comforts...

it would seem that I seek comfort in the floral department of my local grocery store. because on the way home from the hospital last night, stopping just for toilet paper and milk, I couldn't help but add these two sweet potted violets and a shamrock to my cart. some beer, hard cider, oranges, and ingredients for my recent favorite smoothie also leapt right into the cart.

mornings are starting like this, a cup of hot tea with milk and honey, a smoothie made with pineapple, banana, orange juice, plain yogurt, a splash of milk, flaxseed meal, cashews, chia seeds and kale.  mmmm mmmm good.  I'm not so sure it's a great idea to start a cold morning with a cold beverage (I'm not huge on cold foods, in general) but gosh, it's tasty.  I haven't tried making my own nut butter in the vitamix yet, but I'm looking forward to trying it out, along with many of the other ideas you all shared with me recently, everything from hand cream to mayo to hot soups and frothy hot cocoa!

thank you, thank you for all of your thoughtful comments and encouraging words after my last post about my mama.  I saw her yesterday, and while there were a few hurdles and the pulmonary doctor wasn't pleased with her progress (or lack of), took her off of solid foods and ordered an ECG to make sure her heart hasn't been weakened, the overall consensus is that she is moving in the right direction.  she is moving in that direction veeeerrrry sllllooooowly, but I'll take it.  she is still in the critical care unit, and will be until she can maintain her blood O2 saturation levels without the BiPap.  she looked so much better than she had the last time I saw her, was able to keep a conversation going for a little bit without compromising her blood O2 levels, she likes her nurses and respiratory therapist, she sipped a bit of the smoothie I brought her.  though it was not 'clear liquid', the respiratory therapist okay'd it and we talked all about vitamixes and whole foods while my mama was getting a 'shake down' treatment with a vest that basically vibrates the heck out of her chest in an attempt to loosen things up in there and get everything flowing.  when I left the hospital I was feeling pretty tender, thinking a lot about what amazing people these nurses and therapists are.  about what an important and challenging job they have, about how much of a difference it makes to patients and family members to have these incredible people caring for our loved ones.  so thank you to all the nurses and such out there.  thank you, thank you.  you are so incredibly appreciated.

this morning I called the number to get an update on my mom and they transferred me to her phone.  we got to talk for a minute, but I didn't want to wear her out so we kept it short and sweet and Claire got on briefly to say hi.  the ECG was fine, she is feeling weak but still better, and the X-rays show, according to the pulmonary doctor, a slight improvement in her lungs.  very slight, unnoticeable by the X-ray techs actually, but again, I'll take it. focus on the positive, yes?

in closing, I'd like to share one more thing I've just treated myself to in an attempt to comfort myself through all of this- I bought this gorgeous quilt from Cory's etsy shop.  I keep telling myself I'll make one, with the machine I bought myself for Christmas, but that's not happening anytime soon, it would seem.  Cory is phasing out quilts in her shop to focus on some new things, and I recommend getting one while you can!  I've thought about treating myself to one of her beautiful quilts for a long while, first a hand-tied one that sold before I could take the plunge, and I've had my eyes on this one for a while because it's just so me.  my favorite colors, soft and crinkly, all those bees and feathers and birds!  oh, I cannot wait to get my hands on it, thank you Cory!