Know it's been a while, but all is well.
I had my first shoulder surgery on Dec. 11th - despite the ice storm that hit Sunday, the 9th. The surgical hospital lost power and so they 'postponed' my surgery, which meant I got to spend the 11th fasting, in hopes that the power would come back on and they could proceed. Rather than sit at home, we decided to go furniture shopping while waiting on the call from the hospital.
There were areas throughout the city that did have power, and since the streets were not icy, many folks escaped their cold homes to shop. Thankfully we never lost power, although the neighborhoods all around us did.
But back to our furniture shopping. We were headed to the hospital at 6:45 a.m., when we got the call that the hospital was still without power. So, since we were out and about, we decided to go to breakfast. However, before we got there, the surgeon's office called to say that they were confident that the power would be on shortly, so they wanted me to continue fasting. So I insisted Roger go ahead and eat - while I watched. Went back home and I hit the recliner and was soon napping. About 10:00 I stirred, and Roger suggested we drive over to Mathis Bros. Furniture and look around while we were 'killing time'.
So we did.
We always head to their "As Is" room first. I decided maybe I had better check in with the hospital, so I called as we strolled through the furniture. Learned that the power had just come on at the hospital, and they told me to come on in and they would get me prepped for surgery about 2:00 p.m.
Not wanting to waste a trip, I did some 'power shopping' and we ended up buying a sofa, love seat and desk - all out of the clearance room - at great prices! It was meant to be, for all three pieces fit our decor perfectly. Then we scurried over to the hospital.
They 'kicked me out' about 7:30 that evening. Roger got me home, and into my recliner - and I survived the next few days on pain meds. Obvioulsy the ice storm had delayed our move into our house, and Roger was 'torn' - trying to work on the house - and be available for me.
Thursday morning I suggested that if he could get a recliner and a TV set up at our house, we could 'move in' and I could recover in oblivion while he worked on the house. Which is exactly what we did!
Saw my doctor on the 20th and they removed my staples. He informed me I had to keep my shoulder immobile until Jan. 10th (3 more weeks!) At that point, I have the choice of having the second surgery - or starting rehab. After looking at the time frame, and getting input from my surgeon, we have decided to 'try' to postpone the second surgery until Oct. 2008 - after we finish the 2008 work season. The list of things he fixed in my shoulder is 'greek to me', but essentially it turned out that I did not have a torn rotator cuff, but a torn bicep and other 'messed up' ligaments. What remains to be done is replacing the shoulder joint and repairing a torn ligament that is 'underneath' the bicep.
The Christmas festivities kept us busy, and, with Roger's ongoing help, I even cooked breakfast for our kids Christmas morning. We continue to 'live' among the clutter and unopened boxes of moving in, but we at least got our tree up and decorated, for a few days, anyways!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Murphy's Law - Alive and Well!
Per normal for us, nothing ever goes quite like we think. We ended up staying at home with the 'sick one' - Hayden - Sunday evening so Mom (DeAnna) could go with Hunter for the Christmas music. Hated to miss it, but she had been inside with him for 3 days - and sick herself - so she needed a break. He slept most of the time and when he wasn't sleeping, Grandma was rocking. He was one sick little boy. By Monday morning he was broke out in a rash; didn't look like chicken pox - but Russ had already decided to take him back to the doctor. Turns out is was roseolla (?) The fever is finally gone and he's a bit itchy, but the smile - and his voice - is back in full force. That's good!
Monday was painting day - a second coat on the living room and hall. Roger had me call to schedule carpet, thinking it would be at least a week or so before we could get on the schedule . . . NOT! Turns out it was a slow week - and our carpet comes this morning (Wednesday)! We had to do a bit of scrambling to be ready.
Tuesday morning I think we were both so excited about the carpet that neither of us could sleep. We were 'up and out' by 6:30 a.m., headed to breakfast, for the rest of the house was still sleeping. Back home to put in a very full day of work. Roger stayed busy putting a final coat of paint on the master bedroom and reinstalling the baseboards. About 3:00 p.m. he had 'hit the wall' and was so tired he could hardly function. So we decided to 'switch' to clean-up mode and just do the necessities to get ready for carpet.
