Foot Surgery Went Well / Home by 11:30

Surgery:
   The surgery went well, and we were home by 11:30 a.m.  Of course, we had to be there by 6 a.m. way too early for me. I always seem to get the early slots for surgery, and I am not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. On one hand, it is good to get it over with, and on the other, I think it would be better to have a 9 a.m. slot, too bad we don't get to choose our own time. Regardless, it is a done deal, and I am glad it is over!  The doctor called last night to see how I was doing.  When he called my foot was still numb, about an hour after that oh boy, PAIN to the nth degree hit!  Wow!  I never thought it would be so painful. After having joint replacement surgery I have a pretty high level of pain tolerance, but I wasn't expecting this! I also found out he used a pin to hold the bone in position, instead of a screw, and after he mentioned it I could see it sticking out of the dressing on my foot.  Yikes, that sort of creeps me out!  Don't get me wrong this pain is in no way as bad as my knee replacement was. It is different kind of pain, but it feels like I am being stabbed with something and it stings. The doctor said I should be much more comfortable by Sunday. Until then I'll try not to whine too much!  Lets hope I can get the pain under control with the ice and the pain reliever he gave me. I am not doing so well on the crutches either, in fact my doctor ordered a knee scooter for me because I can't put weight on my foot with that pin in it. Bless his heart, I really appreciated him doing that for me! Mike went to pick it up for me too! I am so wobbly on the crutches I was afraid I was going to fall, and all that hopping made my good hip hurt. That is my one real joint I have left in my leg.  The left hip and knee were replaced, and then in 2010 my right knee was replaced. Bad arthritis! I guess I do still have my ankle joints now that I think about it.  Anyway, I can see why very few people have the second foot done after having the first bunion surgery. My bunion surgery wouldn't have been so bad if my bone and big toe joint wasn't a bit deformed. I get to look forward to having my right one done this coming Fall, it is almost as bad as the left one was. He (the doctor) had to cut the bone, then shave it down, and then move it to a new position (the reason for the pin holding it), then the bad bunion I had was  removed. He also scraped as much as much arthritis out of the big toe joint as he could, but he  said that joint would probably always be very stiff. So that is my surgery story and I well try not to mention it again. Unless I forget while I am in this drug induced haze!  Ha ha!  I hope you will just overlook it if I do.
   

SUN:
   The SUN is out!  Woo Hoo! It is still only about 38  degrees, but at least I see sunshine! It looks warm even if it isn't, because the wind is blowing a bit.  I can see the cover on the fiver moving a little because of the wind. Our tulips are up about 4 inches and I am still looking for the Forsythia  bushes to start blooming. I know it will be awhile, but I can't wait for the Lilacs to bloom they are my favorite!  They smell so good and come in such pretty colors. I always want to be outside in the Spring.  It is my favorite time of the year, and it will be hard for me to sit still when it starts warming up!  Lets hope that the 6 weeks off my foot goes by fast and it heals good.  If it doesn't heal right I will end up in a cast, and I don't want that!  

Half Timers:
   Half Timers- means people who use their RVs about half of the year and are wanting to go Full Time at some time in the future.  While I was at the hospital I was talking to some of the nurses and techs, and I found out that there are quite a few  more half timers out there than I thought.  Leading up to my surgery we talked about the places we had been and the places we still wanted to go.  It made the time go faster while I was waiting to go into surgery at 7:30 a.m. I found out people use pop ups, small travel trailers, motor homes  and up to 40' fifth wheels to go all over. I was shocked there was so many just at the Medical Center at  (Wright Patterson Air Force Base) who like to Rv more than just the week end campers.  They actually take long trips when they can, using whatever kind of Rv they have.  You have to admit it is a much cheaper mode of travel, especially if you have kids.  I have to say our kids enjoyed it, and all still like to camp now that they are adults.  Our Grand Kids also have enjoyed going camping with us when we just go to a state park. Yes, they still brought some of their electronics to use after it got dark or it rained. But, they never got them out while we were outside enjoying the sunshine, or sitting around the fire making memories! They are still excited to be asked if they want to go camping!  So that is 3 generations of our family who enjoy going Rving!  So where ever  you are I hope you are on the road and making great memories for your family and yourselves!   Having said that it's time to close this post, so  see ya's next time...



