December 20th, Thursday – Getting Caught Up – Follow Up Surgery and Our Nasty Weather.

So were to begin.  It’s been so long since I sat to write a blog.  Looks go back in time and try to capture some of the highlights of the weeks gone by.

The big one of course was Dec 10^th when I went in for knee replacement surgery.  We had to be at the hospital at 6:30 am and the ride was about 45 minutes so we were up real early that day.

This was a whole different experience from the last time.  When I had my left knee done at the VA Hospital, I never even had an opportunity to meet the surgeon.  He has his staff prep you, answer your questions, etc. but he himself for whatever reason never shows his face.  Odd, yes and a bit unnerving.  But that’s the way they do it.

This time, though, I met with my surgeon Dr. Tim for the first time a week before the surgery.  He took the time to explain in layman’s terms what exactly was going to happen the day of surgery and in the days after. Then the day of the operation he came in before the surgery to again answer any last-minute questions, explain the approximate length of the operation and to take Barbara’s cell phone number so he himself could call her afterwards – which he did.

I don’t remember much about the actual operation.  I was in the prep room for about 45 minutes, then up to the operating room.  I remember entering the operating room, I remember them transferring me to the operating table, then the next thing I remember was Barbara saying to me come on open your eyes and wake up.

The other thing I remember was that no more than 3 hours after waking up they had me up and walking with a walker.  Well, more like shuffling along since the knee was not about to bend even an inch.  I remained in the hospital for just 3 days rather than the 3 weeks I was in the last time.

I’m currently receiving out patient physical therapy 3 times a week.  The stitches are out.  I have my good days and I have my bad days.  I’m satisfied with my progress to date but realize I still have a long way to go.  Some days the pain is so-so and other days it takes your breath away.  I know, though, that in time all will be well and I’ll be walking pain free.  Hey, I may even get a bike, a kayak would be nice, and the ability to go hiking -awesome.

The other big event has been the weather.  We had one spat of rain that lasted for a full 24 hours.  It began on a Friday at 9 am and continued through to Saturday morning at 9 am.  This wasn’t a drizzle either, this was a full-on downpour.  When all was said and done, we had received a total of 6 to 7 inches of rain.  Sure glad it wasn’t snow!  Today we’re having more of the same.  At times it rains so hard it sounds like a train coming through the rig.  Where in the world is all this rain coming from?

The temperatures have also taken a nose dive during the night time hours.  We are usually in the 50’s to 60’s but we’re seeing more and more nighttime temperatures in the low 40’s to the high 30’s.  Very un-Florida like to say the least.  I believe if and when we return to Florida, we are going to plan to go a bit further south for the winter.

So, we are more or less up to date.  We are now packing for a trip to Wellsboro, PA to spend Christmas with family.  Going to surprise my mom by sort of just showing up.  She knows of course about my knee replacement and I’ve sort of let her believe that I’m not quite ready to travel.  But oh am I ever ready to go. This is going to be fun.  This is the first time we’ll be together since she lost her house to the hurricane.  I’m anxious to see her new apartment.

So, there you have it.  The last week or so has been interesting to say the least.  Through it all we’ve been blessed beyond measure.  God has been good to us to say the least.  I wonder how those without faith ever make it through times like this.  Last time I tried talking to the refrigerator it didn’t seem interested in my pleas.  Yet God always has time to hear and respond.

Three will be a few more blogs now before we go away and then another time out until we return.  So, for now I’ll bid everyone a good day.  Before going as always something for us to ponder:

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s occupants, four paws and two humans.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before

See you on down the road