It's day 36. 5 weeks plus 1 day since surgery.
When I came home from the hospital, I couldn't even lift my heel off the bed. Not at all. Not even enough to drag it across the sheet.
Then I could slide it side ways - and do scissors exercises.
Then I could raise my knee.
At Day 21 I could raise my leg about an inch off the bed.
At Day 25 I could raise my whole leg off the bed in a straight leg raise from lying flat on my back. Once.
Since then, I've lifted it 2 or 3 or 4 times in an exercise session, but never in a row. Always with Hubs helping me lift it in between the ones I did on my own.
Tonight, Day 36 - I lifted Bessie all the way up - straight - 5 times in a row, took a break, and then did it 5 more times in a row - with no help!!!
There were times, when I thought I would never be able to do that. EVER! And now I can!
When you go to bed tonight, lift your legs up straight in the air, and think about not being able to do it!
I think I can... I think I can... I think I can...
:)Amy
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Movie Review - Quartet
I just watched a truly delightful movie. There were no car-chases or guns. There was no sex, although there was a romance of sorts. It was funny and sweet and very well done and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
The story is set at an English country estate which has been turned into a home for retired musicians. A number of the people who live there are former opera singers. Every year, on Verdi's birthday, they do a gala presentation for the patrons of the home to raise money to keep it open.
This particular year, a new resident has moved in - an opera diva - played by Maggie Smith. She comes in to the home determined not to participate or get comfortable there. She is determined that she has lost her operatic voice, and she makes it clear that she has no interest in "playing" with the other residents. It just so happens that one of the men living here is a former husband of hers. He never stopped loving her, and she realizes that she still loves him as well. He and 2 other friends convince her to sing with them at the gala.
This movie was directed by Dustin Hoffman, and there is a "bonus" on the DVD where he talks about the experience, and where others are interviewed about him as a director. The actors agreed that one of Hoffman's strengths as a director was that because he has been an actor so much, he "gets it". That gives him a valuable perspective as a director. Maggie Smith commented that one of the things she liked about the movie is that it shows that elderly people can still have fun and can still have a valuable life. I would have to agree - that is one of the things I liked about the movie. These people are not sitting around waiting to die, as is often the case in nursing homes. In spite of their various ailments and weaknesses, they get up and get dressed every day, and socialize with each other. They play music and sing and dance and try to make the most of each day. It is inspiring! Some of them teach young people as well.
Scottish actor Billy Connolly is one of the friends of Maggie's character, and he is hilarious. Most of the funniest moments in the movie involve him. He is constantly hitting on the staff members as well as on the very attractive female doctor who runs the home.
I highly recommend this movie to anyone who wants a pleasant 2 hour diversion which will leave you feeling good. Music lovers and opera lovers will especially enjoy it!
The story is set at an English country estate which has been turned into a home for retired musicians. A number of the people who live there are former opera singers. Every year, on Verdi's birthday, they do a gala presentation for the patrons of the home to raise money to keep it open.
This particular year, a new resident has moved in - an opera diva - played by Maggie Smith. She comes in to the home determined not to participate or get comfortable there. She is determined that she has lost her operatic voice, and she makes it clear that she has no interest in "playing" with the other residents. It just so happens that one of the men living here is a former husband of hers. He never stopped loving her, and she realizes that she still loves him as well. He and 2 other friends convince her to sing with them at the gala.
This movie was directed by Dustin Hoffman, and there is a "bonus" on the DVD where he talks about the experience, and where others are interviewed about him as a director. The actors agreed that one of Hoffman's strengths as a director was that because he has been an actor so much, he "gets it". That gives him a valuable perspective as a director. Maggie Smith commented that one of the things she liked about the movie is that it shows that elderly people can still have fun and can still have a valuable life. I would have to agree - that is one of the things I liked about the movie. These people are not sitting around waiting to die, as is often the case in nursing homes. In spite of their various ailments and weaknesses, they get up and get dressed every day, and socialize with each other. They play music and sing and dance and try to make the most of each day. It is inspiring! Some of them teach young people as well.
Scottish actor Billy Connolly is one of the friends of Maggie's character, and he is hilarious. Most of the funniest moments in the movie involve him. He is constantly hitting on the staff members as well as on the very attractive female doctor who runs the home.
