Working hard...

I have been a little lax in posting... I've been busy! I was discharged from home health nursing care yesterday. I was also discharged from in-home physical therapy. My therapist is quite pleased with my progress. Of course, I also spent 6 hours a day on my cpm machine... and that was quite successful in getting me to a good flex position. I turned the machine back yesterday as well... I'm actually gonna miss that thing!

So... today, since I didn't have 6 hours tied up with being flat on my back... I decided to start cleaning my house. It's going to be a slow and arduous process! I managed to get half of my furniture in the living room cleaned off, dusted and polished. Soon, I will move on to the dining area and book cases. (But I am in no hurry.) You can tell that I was not feeling my best before I went into the hospital... and you can tell that I am starting to feel stronger each day. That's not to say that I don't get tired, because I do. And I am also feeling the pain in my knee... more on the outside than on the inside, unless I'm laying down on my side and have my knee resting on the bed... then it hurts inside too! I am having a hard time finding a comfortable position to sit in, or lay down in... and standing starts hurting after a few minutes... unless it's in the shower... I do the shower for a full 15-20 minutes, but I'm really tired after that! I just don't know what to do with my self sometimes! I am constantly fidgeting and moving... it's starting to distract me!

Also working hard on this Halloween Eve... is my DH... he had an early work day... up at 5am to leave for NJ by 5:45. He was almost home... (less than 20 miles) and got called down to Philly for an emergency night call. The double overtime is great for the budget... but I'd rather have him home, safe and resting, having a good dinner and being with us. I've been up and down the stairs today a total of 4 times... and I think I will have at least one more trip before the day is over. That's pretty good for me... 5 trips is a lot of work and again... makes me tired! The upside to that is that I am losing a ton of weight. I've lost around 22 pounds since my knee surgery! I really watch what I eat... don't really eat a lot... and I drink a ton of water. What I do... is mostly whole foods, and whole grain bread... not a lot of processed anything. It does make a difference in how I am healing and feeling... and I like it and think I will just keep doing this for awhile longer.
I am getting tired.. time to go and rest, once again!

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

It's Scheduled!

I got a call today from the Physician's Assistant with my surgeon. She called to schedule my right knee replacement. The date has been set... for March 3rd. I can't believe that I am going to go back and have my right knee done so soon. (I keep having thoughts that I should put it off as long as possible!) So... there it is... on the calendar.

I did venture out for a bit today. Punky and I went to visit Miss J at the flower shop. It was only Punky's 2nd time there... she was a bit nervous and didn't want off of my lap at all. She finally warmed up a little bit just before we were leaving. Miss J hadn't seen her in awhile other than in the yard. She couldn't believe the difference in little Punky's coat and the act that she has gained a little weight. Her coat is very silky and soft with no mats and you can no longer feel her ribs. Her little face even has a little bit of a softness to... she's a little bit rounder!

I did manage to fold the rest of the laundry today... I did 2 hours on my cpm machine... and got the kitchen cleaned up from last nights dinner as I was too tired to do it last night. I also had a rough night last night as I have a tooth that is bothering me... and it didn't stop hurting until I took 2 vicoden and a tramodol along with my ambien. That's alot! Today, because I slept a little later... my whole schedule was off and I've had blood sugar problems too. (I hate that feeling!)

Anyway... DH has just gotten home from work (down in Philly) and we need to figure out dinner. I am thinking that breakfast sounds good on a cold and rainy night! I can't wait to fall into bed a little later and hopefully... I will just zonk out and snooze!

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
(Oh... Please remember my friend Liz and her son, Seth... he just left for basic training in the Army!)

~Suzanne

Mundane Milestone...

It's Monday... and I've been home now for just over 2 weeks! It also means that I was due to have my INR level checked because I'm on blood thinners since my knee replacement. I managed to get my self in the shower and get cleaned up and dressed... down the stairs and... wait for it.... INTO THE CAR!!!! ALL-BY-MYSELF!!!!

I drove to the doctors office and got into the office... got to see the lab tech and then got myself back home! (My INR level is 2.1... right where it should be!) I was majorly tired when I got home, but fixed myself a cheese sandwich, scrambled on to the bed and did an hour plus in my cpm machine and even managed to take a 20 minute snooze while I did it!

I also managed to get the rest of the dirty dishes from last nights dinner done, and the kitchen floor swept. I plan on dusting a little bit later. I also have some laundry to get put away at some point today. Life is slowly turning back to normal again.

My phone just rang... Bob, the therapist, is coming today and is about 30 minutes away. I can't wait to tell him all the things that I did this morning. I also have my first physical therapy session scheduled for November 2nd with my regular team... looking forward to seeing them all!

I didn't go to church yesterday... I was pretty achy... my shin hurt as did the back side of my knee... I stayed down quite a bit yesterday. Poor DH was left to do lots of laundry and some cleaning... but then, he was suppose to have done some of it while I was in the hospital. (No... I didn't have very much empathy for him... at all! Meaning I was a grouch through some of it.) But today, in light of the sunshine and warmth of the yesterday and today... I am feeling much better. (I've even taken a pain pill to take the edge off of things!)

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Tired and Weary...

This week has kicked my butt! It's not as though I have "ran allover" to heck and beyond... we know that I haven't! I did quite a bit on Wednesday... taking a shower by myself, cleaning up a "tiny" bit around the house, vacuuming the bedroom, doing my physical therapy and cooking dinner with John. I was officially beat after all of that. To make matters worse... I could not go to sleep that night. Not even with my "cocktail" of Ambien and Vicoden. I was wide awake until after 2 am!

