Stories...

So I warned you all that I am not good at these blogs. I normally don't have time to just sit and write stories, or by the time I can I have either forgotten them temporarily, or I am too tired. HA!

A lot has gone on in the past couple weeks. Physical therapy has not been fun, and it wont get any easier. I go to the doctor next week, and I have a feeling I will not be allowed to walk without the crutches. I still cannot go with out at least one. Once I am off the crutches though, physical therapy will get more intense.

We have big news on the truck. We no longer own a Chevy silverado. Yes, I know it's a very sad sad day for us! Especially since we use a truck on a regular basis. Because my eyes nearly bugged out of my head at the $86.00 to fill it, we knew it was time. So, after days of research and 3 1/2 hours at the dealership where Greg first purchased the silverado, we finally made our choice. Hopefully when I get home later today I can post pictures. It's an HHR. We are sticking with chevy for sure. It will cost only half in gas, and it fits all of us! (including the doggies!!)
Greg has already done some shopping to personalize the HHR including seat covers (black), putting a different steering wheel on for controls, will be painting the grill to match the color of the vehicle, tires, etc... you get the point. We are excited about this purchase.

Brandy had her band (French Horn) try-out at the high school. Brandy has been playing the french horn since 6th grade. She described the try-out as being a room where the judge(s) had their backs turned to the students just to listen to them play their piece. She said that she didn't think she did so well. Of course, we tell her we think she did just fine and that we are our worst critics. It wasn't until a couple hours later that she really showed her emotion. She looked sad, so I asked her what was wrong. She then lost it. She said that she feels very strongly that she bombed the try-out. Then, I had to go into "super mommy mode" and encourage her because she really does have some talent. Brandy also has been in private lessons for a couple months now, and it will all pay off for her. I also told her that it was a nice learning experience because she will encounter many situations just as this in her lifetime. I also explained to her, which I am sure she already knew, that when she is placed in the lower band classes, that when she begins to perform her true self without all the pressure, she will be moved to the appropriate level of band.

Jeremy had his third appointment and all looks well. He was very excited to be out of school on Thursday because this means he will have a 5 day weekend! HA! We are very pleased at this point with the doctor. Now we are awaiting for his test results. I will have more on that next week.

Yesterday was fun. Brandy had a friend come over for a couple hours. Merry Maids finally made it toward 4-5 pm. When they left, I had a special surprise for the kids. I secretively snuck into their rooms and snagged their swimsuits from the drawers. Then, I put them in a bag with 3 towels (accommodating for Brandy's guest) and strategically weaseled my way out to the truck of the car so they would have no idea what was going on. At that point, I told them to get ready to go for a ride.
My friend Cheryl and her family are out of town for the holiday and they asked if we could make sure their dog has food, and water her plants. So, since I had already gone over there to play with the dog and water her plants, I told them we should drive by to make sure Thor hadn't gotten loose. So we did. Then, I told them we should site see around the neighborhood. Once we were at the park and pool, I suggested that we should go look at the work they did before the pool opened. We got up to the door and went inside. Brandy and Jeremy both stated that they wished they could go swimming. So, as we were inside the pool area, I told them that I didn't know what they were going to do but I was going to sit at the poolside. Brandy was confused and Jeremy was already playing on the park swings. I opened the trunk and Brandy grabbed the bag packed with their swimming attire. Once Jeremy found out, I don't think I have ever seen him run so fast! We stayed for about an hour and 15 minutes. It was nice to be there because there were only 4 or 5 other people in the pool. We left at the right time because then people were pouring in so quickly. I was able to read my book and actually get through a couple chapters.

I suppose that is all for now. We are with Greg at work today to keep him company till the shop closes. It will give me an opportunity to clean the loaner car inside and out!

