June 22: home = recuperation

Mom's surgery will be tomorrow afternoon. The ortho guy seemed to think it would be fairly straight forward, so let's keep hoping. He won't know until he gets in there if it will need more than a plate an therefore, how long recovery will be. She is coping quite well, and receiving a lot of help from her friends at the retirement center. And it is perfectly set up with call buttons and perfectly placed support bars in the bathroom. So, we'll see how things will go tomorrow.

With being at my cousin's last weekend, running Mom around on Tuesday, then working three full days in a row, I wasn't feeling very good by Friday. So lousy that I called Kim and Rick, my friends from church, and cancelled them coming over Saturday. After running a few errands until about noon, I just wanted to stay home. Not only did I do that, but when I got up this morning I realized that, despite the fact that I hadn't been to church last week what I really wanted to do was just stay home all day today. So, I did! Read the paper, got a few things done I'd been putting off, changed the bed, did four loads of laundry but mainly relaxed.

So, off to bed soon. I'm going to go in tomorrow to work a few hours before picking up Mom, suspect she will need more help tomorrow night and Tuesday than before the surgery.

Thanks for checking, Laurie

June 16:

Well, as usual, I meant to post before this. Time management is not always my best trait. Re-reading the prior post, let me update those issues first.

The fuel tank is replaced with an almost immediate relief of the horrid scent that has permeated ever since I've lived here. This means that more things can be moved into the basement.

This past weekend I went up to NY to see John, Martha, Lyle and Emma. I hadn't seen them since fall, and can't believe how much Lyle & Emma have grown physically. Lyle has also crossed into the magic age of 16, so driving will be coming soon. Emma has shot up about six inches, and no longer fits under my chin! We went to Lyle's concert Friday night, which was actually a recital of his teacher's students. As he put it, "a bunch of flutes and me!" He was the only trombone player. The students were put in order of newer players to the best ones, and Lyle was third from the last with only the two girls who are graduating seniors after him. It was just wonderful to hear him. Saturday was the Village Fair, with all in attendance. Then we went to the 'swim club' which is a spring-fed pond and just lovely. I came back on Sunday, arriving at about 6 pm to find a message on my voice mail from Mom....

....Mom took a trip of her own over the weekend. On the bright side (?!) both the guys on the ambulance from Chalfont knew me.... Mom was rushing around outside on Saturday, tripped and fell. No loss of consciousness, but she has broken her left arm: both radius and ulna, down next to the wrist. She was treated and released from the ER. On Sunday, when I talked to her, her left ribs were also hurting and she is going to the bathroom almost constantly. Today she had chest and rib X-rays--results pending. Tomorrow I take her to the orthopedic doctor to discuss her fractures, the ER doc felt one bone was shattered and would need a plate. She had a horrid fall about 30 years ago when she broke 8 ribs, and has broken both wrists in the past (during her first and then second attempts at roller skating!), so I'm more than a little worried about how healing is going to go, especially since her bones are quite thin. She has the ultra-sound of the kidneys Weds morning. So, obviously, the rest of my week will be determined by the outcome of all this, especially any surgery.

So, since I'm sure you're all waiting with baited breath, I'll try to post at least an update soon. Sigh. Thanks for checking in, Laurie

June 6: Ohio visit and catch-up

Got back Monday night from a wonderful visit with Katie, Matt and Casey. We went to the zoo, drove around Cincinnati, had dinner in Kentucky Saturday night, mostly just hung out. Katie took me to a UU Church she and her sister have gone to a few times, it's always neat to see how other places do their worship services. Katie had gotten a few "stock" things for my diet, although they were both aghast at how restrictive it is to try and eat at restaurants. Casey, at 14 months, is just adorable and such a happy little guy. He walks incredibly well and moves quite quickly! After a couple days of getting used to me, he came over and held up his arms for me to pick him up. It was so cute that I immediately reached down to pick him up, just couldn't resist despite the pain it caused. Next time he did it, Katie beat me to it and lifted him up to me. But how can you not cuddle a kid gazing up at you with arms held out? Yes, I'm not a baby person, so you know he had to be irresistable!

They are involved with an animal rescue group out there and "fostered" several different puppies and kittens. Several ended up with either family or in their home, now down to two mixed-breed dogs and a brother-sister cat combo. The cats are just too much: Ringo has all the personality and intelligence of Chester, but he just loves EVERYBODY. You can hold him for hours on his back, with his legs up in the air and getting his tummy rubbed. Lucy is quieter and more reserved, but just as sweet as she can be. Katie helped me pack my bag (kept it small, but stuffed), and I think part of the reason was to be sure I wasn't shoving the cats in there to come home with me!

Alice, who took care of my gang when I was in Boston, once again came over and took care of my fuzzy ones. She didn't report any problems with Chester, but did get locked down in the basement. She's in her 70's, very spry, but admitted she was getting pretty scared about getting out. She managed to get a window open and called for help, being rescued by my neighbor (who I would like more except for his large black lab who barks loudly to get in right next to my bedroom window AND whenever he sees me in my kitchen at night!) and one of my upstairs renters. Willard has now fixed that doorknob.

As I type the fuel tank in the basement is being replaced, so hopefully the smell will dissipate quickly and things can be moved in there from the garage. Unfortunately, the second garage door is getting hung up, and Willard can't figure out the problem, so I'm going to have to deal with Sears. Planning on spending some quality time in the garage this weekend to hopefully get more stuff ready for Goodwill.

Fortunately, the metal in the valve isn't enough to set off the alarms, so no problems with security. I still have the pain in my chest or back every day, but not as bad as long as I haven't done much physically that day. Trying to move around more, although rest is still required. While my weight hasn't changed since last year (although it's supposed to be less!), aging has shifted more fat to the abdomen, so now summer clothes are a problem. Hopefully, this will give me even more incentive to lose 10-15 pounds, because I hate spending money on clothes, and it's also exhausting.

Thanks for checking in, Laurie