Kera and Gwen made another road trip to visit me last night. It was totally unexpected because I know Kera had so many things scheduled during this last week of Gwen's kindergarten year. So, this was quite a treat!
This beautiful multi-building rehab facility is, unfortunately, located in the middle of the ghetto. Kera left Gwen with me and went in search of Panera, where she preordered their dinner. An hour went by when Kera finally called me. It was like having a conversation with myself when I'm lost. Kera, crying, "I don't know where I am, I'm totally lost. This !@#$ tomtom...." I felt so bad for her: they were hungry, the weather was rainy, and she was lost in the ghetto, and her mama cried. Hmmm, there might be a million dollar seller in those lyrics! I'm sorry it was so stressful for Kera, and I really did enjoy the company. There's just nothing like a mother/daughter convo .
Earlier in the day I came back to my room and I had received a gorgeous floral arrangement with purple and pinkish flowers. Perched among the blooms are these really cool, realistic looking butterflies. Thanks Sue & Galen - it's like having a piece of nature right in my room.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Note to Mom
Mom, I know I made you run all over the Harrisburg area looking for a particular gym short. I know that we never found them and that I "settled" for something less than what I wanted. But, we paired them up with some cool tops and I figured I'd just make do. Well, I'm here to tell you how fantastic these shorts have been. I have trouble getting the other ones (my old favorites) on. These new ones open very wide and are really stretchy - I can actually get them on myself. Today I'm stylin' in the cool black/white/chartreuse green ones. Someday I'll get the message that Mother Knows Best!
Buckaroo Bonzai
Wasn't that a movie or a book or something? Jason sent me the coolest Bonzai plant - very Zen. When the box came, the aide asked me if I wanted help opening the box. I was unable to see any writing due to the position of the box, and it didn't look like your typical "flower" box. So, I was thinking, "Wow, that walker I ordered must really come in a lot of small pieces. I didn't know it would require so much assembly." (I like to rationalize this by thinking that the meds have made me this loopy rather than admit the fact that I'm just not too bright!) When the aide pulled the plant out the box turned and I saw the FTD label! What a great surprise, and so much better than a walker or toilet seat! LOL! Thanks Jason.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Visitors - A Good Thing
Renee, Jeff, and Kendall came down tonight. After hearing that I'm most likely here until Saturday, it was a great pick-me-up. That Kendall is quite the card sharp and Uno is her game. I'll be looking for a rematch soon! As Sarah told me, I should have plenty of time to practice.
What we also learned from this visit is that the cafeteria upstairs closes at 5. So, if you get off work and then make the 1.5 hour trek to Allentown, there isn't a restaurant available to you when you get here. Little did I know that this would work to my advantage. The lack of a restaurant forced them to head for McDonald's and guess who was the reipient of a great big icy cold Diet Coke? MMMMmmmmmm, it doesn't get any better than that.
What we also learned from this visit is that the cafeteria upstairs closes at 5. So, if you get off work and then make the 1.5 hour trek to Allentown, there isn't a restaurant available to you when you get here. Little did I know that this would work to my advantage. The lack of a restaurant forced them to head for McDonald's and guess who was the reipient of a great big icy cold Diet Coke? MMMMmmmmmm, it doesn't get any better than that.
Tuesday, June 8
It was definitely a day of highs and lows. I was pretty psyched this morning when I received the daily schedule and found that the PT sessions were all between 30-60 minutes after taking the percocet. The first session went pretty good, and while the left leg is still being stubborn, the overall pain following the session seemed better. The muscles were definitely fatigued, but I wasn't in pain.
So far so good, and shortly after finishing PT, my friend Diane arrived for the day. Paul had a meeting in Joisey and drove an extra 4 hours today so Diane could be with me. Do I have incredible friends or what?!
Diane went to Occupational Therapy with me and observed that she was getting tired just watching me struggle! Diane brought her camera today because she knew I'd want to scrapbook this experience. About 30 minutes into it, I was just beat, the left !@0$!~@# knee hurt, and the meds were done. After lunch it took the meds quite some time to kick in so on went the headphones with the towel over my head. Ok, just like a baby or child who covers their head when they've done something wrong, I know that anyone could actually see me sitting in that wheelchair with a towel over my head. Of course I do. But, if you can't see my tears then I'm not officially crying.
Round 2 of PT started off rough but ended up marginally okay. Diane said I was barely lifting the left leg at the beginning of the exercise and it was looking much improved by the end.
