Down Memory Lane
The following two videos were recorded at my aunt and uncle’s 50th wedding anniversary.
The following two videos were recorded at my aunt and uncle’s 50th wedding anniversary.
My dad making rope at the Museum.
Good afternoon to all my readers. This afternoon is lovely with plenty of sunlight. It does look like spring is trying to make itself known. At this moment it is plus 12 C. The forecast predicts a high of plus 16. The high for tomorrow is plus-19 C. I remember a huge blizzard on April 29. 1996. It was the first blizzard we encountered after moving back to Manitoba. Last Thursday on our way to my family doctor’s appointment in Winnipeg we encountered snow, blowing snow and winds up to 90 Km./hr. Friday we experienced rain showers which our farmers desperately need.
As I am writing this I am listening to Cecilia Blomdahl. As posted on her YouTube channel Cecilia Blomdahl is originally from Sweden and moved to Svalbard 8 years ago. She works as a photographer and videographer in Longyearbyen She also works with her social media channels. Check her out on TikTok and Instagram under her handle @sejsejlija! She posts YouTube videos about her daily life in her cabin with her boyfriend Christoffer and her dog Grim. They live just outside of Longyearbyen. Subscribe for videos about her daily life on an island near to the North Pole. They have polar bears there! I have been watching Cecilia and Christoffer for almost a year. I am intrigued with her videos and if I was younger, I would take a trip to Longyearbyen.
You can find the article about Scandinavian Sleep Methods at the following link: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-hygiene/scandinavian-sleep-method involves partners sharing a bed but using separate duvets, comforters, quilts or blankets. That separate top bedding cuts down on disruptions, letting you hog the covers, toss and turn or get up without waking each other. It also helps couples maintain physical closeness. You can watch Cecilia’s latest video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZrfqceSyAU. Cecilia also talks about Why Swedish Kids Nap Outside.
My 6th month ultrasound happened on Aril 3rd. Dr. Wong, my liver specialist is very diligent in keeping track of any further damage to my liver.
My Bronchoscopy happened on April 5th. What is bronchoscopy? Bronchoscopy is a procedure to look directly at the airways in the lungs using a thin, lighted tube (bronchoscope). The Bronchoscope is put in the mouth and down the throat and windpipe (trachea), and passed through the airways. The doctor administering the Bronchoscopy explained that he would do a saline wash of my lungs and then take some samples to test. I was absolutely terrified of this procedure. I was told that I would get a sedative and would not remember the procedure. The worst part of the test would be the spray administered to my throat. The doctor was absolutely right. I woke up in the recovery room and had no recollection of what happened. The only so-called complication was my blood pressure when I woke. It was 63/40, and I had to wait until it reached more normal numbers before I went home. I am still waiting for the results of the Bronchoscopy. I can only hope and pray that they will find the root cause of my breathing problems. I hate to admit it but as I told my family doctor, the breathing problems are getting worse.
I have been busy translating a 62-page document written by Nickolas Zacharias for the last few weeks. His life story begins as a young child in Ukraine after the First World War. His story will add another document of interest to the site called https://zachariasfamilytree.com.
I hope the upcoming week will be wonderful and leave you with many memories to cherish.
We are spending a quiet Easter weekend at home. Tomorrow we are celebrating our wedding anniversary. Our daughter has invited us over for lunch. Her meals are always spectacular.
Haplogroup K1 is a relatively old branch of haplogroup K that traces back to a woman who lived approximately 22,000 years ago. She and her early descendants likely lived in the Middle East, where the K haplogroup traces its origins and continues to have a strong presence. Then, about 12,000 to 15,000 years ago, some women carrying K1 likely joined early migrations that moved west into Europe. The Ice Age was ending and temperate forests spread over the previously frigid continent. Human populations that had been blocked by massive ice sheets now expanded into the interior. Others came later, entering Europe with the spread of agriculture from the Middle East about 8,000 years ago. Today, members of K1 can be found throughout Europe, the Middle East, and even in Central Asia. My maternal haplogroup, K1b1b, traces back to a woman who lived approximately 11,000 years ago. Today K1b1b is relatively uncommon among 23andMe customers. Today, I share my haplogroup with all the maternal-line descendants of the common ancestor of K1b1b, including other 23andMe customers.
Mitochondrial DNA: Maternal playgroups are determined by sets of genetic variants in a tiny, unusual loop of DNA called Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). As the name suggests, mtDNA is found in the mitochondria, small but mighty structures inside our cells that turn fuel from the food we eat into energy.
Yet whoever killed Ötzi did not take the valuable and finely wrought copper axe that he carried with him — an indicator that at the age of 45, the Ice Man may have been a figure of some importance in his community. Recently, scientists who were able to extract DNA from Ötzi’s remains discovered that he belonged to haplogroup K, which reaches levels of 20 to 30% in present-day populations in the region. But Ötzi’s maternal line, which fell into the K1 family of haplogroup K, did not match any of the branches that are known today. His maternal line must have died out in the 5,300 years since Ötzi’s death. (from 23 and Me).
It is nearly lunchtime. I will try to complete this blog post today. It is -11 C at the moment. The forecast for the rest of the day calls for continued clouds with a 60 percent chance of light snow. The wind will be southwest at 20 km/h gusting to 40 becoming light this afternoon. High minus 8. The wind chill is minus 20 this morning and minus 13 this afternoon. UV index 2 or low. Apparently, the forecast temperature for early next week is +9C. These fluctuating temperatures are not kind to my old bones.