   

Sorry I Was MIA for a Couple of Days

Yesterday:
   Well we made it to my doctor's appointment! The base was on a 2 hr delay because of the cold white stuff!  We got there about 10:15 a.m. I called first and they said to come on in. My appointment was supposed to be at 8:20a.m. The roads weren't too bad, and the scenery was beautiful, even if I didn't like it. We didn't get home from the medical center until after 3p.m. with all the pre -op stuff yesterday. 

Surgery:
   Tomorrow I am going to have out patient surgery on my left foot. I probably won't do a post tomorrow, as I don't know what time we will get back from the hospital.They are going to relocate a bone in my foot near my big toe joint and try to straighten out the joint.  It is full of arthritis and very swollen around the joint. The bone will have to be cut, shaved  then be shifted, and will be kept in place for healing either with a pin or a screw.This means no weight on my left foot for 6 weeks, and I get to wear a wonderful very cool designer  open toe shoe! (surgical shoe) Very high end ha ha! Crutches and a wheel chair will be my mode of transportation until it is healed. We will have to put our first outing in the RV back a couple of weeks, but this way the whole Summer won't totally be messed up. That is why I chose to do it now instead of in mid April, and I will be able to get right back into walking the dogs in mid June. Wish me luck!  The dogs are already barking at the crutches, so it should at least be good for some stories Lol!  I have some things to do and get together for the hospital so this will be a short post.

It's MELTING:
   The white stuff has been melting all day, and it is completely off the trees.  It is very wet and muddy outside now, but at least that awful white stuff is going away. The sooner the better as far as I'm concerned.  I'll even take April showers over this stuff if it is half way warm.  Now you watch I'll probably gripe about the rain after a few weeks!  I'll let ya tell me I told ya so!  Ha ha!  

   Okay, I really do have to get busy today, so I'll see ya's on the flip side!  Happy travels where ever you may be...

  

Cartoon, Funny (not) / Dentist Visit / With a Little Whine Thrown in for Good Measure!

                                 

Cartoon:
   This was on Facebook, yesterday.  I think someone was very clever, and has a good attitude, and a good sense of humor about this! To me loading Spring was an Epic Fail! Lol! Not too funny for me you understand, I want Spring, NOW! Hopefully this will be big bad Winter's last hurrah! That bad 4 letter word for cold white stuff, has already started here in Ohio.  It has been doing that for about 2 hours and we're supposed to get about 5 to 9 inches of the stuff.  As you can see I refuse to even type the word, let alone say it!  I went to Meijer's yesterday and picked up a few things just to have on hand, just in case we had a craving for something!  Probably for something I didn't get ha ha! I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow at 8:20 a.m. and I am wondering if I will be able to get there.  I'm thinking if we get that much white, cold stuff they might close Wright Patterson Air Force Base down for the day.  I can only remember them doing that maybe a few times, and we have lived here since December 1973! The stuff falling from the sky seems to be stopping for now.  I am going to hope for the best, but I'm sure you'll hear about it from me if the base closing happens.  LOl! I better go get some cheese to go with my whine, as I seem to be complaining about it a lot! ;(

Dentist Visit:
   I don't know about you, but when Mike goes to the dentist ya know it is bad !  He almost has to be pulled kicking and fighting all the way. So if he is willing to go, ya know he is in pain, otherwise he would live with it!  He almost has to be numbed just for a cleaning, his teeth are really sensitive! Yesterday Mike went to the dentist, he had to get a wisdom tooth pulled out. There goes all his wisdom ha ha!  He had already had a root canal on it, so it had to be pulled. It wasn't worth trying to save again, as the cavity was below the gum line. That was another reason I went to the store yesterday,so I could get Mike some soft stuff to eat because he will have trouble chewing on that side of his jaw for a while.  So soup check, Cream of Wheat check, mashed potatoes check. Yes, I buy mashed potatoes! Bob Evans original are really good, and just the right size for us. They are really nice to keep on hand, especially for someone who needs something soft to eat for like a tooth being pulled, or for an upset tummy they are bland enough for them to try to eat. I usually add a bit of butter, and some salt and pepper.  Then I don't have to peel the potatoes which I have always hated doing, and I always made way too many!  Only 3 minutes in the microwave, stir, and 3 more minutes back in the microwave. When the bell rings, Ta Da  they are Done! They are awesome and ready to eat, fast and convenient and no dealing with left overs!  Sounds like I am doing a commercial for them right? Ha ha!  Anyway they are good,  you should try them if ya like mashed potatoes, and who doesn't, I think they are the original comfort food. They also have mashed sweet potatoes which are very good too. I usually add some cinnamon and a bit of brown sugar to them, but that is just us, they are good plain too. Okay the commercial for Bob Evans is over! Ha ha!

