Hiya Darlin',
Slept well, no doubt because of the oxy, woke up to the alarm and was ready to go when my PT guy showed up just after 8:00. After blood pressure checks and five minutes on his little portable pedal bike, we walked around the loop, stopping along the way to do the stand up exercises I've been working on. Nice to have "stations" along the way to break up the walk. I had done most of my laying down exercises before I got out of bed, and did the rest through the course of the day. Again, reading, TV, computer games, culminating in a Zoom meeting with some folks that want to revive the OTL, rebranding it as the LTO, which is a better description anyway. I told them I'd be happy to consult with them, but I wouldn't be there to help with the event. No way I'm going back down to South Florida, too many bad memories down there. Wouldn't want to leave my post up here anyway! At least here, I'm surrounded by people who appreciate me, and are willing to help me (as I would help them!) without strings attached or debts being owed. So now the day is done, I'm heading to bed. Good night, babe! Love you!

Hey Babe,
Had to take an oxy last night, my knee was keeping me away, but I had a good night sleep and was able to sleep in a bit since I didn't have the PT guy coming today. I felt pretty good in the morning, so naturally, I overdid it today. In addition to doing all my exercises at one time, and taking my walk, I drained and refilled the horse trough. During my walk, I did all the standing exercises, so essentially I did all my exercises in a short period of time, which was probably a mistake. I had learned last time I was better off spreading them out through the day, but ignored that advice and overdid it. I ended up having to take an oxy in the afternoon. It's definitely a tradeoff. If I want to keep working on the exercises,which I know will advance my recovery, I have to take the pain pills to be able to do that. If I don't take the pain pills, it's very hard to give the exercises justice, because it's too painful. I know that the pain will only diminish as time goes on, but I also know it will take a long time. But overall, it was still a good day, even though it ended up a little painful, and as they say, no pain, no gain! Looking forward to it diminishing, and eventually heading north again! Good night, sweetie! Love you!

Hiya Sweetie,
Took an oxy last night just to be able to sleep through the night, though I'm not really in too much pain, though when I'm on my side, the side of my knee hurts a bit, even with a pillow to support it. Got up bright and early again today, was just about to take my first walk when Troy arrived. I had already done most of my exercises in bed, he introduced me to one more, and we did a couple while he was here, but it seems he's relying on me to do them on my own, which is fine with me, but not what I expected would happen. Kind of miss having someone work me, like a personal trainer, so we'll see what next week brings. Spent the day doing the same routine, icing, walking, red lighting, reading, watching TV, etc. I did spend a little time looking at the AERC schedule to try to figure out where to go and how and when I can get there. It's going to be an interesting summer, albeit a bit shorter, it would seem. Anyway, had my shower, having tea, getting ready for bed! Good night, my darlin'! Love you!

Hey Darlin',
Was up a bit earlier for my Home Health PT, and even before that, Chelle and Eric came by to pick up hay while I was still in bed. I had woken up in some pain around 4:30 and took an oxy, which turned out to be the last oxy I took all day, though I might take one when I get to bed if my leg hurts. My new PT therapist, Troy, arrived a little after 8:00, and we went through some additional exercises he wanted me to do, though in the book, they seemed to be in the hip chapter rather than the knee chapter, which I'm going to ask him about tomorrow. It was a pretty tame session compared to what I did four years ago, and I may opt to go to the place in Dunellon because they have all the equipment, but it is kind of convenient to have them come to me. I walked around four or five times again today, plus did all the exercises a second time in the afternoon. It's all feeling pretty good! The only excitement today was a camper from NY (near Ithaca), who has overstayed his limit, but I'm not worried (we're otherwise empty), was set to leave today, but his bus wouldn't start. I used my BeatIt to get him going, and we thought that was it, but then he accidentally turned it off and couldn't restart it, and it wouldn't start with either my jumper or my truck, so we ended up putting my battery charger on it, and they're spending another night while it charges. I'm pretty sure the batteries are bad, he said they were five or six years old, and that he had bought them used just to get down here. I'd say he needs a couple of new batteries! Anyway, the rest of the day was my usual icing, red lighting, resting, elevating kind of day! Not much else to tell you! Good night, babe! Love you!

