Entry 5?
6 years ago
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Catching up again
It has been two weeks since we last checked in and important things are happening. Everybody else is checking in with their goings on, so it is now my turn.
I cannot express how happy I am that this last year of multiple problems appears to be about over. As of yesterday, I have given up the cane and am walking independently. I walk over to Cove Drive and back and each day extend the distance. Granted the gait is not yet a smooth normal walk, as there is more stretching and healing to come. But the big thing is I am WALKING again. Emotionally, this is such a big thing to me that I started to break down in tears as I wrote it, but it has passed. There are still some woods to go through, as the knee is stiff and needs constant exercise, which I am giving it. It also lets me know it is there during the night, which is affecting my sleep somewhat.
But overall, it is great, and knowing that it will be getting better with time is very encouraging.
The weather is not bad by comparision with the rest of the country, but has been cold for us. Nevertheless, we took a short boat ride last week, and the boat behaved itself nicely. The last boat ride we had was shortly before the surgery on Dec 9.
Martin Luther King day was big for us, because it was the last day for the phyical therapist, and the first day I started walking up and down the hall way without the cane.
Last Sunday we went to Alfies to meet with Mel and Greg, Norma and Buford, Mike and Leslie, Janice and Don, Lester and Sue, and Jane and Faith, ( Gregs' niece from Sarasota), who is attending Flagler College in St Augustine. From there we all (except Jane) went to Normas house for desserts and coffee. Some pictures were taken which should show up at the end of this diatribe.
A short while ago, this afternoon, Jerry and Shirley Berkley arrived from Orchard Park, having escaped from the cold of New York , but having to drive through heavy snow to get here. They bought a home across the street from us and are going to be here for 6 weeks.
As mentioned before, we are now on Skype, so if you want to see us or want us to see you, give us a jingle. We have already enjoyed seeing Heidi, Dan and Kat and Derek briefly.
We have a busy period coming up, with the Flagler Home Show, and the Senior music jams coming up this weekend.
Best of luck to those of you in the cold weather, and we will be in touch soon.
I cannot express how happy I am that this last year of multiple problems appears to be about over. As of yesterday, I have given up the cane and am walking independently. I walk over to Cove Drive and back and each day extend the distance. Granted the gait is not yet a smooth normal walk, as there is more stretching and healing to come. But the big thing is I am WALKING again. Emotionally, this is such a big thing to me that I started to break down in tears as I wrote it, but it has passed. There are still some woods to go through, as the knee is stiff and needs constant exercise, which I am giving it. It also lets me know it is there during the night, which is affecting my sleep somewhat.
But overall, it is great, and knowing that it will be getting better with time is very encouraging.
The weather is not bad by comparision with the rest of the country, but has been cold for us. Nevertheless, we took a short boat ride last week, and the boat behaved itself nicely. The last boat ride we had was shortly before the surgery on Dec 9.
Martin Luther King day was big for us, because it was the last day for the phyical therapist, and the first day I started walking up and down the hall way without the cane.
Last Sunday we went to Alfies to meet with Mel and Greg, Norma and Buford, Mike and Leslie, Janice and Don, Lester and Sue, and Jane and Faith, ( Gregs' niece from Sarasota), who is attending Flagler College in St Augustine. From there we all (except Jane) went to Normas house for desserts and coffee. Some pictures were taken which should show up at the end of this diatribe.
A short while ago, this afternoon, Jerry and Shirley Berkley arrived from Orchard Park, having escaped from the cold of New York , but having to drive through heavy snow to get here. They bought a home across the street from us and are going to be here for 6 weeks.
As mentioned before, we are now on Skype, so if you want to see us or want us to see you, give us a jingle. We have already enjoyed seeing Heidi, Dan and Kat and Derek briefly.
We have a busy period coming up, with the Flagler Home Show, and the Senior music jams coming up this weekend.
Best of luck to those of you in the cold weather, and we will be in touch soon.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Things are getting better
Today is Jan 14, 2011, Friday. Five weeks ago yesterday, the new knee was installed. So far, everything is going well. Last Friday, we gave up the crutches, and started using the four pronged cane. I can walk well with the cane and can also walk without it , but want to wait a little longer to minimize any problems with falling. It sure does feel good to walk without assistance.
