Me, Myself and Memories

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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.

   
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  Noreen 4:29 am on January 18, 2014 Permalink  

  Challenges on Stauffer #4 

  Today was the one-week post-op surgical appointment.  Wow, seven days ago at this time I had a fair amount of fear and panic coming home after the reverse shoulder surgery.  Having had quite a few surgeries, I never take it for granted.  They are all serious.

  This last week would have been spent in a swing bed at our local hospital if not for hubby Dennis.

  Bodily functions and aftercare are so taken for granted – until you can’t manage it on your own.  Bless that man’s heart as he gets a cell phone call at his afternoon get together with buds and immediately comes home after getting a call from my cell home.  A time ensues and then I hear “Hi Hon, I’m here” as he finds me sitting on the commode waiting for his help.  Now that is what is called enduring love.  Actually, there is a definition of a word that “does for others that which is not required, but done through ardent emotional attachment.” That word is “romantic.”  Yup, that’s Dennis.

  Today life just feels so good.  My vitals at the checkup were good, the Foley catheter came out, and the self cathing is back on track and I hear Dennis coming in from his afternoon bud get-together.  It’s time to think about us planning an evening meal.

   
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  Noreen 1:52 am on January 17, 2014 Permalink  

  A quiet day on Stauffer Avenue letting a few cat naps take over and letting the healing continue.

   
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  Noreen 2:39 am on January 16, 2014 Permalink  

  Challenges on Stauffer #3 

  Day 6 and it was a ‘red letter’ day.  A hot shower.  With the extra paraphernalia of the catheter all I was missing was a flock of little yellow rubber duckies.  Dennis got just as wet as I did but it was just great.  Beta-din good-bye.

  We went on to get several loads of laundry orchestrated.  Clean socks and undies – the world is good.

  I do have what I hope is one last less than “oh goodie” in regard to the extra issue of this surgery and that being the catheter I am wearing as an additional appendage.  Dennis and I made a total of two trips to the ER for catheter irrigation – one on Saturday  and on on Sunday. Sunday the ER staff said any additional trips for the same issue would not be processed favorably with insurance.  The message would be on my family doctor’s computer Sunday night for him to see first thing Monday morning that I would need a standing order with either the clinic or the hospital for the catheter irrigation.  We received a call this noon (Wednesday) that the order could be picked up.

  I am so proud of all the help Dennis was and has been with the multiple times day or night he has helped wrangling saline solutions, the syringes and all the ‘clean-up on aisle five” to keep the urine running while my right arm being of no help.  Come on – it’s pee, the most taken for granted bodily function by the majority of the world.  Only on Stauffer Avenue does it trump—–everything.

  I am going back to revealing of the hot shower.