Knee Surgery

I had knee surgery March 19, 2013.This is a long boring post about my memories of the event. This will be very long and boring to anyone else. But I find that I enjoy reading about things that happened to me or my family. So this is my journal of my lastest life changing event.

This is my weight loss before picture. It is also a good knee replacement before photo! My right foot turns out, and the leg is just bent wrong!

 

This is 7 months later, 36 lb lost, and after knee surgery. My right foot still turns out, but my knee does not cross over the left.

The day of the surgery was a nice Tuesday morning, the day before the first day of spring! I was a little sad when I realized I would be recovering from the surgery during the start of the spring season! Spring is my favorite time of year! The daffodils, tulips, red bud trees, dogwoods, azaleas and more bloom. For a garden lover, this is the best time of the year! I was very aware that I might not fully enjoy spring!

The first week after surgery, I probably wasn't too concerned about spring. But now find that I have time to check the daily progress of the blooming because I can't do outdoor chores.

Back to the surgery, I would have to say that this knee surgery was the most painful and traumatic event of my life. The doctors warned me of the pain. Everyone that I knew that had the surgery warned me. Ivy Panzer and IvaNell Adams, both had the surgery and said it was painful, but the relief from the arthritis pain made it worth it and they were glad to have had the surgery. So I was expecting the pain. And my knee hurt almost constantly anyway, so I didn't know how much worse it could be. It was as bad as they said.

Before surgery, I was  a little anxious, but everyone took such good care of me, I felt better. When I was wheeled into the operating room, it was cold and I was talking a mile a minute, no one was really listening though. I saw my ex rays by the table and was looking at them, more blabbering, next thing I know I woke up in recovery!

When I woke up I didn't know if I was finished with surgery or not. I woke agitated at the nurses because I heard them talking about their personal life and they were not attending to me. I wanted that mask off and I wanted to know if I had surgery and if the surgery was successful! I am still a little angry at those two! Arkansas Surgery Hospital is a doctor owned hospital. I really wanted to report those two for talking when I had a major life changing experience. I was trying to sit up because I wanted to know if my leg was straight!

When I got in the room, that is the first thing I looked for! I took a picture of my leg before surgery and after surgery!

This is the right leg, prior to surgery! Pretty awkward looking.

                          Both legs before surgery, the spider and varicose veins are not related to the knocked knee problem, so do not be alarmed.

 

After surgery! I can't really tell a big difference by the pictures. When I walked before surgery, my right knee turned in every step, now it does not.

I guess I should add that my leg had become very knock kneed! It was an obvious turn in my leg. My knee cap was off center. My muscles were not working right. The inflammation above my knee never decreased. The trouble had started in October 2011. I had gone to the ortho doctor because of pain in my knee, and he said the patellae tendon was off. Soon after that visit, on the way to see Shrek, The Musical, at the Robinson with all the grand kids, I tore my meniscus. That was actually the most painful thing that had ever happened to me! Even with surgery for the torn meniscus and physical therapy, I had a year and a half with constant concern over my walking!

When I got back to the room, they had me move myself up in the bed. I thought I was on a water bed mattress. I realized it was my bottom. It was numb, totally. I had an epidural for the surgery. There was no pain! They placed a soft diet tray in front of me. I gobbled it down. A few minutes later, a lunch tray, also gobbled it down. Still no pain.

Physical Therapy came and had me do some exercises and walk a few steps. No problem. I was pretty shocked at how easy it all was. I had told the kids not to come see me the first couple of days because I didn't want to upset them if I was in pain. But I felt fine!

The next day was still great. Thursday, the took out the epidural and the catheter. The feeling started to come back. It was later in the afternoon before I had to go potty. And when I have to potty, I may have to go every hour. And I had to drink lots of water. I would say Thursday was my worst day. I could walk without too much pain. When I did PT, she helped me lift my leg. There was no connection between my thigh muscle and my brain. I could not use it to lift my leg. When I tried to lift my leg, the pain was intense. That is the pain they referred to. It felt like I was going to rip my leg apart to lift it. The PT would pick it up for me to get back in bed.

The nurses asked my pain level at almost every visit. They asked my pain level when I was resting comfortable in bed, without moving. So the pain level was at maybe a 2-3. When I had to lift my leg, the pain level was a 6-7! As a reference, I considered childbirth to be a 6-7.

One nurse thought it was her duty to make me lift my leg back into the bad, so she didn't help me after one of my hourly trips to potty. ARGH! I told her it hurt. She was training another nurse I guess.
The PT said I could use a belt or something to help. After that I didn't call the nurses to help me go potty, even thought I was supposed to have someone help when I got up. I decided I was better off alone. And I would stay up and sit in the chair rather than get back in bed.

