A Whirlwind Week in the Neighborhood~

One of our precious dogs posed this week. Silvie Aleit, affectionately known as Silveit, age 3 years, 4 months~

For those who have already read last week's post, you can skip down to update...

For those who have been friends and followed me for the past 4 years, I have had at times some things with my health that just did not ever make sense.  For three years I had these very strange events/episodes.  It was thought it could be my heart, but heart was good even after having had surgery to place a monitor in my chest wall and a year later having it removed with no further findings.  Then they thought it was the kind of seizures that happen without the visual tremors.  I was put on anti-seizure medication for right at a month, but no, following an EKG, not seizures.  A year ago this past November out of what seemed like no where, I had a pinched cervical nerve which still is at this time and those events/episodes stopped right then...weird yes!  

I had wanted to wait until this week ending, but nothing will be any different then as it is now, unless my biopsy results from 2 weeks ago are wrong!  I have digested the news as best that I can for now anyway. I am so thankful that I have a loving and supportive family and wonderful group of friends. I am thankful that I also have a strong faith and that I have once the initial tone has been set and I am hit hard with some tears and then a good blow of the nose...I always get a stuffy nose if I do carry on too long and feeling sorry for myself, well it never got me anywhere, so why go there. 

The Dermatologist called Thursday early evening and told me what I had not wanted to learn hear, the biopsy that was taken from the rash that was on the backs of my hands for the past 4 weeks is indeed a Systemic Lupus (unspecified at that time) skin rash. Friday I had extensive blood work done and other tests  done to determine if any other organs are involved, or this may be where it is.  Results will be in mid week.  This is a little scary for me, but that is because it is brand new and I am trying to get my head around it. If it is full blown Lupus, then I will not be able to tolerate steroids and so I will have to work with my special team of wonderful doctors to manage it.  Good thing going for me, I am way past the 6 decades mark and so this should prove to be a mild to moderate, rather than severe from what a few people have indicated, we just have to wait and see.  I am thankful it is not Cancer, and I know that the experts are constantly making new strides with these diseases. I will be optimistic, and I will be OK...I pray that and I claim that~

Update...

It has been another very long, stressful week, but I have kept busy and tried not to dwell on last week's news.

Many of the lab results are in and so far everything, other than my skin biopsy has been negative.  That being said, I have to continue to think positively, as this all takes time to know for certain, one way, or the other.  Lupus is a hard one to diagnose.  The two very important antibody tests had still not come back, as they had to be sent to a lab that specializes in them.  I have to be at my Dr's office this Monday at a special time of 7:45.   (My Dr is getting ready to be on a vacation journey for the next three weeks and wants to see me before leaving)  We are so hoping that by then, the final lab reports will have arrived and prove to be negative as well.  If not, more tests will be pending, and that is where I leave this, for the "not knowing" as many have mentioned, that is the most difficult at this time.

Thank you for your ongoing kindness, encouragement and support~

Remember to double click on the first image, to view a larger slideshow presentation after                                                                you have read the narratives~

***Special Note  I have not yet figured out how to add Eileen's link for the meme below~

                                                          I am joining in the fun with Eileen at:

                     http://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/saturdays-critters

                                                                          Saturday's Critters

& 

Stewart for:

   http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com.au/

Wild Bird Wednesday

A neighborhood Cooper's Hawk flies over the Red-Shouldered Hawk nest area daily.  They are of no consequence to the Red-Shouldered Hawk.  

Below after 2 days of storms and winds that hit 60 mph in my little town, the female adult Red-Shouldered Hawk was taking advantage of a dry spell to preen and air dry her soaked feathers~

The hen is on her nest...a very rare selection of that being a transformer pole.  For those who may have missed the whole sage of this beautiful pair of hawks, please see the past two older posts~

Below neighbor and friends Bob and Velsie Hewlett are part of the "Hawk Alert" team.  I have always said that I have the best neighbors! If there is one young one, that will be difficult enough, once the eggs hatch in about another 14 days.  If more than one, it will become paramount to be watchful for any falls~

A first year Red-Shouldered Hawk from another site taken on Sunday morning en route to Bible study~

Swallows!!! I LOVE Swallows and the Barn and Tree Swallows are back from migration and nesting already.  What can you not LOVE about these beauties...

Tree Sparrows~

My Clematis are in bloom again~

The storms took down another tree in our yard, close to home, but not hitting this time.   Some neighbors were not as fortunate.  The images below are already marked for what also transpired...we were blessed!

Maple Tree Seeds~

Starview...Who Knew, and Mother's Day Greetings~

It is absolutely glorious everywhere you look these days.  The white Dogwoods are some of my favorites.  

Below are images that I cherish of my mother and one with the two of us.  She has been gone for 22 years and I still miss her and love her forever.

~Happy Mother's Days to all mothers~

Remember to double click on the first image, to view a larger slide show presentation after you have read the narratives~

I will be linking up with Judith for:

www.lavendercottagegardening.com

Mosaic Monday

&

Stewart for:

   http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com.au/

Wild Bird Wednesday

We lost so much this past Winter in our front yard, especially.  In the 34 years of living here, I do not ever remember this kind of thing happening.  It took a toll on trees, and even coniferous bushes.  I have worked myself into the ground all week, lopping off dead branches, digging up roots and planting new growth, where the old ones passed.   While at the nursery, I selected not only new trees and bushes, but some hanging baskets. 

Wildflowers along the country lane~

Last week was our Kentucky Derby, which is my only sports activity, other than when the grands play games.  The twins had a little Derby at their school and each made their own race horse.  I happened to arrive one afternoon, when my grandson Kerrick and classmates were practicing~

My three daughters, Hillary, Brittany and Ashleigh.  

They are such a huge blessing in my life~

We live in the heart of horse country~

My pupcubs look like they are in jail, but honestly they are not ;)  We had our first snake and I had to coral them while I got rid of it.  It got away...which means it will show up again and be much larger~

I was driving down the lane the other day and spotted a cat with a collar and bell on.  I am thinking it may not catch much, but then again~

My friend Sandy invited me to go to Starview Greenhouse and Nursery last week.  That was kind of interesting in that another friend mentioned it too.  We have lived in this county since 1978, and I had never even heard of it, even though it has been here for over 50 years.  It is not even 10 miles from home...goodness was I in for a treat.  They have a huge greenhouse for perennials, one for annuals, one for sun loving plants and another for shade.  Then there is the outside for standing trees and shrubs, not to mention several rooms of gift shops.  Well I was delighted and have gone back twice~ 

Very well camouflaged Red-tailed Hawk~

The Forget-Me-Nots were gifted to me as seeds some 12 years ago and now they have become naturalized on the land here~

Happy, happy when Swallows return and the Tree Swallows are always such a treat~

More from the greenhouses~

A beautiful Eastern Meadowlark~

Yellow-rumped Warbler~

I got a bunch of the Caladiums, so gorgeous~