68 and Counting

How can I be 68 years old already? My Granny was 67 when I got married, and she was ancient! My mom only had 2 years left to live at my current age. I don’t feel that old!

It has been a great “birthday week!” Last Saturday, Ricky’s family came and spent the day. We made homemade ice cream, blew bubbles, played, visited, and I spent most of the day holding sweet Shelbi. Such a delight!

Monday was my LAST therapy session. I’m not “cured”, but I can effectively work at home to continue my recovery. My OT did a final evaluation, which showed significant improvement in every area. My grip strength had risen from 17 lbs (early in my treatment) to 36 lbs. (I can do 52 lbs with my right hand.) We think a lot of my finger stiffness and soreness is from arthritis. I guess the inflammation from everything that has happened made what arthritis I had worse. (I didn’t really notice much, if any, problems before surgery) I have sensation in all fingers now, although it is still far from normal in my index finger and thumb. (I have a lot of hypersensitivity.) My therapist did say I've progressed to the point to where I don't have to worry about seriously hurting myself. Before I couldn't have felt it if I had cut or burned myself. I'm still very careful but gaining confidence. I’m getting to where I can do most anything now…even turn a doorknob…sometimes. My fine motor skills are still pretty limited, but progress is being made!

After my therapy session, we drove to Paris to spend the night. Stephen’s family were gone on vacation, so we didn’t get to visit with them. Instead, we went to watch a movie, “Young  Washington”. There were only about 6 of us in the whole theatre, which is the way I like it! We enjoyed the movie, then stopped at DQ for a treat on our way back to our room.

The next morning we drove to Texarkana to visit with Dennis’ cousins: Jimmy & Sandy and Terry & Sandra. Sandy served us all lunch, and we had a great time catching up with all of them! 

The next leg of our journey took us to our “cabin” on Lake Catherine. It was so nice. It sat at the end of a dead-end road, overlooking the Ouachita River…so quiet and peaceful and beautiful. The weather was overcast (a little rainy) and cool…great for sitting out on our balcony. We spent Wednesday pretty much just relaxing. We did a little shopping in Hot Springs. The main place I wanted to go was a pottery place that has been owned by the same family for 80 years. I love pottery! It was a mini museum, store, and working pottery shop. I kept looking for “just the right piece” and was about to give up, when I noticed a special collection in a glass cabinet. It was all crystalline pottery. I’d never heard of or seen anything like it. It was so pretty and unique! I fell in love with a lidded vase, but it was way too expensive. Dennis insisted on buying it for my birthday. I love it!

sunset

morning mist

birthday vase

Thursday we spent the day with Warren and Linda. It was the first time we’ve had a chance to visit with them in a couple of years. We so enjoyed our time together! I love their new house. Not only is it perfectly suited for their current needs, but it is so light and pretty. That evening we met up with Ben and Laura’s family and Rebekah and Daniel’s family for dinner. It was nice to finally meet Daniel and their 2 sweet little boys. It was a great day!

Yesterday’s drive home went smoothly. We thoroughly enjoyed our little vacation, but as always, it felt good to be home. This afternoon we’re going to Ricky & Amber’s for my birthday dinner. Ricky is grilling us steaks. YUM! I’m also looking forward to some more snuggle time with Shelbi. They say that evenings are when she is most awake, so I’m hoping to actually get to see her eyes! Ha!

Take care and stay cool!

Ps 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

July Celebrations and Travels

 Happy 4th of July weekend! We are starting the weekend off by attending Stacey and DJ's wedding tomorrow. So happy for them! Stacey has been one of my girls since we moved here 21 years ago. I'm so glad go see her find such a good man. 

So far, we don't have any plans for Saturday. I do have a watermelon chilling in my fridge, so there's that! Our local fireworks display is planned for Sunday night. I am wanting to watch that. I'm really hoping they have something special planned. I LOVE fireworks!

I am now down to having therapy every other week. It sure is nice not having to drive over there so often. I'm continuing to make slow but steady progress. I saw my doctor yesterday, and he said there is nothing more he can do. He fully expects my hypersensitivity to resolve as the nerves continue to heal. That's good news! He couldn't be as reassuring as far as me getting all of the feeling and function back though. He said we'll just have to wait and see. I still have several more months of healing to do. Nerves take a LONG time to heal!