I highly recommend this movie to anyone who wants a pleasant 2 hour diversion which will leave you feeling good. Music lovers and opera lovers will especially enjoy it!
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
It's Bloomin' !!!
You may remember that in May we planted a "bare stick rose" which I purchased mail-order from David Austin Roses in Texas. It didn't have so much as a root ball on it - it was literally a bare stick with some roots hanging off of it. For the longest time, I couldn't see it doing anything at all, and I was just about to take a photo of it and send it to the company and ask for my money back.
This is what it looked like the day we planted it on May 18:
Well, it decided to start sprouting while I was in the hospital over June 11-13. This is what it looked like as of June 16:
This is what it looked like the day we planted it on May 18:
Well, it decided to start sprouting while I was in the hospital over June 11-13. This is what it looked like as of June 16:
As of today, this is what it looks like now:
I can't even tell you how excited I was when I saw open blooms! There have been about 4 buds on it for the last week, and I've been checking them every day. My neighbor said these were not open yet at 6 am when she brought the paper over, but as of about 10 am, WWWWAAAAAA !!!!!!!!!!!
I didn't really think there was any hope of getting blooms yet this summer, even after it started to sprout leaves, but it really IS going to be a decent rose bush after all! YAY!!!
...Just one more thing for me to do a Happy Dance for with my new bionic leg!
:)Amy
Monday, July 15, 2013
Tending the Scar - Day 34
When I saw my doc at the 2 week point, I asked about scar cream. My Home-PT had suggested Mederma Scar Cream or Vitamin E Oil. Doc said I needed to wait until it was "dried out". I interpreted that to mean that all the little crusty bits had to be gone. At that point, the staples had just been removed and there weren't even scabs on those little holes yet. He suggested it might be another month before I would be ready for scar cream.
Last Thursday, when I was at PT, I asked my PT Kristen about scar cream and told her what my doc said. At the time I asked, she was massaging my scar, and she said I was almost there - meaning my crusty bits were almost gone. Being the impatient person I am, I decided to stop at CVS on the way home that day and pick up some cream.
It took a few minutes, but I finally found Mederma on the bottom shelf of the hand-cream aisle. However, it was over $36 a tube! Right next to it was the CVS version for $25, so I went with that. The next item over was Bag Balm, and I thought to myself that might work just as well, but I went with the CVS stuff. The next day, I decided to try my new cream just on the part of my scar that is above my knee, where all the little scabs were gone. First, it's not really a cream. It is a clear gel. The good news is that a little dab goes a long way. As soon as I put it on and rubbed it in, my scar changed in appearance. It went from being sort of dried out with white skin flakes all around it, to being all smooth and pinkish/purple. As of today, I think the rest of my scar is ready for a treatment as well.
I am anxious to see what Kristen says about it when I see her later today. She told me that eventually all my staple holes will disappear, and I'll be left with a thin purple line where the incision was.
On another subject, I have not taken any Vicodin for several days. I've taken Ibuprofen 2-3 times a day instead. It is supposed to be better for inflammation. I did wake up with my thigh muscle aching last night around 2:30, but I got up and walked around a bit, and that helped.
I think it took me about a day to recover from my mile hike at the park. The swelling in my foot is back down to where it was before that adventure. Yesterday morning, before it got too hot outside, I walked out front - past 5 houses and back. It is too hot for that today, and since I've got PT this afternoon, I decided not to push it.
Time to go put my "gel" on. Thanks for reading! Have a great day!
:)Amy
Friday, July 12, 2013
Movie Review - Safe Haven
My readers may remember that I previously reviewed a Nicholas Sparks books called Safe Haven. Today I finished watching the movie made from the book.
The story was clearly the same, but there were many MANY changes made to the movie. Nicholas Sparks is listed on the credits as a producer, so he clearly had input. I found the book much more complex and much more suspenseful. I'm glad I read it before seeing the movie. I enjoyed the movie, and I suppose that if I hadn't read the book, I probably would have liked it more than I did.
If you like romance with a little suspense, you will like this, but I recommend reading the book first!
The story was clearly the same, but there were many MANY changes made to the movie. Nicholas Sparks is listed on the credits as a producer, so he clearly had input. I found the book much more complex and much more suspenseful. I'm glad I read it before seeing the movie. I enjoyed the movie, and I suppose that if I hadn't read the book, I probably would have liked it more than I did.
