STILL ON THE CRUTCHES

I apologize for falling so far behind. hopefully, I wll catch us all up to speed. It has been about three weeks, and many things have happened, yet things
seem the same.

Presently, I sleep fitfully in our bed and wake up to find the left leg is mostly normal size, but still has an ache sufficiently strong enough to keep me from putting my full weight on it, thus I still need to use the crutches. Normally as the day progresses, the swelling returns, and the leg is quite large when we go to bed. Some days like today, I lay on the bed with my legs elevated for several hours, but it really does not seem to change anything. It is sort of like the movie Ground Hog, where Bill Murray wakes up and every day is the same.

At our last visit with Dr Dew on Jan 25, I was hoping for a cortisone shot and moving on. But he is monitoring what is going on and said certain chemicals in the blood needed to be trending downward, and then cortisone. So we do a blood test later this week and then see him on Monday, Feb 8th. Hopefully that is the magic day.

Part of my delay in updating was due to AT &T. They took our phone service out for some reason, and took 2 days to reinstate it. It then took two days and one inside technician and one outside technician to restore the DSL service.

On thursday the 28th of Jan. I had a chemical stress test, which I passed. I presently have no problem breathing, which is good. I am presently taking coudimen(?) for blood thinning and am running 2.6, (should be 2.5-3.5). Am also taking several other drugs to regulate and help the heart. As part of the stress test, I was also given an echo ultra sound test of the heart and also the carotid arteries. Everything was fine there. After discussing the tests, the Dr said to come back and see him in 6 months, which we changed to 8, after we return in Oct. So I must not be in too bad shape heart wise.

Jerry and Shirley Burkley, from West Seneca arrived from W. Seneca on Thursday. They are staying for 7 weeks in their camper which they brought down in October. They are interested in Don and loretta Jones trailer which is across the road here on Shady Lane.

Even in my crippled state, we have been somewhat active.We have gone to different flea markets ,where I get to ride in a wheel chair, which reminds me we bought a different one, which is bigger and higher. We have been to Deland and St Johns, and tomorrow I believe we are going to Deland again.

Last Sunday, we went to the Flagler Home Show, and then to Ruby Tuesdays, and then to Normas for Pie and coffee. We were joined by Janice and Melissa and Remy. Mel and Greg were there along with Lester and Sue, Jerry and Shirley, and Norma, along with Laura and I. It was a pleasant afternoon for all.

This week starts Speedweek in Daytona, and I normally go to the Bud Shootout on Saturday. It is a non points special race, but most of the drivers are participating, and it is sort of a preview of the big race which is on the 14th. another race on Saturday, which is part of the shootout is the ARCA race, where Danica Patrick is going to run her first stock car race. I would love to go and Jerry would go with me, but it is too hard to get around with just crutches. The wheelchair areas are too low, making it hard to watch. So it will be TV for me.

Hope this answers some of your questions about how we are doing. The weather this winter has been relatively poor(for this area), so we would not have done much boating or other outside activities anyway. It is hard to believe the boat has not moved since about the middle of December.