THE EMPTY NEST

Warning--picture heavy post, and topic--a little lot heavy, too!

"Fire Poker"(as they're called up here!)

I don’t know if I ever mentioned it, but our son offered to help us buy a small house—
(which is all we need)—up here where he lives.  Then we could be nearer them and our delicious grandkids.  We could still keep our own house for at least a year, so that if we didn’t like it here, we could go back.

Well, hubby didn’t like that idea at all. (Hated it.) He just said, “I wouldn’t be happy there.”…meaning basically—none of us would be happy up there, if he wasn’t.   

Another unknown beauty

That’s true you know—when one partner isn’t happy for one huge reason or the other—the other one can’t really be either.  I gave up on the idea, and  since, I have done a lot of praying. Not praying for him to change his mind, but praying that I won't hold this against him---for I would be happy up here...if he could be . But I'm adult enough to know that if he's unhappy, I'm going to be. I've done everything I can to take the high road, and I know if God intends for us to ever be with our kids, we will be.  I just don't ever want to be alone--without my husband--to be with my kids, you know what I mean?  So I think about this possibility, and  try to be happier where we have been for 46 years this coming June 30th!  Would I like to move? Yes.  Would I like to move nearer my children? Oh yes.  IS that a possibility? Never say never, I guess. :)

So—we are still living 4 hours away. For me, a four hour ride is difficult.  My grandchildren are growing up fast—and we all know that as they get older, things change, they change, and though they always love you—they get very busy and you’re in the background then!

But mainly this post is about another couple...one who isn't a couple anymore.  And this is a little of their story.

Mr. Tommy''s Sundial

I went for a walk across the street to the house that was a friend and neighbor’s house that’s for sale now.  It’s only $595, 000.00!!  The couple, in their late 70s, who lived there were educators,  lovely people,  and we met them a couple of times during some holidays we were here  They welcomed our son and his family immediately with a welcome basket and a visit and present for David.  (Kat wasn't born then!)..  They were always kind enough to bring my grandchildren Christmas and birthday gifts. About three years ago, “Mrs. Tommy” got Alzheimer’s and the life they had known soon became a---disaster.

"Part" of Mr. Tommy's house

Although he had someone staying with her all the time even when he was there, she was convinced they were stealing from her. She, like many people with that disease would say awful things that she would never have said before---and as I said---their life of cruises and grandchildren and visiting the neighbors stopped. My daughter-in-law took many meals over there, and my son stopped by often to just visit “Mr. Tommy.” to try to give him some support.

Then, he had a slight stroke last year, and he went to live with his son, who soon had to (or did anyway) put him in a nursing home nearby.A life changed.

Lily??

One of many garden statues

Another garden deoration

Don't know my flowers!

Lovers

Garden decor!

Mr.Tommy's view

Was this the time he last watered the lawn?

I wandered around the yard. The gardens they had were so very beautiful. In years past, she had been president of the local Garden Club, and they would have teas and often entertain in a pretty large way!  They were very sweet, highly educated people.  And now, she is gone, and he is—well—I don’t know what is left of his life now.

Wonder when they last went to their last party together----I mean a 3 car garage???

 

Mr. Tommy's hat and jacket and rake

 I don't know if you can see this last picture very well--because it was difficult to take through the glass in their very large back porch--actually the porch is split into two parts.  One side is adorned with about 10 round tables,  all still with white table cloths on them,  and chairs where she had her tea parties and garden parties, and they entertained their friends.

The other side went into yet another door--you can see it up there--and there is Mr. Tommy's hat and jacket that he hung up--probably for the last time when he last tended his lawn. His rake stands there, and some sort of spray.  His plants haven't been watered for awhile now, and if someone doesn't care for this lawn--or buy it--the still pretty gardens are all going to die or waste away.

The birds are eating the wild strawberries out in a part of the garden, and there is no way I could name all the plants that are out there. I just see the end of a loving family, and a much beloved home and garden. I saw the little iron "fireplace"--and wondered when was the last time they sat on the bench together on a chilly night with a fire blazing up?

