by Judy Handley | Jan 21, 2024 | 2024 Life Logs |
2024 Life Logs, Day 21: Happy Birthday, Sam!
Date: Sunday, January 21, 2024
Weather: Sunny and Cold; High Temp 26, Low 19 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth MA
Midge and I got up and had a leisurely morning. We had Lynda’s spinach pie for breakfast but decided not to wrestle with putting compression stockings on. Yesterday, after noticing some swelling in my feet, Heather helped me put on a pair of compression stockings I had from my knee surgery. Last night, after Midge went to bed, I went to take off the compression stockings and was shocked at the amount of swelling. It was enough to really scare me, so I decided I would call the doctor in the morning as swelling of the legs is not something that is expected with this surgery.
But it was actually early afternoon before I called the doctor. I got a call back very quickly from the doctor on call and he said I needed to go to the ER. He explained that we needed to eliminate a blood clot as the cause, so there was no arguing the point. I spent the afternoon in the ER and all is well, no apparent cause for the swelling. But this adds yet another medicine to the list, Lasix to remove the fluid. Sam picked me up from the hospital, so I got my first chance at wishing him a happy birthday. We went to the drug store and then once home, I took a quick nap. Forty-five minutes later Sam returned to take me to the Goldstone’s for dinner. Sam had requested smoked ribs,
coleslaw, and angel food cake, and that is what he got. He REALLY enjoyed the ribs and coleslaw, and then the angel food cake.
Happy 17th to Sam!
by Judy Handley | Jan 20, 2024 | 2024 Life Logs |
2024 Life Logs, Day 20: Shift Changes and Food Deliveries
Date: Saturday, January 20, 2024
Weather: Overcast; High Temp 23, Low 15 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth MA
When I read the title I gave to this log, it sounds like we are setting up a business here. And it kind of feels like it, too. Heather has been on full time duty here since Wednesday, the day of my surgery, and was relieved by Midge Frieswyk this afternoon. So that was the shift change. The food deliveries began at noon with vegetable soup from one friend and brownies from another. Then for dinner a friend arrived with chicken soup and raspberries brownies minus the chocolate, spinach bread, and flowers. Then there was a delivery from my wine group. It was wine and chocolate. I am not going to starve, but I might gain a few pounds! Midge and I spent the evening watching Nyad. It was my second time to watch it, but I was glad to watch it a second time. The message of the movie is to never give up. As I go through this recovery, I will hear that mantra ringing in my ears.
by Judy Handley | Jan 19, 2024 | 2024 Life Logs |
2024 Life Logs, Day 19: A Quiet Day with a Little Snow
Date: Friday, January 19, 2024
Weather: Overcast with a Little Snow; High Temp 31, Low 15 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth MA
It was a quiet day here inside and out. Quiet inside because of restricted activity due to the back surgery, and quiet outside because of the blanket of snow. Ollie came to visit and to spend the night as both his brothers were leaving very early this morning to go on a high school ski trip. But Ollie’s arrival only changed our level of activity from almost nothing to couch potato level—watching The Mandalorian.
by Judy Handley | Jan 18, 2024 | 2024 Life Logs |
2024 Life Logs, Day 18: The Day After Surgery
Date: Thursday, January 18, 2024
Weather: Mostly Sunny; High Temp 33, Low 25 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth MA
Tis the day after back surgery and all is well. It is a little scary that things are going so well with no pain. I am on Oxycodone, Tylenol, and a muscle relaxant. Tonight, I am starting to reduce the amount of oxycodone slowly, but will stay on the lowest amount until next Thursday. Standing for too long does cause minor discomfort, so I just have to keep juggling walking, sitting, standing, and lying down.
The thing I miss the most is my forays outside with Shadow. I love being with him, but I also love observing the weather up close. Looking out the window just does not do it for me. And not having Shadow to cuddle makes me lonely. But Dr. Heather is doing a great job. It is so special to be able to spend so much time together. She does work all day, but I get to see her during breaks and lunch.
Tonight, we watched Killers of the Flower Moon. I had already seen it once, but she had not. And since she knew it was a movie she would not convince her whole family to watch and I had mixed reactions to the movie, I was interesting in watching it a second time.
Heather and I did not hear my phone ring while we were watching the movie, so we missed a call from my dining in group. They were meeting tonight and wanted to connect. Someone will bring a taste of tonight’s dinner for Heather and I to have tomorrow night. I am told it is a hearty chili with corn bread and salad. Yummy.
