Second One Down...Home Soon

Well, Mom had the second knee replaced yesterday and she is now taller than before and has 2, count them...1, 2 straight legs! She had a more difficult post-operative period this time due to increased pain, but once that was under control, she has been doing well. She was out of bed, bathed and walked in the hallway today! Not bad for the first day!! She sure looks funny all rigged into the CPM (Constant Passive Motion) machines with each leg moving like she is riding a bicycle, but it helps alleviate some discomfort and she can rest fairly comfortably in them. The fatigue is the biggest factor at this point. She feels like has "climbed Mount Masuveous" with the smallest amount of activity. We have had some good laughs and overall, I think she has done better than she expected. She is a model patient and in her words,"I do not think I have angered any of the nurses". You know she is getting better when the doctor tells me that she is telling him how to do his job! So she will continue to be in the hospital until Friday or Saturday and then return here to my home for her continued rehabilitative recovery and some TLC! Thanks for all the prayers and phone calls. I know they have helped to brighten her day and lessen her feelings of isolation. You are all the best!

Hospital happenings...

Mom is doing splendid! She has been able to get herself to the bathroom and get washed up each morning since Thursday on her own! She is having relatively little pain (she says less than what she anticipated) and her knee is moving well. She had her post-operative dressing removed today and the surgeon stated that everything looked fine. Her blood pressure on the other hand, has stayed elevated and her medical doctor has started her on some blood pressure medications. We will pray that it decreases! She is mostly wiped out from the effort it takes to do simple things, but her energy will be back! Her surgery to replace the left knee is on Tuesday, so please pray that all goes well.
I took 1/2 the day on Saturday and the day today to meet my friend, Tim, in Jensen Beach! We stayed on Hutchinson Island, which I had heard wonderful things about. It is a beautiful area to relax and veg out! Good food too! We sampled some seafood at The New England Seafood Reasturant and Market and a great omelet this AM (nearly PM) at a little local hole in the wall! But yummy food! It was a nice to get away...we had attempted to go to the Art Show in Stuart, but it was SO crowded, we were unable to find parking, so we took advantage of the beautiful sunny day and drove with the Corvette's top down along the river and enjoyed the scenery and laughed! All I can say is that it is so soothing to fall asleep to the sounds of the waves crashing on the shore, we had our own natural white noise machine!
May you all have the opportunity to have a time to relax and rejuvenate!

One Down, One To Go...

Well, the first knee is complete and Mom is doing great! We made it to the hospital at 0530 this AM; she was in the OR by 0730 and in her room by 1100. She was a trooper!! Aside from some initial nausea and dizziness, which was relieved with medication and time, she is having NO pain! The constant passive motion machine that she has on her leg was running for at least 6 hours from 0-90 degrees! That is nearly FULL range of motion and definitely enough to walk! She is a good patient doing her deep breathing and wiggling her toes! THANK YOU all who have been praying that this surgery go smoothly; your prayers have been answered! Now tomorrow's goal is to sit in a chair and maybe walk a little bit. We will see how she fares.
I, on the other hand, besides, nursing Mom, am getting ready for an overnight getaway to Jensen Beach. I am meeting a friend there for a day and a half of meandering through an art show, museum excursions and relaxation! Am looking forward very much to my little getaway! Since I have not been to this area of Florida before, it will be a nice adventure for me!
Thanks again for all those praying and I will keep you up to date on Mom's progress.

Mom Has Arrived

Well, Mom made it! Thanks to Aunt Sue and Uncle Bob for bringing her here! She is settled into my spare room as it is her own, well...maybe not quite like her own since there are board games and toys on the closet shelves! But there is plenty of space for her and I hope that she is feeling comfortable.
We have made it to all the pre-operative appointments this week and luckily, she liked the internist that she will have while she is here in the hospital! She even was making the moves on him, telling him he was handsome and that is why her blood pressure was up!! He is young enough to be her son! He did not buy it for a minute! But it did offer a laugh! She will be going for the last bit of her bloodwork and EKG on Saturday and then the big day is Tuesday, the 19th for her right knee. She is wanting before and after shots, so we will see about getting those. I will be keeping you up to date on her progress and I know that she will appreciate any notes, cards and thoughts, but most of all she would covet your prayers.

Weekend Happenings

Well, the weekend is almost over and I have had a productive one of trying to finish up some house projects before the "big game" (Go Pats!) this evening, the arrival of my Mom and the return of the boys from being with Dave. Finished the touch up painting in the guest/playroom and when I went to finish the living room and opened the paint can...the paint had dried up!!! So that will get put off until I make a trip to Lowe's.

Since I have been working weekends for 4+ years, church is something that I had not been attending on a regular basis. While I was busy working, the church I used to attend had a "shake up" (to make a long story short) and the former pastor is no longer there. Have been back to visit, but it does not feel the same and I have decided that I will have to begin the search for a new church body. To be truthful, I hate looking for a new place. I like being rooted somewhere and involved, not feeling like a visitor every where. Since I have been in this area for so long, I had visited many of the churches prior to settling on my previous one in 1995! I know what you might be thinking that a lot can go on in that time and churches can be and probably are different from then and now, but it is the process, I think I do not enjoy, not so much the going to the churches. Anyway, today I tried a Methodist church that I have been driving by for years and the were having their service outside today and it was a beautiful morning! Nothing like this beautiful Florida weather to remind us why we live here and that God made a beautiful earth! I liked it and they have lots of activities for the family and children and studies where one can plug in to learn and grow. I will see how the kids like it the next time.
I am beginning the search for vacation spots for the summer for the boys and I. We are thinking of meeting my brother, Steve, and his family in TX to go to Schlitterbaum Water Park. It is one of the top 10 in the nation and Adam and Alec LOVE water parks so I am game. If anyone has some other ideas, please leave me a note. I can add it to our vacation folder! Am always looking for good ideas! Thanks for sharing in our lives!