Memorial Day Weekend - Peyton's Dance Recital - 2016

I started out-patient physical therapy for my knee this week, and it went very well.  I will go twice a week for a few weeks.

Saturday afternoon, we went to Overland Park for a couple of days.  Amanda and Chad went out with another couple to a movie and dinner to celebrate their 14th wedding anniversary (June 1).  Peyton was at a birthday party, so we took Garrison to dinner at the restaurant of his choice - Burger King!  He had a good time being an "only grandchild" for the evening and had fun playing on the play equipment at Burger King.  He ate his whole hamburger - he was proud - as were we!  After we got home, we gave him a bath, then he and Grandpa went to get Peyton at the birthday party.  After her shower, it was time for bed.

Sunday morning, Grandpa greater us to Lamar's Donuts for breakfast.  I went with Amanda and Peyton down to the Music Hall for Peyton's rehearsal for the dance recital later that evening.  It was nice to have a run through as far as me getting around - I had no trouble which was great.  We went to Dickey's BBQ for lunch - yummo.  Everyone had a rest, then it was time to get ready for the dance recital.  Peyton did a great job dancing with her class and had a good time.  Garrison sat between Grandpa and me and was a gentleman, sitting quietly - and asking a lot of questions, like when Peyton was going to dance!!!!  Grandpa and I left at intermission, but the rest stayed for the duration and had dinner at the Power and Light District before going home.  We came home Saturday evening.

On Sunday, I fixed pork chops, mashed potatoes and gravy for lunch, then we went to the cemetery to pay our respects.  The cemetery was beautiful with all the flags out, etc.  Missing Mom and Daddy very much - every day.

We made many family memories this weekend - we are blessed.

Mid-May Weeks 2016

The first week of this post was challenging to say the least.  I didn't feel like my knee was getting better quickly enough, but at the 3 week point, things started to improve quite a bit!!!!  I had Home Health Physical Therapy 3 times a week for the first 3 weeks after surgery.  I am now 3 1/2 weeks post surgery and am walking most of the time with a cane but using the walker when I need a lot of support, need to go faster, and at night and first thing in the morning when I'm stiff.  I start out-patient physical therapy on Tuesday.  I saw the surgeon last Thursday, and he said I was right where I should be at this point, but rehab is a long, long process with total knee replacement - patience.  Who did he think he was talking to??????

Since I no longer have home health, I can do whatever I feel like doing and go wherever I feel like going - so.......we went to OP Saturday and Sunday!!!!  I can drive now but haven't yet.  I had planned to just "sit" around at Amanda's house while she, the kids and Ron went to soccer, t-ball and birthday parties, but after getting there, I was feeling so good I decided to go too!!!!  Garrison played soccer on one of the closer fields, so we took our lawn chairs, and I watched the entire match.  He had such a good time, and it was a lovely day.  Peyton had fun doing cartwheels and playing with her friends who had little brothers there too.  I walked about 1/3 of the way back to the van - which was in a disabled parking place right at the gate - when a nice guy with a golf cart stopped and asked if he could give me a ride - well, yes sir!!!!  It was great.  He told me they had golf carts at the t-ball fields too, so I decided to go there too in the afternoon.  First, we stopped at McDonald's for a bite to eat and ate in the van at the t-ball fields since there was only 1 hour in between the two events.  I was transported to the bleachers (but I took my lawn chair) both ways by nice young men in golf carts - what a service!!!!  I had forgotten how entertaining t-ball games can be - watching Joe and Tom had been the last time I had seen one - but their game did not disappoint.  At one point, Garrison was much more interested in playing in the dirt and rocks than watching what he was doing, but he did great!!!!  He hit the ball and ran the bases very good.  Chad is the Coach, but he already had a weekend golf event planned before t-ball was scheduled, so his assistant coaches took over - along with excellent help from Coach Peyton and Coach Claire (another little boy's sister whose Dad was an assistant coach and a good friend of Peyton's).

After t-ball, we went to Sonic for ice cream treats before going home.  Garrison had a tae kwando birthday party to attend and an adult had to stay with him, so Grandpa took him to his birthday party. Amanda and I took Peyton to her 4 p.m. birthday party and dropped her off, then I rode along while Amanda ran a couple of errands.  We stopped at Burnt Ends BBQ Restaurant and picked up dinner before going back home.  A big day!!!!  We spent the night at the Todds.

Sunday morning, Peyton and Grandpa went to Casey's to get donuts for breakfast.  We had fun just playing around the house until we went to Olive Garden for lunch - yummo.  Peyton and Garrison were going to a double playdate at 2:30 p.m., so we started home then.

Ron took me to Walmart (I had't been there for 4 weeks) to get our "list".  He pushed me around in one of their wheelchairs with carts on the front, and it worked great!!!!  I think he thought it was much easier than trying to shop by himself!!!!

