I made it to the Ortho's doctor's office almost on time. I allotted 10 minutes to drive there and of course not 1/2 mile from my house the lane was blocked because of an early morning traffic accident. I've never been good at taking an alternate route but I chose to do that instead of waiting. Luck was with me and I didn't get lost but I wasn't on time, but only a few minutes late.
This visit was with the P.A. to get consents signed and confidentiality agreement signed. I had a few questions for him about ligaments; do they tighten them during the surgery? My other concern was the length of the leg after surgery. The ligaments will be restored to natural control and the leg will be restored to same length. I know this might sound like a ignorant question but I have seen patients that awake to find they have a permanent limp. My last question was because of the hardware already in my knee; what's my chances of developing a raging infection. He said they do about 600 knees a year and 1% have problems with infection. I hope that 1% has been achieved before my time to go in.
The surgery he said will be an hour long skin to skin which means from the time he starts the surgery and closes; the time in holding and post op of course will add extra hours to the time I'm out of my room and back. So far so good.
Next stop was to a building about 4 blocks away that is part of the hospital. The usual insurance information which took longer then any of the Pre Op tests. Blood work, x rays and cardiac rhythm strip and I was on my way to the Blood Bank to get a unit pulled and banked. I took a left instead and went home. Enough for one day!
I'll go have the blood pulled later this week. I have a month to get it done. I'll save some of this fun for another day. I'll have to make 2 visits to the Blood Bank as they can only pull one unit a week and I need a total of 2 units banked before the surgery.
I'll have a morphine pump for 2 days following surgery. I can't began to tell you how happy that makes me. Morphine makes me itch and vomit; it also makes me pain free so I'll tolerate the itching and vomiting quite well thank you very much!
This is the third time on this knee; hopefully the last time too. I haven't started whining yet but I have a month to get in the "whine mode". I'll be listening close to my tone of voice for the next 30 days. I'll let you know if I hear any whining.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Untitled Cause I said so
Carrie's mom had an early morning appointment this morning so Carrie spent the night. We kept her up late thinking her mom was coming to pick her up and by the time we were asked to have her spend the night it was already way past her bedtime.
About 11PM we all go to bed and by 2AM she had awoke and crawled into our bed. Since she snores so loud, hubby leaves the bed for the sofa. Hopefully the snoring problem will be fixed soon when she has her tonsils out.
I got up at 4:30AM and soon afterwards Carrie is standing at my elbow while I'm sitting at the computer. I gathered her up and took her back to bed. When she is at home she sleeps till 10AM; I have no clue why that does not work that way at my house. I thought I would have hours of quiet time before I saw Carrie but that was not to be. She didn't go back to sleep so I moved her to the sofa and the TV while I tried to get some early morning chores done.
I have been on my feet all day. My feet don't bother me; it's that next joint up that causes the problems. Today it seems that Carrie needs more then her ordinary amount of attention so I've been busy. Around noon she calls her Poppy to go into the bathroom while telling me to stay out. I know this is a bad sign.
She had somehow managed to stop the natural flowing of the toilet. Another job to do. After I plunged the damn toilet, I had to remove the rugs and sop up a small lake of water.
Her new thing is to ask "why?" after everything I say. I give an explanation and she still asks "why"? This can go on forever. I now give her one explanation and when that inevitable "why?" comes up, I respond with "because I said so" and remembering all the times my parents response being the same thing and finally understanding "why".
Right now I have her in her high chair watching Noggin and having her lunch and our next stop will be the bedroom for a nap I know she needs and it doesn't matter what she thinks. It's "cause I said so" and I need her napping while I sit down for a few hours. I might even lay down for a few hours myself!
I still have a list of things I needed to get done today; I need a nap more. Goodnight!
About 11PM we all go to bed and by 2AM she had awoke and crawled into our bed. Since she snores so loud, hubby leaves the bed for the sofa. Hopefully the snoring problem will be fixed soon when she has her tonsils out.
I got up at 4:30AM and soon afterwards Carrie is standing at my elbow while I'm sitting at the computer. I gathered her up and took her back to bed. When she is at home she sleeps till 10AM; I have no clue why that does not work that way at my house. I thought I would have hours of quiet time before I saw Carrie but that was not to be. She didn't go back to sleep so I moved her to the sofa and the TV while I tried to get some early morning chores done.