And then . . . my newly installed dryer quit working! It was just one too many things to deal with - so we didn't. It's not a new machine (it came with the house) but it's a nice one and had been working great. And, of course, the washing machine has to be moved to get to the dryer! Have decided to call our old friends from the campground days (Terry's Appliance) and just let them fix it. We have enough on our plates at the moment - and we learned long ago that appliance repair is not Roger's talent! :>) Now that's another story!
Today (Wednesday) we have decided we are going to catch our breath and watch someone else work - the carpet layers.
Monday was painting day - a second coat on the living room and hall. Roger had me call to schedule carpet, thinking it would be at least a week or so before we could get on the schedule . . . NOT! Turns out it was a slow week - and our carpet comes this morning (Wednesday)! We had to do a bit of scrambling to be ready.
Tuesday morning I think we were both so excited about the carpet that neither of us could sleep. We were 'up and out' by 6:30 a.m., headed to breakfast, for the rest of the house was still sleeping. Back home to put in a very full day of work. Roger stayed busy putting a final coat of paint on the master bedroom and reinstalling the baseboards. About 3:00 p.m. he had 'hit the wall' and was so tired he could hardly function. So we decided to 'switch' to clean-up mode and just do the necessities to get ready for carpet.
And then . . . my newly installed dryer quit working! It was just one too many things to deal with - so we didn't. It's not a new machine (it came with the house) but it's a nice one and had been working great. And, of course, the washing machine has to be moved to get to the dryer! Have decided to call our old friends from the campground days (Terry's Appliance) and just let them fix it. We have enough on our plates at the moment - and we learned long ago that appliance repair is not Roger's talent! :>) Now that's another story!
Today (Wednesday) we have decided we are going to catch our breath and watch someone else work - the carpet layers.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Down the Home Stretch
It's hard to believe that we are actually ready to schedule the carpet installation! Will do that Monday! The rest of the wood floor should be done by Monday afternoon, then a second coat of paint in two rooms and the mammoth task of cleaning up all the construction dust . . . I do believe our moving date is in sight!
Health wise, it's been a rough week for the Hughes clan. I began feeling bad last Monday afternoon and by Tuesday afternoon, I knew I was in trouble with a nasty throat and fever. Headed to the doctor first thing Wednesday morning, and as normal, it was either strep or a sinus infection. Either way a strong course of antibiotic was called for and it was Saturday before I began to fell half way 'good' again. Thursday morning DeAnna came down with strep (most likely got it from me) - and then Hayden by Thursday evening. Hayden seemed to escape the strep germ, but has a whopper of a cold (complete with fever) that has him hanging on to Mom's shirt tail and just wanting to be rocked. Hunter spent the weekend at the other Grandma's house to escape all the 'sick' germs. Thankfully Roger and Russ (so far) have been spared.
Today 'officially' begins the Christmas season for us, with the 3 'big' grandkids Christmas music this evening at our church.
I love this time of year!
Health wise, it's been a rough week for the Hughes clan. I began feeling bad last Monday afternoon and by Tuesday afternoon, I knew I was in trouble with a nasty throat and fever. Headed to the doctor first thing Wednesday morning, and as normal, it was either strep or a sinus infection. Either way a strong course of antibiotic was called for and it was Saturday before I began to fell half way 'good' again. Thursday morning DeAnna came down with strep (most likely got it from me) - and then Hayden by Thursday evening. Hayden seemed to escape the strep germ, but has a whopper of a cold (complete with fever) that has him hanging on to Mom's shirt tail and just wanting to be rocked. Hunter spent the weekend at the other Grandma's house to escape all the 'sick' germs. Thankfully Roger and Russ (so far) have been spared.
Today 'officially' begins the Christmas season for us, with the 3 'big' grandkids Christmas music this evening at our church.
I love this time of year!