If you like romance with a little suspense, you will like this, but I recommend reading the book first!
Day 31 - A Walk In The Park.... literally!
Today was a very special day indeed! The humid weather has finally broken here, and it was a simply glorious day. Low to mid 80s and almost no humidity. Blue sky with fluffy white clouds and a slight breeze in the shade. Absolutely perfect to be outside!
So, that's what we did - we went outside! We have a lovely metro-park very near our houses that has wonderful flowerbeds and a frog pond and boardwalk trails through the woods. I told Hubs yesterday that I wanted to go to the park today and enjoy the weather - so we did! We spent about an hour and a half over there this afternoon, and..... wait for it....
I WALKED!!!
Yes, I used my cane, but I actually walked around the park. This was the first time in over 2 years that I've walked at that park. For the last 2 summers, Hubs pushed me around in one of the complimentary wheelchairs that they keep by the entrance. I hated having to do that, but it was the only way for me to get to enjoy the park.
We did sit down a lot, but still the route we took was probably a mile of walking all together. For those of you who are familiar with this park, we went in the main entrance - straight back to the arbor that leads to the herb garden, then turned right and went to the pond. Then we finished by way of the boardwalk behind the pond and around past the restrooms and back out through the main entrance.
My leg is tired tonight, but it doesn't really hurt per se. When we got home, I immediately put it up and put ice on it - off and on for a couple of hours, and I stayed off it mostly for the next 4 hours or so, and that helped, but now it feels like it usually does at this time of night, and I just did the dishes.
Here are some views of what we like to call "our" park: ENJOY!
So, that's what we did - we went outside! We have a lovely metro-park very near our houses that has wonderful flowerbeds and a frog pond and boardwalk trails through the woods. I told Hubs yesterday that I wanted to go to the park today and enjoy the weather - so we did! We spent about an hour and a half over there this afternoon, and..... wait for it....
I WALKED!!!
Yes, I used my cane, but I actually walked around the park. This was the first time in over 2 years that I've walked at that park. For the last 2 summers, Hubs pushed me around in one of the complimentary wheelchairs that they keep by the entrance. I hated having to do that, but it was the only way for me to get to enjoy the park.
We did sit down a lot, but still the route we took was probably a mile of walking all together. For those of you who are familiar with this park, we went in the main entrance - straight back to the arbor that leads to the herb garden, then turned right and went to the pond. Then we finished by way of the boardwalk behind the pond and around past the restrooms and back out through the main entrance.
My leg is tired tonight, but it doesn't really hurt per se. When we got home, I immediately put it up and put ice on it - off and on for a couple of hours, and I stayed off it mostly for the next 4 hours or so, and that helped, but now it feels like it usually does at this time of night, and I just did the dishes.
Here are some views of what we like to call "our" park: ENJOY!
New planting area where there used to be a tree. This has veggies and flowers combined.
Hubs took this one - amazing clarity !
I love dahlias !!!
Here are some of our friends from the pond:
This is where we exit the trail behind the frog pond.
Clearly, it is a good year for the lillies!
And THIS is the prize shot of the day - our very first INDIGO BUNTING!!
Thanks for joining us on our walk in the park!
Talk to you again soon!
:)Amy
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Animal sightings!
One of the revelations that we had when we set up our "critter cam" in the back yard at Old House in February was that we often have deer come to the yard in the middle of the night. We have footage of them from many nights in the winter and spring - sometimes 1, usually 2 or 3. They would eat out of the bird feeders for maybe 15 minutes and then wander away. We've only seen them at night once since late April, but...
Last week, Hubs saw a deer in the back yard in the late afternoon on 2 different days:
Last week, Hubs saw a deer in the back yard in the late afternoon on 2 different days:
Isn't she adorable?! She did seem to have a scar on her left side, but we think it wasn't fresh. She might be a little under nourished too because her ribs sort of stick out. It was exciting to see a deer in the yard during the day!
Here is a photo of some other little beasties... We've had LOTS and LOTS of bunnies this year! We've only seen one actually IN the garden. There was one little place at a corner where there was a gap between 2 pieces of fencing, but now that is fixed so no more bunnies eating lettuce. However, it does seem they got to some peas through the fencing here:
:) Amy
Book Review - The Kitchen House
Yesterday, I finished The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom. Set around the turn of the nineteenth century on a Virginia tobacco plantation, the story focuses on a family and their slaves. There is much mixing of race in both the master family and the slaves' families because 2 generations of white men "use" the black women for their pleasure and get them pregnant repeatedly.