During the week after Christmas,we had to visit Dr Barros, our GP, who was happy with our progress and said to come back in three months. We had a visit with Dr Carocciola, our cardiologist, who discussed sleep apnea, and wants me to take the oxygenation test, to determine fluctuations in oxygen level during the night, which we did. As a result of that test, we now have to go through the more involved overnight sleep test which measures all kinds of things, and determines whether a sleep mask is needed or not. This will happen in a month or so.
Gary and Connie Scott, across the street came to spend a week. It was good to see them.
We just finished talking to Heidi, using the Skype system on the computer. Norma got a new computer with camera and mic built in, so she gave us her camera and mic from her old laptop. Lester installed it last week, and this was the first time we used it. Heidi came through with a good picture and good sound. Unfortunately, Kat had already gone to bed. In the future, this should be a good way to see Kat and all the kids. Back to Dr Carocciola above.
When we left the Dr, we got a phone call from Dr Dews', office telling us to report to the Flagler hospital for an ultrasound of the knee. If a blood clot was found, I was to go right back into the hospital. After freezing in the waiting room for hours, we finally got the test over with, and went home. Hooray. This came about because the visiting nurse, during her last visit with us, noticed a red spot on the side of the knee and raised the issue with the Dr. After what we have just gone through, I guess the Dr wanted to make sure everything was ok.
For New Years Eve afternoon, we went to Jacksonville to experience some of the Gator Bowl activities. We took the criket and enjoyed a nice parade featuring the huge bands of University of Michigan and Mississippi State.
We have been doing our physical therapy with the assistance of a physical therapist, and have only one more to go, then it is totally up to me. We are doing fairly well and should have no problem walking properly.
Monday of this week, we saw Dr Dew who is satisfied with our progress and next visit is in 3 weeks. By then, I expect to be walking fairly well. We shall see.
Since our weather has been quite cool, outdoor activities have been somewhat curtailed. Yard sales, flea markets, etc , not so much. The boat has not been used since early Dec.(not all weather related), but soon the weather and functioning knee should co-operate and Florida Life should be better.
During the week after Christmas,we had to visit Dr Barros, our GP, who was happy with our progress and said to come back in three months. We had a visit with Dr Carocciola, our cardiologist, who discussed sleep apnea, and wants me to take the oxygenation test, to determine fluctuations in oxygen level during the night, which we did. As a result of that test, we now have to go through the more involved overnight sleep test which measures all kinds of things, and determines whether a sleep mask is needed or not. This will happen in a month or so.
Gary and Connie Scott, across the street came to spend a week. It was good to see them.
We just finished talking to Heidi, using the Skype system on the computer. Norma got a new computer with camera and mic built in, so she gave us her camera and mic from her old laptop. Lester installed it last week, and this was the first time we used it. Heidi came through with a good picture and good sound. Unfortunately, Kat had already gone to bed. In the future, this should be a good way to see Kat and all the kids. Back to Dr Carocciola above.
When we left the Dr, we got a phone call from Dr Dews', office telling us to report to the Flagler hospital for an ultrasound of the knee. If a blood clot was found, I was to go right back into the hospital. After freezing in the waiting room for hours, we finally got the test over with, and went home. Hooray. This came about because the visiting nurse, during her last visit with us, noticed a red spot on the side of the knee and raised the issue with the Dr. After what we have just gone through, I guess the Dr wanted to make sure everything was ok.
For New Years Eve afternoon, we went to Jacksonville to experience some of the Gator Bowl activities. We took the criket and enjoyed a nice parade featuring the huge bands of University of Michigan and Mississippi State.
We have been doing our physical therapy with the assistance of a physical therapist, and have only one more to go, then it is totally up to me. We are doing fairly well and should have no problem walking properly.
Monday of this week, we saw Dr Dew who is satisfied with our progress and next visit is in 3 weeks. By then, I expect to be walking fairly well. We shall see.
Since our weather has been quite cool, outdoor activities have been somewhat curtailed. Yard sales, flea markets, etc , not so much. The boat has not been used since early Dec.(not all weather related), but soon the weather and functioning knee should co-operate and Florida Life should be better.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