The bench with firepit

I realized when I talked to my son yesterday that neither of us knew whether or not they were “saved people”  or not…and I thought, “ Hmmm…we shouldn’t have to wonder. You know---it is a choice people have or make---whether or not they WANT to  accept Christ as their Savior,  but not to know, not to have asked---that’s OUR responsibility.  I know they were older, and quite smart—but many people aren’t smart enough to know that all religions do not have the same God, nor are they smart enough to know that there is only one God who created this universe, and there is only one Christ who died on a cross to save us.  Now I  will never know that about Mr. and Mrs. Tommy.

God bless you.  I hope you know.  Know whether or not you are saved, whether or not you believe in God--the one and only God of the Universe...and the Savior who died for you and me on a bloody cross on a lonely hill over 2, 000 years ago.  If you don't know---then you have to WONDER.  I pray that you know for sure. That you aren't wondering if.

(from google pictures)

Later is OVER--for awhile!

Dewy Rose

Well--just wanted to let anyone know who is still out there that I am still here. I think the Cymbalta is helping my pain and my "low days", although some of them are still sort of low.  Still, I feel better, and that's worth a shot out or two.

I've been out (after the rain) and shot some pictures of flowers around the neighborhood. I wonder if Blogger has changed so much that I can't load pictures anymore?

Red Rosebud!

This is a neighbor's rose,  she had a very pretty bush, and she didn't mind me taking it--since she's my SIL. BUT, I have to say, our neighborhood is so close, nobody would mind if I steeped in their yard to take pictures, and that's a nice place to be..as long as you're not longing to be living up near your grandchildren.

Since that's not going to happen,.I remain here. Although right now, we are up visiting the kids for Kat's birthday--she turned 5 yesterday. We've been here since Saturday. We had planned to leave last Saturday, but hubby had to have an emergency root canal--he woke up with the first toothache he has ever had. (He is 65 and has never had a toothache!  YAY!! OR a brain freeze! Unreal!)  But when he woke up the day we were going to leave and was holding his jaw--I thought, "Uh-oh!"  And made an appointment to see the dentist.

Purple Iris

Our dentist does NO--ZERO-- root canals  SO he had to drive an hour the next day to get it done.  God bless him--he doesn't mind the root canal-it's the NEEDLES!  He is so afraid of needles.And he had to take another antibiotic, as well. There was pus inside the tooth, and poor thing, he'd just had a check-up not too long ago. Oh well--$1200.00 gone, but he has every single one of his teeth--including his 4 wisdom teeth. Thisis his 2nd root canal and only one cap--and I think it's amazing--because he never even would go to a dentist until he was 40 or so--his family was a share-cropping family, and he was raised in the '50s.  They had no money for dentists, nor did we for that matter.  He has great teeth...I'm not so lucky.

And, the thing that has been bothering me the most lately--is TMJ!  And the worst part besides the pain, is that no insurance company is going to pay anything on it, I have heard. They try to put it off on dentistry, adn dentistry tries to put it off on something else. But I have to do something. I have been in pain the whole time we've been up here with the kids, and it has not been fun. I don't know what I've done to make it worse, but if anyone knows anything to do to help (I've tried heat, ice and Ibuprofen), I'd sure love to know what they can do for it.

Yellow Iris

Tomorrow night, Katherine graduates from pre-K.  I just think they make too much of these little milestones these days. Does it really mean that much to get a ap and gown for Pre-K?  Will it mean anything when they get one for high school now?  I mean really? Am I the only one who feels that there is way "too much, too SOON" these days?

Anyway, it has been nice so far. Kat has had birthday since last Friday night. We were supposed to be here for the party, but after Hubby had the root canal Friday--he just couldn't make it up here.  The 4 hour drive is a lot on me--but after being upside down in the dentist's chair for 2 hours--you know--you just want to come home and flop into the recliner.  They gave him something for pain called Vico-profen--and honestly--it put him into some sort of a strange daze. He'd claim he was awake--and he was asleep, but then I'd look at him sitting there --just staring!  Poor thing..I''m glad he doesn't have to take narcotics often--cause they have a weird effect on him!

Sock is finished, I just don't have it here to take a picture of it.

We have had RAIN!! Thankful for that, too!

I hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. I really hope our government will salute our men past, present, future, who have fought for this country so many times.  They are true heroes, and some are so mistreated and neglected.

I read we had hail back at home yesterday!

One more picture. This was taken last year at OB in August when we were on vacation with the children. I thought it was one of the cutest I had seen of David and Kat. If only I could see her face, but her hair is so windblown in it--but it's still cute. The way, she is waving, the way David is holding his little sis's hand (which is not too often!), and the way BOTH her feet are off the ground!  This wasn't a "planned shot"--AND THAT'S THE BEST KIND!

