A Late Friday Photo and Catch-up Post...

It is hard to believe the month of September is nearly done.  It sure has been a crazy month for us here in Lakeland, FL.  Those of you on FB have read and seen much of this, but I want to get back to blogging, even if it will be sporadic for a while yet.

As you, my regular blogging friends, know, I had total knee replacement for my right knee, on August 27th.  You also know that Joe has not been well and I would not let him go to the hospital with me for the surgery.  God bless our dear friends here who pitched in for us.  Heather took me to Tampa General Hospital on surgery day.  I had to be there at 6:30 a.m.  She dropped me off (offered to stay but I sent her home) and I found my way to admitting.  All I can say is that all of your prayers and good thoughts found their way to me.  It all went smoothly and I got to go home the next day!  I had to prove that I could walk down the hall and go up and down three steps, which I did. It was actually easier than I expected it to be.

Our neighbor, Sharon, brought Joe to the hospital to pick me up.  Joe was not doing well and couldn't drive to Tampa.  Again, so blessed with good friends and neighbors.

Physical therapy at home started a few days after I got home.  I was getting around well using the walker.  Joe did all he could, but he was so tired and short of breath that I didn't ask for much of anything.  He was scheduled for his heart procedure on September 12th and went to the hospital for all the pre-op testing on September 6th.  He had just walked into the house when the phone rang and it was the hospital telling Joe to get back to the hospital emergency department immediately.  I was helpless.  Our across-the-street neighbor, Paul, came over to take Joe to the ER.

We at least got an explanation for how bad Joe was feeling.  His hemoglobin was only 6.4. Normal is between 14 and 17.  He ended up in the hospital for five days and got three units of blood, all kinds of tests, including a colonoscopy, endoscopy, small bowel test... they couldn't find any reason for the low hemoglobin (no internal bleeding) and decided it is just his blood thinners.  He is on iron pills now and feeling much better!  They canceled his TAVR procedure, though, and it has been rescheduled for October 22nd.

I was on my own while Joe was in the hospital but, oh my goodness, we had food brought in by friends, visits from some of our church family, gift cards arrived by mail and so many get-well cards that we ran out of room to set them up.  I was not alone and just as many visited Joe in the hospital.  We are SO blessed.

Physical therapy here at home went well.  Chase came three days a week and put me through my paces.  He told Joe one day that "...you are married to one tough lady".  It hurt (still hurts) but I have to admit it hasn't been as bad as I was expecting.  Maybe it's just because my knee hurt so bad for two years that this different kind of pain wasn't any worse (or as bad).

My incision the day I got home.

A couple of weeks later...

And this is how it looks now.

X-ray of my new knee.

My new knee and my left, which is bone-on-bone and will be 

done after the first of the year.  I decided to wait six months

rather than do it in November.

I am doing physical therapy for three more weeks (twice a week) at Leading Edge.  Several people I know have done therapy there and talked about how good they are so that's where I chose to go.

We can't take pictures in the therapy room, but I mentioned on Facebook that they have robots.  It is a robotic device that allows them to target muscles by applying direct pressure in a way a massage therapist can't do.  HERE is a link for anyone interested.

So our October will be focused on getting my knee stronger and FINALLY getting Joe's aortic valve replaced.  Perhaps the holidays (fast approaching) will be healthier and more fun for both of us!!

That said, I will be around in October but not on a regular schedule.  I don't think I'll be bringing the Wednesday Medley back  Anyone who would like to take over, please do!!  It was fun for those few months but it did cause me some angst, especially when the National Daily Calendar was so lame I could barely think of five questions to post.  My hat goes off to Joyce and all those who post the weekly memes for us.  It is not an easy task.

Wishing you all a good weekend!!  We are back to Sunday school and church now. Missed it.  Thanks again for the prayers offered.  Please keep Joe on your prayer lists.  Joe's younger brother, Nick, is fighting cancer right now so I ask that you include him too.

Peace & hugs!!  God bless!!