I made a great discovery when I got home. I used a rubber stretch band that is for exercising to help lift my leg. I placed it under my arch and kept my leg stiff and straight and could lift my leg into bed, or the CPM machine, the van, without pain! It gave me independence. Otherwise, I had to have someone lift my leg into bed, the car, up on the couch, into or out of the CPM.

The first week was pretty much eat, sleep, have the CPM bend my knee. I started PT at Carson PT on Friday after the surgery.  In the hospital, with the epidural, I bent my knee to 102, next day to 90, by Friday it was 80. The second week, still had PT 3 times a week. The goal it to bend to 120, straighten to 0. I have been able to straighten pretty much every time. The bend has been a little more difficult. It really hurts! I compare the bend to childbirth labor. They make me bend a little more and a little more. It reminds me of having contractions! They get stronger and stronger! I have discovered a little trick to the process. Drugs! If I take an extra hydrocodone, I can tolerate the process. It still hurts like crazy, but I can let them force the bend without fighting it. That is why it reminds me of contractions. They hurt worse when you fight them! If you can get on top of the pain and breath through it, the pain is less intense. Without the extra pain pill, I fight against the PT trying to bend my knee.
This week I went from 80 on Monday to 100 on Friday! Very excited!

I came home from the hospital with a walker. Very old lady ish! But I was grateful to have the assistance. Two weeks after surgery, I advanced to a cane! I can walk without the cane, but PT said I am more likely to walk correctly with the cane.

This experience has been eye opening considering the possibility of retirement. I have been unable to work in the yard, but even if I could, I do not think I am ready for retirement.  Or more precise, I do not want to be incapacitated! I realized how hard it would be to be dependant on others for my shopping and errands, housework and cooking. I love my independence.

Speaking of cooking, we were so blessed to have have friends and family bring us food.
The first day home, Stan and Markeeta brought us dinner, a full dinner, entree, salad and dessert. Paula had cleaned that day and made us chili for lunch! Saturday morning, Josh and Amanda cooked us breakfast. On Saturday, Carol Hix brought us dinner, taco salad and another dessert! Sunday, after church, Phyllis Richey brought us lunch from herself, Christi Warner and Ivy Panzer, a "homemade" Olive Garden meal, lasagna, salad, bread and banana pudding! Monday, Amanda brought us dinner, taco ring. Someone was scheduled for Tuesday night, but forgot. I am still wondering what delicious dinner we missed.

Paula bought us chicken and rice another day. Andrea and Steve brought us groceries and cooked a delicious Easter dinner on the Saturday before Easter. The second Saturday, Carol brought us soup again. We have been blessed with so many people caring for us! Flowers, cards and calls, it all makes me feel very loved.

I was especially moved by the flowers sent or brought. Everyone that knows me knows I love the garden, living plants. So I received lovely living plants. Pink Hydrangea, orchid, mixed basket of petunia, geraniums and another mixed basket of ornamental cabbage, zinnia and petunias.

I pray that this surgery will allow me to walk and work and do all the things that I want to do without pain or fear. I have been limited in the past year in how far I can walk. Shopping has become a chore. Vacation activities have been limited in how much I want to do. They tell me it takes  6 months to a year to feel "normal"! I have a full schedule of activities planned, so I hope my knee is up and running soon!

Between the weight loss and my new knee, I want to travel to Hawaii, zip line, hike and go bird watching! I need to be healthy enough to keep up with those grand kids! And work in my garden! I really love to share what I grow with the grand kids too. Tucker wanted to know when the blueberries would be ready. Evie loves to help in the garden and really wants to grow some okra. Violet loves gardening and has planted bluebonnets this year!

The first week after surgery, I told Ron to NOT have this surgery. He has arthritis in his knee also. I told him it was not worth it. Two and a half weeks after surgery,even though I still have pain, I do believe it is worth is.

Happy 35th or 36th Anniversay?

 

 

 

Ron and I have been married for 36 years! Yes, 36, not 35, like I have been celebrating for a week. We were married March 5, 1977! Since I was confused about the years, I am still going to consider the Disneyland trip being for our 35th anniversay. Kay sent me a text to let me know.

So we can still celebrate out 36th! YES!

Most of this post then is about our 35th anniversay, which we celebrated Feb 27-March 3, 2013.

This year, we had a business trip in California, so we decided to take the kids and grandkids to Disneyland and California Adventure Park! Party of 17 please! Arranging a trip for 17 people is a little overwhelming. I told the kids to make their own flights, but we ended up getting the same flight, except for Amanda and Josh, they went a day early. We stayed at the Grand Californian! I love that hotel!
The awesome part of the trip, is that a large portion of the trip was paid for with reward money! I work hard to save up our reward money in a vacation account just for these family trips. And, since there was business, part of the trip was paid for by Southwest Radiator.