David and Kat at OBX

    

I just chose to make it sepia colored--it seemd to make the ocean bigger behind them--although  how can you make the ocean ANY bigger than it is! They have grown so much in less than a year.I think David's tonsillectomy has really made him grow taller, although he's still a very skinny little boy--but not because he doesn't eat!  He eats all the time--and I mean anything from meatloaf and spaghetti to burgers and roast and well, most anything! And Kat does not have an appetite problem either!   I remember those days when I could barely keep enough in the pantry (didn't really have one!), or the fridge to feed our two.  We didn't have an 8th (actually so much less that that!) of what our kids have but we managed to feed, clothe and get them through school and neither of them starved!

Happy Memorial weekend everyone!!  This is a real American holiday, one we need to be so thankful for, and if you see a service man--please give him a smile and tell him how much you appreciate his service to our country.  Look at those grandchildren over there--who are being protected right now,  and think of all the children, grandchildren and adults who have lived because so many have died for this country. God bless them--and God bless YOU!

Later....

I don't think it matters very much anymore, but I think I'm done with posting for awhile. I'm just having a hard time lately, and I don't want to talk about it anymore.  It's nothing really new--just more of the same.   I am not feeling well, not feeling up to writing posts, and I still ave grief issues and health issues to deal with..

I need to get my strength back--all sorts of strength back. :)

Maybe soon.  Hopefully.

:)

I LOVE SURPRISES, DON'T YOU?

Yesterday, a box came to my door and I am all about getting things I am not expecting.  Are you that way?  I mean---I love getting packages when I've ORDERED something from www.amazon.com or somewhere like that,  but I KNOW what is coming in those boxes.  I did have some boxes like that before Christmas--and they were fine...but they weren't surprises for me. Many that I ordered were sent right on up to our son's house, because most were presents for them or our grandchildren.  It was good to get up there and lock myself in our basement bedroom there, so I could go through those boxes and make sure all the things I had ordered were not broken, and were in good working order. Kat and David were having a fit to get in there to see what was in those boxes, but their Pop held them back until I had checked and wrapped them. :)


There were things that needed batteries put in them, and I was just glad to see the things that I had ordered for my "grands" were there and accounted for.


But this package that came to me yesterday was a package that I sort of was expecting, but didn't know when or what was in it.


My old friend (I don't mean in age!) Grace, one of the most thoughtful and generous citizens of the great state of New Jersey, had sent the box.  She had hinted to me on Facebook that she may be sending something--and what a wonderful surprise box it was!

"Welcome Sign"

(I hope Blogger will be kind and let me upload some pictures I've taken.)  It's cloudy and raining here,  so you'll have to put up with the poor lighting...but there's something with hearts that was neatly wrapped in tissue paper:


Isn't that the cutest thing? Someone with some real wood-working skills made that right down to the very letters and the bow at the top! It's hanging beside my front door right now--but I may hang it one the outside of the door soon. I just want to make sure I enjoy it as much as people who come up to the door first.

"Gertrude the Snow Girl"

Then, there was "Gertrude"... isn't she the cutest thing?  (I named her myself. I was named after my grandmother, and she was a short, little, plump sweet grandma who loved snow, loved me and I loved her!) I love Gertrude's yellow buttons and her perky little nose--and she's 'fluffy'--just like my "Bammie" was--(and like I am, too!)

As if that weren't enough

As if that weren't enough...Grace had asked if I had a book about baking for two. I told her I didn't, so now I have my own copy!  Thanks, Grace. I'm sure Hubby will love you for this--and I will, too.

Grace's Snowflakes

"Stress Ball"

And in the tissue paper, as I took each piece out--I found some more special gifts. There were two crocheted snowflakes--all glittery and handmade;  and 2 skeins of Memoirs by Berroco which I think I'll try a skinny scarf with...and last but not least a ball.


Yep.  

I said "a ball." It's to squeeze when you feel stressed out!  And it also helps to strengthen your hands--and when you're a knitter or crocheter,  you can use that strength. I know certainly can--old "Arthur-itis" is slowing my hands down all the time..


