Smouldering Sunday

[Twins' Mom]

I was up around 8:30, read the paper leisurely and dh and I took ddogs for a walk. Then I had breakfast and s2s and we went to the market and to one of the specialty grocery stores. The menu for the evening, when dfriend who wants to talk comes over, is steaks from the grill, squash casserole, tomatoes with mozz and basil and for dessert, peach cobbler w vanilla ice cream. I think I am responsible for all but the steaks, also need to straighten up and put together an appetizer tray with cheese, crostini, olives and whatever else we have around.

I'd really like it if dfriend were reconsidering his decision not to make a permanent commitment to the two-year gf who is also a dfriend. They really seem well suited to each other and from what I understand the primary issue is that she is ready for a commitment and he isn't. She is a widow and he was married once, very briefly.

I am going to take a short nap first. The heat and humidity at the market have zapped me.

[Twins' Mom]

No napping here. Too many people coming and going and soon I need to take dd's friend home. I'm in a mood now for sure.

-clear kitchen table
-clear kitchen counters
-clear breakfast bar counter
-wash and cut up squash for casserole
-make the bed

[DeeClutter]

Well I (think) I have finished those smouldering notes from June's council meeting. They were rather sketchy in some parts -so I'm hoping I have it right. Don't think I have notes from the pastor, but will check old mail again to make sure. Lacking there I'll email her to ask if I'm right. She's been in Pittsburgh with another member all week for a "Stephen Ministry" conference. Editing: Ah, yes I do have a long report from dpastor. Just copied & added it to my minutes -but I do have to go in and reformat it to fit better.

At least I feel better that I have that much done.

Have a question for all my health-minded friends here. Do any of you have a (sure-fire) remedy for a cough. Have had several episodes in the last few days that have been scary & troublesome for dh. Thought for sure we'd be headed to the hospital on Friday night. He was just gasping for a breath. It's worse at night and really isn't his throat, congestion or any of that. The coughing seems to come clear from his diaphragm/stomach area. He has (prescribed) cough pearls but they really don't seem to be helping much. These actually numb the lungs and am not so sure that's a great remedy. I bought some honey & lemon today and plan on looking up some things. Just want to try some 'home' remedies to see if anything helps. For the first time today, the Flomax Dr. put him on Tuesday night may be starting to work. So maybe a lot of things will remedy if he just starts getting rid of more fluid.

DD and gd15 are back in Fl. Short time ago she was waiting for gd to finish her shower in order to take her back to the Youth Ranch. Told her to call me when she gets around. Just wondering how her trip has been. Don't dare text her as gd usually has DD's phone while they're traveling. Praying for good results for gd in the days, weeks, months ahead.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Dee: For an asthma attack, hot coffee is one cure. Peppermint is another (and what I'd use with ds when he was younger.) Wintergreens also may work but peppermint is better.

For croup, you use steam.

Obviously codeine but I'm Canadian so can buy that OTC.

So it really depends what the source of the attack is, there is not one-size stops all coughing.

Not sure codeine or caffeine would be a good choice to give to dh with all the meds he's on.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Home from church services. Went well. I'm exhausted. May post later but may not - will lie down now for a bit.

[DeeClutter]

Definitely not codeine, Kathryn. Dh is quite allergic to that. Other things are doable.

[Twins' Mom]

I didn't get the last round squared away before I had to take off to take dd's friend home. Back home, dh sliced the peaches and I have the peach cobbler in the oven. The squash casserole is also ready to go into the oven.

I need to do a couple more rounds to get house ready....
-clear kitchen counters from cooking
-clear my end of breakfast bar....
-put away the stuff on the extra chair in gr room
-feed ddogs

Shouldn't take long....

Dee, I'd work up from the least invasive ideas.....start with honey and lemon and maybe a touch of whiskey?

[Harriet]

Cheering for Twins' Mom - you can do it.

Dee, his D is already optimized, right? monitoring above 50 ng/dl is what our dr likes to see and he is mainstream GP just listening to the big hospital outfit. Some doctors recommend higher if the patient is fighting back from medical problems. I have point-blank been told by our blue cross people that insurance companies do not limit their payouts on more frequent D testing following the dr's decision that testing is needed. Vitamin D is all wrapped up in respiratory health. For the broad category of asthma Kathryn brought up (and I don't know if Mr. DeeClutter's cough would correspond to that), people lose the symptoms after a week or two of alternating caloric intake (an up day and then a down day of calories - more than enough, then less than enough), but his dr would need to be involved in that I'm sure - lot of info on the net if you search "asthma study calorie". There are things about fluids - for instance, alfalfa capsules as a natural diuretic - but again your dr would have to be in the middle of that, even though it is a mild remedy. Coffee is a diuretic - has he been told how much coffee he's allowed? Otherwise, not eating foods that cause fluid retention??? (white flours)

I know what you wanted was to hear that some remedy in the cabinet has worked super well for my household coughs - not really. I have the best relief from cough drops, and in the midst of a bad cough just have to give up the idea of protecting my teeth if they are sugared. There have been times that I just had to sleep with the cough drop, wake up later, get another cough drop, sleep as long as it would allow, etc. My aunt always warned that a cough drop goes into the pocket between gum and cheek if you think you will fall asleep - ? Also, wondering if the menthol ones would be best avoided for Mr. DeeClutter - not sure.

A trained person at your local The Vitamin Shoppe store or it's competitors might be helpful, as long as they listened to you and understood what the cough is not coming from (not the common cold, etc).

[Lilac]

Dee, in the past when I have had bronchitis and could not sleep because of coughing, I would fix a cup of Country Time lemonade and use hot water. It always seemed to tame the cough at least for awhile. My dsisil had the shingles in April, May and June. She had a severe case of them and on top of that she had the deep, deep cough that sounds like what your dh has. She took numerous antibiotics for it but it took forever, for her to kick it. I know her immune system is compromised and I am guessing your dh's is also. That seems to be what held back her recovery and is holding your dh back. I am no dr. though, so I could be off base.

[helia]

I have a minute to stop by and say HI! Life is going full speed right now. Yesterday, was: shower prep, last minute errands for the shower (cake pick up, buying fresh gauc for the chips, buying pens), set up at dfriend B's house, then the actual event, scheduled 2-4, but I didn't get home until 5:30 after clean up and conversations. I think it went well and was a lot of fun! We ended up with a lot of food, which was good. I think 37 people showed up. We were expecting 36, so very close. Also very big. I was glad it was at dfriend's house and not at ours. Dgirls, especially dd15, were VERY helpful. Dd15 baked the butterscotchies and designed and made the tri-fold for the baby photo game. Everyone helped with decorations at dfriend's house. Lots of balloons were blown up and dd15 and dd17 put colorful streamers all over the house!! There was a lot of laughter during the activities. Once home, I fell asleep for 30 minutes, and then the whole family worked together to finish house clean up. Dkids did their chores and some. Then, we had a simple dinner and watched a movie (dd17's idea) together.

Today was church, quick lunch out, more house prep - sweeping cobwebs out of some outside windows, wiping baseboards, finishing dusting - and then we got goodies together to share with pastor and family, who arrived around 2:30. They were here until almost 6 pm. It was very enjoyable to chat with them! I left before they did, though, to take dd15 to drum line practice.

We were supposed to be at S and R's house for dinner at 6:30 - 10 minutes ago . . . .Nice of them to invite us! Dh is on the phone, however. We should be going soon.

I'm tired again after socializing all afternoon.