The not so awesome part of the trip, is that my knee was not up to par.I have a knee replacement surgery scheduled for March 19. If I had any doubts about the surgery, the trip confirmed that this is the right decision.

The trip was so quick, travel 1 day, 3 days at the parks, travel again. We had to pack a lot of activity in those 3 days.

Trip highlights:
Fiona getting off the Winnie the Pooh ride and saying, "Winnie de Poo is my favorite!".

Phoenix riding Space Mountain and telling us, "Me not like it"! But he rode almost every ride that his siblings rode, except Tower of Terror!

Swimming on Saturday morning, that was fun to swim outside in March.

The fireworks over Sleeping Beauty Castle, feature Tinker Bell flying over the castle, Tinker Bell is a real live girl flying over the castle! It was impressive!

Not a highlight, but memorable, Andrea and Amanda getting Violot, Veronika and Evie to ride "Tower of Terror". Poppa was not happy about that, those girls were terrified, and Jackson was terrified to even talk about it, he wouldn't even walk by that part of the park.

Goofys Kitchen, delicious buffett, lots of characters, having the character and buffet almost to ourselves because of arriving a little late at the hotel.

Breakfast at the Storyteller Cafe, woodland characters, Chip and Dale, Bear, Monkey, I do not know the character names, but I loved their actions.

Knowing that Paula and the big kids kept riding and going during nap time for babies and old people!

The morning of our actual 36th anniversay was not so much fun.

I spent our actual anniversary going to the hospital pre-op appointment, then to various doctor offices taking care of business, insurance cards, medical records, etc. Then went and met with the accountant to file our tax returns, and then went to work! Yeah, the excitment of the day!

Since being made aware of my error in what we were celebrating, I have decided that we will celebrate our 36th anniversay by going to Univeral Studios.

When Disneyland and I both turn 60, in 2015, we must party together!

Ron has promised me a trip to Hawaii to continue to celebrate our anniversay! I have been waniting to go to Hawaii since our 25th anniversay. We have not felt that we could leave work long enough to enjoy a trip that far away! We both have a goal of losing more weight and for me, getting my knee recovered well enough to enjoy the time spent vacationing.

So, 35-36 years, either way, what an amazing life we have been blessed with!

Baked Southwest Eggrolls with Chicken

I have been enjoying cooking since trying to lose wieght. My lastest experiment was Southwest Eggrolls, similar to Chili's Southwest Eggrolls. It was a fairly easy recipe, modified from recipes that I found the web.

Ingredients for the Egg Rolls

10-12 Chicken Tenders
4 oz can of diced green chiles

2 Cups Shredded Cheese
2 Cups Frozen Corn
1 Can Black Beans, Rinsed and Drained
1 Bunch Green Onions, Sliced
1 10 oz Package Frozen Spinach, or Fresh Spinach, Sauted
1 tsp Cumin
1/2 tsp Chili Powder
1 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Ceyenne Pepper
1 Package Egg Roll Wrappers

Avacado Dip:
Sour Cream
Greek Yogurt
Avacado
Green Onions

Place frozen chicken tenders in a crock pot, top with can of green chiles. Cook on low for 8-10 hours.
When chicken in cooked, place in dish and shred with fork. Mix other ingredients, except for wrappers, in a large bown with the chicken.
Place a heaping spoonful of the mix in the middle of the wrapper. Roll wrapper over mixture, folding in sides of wrapper, moisten corners with water to seal the seams.
Brush wrapper with olive oil.
Preheat oven to 425. Bake eggrolls for 15 minutes, turning over halfway through cooking.

For the dip, mix sour cream and/or yogurt, depending on how low fat you want to go, with the diced avacado and green onion.

Serve with shredded lettuce and salsa!

Makes 24 Egg Rolls
Calories Estimated at 190 per Egg Roll

Weight Loss Odyssey!

These are my before pictures, taken close to my heaviest weight, I have been unhappy about my weight for some time. But about year ago, my knee started giving me trouble. I had gone to the ortho doctor because my knee was hurting. He said the knee cap was off center, told me to exercise the knee, ride the stationary bike, do therapy.

One Saturday, Ron and I went to a farm auction, where he bought a "farm" tractor, by the way, I walked and stood in a field all day. The next day, the kids and I went to see "Shrek" the Broadway play at the Robinson Auditorium. While walking down the sidewalk, my knee popped and I had some pain that I have never experienced before.