Thank you so much, Grace!  I appreciate all of this beauty and generosity so much!  What fun it is to get a Happy New Year box in the mail.  With all the rush of Christmas, we lose track sometimes when all the gifts come at once...it's so nice to get a New Year's box like this one!


It's nice to feel a bit like blogging again--but it takes someone, sometimes, like Grace to give one a reason to do it.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, FRIENDS! (It's amazing that January is over half gone, isn't it??)

THE ABSOLUTELY GREAT OUTDOORS....

We came upon these lovely creatures--I've always loved cows...

It was beautiful back in the fields

I love this watering "hole" to irrigate the corn.

I wanted you to know that I did enjoy some time outside today with my husband. Yes, some of it was in our truck –he was scouting out fields to hunt—but some of it, I spent walking and taking some pictures.

It was a beautiful day—a bit warm, but it was time for the weather to change.

Kind of like the shadows in this--and the layers of colors...

The corn has been harvested now, and is in the bins drying.

We had another rain—and lots of lightening and thunder tonight, but it really changed how it felt outside. The temperatures dropped about 20 degrees there, and it’s going to feel a lot more like fall tomorrow than it did today—and that is just fine with me.

I really love the sky here, and the way the loud formations are...

He leadeth me by the still waters, He restoreth my soul....Pm 23

Here's the old farm path we were on..(we're in the truck , as you can see from the color at the top!)

There was something about this lonely tree that attracted my camera''s gaze!

(I love the clouds behind the tree--but they're harder to see here.)

There were pretty interesting things on the ground when you really look!

And the cotton is almost ready to pick, although "Irene" did some damage tp it and the corn!

We had such a dry summer that I don’t know if we’ll have any pretty fall colors in our leaves this year. However, just knowing that there will be cooler nights and days gives me a smile—because honestly—hot weather wilts me like a flower—or a weed—or anything that can wilt!  And you know, I have felt like I was wilting a bit lately.:)

Here's our old truck in the shade of this unidentified tree-I wish I could ask Mama--she'd know!

Anyway, to prove to you (if you’re out there—and I know not many people are anymore, but I appreciate you that are!!), that I got out…I took a few pictures while we were looking for him to hunt.

And we came upon these beauties, too--chewing their cuds--not worried about anything at all!



God bless you this weekend!

Hope that you're not worried about anything at all either, and that you're going to have a blessed weekend.  Whether you're outside or in---I pray it'll be good for you!! :)

BONE DENSITY--HAVE YOU HAD YOURS CHECKED LATELY?

Kinda down tonight.  My bloodwork came back okay—whatever was done did anyway. No thyroid problems.

My bone density level wasn’t good at all though.  In my lower back and in my hips—just like Mama’s—I had really lost density.  I wasn’t smart enough to write down exactly what my doctor said about how much I had lost in the years between the tests. I’ll try and get that information.  He also said not to wait two years the next time, but to get it done again in a year.  Wonder how I'll remember to do that??

The only thing I heard was he wanted to put me on Fosamax (hope I am spelling that right!), again—which had made me sick on my stomach before, and for which he had substituted a Calcitonin-Salmon Nasal Spray. That has not done the job. So—I’ll try the Fosemax again.  It really does bother me—although I’m not surprised.

I have had more pain in my hips and back in the last couple of years, and I was not surprised—it runs in my family. I’m going to be more vigilant about taking my calcium, magnesium and zinc, and Vitamin D…and I’m going to try and get outside more.  I know I need to do this—it’s just that I have been  so ...... down, and felt so bad,  since Mama passed away in March—(although we did go and join the kids 2 different weeks this summer)—I haven’t done anything, really.

The problem is, too, that I’ve read that studies have shown that Fosamax has actually done harm in some people—and they’ve found more people with fractures in their femurs who were ON the stuff.  And Mama had been on it for years. And of course, she fell and broke her femur right before she died—or, her femur broke and she fell—I don’t know which.

A friend and cousin—who is 10 years younger than I has actually built up her bone density  by fast walking with weights.  She has built up to 4 miles a day, and she works until 6PM some days!  She is a nurse, and is completely viral about watching out for her health—and that is a good thing. Well--fast walking for me really isn't something I can see myself doing--just walking is painful.

