These are NOT resolutions, but just challenging myself to do something special daily. Also very worried about my left knee replacement coming up January 28th, and the long drought of recovery time it will entail.
1/1/21 Starting the new year with a bang. Mastered getting signed up for "stay informed" on the USPS.com AP (thanks Greg), took advantage of two books for one credit sale on Audible, and we now add grocery items to shopping lists on Alexa (thanks Raina) and it works like a charm. Never too late to learn old tricks (from our kids). Made extra veggie chili, hard boiled eggs and chex party mix today.
1/2/21 Put my new "&" sign up into it's place (with Bob's help). Tried on Bob's snow shoes and walked around the yard. Made ahead a crust-less pizza for Monday night's supper.
1/3/21 Watched football and had a fire in the fireplace from noon to 8:30 pm. It was very pleasant and sad to see regular NFL season end. Bob made corn sausage chowder, trying to mimic Black Wolf Run's recipe. It was delicious.
1/4/21 Conference call with "Joint Academy" this morning, in preparation for my knee replacement surgery. Wrote lots of notes and will get prepared in my mind, heart, bedroom, bathroom and living room. No driving for 4 weeks afterward. Wenda had her surgery this morning, so I'll be waiting for many updates from her.
1/11/21 Getting things ready for all needed before January 28th. Cleaned out 3 freezers - in kitchen, garage and basement and everything is listed on Bob's new excel spreadsheet.
Cleaned out the refrigerator. Have all the January/February birthday cards ready to go. Working on gifts for some family members. Have a basket full of physical needs in our bedroom and Bob brought up my walker and cane to dust off. Doing the exercises and stretches in preparation. It's a work in progress that's for sure.
Piling up books, some of which I'll get on Audible so I can listen while I stretch and exercise after surgery. Found plenty of good titles.
Wrote down notes for Bob on how to use the washer, dryer and Mr. Coffee. Making a list of suggested suppers so he doesn't have to think so hard on "what should we have tonight?"
So I fear my pre-surgery stretches have disturbed my right side waist down. Terrible pain, like sciatica, but worse. So I've stopped doing the pre-exercises. I'm walking funny, heating pad and icing. Geesh.
My fears: Bob can't be with me at all after surgery. That I won't be able to physically land myself onto toilet seats. That I will be uncomfortable sleeping on my back, since I never do. That my snoring will then disturb Bob. That I will lose patience during 6 weeks of recovery, PT, lab visits, and home exercises. That I will run out of shows to binge on during recovery.
After pre-op with Dr. Rosol, I had an EKG and X-ray. EKG showed some changes from last time so now I must have an echo cardiogram before being allowed to have surgery. So 1/25/21 is appointment for that. If something's "up" then I just won't have the surgery. So be it. Limping continues.
2/9/21
I haven't felt good enough for long enough periods of time to write anything here. Day 12 still has lots of knee pain (especially on the right side-of the left knee), going to PT and to get blood drawn twice a week, using CPM machine, icing and wearing those white support stockings. Binged Schitt's Creek, and watching Your Honor, and Outlander. Also using battery operated calf muscle movers (don't know medical term). Bob is making amazing suppers daily, comfort foods, quick meals and elaborate things. He goes grocery shopping whenever and I wear a whistle if I need things around the house. I'm walking pretty good and straightening the leg, but bending the knee is the worst! I try to sleep in bed, but just cannot make it through the night and end up sleeping soundly in the 'ol recliner. Patience, I just keep telling myself, have patience.
2/23/21
Still not feeling well enough to sit down and blab on here. Bending is like a huge challenge and this past weekend it was my hope to master it or get over the hump. When I went to PT on Monday (yesterday) I was measured and YES all my work made a difference. Aside from the pain, I had increased all of my measurements. Keep Going is what I tell myself. Watched Ted Lasso, The Sinner and am in the middle of Heartland.
3/4/21
Slow going. yesterday I went outside and walked the drive way, with the walker at first, and then without. I'm at 5 weeks today. I have PT later and will have a progress report done and measurements. I want so bad to be at 90 for my bend and maybe 5 at straightening. (I'll tell you later), so I'm working hard. Tomorrow I have an appointment with Dr. Webber (surgeon) and I want to impress him as well. Bending has been my biggest hurdle and sleeping in bed the second. I've only made it 4 1/2 hours in bed and then end up back in the recliner. The recliner holds me in one place and if I snore, it doesn't bother Bob.
3/13/21
Knee update: I'm kind of an excited zombie this morning. First night since surgery that I made it the whole night sleeping with Bob in bed again. Geesh, at first I just slept in the recliner which kept the knee straight and undisturbed so I slept through the night, good for healing. Now I've been working at sleeping in the bed and at first it was 2 hours, and then I'd move to the recliner, then 4 hours, then 2, then 6, etc. then last night yay, 8 hours. In bed I have to sleep on my right side with a pillow between my knees and I don't want to stay that way, so I'm moving and rearranging and the knee is pushing on something and pain! Anyway that's one update and the other is that I have had to extend PT for two more weeks because I can't get my range of motion back to where it should be, basically bending that new knee far enough.
