Oh My Aching Legs and Feet

Owen's 4th birthday is Wednesday.  Actually it is his Magic Birthday, since he will be 4 on the 4th.  Since there was no party for his adoption as there was for both Landon and Tessa when they became officially part of the Yaggie family, Hilary and Blaine decided to invite friends and family for an combined adoption/birthday party for Owen next Saturday.  Since we have the Party Barn and lots of room for parking and for the kids to play outside, the party will be at our house.

This summer has not been one where Gary and I could cross items off of our Summer 2019 To -Do List.  Not too many of the improvements happened, and definitely the mowing and trimming was sporadic since Gary was doing none of it.  While we appreciated the time and efforts of Hilary, Blaine, Landon, and Matt, we weren't able to chip away at the edges of the yard along the creek like we had planned and trim things as we wanted to do. 

Today was a work outside day.  Mowing.  Chopping wood.  Cleaning up brush.

My role was weeding the flower gardens. 

At the other house I used mulch to keep the weeds down and it worked well.  However, Gary thinks that it drew termites so he refuses to use mulch again, at least anywhere close the house.  Therefore, the weeds in the flower gardens and I have a never-ending love-hate relationship.  They love to grow and spread out everywhere there is an empty spot.  I hate the look of weeds gone wild, and I hate to pull them.

My garden gloves got a workout today.  I pulled weeds, pulled the roots out and I cleaned out the iron kettles and the other large pot that used to sit on the front step at the old house.  A few times I was down on my knees because bending over too long made the blood rush to the top of my head and my sinuses flow down into my nose (can they do that?  It felt like it!).

After I finished, I raked all that I had pulled, gathered it, and carried it to the burn pile in the fire ring by the gazebo.  Once it dries, we will douse it with charcoal lighter fluid and burn it down.

My knees ache.  I can't get down on my knees and back up again without hurting my old knee and stretching out my new knee in a way that hurts.  My feet hurt.  My ankles were swelling and my old shoes that have been demoted to 'garden shoes' just don't have the support they once had.

I was also dirty.  The garden clothes are in the washer now, being cleaned for another day's wear tomorrow. 

Gary has told me I need to go into the living room instead of sitting at the dining room table typing this.  He suggests sitting in the recliner and putting my feet up.

That sounds like a fine idea.  I think I will take him up on it!

The Wound Is Healed

It has been a long long 12 weeks. 

It started when we were in Las Vegas in early June.  Gary picked a callous off the little toe area on his right foot. It began to bleed; infection set in.

The antibiotics he took the next week while waiting to get into the doctor did not do much to eliminate the infection.  The result was that the little toe was amputated on June 19. 

The recovery period began when he returned home on June 21.  Wound vac.  Home health care.  Appointment with the infectious disease doctor. Weekly appointments with the podiatrist at the Wound Clinic.  Restrictions on leaving the house so as to not tempt more infection and to rest the foot and let it heal.

Finally today he was released because the wound is healed.

Hallelujah!

However... (and there is always a however, isn't there?).... there are many blisters across the top of his right foot.  The podiatrist, his nurse, and every other nurse who has worked with him in the last few weeks are puzzled by the cause of those blisters.

A few weeks ago I suggested to Gary that the best remedy might be to let the skin breathe and the blisters heal.  Instead the doctor and all of the nurses insisted on applying gauze or Telfa pads (OH NO!  NOT TELFA PADS!), or web roll.  The results were that the blisters were still a mess or that new ones had formed.

Now also he has a rash on his arms and legs.  He is slathering hydrocortisone cream on his limbs constantly, just to relieve the itching and to prevent scratching.  It is obvious that he is allergic to something or something is causing a reaction on his skin.

At the appointment with Dr. Hart on Tuesday next week we hope to find some answers or a new remedy for that issue.

But for now---he is thrilled that his 'house arrest' has been lifted.  He is excited that the wound is healed.  He can now take a shower without a plastic bag on his foot.  He can wear socks and shoes without working around gauze and webroll.  He no longer needs the services of the visiting nurse.  We can go out for dinner again!  He doesn't have to be afraid of someone seeing him out and about and taking the home health care services away. 

But most of all, he seems to be healthy again.  His blood sugar has been better.  His appetite has been good.  Maybe life can be back to somewhat normal once again, and we can return to enjoying the days and nights like we were before Las Vega.

A Little Thing like Stopping at a Restaurant for Breakfast

Gary and I haven't been inside a restaurant to eat a meal since before Father's Day. 

Actually it was the day before Father's Day. We stopped at the West Side Diner with the rest of the family for dinner after the Quilts of Valor event in Winamac.

The following Monday he was admitted to IU Arnett Hospital because of an infection in his little toe on his right foot which resulted in that toe being amputated.  After a week in the hospital he returned home for recuperation with the nurses from Home Health Care visiting twice a week and an appointment with Dr. Perry every Friday.

This is week 11 of being on what I have termed "House Arrest" since he hasn't been allowed to leave the property for anything except doctor's appointments or risk losing the services of the nurses two days a week. 