The Clarinet

Ok, so most of you know that Brandy has been playing the french horn since 6th grade. She plans to continue through high school. Jeremy on the other hand really has not shown any interest what so ever musically. Until recently.
Last night were the 6th grade try outs. We started with the percussion, which I never did find out for sure what his score was. I figured he would have LOVED playing drums, xylophone something of that nature. Instead, he wanted to try the flute.
First of all, they had a few stations set up for each instrument the school provides classes for. Each station has a teacher who shows you how to sit, hold and use each instrument. Then they grade you on a scale of 0 - 5 (5 being the best).
After the percussion test, we had to go to the cafeteria where the rest of the instruments were. He started with the flute, he received a 5. Then he went to clarinet and received a 5+! French horn was a 4. He really didn't show any interest in any of the other instruments such as the trombone, basson/saxophone, oboe or trumpet. He was set for SURE on the clarinet.
So there you have it. I signed him up, paid for the rental instrument.

This was a very good experience. It's about time he shows interest in something musical!!!! :):)

PT IS NO FUN!

Physical Therapy is absolutely NO fun! First they started with a heat pack, then excersizes and then an ice pack... *sigh*
This is going to be long...

Long awaited...

POST!! Wow, I can't believe how busy it has been. Let's catch up!

Greg has been busy with work and chroming his newly purchase motorcycle. (hehe) He took the kids for thier very first ride this weekend! Brandy, being the freespirited one, LOVED the ride and requested that Greg bring her to or pick her up from school on the motorcycle sometime. Jeremy on the other hand held on for dear life. Needlesstosay, the ride was a bit shorter with Jeremy. Hopefully he will grow to like the ride. Greg recently found a fellow GMC Typhoon owner who happends to know how to work on them. Saturday we took the Typhoon and dropped it off to find out what the source of the oil leak is. He speaks of selling it once it is fixed, but I am encouraging him to keep it. It is a rare truck, he's always wanted one, and I kinda like it as well. Ok, maybe I just like the fact that it's easy to get into and looks and will run awesome. It is ultimately his decision, I support it either way.

Jeremy is excited about camp. This year they will experience more than the previous camps they have been to. Horseback riding, paintball, zip lines, lazy river, praise and worship, arts and crafts, waterpark, mountain bike riding... etc..
I was impressed with his report card, he got 3 of his grades up to B's. MUCH IMPROVEMENT! So far one TAKS test has a commended grade (above average), and the second test was in the average range. We are currently seeing a doctor who specializes in ADD/ADHD in Dallas. The doctor states that Jeremy is extremely intelligent person and has a great personality. Over the next 6 weeks we are going to be putting into place a few things to help Jeremy be able to focus better with school orgaization, completing tasks completely and building him up to feel better about these accomplishments.

Brandy has been doing VERY well with school! She has worked hard to bring up and maintain all A's and B's with her grades! Which means she got her cell phone privilages back and internet time. She actually has a band performance tonight which she is very excited about. Greg will be attending with her as I will be attending Jeremy's DARE performance tonight. I am dissapointed that the schools scheduled these two events at the same time, but what can you do?
We took Brandy to the podiatrist 2 weeks ago. She was given some orthotics to wear to see if they could help with her ankles back in February. The doctor said that since the pain is now gone, we are not going to consider surgery at this time. I am SO relieved!! We are going to take her back in a year to have more x-rays done to see if the orthotics actually correct the problem.

I am doing better for the most part. I am still in pain and the physical therapy isn't helping with the pain. It's managable though, today is the first day I took some tylenol and motrin to take the edge off the pain. I now have started weekly going to physical therapy. The therapist said that because I am not on full weight bearing they cannot start a more aggressive therapy, and have me doing some excersizes to build up some muscle strength.
I went to work for the first time for an hour for training, and then again Monday for a half day. I enjoyed being back with the girls, and just out of the house, but they didn't have enough work for me to do to stay a full day. So I came home and took a nap! LOL

Ok, I have a few things I need to complete today, as we have a busy schedule tonight! PLUS, we are again having some storms roll through soon too. I love the spring, but being on crutches, I could do without the rain!! haha

Finally

We came to work with Greg today to keep him company as Saturday's are non work days, and sometimes it's not busy and others are. I actually thought I would have a moment to type today of some of the things going on this week. However, I decided to spill coffee on my husbands boss' keyboard today, which we had to take apart and clean in "HOPES" it will work. Greg let me call his boss to find out if he has an extra keyboard or if he would like me to spend my government stimulous money to buy him a new one. He said to take it home and run it through my dishwasher!! WIERD!! He said it has worked for him in the past. In the meantime, Greg has had nothing but customers all day!! So we stole a keyboard from another computer in place of this one and at first it didn't work. Now I got it to work, but it's time to go!!!!!!