The main character is Lavinia. At about age 6 or 7, she was orphaned while her family was coming to America from Ireland. Both of her parents died on board the ship and were buried at sea. She and her brother were split up and sold as indentured servants. Lavinia was purchased by the ship's captain who happens to be the master of the plantation. He brings her home and puts her in the kitchen house for the slaves to raise, so she learns to love the slaves as her family. Lavinia narrates much of the story.
There is a second narrator named Belle. Belle is the captain's daughter by a slave woman. She is light skinned enough to pass for white, but she is kept as a slave. She ends up being the main caretaker of Lavinia, and they become very close. Belle mainly works in the kitchen house cooking for the master family. Belle and Lavinia narrate alternating chapters where they comment on some of the same events from different points of view, but for the first 3/4 of the book, Lavinia's chapters are much longer than Belle's.
The story covers about 20 years of time as Lavinia grows up and eventually marries the captain's son and becomes the mistress of the plantation when her father-in-law dies. There is a lot of drama in the story - secrets and relationship issues - and there is also some exciting action. I really enjoyed the book and looked forward to my reading time to see what would happen next.
The main character is Lavinia. At about age 6 or 7, she was orphaned while her family was coming to America from Ireland. Both of her parents died on board the ship and were buried at sea. She and her brother were split up and sold as indentured servants. Lavinia was purchased by the ship's captain who happens to be the master of the plantation. He brings her home and puts her in the kitchen house for the slaves to raise, so she learns to love the slaves as her family. Lavinia narrates much of the story.
There is a second narrator named Belle. Belle is the captain's daughter by a slave woman. She is light skinned enough to pass for white, but she is kept as a slave. She ends up being the main caretaker of Lavinia, and they become very close. Belle mainly works in the kitchen house cooking for the master family. Belle and Lavinia narrate alternating chapters where they comment on some of the same events from different points of view, but for the first 3/4 of the book, Lavinia's chapters are much longer than Belle's.
The story covers about 20 years of time as Lavinia grows up and eventually marries the captain's son and becomes the mistress of the plantation when her father-in-law dies. There is a lot of drama in the story - secrets and relationship issues - and there is also some exciting action. I really enjoyed the book and looked forward to my reading time to see what would happen next.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
4 weeks - My, how time flies!
Can anyone believe that my surgery was just 4 weeks ago today? In some ways it has gone very fast, and in other ways, it hasn't, but what is certain is that I am making far better progress far faster than I ever thought was possible! YAY!
Today I was back in the PT office with my head PT Kristen. I did call her yesterday to discuss the whole manipulation thing, and I think that conversation really helped both of us. I think she appreciated knowing my reaction to the procedure, and I appreciated her willingness to take my experience into consideration. She said that everyone is different and the communication is essential for good therapy. Today, both the men on her team were off, so it was just her. She does the scar-tissue-massage very differently than Jim did. We talked a lot about it, and it was helpful for me to get feedback on what I've been doing at home too. She did confirm that will be done every time I go in.
I told her that my knee has been clicking for the last couple of days with every step I take. She said that is a result of scar tissue and swelling and it is very normal. She also said that it can take 3-6 months for the swelling to completely go away with a total knee replacement. It was a relief to know the clicking was not the result of a loose screw! Of course, the irony with the swelling is that the more you are on it, the more it will swell, but you have to keep moving so it doesn't stiffen up. If you just sit around with the leg up all the time, it won't heal properly, nor have the desired range of motion. So I guess I put up with the swelling.
Today we did some new exercises. I laid on a table with my feet up on an elevated bar at the end. I pushed against the bar and the table moved back. I did that with the middle of each foot on, and then knees flexed and extended - kind of like squats on my back. Then I did it with the balls of my feet on the bar and just dropped my heal - so it was kind of like standing on tip-toes only in a horizontal position. I also stepped up on a 6" step - not just putting my foot up on it like last time, but actually lifting my body up on it - both from the front (as I would do going up steps) but also to the side. I did another exercise at a machine where I had to pull against a weight strapped around my ankle. I ended the session with 15 min of electrodes and ice again. She let me control the temp on the ice so it didn't feel like it was freezing my flesh.
