Monday, January 29, 2024

Slicing and Dicing

 Between Ron and I we have spent the past three months recovering from knee surgery.  I'm doing great with my recovery, but Ron still has a way to go.  He got a cortisone injection that seems to have helped the reduce the inflammation and swelling.  He sees his orthopedist next week and will probably resume outpatient therapy.

My daughter had surgery last Friday to remove her gallbladder and to get a liver biopsy.  Still waiting on the results.  She has been in and out of the hospital over the past two years and no one has been able to figure out the cause of her sudden episodes of vomiting and diarrhea.  It comes on so suddenly and gets so severe she becomes dehydrated.  Twice she had to be transported by ambulance and one time it was so bad she ended up in ICU for two days.  Removing her gallbladder was kind of a hail Mary attempt to see it if helps.  She was in the hospital this time for 5 days.  She's home now recovering.

I have been having episodes of tachycardia and have been referred to a cardiologist.  In addition, the weight loss has resulted in discovery of a hernia.  Will be seeing a surgeon about repairing it.   Oh, the joys of aging!

I have big plans for this summer.  We have to get ourselves healthy so we can do a family trip when school is out.  We are hoping to take a trip with my daughters to Tennessee or N. Carolina to meet Ron's daughter and her family.  It will be the first time for our daughters to meet.  I said I wanted them to meet while we are alive and not at one of our funerals.

My brother is doing very well.  His psychiatrist has reduced a lot of his medication, and it has improved his cognitive function.  Couldn't have come at a better time.  He is just generally doing a lot better.   He still requires a lot of support, but the "emergency" calls have lessened.  

So, all things considered we are in pretty good shape I'd say.  Just a little fine tuning needed.



Sunday, November 5, 2023

Update

Well, I had my right knee replaced Oct. 26th so I am in my second week of recovery.  It's going pretty well but a lot more pain than with the first surgery.  I don't know why but no two surgeries are the same.  I'm doing in home therapy for two more weeks then go to outpatient therapy.  Ron is having surgery on the 16th of November, so we are planning on going to therapy together.

Because my life has revolved around either preparing for surgery or having it I don't have much to write about.  One weird thing is that the day of surgery I weighed 124 pounds but two days later I was 138.  Talk about swelling.  First week I lost 6 pounds of water weight, but it looks like it will take a while to get back to pre-surgery weight.

My son-in-law found a job and will be moving out in December.  He has to find an apartment in the meantime and probably get on a waiting list.  I'll be happy to reclaim my house.  My daughter took her two dogs so I wouldn't be in danger of being tripped by all the dogs.  Ellie misses her playmates, but she will go over for some play dates when Ron and I are back on our feet.

Well, it's time to do more exercises.  Motion is lotion!


Friday, September 8, 2023

Use it or Just Lose It

 I've been on a weight loss journey for the greater part of my life.  After having my twin daughters in 1970 I've pretty much been battling obesity.  At the age of 32 I weighed 222 pounds and had a gastric bypass.  It worked great and I lost 90 pounds in less than a year.  Then I had an emergency hysterectomy and my weight started increasing almost immediately.  Within two years I had regained all the weight.

I reached my highest weight in 2014 at 242 pounds.  That same year I had a hip replacement and lost about 20 pounds.  It wasn't until 2016 that Ron and I both got serious about losing weight and together we did weight watchers and Lose It.  I got down to 156 pounds and that's when Weight Watchers changed their plan.  Now they had what they called 0 points foods.  Well, I took that literally and about overdosed on strawberries.  Then the pandemic hit and we both gained weight.  I made it back to 205 pounds and Ron regained all his weight.

Well, 2 years ago I said enough is enough.  I put the Lose It app back on my phone and set a goal of 1 pound a week.  I have stayed on the 1200 calorie allowance and today I officially hit my goal of 130 by weighing in at 129.4 pounds.  I haven't been this small since high school.  I would like to get to 125 but I won't be upset if I don't.  I'm considered a "normal weight".  Still hard to believe.  I know my knee surgery will be easier at this weight.  Much easier to rehab.  So, I'm happy.