I’m hoping that some of the supplements in the book that my friend recommended—“FROM FATIGUED TO FANTASTIC” will make a difference with this, too.  And I'll do my best to take the Fosamax.  I know Mama always went out when she lived at home—she never stayed in for a whole day—unless the roads were icy!  She got out in the sun everyday.  She made sure she got out-and she was always thinking of someone else.

I’m in hopes that once the fatigued thing gets better and hopefully, the CFS gets better, that I’ll be able to get out and sort of feel like a normal person again.  Something I haven’t felt in a very long time. Normal.  Sorry—I know I don’t sound up—and I don’t mean to sound down…and reading back over this--I know I do.

Sorry!  Hope the next post will be more up. I haven't been taking the new supplements long enough to have made a difference--but I am, and will continue to keep taking them.. If they helped my friend, hopefully they will help me, too.  I can't imagine them hurting--they're vitamins and the amounts are not over the limit.

God bless you--hope your day was good, and that your tomorrow will be even better!!

LABOR DAY__HOPE IT'S GOOD FOR YOU!

HAPPY LABOR DAY everyone!

For dinner, I have made homemade spaghetti sauce for spaghetti, got a good salad ready, made homemade apple dumplings and have got the hubby at the supermarket looking for some good Vanilla Bean Ice cream to go on top.  I guess this isn't your normal Labor Day stuff--but I didn't feel like grilling--it's hot and humid here--we're expecting rain again--and maybe another hurricane. If so--I guess we'll head for the mountains again!

Hope you are having a good day. The last 2 nights I have worked on my sock--gotten about 5 inches done--and have pulled the doggoned needles out TWICE in two days!!  I haven't been in a good place, I guess! I need to be more attentive. Usually I am--but I am having a Fibro flare--and when that happens --anything can happen! I got my magnifying glass out and got the stitches back on the needles and am going to try and not pull them out anymore! Whoa!
This following  part of the post was written sometime back, but blogger wouldn't post it--so I'm giving it another shot. I believe I wrote it the day or so after the hurricane passed through VA, and we headed home.  Sorry if it confuses you--but I got so mad at Blogger for not wanting to post it as it usually does, I just couldn't face writing a different post! Yeah--I'm lazy like that!  And I don't make a whole lot of sense sometimes, as my friends will tell you--because --they turn their head to one side like a puppy dog when I say things and sort of raise their eyebrow.  But hey--I do that in response to their sentences once in awhile, too!


So remember --this next part was written something like a week--yes a week or so--ago!! Blame blogger!


Well-you can get all into you want on Irene information if you look on the Internet…but the part of VA we live in caught some of it. We had about 12 and 1/2 inches of rain, wind gusts of up to 60 or 70 MPH—depending on whom you talk to. When we came home from our son’s last night, there were trees down in the woods, but none across the roads anymore, because VDOT had been out clearing. Thank heavens for that—we had an alternate route, just in case, but it would have added another 45 minutes or so to our drive back home—so we were glad to hear the road had been cleared, and we could come home the way we usually do. This ground we live on is very sandy—and for the life of me, I don't know why—maybe it’s because it’s between two rivers? I just don’t know but it absorbs water quite well—but tomorrow the water is supposed to reach it’s peak—so we’ll see how much flooding the lower lying places will have.


Do you hate to leave home when bad weather is on the way? Not because you’re so brave, but because it’s your home, and you want to be there in case something happens that you may be able to help somehow? I sort of felt that way…but hubby is not a “high wind” lover", and I understand that. He remembers a very bad hurricane when he was really young, and his momma got him to help her get the lace curtains in from an open window. I believe there must have been a tornado with in the storm, too, sand they could feel the force of the suction outside and he remembers her slamming the window down, when his Mama never slammed windows or doors! He’s never forgotten that memory. His mother was a very strong lady, and she rarely showed any fear, but something in her voice told him this was a scary situation, and these things stay with us, don’t they? I’m sure we all could stir up a memory or two like that if we tried.