Yesterday ended up being a totally screwed up day for me. I tried to sleep and continue on the cpm machine... but since I'm at the maximum (120 degrees flex) it feels like my head in being pushed into the headboard and that I am going to bang my chin against my knee at any moment. Along with the vibration of the machine... my lower back hurts and my right leg goes to sleep... not good! I did manage to take another shower yesterday and DH took me out for dinner. We went for pizza... and it was my first time to sit in a booth... and it hurt! I can't wait to get back to normal stuff!

Today... I tried to take it easier... I took a shower... and I've been downstairs twice with the dogs. The wind and cold air have arrived and it also had to hint of rain in the air... the storm for this weekend is well on it's way. ( We are due for 2 inches of rain overnight and another 2 inches on Saturday has been fore casted.) I also did physical therapy today, my progress continues and I will only have 3 more home visits next week. DH is headed down to his supervisor's house as I type and he should be home by 5:30 tonight. We will cook dinner together tonight... and plans for the weekend include laundry, laundry and more laundry! I think we also dust and straighten up and DH will vacuum as well. We will also have to grocery shop... but I may hold off until Sunday. At some point, I'd also like to try and least get something yummy baked over the weekend as well. (That's if I can keep up, though!)

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Another Progress Report

Things are progressing nicely with my recovery. I keep making progress everyday. I have made it all the way to 120 degrees flex on the constant passive motion (cpm) machine. That's the max! I am able to get up and down the stairs (slowly) to let the dogs have a mid-day potty break. I've been able to help with dinner in the evening and last night, we made dinner together.

Today was a huge milestone.... I took a shower all by myself! DH doesn't know it yet... but I was able to get in and get out using my cane to get it and a towel to hoist my leg up and over the side of the tub when it was time to get out. I took both phones into the bathroom with me and had them on top of the toilet just in case I would need to call for help. I'm very proud of myself for that.

Punky and Nolli are doing well... Punky likes to spend the day on the bed with me while I am using the cpm. Nolli got a much needed bath this week and looks fabulous. He was so happy when it was over and of course DH rewarded him with chicken nuggets. Life is slowly returning to normal... little by little. We are so blessed with all the prayers and blessings that God has bestowed upon us...

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Sunday Howdy!

Here it is... Sunday, already! I've been home a week! I've had visits from physical therapy and occupational therapy, and yesterday the nurse came by. I am doing well... no signs of infection, no issues with my care except for the fact that I don't have my "kick" back yet. That means that I can't raise my foot off the bed. But I am able to lift my foot straight up from the floor a good 4 inches. I also practice at the "barre" a couple of times of a day... doing knee bends and going on my tippy-toes, marching and then trying to kick back to my fanny. I only need help with the last one.

DH is slaving away... taking good care of me. He has taken me to 2 doctors appointments this week, grocery shopped, cooked, cleaned, bathed me ( actually assisted) and ran after dogs. He is one very tired husband these days. He took me out for a drive yesterday as the weather broke, and we enjoyed the fall colors very much.

Today... we went to church. It was good to be back... and they are having a special kick-off meeting tonite for the new study series... with finger foods. We have sweet and sour meatballs in the oven as I type! I am excited to be going out twice in one day!

On the dog front... Punky is thrilled to have me home... she's been hanging out with me on the bed while I do my constant-passive motion therapy on my knee. She's very snuggly and content to keep me company. Nolli-dog has been feeling a little more needy... and he's pushing his boundaries with DH... but the longer I am home... the more secure he is feeling now. There is plenty of puppy love to go around!

Thanks for reading... be blessed!
~Suzanne

Progress

Yesterday I was pretty wiped out from all the activity of Monday... so I stayed down for most of the day. I did what I HAD to do... and I was able to maneuver to get in and out of my CPM machine fairly well. I was able to do as easy breakfast and able to make a light lunch before DH came home. Punky stayed on the bed with me for almost the entire day... she's a big pillow hog for such a little dog!

I did help DH start dinner last night and once everything was going well... I went back to bed. He did good at getting it all on the table for me... it was a yummy meal and more food than I have eaten in a while. We had au gratin potatoes, broccoli and ham steaks. Good comfort food for a cold evening.

I have done part of my CPM this morning... and I have to finish my first set still. I got hungry and needed to eat... and felt that I couldn't wait the entire 2 hours! While I was sitting at the kitchen table... I decided to test my strength... and I can lift my leg straight up off the floor almost 5 inches! I couldn't do that yesterday. Therapy is working... and I need to keep working it! I still find it hard to believe that it was just 2 weeks ago that I had my knee replaced. I am so glad to have had this procedure and I know it will really change how I live! So excited!

Thanks for reading... Thanks for your support and comments! Be blessed!
~Suzanne

The First One...

Hello! I am back home... have been since Saturday. It's been a delight to be back home, even with having to "adjust" to a different type of mobility for a while. DH was with me Saturday, Sunday and Monday. This is my first day home alone. I'm half way through... so far... so good!

My insurance provided me with 7 days of rehab after my 3 day hospital stay. (I will have lots to tell you in the coming days about my rehab stay.) And now that I am home... I have home health care coming in. I have a nurse practitioner, and an occupational therapist and a physical therapist. (Nolli dog was not happy about having anyone come in and "bug" his Mama... he was pretty unglued by the doorbell ringing all the time.)

I am also on a constant passive motion machine (cpm) for flexibility and range of motion. I am up to 102 degrees of flex on the machine... which is pretty good for only 13 days post-op! Since DH has gone back to work, I have to get myself in and out of this contraption by myself. It sits on the bed and I can lie down... and I am in it for 2 hours at a time for a total of 6 hours. It's working... and it's doing a good job. It also wears me out and makes me want to sleep. But I need to get up and move about some afterwards to keep the blood moving.

That's about all that I have for now... Thank you for your encouragement, thoughts and prayers. Be blessed~
~Suzanne