One week down, three to go

One week down, three more to go. My pain is being managed better, except when I forget to take meds and everything wears off. I'm currently alternating tylenol and advil. I'm not elevating my ankle quite as much, but it doesn't want to be down either. Today it's been laying out on the couch. I'm still icing alot. The air temp has high enough that I can feel the cool of the ice pack.


Here is a picture of my poor leg.









I've learned a few things:


* With a Mr. Clean Easy Reach, I can clean the bathtub and shower.


* With a plastic grocery bag and a plastic container with a lid, I can carry food back and forth to the couch by myself.


* People are generally unaware when they see someone using the little motorized grocery carts and will be right in your way.


* My girls like taking care of me (or maybe that's because they spent a week at grandma's house.


* I miss taking a shower


* jacuzzi tubs are nice on sore shoulders (but when you have no air conditioning, it's a bit uncomfortable to stay in a warm tub for too long.


* My DH is good at alot of things, but asking what I need isn't one of them. Last night I mentioned that I wasn't eating at the table (I really need my leg up at least parallel to the floor), I'm guessing he took that to mean that I wasn't eating dinner because he didn't bring me a plate while I was serving food, he just took his and sat down to eat. I finally asked for a plate and then had to ask separately for him to bring it to the couch for me. He did later ask if I wanted bread with dinner.


*If I have a cup with a handle and a lid, I can carry any beverage while using my crutches.





Anyway, I've finished one week of the cast, I have three more to go. If I wanted to drive to Minn, they would change the cast at 2 weeks, but I'm not seen the surgeon for my follow ups. The girls get to help me take off my cast as it's already split, and then I put on a walking boot (which I'll use with the crutches as I'm not sure my leg will know what to do) and have a follow up with my family doc at four weeks. At 6 weeks, I start physical therapy.





I hope that I soon am able to spend a little more time with my leg down without it hurting my incision. Work next week will be very painful if I can't put my leg down.





I need to start some stuff for dinner. Ta.

And for a change of pace

Today I went to visit Walmart. Why Walmart - well, I was bored and I wanted to get out of the house. They have motorized carts (as does the grocery store), and I wanted to pick up some pics I dropped off for the girls last week.

I learned that driving around in a little motorized cart with your let propped up on the basket does nothing to get you the right-of-way in the isles. I did manage to get everything I had on the list, but I was pretty well exhausted by the time we headed to the checkout.

My pain is almost managed. I'm down to Tylenol and Advil only. It's not quite enough, but the vicodine wasn't quite enough either. I did sleep for 8 hours last night without the pain waking me up, but it hurt a bit when I woke up.

I've been taking daily jacuzzi baths - which help - and while at Walmart today I bought a Mr. Clean bathroom cleaning pad on a long rod. So, when I was done with my bath tonight, I cleaned the bath tub and shower.

My friends are bringing me food, but my stomach is a little too messed up to eat. I did manage some popcorn earlier.

I have a hour massage scheduled for tomorrow. I hope I have enough energy to let me manage the entire hour. If my leg isn't up high enough, it does start to hurt.

I need to lower my heart level to that below my leg, so I'll sign off. Reading a bit, but it's too hard to type on the computer.

Waiting is boring

So, I'm waiting for my surgery. I'm in the lounge - staring at a pot of coffee I can't have, wishing I had some water and something for the dehydration headache as I wait for my turn to wander back and put on a hospital gown.

DH has finished his newspaper and has gone on to find something to eat. I love that hospitals have wireless to entertain their patients.

I was talking with DH's Aunt the other night. I really like her, and she was one of the first family members I met. She looked at me and asked how I was doing about the surgery. The way it was spoken, it was obvious that she meant because of the last time. My last surgery was almost fatal. Not that I anticipate problems, but you don't expect problems when you have a child either. Routine isn't anymore and I was so amazed that this woman who I've seen a half a dozen times in the past 12 years understood. I just loved it.

The girls are now at their grandmas and I really want to call and see how they are doing after their first night. I'm sure they are fine, but I almost missed my little ones hugging me this morning - except that it was nice to wake up in a king sized bed and just roll over and read until it was time to wake up.

I really want coffee.

But, I just can't wait until I can have some coffee!

I'm done with my coffee, but not the long list

Kelly asked me if I was done with the coffee from my last post.

First, let me say that the dance recital went wonderfully and DH and I only managed one argument over a mis-communication. I can't wait to see the CD.

For some reason, my life has spiraled out of control lately. It may have something to do with the fact that I'm going to be out of pocket for two weeks.

This weekend, we will drive to Minneapolis as soon as Sarah's coach-pitch game is over. She's very sad to miss the last week of games. My ILs are going to meet us there to take the girls for the week. Sunday night, DH and I are going to find a place to stay and Monday I have my surgery. I'll be home Monday night.

I'm feeling remarkably calm about all of this.

But, I'm trying to get the house clean since I'll be in a cast for 4 weeks. I'm trying to get the shopping done so I have food. I'm trying to collect everything the girls will need. I'm trying to get everything done for work. I'm trying to keep my sanity.

So, I'm going to be a bit scare until I recover enough to want to type.

We will drive home on Monday as soon as I can leave the hospital (Dr. suggested I do it this way so I can drive while the pain blocker is still on my knee). And, as tired as I am, I am really looking forward to the forced couch time while I keep my ankle higher than my heart.

One of my friends has already dropped off a Shepard's pie, and my book group will help me with meals for a bit. My friend who dropped of the pie told me that she has been waiting YEARS for me to finally need meals for something. She then entertained the book group with the description of the night she dropped by to pick up the meal I made for her family one night when she was hurt and my husband was home. "C" was taking things out of our fridge as my husband stood by with a confused look on his face and her feeling guilty that she was taking our dinner. Neither of them noticed the list on the fridge of what she was suppose to take.

Tires are going on the car now, clothes have been ordered for me and the girls (I needed some stuff that would fit over a cast), girls need new unders (not sending them to grandmas with the dirty ones), and car needs an oil change. My pre-op visit is today, then I can get the handicap pass for the car. I won't even mention the list of work items, but I need to work on my to do list so I don't forget anything.

Oh, and I was talking to the owner of our local grocery store, and she told me that while I'm laid up, I can call in a grocery order and they will gather everything for me and have it bagged and ready to go when I have someone pick it up for me.

FUN FUN FUN.

(Kelly, aren't you glad you asked?)

To do after coffee

To do List:
1. clean bathroom - all three
2. re-steam carpets
3. clean entry way hall
4. vacuum entry way hall
5. clean living room
5a. dust living room
6. vacuum rug
7. clean playroom
8. clean dining room
9. clean kitchen
10. wash playroom, dining room, kitchen floor
11. clean back hall
12. straighten/dust office
13. prep office for ILs
14. run to walmart and pick up activity books, crayons for show tonight
15. pick up new toilet seat
16. get to hair appointment
17. pick up groceries (emergency supplies for tonight)
18. pick up girls
19. do hair for recital
20. make dinner
21. eat dinner
22. pack everything for tonight's recital
23. get to theatre on time

But first, drink my coffee. (and seeth about the fact that DH didn't pick anything up in the house so instead of just cleaning, I have to do all the picking up too! Think I can get items 1-13 done in 3 hours?