I have been on my feet all day. My feet don't bother me; it's that next joint up that causes the problems. Today it seems that Carrie needs more then her ordinary amount of attention so I've been busy. Around noon she calls her Poppy to go into the bathroom while telling me to stay out. I know this is a bad sign.
She had somehow managed to stop the natural flowing of the toilet. Another job to do. After I plunged the damn toilet, I had to remove the rugs and sop up a small lake of water.
Her new thing is to ask "why?" after everything I say. I give an explanation and she still asks "why"? This can go on forever. I now give her one explanation and when that inevitable "why?" comes up, I respond with "because I said so" and remembering all the times my parents response being the same thing and finally understanding "why".
Right now I have her in her high chair watching Noggin and having her lunch and our next stop will be the bedroom for a nap I know she needs and it doesn't matter what she thinks. It's "cause I said so" and I need her napping while I sit down for a few hours. I might even lay down for a few hours myself!
I still have a list of things I needed to get done today; I need a nap more. Goodnight!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Super Bowl Sunday Capitalized
The chicken wings have been marinating since last night. Cheese and veggie tray is ready and the beer is chilled. All signs that it's Super Bowl Sunday. Shouldn't I be at the stores shopping?
Sometimes I watch the Sunday games and sometimes I take time out and go shopping but usually I always watch the Super Bowl. It's an American Tradition that is right up there with Christmas. It's always capitalized. Doesn't that indicate it's importance? It happens every year and every year millions of Americans plant themselves in front of the big screen either at home, with friends or in some sports bar some where.
Some are excited about the game and some watch it for the commercials. The commercials get as much after game air time reviews as the games. I mainly show up for the buffalo wings and the margaritas. I've never developed a taste for beer.
For hours today the sports casters will fill the air waves with commentary about the players, the coaches and the prior games leading up to today. The game doesn't start till late today but the whole day will be devoted to it.
I'll devote a few hours to watching the game and skip the all day reviews and that's my plans for this Sunday.
Sometimes I watch the Sunday games and sometimes I take time out and go shopping but usually I always watch the Super Bowl. It's an American Tradition that is right up there with Christmas. It's always capitalized. Doesn't that indicate it's importance? It happens every year and every year millions of Americans plant themselves in front of the big screen either at home, with friends or in some sports bar some where.
Some are excited about the game and some watch it for the commercials. The commercials get as much after game air time reviews as the games. I mainly show up for the buffalo wings and the margaritas. I've never developed a taste for beer.
For hours today the sports casters will fill the air waves with commentary about the players, the coaches and the prior games leading up to today. The game doesn't start till late today but the whole day will be devoted to it.
I'll devote a few hours to watching the game and skip the all day reviews and that's my plans for this Sunday.
February One 2009
The first day of the second month of 2009. Two days from my pre op appointment, 30 days from surgery and less then a month from my birth date. Milestones in my future; a short list of milestones. One year from today I should be looking back on some of these milestones. As I write this I'm curious about what other milestones will be listed for the coming year. A year from now will the economy be better? Will there be food on the shelves of the grocery stores in plentiful amounts? Will any of my friends and neighbors still have a job? a house? a car? The future appears scary.
I'm a chronic worrier. I wish I were the type that could just sit back and have the attitude of "what will be will be", but I've always been one that has tried to anticipate and be prepared. Some things are out of one's control; the economy is one of these things. I live in Catholic saturated country. I hear people in times of crisis say they survived by putting things in God's hands. Their faith pulled them through. I say that is selective memory. What about those times when the crisis did not have a positive outcome. They don't remember these times? Where do they place the blame? Did they not pray hard enough. Do they blame themselves for not being devout enough?
The guilt must be horrendous.
I'm a chronic worrier. I wish I were the type that could just sit back and have the attitude of "what will be will be", but I've always been one that has tried to anticipate and be prepared. Some things are out of one's control; the economy is one of these things. I live in Catholic saturated country. I hear people in times of crisis say they survived by putting things in God's hands. Their faith pulled them through. I say that is selective memory. What about those times when the crisis did not have a positive outcome. They don't remember these times? Where do they place the blame? Did they not pray hard enough. Do they blame themselves for not being devout enough?
The guilt must be horrendous.
Just maybe learning to give up regardless of what or who you assign your worries to, is a survival techique.
Hopefully, I'll be able to revisit this post one year from now and post once again a comparison of February One 2009 and February One 2010, God willing. (Grinning)
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