We had talked to my brother, and to our neighbor over the weekend, and they were telling us we’d been without power since early Saturday morning –about 5AM. Today---still no power. We have an old generator that our young neighbor worked on and put a new carburetor in while we were gone. (He’d been promising to do it for months now!) When we came through our town—no lights, and it was about 7:30PM. Hubby and I sort of peeked over at one another and couldn't’ bring ourselves to smile, even though we were back in ”our” town. We’d left on Thursday afternoon, and come back on Monday afternoon—so it was very quick trip—a trip with none of our usual stopping and staying overnight in our favorite place, and eating at our favorite restaurant. (our favorite restaurant which is being changed to something else, too, and we don’t know what!) It was a speedy trip, and I don’t do speedy trips too well. I get sore, and tired, and I try not to complain to him about it (so I come here and complain to YOU about it!
Just walking into our humble abode—and seeing my Ott Light on behind my recliner, and hearing our AC humming was—oh, so wonderful—after wondering if we’d even get power this week at all. It was just God sent, I knew. In fact the neighbors said we must have brought the good luck with us from the mountains, and we did have a nice visit there. Lapfuls of grandkids—are a blessed thing—I’ll take them anytime. Getting out the craft things and sitting with them listening to them chatter and make up stories to go with their pictures makes me so happy.
When hubby went to the PO to get our mail (we had it held til we got back), there was a box from Amazon I’d ordered—filled with papers and watercolor pads, watercolor sets (the Crayola for kids types), brushes, colored pencils, glue sticks, tape, construction paper, children's' scissors, stencils—all the things children love to have when they’re pretending to be artists. And who knows? One day—they may be. I do believe in keeping those things around (now they’re big enough to use them), and having them available to them whenever they want to draw and paint. I like to make up stories to go along with their drawings, so they an use their imaginations, too. Our toy box has got to be cleaned out—‘cause they’ve about outgrown the things in there—there are a few things in there they still love, but I’ve got to run to CHKD soon--where they have used toys, so I can stock it with some things more their age. They won’t be new—but they'll be new to them. Oh-I also got 5 videos on African animals—they’re jungle animals, and then some on sharks and whales, too---- (which they love!) I also got a 4 disc set of the older Looney Tunes from amazon.com, as well.. David and Kat (and their daddy and their pop!) love those cartoons and they sit there and laugh all together and it’s like music to my ears. They’re not going to be here very long, because they have an NCSU ballgame to go to Saturday (and they’re all involved in tailgate parties, too—you should see all the stuff they’ve bought to have there! The propane grill, , the tent, the NCSU chairs and coolers—the whole enchilada!! It’s amazing how much that stuff costs, but it’s something they’re looking forward to—and they’ve got season tickets. Kat’s got an NCSU cheerleading outfit, and David ‘s got new jerseys—so I know they’ll have fun. So Saturday—they’ll be at NC State. Then that night, they’ll come here. Sunday, our hubby’s family is supposed to have a family reunion most of the day—so I guess we’ll be at that. On Monday, the guys (David, too!) will be bird hunting all afternoon and they’ll have to drive back 4 hours to get home, so David and Kat will be able to get up and go to school the next day!! Sooo—a quick -+weekend—but they’ll be back!
So—today, I got everything out of the refrigerator/freezer and threw away just about everything. Everything but the pickle relish and mustard—that was about the only thing I trusted. Oh, and some flour I had, and a package of seafood breader and some pecans I had frozen. I got everything out and washed it good and put it back-it looks so clean. And empty!! And did I mention CLEAN!! We’ve got to restock our fridge now, but it was a good excuse to get it washed down with baking soda water. I had needed to throw away half empty bottles of salad dressings anyway….so I’ve got to go to the WalMarts and restock that kind of thing.
Soooo-God bless you all. Tomorrow, I have to go to see about this tooth that’s bothering me-but it’s just an “evaluation”, and they told me that would cost $152! So, sort of—not to come without it! If they find what’s going on—then I have to set up another time to go and have whatever done. I hate this stuff-the going, and going and going! But—it has to be done! Have a happy tomorrow, y’all!

Monday the 6th---in the evening
So---now--I'll finish up with my today's  LABOR DAY post--I know this is really confusing, and I'm almost thinking of scrapping the whole thing--cause I've already confused Anne!  But she knows me well enough to know how confused I am, anyway!
 (The spaghetti turned out really well--hubby was pleased with it, and before we started reading in the Gospel John tonight --he had eaten two helpings of dumplings and ice cream!!  He picked up Blue Bunny Homemade Vanilla, by the way.  So--I think he was hungry from hunting, and was probably surprised to see anything at all cooked after knowing how much my feet were hurting when he left.  I have used ice packs n them most of the day when I was sitting, and had them propped up on pillows. I sure hope they will be better tomorrow!