Hiya Babe,
Had another day just like yesterday, answering my timer for pills and walks and exercises and red light treatments. Rick brought me more ice in the afternoon, and I dozed again in between everything for most of the day. The rain finished up in the morning, so it was drier for my afternoon walks. Really not much to tell, just another day of recovery! Counting the days until I can get back on my horse! Good night, sweetheart! Love you!

Hi Sweetie,
I'm certainly getting plenty of sleep, what with all the drugs I've been taking! Slept through the night until it was time to take a pill, then dozed some more. When I was finally awake enough, I did most of my PT exercises in bed, then read for awhile before finally getting up. Did a load of laundry, but otherwise the day was just doing walks around the loop when it wasn't raining, and up and down the trailer when it was, playing Scrabble on my computer, reading and watching TV, which was tough because I kept falling asleep and having to rewind to figure out what happened, and finally, after a delivery from Amazon, using my new red light to treat my (and Lola's) leg. I used up the last of the ice Rick brought me, and started on my own ice and once frozen bottle of water to get me through the evening. Walking with my stick, but not using it to lean on at all, so I'm finally straightening up a bit. I think my recovery is going to be very quick and relatively pain-free, at least it will if I keep up my regime. Taking a shower again tonight, after making the bed with clean sheets. Feeling very positive with everything right now! Ready to start making definitive plans for my departure here! It's been a good stay, but I'm ready to move on, though getting on my horse will be my first milestone. Anyway, time for shower, tea, and bed! Good night, my darlin'! Love you!

Hiya Darlin',
Another dull day, starting with some PT exercises in bed before I got up, then breakfast, then walking every hour or two around the loop. Today I went with the walking stick, and hardly had to use it! It's a bit painful, but I know that will subside with time, but meanwhile, I'm almost capable of walking upright in a straight light, which is a great improvement. Spent the day trying to read and watch TV, but I kept nodding off, no doubt a side effect of all the medications I'm taking. Improving slowly, but I know the drill, it's going to take time. Still getting the occasional stabbing of pain, but it passes, just like all the pain eventually will. Didn't use the cooler quite as much today, as I read in my discharge papers I'm only supposed to be doing 4 or 5 sessions of 20 minutes a day, rather than the 24 hours I've been doing. Anyway, having my tea and heading to be soon! Good night, baby! Love you!

Hey Babe!
Had a pretty good night sleep, though I needed an oxy at about 4:00 a.m., and I forgot to bring them to bed with me, so I had to get up and get those so I could get back to sleep. Then I slept through until DeDe woke me with a phone call to check up on me, and I'm glad she did because it was 8:45 and the PT guy was coming between 9:00 and 10:00! So I jumped out of bed, managed to have a quick bowl of cereal before he got here. He got a little lost and had to call me, but once he got here, it went smoothly. We signed all the paperwork and he went over some of the lighter exercises he wants me to do over the weekend, then next week someone will come to give me three more sessions, then two the following week. I'll be seeing the surgeon by then, and they'll decided what kind of additional PT I need, or if they trust me to keep doing it on my own, which would be my preference, of course! The PT guy was amazed that I could already bend my knee to about 110 degrees, when the goal was only 90! I love that the PT comes to me, that saves me having to try to get a ride from anyone, since I'm not allowed to drive while I'm still taking the heavy drugs. Spent the rest of the day taking walks every hour, and by the last two walks, I was just carrying my crutches, not using them at all, so that bodes well. The rest of the day I did my exercises, iced my leg all day (Rick brought me two coolers full of ice, as well as another bag!), watched a little TV, though I kept dozing off through most of it, then finally wrapped my knee in cling wrap and took my first shower since Wednesday morning. Chelle drove all the way out to the hospital to pick up my discharge papers, which we forgot when we left yesterday, I am so incredibly grateful for this amazing circle of friends that have been rallying around me in my time of need. You know how I hate to ask for help, but now that I've had to, I'm a bit overwhelmed at the incredible response I've had. Incredibly heartwarming! Of course, they all know I would do the same for them, but still, I'm not used to being so pampered! Anyway, it was a great day, and it will only get better from here! Good night, sweetie! Love you!