Tomorrow we are supposed to get snow all day, but no real accumulation. I do like watching it snow through the windows, so that will be a highlight of my day.
by Judy Handley | Jan 17, 2024 | 2024 Life Logs |
2024 Life Logs, Day 17: Surgery Day
Date: Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Weather: Sunny and Cold; High Temp 27 Low 20 F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth MA
54321. The day finally came, and everything was perfect. Heather arrived at 7:30 am and walked Shadow while I took that second required shower with the antibacterial soap and got ready. We left Shadow here to be picked up later by Jed and headed to the Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis. I was checked in and taken pack to the pre-op area where I was greeted by two of Heather’s friends who were on duty. I recognized one and she was actually my prep nurse which made things so personal, and the other was Melissa Keefe, Heather and Jed’s neighbor for years until they moved to Grasmere. Long story short, I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect experience which I will write more about tomorrow night. I was out of surgery in one hour instead of two, and ready to head home by mid-afternoon as Dr. Papavasiliou decided that I would be more comfortable going home. I had no pain and still do not, but I am on pain meds. I can stand up straight and walk without support. I know this is the honeymoon period, but I am enjoying every minute of it. It is just so wonderful to be able to walk without pain. I made Heather go home to spend some time with Jed and the boys while I promised to sit still until she returned. We then had dinner and watched a movie, American Symphony. Wonderful. I will write more about that tomorrow night as well.
Thanks to so many of you who sent texts to me today. Wonderful day! Wonderful friends!
by Judy Handley | Jan 16, 2024 | 2024 Life Logs |
2024 Life Logs, Day 16: Getting Ready
Date: Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Weather: Snow Overnight, Then Rain, Mostly Cloudy; High Temp 42, Low 28 F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth MA
54321. Tomorrow, in just a few minutes, is THE day for my back surgery, and I am so ready mentally. Unfortunately, I was not as ready as I thought in terms of things to be done. It is almost midnight and I still need to add a couple of things and attach photos to this log, so it will not be sent until tomorrow or whenever I am next able to work on my computer. But here is how the day went.
Shadow and I woke up to white snow covering everything outside, so we hurriedly got dressed, Shadow in his red coat to keep him from getting soaked and me in my winter coat over my pajamas. No time to really get dressed as we were both too anxious to get outside. I put on my new slip-on boots, and out we went only to be met by Jed and Heather at the door. We all went out and played for a bit,
with me just watching but still enjoying it. Shadow will not pick up tennis balls that have snow on them, but Jed started throwing snowballs.
Shadow loved chasing them even though they fell apart upon impact.
Heather said it seemed a bit mean to throw something we knew could not be retrieved, but Shadow was having too much fun for Jed to stop. Plus, it was great exercise for Shadow.
The outside walks got shoveled plus a short bit of a path to the cars and then our attention was turned inward. H & J got the new shade attached to the kitchen door and Heather insisted on taking the mattresses off my bed and properly lowering the frame. That all got put back together and the bed was made with clean sheets. But in addition, the nightstand was moved to the other side of the bed and the bed moved closer to the wall, making my nightly trips to the bathroom about half the distance. That and the bed being lower is going to make my life a lot safer and easier. Thank you, Heather and Jed.
The rest of the day is a blur, but it entailed making beef stew using old root veggies that I discovered when cleaning out the refrigerator yesterday, a trip to Falmouth Hospital to pick up the antibacterial soap for the two required showers prior to surgery, a trip to the Post Office to send something to my sister, a trip to the grocery store to get items needed, and a stop at Walmart to return something … all things I wanted to get done before my surgery day. Once home, the very slow process began of getting the grocery items from the car to the house and put away. And in between all of this, I played fetch with Shadow in the rain and melting snow. I took the first required shower after dinner and then started the work I really needed to accomplish before going to bed. As I write this, I am questioning why I put off the ‘must do’ items to the end of the day, but I did. All is done now, and I am heading to bed, full of anticipation for tomorrow’s surgery. Oh, one more thing. Dena Brody, a member of my book group, delivered a chicken pot pie, friends sent more well wishes, Lynne in New Zealand, Olga Mitchel, Detta in New Hampshire. If I left anyone out, please forgive. It has been a very long day.
coleslaw, and angel food cake, and that is what he got. He REALLY enjoyed the ribs and coleslaw, and then the angel food cake.
Happy 17th to Sam!
