Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:04 am on January 28, 2014 Permalink  

  The Kitchen Calls 

  

  Nothing Like Something From the Oven

  After getting through a day of blizzard conditions yesterday and waking to sub-zero temps the schedule was pretty soft for the day.  Hubby Dennis and I had made a comment about our local bakery and how their products have changed but most importantly how expensive the goodies are.  Far be that we would think a dozen of bakery cookies were worth $3.99 so we blew off the dust of an old favorite cookbook and began making our own goodies.  Dennis’ favorite cookie is either chocolate chip or peanut butter and the full jar of peanut butter just happened to show up on the kitchen counter from the pantry in the basement.

  I could never have gotten the baking spree done – setting out ingredients was one thing but the rest was too much activity for the shoulder.  The end result was far better than anything from the home town bakery.  We may have to keep that recipe book handy as the molasses recipe really reminded me how great they were.

  After a time Dennis had the dishes washed and was heading out to blow the blizzard snow off the driveway.  In turn I am making supper via a one handed stir-type dish.  Life here on Stauffer is pretty sweet.

   
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  Noreen 5:02 am on January 27, 2014 Permalink  

  Simple is Many Times the Best 

  

  My Very Best Friend for Recovery

  Today the resistant band comes out and we are entering the next level of exercise for the new shoulder.  For the last week the exercise has been me being bent at the waist with the arm hanging down and slowly making circles increasing the the size of the circles first in one direction and then the other doing several reps during the day.  My personal goal was 20 circles in each direction at the widest circle.

  The resistant band is such a simple tool but can really test the strength as it is now and help build the strength with the new configuration of the shoulder with the maximum motion.  I found the bathroom door offers the best options and also sitting in a chair is the greatest challenge rather than standing.  The entire time I have had problems with the shoulders I knew I could always do more with more strength while standing using the entire length of my body for powering the shoulders.  I want full range regardless of what my activities are.  Crafting and quilting motions are needed in the standing position as well as sitting.

  I can tell you that every possible motion of a normal shoulder is what I am working at mastering and of course my goal.  It won’t come over night but I have nothing but time and it’s not the hare that will win this race but the steady Eddie turtle aka: me.

   
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  Noreen 3:15 am on January 26, 2014 Permalink  

  Everyone Should Have One 

  The main floor of our home needed some groceries and cleaning supplies to fill in for the amount of empty containers that have filled the recycling bin.  It gave me a good bit of exercise to make the trips up and down the basement steps from our pantry.  In the last century it would have been referred to as the fruit cellar.

  Growing up with the abundance of food supplies in the fruit cellar of the home I grew up in, I could not imagine that my own home would not have extras on hand.  The fruit cellar would have had a portion of the basement that had a dirt floor and far from any heat source.  Maybe the store-bought staples might have been in slim supply from time to time, but fruit, vegetables and multiple types of canned meats were always just a trip away in the basement.  Remembering my youth . . . hunger never entered in.

  We’ve moved on up in the world and our pantry is located in a portion of the basement that had at one time been the cistern – a self-contained room that collected rain water for use in the home prior to city water being plumbed into the house.  Ah, yes, this little bungalow would have many tales to tell.  About twenty years ago Dennis and his cousin Bruce decided to use a jack hammer and an opening was made the size of a doorway and the area of the cistern was then an extension of the basement.  Several sets of used upper kitchen cabinets were acquired and set one on top of another and we had an instant pantry for supplies.

  It is wonderful to stockpile items when a good sale is going on or to just have the advantage of not having to run to the store as often.  No doubt by the time the shoulder is healed there will be huge holes on some of the shelves as Dennis has been visiting the pantry often.  At the end of this duration it will become a challenge to fix a meal around the items that have been pushed around and left for the more desirable favorites.

  Whether it’s a fruit cellar or a pantry, I can’t imagine a home not having something similar.

   
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  Noreen 2:40 am on January 25, 2014 Permalink  

  It For Sure Happens 

  I have noticed from this surgery as well as several in the past that my vision is also affected for a time during recovery.

  There seems to be some bath towel lint enjoying the bathroom floor.  Actually it  picks up some of the same hues of the flooring and it moves when the furnace kicks in.

  Coffee grounds at the base of the coffee pot will be a great addition to the potting soil mixture for the houseplants – maybe this spring.

  The angle of the shade in the west porch looks a lot like the windows of the vacant house across the street.

  My favorite rocker in the bedroom is an amazing organizational spot for laundry that has special storage areas.

  It sure all looks good to me – time for a nap with an ice pack.

   
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  Noreen 3:08 am on January 24, 2014 Permalink  

  And it Starts Today 

  Today the home exercises for the shoulder kicks in to the next level and that seems appropriate as this is what it will take for successful future progress.  The latest challenge of a yeast infection upon wearing a Foley catheter for a week can now be checked off.  So long to that.  Had not had that problem for eight years but under the circumstances it was not a big surprise.  The body is very protective when it comes to invasive paraphernalia and I can only pray it will fall ‘in like’ with all the titanium that is here to stay.  Here is to getting on with the real recovery – the shoulder.  Yippee!

