Aug. 21-25, 2007

From an almost tolerable MO,

We have had a full week. Jim had physical therapy on Tuesday and Friday. Valerie gives him a good workout and he is a very willing participant in the activity - making him usually quite tired when it is all over.

Jim went to breakfast on Wednesday and this time I let him out at the door - then returned about 9:00 to see when he would be ready to have me pick him up. I didn't plan on joining the guys, but when I looked in -- he had chosen not to use the chair with the arms, but was sitting on a standard chair and I am afraid I rather freaked out. The two other guys at the table probably felt sorry for him, but my guess is neither one would accompany him to Liberty if a hip was displaced, bring him home, and then do the follow up care. I really don't want to go through this again just because of stubborness!

I joined the ladies for breakfast on Thursday and we had our usual social good time. I am thinking we had eight in attendance - at one time or another.

We took a nap after physical therapy on Friday and then left here about 2:00 for Excelsior Springs for the Jamboree. We ate at a Pizza Hut (was not very good even though the place was very clean) and then went to the local high school stadium to watch the scrimmage. The scrimmage had barely begun when we were told to go to the high school commons area as there was a lot of lightning just to the southwest. Jim opted to go to the truck and watch the "fireworks", but I joined the others in the commons. Later, when we began filtering outside again, I was quite tired and asked Jim if it would be okay to head home as I wasn't sure I could make the drive in another hour or so. We saw Connie S. today and she indicated that after a pause, the scrimmage was continued - with no rain or bad weather to be watched.

We don't have a lot planned for this coming week - PT on Tuesday and Thursday, a home football game on Friday (thankfully it is at home), old geezer breakfast, and ladies' breakfast.

Some of the heat we have been having has been broken for a few days by more temperate temperatures and then the nineties will return in a few days. I will be complaining in a few months about how cold it is!

Be careful.
B.

Aug. 16-20, 2007

From a warmish, somewhat humid MO,

The past few days seem to have been rather active for us.

I joined the ladies for breakfast on Thursday a.m. - am thinking we had eleven in attendance. Needless to say - conversation was fast and furious.

Jim had physical therapy on Friday morning - did a super job. The therapist has him walking without a cane - frontwards, backwards, and sideways. She really puts him through his paces with activities - and the time really flies - or at least for me. Jim made his first trip to the basement family room last week and has continued to make at least one trip a day - until today when he made a couple of trips. I've asked him not to do this unless I am in the house - and so far he hasn't raised a protest.

I continue to accidentally pick up the truck keys when I depart for errands and so far he hasn't made a comment. I asked him about driving yesterday and he said maybe he would be ready to try it in a week or so.

On Friday evening we went to the stadium to see the "soap" game - also participants of other fall sports are introduced. The crowd was rather small, but there was a good breeze and the evening was quite tolerable. Jim had planned on sitting in the truck, but decided to climb the steps to our usual sitting area. He was well rewarded when a freshman female vaulter (last year) dashed up the steps to give him a hug. He was entirely taken off guard and jokingly remarked that he forgot to reach for the nitro! It was also fun watching a junior football player that had been a vaulter this past spring.

We had a rather lazy weekend - did a lot of napping - did a few errands - and in general just mildewed as my father would have said. Jim is sleeping better at night, but is always ready for a nap in the afternoon and has decided that he is far enough along on the recovery route that the two girls can join him - which they love!

I went by the doctor's office today and inquired about rather I needed some bloodwork to see if my bloodcount was still off like last spring as I seem to get just more and more tired. My night sleep habits are almost a waste of time. I will go in on Wednesday to see the doctor's assistant and see if she will authorize bloodwork. It seems to me that bloodwork should be done first and then sit down when the results are known, but ---

I had the computer work for Mobile Meals this morning and all went quite smoothly. Ruth B. was there and did the xeroxing and wrote the check to the hospital - so we were out of there in one hour.

Jim has physical therapy on Tuesday and Friday this week, breakfast on Wednesday a.m., and both of us have routine dental check-ups on Thursday. Jim has to take some medication one hour prior to going in and again six hours afterwards - same will be done when he gets the new Viadur implant in September - and this procedure will continue for 18 to 24 months.

