Even Monkeys Learn
16 years ago
Monday, February 2, 2015
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Come On, Spring!
Those who know me well know that I often say I am "done" with Winter on December 26th. So true.
Here it is the end of January. It is cold. Too cold to do anything out in the yard. Too cold for golf. We've had a couple snow flurries, but nothing major. We are ready for warm weather. Part of my frustration is that I have been recuperating from the surgery and have not been able to do many of the things I like to do. Now I am feeling stronger and better and can't get out to do things because of the cold weather. But I have read a lot of good books!
Other than that, we are doing well. I am still going to PT three times a week and have made good progress. This next week is the last that I have scheduled. They will do an evaluation sometime this week and decide if I need to continue. I am confident enough to go without my cane now if I know I'm on good, flat, solid surfaces. I'm sleeping a little better. And the severe swelling seems to be over. Life is good.
I've been doing a few things around the house. And making a mental list of other things that are needed. The windows really need to be washed, but not now. (see second paragraph!)
We got Cinder to her check-up/rabies shot appointment. Other than starting to have some issues with arthritis, she is doing well. Cecil still needs to go for his check-up but we are having problems actually getting him. I swear he has the best ESP I've ever seen in a cat! Yesterday we thought we had him "cornered" in our bedroom but at first we couldn't find him. Then Golfer discovered that he was under the bed - up inside the bottom covering on the box springs! And try as we did, we could not get him to budge. And our bed is just too big and heavy for us to try to move. I even did the whole "chase him with the vacuum" deal to try to get him to take cover in the closet. The most I've accomplished is making eye contact with him from across the room. Sooner or later we'll get him. Sweet little guy!
Last Saturday, for my birthday, Nurse J took us to the Boxwood Inn for the Robert Burns Birthday dinner. It was a lovely evening with Scottish music - including bagpipes! The food was interesting, Good, but I would like to know what some of it was! We did not partake of the haggis. :)
I hope all is well with everyone. Keep happy thoughts and stay safe!
Here it is the end of January. It is cold. Too cold to do anything out in the yard. Too cold for golf. We've had a couple snow flurries, but nothing major. We are ready for warm weather. Part of my frustration is that I have been recuperating from the surgery and have not been able to do many of the things I like to do. Now I am feeling stronger and better and can't get out to do things because of the cold weather. But I have read a lot of good books!
Other than that, we are doing well. I am still going to PT three times a week and have made good progress. This next week is the last that I have scheduled. They will do an evaluation sometime this week and decide if I need to continue. I am confident enough to go without my cane now if I know I'm on good, flat, solid surfaces. I'm sleeping a little better. And the severe swelling seems to be over. Life is good.
I've been doing a few things around the house. And making a mental list of other things that are needed. The windows really need to be washed, but not now. (see second paragraph!)
We got Cinder to her check-up/rabies shot appointment. Other than starting to have some issues with arthritis, she is doing well. Cecil still needs to go for his check-up but we are having problems actually getting him. I swear he has the best ESP I've ever seen in a cat! Yesterday we thought we had him "cornered" in our bedroom but at first we couldn't find him. Then Golfer discovered that he was under the bed - up inside the bottom covering on the box springs! And try as we did, we could not get him to budge. And our bed is just too big and heavy for us to try to move. I even did the whole "chase him with the vacuum" deal to try to get him to take cover in the closet. The most I've accomplished is making eye contact with him from across the room. Sooner or later we'll get him. Sweet little guy!
Last Saturday, for my birthday, Nurse J took us to the Boxwood Inn for the Robert Burns Birthday dinner. It was a lovely evening with Scottish music - including bagpipes! The food was interesting, Good, but I would like to know what some of it was! We did not partake of the haggis. :)
I hope all is well with everyone. Keep happy thoughts and stay safe!
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Sunday, January 18, 2015
It's Been a Long Time
But, finally, I am back! Actually, I had intended to be writing posts way before this. But it turns out that surgery is just plain exhausting. The TKR went well. I went into the hospital on Monday morning, December 1st, and they sent me home on Wednesday. This was the shortest stay after a surgery in all my five surgeries since 2010. We had a pretty good idea of what to expect and had prepared as much as possible.
I hit a small set-back and worry when a few days after I got home I started running a fever. I had no other symptoms and I know that infections are always a threat, so I called my surgeon. He was concerned about infection and put me on a high potency antibiotic. I took all the pills and did everything he told me to do. When I went back for the re-check, he said my knee looked good. X-rays had been taken and he said everything looked fine.
