Trail Ride

 We finally went for a ride in Ranger Blue.  I have not been for a ride since June 9th.  My time waiting is up ...four months post Laminectomy Surgery!  Yeah me!  I can get in and out of the higher vehicle with no problem.  I thought I might need a step stool but I didn't.  Physical Therapy is going well he says he sees improvement every visit.  So there ya go.  Pain wise...I still have some.   My Doctor says it all takes time. 

This was a smoother trail...then we did one a bit rougher for the views. 

The Fall color is mostly over. Warmer overnight temperatures in September was not good for beautiful color in my opinion.  

We did some woodcarving on the Christmas ornaments and had a nap.  I did odds and ends...stuff that never shows.  For supper we had soft tacos and Far Guy's famous Chili Cheese Dip that I found in the bottom of the deep freeze. 

Minnesota Weather: High was 65F or 18C Low was 52F or 11C eh. 

Sunday

 We had a quiet Sunday with no company.   I did some laundry and some odds and ends.  I had a long afternoon nap, Far Guy napped for about 15 minutes.  I win the napping award! 

This week we have five medical appointments, most are Up North.   Good thing we have lots of "stuff" up there, so there are only a few things that we need to take along.  Sadie will be happy to see us. 

I started Physical Therapy last week and it tires me out in no time.  I have the same Physical Therapist that I had last Fall when we were chasing the pain.  This time we are working on strengthening my back muscles and lots more walking. 

I think this is one of those Spidery Zinnias. 

Minnesota weather: High 72F or 23C low was 56F or 14C eh!  We had a couple of smoke free days...but the wildfire smoke is coming back in for a few days this week.  

We had english muffins, fried eggs and raspberries for supper.  I had a piece of Pork Sausage...Far Guy did not.  He is still losing weight.  He is eating many small meals a day, but his stomach doesn't like most foods.

Far Side

Sharks and a shoe thief

 Jen, Andy, Adam and Courtney are safely in Hawaii they had an adventure yesterday in a shark cage. 

Probably not something I would do but Jen said it was not scary at all.

Back at home. Someone is stealing my Crocs so I cannot leave.

She loves us so she is not too lonely. Noah was over to check on the elderly and have some pool time with his dogs and Sadie. Then after supper Far Guy threw her pool ring a few times until she dropped it on the other side of the pool and would not retrieve it…I think she had enough of the pool for the day.

I had more pain yesterday so I had a long rest and then a nice nap. I might have walked too much the previous day. Far Guy woodcarved.

Far Side

Yarn

 Jen escorted me to Michaels the other day…as if I didn’t bring enough yarn with me.  She dropped me off at the front door, I grabbed a cart and wheeled myself through the store.  I had not been in a store since June 5th. 

I needed grey yarn for fake wasp nests. Jen and Maddie both need the fake nests. I have two done and a third almost done.

The pretty yarn will be my reward after I finish the wasp nests. The grey fake nests will be treated with outdoor decoupage after they are dry they will be hung up and discourage wasps from making a nest in the area and they will move onto another area.  I do not have a pattern, I just make it up as I go…it does not need to be perfect. 

It was a very nice day on Saturday, Far Guy woodcarved and I crocheted out on the back patio.  In the afternoon Grandson Noah came to check on the elderly and swam in the pool with Sadie. 

I am feeling a bit stronger every day. I still need help in the shower and picking things up off the floor. 

Far Side

Angel in the Living Room

 There is an angel in the living room, I walk by her a number of times a day.  I am supposed to walk a lot, who really knows how much. I walk, I rest..repeat as needed until I am tired and it is nap time.  I do know what it feels like to overdo.  Yesterday was my fourth day with no pain meds. I take six extra strength Tylenol daily. Two Tylenol every eight hours and one muscle relaxing pill every eight hours and boy I count down the last few hours. Tylenol is all I can take because of my blood pressure. Most of my pain is from the incision down my spine.  My brain is returning from the mushy drug induced state it has been in for the past two weeks. I have some residual nerve pain/numbness across my buttock and down my left leg and over to my toes…it has improved a little and I hope with time it will improve more…if I overdo it let’s me know.

Today I am two weeks post surgery. Yeah me! Far Guy and Jen are taking good care of me. It is hard to remember not to pick up anything from the floor and I try to be very conscious to keep my hips aligned with my shoulders at all times, I am not supposed to lift anything above my head either.  I sit in the shower to wash my now much shorter hair…Jen cut and thinned my hair so it is easier to care for. 

Far Guy is a trooper, helpful at all times! Presently he is waiting for insurance approval for all his cancer fighting medications. He has two personal navigators at the Cancer Center that are working on his behalf. 

Far Side

Pool day

 Wednesday was pool cleaning day and Sadie helped. 

I stepped outside long enough to get a photo. 