I am still regaining function. I crocheted a hot pad, sewed a curtain, and knitted a dishrag last month. I have to really pace myself, so as not to over-stimulate the nerves. But it is getting less clumsy to do hand work. I am so very thankful to return to doing the things that I enjoy. Even if I don't get full feeling and function back, I have enough to have a fairly normal life. I'm just a little slower and clumsier than I used to be. 

As most of you have heard, we have a new granddaughter, Shelbi. She is perfect! I try to make it over to snuggle with her at least once a week. She and Amber are both doing great! I have started cutting out squares and strips to make Shelbi a rag quilt. I'm hoping to start sewing a little this afternoon. I'm doing a very different style this time. alternating blocks and strips. Hope it goes well! I am a bit rusty.

Next week, we have a quick trip planned to Amarillo for Arian's wedding. This seems to be the summer for getting married! The following week, we plan a trip to Lake Catherine in Hot Springs. We want to visit with our family in Benton while there. It has been a while since we last had a good visit with Warren and Linda. We are really looking forward to the trip!

I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday weekend. Stay cool!

Ps 147:2-3 The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers together the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.

 

Progress!

 I hope everyone is enjoying summer so far! Although the temperatures are rising, we haven't hit 100 degrees yet, and we are still having enough rain to keep things green and lush. It has been a delightful Spring!

We went to Amarillo over the Memorial Day weekend for their meeting. We really enjoyed the trip! The lessons were very good, and it was great to visit with everyone. I handled the trip fine and was able to drive about half the time. It did feel good to get home though.

I'm still going to therapy...just once a week now, instead of twice a week. I was reevaluated today, and my OT was very happy with the results. I'm showing improvements across the board. On the peg test, I was able to put all the pegs in their holes and then remove them in 36 seconds! I'm regaining sensation in my thumb and index finger, and I'm able (barely) to touch my pinkie with my thumb. My therapist wants to continue to see me weekly for the next 4 weeks, then drop to every other week for the following 4 weeks. She thinks by then, I'll be ready to continue on my own. I still think it will be months before I regain full function, but I'm beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel! Hallelujah!

I gave up on trying to knit, yet, because it irritated my hands so much. However, I tried crocheting over the weekend and was able to do a little. I'm slow and clumsy, but it is working! I'm hoping to try doing some sewing this week. I need to make the curtains for the women's restroom at church. It should be all machine sewing, so I think I'll be able to handle it. (There is no way that I could thread a regular needle right now!) It is great to be able to do more normal things again!

Baby Shelbi should be arriving this month. She is scheduled for June 26, unless she decides to come before then. We are all really looking forward to having another baby!

Enjoy the summer, stay cool and hydrated, and be safe if you travel!

Ge 8:22 "While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease."

 

Taking things a day at a time

 Therapy is still going well. My OT evaluated me Thursday, and I had made improvements across the board, except for my index finger. It is taking longer to recover than everything else. She had me do a peg test a couple of weeks ago. I first did it with my good hand, and it took 17 seconds. Then trying it with my left hand, I could only get 3 out of 12 pegs in the holes in a minute. She repeated the test Thursday, and I got 6...twice as many. Still pathetic, but an improvement none the less. She gauged the strength of my grip for the first time. My good hand did 47 pounds. My left, only 18 pounds. So I still have quite a way to go!

I am getting better at using my left hand on a daily basis. I'm trying to use it normally as much as possible. Since my index finger is still essentially dead, I am pretty clumsy. I'm constantly challenging myself, though. I've started working out with weights again, just much lighter than I do with my right hand. Last week I got some chunky knitting needles and yarn and started trying to knit some. Again, it is a clumsy endeavor, but I'm doing it. I pushed a little too hard though. My therapist warned me about that when I told her what I was doing. It was already too late...my hand had a flare-up for a couple of days (intense tingling/stinging and stiffness with swelling). So I had to give it a rest all day yesterday. It is doing quite a bit better today. She instructed me to set a timer when I knit...only 20-30 minutes at a time. I'll be sure to start doing that!

I've been getting out and about more lately. (Extended riding in the car had been irritating my hand.) I'm able to drive fine now, using my left hand. I'm also back to babysitting the littles...even had them sleep over a couple of nights. Last week, we took a quick trip to Paris to see Stephen's family and celebrate the girls' birthdays. It was so good to see them all again! It had been too long. Tonight, Sheila's family is coming over for a belated birthday dinner for Caleb. It has been quite a while since we've seen them, too. It is so nice to get back into a more normal routine!