  There is nothing like additional incentive to do the exercises than to go down into my sewing area and perch myself on the sewing chair and twirl around several times taking in all the sewing and craft items that are my passions.  I had limped along with less than good motion prior to the right shoulder being done in April of 2013.  From that recovery time to the time when the right shoulder blew out I had really begun to pick up momentum only to have to close down shop once again.

  I know being patient and following the doctor’s orders will be well worth it and my sewing area will be there waiting just for me.  Believe me if hubby Dennis was going to be showing signs of being a quilter, it would have shown itself by now.  The frosting on the cake came in today’s mail when we received from Dennis’ cousin’s daughter a “Thank You” card for a quilted wedding gift we had given this last fall.  Such a small item in the mail has really given me a boost.

  P.S. typing with my left hand is getting better just as eating with my left hand is progressing.  It’s a good thing.

   
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  Noreen 2:39 am on January 23, 2014 Permalink  

  A Cold Blizzard Type of Day 

  We knew the forecast was for continued cold and blowing snow and a grocery list needed to be made.  After the appointment yesterday that allowed for my staples to be taken out of the shoulder I was also given permission to use the right arm from the elbow down as long as the sling is worn.

  We had not been to the store since the first days of January and now with me being able to do more for preparing meals the list didn’t take long to grow.  In the store Dennis pushed the cart and we had ourselves an outing.  For me that in itself felt wonderful to be out and about.  We had gotten everything on the list when Dennis took off with the cart much like a realities television food show.  He was gone and back in a heart beat with a huge smile.  Come so far my hubby Dennis had been without ketchup for over two weeks – two weeks in the life of a die hard ‘ketchup on everything’ type of guy was huge.  Being a diligent care-giver these last weeks it had not been on the list of his own priorities.  What a guy!

   
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  Noreen 5:50 am on January 22, 2014 Permalink  

  A Corner Turned 

  

  Shoulder Staples Out. Yippee!

  Whew!  After eleven days the shoulder staples are out.  The tugging and pulling that was going around each staple was a clear indication that the healing was progressing.  Not another appointment until four weeks from now.  I have my instructions on exercises for that duration.

  I wanted to take a celebration stand and fix supper for us to see if I still had the ole Martha Stewart swagger.  In all honesty I was hungry for the crunch of lettuce, the crisp snap of sliced raw onions and a cubed juicy tomato.  Soft shelled tacos were my choice.  I appreciate hubby Dennis’ love of comfort food but the image of the dinner plate divided into protein, fruit, grains and veggies has been haunting me.  I will admit handling a taco with my left hand – not so much.  I preceded to push my fork around the plate with my face as close to the fork as possible to enjoy my effort with the hope of the next meal I fix being a bit more mindful of mobility.  There is one advantage in comfort food – it generally is sticky enough to hold together for the transport from plate to mouth.

  I don’t think Dennis and I are going to go to the dark side in a matter of weeks with our menu choices but there is that ideal dinner plate to aspire to.

   

   

   
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  Noreen 11:43 pm on January 20, 2014 Permalink  

  A Six Week Timeout 

  “You just sit in that corner and think about what you’ve done.”  I am not sequestered to a chair, but rather the length of our home as six weeks of no mobility in the right shoulder really cuts into my usual activities.  Dennis promises if I wear a path in the laminate flooring he will have our fellow Jim Bob come in and repair or replace it.  When the left shoulder was done in April of 2013, I wore walking paths in the backyards during that recovery.

  Having a timeout does allow for a re-read of your favorite auto biography – your own life.  I can only imagine how six weeks allows to just scratch the surface.  Lots of highs and lows to have the story at this point be on Stauffer Avenue. The past can’t be changed and tomorrow is not as yet mine.  When you know you will be undergoing surgery the prayer is for many tomorrows to come.  I don’t want to waste what is right here today.

  Thinking on instances in my life that have caused a break in relationships over time, it would represent less than a single heartbeat in the scheme of my life.  Significant, but not altering, all the heartbeats to come, nor significant enough to scare my healthy heart or the heart of others.  That’s just not how God has wired our hearts. If that may be the case in some instances, sight has been lost of “His will, not mine.” I will continue to save the best and leave the rest and feel so blessed that I have that God-given ability.  Old baggage is the last thing my new shoulders need to contend with.   Hubby Dennis also advocates that for good health.

  I’m only on the second week of my timeout stint.  Cleaning out the dust bunnies of my mind will prove interesting but in the mean time I have a loaded Swiffer and I may do a little two step as I travel the length of the home with the left arm.

   
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  Noreen 2:40 am on January 20, 2014 Permalink  

  Winnie the Pooh 

  With my shoulder propped up on a pillow and the television allowing for background noise a cat nap soon took over. After a time of skirting awareness I realized the latest viewing on the television was a Winnie the Pooh cartoon as he and Robin were exploring the 100 acre wood.

  As they stopped for a bit of honey the ever lovable Pooh told Robin “If there ever comes a day when we cannot be together keep me in your heart, I’ll stay there forever.”

  What a grand way to wake up from a nap and have the entire path of life laid out for you.  Silly ole wise bear.

   
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  Noreen 2:21 am on January 19, 2014 Permalink  

  Fleeting Thoughts: 

  Healing with limited mobility allows for over load of emotions – more tiring and draining than a hard day of gardening.