We had nurses and physical therapists come to the house when I first got home. The nurse was great, the PT people not so much. They had a hard time keeping a schedule and were either late or didn't show up at all. And instead of always having the same person each time it was several different people who did not communicate with each other. That was the main reason I started the outpatient PT sooner than normal.
I have been doing physical therapy three times a week. I am still using my cane. It was nice to be able to put the walker away. I do exercises at home also. I still get tired very easily and am told that that is normal. Part of that reasoning is the "age" clause. :) But I am doing well and am doing things around the house and just last week I got to start driving again!
NurseJ has been a help. Bikini came for a week to help us right after I got home. It was nice to have her close.
Both girls are doing well, and their families are all good. NurseJ is at a work conference in Las Vegas. Bikini has a work conference there next month. Popular place!
Christmas was very nice, but very quiet. Golfer and I got all the decorations down and packed up and put away. And then some cleaning was done!
Our weather has been wet. And cold. And it seems like the days when it is warmer that is when it rains the hardest. Golfer and his buddies haven't had much time on the golf course lately.
Our furry kids had a little adjusting to do when I first got home. They didn't care for the walker, but soon got used to it and would just walk right under it and around it. They weren't thrilled about all the strangers that had to come at first. The doorbell would ring and they would go hide. The boys seem to be better at hiding than Cinder though. Here she is. (you can't see her!)
So, we are very slowly getting back to normal around here. I hope everyone is well and happy. Stay safe!
I hit a small set-back and worry when a few days after I got home I started running a fever. I had no other symptoms and I know that infections are always a threat, so I called my surgeon. He was concerned about infection and put me on a high potency antibiotic. I took all the pills and did everything he told me to do. When I went back for the re-check, he said my knee looked good. X-rays had been taken and he said everything looked fine.
We had nurses and physical therapists come to the house when I first got home. The nurse was great, the PT people not so much. They had a hard time keeping a schedule and were either late or didn't show up at all. And instead of always having the same person each time it was several different people who did not communicate with each other. That was the main reason I started the outpatient PT sooner than normal.
I have been doing physical therapy three times a week. I am still using my cane. It was nice to be able to put the walker away. I do exercises at home also. I still get tired very easily and am told that that is normal. Part of that reasoning is the "age" clause. :) But I am doing well and am doing things around the house and just last week I got to start driving again!
NurseJ has been a help. Bikini came for a week to help us right after I got home. It was nice to have her close.
Both girls are doing well, and their families are all good. NurseJ is at a work conference in Las Vegas. Bikini has a work conference there next month. Popular place!
Christmas was very nice, but very quiet. Golfer and I got all the decorations down and packed up and put away. And then some cleaning was done!
Our weather has been wet. And cold. And it seems like the days when it is warmer that is when it rains the hardest. Golfer and his buddies haven't had much time on the golf course lately.
Our furry kids had a little adjusting to do when I first got home. They didn't care for the walker, but soon got used to it and would just walk right under it and around it. They weren't thrilled about all the strangers that had to come at first. The doorbell would ring and they would go hide. The boys seem to be better at hiding than Cinder though. Here she is. (you can't see her!)
So, we are very slowly getting back to normal around here. I hope everyone is well and happy. Stay safe!
Sunday, November 30, 2014
The Alarm Is Set
Hey, all,
I think everything is now crossed off my to-do list. My bag is packed. The walker, leg brace, and cooling unit are all in the car. All medications have been stopped over the last couple weeks. I am achy and my leg hurts. The way I feel is confirming that it is time to get this surgery done.
Laundry is done, the freezer and pantry are full, bills are paid, and I think I have told Golfer where all the things are located that he normally does not use or need. (but that he will need while I am out of commission) :)
The house is all decorated, trees are up, outside decorations done, cards are finished, shopping done, gifts are wrapped and some mailed. I even baked a batch of cookies and put in the freezer.
So, we have things under control here right now. I won't be online for a while, so I'll post an update when I am able. We are to be at the hospital by 6:30 a.m.
Stay safe!
I think everything is now crossed off my to-do list. My bag is packed. The walker, leg brace, and cooling unit are all in the car. All medications have been stopped over the last couple weeks. I am achy and my leg hurts. The way I feel is confirming that it is time to get this surgery done.