So, until I get another chance everything is great! hahaha

tonight...

I am too tired to post... until tomorrow :)

My Bling!

I am SO hip as my hubby puts it! This is my X-Ray...

So....

It's been a while. 8 Days to be exact and I am dissapointed in myself!

We had storms roll through last night that woke us all up so I didn't sleep well at all. Greg took pictures of the hail pouring down! I haven't figured out how to post pics yet, I hope this works. We have more rolling through sometime after 3 AM. FUN FUN. I blame it on my mom though. She brought the Nebraska thunder with her!! hehehe

Ok, updates...

My mom took me to my 1st doc visit since the surgery. Had X-rays done and staples removed. Yes, it hurt. However, I found out that I could have been showering since I got out of the hospital!!!!!!!!!! The nurses at the hospital on discharge told me that until I had my staples removed, sponge baths only. *sigh*

Anyway, so far everything looks good. I even asked the nurses if it would be ok if I drove my children to and from school ONLY, and I could tell by the look on their faces that they were going to say no, but they said as long as I was careful and didn't do any more than that it would be ok.

I have noticed that when the physical therapist comes, the next day I dont feel so good. I will definately test this theory of mine tomorrow and Friday.

Ok, on to a funny.

So I am sure most have learned about all the cancelled flights with AA. Well, my mom is suppose to fly out on Saturday, but we are thinking that with all the cancelled flights, (1,000 just today) she might have to reschedule her flight. So, my lovely daughter Brandy must have overheard a conversation we had about it. Last night at dinner, Brandy opted to say grace and during her prayer over our dinner she hoped that Nana's flight was cancelled so she could stay longer and for her birthday on Saturday. hahaha.. Out of the mouth of babes!

I had my mom take me up to work today because one of my co-workers had some crutches that she was going to let me borrow instead of paying for some. I was excited to see everyone and vice versa. I think I was more excited mostly because my mom got to see where I worked and meet the girls I work with. I figure it will be about 3 more weeks before I can go back to work. I can't wait! This sitting at home doing nothing but healing really is driving me NUTTY!! So every chance (almost) someone has to go somewhere I want to go too!!

Alrighty, I am off to bed now. More to come...

Nurse

A nurse came today from the at home therapy company who is helping me with my physical therapy. She just came for the initial visit to do a blood test and change my dressing.
They will only have to draw my blood on Friday, but physical therapy starts Thursday. I will have pt 3 times a week. Doesn't sound like much fun... hehe

Lunch!

Ha! Nina had to run a couple errands this morning and checked with me to make sure I would be ok. I told her yes, of course! So off she went. I was sitting at my computer working on some things when I realized I was still hungry.
I carefully got out of my chair to the walker and went to the fridge. I grabbed my left overs from the day before and went towards the microwave. It was very light and easy to transport. When I got over to the microwave, I got a plate out of the cupboard, placed my food on it and put it in to cook! I then went over to the computer chair and rolled it little by little to the microwave, placed my plate in it and then rolled back to the computer desk. How clever! (hehe) Where there is a will there is a way! :)

