vet put her on yesterday for arthritis and heart failure seem to be doing her good.

Almost done with the silk/alpaca triangle shawl I started a few days ago in order to add some variety to my knitting. Started casting off while watching TV a little while ago; I'll most likely finish before going to bed.

I saw the local pain doc today, since it's no longer practical for me to commute back and forth to LA. He has changed my whole treatment regimen. I hope it's as effective as the previous one. The new doc says the new regimen he's putting me on will be safer and cheaper than what the previous doctor ordered. Is there a word for being simultaneously hopeful and scared? How about "apprehensive"?

Soooo busy! Tom's better, but still needs help with most of his ADLs-- Activities of Daily Living. Yesterday, I had to go into town (2 hour drive, each way) to pick up necessities we can't get on the Coast. Today, I have a doctor's appointment of my own to shoehorn into my schedule, and one of the dogs has developed a worrying cough. Will I have the energy to take her to the vet, after my own appointment? Tune in later.

The recycled silk I'm currently working with smells like dust, and my seasonal pinkeye is trying to come back. I think these two things are related, but it's much quicker and easier to apply eye drops than it is to unwind and wash the yarn before knitting with it. The good news is that it looks like I have plenty of both the silk and the alpaca I'm using to tame it, to make a good, big triangular shawl. For once, I don't have to skimp.

Tom got his stitches removed today. He's having a lot less pain, but more drainage, so we're still doing the antiseptic soaks and dressing changes. He has another 10 days of IV antibiotics scheduled, as well.

I didn't feel like sewing the shoulder seams of Tom's sweater, which I would have to do before knitting the sleeves, so I started another garter stitch triangle shawl. I was very happy with it at first, but now I'm not sure I approve of the variation in color and weight of the yarn I'm using, recycled sari silk. I'm thinking about pulling it out and starting over, but recycled sari silk doesn't pull out so easily.

I finished the body of Tom's sweater. It looks like it'll fit just fine. Now, for the sleeves...

Busy, busy day tomorrow. He has a doctor's appointment in Longview shortly before noon, and a home appointment with the occupational therapist not too long after. It's a shame that we won't have time to do necessary shopping, since we'll already be in Longview.

I made fudge today, and shared it with several neighbors. It seemed like the best way to mark 9/11, by doing something nice for people, some of whom I know, and some I don't.

I'd really like some rain. It hasn't rained in months. Two, I think.

I drove out to the elk viewing area. I couldn't see them, but I could hear them calling. It's almost breeding season.

Tom's incision is still bleeding, a little, more than a week after surgery. I'll feel better when the stitches are out, and it's a nice, clean scar.

I've been so busy taking care of Tom, and doing all my chores, and Tom's as well, that I haven't had much time for knitting. I finished the front several days ago, and I'm about halfway done with the back above the circular part. Since it doesn't have to be done until Christmas, I'm still okay.

Now that the nursing agency and the pharmacy are on the same page, taking care of Tom is a lot easier. We're both going a little stir-crazy with staying home (Tom would lose his home health eligibility if he went out), but it's only for another week or two. He's making progress.

Which is more than I'm doing on his sweater. I'm so busy that, most days, I can only manage a couple of rows. I hope I have enough yarn!

Had a hard time today, getting the pharmacy and nursing agency to work on the same page. Being a patient advocate is hard work.

We saw a suspicious spot near one of the stitches today, but otherwise Tom's in good condition.

Profoundly tired. I'm beginning to think I was sold a box of defective tea.

Tom continues to improve.

He did come home yesterday, and we (the dogs and I) are glad to have him. That said, even with only one patient, being RN, CNA, and housekeeper, all at the same time, is hard work.

Tom was admitted to the hospital in Longview, WA, on Thursday. The hand specialist there, to whom we had been referred by the emergency room physicians in Astoria, did surgery to clean out the abscess in his hand, and has been keeping a close eye on him since.

He's much better. It looks like he'll be able to come home tomorrow. I'll be managing his IVs at home, with home health back up.