Noting the Milestones

It’s been 7 weeks since I had my right knee replaced. There is still a lot of pain at times, but I’ve been pushing through it. The first few days were horrendous. I was kind of prepared for that, since that’s the way it was when I had the left one done 14 years ago, but WOW!! That pain!! I was trying to follow the instruction on the prescription bottle and trying to take as little as possible, but that just didn’t cut it. I was crying all the time. Once we figured out that I could actually take a fair amount more than was on the bottle, things went a lot better. I still watched the clock, though.

Progress seemed to take forever before I was able to do simple things again. Being able to get in and out of bed without crying was great. I spent a LOT of time in my recliner to get my leg as high as possible to get the swelling down. One thing that I did that wasn’t emphasized the first time around was WALK. Walk a LOT. If I wasn’t in my recliner, I was walking around the house. I think that was one of the most important things I did. The PT from the home health gal was incredible those first two weeks. Something else that was different from the first time. I was doing exercises every day.

When I started outside PT my goal was to really push myself. And I did. I surprised myself a bit with my determination. It helped that a good friend was with me, since she had to drive me there. We joked a lot and the sessions went very well.

I can now drive myself to PT, as it’s very close. Short distances are OK. It’s sitting in one position with my knee bent for very long that is the problem. You can’t get up and walk around a bit when you’re driving…

I was always able to dress myself, a bit awkwardly perhaps, but shoes were hard. I can now put on socks AND shoes AND tie those shoes ALL BY MYSELF! My range of motion when I started PT was 94. As of yesterday it was 115. Goal is 120. I know I can make it.

Basics:

The grace of God and Marv’s help was essential. I was so blessed that Marv could take a week off work to be with me that first week. And of course, God’s grace is ALWAYS a plus. Having a prayer chain on your side is pretty important, too.

Take the meds!! Stay on top of the pain, don’t chase it! Unless you already have a problem with substance abuse, you will not become addicted. Every time I took a pain pill I wrote it down. Every time. I had a clear record of when and what dosage. I’m down to a bare minimum now, but I still write it down. Even if it’s only ibuprofen.

MOVE!! Do as King Julian says and move it, move it. So important. At the hospital, PT had me up and moving the afternoon after my surgery. Then I had 2 sessions the next day, complete with navigating stairs, since there were steps into the house and into the family room. The result was that I did so well I was able to go home after only one night in the hospital. The usual with a knee replacement is at least a two night stay. I am really angry that this was not hammered into me the first time around. It was pretty much, ‘do the stuff, but if it hurts too much, stay in bed.’ And that’s what I did. It hurt, so I stayed in bed. The result is that I don’t have nearly the range of motion with my left knee that I have with my right knee at this moment. And I know the right knee will still improve.

So there ya go. It’s not a fun thing by any means, but I really needed this operation. It had gotten to the point of needing a cane even inside the house. And outside, forget it. I can go up and down the steps to the family room just fine with holding onto the rail lightly. I still take a cane with me in the car, whether I’m driving or not. Just in case something happens and I end up needing to walk any kind of distance, but I can navigate pretty well without it.

The biggest plus in my mind is that I will be able to fully function when Lia comes at Christmas break. When she was here this past summer, there was not a whole lot we could do together because of my limitations. She would even ask me “What’s your pain level on a scale of 1 to 10?” before suggesting any kind of activity. There should be no problem this visit.

Still…getting old SUCKS!! However, compared to the alternative…

No More S’mores!!

Most people know what S’mores are and how they’re made. Graham cracker with toasted marshmallow and chocolate between. I was first introduced to S’mores at Girl Scout camp when I was young. I thought they were OK, but messy. I would’ve preferred that the chocolate bar was melted along with the marshmallow. Can’t do that over a wood fire at camp. With a microwave it is possible. That’s when I realized that I just don’t care for them. The individual ingredients are fine. I just prefer my graham crackers dunked in milk. I prefer to just eat a Hershey bar all by itself. As for marshmallows, I have a very specific way I like my marshmallows.

When toasting a marshmallow over the fire, I like to get 3 “toasts” out of it. I toast it the first time, and lift off the shell, leaving it still on the stick. The second toast will leave another shell. The third time is when what is left is totally melted. To my mind, that is the ONLY way to do a marshmallow properly. I have always loved Peeps done in the microwave. Last Easter when Lia was here, we toasted Peeps over the fire. Pretty darn good! I still prefer Peeps done in the microwave and regular marshmallows over a fire.

During the summer, Walmart was supposed to come out with marshmallows with a chocolate center. I SO looked forward to toasting one of those babies over a fire. Alas, once again, Walmart caused great disappointment. No choc-filled marshmallows. *sigh* However, last week I did find them. Too late for our summer roast though.

When Lia visits at Christmas break I hope the choc marshmallows will still be available and we will again do a marshmallow roast and maybe do a few Peeps as well. I like the idea of toasting a snowman or Christmas tree.

November 2019 Book Report

The Death of Don Juan (1982) by Ellery Queen

Anything written by Queen is enjoyable. I couldn’t find a cover pic in English. This was a novelette about an amateur theater group with local talent putting on the play about Don Juan. Their lead gets drunk and falls down the stairs before opening night, requiring an old washed-up Broadway actor to step in. A murder takes place and all signs point to the leading lady as the culprit. 

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

The Twelve Deaths of Christmas (1979) by Marian Babson

Very good mystery and I did NOT know who the murderer was until the next to last page! That’s the kind of book I like! The chapters go back and forth between the perp talking in first person and the regular narrative. Interesting way to do that. And you don’t know if the perp is a male or female.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Too Many Ghosts (1959) by Paul Gallico

Psychic investigator Alexander Hero enlists the help of his stepsister Lady Margaret Callandar to solve the hauntings of Paradine Hall. I read this book many years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. I wanted to read it once more before donating it.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

The 7 ½  Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle (2018) by Stuart Turton

Aiden Bishop is trapped in a time-loop and can’t escape until he solves the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle. Most of the action takes place in a run-down mansion filled with a lot of suspicious guests. He inhabits a different host each day, with each day repeating itself. It’s hard to really describe this book further. You gotta read it. What a ride!

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~