We anticipate going to Excelsior Springs on Friday to see the football jamboree. We'll see where our energy level is before deciding to go to Liberty first to eat. The jamboree begins at 5:30 so we should be home at a relatively decent time.

The Edinburg reunion is this Saturday.

Be safe.
B.

Aug. 12-15

From a HOT MO!

The heat index the past few days has reached the low to mid 100s! Actual temperature has been upper 90s to low 100s! The nights cool off to mid 70s so there isn't much of a chance for things to cool off. Our garage seems to stay between 90 and 100.

We really haven't done a great deal these past few days. Jim had physical therapy on Monday a.m. and he is doing well enough that the therapist suggested cutting back to twice weekly - so he will go again on Friday this week - next week on Tuesday and Friday. Today (Wed.) he made his first trip to our family room area in the basement! It is hard to believe how far he has come in just less than three weeks.

Vickie brought a delicious casserole yesterday of chicken, assorted mixed veggies, soup, and dry dressing on top. This evening, Pat came by with a lettuce salad containing dried cranberries, walnuts, chicken, and bacon - delicious again.

On Tuesday we went to the Y to do a few laps. I can for the first time in a year walk faster than him, but I think he still managed maybe six laps (16 is a mile). I probably ended up with 8 or 9 laps. I think we will attempt this again tomorrow.

Jim joined the "old geezers" for breakfast this morning - both groups. I mortified him by going in with him and making sure that the chair with arms was moved to the table for him to use. He was really unhappy with the fact that some of the men saw me there - he told him his mommy delivered him to breakfast! I knew him well enough that even though the chair was close by, that he would not use it. I anticipate needing to "hide" the truck keys within a few days.

We saw Dr. Metry on Monday morning (after therapy) for a routine visit. Blood pressure was great and he wrote a couple of prescriptions - one for Vicodin and the second for a medication that Jim will take one hour before going for his six month cleaning at the dentist and then will take six hours afterwards - the same procedure will be used when he gets the Viadur implant in September.

We had quite a storm go through here either Saturday night or Sunday night - lost an enormous limb off the northeast maple tree in our backyard. Mr. Smith came on Monday afternoon and cleaned the limb up and will return when the weather cools off to take down the rest of the tree as about half of it is dead. We also have an apple tree that has lost two major limbs and the remaining one shows a lot of rot. We are going to have to make a decision either this fall or next spring as to what we will plant to replace them.

The "soap" game is this Friday evening so I need to check our towel supply to get a few that are in tatters to take for a donation. Jim will sit in the truck and I will probably sit in the stands for the scrimmage.

Be safe.
B.

Aug. 11

From a HOT MO,

This has been a good day for both of us. We slept well last night and finally began moving after 7:00 this a.m. After showering (yes, Jim enjoyed his first shower in over two weeks) we headed to the Farmers' Market at the courthouse. The weather has been so dry this summer that not too much can be found, but Jim latched on to a gorgeous red pepper and we also bought a couple of yellow squash. Somehow, Jim managed to avoid the "sweets" that were for sale.

Next we went to WalMart - Jim's first trip there since before July 26. He used a cane and pushed a cart and found all the items on his list - while I did my own list. He was a happy camper when we met at the check-out line.

We napped this afternoon and then about 5:00, I headed to HyVee to pick up one of their marvelous tenderloins (fixed by Brett Marriott) and a few other items - then headed back home. The tenderloin was cooked just right!!!!

We are now waiting to sort of watch the first Chiefs' preseason game - we'll see how long we stay awake.

Be safe.
B.

Aug. 10, 2007

Jim has now completed two weeks (6 visits) from Home Health for physical therapy. I wish a video had been made of his first attempts - then compared to today's efforts - quite a long distance has been come. Valerie worked with him today in getting on and off our higher bed - and he took a long nap on it this afternoon. She also did a second check of his using the shower off the master bedroom. He is looking forward to a shower on Saturday!

Yesterday (Thursday) we went to Liberty for a two week checkup. X-ray showed no problems and if he will continue to behave himself, the next x-ray in four weeks should be the same. The bad news was that he needed to continue wearing his white hose for the next four weeks (maybe off for two or three hours if going out to a public place) and also no driving for four more weeks. I figure I need to hide the keys in the next few days. The incision finally stopped draining about three days ago.