We have been following those orders to the letter, except for a few visits to Megan's house for the first day of school pictures and Cooper's birthday and a few visits to Hilary's house for first day of school pictures and to stay with the kids while Blaine was working and we were at Women of Joy in Indianapolis for two days.

Meals have been an adventure!  More attention to low carb meals.  Watching sugar content on packaged foods.  I know the drive -thru menus of many restaurants in the Greater Lafayette area, plus I have become familiar with ordering online or on the phone and picking up said order at the restaurant to take home and enjoy.   But going to a restaurant to sit down, order from the menu, be served, and walk out again after paying?  Hasn't happened.  Until today.

Because Gary has an appointment with Dr. Hart next week, blood work was needed today.  It was a fasting lab, and since blood sugar numbers are important, he was concerned about eating and not eating and the number dipping too low.  When we left the lab, he decided that a stop at Bob Evans was next.

I felt really special!  He did too.  He ordered  a breakfast special which included pancakes, and he said it was one of the best breakfasts he has had lately.  Not surprising since all of our morning meals have been at home the last 11 weeks and cereal or scrambled eggs have been on the menu. 

Dr Perry teased us two weeks ago by looking at the wound and stating that it was healed, then took a closer look and said "Just kidding!"  At first I thought that was cruel to get Gary's hopes up, then dash them again, but it may be that he was thinking that another two weeks (since he was going to be out of town the following week and there  would be no appointment) would finish the healing process and guarantee a release from his care. 

I hope so. 

Because ----Gary has said a few times in the last 24 hours that if he isn't released, he is going to be very upset and depressed.  I don't want that to happen.

And ..... we will be going to Olive Garden for lunch if he is!  Hilary and Owen will be meeting us there to help us celebrate!  Olive Garden is one of his favorite restaurants and the one he really wants to visit! 

I'll keep you posted!

And suddenly Cooper Is 6!

Cooper turned 6 on Wednesday last week.  August 21.  How can that be?

He should be that cute little boy with the bowl type haircut, wide brown eyes, always laughing and giggling.  He should be the little boy who runs around the living room, playing baseball on his imaginary teams, switching quickly to making field goals and free throws for his imaginary basketball team, or catching passes on his imaginary football team.

Instead he is growing up---and his first practice for the his first REAL baseball team for Fall Ball in Mulberry is tonight after school.

He is in kindergarten now, picking up sight words and reading, making new friends, and growing inches overnight it seems.

Cooper is one of the kids who never gives us any trouble when he visits.

He listens.  He pays attention.  He knows what he can and can't do, where he can and can't go, and when he needs to ask for permission to do something.

He goes to sleep well.  When he spends the night, once he brushes his teeth, says his prayers, and we talk for a bit, he is ready to shut off the light and close his eyes.  And he stays in bed until morning!

I remember taking Cooper along with us two years ago when we were cleaning out Mom's house in Wooster.  His folks were at a conference in Chicago for a week and he was staying with us.  He sat in the backseat for the five hour drive there and five hour trip back and never fussed.  He played in the house and in the yard without being scared or being bored.  He went to sleep each night without crying.  We tried to plan a fun activity each day so that he would have something to look forward to---time at the park.  Playing on the play set in Melanie and Brian's backyard.  Going to Hartzlers for ice cream.  He even helped Uncle Kent sort through a few boxes in the basement.

Cooper is quite a little guy.  And he is growing up too fast. 

Happy Birthday #6!  Mamaw and Papaw love you more than you will ever know!

And once again...The Best Laid Plans.....

It's been several months since I posted anything here, and when I read the last post I had to laugh because practically nothing that we had planned actually happened.

Yes, the girls and I did attend Women of Joy and it was a refreshing, enjoyable weekend for all three of us.

The Carroll County Fair did happen, and Landon started his 4-H tenure with a bang!  He was quite successful with his projects, especially the goats and the pigs.

Other than that though.....

No trip to Florida in June.

No long weekend in Louisville with Mike, Angie, and Nick.

No other fun activities throughout the summer.

No traveling of any kind.

Homebodies we were.

Our only trips were to the Wound Clinic and sneaking out to go to the girls' houses in August for the first day of school pictures and birthday parties.

As Greta's friend Dianne always posts on FB...Upside:  .......

And there are upsides to this summer.

Gary is now checking his blood sugar routinely and paying attention to the numbers.

We are eating more mindfully of sugar content and focusing more on a Keto type of diet.  Not entirely...but closer.

There is a lot to do at home in the summer, such as catching up on reading and working on sewing projects.

We have a wonderful family.  Daughters who help out.  Sons-in-law who assist with outside work when we can't.  Grandchildren who come to visit often and keep us feeling loved and needed.

We are also glad we moved.  Making trips to Lafayette for the week Gary was in the hospital and to doctors' appointments since then, even for meds and groceries, have been so much easier by being closer to town.  

Plus we have agreed that we really like our new house, the deck, the yard, the solitude, the room that we have...all of it.

We are blessed.  Even though the Summer of 2019 was not as we had planned, we know that God's plan for us was something different and He does know best.