Well, that's about it for what's been going on around here. Hope everything is going well for each of you!

Mt 15:29-30 Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there. Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus' feet, and He healed them.

 

Surgery Recovery

 I had my carpal tunnel/cubital tunnel surgery done on the 11th, 2 weeks ago yesterday. The surgery went fine, although my doctor told Dennis afterwards, that things were in worse shape than expected. I fully expected to have a quick and easy recovery, since my carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand, a couple of years ago, was a breeze. I was wrong.

I still can't do anything with my left hand and have to take Tylenol around the clock. My incisions haven't given me any trouble. It has all been nerve pain. They are extremely angry!  I went Tuesday to have my stitches removed, and they assured me this was to be expected, considering the amount of work that the doctor had to do. I started doing hand exercises several times a day to help things return to normal. I am SLOWLY noticing a little more flexibility in my fingers. I know that I'm making progress, but again, it is very slow.

I'm trying to do as much as I can. I'm doing most of the cooking again...one handed. Dennis has been good to help out as much as I'll let him. I've begun venturing out of the house some but still restrict going much, since that usually causes the pain to worsen. I told Dennis this morning that as soon as I'm able, we need to take a little trip! As much as I love being home. I am tired of my recliner!

So that's been my life lately. Hope things are going better for all of you!

Ps 6:2 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.

 

Repairs and replacements

 Well, our winter lasted about a week. We were fortunate that we didn't have any trouble from the ice and cold. We hunkered down and watched it from inside our cozy house. We both were suffering with chest colds during that time, so it wasn't even like we felt like getting out anyway. All of the ice and snow have now melted, and the temperature has been mild this week. I've been enjoying going outside, sitting in my chair, and just soaking in the sunshine. (Our colds are pretty much gone, too.)

Since I spent a solid week in the house, I was able to double down on a baby blanket that I was knitting for our new granddaughter who is supposed to make her appearance in late June or early July. This was my first "big" knitting project. I made some mistakes, as I ALWAYS do, but it still turned out cute and so soft! Kacey kept trying to get it while I was working on it, and I had some leftover yarn, so I ended up crocheting a little doll blanket for her. That child loves blankets and quilts!

Kacey's doll blanket

I like to start the new year doing those cleaning projects that I don't normally get around to. I had the carpet cleaned after the holidays were over. Now I've started doing a deep ceiling to floor cleaning, one room at a time. I just try to do one room every week or so, because this old body really complains to me afterwards! So far I've done our bedroom and bathroom and the large guest room. I'm hoping to tackle the hall bathroom this afternoon and the hall and entryway early next week. Then I'll have to take a few weeks off.

I've been struggling with carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndrome for quite some time. It has steadily worsened to the point that it needs treatment. My left hand used to just go numb and ache while doing handwork or driving. Now it happens when I'm not doing anything. So I am scheduled for surgery next Wednesday. I had carpal tunnel release in my right hand about 2-3 years ago, and it was a really easy surgery to recover from. This one will be a little rougher, since they will also be working on my elbow (cubital tunnel release), but I'm still expecting an easy recovery period. Probably won't be doing any knitting or crocheting for a few weeks though!

Back in late December, just before Dennis left on his South Texas hunting trip, my oven died. After doing a little research, I decided it was probably the igniter and ordered a new one. It arrived while Dennis was gone, so he was able to repair my oven as soon as he returned home. I was SO glad that we were able to save my range! I looked at replacements, and I couldn't find anything that I liked as well as the one I have. I'm hoping it will last me many more years!

I wasn't so lucky with my dishwasher. It started acting up a few weeks ago. It kept giving me an error message after every wash cycle. It eventually quit but then started having drain problems and giving me a different error message. We played around with it and finally decided it was probably a faulty "brain". So Dennis told me to pick out a new one. He installed it last Saturday. I really loved my old dishwasher (which was 10-11 years old), so I bought another Bosch. They are so quiet and clean so well! This new one is even quieter than my old one (which was very quiet), which is a big plus since our living room and kitchen are open to one another. This one has the 3rd tray rack for silverware and utensils, which I am loving. It also has a feature where you can set the door to pop open at the end of the cycle to let steam out. I'm also liking that! I hope I get many years of use from this one.

I hope all of you made it through the winter storm ok and are staying well!

Ps 147:12, 16-17 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion...He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?