Jim begins three times a week therapy at the PT facility this coming week and am assuming it will continue until we return to see Dr. George on Sept. 6.

The weather is beastly hot - high 90s with heat index into the mid 100s. The humidity also seems bad. We did get a little less than one inch of rain a few nights ago - Helen indicated they received three inches at Princeton. I think this a.m. it was in the upper 70s by 8:00 a.m.

Helen brought gorgeous cantaloupes today as Stan had planted 80 some seeds and at this point they are ripening - seemingly all at once. I cleaned two this evening and have them in the refrigerator to cool down - and of course sampled as I did this.

Jim has yet to return to cutting out the Sudokus in the newspapers - guess I will figure he is back to normal when he does this.

We shifted Jim's misc. items back to the bathroom off the master bedroom today - and I shifted mine to the main bathroom. We have also shifted items from one bedroom to the other - and even though he became tired, he felt good about being able to help.

Valerie indicated today that if he isn't too tired, that it would be safe to use the cane in the house - and he almost galloped when he took off with it - with her saying several times to slow down!

Be safe.
B.

July 24 - Aug. 2

From a muggy, warmish MO,

The past several days have been busy. We went to Liberty the afternoon of the 25th, checked into the "TreeHouse" (comparable probably to Ronald McDonald House) and then set out on a few last minute errands. Jim and I arrived at the hospital about 7:15 the next a.m. with bloodwork first being done and then was directed to the pre-op area. We had an excellent pre-op nurse and by 10:00 or a little after, Jim was being wheeled into the surgical area.

Sandy McG. and Jeanette S. had come to the hospital to be with me during the surgery. When I heard from the doctor about 12:30, the three of us headed to the basement cafeteria for lunch. by about 2:00 Jim was being taken to the orthopedic area and the two ladies departed and I headed to Jim's room.

The first 24 hours were not pleasant for Jim, but they had him up the next afternoon and more therapy was done on Saturday - with me also learning how to give his Lovenox injection. They also showed me about changing the dressing on the incision - 24 staples - about 12 to 13 inches in length.

We headed home on Sunday afternoon and had a rough, restless night. I wondered if I was physically up to taking care of him. The Home Health therapist arrived on Monday a.m. and checked him out and then the Home Health RN - in charge of his care - also arrived. We had to order a wider commode for Jim and it also arrived. About 4:30, I went to the kennel and retrieved the girls - am thinking both of us needed them around - and they have been excellent.

We had a much better night on Monday - with Jim managing most of his many trips to the bathroom on his own and the girls not raising any fuss with the many trips. They have become good troupers. Both of us had a lot more energy on Tuesday and I kept trying to encourage Jim to keep ahead of his pain.

Wednesday saw the therapist here again - and she seemed to think he had made a lot of progress. I had a haircut already scheduled for that morning and Pat N. came over to visit with Jim while I was gone. He enjoys Pat and both of them also enjoyed a HD program that included the Austin bats - something we have yet to see.

Wednesday night was another bummer, but at least I convinced him after several trips to the bathroom and some pain, that it was okay to take the two recommended Vicodin rather than trying to get by on one - and I didn't hear anything until the girls needed to go outside at 6:30 (they had been in their sleeping crate since 9:30). Jim took another Vicodin and the four of us slept until after 8:00! He seems to do much better in the daytime than at night.

Physical therapy will be here again on Friday and beyond that there will be Mon., Wed., and Fri. visits next week - with a trip to Liberty on Thursday to see Dr. George - the surgeon.

The drainage with the incision has gone from changing the bandages three times a day to where today I will probably not change it until morning - actually will probably let the therapist change it so she can check the incision.

He came home to a clean bed and I changed bedding again today. I'm thinking this should be done twice a week until that incision is completely healed. He has been good about wearing the support hose - thank goodness - and so far has not indicated the desire to drive. When the latter happens, I am thinking that I will lose the truck keys until he sees the doctor and gets clearance to drive! I don't think he will try to drive the car as it is much more difficult to get into and out of.

We are very dry here - really need rain. It sounds as if the KC area is getting a few showers this evening, but nothing seems to be in the offing here. I am thinking that if someone through out a cigarette and it landed in the "grass" - that it would go up like a tinderbox.

Be safe.
B.