Dog Whisperer Book:
   I am about half way through the first book of Cesar Milan's  titled, Cesar's Way.  So far just about everything we have done is wrong according to this book.  A lot of the things he is saying makes sense and it is just using common sense dealing with a dog.  Do you humanize your pet?  I have found out we do!  His main thing is that we think we can talk to our pets, and they will understand what we are saying.  Evidently this is a big misconception! I have found out our dogs are not ready to make their appearance in society! Lol! They are not socialized correctly if what I'm reading is anything to go by. Their big thing / bad behavior is when someone comes to our house, and walking properly on a leash. I have been unable to stop them jumping up on people, so that is why I decided to try the Dog Whisperer's methods. Let's face it, when a dog that weighs 50 to 60 pounds jumps up on you it can knock you down, not to mention it hurts! I'm sure it isn't going to work as fast as it does on his show! Lol! Wish me luck trying his methods, I know it is going to take time, much repetition, and discipline on my part!  If I can get it I know the dogs will, they are pretty smart!

That Time:
   Well now it is time for me to post this and get something  done, meaning I'm probably going to play a game on my laptop!  He he!. Once again I haven't said anything about RVing! Frankly, with the way the weather is, I'm wondering if we are going to be doing anything soon.  But, you know me,  being the forever optimistic person I am, I am going to make some reservations for the first week of May probably this coming Thursday or Friday!  There, Winter be gone, we have had enough of you.  You are not welcome here so take off!
Meanwhile, that white stuff is again falling from the sky!   The wind has picked up considerably because I can hear our wind chimes almost constantly. Well wherever you are I hope you are warm, safe, happy, and moovin' down the road of  your life's highway!  See ya next time...

   

My Brain Is Fried!

   Did ya ever have so much info running around in your brain that you didn't know what to think or do first?  I am there, completely fried!  Too much info and not enough brain to go around it!  It is hard to even to get my facts straight to come up with a plan to file all this stuff, let alone where to put it. I didn't know things were going to get so crazy!  I will try to put some order into my thoughts and explain as much as I can.

Ding Dong, Avon Calling:
   I am going to be venturing into the world of business.  Slowly, very slowly at first. I don't know how this will work, but I am going to sell Avon. I have been thinking about it for awhile, and it is a lot of products that I use and know well, and I can vouch for the quality of them.  I will have a web site for Avon and it can be purchased there, paid for there, and shipped directly to the purchaser. I will link it to my blog here as soon as I learn how.  Maybe if any of you are interested you could order from me!  It would be greatly appreciated, so please let me know if I can help you! I have been trying to think of ways to earn some extra money to use for extras. So we don't have to dip into our regular income, for things we want but don't really have to have.  I am not out to make a killing in this venture just some extra money.  This is something I can do while we are traveling, or when we are at home. So wish me Luck, I'm going to do my best!

Rheumatoligist  Visit:
   Well I have the results of my MRI.  It has been decided that I have Inflammatory Arthritis, and I also have a couple of cysts in the one of the bones in my wrist.  This is something that they want to also keep an eye on.  I have been put on a medication called Plaquenil, and it will take at least 6 weeks to have any effect.  I sure hope it helps lessen the swelling and throbbing, so I have more movement in my hands.  It is hard when you can no longer do everyday things.  My Sons just tell me I am getting old! Ha ha! They are, of course right, as I had a birthday just yesterday! LOL!  Well that's enough about that stuff.  I don't really celebrate my birthday much anymore, it just sort of happens, and that is how I want it.

Dog Psychology 101:
   I finally got the book from the library, by the Dog Whisperer, Cesar Milan.  Since I have mentioned him a few times in this blog, I am sure you can tell I like him.  I am amazed what he can do with dogs and their owners.  I am excited to finally read this book and find out all the stuff we have been doing wrong with our dogs.  We need to master the exercise, and the discipline part, that I already know! We already have the affection part down pat lol, we are easy pushovers for our dogs!  They are very strong and stubborn, young, 1 year old dogs.  Probably too strong, and stubborn for us, but he says you get the dog ya need, not always the dog you wanted, especially when you adopt!  So wish us luck in trying to understand his concepts, and apply them to our unruly dogs Bella and Lilly.