Despite the pain, I hobbled into the auditorium, requested a wheel chair, so that we could see the play. It was GREAT! A lot of people helped me that day!

The doctor diagnosed a torn meniscus. I had surgery for a meniscus repair in December 2011. A year of exercise and therapy didn't really heal my knee.

In August of 2012, I gave serious consideration to lap band surgery to lose weight. I finally decided that losing weight might heal my knee.

The profile picture shows my knee problem. My right knee is knock-kneed. I think it always was, but not to this extent. So, besides my weight getting out of hand, I knew I needed to lose weight to help my knee. Walking hurts, I am constantly afraid of it getting worse, and I walk with it kind of caving in.

I scheduled the lap band surgery for September 2012. I needed to lose enough weight to get my BMI below 40 for the surgery to be considered lower risk and cost less.

On August 13, 2012, I started recording my food and exercise on My Fitness Pal. I attempted to keep my calories at 1200 and ride the recumbent bike 60 minutes at least 5 days a week. 

I used some GNC Protein shakes some to help me lose weight.

The first 15-20 lbs came off pretty quick. I was on track to lose 2 lbs a week. 

Then the holidays hit. My loss has slowed down considerably!

I have not given up though. This is when I would normally give up and just quit.

January 2013, I have started the South Beach diet. For 2 weeks, no sugar, fruit, bread, potatoes, rice, etc. I made that for about 1 1/2 weeks, then we went on a business trip.

After the trip, I have been using a modified South Beach. I have tried to reduce my carbohydrate intake. I have also changed my exercise to 20-30 minutes of riding at a higher pace.

I bought a massage table for my therapy, and an occasional massage!

 February 2013, I have lost 30.1 lbs! I am very excited about that!

I have so much more that I need to lose, but I have not been at this weight for years!

I also have my knee surgery scheduled. March 19!

I hope to lose a few more pounds before the surgery. And to continue my weight loss odyssey!

 

 

Ron is losing weight just by eating what I give him and a bad case of pnemonia! This picture is from our January 2013 trip to Tampa Florida.. This is at the Tampa Bontanical Garden. I hope to post another picture next year showing less of us both.

Ron and His Not So Happy New Year

During the power outage, Ron had to winterize the pool and hot tubs. It was cold outside and we had no heat for him to warm up with. I don't know if that caused him to get sick, but New Year's Eve, he woke up with a fever. We cancelled our exciting New Year's Eve that we had planned, food, fireworks and all! New Year's Day, still sick. He would not visit the doctor. Wednesday, Jan 2, Ron went to see the doctor, but not out family doctor. The doctor diagnosis the flu, even though the test was negative. I had called his oncologist to see if any special treatment would be required because of his chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or CLL. Thankfully the oncologist wanted to see Ron for a blood test. Jan 3, Ron woke up telling me he was ready to go somewhere, oncologist or emergency room, anywhere! 
His white blood count was elevated slightly, but not enough to cause Ron to feel so bad. Dr Beck had us go downstairs for chest x-rays. The technician showed me the cloudy area in his lungs. Dr Beck went downstairs to view the x-rays himself. He came back in the room and said, that is a pretty good case of pneumonia and he wanted Ron to head to the hospital and  be admitted to critical care!
Ron, by this time was very willing to go anywhere to get better.
Ron spent the first night in the cardiac critical care area, then three nights in a room on the oncology floor. Several rounds of IV antibiotics, various other treatments, and Ron was discharged from the hospital.
It took another several weeks for Ron to get better!

We did find out that with this CLL, Ron is not to ignore a fever or any other signs of infection.
I have not made a post about the CLL. I realized that this blog is good way to chronicle the exciting life that Ron and I live.

A year or so ago, Ron was diagnosis with chronic lypmpcytic leukemia. The oncologist stated that Ron would not die from CLL, he would die "with" CLL. I wasn't sure what that meant. After this bout with pneumonia, I did a little research. Many CLL patients die from pneumonia or some other infection that they are susceptible to because of the lowered immunity.

Next time I ask Ron is he wants to go to the doctor, I will not ask him, I will tell him we are going to the doctor. There is no waiting for Monday, waiting for the fever to go down, we go to the doctor!

I believe this has made a believer out of Ron. He seems to be more willing to relax. We have a business meeting in California. He said, lets take the family so we can go to Disneyland! I told him I was saving those funds for my 60th birthday. He told me to save more money, he wanted to have fun now! So, it's off to Disneyland we go!