It was a great week, and I am so grateful and thankful to God that I have improved so much in the last week-10 days.  We are blessed.

Mid April-Mother's Day 2016

It's been a very full couple of weeks - many happy times and some very challenging times.

On Tuesday, April 26, Ron and I traveled to Overland Park for a last minute x-ray prior to my knee replacement surgery scheduled for the next day.  After the x-ray, it was early dismissal day for Peyton, so we picked her up at school as a walker and had a couple of fun hours with her before picking up Garrison at his school after his nap.  Then we all went to Burger King (their choice) for play and supper.  They had such a good time, and we always love hearing them laugh and seeing them have a good time.

The boys went home, and Peyton and I went to her dance class.  I was very lucky to be there on a night when the girls performed for the parents (and Grammy) and they received and tried on their costumes for the upcoming recital at the end of May.  Controlled chaos!!!  So much fun to get to be a part of it.  Peyton looks adorable in her costume and did a great job dancing their number for the show.

We spent the night with Amanda and Chad and the kids (thanks!) and went for my surgery check-in arriving around 8:30 a.m.  Amanda and Chad joined Ron at the hospital which I really appreciated.  The surgery went smoothly, and the doctor told them I really needed a new knee as I had bone spurs, arthritis, possibly rheumatoid arthritis and a lot of inflammation.  I woke up to my leg bandaged up with a ice water thing wrapped around it keeping it iced at all times.  Later in the evening, they put it in a machine that bends it constantly so it won't lock up.  It didn't hurt and was good for the knee.  Ron stayed with me until bed time then went to the Todds to sleep.

Ron was back for the day on Thursday.  Physical therapy started, and I walked the halls which went pretty well.  Ron picked up the kids at school, took them to McDonald's and then brought them to see me at the hospital.  Amanda arrived to visit around 3:30 p.m., a little while before Ron and the kids got there, so it was nice to have some time to visit with her alone.  We had a great visit, and the kids liked exploring the hospital and getting snacks from the snack area.  It boosted my spirits to have them all there!!!!

On Friday, I was released to come home after having physical therapy twice and blood tests.  Debbie Sieger brought us a casserole and layered lettuce salad for dinner and visited.

The Home Health Nurse came by on Saturday to test my blood for Coumadin levels and to check my incision.  I was on my own to do physical therapy which I did.  I attempted to sleep in bed, but I could not get comfortable Friday or Saturday night and ended up sleeping in the recliner in the living room, watching TV.  After that, I just started in the recliner for sleep at night which worked pretty well.  I was sleeping 6 hours at a time each night without waking up which I thought was good.

Scott DeHart, who I have known for years from the Christian Church days, came on Monday to do my physical therapy.  He is patient but stern, which is good.  He comes Monday/Wednesday/Friday and is here about 1 1/2 hours.  Therapy on Wednesday was brutal and painful.

The Percocet was making me very nauseous and constipated.  I was pretty much miserable and depressed.  The doctor did not want to change the medication, so I just quit taking it on Thursday and started taking medication to assist with the constipation which finally worked.  I called again on Friday, and I was advised to take Tramadol and Tylenol together.  That combination does not take the pain away as good as Percocet, but at least I am no longer nauseous and constipated.

Amanda came to Clinton on Sunday evening to spend the night and Monday with me while Ron went back to work.  It was so nice to have her here, and she was very helpful.  She brought me a beautiful bouquet of flowers which was so nice and made me smile.  Kelly has been staying with me an hour or so in the morning and a couple of hours every afternoon - it is nice to have the company.  John and Ann Drury, Adele Bernard, Esther Singer, Virgie and Roger Cook and Debbie Sieger have brought meals.  Inez and Darrel Bourne, our neighbors, brought flowers.  Sheila Case sent me a balloon bouquet.  Roberta Edgett and Suzanne Ammons plan to bring meals next week, and my former co-workers, Gina and Cheri, are bringing Pizza Glen on Tuesday evening and staying to eat with us and to visit.  I have received numerous get-well cards and phone calls.  Everyone has been so kind and generous.

Amanda and the kids came back on Friday evening and made everything better.  I was feeling very low, and they brightened my spirits.  They spent the night and until after lunch on Saturday.  We celebrated Mother's Day.  Peyton helped me with my exercises, counting for me, etc.  We all went outside - my first time outside since coming home - and even walked down to visit Miss Esther.  They thought my walker was great fun.  Friday night, I slept in our bed ALL NIGHT and slept good.  I was so happy to get some time out of the recliner.

It's been a hard week, but I think I have turned the corner.  I have a long way to go with the therapy, etc., but I'm going to try my best to get the best knee I can come out with.