Brent came in this evening and we had a little engineering/project meeting with the case manager. LOL! The CM had answers for everything which makes Brent feel better and at least somewhat more organized because he's armed with an updated list. Lists are very important in both Brent's professional and personal life. Ok, I am making fun of him, but this is one of those times where I appreciate it.
The most important outcome of that meeting is that I may be here until Saturday. Five days for bilateral replacemens is light, but initially it's all the insurance companies will approve until they see how things are progressing.
I have mixed feelings about this. First it would indicate that I'm not doing as well as I thought. I sure wouldn't want to go home if everything wasn"t great though. Like I said it was a day of highs and lows....and something in between...I think.
So far so good, and shortly after finishing PT, my friend Diane arrived for the day. Paul had a meeting in Joisey and drove an extra 4 hours today so Diane could be with me. Do I have incredible friends or what?!
Diane went to Occupational Therapy with me and observed that she was getting tired just watching me struggle! Diane brought her camera today because she knew I'd want to scrapbook this experience. About 30 minutes into it, I was just beat, the left !@0$!~@# knee hurt, and the meds were done. After lunch it took the meds quite some time to kick in so on went the headphones with the towel over my head. Ok, just like a baby or child who covers their head when they've done something wrong, I know that anyone could actually see me sitting in that wheelchair with a towel over my head. Of course I do. But, if you can't see my tears then I'm not officially crying.
Round 2 of PT started off rough but ended up marginally okay. Diane said I was barely lifting the left leg at the beginning of the exercise and it was looking much improved by the end.
Brent came in this evening and we had a little engineering/project meeting with the case manager. LOL! The CM had answers for everything which makes Brent feel better and at least somewhat more organized because he's armed with an updated list. Lists are very important in both Brent's professional and personal life. Ok, I am making fun of him, but this is one of those times where I appreciate it.
The most important outcome of that meeting is that I may be here until Saturday. Five days for bilateral replacemens is light, but initially it's all the insurance companies will approve until they see how things are progressing.
I have mixed feelings about this. First it would indicate that I'm not doing as well as I thought. I sure wouldn't want to go home if everything wasn"t great though. Like I said it was a day of highs and lows....and something in between...I think.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Monday June 7
More of the same. Although I see some improvements, they are incremental.
Had PT twice today. First did the foot/knee slide with much the same results as yesterday. Walked 65 yards. She told me to step heel first, apparently I was pointing my toes. Who knew I was so graceful! Then I laid on this bed and they put a bolster under my ankles, requiring me to make my knees bend until the heels hit the bed. The only good thing I can think of to say about this is that when it ended I got the good ice packs. You know, the gel ones that really form around your knee. Unlike these pseudo paper things they deliver to the beds. They are less than worthless.
Second round started with the foot/knee slide. It is so frustrating that the right knee goes so great with barely any pain. Then the left leg will barely move and hurts like hell. They put a ball between my knees and I pressed my thighs together. Walked another 65 feet and then did 3-4 stairs. I didn't actually count the mothers...I was too busy cursing them. Going up wasn't terrible, but coming down was just horrendous.
This therapist took the time to bend my left knee where she wanted it and showed me the movements which was helpful. I don't know that I can actually replicate it, but I have a better chance now.
Many thanks to mine brither for visiting me this evening. I got a bit emotional, but it was just the lift I needed at the end of the day. Well tomorrow's another day and I can't wait to see where the pt trail will take me.
Had PT twice today. First did the foot/knee slide with much the same results as yesterday. Walked 65 yards. She told me to step heel first, apparently I was pointing my toes. Who knew I was so graceful! Then I laid on this bed and they put a bolster under my ankles, requiring me to make my knees bend until the heels hit the bed. The only good thing I can think of to say about this is that when it ended I got the good ice packs. You know, the gel ones that really form around your knee. Unlike these pseudo paper things they deliver to the beds. They are less than worthless.
Second round started with the foot/knee slide. It is so frustrating that the right knee goes so great with barely any pain. Then the left leg will barely move and hurts like hell. They put a ball between my knees and I pressed my thighs together. Walked another 65 feet and then did 3-4 stairs. I didn't actually count the mothers...I was too busy cursing them. Going up wasn't terrible, but coming down was just horrendous.
This therapist took the time to bend my left knee where she wanted it and showed me the movements which was helpful. I don't know that I can actually replicate it, but I have a better chance now.
Many thanks to mine brither for visiting me this evening. I got a bit emotional, but it was just the lift I needed at the end of the day. Well tomorrow's another day and I can't wait to see where the pt trail will take me.
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