A Song Of Joy

The silver swan, who living had no note,
when death approached, unlocked her silent throat.
Leaning her breast against the reedy shore,
thus sang her first and last, then sang no more;
"Farewell, all joys! O death, come close mine eyes!
More geese than swans now live, more fools than wise."
Orlando Gibbons


About a month ago, I heard that the swans at the local park had babies! So I wasted no time in getting there. Aren't they cute? One thing that surprised me was that the babies didn't have long necks like the grown swans. These are Mute Swans, said not to make hardly any noise, but I discovered different at the park. The parents would honk loudly at the babies whenever they got too far away. My poem is a reference to the ancient belief that this swan is completely silent until the moment just before death, when it sings one beautiful song. A strangely haunting myth, but untrue.


"But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous;
you surround them with your favor as with a shield."
Psalm 5:11,12

Leadings

Hi everyone! Well, this only works if you know the Beatles song "Baby, You Can Drive My Car". I just couldn't resist making up my own words to the tune of this old song. So without further ado, here goes:

Beep beep, beep beep, yeah!
The lab tech came in just to stick me
And he said "Patient, can't you see,
this is the Cadillac of beds
so you can drive, plus take your meds!"

Nurses you can drive my bed!
I'm so glad that I'm not dead.
Nurses you can drive my bed
And nurses I love you.

This bed's engine just purrs along.
And it is really very strong.
Things are not always what they seem.
It takes the curves just like a dream.

Nurses you can drive my bed!
I'll keep looking straight ahead.
Nurses you can drive my bed.
And nurses I love you!
Beep beep, yeah!


Now I know you are wondering what on earth this is all about, so I will tell you. When the lab guy came in to stick me, he asked me if I knew how special my bed was. I didn't. The bed is really a car. It has an engine on it so that it can be driven down the halls, and it slows on turns. No more heavy pushing of those big beds anymore, will wonders ever cease? Being led around was never easier!


"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me."
Psalm 23:1,4

Top 20 Things You Don't Want To Hear When You're A Hospital Patient

You just KNOW that I couldn't stick to 10! These are all things I really heard during my ten day hospital stay. When reading #1, keep in mind these pictures of the glass enclosed cylinder I was in. So without further ado, here are the top ten things you never want to hear when you are a hospital patient:

1. Tornado warning
2. Oops!
3. What's this?
4. The cafeteria special today is Moo Goo Dry Pork
5. Good morning! You've been here so long, it's time to test you for secondary infections!
6. I'm extending your drug regimen
7. Don't mind the man in the next room. I know he sets off the alarm and screams a lot, but I assure you that he's harmless.
8. From man in the next room: Hey! It's almost nine o'clock! We gotta DO something!
9. We're out of grape popsicles
10. The doctor has just ordered a stat blood test and wants it read within the hour.
11. HOW many days have you been in here?
12. We need to interrupt some of these I.V. drugs, there's not enough hooks on the pole.
13. This vein is shot. Time to page the I.V. nurses to find a new one!
14. I think we forgot to change the furnace filter at home.
15. We only have extremely low sodium ginger ale
16. The regular doctor is on vacation, so you will get a different one every two days. But don't worry, they read notes very well.
17. Did you know that the three rooms surrounding you are all in isolation?
18. We need you to eat, with no protein you won't heal.
19. If this continues, we will have to remove your I.V. and put a port in your collarbone.
20.You must have a very high tolerance for pain!

But don't worry, it all has a happy ending. I got through all this and more because of the many kind and sympathetic nurses and doctors, and my wonderful husband! I had many signs along the way that God WAS with me, he even directed our footsteps by putting heavy fog on the mountain so that we had to to to a different hospital than I the one wanted. And of course His choice was so much better than mine.


"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, he will make your paths straight."  Proverbs 3:5,6

I'm Home!

Hi to all my wonderful and loyal friends!! I got home yesterday at lunchtime. So I will give you a status report now. I got away with no bedsores except for one on my elbow. I am not healing as I should and should not have this much pain by now. So the hospital doctor has prolonged the drugs till I go to my own doctor next Wednesday for maybe more tests. I got a hiatus hernia from so much violent vomiting, but since that is much better, it should subside and be no problem. I have come away with something maybe torn in my good knee, necessitating us to get handicapped equipment for the bathroom; also a badly pulled back muscle that makes it very hard to stand. I'm hoping maybe an injection or something next week will fix that. My big accomplishment today was being able to clean out the toaster oven crumb tray!!! Other than that, Phil has to guide me around and do everything for me, he has taken emergency leave from work. Your wonderful and uplifting comments have made me both laugh and cry, and I can feel the love in them. I have the most wonderful followers in the WORLD!! I should take at least three weeks to heal, if nothing else is wrong with me, so I have to take it slowly!! I will be visiting all your blogs in a few days, but need to start slow, I WILL get there! I already have many posts in my mind! Your prayers and comments have meant more to me than you will EVER know, you are each so special and I am so blessed to have each of you!!! Hope to see you and what you've been up to real soon, I can't wait!!!!! By the way, isn't my header pretty? It is a fabric hanging in the hospital, with the hospital curved walls and pillars reflected in it. If you look closely, you can see my shadow in the lower right corner.

Sundays latest

Hello my friends. I had a few setbacks and will still be in the hospital a few more days. I talked with the doctor today, and will still need to recover quite a while once I get home. My computer is still not here, as I cannot sit up straight too long, so Phil is typing on the hospitals computer. The Dr. has said that part of my intestines will be a bit damaged maybe forever, so that means I have a 50/50 chance of this returning. If it keeps returning, this would mean major bowel re-sectioning surgery--not good. But the more time goes on, the less chance it will return. I really miss you and look forward to reading your comments when I get home. God bless you all.

weekend update on Ginny

Hi, Phil here, and I'm posting an update from the hospital computer, written by Ginny:  Hi my friends. I can feel your thoughts and prayers, thank you so much. I have continued to be very sick, often sitting up for hours to throw up,  not being able to even read. They told me if I waited to go to the E.R. much later, I could have died. I am much better today, able to go down the hall with a walker, keep popsicles down, and my diet was just changed to soft-liquid. I'm still getting daily stomach injections to avoid clots in my legs. I had my first 1/4 cup of coffee a few minutes ago, and it was so good. I have already composed a top 10 hospital post for you when I return home. I may be in here for the weekend, though.    Love to all!!!

Update on Ginny

I'm writing this from my hospital bed, and Phil is posting from a hospital computer. My white cell count had doubled and is really not better yet though I'm taking i.v. bags of 2 different antibiotics. Also taking lots of other drugs. Phil has been staying here 24/7, bless his heart. The pain is bearable as long as I don't move, so mobility is almost non-existant, hoping the drugs will kick in soon and this will all change. Also hoping I don't need surgery. Thanks to my dear followers, will update tomorrow hopefully