Groundhog Needs to Go:
   The groundhog of Groundhog Day needs to retire, or be gotten rid of, Good bye Phil!  He speaks with a forked tongue, and lies every chance we give him! He completely pulled the wool over the whole nation!  Of course to give him some credit, I guess if we were woke up from a sound hibernating sleep, we would do whatever it takes just to be able to go back to our nice warm burrow too.  So maybe he lied out of spite for being woke up, and forced out of his home on a cold winter day!  Why did doing this ever come into vogue anyway? I think someone just made it up, maybe they need to be found and booted for getting every one's hopes up to begin with!  Early Spring my foot!  We have snow being called for Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday!  So not only did March come in like a Lion, it is going to go out like a Lion too!  We are talkin' measurable snow here in Ohio!  I have decided to never believe that little rodent again, not that I really did anyway. Ha ha!  So from now on I will not expect Spring until 6 weeks from Groundhog Day.  People can celebrate it if they want, but I am done with the myth and the hype!  Yes, I still have my Spring Fever, and I am ready to hold up the white flag for surrender!  Come on Winter, Please Go Away!  Everyone is so over you ! GO! Exit, quickly, quietly, and do not leave any part of you behind!  I hope all the Spring flowers do not get ruined with the cold temps and snow we are supposed to get, hopefully it won't last long!  Come On Spring, give old Winter the boot!  We are all ready and waitin' for you! That oughta do it right?  He he!

   Somehow I got turned around in my thoughts and forgot about half of them! I'll need to get them in better order before I write on the rest.  I think I will hold off on the rest of the goings on. That way I will have things to write about, this weekend and next week.  So I'll see ya's soon...



  

Campgrounds Have Lots of Open Dates / First Day of Spring !!!

Openings:
   Today I have been checking online for sites at some of our favorite state park campgrounds.  So far the dates are wide open for the sites we like.  I will be trying to get some reservations  in next week.  I figure if I do it this early we have a better chance of getting where and when we want to coincide.  Our first outing with our 2 pound puppies, Lilly and Bella, will be at a state park, just to see what we need to work on with them.  State parks are pretty dog friendly, so we figure we'll try a week first, since they have never been camping.  We want to try to go back to Amish Country here in Ohio, Holmes county, too.  It is worth the drive just for the pastries!  LOL!  We have a private campground that we favor up there.  There is also supposed to be a nice state park up there, but so far we haven't had the chance to check it out.  Maybe this year we will manage it.

Getting Ready to Go:
   What steps do you take if you have been in one spot all winter, I know this only applies to those of you who are like us and are only about Half Time Rvers.  There are several things we are going to have to do this year that we haven't had to do in the past.  First we are going to have to replace the battery in the fiver it was getting weak last fall, we know that. Mike thinks that both batteries in the truck need replaced, because we have no way of knowing how old they were when we bought the truck in December 2011.The battery light keeps going on in the truck, so to be on the safe side we will replace them.  If it isn't the batteries then it may be the alternator, so that will also have to be checked. The hitch will have to be put back in the bed of the truck, so it is ready to go.  We took it out last fall to haul wood for our deck, and bricks for the patio. The usual wash and wax on the truck and fiver will also have to be done.  The Fiver has been covered all winter so it shouldn't be too bad, but the truck has had salt from the roads on it all winter, so it needs a bath bad!

Blog late:
   Sorry this is 2 days late, it has been a very busy time here with doctor appointments for both of us and some other things going on that I will tell ya about tomorrow.  I started this post on Monday evening and am just now finishing it.  I have one more meeting tomorrow afternoon and then things will (I hope) slow down for a few days! 

First Day of Spring:
   Woo Hoo!   First day of Spring!! It is finally here, at least the calendar says it's here!  The weather is telling me it's still a few weeks away!  It is cold and windy here in Ohio! The sun was out today, and we were having snow flurries at the same time!  Brrr, that wind was wicked out there today, and the sun sure didn't move the temperature up any!  It was sure nice to see the sun today though, it always makes me feel more energetic and happy! So if the calendar says it's Spring, then I know it will soon be here!  I will take that at least it is something to look forward to!  So on that note I will end this post, and will see ya's next time...

