Slowing Down

Posted on January 9, 2018 by prairiemoonquilts in Studio News

My Grandma used to always tell me: “If you don’t slow down when you need to, life will slow you down.”

Are Grandmas ever wrong? I think not!

I must have really needed to slow down, because so far, I’ve been forced to take this entire year a lot slower! I always try to be really careful not to get sick, so I don’t bring home any illnesses to My Cowboy, who has enough health problems already; but somehow, even tho I hadn’t left my house for a week, I came down with pneumonia.

When My Cowboy hauled me to the ER on New Year’s Day, they told me, “Either go home and pretend like you’re in the hospital, or we’ll put you in the hospital.” I wanted to go home, so My Cowboy said he’d see to it that I behaved.

So I was forced to stay in bed for a week, and turns out, it didn’t matter, cos I didn’t feel like getting up anyway! A friend of mine said: “Staying in bed sounds really good, until you HAVE to do it!” So true!

I had big ideas about how much handwork, reading, knitting, drawing, etc., I’d get done, but nope.

I’ve felt like Frodo as he laid on top of Mount Mordor, saying, “I can’t recall the taste of food . . .”

I’ve never had pneumonia before, and I haven’t been this sick since the early 90s, and I don’t make a very patient patient — My poor Cowboy! And if I had known this was coming, I wouldn’t have taken 5 days off work at Christmas — now I just feel more behind than ever.

So now that I’ve slept through 10 days of my life I’ll never get back, I’m even more grateful for my usual good health, which I never take for granted anyway, but am even more grateful for after this. I feel like Rip van Winkle!

While this was my view for most of the week (I had some good nurses):

I did have some moments where I could sit up in my chair, and I did do a little bit of knitting:

Some doodling on an old doodle:

Some crochet on my Granny Stripe Afghan:

And I made a few more Yo-Yos for my Yo-Yo quilt. After all, it’s on my 2018 Project List, I might as well get busy on it, right?

And because of that, I came up with something I want to do this year, so I’ll be back tomorrow to tell you all about that new project! (Remember, I was on drugs all week. I also did a lot of Amazon shopping, so we’ll see what shows up in the next few days! Eek!)

Yesterday was my first full day out of bed, because I had to go to town to see the doctor, who gave me the frowny face because I wasn’t getting well as fast as he would have liked, so he changed my medication and also gave some to My Cowboy, who unfortunately, is now coming down with, at the very least, a cold — poor guy. He was such a good nurse to me, and this is the thanks he gets!

I hadn’t seen Ranger except through the window for over a week. I was afraid he’d forget me. But I finally was allowed out at chore time last night, and he came over and climbed up in my lap for some kisses. He’ll always be my baby boy!

And today, I’m gonna try to ease back into work. I’m sure it’ll be slow going as I will probably have to take more breaks than usual, but maybe it’ll keep me from worrying about everything piling up while I’m sleeping.

18 responses to “Slowing Down”

  1. Judy says:

    So sorry you have been so sick. Take care of yourself!

  2. Sherry V. says:

    Did your doctor tell you that now that you have had pneumonia you need to be extra careful when you get a cold because you could “morph” into pneumonia again quite easily?

    Ask me how I know. . . .

    I had walking pneumonia back in my 20’s. . . . was out of it for at least a week.

    After that every time I got sick I ended up with bronchitis. Really, really bad bronchitis with a cough that would last for a month or more.

    Finally, after being sternly spoken to by our former Pastor’s wife I went to a pulmonologist. It seems that the walking pneumonia from “way back” caused some problems to my lungs. . .hence the regular bouts of bronchitis. Plus I get something called bronchial reactive asthma, from whence the never ending cough comes.

    Now, for the past 3-4 years I get bronchitis which morphs into the flu and pneumonia (all the while being on medication) and it lays me up for several weeks at a time at least once a year.

    So take care of yourself, and Cowboy, don’t over do anything, even knitting, and drink TONS of water to keep your body hydrated.

    Sending good thoughts that everything gets back to normal on your side of the world.

  3. Grammi (aka Tonia) says:

    So sorry to hear that you have been under the covers!
    Many of us in this neck of the woods have been down with the BUG…..Don’t go back to soon, friend–it is a tenacious thing that does not give up easily! Here is to a more healthy 2018 than it is starting out to be!

  4. Becky says:

    Please get well soon. Take your time and rest often. Hope your Cowboy gets well soon also. Blessings to you both.

  5. Virginia smith says:

    Sad that you are down? weather out is crazy. I was hoping that the cold spell would make things better for people getting sick. Not more but less but it does not seem so. Harold & I have found extra vitsmin C helps each of us. Get better soon

  6. Marilyn Holder says:

    I think the best medicine is a good night’s sleep. I’ve started just that……when I get sleepy at night, I push back from the sewing machine and turn it off. I might read for a few minutes and then go to bed. I have slept better and waked more refreshed than months ago when I HAD to finish the project. Now I leave everything where it is so that I can sit down tomorrow and pick up exactly where I stopped. Of course, if the doctor prescribes meds, you must take them but don’t forget your sleep. Feel better soon.

  7. Elaine says:

    Oh Shelly, so sorry you’ve been so ill. Take it very slow for the next couple weeks pneumonia is not a good thing to have. Had it a couple years ago and coughed for 6 weeks. Sending healing thoughts your way ( and for your Cowboy!).

  8. Rose Marie says:

    I hate it that you are so sick. I can’t wait to see what the hallucinations produce!!!

  9. randy says:

    feel better!!! the site is hassling me so the long message is lost…

  10. Aileen Kline says:

    Oh MY! Feel Better Shelly! That can really drag you down….

  11. Kari says:

    Hi Shelly…so pleased to hear you are on the mend….it is never easy to be sick and quiet….but it sounds like your body was telling you slow down! For a while anyway…..just take care, enjoy the quiet moments and look after yourself!! Wishing you and Cowboy a speedy recovery and a year of good health.

  12. Karen Edwards says:

    Oh, I do hope both of you are better soon!

  13. Deanna says:

    Sounds like me three years ago. Pneumonia is nothing to mess with. REST–as if you had a choice. It has taken me a very long time to come back from it, but it does give life a clarity and sharpness that I still value.

  14. Cathy says:

    Sorry to read about you not feeling well, drink lots of fluids, chicken soup and lots of rest. This has been a very cold winter! Ranger is so cute, it looks like he is enjoying it!!! Feel better soon so you can take care of Cowboy!

  15. Jess says:

    So glad to hear you’re on the mend, Shelly!! Sending healing thoughts to you and your Cowboy : ) xo

  16. Linda Knight says:

    So sorry you’re sick. Grandma was right. You should have listened. Hope your recovery continues until you are 100 percent again. But then, don’t push it until you get sick again.

  17. Karen says:

    Glad to hear you’re getting better, and making progress on all your lovely projects. I’ll just reiterate what other’s have mentioned, that pneumonia is nothing to fool with. I’ve had it twice. So please do continue to rest and then rest some more. Take care!

  18. Billie F says:

    Sounds like we could have been in almost the same world….I’m coming around too so we are close to the same page…….knock on wood that this is the end of it. Sorry your hubby is sick……Don’t work anymore than you have to, it’ll all be there when you feel good again. Take care.

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