Far Guy went to his Pet scan…results will not be known until late Thursday. Far Guy is feeling scared, I cannot blame him as I am scared for him too. 

I am still having some numbness on my left side (buttock,hip,leg and foot)and some pain from the incision.  I have deep stitches and the a whole bunch of glue holding it all together. The glue is supposed to flake away during the first month. No sitting in water…so no pool for me. I can take a shower…with help. I am walking often. 

Jen and Far Guy think I am doing great. 

Baby K had the procedure that unties the tongue tied. Now she may gain some weight. Maddie said the procedure went well. 

I will be back as I am able.

Far Side

Day by day

 One day after another.  My pain is less now that I am taking some muscle relaxers. I walk many times a day. Yesterday’s goal was to get dressed…as the day before I just wanted to be in a nightgown all day.

I am writing on Tuesday night, Sadie goes to daycare on Tuesdays to romp with her friends all day. Supper was Mexican. Maddie and baby K visited in the afternoon. I got to feed baby K a bottle but she does not burp easily …so Jen took over. Baby K is tongue tied so she is having a procedure soon…poor little gal.

Far Guy and I had a quiet day tending to some phone calls etc and I crocheted a bit. 

Today (Wednesday) Far Guy has a scan in the afternoon..a Pet Scan but no real dogs or cats are allowed.  The results will not be known until late Thursday afternoon.

My new crochet project it is called Apache Tears…each row is a different color..a good way to use up yarn!

Far Side

One at a time

 One day or dog at a time.

Sadie says hi.

It is Monday and nothing is new here. I sat up for a while in the movie theater, Jen and I watched Barbie, I even laughed a few times.

Thank you for encouraging comments.

Far Side

Slow but sure

 Yesterday the little Grandgirls visited. A baby to cuddle and a almost two year old to .play “eyes,nose,mouth” with and Cee Cee. 

I slept quite a bit yesterday. Double maybe triple naps. 

Hollyhocks at my parents old place in town.

I will be back when I am able.

Far Side

Ok

 We are doing okay.  Friday was a very hard day, but we got to see two of our Grands Thursday night and Friday and one great Grand on Friday afternoon to cuddle close…although when I twisted a bit eagle eye Jen scooped up the baby because I am not supposed to twist. 

Pain is being managed and ice bags are the best! They calm and cool everything down in my back. 

Random photo from my I pad.

Bleeding Hearts outside the front door.  Sadie is being such a good girl, I tell her “touch” and she touches my hand to be petted. When we first arrived she was very excited but has calmed down nicely. She is a good comfort for me.

I shall be back when able.

Far Side

Friends

Thank you for being such caring friends, how wonderful to have so many people that care about me and my wonderful husband. 

 This beautiful gift was waiting for me when I got home.  Thank you so much dear friend Linda. 

Yesterday Jen took Far Guy to his infusion and after we had some lunch we all headed North. 

I cannot drive when I take the good pain killers.  So far the pills are working as long as I stay on a schedule.  Ice packs really help the most and I can walk without difficulty and go up and down the stairs as long as I go SLOW. 

(How many words can I misspell in one sentence?)  Thank goodness for spell check.

I shall be back when I am able.

Far Side

It went well

Surgery went well.  Recovery will be slow.  I am well taken care of and I appreciate all your prayers and good wishes.  My pain is much less after surgery than before surgery, the doctor removed much more arthritis than he anticipated.  All good...now to heal.

We have a change in plans and I will do part of my recovery in East Grand Forks at Jen, Andy and Sadies home.  

I finally finished my Mosaic Afghan "Hush" the day before I had surgery.

It is just as pretty from the front as it is in the back.  I am very pleased with it and have started another project to replace it. 

I will be back when possible.

Far Side

Surgery Yesterday

 My long awaited surgery hopefully happened yesterday.  The Neurosurgeon is doing a Lumbar Laminectomy at L4. Basically I have a whole bunch of Arthritis that is pinching off my spinal cord and causing my lower back pain, left buttock pain, left leg pain and numbness.  He will remove all the arthritis.   I hope it all goes off without a hitch.  And if there is a hitch...God is in charge!

Recovery will be slow...the first month I can walk and talk...that is about it.  Then after the first month another two months of restricted activity.  So it goes. To be rid of the horrible pain would be a step in the right direction!

I will recover at home in the woods.  Jen and Andy will be helping out for the first while.  Jen will make sure we are well taken care of.  My baby brother is taking over my lawn mowing duties. 

I am not the easiest patient in the entire world...probably not the worst either..however there was that one time when I had been in the hospital a really long time and tried to escape into the sunshine in my wheelchair...some broad at the desk grabbed my chair and turned me around...I gave her "the sign" and told her to go F herself.  Yup...swore at her and everything...right out loud in front of an entire waiting room full of people.

I will be back or Jen will write something for me in the days to follow. 

Prayers are appreciated!

Far Side