Laundry is done, the freezer and pantry are full, bills are paid, and I think I have told Golfer where all the things are located that he normally does not use or need. (but that he will need while I am out of commission) :)
The house is all decorated, trees are up, outside decorations done, cards are finished, shopping done, gifts are wrapped and some mailed. I even baked a batch of cookies and put in the freezer.
So, we have things under control here right now. I won't be online for a while, so I'll post an update when I am able. We are to be at the hospital by 6:30 a.m.
Stay safe!
Monday, November 24, 2014
Monday
I have lots of thoughts bouncing around in my head as I'm getting ready for surgery in a week. I've had lists of things I've wanted to be sure to do before I'm not able to do them for a while. Those lists are almost completely checked off now.
As you know, we decided to do some of our Christmas decorating before Thanksgiving. About all that's left is for the tree to be set up that goes in the dining room in front of the large window. We'll get that finished up on Friday. And Golfer will set out our outside decorations. I did get the garland and lights up on the porch rails and hung the wreathes.
About our tree in the living room.... most of the ornaments on it have sentimental value. There are ornaments that were passed down to us from my Grama and Mom. Other were gifts from family and friends. A lot are ornaments of special things we like - like all our Star Trek ones! Some we have collected as we have traveled. To be honest, we have a lot of ornaments. Even after giving each of our girls boxes. We don't really need more ornaments. There are many still in the box that aren't being used this year. I pick and choose every year, although there are many that go on the tree every year. And yet, in spite of all that, this morning I bought another one. :)
The new Starbucks ornament is right there with the really old glass decorations, the Air Force ornaments and Star Trek! I had seen a picture of this ornament last year but they were sold out by the time I got to our Starbucks. So this morning when I went to get my coffee I got one! It makes me smile.
While I'm talking about decorations, let me mention that we always use the wooden ones that Golfer's Dad made for us many years ago. They are some of my favorites.
I took stock of the pantry and made sure we have everything for Thanksgiving dinner. The turkey has been moved into the refrigerator and is hopefully thawing.
Golfer moved our thirty (30!!) bags of leaves out to the curb for pick up. There are still more leaves on the trees to come down.
Our weather is just crazy. It has been cold. Today they say it will break heat records and be in the 80's. By Wednesday evening we may see some snow. I'm predicting a weather headache. Our MDX, Kirk, has automatic wipers that sense the moisture level and come on when needed. When I went out this morning and started him up to go to Starbucks all the wipers came on because it was so humid! And that was while we were still sitting in the garage! WTH!!
I hope you are all well and happy. Stay safe!
As you know, we decided to do some of our Christmas decorating before Thanksgiving. About all that's left is for the tree to be set up that goes in the dining room in front of the large window. We'll get that finished up on Friday. And Golfer will set out our outside decorations. I did get the garland and lights up on the porch rails and hung the wreathes.
About our tree in the living room.... most of the ornaments on it have sentimental value. There are ornaments that were passed down to us from my Grama and Mom. Other were gifts from family and friends. A lot are ornaments of special things we like - like all our Star Trek ones! Some we have collected as we have traveled. To be honest, we have a lot of ornaments. Even after giving each of our girls boxes. We don't really need more ornaments. There are many still in the box that aren't being used this year. I pick and choose every year, although there are many that go on the tree every year. And yet, in spite of all that, this morning I bought another one. :)
The new Starbucks ornament is right there with the really old glass decorations, the Air Force ornaments and Star Trek! I had seen a picture of this ornament last year but they were sold out by the time I got to our Starbucks. So this morning when I went to get my coffee I got one! It makes me smile.
While I'm talking about decorations, let me mention that we always use the wooden ones that Golfer's Dad made for us many years ago. They are some of my favorites.
I took stock of the pantry and made sure we have everything for Thanksgiving dinner. The turkey has been moved into the refrigerator and is hopefully thawing.
Golfer moved our thirty (30!!) bags of leaves out to the curb for pick up. There are still more leaves on the trees to come down.
Our weather is just crazy. It has been cold. Today they say it will break heat records and be in the 80's. By Wednesday evening we may see some snow. I'm predicting a weather headache. Our MDX, Kirk, has automatic wipers that sense the moisture level and come on when needed. When I went out this morning and started him up to go to Starbucks all the wipers came on because it was so humid! And that was while we were still sitting in the garage! WTH!!
I hope you are all well and happy. Stay safe!
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