At Home

So I have been home since Friday evening. It has been fantabulous to be home!! I first started sleeping on the sofa, and it was ok, very comfortable when I could get positioned properly. Getting up and down was quite the task at first. Of course, I could get up painfully on my own. It was getting back that I needed assistance.
My wonderful hubby came up with a grand plan for me to sleep in my own bed! You see, our bed stands very tall as it is a storage bed. Under the mattress (which is the pillow top) We have drawers and storage. Therefore leaving the bed a bit taller than an average one. Both Greg and I have to "hop" into bed. Good thing we are still young enough to do so!! :) At any rate, my thoughtful hunnie went out to the garage and brought in the "fiddy stand" he built 2 years ago that is about 2 feet in height. He placed it at the foot of the bed. It was waaaaaaaay too high! There was NO way I could possibly step up on it. So, he brainstormed a little longer. My brilliant hubby came up with something a bit more practical! He brought in two of his folding tables he used at his stunt competitions. As he got into the house he also encountered an abrupt tumble as he went through the kitchen towards the bedroom. Nina decided they needed to make a direct contact at the same moment and location, as Greg was knocked over and sandwiched between the two tables! Gladly enough they are both ok!
Both tables were still folded, which was about the size of a step into the house. PERFECT! He placed it on the floor and put the second one on top of it. He placed some magazines and books to uphold the off set of the tables for me to have a pair of steps up into the bed! VERY STURDY! What a quick thinker! (I think he missed me!!)
I was able to sleep in my very own bed for the first time in over a week!!
It was actually somewhat of a rough night. I laid in bed for 2 hours before I could finally go to sleep. Approximately an hour and a half I had to ask Greg to place a towel under my ankle as my heel was again stinging from all the pressure. Then, shortly after I was cozy, I realized I needed to use the bathroom! So up I went. I returned to realize that I still needed the assistance to get my leg back on the bed. However, Greg was at peace in his sleep and I really didn't want to wake him again. I actually was able to get my leg up on my own!! Painfully of course, but, I still did it!! Throughout the night, I kept waking up because I was too hot, or uncomfortable and needed a small stretch or shift. I remember my surgeon saying that i could lay on my side as long as I have a big pillow in between my knees so my hip doesn't rotate inward. With the relaxing thought of a possible good sleep, I tried it. It worked! I am not one to sleep on my back, so for the past almost 2 weeks has been horrible trying to sleep on my own.
I have to say that this is going to be a long road to travel over the next few weeks. I am still in a lot of pain, and it hurts to stand and sit. I imagine it will be this way for a while.
Everyone has been a trooper through all this! I am soooo grateful!

I get to go home!!!

So, I was sitting here trying to update this blog on some of the events that have taken place over the past week, and guess who arrived! YES! My surgeon! He came in and said that I could go home!! I will need to pick up all my prescriptions, and schedule to come back to see him in about a week. I will set that up next week for the following week. That way my mom will be here to take me. I am totally excited!!
I am just awaiting for my nurse to come in and re-dress my incision and hand me my papers. I called my hubby to give him the good news, but he was caught up with a mad customer. So it's going to be just a little bit before he can leave. Not a problem. This will give me time to say goodbye to the nurses and staff.
The stay here at the hospital was awesome. Only with the complaint of my cathedar bag over flowing twice, and the experience with the PT, I would most definately choose this hospital over any other I have been to. The Nurses are very patient and they care about making sure every need, whether it is pain control or something simple as moving something closer to the bed for easy access. I even had the opportunity to have a girl who was training to be a nurse come and help with medication administration and dressing my incision. I told her she would make a great team player at the hospital.
I AM GOING HOME!!!! YAY!!!!! I miss my hubby, children, puppies and just our home environment. This feels so good!

All by myself!

PT started off with a negative notion. A woman came in and tried to encourage me to get out of bed on Thursday. I was NOT having it. I was in way too much pain and couldn't do it. Usually the therapists try to get you moving fairly quickly following surgery to help get a person on track, which was fine, but I didn't like her attitude. Friday came and a different lady arrived and was extremely helpful and took her time. I really liked her encouragement. I was still in alot of pain, and hit the morphine button every 8 minutes as I was allowed! Saturday I was able to get into a chair but man oh man did it hurt!

Monday I got mad. The PT that was in charge came into the room to help me get up and try walking. She was mean and actually hurt me to the point of tears. She did not allow me to move the rail above me to use the triangle to get out of bed. I told her that I have used it to get out of the bed, but she refused to move it. She asked me if I had any plans on purchasing this type of hospital bed for home. Of course my reply was no and her recourse was, unless I am purchasing this type of bed, I cannot move the triangle forward. She was hard on me. I am thinking to myself this isn't a football coach pushing the team to win. As she left the room she said "I will see you tomorrow." I didn't reply till the door was short, but I said out loud, "Oh no you wont." Suggested by my mom, I did talk to the doctor about the situation. He said sometimes you run into therapists who are like that, but dont worry about it in the future. Aparently, someone had a little talk with her because when she came back the next day... and wow what a difference in her attitude! She was catering to my every need! Even after therapy, she asked me two or three times if I needed help with anything.
Maybe it was a bad day for her, maybe I was the last patient and she was eager to get out of here. Either way, you dont treat anyone in a mean manor!