I'd recommend the Lose It app to anyone wanting to lose weight.  It's free and easy to use.  It helps you be accountable and track your progress.

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Life is a Cabaret old chum...........

Well, Ron will be having surgery in the next couple of weeks.  It will be scoping the knee and trimming the torn Cartlidge and cleaning up the knee joint.   It's an outpatient surgery and the recovery is pretty fast according to the doctor.  We should have him going in time for my knee replacement.

Tonight, I saw a live stream cabaret production that a childhood friend was performing in, and it was so much fun to watch.  Tina did a great job.  I haven't seen her since 1969 when she was one of my bridesmaids.  She lives in Connecticut now.

We are expecting a cold front to move through tonight taking our temperature from 105 to 82 tomorrow.  Now that's a drop.  I am definitely going to take advantage of the break in the heat and get out.  We are going to go shopping for new recliners.  We need the chairs, but I hate shopping for them.  Salesmen stalk you all over the store and that just drives me crazy.  What do they call them?  Shopper stalkers?  I had a friend who would dress in a smart suit and carry a clipboard around at the store and everyone thought she worked there so they left her alone.  She said it worked every time.  She'd act like her husband was her customer.

Over the past 6 months I have been purposely reaching out to old friends trying to get out more.  Next week I'm having lunch with some friends from high school.  It should be fun. Of course, this is the season for flu and covid spikes so have to be careful.  I will probably stick close to home in October.


Wednesday, August 16, 2023

It's back to school time again!

 Today Ron has an appointment with an orthopedist.  I'm anxious to hear what he recommends.  

We have been blessed with Spring like weather for the past few days.  What a welcome relief from the heat.  It was in the mid 70's for about 3 days.  We are slowly climbing back up with today's temperatures in the 90's and then we hit the hundreds.  Saturday is expected to be 107.  I'm ready for the heat dome to move on.

My daughters had back to school night last night and school starts tomorrow.  Julie had two parents in the process of divorce get into a fight in her room last night.  I haven't heard the details but shame on them!  I feel sorry for their children. That sure started the school year on the wrong foot. 

I'm praying this is a good year for students and teachers.  

 


Friday, August 11, 2023

MRI results

 Finally heard from GP what the MRI revealed and Ron has a torn meniscus.  Of course that requires a referral to an orthopedist and we are waiting to hear when and where that will be.  So now there are two of us limping around with our knees.  Misery loves company I suppose.

I read the most horrific story yesterday about an infant being decapitated during delivery.  It seems the baby was stuck in the pelvis and the doctor attempted to pull the baby out.  Then they did an emergency C-section and when they removed the baby it was only the torso.  The head had been detached.

Now that story is horrible but it only got worse.  The hospital actually tried to hide the fact by wrapping the baby tightly in a blanket and propping the head on the body.  They then encouraged the parents to have the baby cremated.  Instead they sent body to funeral home and it was the funeral home that informed the young couple about the decapitation.  Do you hear law suit??????

I've heard some bad birthing stories but nothing as horrific as this one!

We are under a heat advisory today so I'm going out early to do some errands.  Stay cool everyone!

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

We are having a heat wave and it's not tropical

The heat is back and here to stay.  I'm planning on indoor activities only.  I am having lunch with my girlfriend today.  We always go to lunch when either of us has a birthday.  Mine is Thursday so we are going out today.  My daughter is hosting a cookout on Saturday to celebrate my living yet another year.  A fact I don't take for granted.

Yesterday was the first time I felt a little frazzled about my son-in-law's extended stay.  He is very lethargic and just sits around or sleeps.  I wish he would take the initiative to offer to help Ron with the dogs or anything else he is doing.  I finally gave him a list of things he can do today to help out.  

We are hoping to get an MRI scheduled for Ron soon to determine whether he tore a muscle in his hamstring.  He has been in pain for several weeks and he's wearing a brace recommended by his doctor, but it just isn't getting any better.  He also hasn't rested the injury either like he was instructed to do.  Men are so stubborn!  The doctor said he may require surgery and he will have a 4-to-6-month recovery plus he will be non-weight bearing.  I guess we will be taking care of each other when I get the knee replacement.  Hopefully we could do physical therapy together.