Hi Sweetie!
Surgery finally done!! Following their instructions to a T, I got up at 3:40, took a shower (again) and used their special soap, dressed in my scrubs, leashed up Lola, and sat out at the picnic table by 4:10 waiting for my ride. Jo was a little late (and a little cranky, obviously not a morning person! Love her anyway!) and arrived about 4:30. We had just enough time to drop off Lola at her house before heading to West Marion Hospital. We arrived at 5:25, so we made it by my 5:30 deadline, yay! Got signed in and proceeded with the prep, until they took me into surgery around 7:30, the first patient of the day apparently! I woke up in recovery, I think it was around 10:30, feeling a bit lightheaded but otherwise, in good shape. I did have some pain in my knee, which surprised me only because the last time when they did my right knee, the nerve block was so complete, I couldn't feel my leg at all for about 24 hours. Not the case this time, but I actually liked it better, I could feel my leg, and the pain was about the same as before the surgery, so it's only going to decrease from here, which will be great. During my pre-surgery interview, though, they discovered I lived alone, and apparently their protocol insists that I have someone with me for the first 24 hours. Since I hadn't planned on that, the best option was just to stay in the hospital overnight. I didn't really want to, but it really turned out for the best. I got the good drugs and had great room service, and they fed me more food than I would eat in three days, so I probably gained weight while I was there. The night nurse, Darlene, did a great job of combining overnight visits, so I ended up with only a few interruptions, and slept great in between, so I actually had a pretty good night sleep (with earplugs, of course). In the morning I had visits from the PA, the surgeon, occupational therapy, physical therapy where I got to take a walk with a walker and had to take some stairs to prove I knew how to get up and down them. Everyone was impressed with my progress, but really, it feels just about the same as what I've been dealing with for several months now, so no problem. I was finally discharged at 1:00, and DeDe arrived early, and we left just as soon as that was done. I packed up and then got wheeled downstairs while she got her truck. Stopped at Jo's to pick up Lola, who appeared nice and exhausted, then got a call that we had forgotten my packet of discharge papers! Fortunately, my other friend Michelle has offered to go pick them up for me tomorrow. I'm so grateful to have a circle of friends so willing to help! Ranger Rick is going to bring me a cooler full of ice tomorrow, which will help me get through the weekend. I took two walks around the camp loop this evening, have done a few of my exercises, and kept the ice machine on the whole time. I'm supposed to keep it on, so I have to refill it with ice and put it up in my bedroom somewhere. I don't recall doing that last time, but it certainly won't hurt. Took my last bunch of pills, no shower tonight, heading straight to bed! Good night, darlin'! Love you!

Hiya Darlin',
After a few last minute changes in my plan for today, I headed down to town to do my shopping, first to Winn-Dixie to get a wide variety of nectars (Walmart here doesn't have much), then to pick up my mail, then to Walmart, where I made two excursions, because the baskets on those motorized carts don't hold very much, so it took two rounds to get it done, then finally, to Tractor Supply, where I had made my order while sitting in the Winn-Dixie parking lot, and it was ready just as I was finishing my Walmart run. Picked up a bunch of horse feed (not that I'll need it right away, but I wanted to stock up on everything), then headed back to camp. Got everything unloaded and put away, then sat down for a minute to take a break. Then I got the phone call I've been waiting for, informing me of what time I need to be at the hospital tomorrow. Turns out I'm first in line, so I have to arrive by 5:30! Which means we need to leave here by 4:30, which means I have to get up by about 3:40 so that I can take the final required shower with their special soap. I called Jo, who is supposed to be my ride, and offered to drive down if they can just retrieve my truck at some point, but she insisted she'd rather get up and come and get me, so she's going to have to be up early as well. Sigh... Well, at least that means I should get home fairly early, and maybe I can get right back to my normal sleep cycle if I can stay awake during the day. Anyway, after speaking to my care team, (Jo, DeDe and the Gralds), I hooked up the little horse trailer, loaded up the bobos and got them moved over to Michelle's, where they'll be staying until I'm mobile enough take care of them myself. Got back a little after 4:00, had a nice salad for dinner and settled down for a VERY early evening, with intentions of getting to bed by about 9:00, if possible. Can't wait to get this done!! Good night, babe! Love you!