Eight days later I am able to get out of bed (slowly), walk to the bathroom, and get around hands down with the aid of a walker or crutches.
I cannot WAIT until this becomes easier.

Divine Timing...

So everything was set with surgery date, hospital stay, and recovery. Things did not go as planned. My mom arranged to fly down from Nebraska Tuesday the night before the surgery, and return home on Saturday. She was completed with all her meetings and at the airport ready to go! When she arrived, she learned that all flights to DFW were cancelled. We had also heard on the news that flights were cancelled from all airlines because of the weather. My mom tried to change for a later flight, and was going to fly on Thursday, but it was not guarenteed and could be changed again.
The weather was terrible all day Tuesday, March 18th. It had been a constant down pour off and on all day. When the storms made thier way to the DFW airport area, we later learned it included a funnel cloud which evacuated a tower of 15 people. My mom called a few times to keep me posted on the flight schedules, but when it came down to it, it was decided for her to arrive at a later time. She was very adament about getting here in time for surgery, but we both realized that it was an actual blessing in disguise she wasn't able to come. Although I wished for her to be here, and her to be here as well, it just wasn't in the plan.
Greg's mom was able to change her schedule to fly down on Thursday so she could keep the kids at bay and Greg could try to have some time to process all that has happened and go back to work. It was so funny yet awesome that Wednesday evening, Greg, Jeremy and Brandy brought all thier sleeping bags and pillows to camp out in my room with me. It was so nice to be able to wake up off and on throughout the night to see them all snoozing with me. What a great TEAM! I am so proud of them!
So my mom and Greg (and other family members) were keeping touch on the events of the day and I remember my mom talking to me on the hospital phone. Although I do not remember the content of the conversation, I do remember her saying something about how I may not remember the conversation! (hahaha)
She held on to her open ticket and was going to reschedule at a later time to come down. Being that this time of year is very busy at work for her, my mom has been amazingly flexible in her efforts to come help. She has arranged to come for a week long in April. I am totally excited. If all works out my Granny will be coming for a week also!! I am such a blessed girl to have family who is supportive!

Surgery

FINALLY Surgery day!
We arrived at the hospital around 5:15 AM and signed in for surgery. All my pre-op information was completed from days before, and we were ready to get a move on this grand ordeal. We were called back to get my weight, bp, draw blood, and to change into my gown. (Not for a Ball either) haha.
Greg, Jeremy and Brandy were with me, which made me feel so much better and at ease. They were all a nervous wreck! I tried to be as calming with the reassurance that everything is going to be well! It will be over before we know it!
The surgeon, nurse, and anesthesiologist came in to touch base so Greg and the kids got to meet them all too. Soon after the anesthesiologist returned to add some medicine to my IV line to help put me to sleep. All I remember was him talking about giving me the medication and that was it! I do not even remember rolling out of the room.

Around 3:30 PM I recall nurses standing over me trying to find another vein to use for my IV. I was so in and out of consciousness there are bits and pieces I could remember. I was moved up to my private room by 4:30 PM.

Aparently the surgery did not go as planned. It was to be simple with little work and little recovery. Not the case. When my surgeon was able to get into my hip area, there was alot more work to be done than what the x-ray's provided. To make a very long detailed story short (and minus all the medical lingo), basically he had to go in and remove and replace everything with new components. We planned on going with the chrome on chrome replacement, which was going to be simple. Instead, he was able to use the chrome ball joint, but not the chrome rotator cup. He removed 2 cysts that formed behind the polyethelene, and had to use bone graft through out the area. He also had to use a cadaver's femur to replace what was removed. Sounds really gross, and my father in law seems to think the person who donated was mean because I was grouchy! HAHA.. (Hello, just had major surgery, I blame it on the morphine :))
At any rate, although there were more complications that we anticipated I am grateful that the surgery was a success! The recovery time will be long, hard and painful, but one thing is for sure... I HAVE A NEW HIP!!
I have been in the hospital from Wednesday March 19th, and am awaiting a final discharge from my surgeon any moment now to either return home today Friday March 28th, or tomorrow Saturday March 29th. I am totally excited to go home!!