Overall, it was a very productive session!! I am totally off my cane in the house now, but I would not go outside without it.
I hope everyone out there is having a great day! Talk to you again soon!
:)Amy
Today I was back in the PT office with my head PT Kristen. I did call her yesterday to discuss the whole manipulation thing, and I think that conversation really helped both of us. I think she appreciated knowing my reaction to the procedure, and I appreciated her willingness to take my experience into consideration. She said that everyone is different and the communication is essential for good therapy. Today, both the men on her team were off, so it was just her. She does the scar-tissue-massage very differently than Jim did. We talked a lot about it, and it was helpful for me to get feedback on what I've been doing at home too. She did confirm that will be done every time I go in.
I told her that my knee has been clicking for the last couple of days with every step I take. She said that is a result of scar tissue and swelling and it is very normal. She also said that it can take 3-6 months for the swelling to completely go away with a total knee replacement. It was a relief to know the clicking was not the result of a loose screw! Of course, the irony with the swelling is that the more you are on it, the more it will swell, but you have to keep moving so it doesn't stiffen up. If you just sit around with the leg up all the time, it won't heal properly, nor have the desired range of motion. So I guess I put up with the swelling.
Today we did some new exercises. I laid on a table with my feet up on an elevated bar at the end. I pushed against the bar and the table moved back. I did that with the middle of each foot on, and then knees flexed and extended - kind of like squats on my back. Then I did it with the balls of my feet on the bar and just dropped my heal - so it was kind of like standing on tip-toes only in a horizontal position. I also stepped up on a 6" step - not just putting my foot up on it like last time, but actually lifting my body up on it - both from the front (as I would do going up steps) but also to the side. I did another exercise at a machine where I had to pull against a weight strapped around my ankle. I ended the session with 15 min of electrodes and ice again. She let me control the temp on the ice so it didn't feel like it was freezing my flesh.
Overall, it was a very productive session!! I am totally off my cane in the house now, but I would not go outside without it.
I hope everyone out there is having a great day! Talk to you again soon!
:)Amy
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Put your earplugs in - I'm shouting again !!!
Hello again!
Yes, this is yet another entry today... but I just couldn't wait to share my excitement!
Do you remember a few days ago when I was shouting about being able to lift my leg an inch or two off the bed? Well, let me tell you, that shout now pales in comparison - as of tonight, I can lift my leg high in the air!!! Yes, really !!! It's like magic!
So, picture this. I'm there lying on my back on the bed, and Hubs is there standing beside the bed ready to help me with my whole-leg-lefts. I say, "wait - let me see how high I can left it".... not really expecting anything more than my usual 2 inches... I concentrated... and it started going up, and it went up, and up and just kept going until it was almost straight up in the air !!! I screamed, "OH MY GOD!" Then I screamed again!!!
This is MONUMENTAL !!! Please drink for me - drink to me - drink! 1 glass, 2 glasses, oh, have a whole bottle !!! (Of course, I can't do that or I won't be able to lift anything!)
I know this entry is dangerously close to being overloaded with exclamation marks, but you know what:? I DON'T CARE BECAUSE I CAN LIFT MY LEG ALL THE WAY UP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:) Amy
Yes, this is yet another entry today... but I just couldn't wait to share my excitement!
Do you remember a few days ago when I was shouting about being able to lift my leg an inch or two off the bed? Well, let me tell you, that shout now pales in comparison - as of tonight, I can lift my leg high in the air!!! Yes, really !!! It's like magic!
So, picture this. I'm there lying on my back on the bed, and Hubs is there standing beside the bed ready to help me with my whole-leg-lefts. I say, "wait - let me see how high I can left it".... not really expecting anything more than my usual 2 inches... I concentrated... and it started going up, and it went up, and up and just kept going until it was almost straight up in the air !!! I screamed, "OH MY GOD!" Then I screamed again!!!
This is MONUMENTAL !!! Please drink for me - drink to me - drink! 1 glass, 2 glasses, oh, have a whole bottle !!! (Of course, I can't do that or I won't be able to lift anything!)
I know this entry is dangerously close to being overloaded with exclamation marks, but you know what:? I DON'T CARE BECAUSE I CAN LIFT MY LEG ALL THE WAY UP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:) Amy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)