   

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Hello, it's me again,
  Happy Saint Patrick's Day!!!!! March is movin' right along now, I didn't think it was ever gonna get to the middle of the month! Not that I want to wish away my days, but I am wanting it to be warmer. We woke up on this Saint Patrick's Day to a gloomy, cold, and cloudy day.  It is so hard for me to be up, and perky on these kind of days.  What do you do to motivate yourself on days like this? It's not as if I don't have things I need to be doing!  Mike and the dogs are so motivated that they are taking naps!  LOL!   Me, I can't sleep during the day,  unless I am sick.  I'd rather not be sick, so here I am awake with no clue what I want to do, but knowing I need to get up off my butt and do something!  Well I did the usual dishes, and then I got on the computer for a while, not much exciting in that is there? Lol!   

   Then I got a call from our son Gary, he is bringing my little Sweet Cheeks, ( aka, Charlotte, aka Charli ) over for a visit.  Translation, " Mom, I need you to watch Charli, so I can fix the wife's car ".  Haha!  That's okay, I don't mind, Charli is our youngest Grand Daughter and she is  2 1/2 years old.  She is a smart little cookie, and really keeps me on my toes, just what I needed to chase away my boredom!  After spending a few hours with her I will be ready to kick back, and relax for a bit!  I am really enjoying having a little one around again, since the others are 9 and up! I get to do all the silly stuff that toddlers find amusing with her again!  The other Grandkids are much more sophisticated, and are not into Grammy being silly, it would be embarrassing to them!  So I have to behave myself when I'm with them, lol they are more into games, crafts, and shopping!

   Wow, this is two posts in one day, so that brings me back up to date.  Also, since it is Saint Patrick's Day ya got twice the blarney from me in one day! Ha ha!  This time I'm going to be sorta smart, and save something for tomorrow. That way I won't be brain dead when I go to write something for tomorrow's  blog !  So I'm off to the Ohio State Parks web site to look for a reservation for a week in late April. See Ya's...

This N' That and a Few Glasses of Wine

Saturday:
   Today was spent mostly playing with the dogs, and cuddling them.  Finally I got so sleepy I had to get up and make myself do something. So I called one of my friends and we went shopping.  What ? Surely you didn't think I'd look for some kind of housework to do, although I could do plenty of that!  One thing I have found out about housework, is that it will still be there waitin' on you when ya get back. There is no sense in feeling guilty about not doing a chore before you go do something  else that you wanted to do first. No fairy godmother will do it for you while you're gone so you can just do it when you get back!  I have  never liked the idea of my life being ruled by my house. Nor have I ever, been one of those people who are so rigid about the house being spotless with nothing out of place, that it doesn't even looked lived in.  Our house always looks lived in. If someone comes and it's a little messy I don't let it bother me too much. Mind you, I don't like a lot of clutter, but I'm not a fanatic about it.  Anyway I figure they came to see me not my house!  If they don't like the way my house looks then they don't have to visit me there. Okay enough about cleaning and chores, it's boring even though everyone has to do it.  I'll get it done a little later, no biggie.

   So, like I was saying to begin with my friend, Sue  and I decided to go shopping.  I needed to go to Dollar General to get some Easter Basket fillers, so that is where we went.  We walked around there for about 45 minutes looking at things, and picking out things we thought our Grandkids would like.  I always get them things they can use instead of a bunch of candy.  They always like getting things they don't buy for themselves, like new nail polish, pens with glitter ink, journals etc...  They get one bag of candy, usually their favorite thing and a chocolate bunny or egg.  The rest is always other stuff, and none of that stupid grass in their baskets for filler!  Can ya tell that I hate that stuff?  LOL!  What a mess that makes when they go through their basket to see what they got! It gets all over everything and it is hard for the sweeper to pick it up!  Okay, I think my rant about Easter basket grass is over now!

   When we were done shopping we went back to Sue's house.  We decided to enjoy the rest of the early afternoon with a few glasses of wine and some good conversation.  It was nice just to sit and talk about things we needed to catch up on, and spend time with each other, since we don't get to see each other very often!  ( We used to go camping  a lot with Sue and her husband Rick, before he passed away 4 years ago. She doesn't like to hang out much with couples now, it's still very hard for her.) I could handle more afternoons like that, it was just nice and relaxing! That is exactly what we did until about 7 p.m. until I had to go home and fix dinner, it is nice that she only lives around the corner from us so I didn't have to drive very far after having a couple gasses of wine.  I also had to give Mike a break, since he had the dogs from about 2 p.m. by himself. Poor Mike had to put up with the dogs until I got back.  I'm sure Bella kept him busy getting up and down to let her out!  Ha ha!   Well I think I better go start o those chores so until we meet again...