Christmas Power Outage 2012

On Christmas Day 2012, an ice and snow storm started. We were able to have dinner, but before cleaning the kitchen, the power went out! That ended the celebration for the night. That night was OK, the next morning, we headed to Andrea and Steves for breakfast and sledding. We went home for the night, went to work the next morning. Then another night of no power, until Saturday morning, when my suffering sparked my creativity!

On the first day of the power outage,

my true love gave to me, warmth with a big bear hug

On the second day of the power outage,

my true love gave to me, a kerosene heater

 and warmth with a big bear hug
On the third day of the power outage, my true love gave to me,

lights with a generator, a kerosene heater,

and warmth with a big bear hug.
On the fourth day of the power outage, my true love gave to me,

an electric blanket, lights with a generator, a kerosene heater,

and warmth with a big bear hug.
On the fifth day of the power outage, my true love gave to me,

breakfast at East End Cafe, an electric blanket, lights with a generator, a kerosene heater,

and warmth with a big bear hug.
On the sixth day of the power outage my true love better give me a hotel room....!

To follow up, the power came back on Saturday morning! I have never enjoyed cleaning house and doing laundry more!

Kayak Trip in Florida

We took a 2 hour kayak trip. I thought it would be in a small river or bayou type waterway, but no, it

was in the bay! The weather was beautiful. I did not anticipate the distance that we would travel.

I really do not know what I was thinking. Ron did better than me, even though he was still recovering from pnemonia!

We saw some interesting birds! The exercise was good for us! But I did expect to see more wild life, maybe a dolphin!

I do not like this picture! I am posting it on my blog to use as my "before" picture! I have lost 28 lbs, but I can see from this picture how much more I need to lose! I hope to post another kayak or canoe picture in the future showing less of me!

Florida Botanical Garden

Ron and I traveled to Tampa Florida for a business meeting. We then went to Clearwater Beach for two days. I loved the resort and the beach, but the short visit to the garden was my favorite!

This reminded me of my Dad! He planned a vacation for us to Florida and his main destination was

Cypress Gardens, which is now closed! Too bad, I remember enjoying the garden even though I was not "into" gardening as a teenager!

Early Times Hibiscus! I will try to find one of these! If I do, I assume it would be tropical and I would have to bring it in for the winter.

I wouldn't put this on Facebook, but it's so unusual I had to record it!

 

This is a precious topiary! Maybe some day I will try growing one.

Sunset from Sandpearl Resort Clearwater Florida

This view isn't that exciting for anyone else, but I wanted to remember it!

 

Christmas Snow 2012

Jackson, 2 days before his 8th Birthday!Great birthday present!

 

This was a HUGE event for Arkansas, the first snow on Christmas Day since, I  do not know when. The snow started December 25, late in the afternoon. It started with sleet, limbs snapping. The power soon went out.We were about to have dinner when the snow started, so we didn't really want to go outside. The next day, no power, so we all went to Andrea's and Steve house to play in the snow and eat! They have a  wonderful hill in their front yard! When they built the house, I thought, WOW, can't wait for some snow! The first year, and awesome snow.

Fiona Snow Bunny

Amanda's wipe out! It was such fun to watch!

The kids flew down the hill! Tucker kept crashing, but kept going!

Snow Bunny Evie! They loved sledding!

I loved this picture! Look at the smiles!

 

                  Snow Bunny Veronika!

Go Violet Go! The kids were little, but they kept going and going!

Go Phoenix!

I had to include this to remember that I did still give sledding a try! I love the snow

as much as the kids! It was a wonderful day!

 

Christmas Past!

Christmas 2008, Stonebridge Cabins at Branson MO, this started the tradition of having matching Christmas PJ's for the grandkids! Good Memories!

Christmas Ornaments 2012

Nesting Doll from Amanda. This doll has 32 smaller dolls inside, maybe not a Christmas ormament, but it reminds me of Christmas.

Gourd Santa from Andrea and Steve. I love my Santa collection!

Frank Lloyd Wright ornament from Arizona, when we went on a business trip there.

Cinderella coach, from Disneyland, CA trip.

Santa light from Ebay. Our Grandmother Johnson had one and I loved it so I found one on Ebay.

Santa bell shape "Toll" painting done by my Mom! She took lessons on Toll painting.

"Andrea Storyteller" hand painted ornament, from Arizona!

Make Way for Duckings ornament from Boston Massacheuetts, fun trip, no business!

Thatcher Island ornament, from Cape May Massacheuetts!

Ballerina ornament, purchased from an estate sale back in the 90's. This was the

beginning of my love for Christmas ornaments!

Santa ornament from Disneyworld, probably when we went to Disney for Ron's 60th birthday, 2010.

I love my ornaments and decided to make  a blog post about them so that I could remember what I have and maybe when it was acquired, for the sake of prosperity.