Sleeping porch

(Fragent 2)
After about two years [at the sanatorium], when my mother learned how to make a place to sleep outdoors in the cold no matter what the weather, we all went back together again.  Mother had a porch built so that a window of the house opened on the center of the bed.  Early in the evening she would line her bed with hot water bottles and bricks.  She knit herself warm caps and mittens and always made a joke when she went thru the window.  There was a long-haired black hide that went on top, but I never knew the name of it.

Sick abed

(1930)
I became sick and weak in my pregnancy and for a week or two was flat on my back in bed with a trained nurse and specialist.  When the nurse left, one of the Pedrick twins [also a nurse, from Ripon] came in.  I was sorry for Lorin because of the expenses and worry; however, I got stronger and was able to keep my own house with a Polish woman once a week.

Floridy

(1980 memoirs)
Before leaving this wall [with a bookcase] I must say that under this bookcase were shelves which held other treasures.  One time a doctor had told Henry [Clapp] that "if he wanted to make a good recovery" from whatever it was he had, he had to go "to Floridy" where it was warm.  As it was not advisable for him to go off alone, sick, and Frankie was the only one not needed at home, it was decided she should accompany him.

Altitude

(1929 August, in Buffalo, Wyoming)
[Polly and three friends drove out to Yellowstone Park; on her way back she wrote to Lorin.]  Have you ever been affected with the altitude?  We drove over the Big Horn Moutains today, and they were worse than the Rockies.  Tommy [Tucker] and I are the only ones bothered, it seems.  The pressure was annoying, but when all the tubes began to pain, we nearly saw doctors.  Usually coming down, our hearing comes back with a rush, but today things seemed farther away and stayed gone longer.  Most odd.  But we feel better now, all but a little dizziness,ich is going fast.

Paper route

(1970 June)
His [Lorin's] feet were so painful whenever he walked or stood that he would take his shoes off the moment he came into the house.  As a boy he delivered papers over a very long route in Milwaukee and thus developed flat feet and bunions.  A couple of years before his father died [in 1957] they were together in a car in Milwaukee riding along Lake Drive, and Lorin recalled to his father his job as a paper boy - and when he pointed out the distance he walked every morning, starting out in the dark, his father simply could not believe it.

Dying

(1966 August 10)
You can have no idea what a relief this has been to me [that LL is OK].  Before the operation, he talked so sensibly about dying.  He said now he had had ten more years than people with his trouble [diabetes] often have.  He has had a good life and a happy home, and if this were it, all right.  HE may have been ready, but I was not and am plenty glad the Grim Reaper gave us a miss.

Ruth Nee

(1966 August 10)
[The night after the operation] I phoned Ruth [Nee RN] about 10 p.m. and after learning all was well, we both [PK & MM] got a good night's rest.

Gall stones

(1966 August 10)
[The day of LL's operation, Polly was waiting in his hospital room.]  About 2 along came a RN with the [gall] stones in a neat little box!!  Offering them to me?!!!  I gave her a disgusted look and she laughed and said, "You can make them into a necklace and wear them around your neck."  I turned away and looked out of the window and think it revolting.  However, I guess this is the usual procedure, as you say.

Gall bladder

(1966 July 28)
[LL must have a gall bladder procedure.]  When I tell you he will hate every second, every minute of having people poke him and wash him and hurt him, and yet cheers us up about his going, not a word of complaint or self pity, only hard work to the end to straighten out his affairs, which are more complex than you ever dreamed of, you can understand perhaps why I think he is the bravest and most courageous person I ever knew.

Remote

(1966 July 4)
[Mary Margaret, at RC hospital for tonsillectomy] has a wonderful corner room (#325) - the Housner Room - complete with TV high over the dresser mirror.  The first thing she did as we waited for nurse to come in was to snoop in all the dresser drawers.  In the top dresser drawer she immediately pulled out a gadget and started snapping it.  She said, "Gee - I never saw one of these before.  It must be remote control."  It was, and the Picture showed on The Box.  I was sorry it didn't operate something else just to teach her a lesson.

Sparklers

(1966 July 3)
When LL got the Sunday paper today, he also got a package of colored sparklers; so when it gets dark now we are going to go out and sparkle, as it will be all the Glorious Fourth she will be able to enjoy [because MM is going to have her tonsils out the next day].

Coal cutter

(1969 February 9)
What a time with Lawrence [3+] and the accident!  ...  O - the parallels I could draw!  Remember when we were all ready to go to a Masonic banquet, and Lawrence's father decided to take a silver knife and try to cut a piece of coal in two at the sink.  Nearly cut his finger off.  So off to the doctor and then to the banquet.

Kanables!

(1968 February 3)
 Think I'll visit Mabel Kanable at Jean's tomorrow.  Think I told you she fell on her lawn below zero, where she lay one hour until helped.  The fracture was pinned on her hip, and she is running the vocational school from her bed.  We were convulsed.  She had her own phone at hospital, and she would answer by saying, "Kanables!" just as if she were at home.  But she mustn't be alone yet, so is at Jean's.  Is fine - wheelchair - crutches.

Step back

(1967 August 9)
A year ago today was Daddy's gall bladder operation.  As I was spending an hour and a quarter in the dentist chair yesterday, I saw him go by on the way to court - by Fleming's [shoe store]- the old spring in the step just as always.

Decubitus

(1993 November)
What a time!  Dorothea, this older maid, bathed me and saw the skin broken on left hip, the side I lie on.  So tonight, another mattress on top of mine, like porcupine back [or egg carton], which I must have until sore on hip heals.  ...  I have a decubitus ulcer from lying on my left side (reading) too much.  Gradually my pleasures are stripped away in my old age.

Clueless

(1992 ?November)

We kept appointment at hospital with young lady who ran a heart machine. I lay on a hard couch on a hard pillow while she ran her heart machine, which made a noise and showed the heart beating in a nearby movie. When the hour was over, I said, "How did I do?" And she said, "I have no idea. That is for the docor to say."

Bat bite

(1992 October 25)

MM tried to be kind to bat, picked it up to save its life, but it misunderstood her motive and bit her, and she now goes to hospitals both in RC and Madison.

What I felt like doing

(1992 April 5)

I have resolved to get up more. I was told to do what I felt like doing, and bed seemed easy and the safest thing. I have a pain in my upper right arm that is annoying. If I go to my doctor, he will send me on a series of tests again, maybe even to hospital, and I am tired of that.

Medical science

(1991 late December)

I went to see [Dr.] Tydrick one day - can hardly remember why! Think it was back pain. He was gone, and I got Jareen, who said, "Eat well-balanced meals with plenty of vegetables." What is the use of spending the money? Lately the office girl has been saying, "Can you come here or do you want the doctor to come?" This is new or old revised!

Ottery

(1991 September 11)

Geraldine has news today. She won $100 on a lottery ticket, from SuperValue I think it was. I am glad for her. One arm is numb and she has doctor bills to pay. She was just in here telling me about Alma's silo burning - my beautician. It's the silage, not the whole thing.