So it's been 6 weeks and that's what they tell people it will take to heal from total knee replacement. So yes, I guess I could go anywhere, take one step at a time on stairs, walk awhile and then sit down often, but I have a ways to go yet.
3/15/21
I slept I made it through a 2nd night in bed all night, except to get up for the bathroom and a small ice pack added around the knee.
3/24/2021 Had my last doctor's appointment with surgeon Dr. Webber today, for my left knee replacement. I was so worried that I was going to have to be put on a straightening brace, and that I'd have to have "manipulating" and then more PT, but no, he said I'm doing great!!!!! I'm just not there yet, so have to keep on doing the exercises at home. Tomorrow is my last PT for this surgery. Hopefully I won't have any further issues and only stiffness and soreness when I touch certain parts of the knee for several months yet. Hip Hip Hurray!
We're going on a trip to Myrtle Beach SC with vaccinated friends for 2 weeks in April, a road trip which we aren't used to. While planning and arguing a bit, I asked Bob to please sign these:
3/14/2021
"I will go to Charleston, SC on a day trip with Barb and do a food tour with her and anyone else who comes along."
Signed: Bob Schneider
"I will stop in Asheville, NC so Barb can touch the Appalachian Trail and ride on the Blue Ridge Highway."
This is not too much to ask.
Signed: Bob Schneider
He did sign them and laugh, but I know after 51 years of marriage, how many times friends rule the roost of what we do, we just follow along and then I don't get to see or do a dream I have. He stated: "You won't know the difference from one hiking trail to another and never know that it's really the Appalachian Trail" or the "Blue Ridge Highway".
OK, we shall see.
Watched more TV than read books, I'm sad to say, but probably because I was resting or out of it slightly while resting.
Vaccines:
I was able to get my first Maderna vaccine on February 26, 2021 in Greenfield, Wisconsin. I was never offered the opportunity from my main medical system, Advocate Aurora, even though I reached out to my doctors about it. The next day I had a low grade fever for several hours, a headache, and was very tired. I received my second Maderna vaccine on March 26th and felt fine that day and the day after also. I did take Extra Strength Tylenol to ward off a possible fever, since we had company coming for the weekend.I can't remember when Bob got his first Pfizer vaccine, but he felt nothing afterward except a sore arm. His second vaccine was on February 25, 2021. Again, he had no symptoms afterward. He got his through Mercy Health which is his medical system. They contacted him as soon as possible, and handled it well.
We had visitors last weekend. Greg, Liz (due May 13th) and Ellery. He's such a great kid and I loved every minute of it. Adults played Hand and Foot and didn't stay up too late. Ladies won the first round and guys won the second round by a landslide. Ellery got into all of the toys we have here and loves books and will pick one up on his own and page through it. He is very busy and goes to bed like a charm. He gives great hugs and loves Grandpa Bob's french toast. We ate well, cooked on the grill, and only ordered out fish fries the first night they were here. Hiked, "did" the red playground in Fontana, Ellery carried piglet around and took him hiking and he loved the "Bob the Builder" book. We will visit them after the baby is born, can't wait!
3/31/21
Bob bought wood and tubing to start work on covers for our yard garden plots -- so critters leave our veggies alone. For Christmas, the kids gave him a gift certificate to buy materials (and not use scraps from the garage).
My biggest excitement this week is that I'm in first place in our 29 member March Madness pool, both during Sweet Sixteen and the Elite Eight. I expect to lose because so many of us picked Gonzaga to win, but hey, I'm in first place now, like I've never been before!
I want to post this now, it's a 3 month long blog. Too long!
Books
1. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (I really enjoyed it, different story line, makes a person think.)
2. Take It Back by Kia Abdullah (Good, a sort of whodunit, who's telling the truth and legal court case.)
3. The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain (I LOVED it to the max.) Maybe recommend to Racy Readers?
4. Bodie on the Road, Travels with a rescue pup in the dogged pursuit of happiness, by Belinda Jones. NF and fun travel and dog read.
That makes 4 different kinds of books to start off the year.
5. He Started It by Samantha Downing (Barb Lems knows this author, so this makes it even more interesting to read.)
6. The Widower's Wife by Cate Holahan. A back in forth in time thriller that was good until the end when I was confused lol.
7. Wild Swans by Jung Chang (Joy's book club choice). Long book, lots of Chinese history besides the facts about 3 generations of women in a family. I would not recommend unless you want to study more about China from 1909-1978.
8. Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow (Mia's son). NF about news, Harvey Weinstein and others, and crimes against women. Well written and opened my eyes. Emma recommended.
9. The Good Guy by Dean Koontz (very scary, but good and always a dog in his books)
10. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (short stories about growing up in Chicago).
11. This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger, recommended by Pat P. Good but a sad struggling story in the 1930's depression era.
12. The Lady Most Likely (A Novel in Three Parts) by Julia Quinn, Eloisa James & Connie Brockway. I only read Julia Quinn's section (an author Tracey referred me to). It was good.
13. The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe, Lilit Thwaites. Very good. depressing of course, but based on true situations. I wish I could speak to my parents about this awful time in the world and what they have to say about it. What they knew and didn't know, or maybe my grandparents realized so much that was going on and I wonder what they thought about it all.