The last week has been free of blood work or doctor’s appointments. I saw my cardiologist on February 28th for my routine 6-month check-up. He assured me that my heart issues had not changed. I am always so grateful when I hear that there is no change. The CT scan of my lungs will take place on March 13th. I am making an effort to not think about the scan and the result.
Insight, one of Australia’s favourite shows fearlessly delves into issues and host, Kumi Taguchi provides a safe space for ordinary people to talk to each other without judgment. One subject discussed was the relationship between breast cancer and alcohol (wine) consumption. Alcohol consumption contributes to roughly 7,000 cancer cases each year in Canada. Most of those cases are breast or colon cancer, followed by cancers of the rectum, mouth and throat, liver, esophagus and larynx. Before listening to the Insight documentary I did not know that there was a link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer.
I am hoping and praying that the CT scan scheduled for March 13th will finally give me some answers. Living life with a breathing problem can quickly become a nightmare. One issue that I have mentioned before is Pulmonary fibrosis. According to Google, this is a disease where there is scarring of the lungs called fibrosis which makes it difficult to breathe. This is because the scarring causes the tissues in the lungs to get thick and stiff. This makes it hard to absorb oxygen into the bloodstream. According to the Mayo Clinic, the symptoms are as follows:
Symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis may include:
Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis is another concern. I have previously written about this as well. My lung specialist ordered the upcoming CT Scan to confirm or deny a diagnosis of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis. All I can do at this point is think positive thoughts and hope and pray for a good outcome. According to the American Lung Association Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is typically divided into two types based on how long you have been affected and how severe your symptoms are. An attack of acute hypersensitivity pneumonitis usually occurs four to six hours after a short period of intense exposure to the substance you are allergic to. You may feel as if you have caught the flu when an acute attack occurs. Common symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, headache and cough. These symptoms may last for as little as 12 hours to a few days and will resolve if further exposure is avoided. Chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis develops after numerous or continuous exposures to small amounts of the allergen. Symptoms may include shortness of breath, tiredness, coughing that lasts weeks or months and weight loss that gets progressively worse. Over time, some people with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis develop clubbing of fingers and toes and irreversible pulmonary fibrosis.
It has been a month of ups and downs. One of my difficulties is knowing how to cope with disappointment and discouragement. “The word discouragement comes from the root word courage. The prefix dis- means “the opposite of.” So discouragement is the opposite of courage. When we are discouraged, we have lost the motivation to press forward. The mountain seems too steep, the valley too dark, or the battle too fierce, and we lose the courage to continue”. (Author Unknown) Disappointment breeds discouragement. I am trying to find a way to beat discouragement but for me, it is a constant battle. People who experience constant pain twenty-four hours a day must learn to keep their discomfort to themselves. We cannot expect healthy people to understand what our life is like. They soon tire of hearing about our complaints and who can blame them? Part of my daily struggle involves looking for the positive in my life. Some days I succeed and other days I fail miserably. Some days my mental health works in my favour and I immerse myself in writing my blog and on my genealogy site. On good days the blog and genealogy site help to chase away the doom and gloom. When I write about the horrors members of my extended family were subjected to my pain and illness seem like minor inconveniences.
Another aspect of my life that is slowly changing is my belief system. I have realized that no matter what our physical limitations are we have a reason to be here. We all have our individual talents as well as limitations. Our world is rapidly changing and people with a strong faith are ridiculed. People quickly forget about the atrocities perpetrated in the past. The atrocities continue accompanied by lies and false information. I have realized that I do believe in the faith instilled in me by my parents. I have also realized that time spent strengthening my belief is time well spent. It also helps me deal with the life that I have been dealt.
Club 48 is successful which is a positive development and helps to keep discouragement at bay. To reiterate Club 48 is open to women born in 1948 who attended school in and around Steinbach, Manitoba. The positive response from members has been encouraging and uplifting. To find out more about the club please email steinbachclub48@gmail.com.
The other day I was checking out the channels available on Roku. I came across something called Redeem TV. Instead of paying a monthly fee, they ask for donations. The first documentary we watched was called Navajo Code Talkers of World War Two; a very interesting documentary. We then watched Return to the Hiding Place, the story of the resistance fighters in the Netherlands who worked with Corrie ten Boon. To my surprise, I found a series I watched many years ago called Sue Thomas, FBI.
My dear daughter has updated her Perfect Sentiments gift basket website at https://perfectsentiments.ca. She has added a new section called Luxury Teas at https://www.perfectsentiments.ca/luxuryteas. Check out the new section featuring teacups, teapots, and other accessories associated with a tea party.
It is getting late and I need to get some sleep. Would love to hear from you in the comment section of this site. Goodbye until next time.
The Respirologist I saw on Thursday confirmed the diagnosis of Congestive Heart Failure. He also suggested I might have hypersensitivity pneumonitis which is rather troubling. This would mean that I have been inhaling something that is damaging my lungs. He is sending me for a special CT Scan which will hopefully let me know either way. He said that I do have a thickening of my heart muscles which contributes to my breathing problems. Hopefully, the CT Scan and blood work will provide me with a firm diagnosis.
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