Knee Replacement Surgery is Today!

The long-awaited day has finally arrived.  We'll be busy, so I'm not posting much and will give you a report tomorrow or the next day.

In the meantime I am posting a fun video, in the spirit of Proverbs 17:22, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."

(Click on the arrow.  If for some reason it doesn't work, click here.)

Those High Ledges

What is it that some builders are thinking when they create the very high ledges in today's houses? Drama, I guess.  Dimension, perhaps?  Disaster?  No, they don't think of that.

We have had three houses with shelves or ledges or otherwise scary places for decorating.  So far we have been transferred to another state before it became absolutely essential that these high places get a new coat of paint.  

In the meantime, I cannot leave a wall bare. I am neurotic about hiding all electric cords (do you ever see them in the decorating magazines?!), and those high places cannot be left unadorned (for long).  I hang quilts on our walls to absorb noises so it doesn't sound like we are living in Carlsbad Caverns.  I decorate the high places because they cry out to me for something!  In my imagination I have built a black, spiral iron staircase up to the heights, installed railings, and bookcases to make good use of the areas. 

Beloved, who says if I were not in his life, would probably be content with a TV, a recliner, and an orange crate with a lamp on it, has yet to agree to the spiral stairs idea.  So in the meantime, I ask him to pull out his longest ladder and we add stuff to the ledges.  I used to do that all myself, taking delight in arranging all manner of things, both antique and just junk that looks good from a great distance, in captivating groups.  The female children in my family have even helped me while Beloved just shook his head.

 

But then there was the fall.  No, not from grace, but definitely from good sense, I guess.  I had been standing on the kitchen countertops for years and years with nary a mishap when one evening I met the floor with a crushing impact that earned me a ride in an ambulance and surgery the next day to replace and repair what remained of my left shoulder.  

Make no mistake, our loving God allows us to experience injury when it serves our best interests.  Let's see, what did that experience teach me?  

-an ambulance gurney will fit into my kitchen and out the front door 

-the ambulance driver doesn't use his siren for non-life threatening cases, even if the patient feels near death

-morphine is a wonderful thing

-don't believe the first diagnosis they give you -- it may be worse than that

-artificial replacement parts are a blessing; without them a lot of us would be cripples for life

-physical therapists are  your friends, but do what they say

-use facial moisturizer, lip gloss, and smile sweetly because  your hair is not going to be pretty when you can't reach up to style it

-accept that pain will be a constant companion for many, many months, but it does decrease with time

-compassion in a new dimension for the injured and disabled

-and more things that I cannot possibly list in one sitting -- I am still learning!

The most important thing I learned, above all, is that God is with me at all times and I can trust Him even when He has allowed such a thing to happen.  His ways are not our ways, but He's always got a good purpose in mind.  

Days after the accident, I stared at the ledge above the family room fireplace, worrying about how we would ever get all that stuff down sometime.  Every couple of years or so I used to get up there to dust.  That ledge was a lot higher than my kitchen countertops.  It now looked very scary to me.

One of our sons, who lives relatively close by, came several months ago and removed all the stuff from that ledge.  He is strong and still has a bit of that dare-devil in him that we all have when we are in our mid-thirties.  Beloved held the very tall ladder for him and he not only emptied the space of its contents, but also cleaned and spackeled a few holes for us while he was up there.

As time went on, however, that huge blank space started to bother me.  But I sure didn't want to gather all that stuff together again and arrange it.  We have several antique chairs that we never sit in -- frankly, they aren't that comfortable.  But they've been in the family for generations before us, so we don't get rid of them; they just take up a lot of closet space.  I decided they are actually artsy-looking, so Beloved climbed the high ladder this week and placed them as you see in the picture below.

There.  I think we are truly done with climbing the heights. The kitchen cabinets are bare on top and will remain that way.  The high places are as decorated as they are going to get.

That's my story about high ledges and I think I'd better stick to it!

The Simple Woman's Daybook for August 2

FOR TODAY

Outside my window ... I can hardly believe it, but today is the first day of public school for the children in my county!  The bloom and heat of summer is in full swing while little children are boarding the yellow school buses.  Many decades ago when I was a school girl, we didn't return to the halls of learning until a week or so after Labor Day! Maybe their schooling takes longer now because there is more history to study??!

I am thinking ... Most children don't grasp the importance of studying history; and unfortunately there are people who are re-writing history to leave out the facts about how our nation was founded on Christian principles.

I am thankful for ... the Christian education my grandchildren are receiving.  I am thankful for the efforts (and expense) my children put forth to see that my grandchildren are educated with godly values.

From the kitchen ... here is a little peek into some of the fun of my relationship with my hubby:  My regular blog readers know that I have a pretend bed and breakfast called "Grammy's Place."  Right now while Beloved has a weak knee that buckles unexpectedly therefore, he is not comfortable with carrying his second morning cup of coffee down to his home office in our basement.  So while he is waiting for his office computer to warm up (a time-consuming task), he calls me on my cell  phone at "Grammy's Place" to "place an order" for a cup of coffee.  I am sitting here at the breakfast table, catching up on email when his call comes in.  I answer with "Good morning!  Grammy's Place."  He requests the cup of coffee (yes, cream and sugar, please, and do you deliver?), and then I take it down to him.  We've been married for over 40 years but we still have our fun little games!

I am wearing ... still in my jammies, glasses, and a smile on my face.

I am creating ... a table runner for my family room coffee table.  Maybe I'll finish it today???

I am going ... to clean the glass chandelier in the entry hall today with the help of a tall ladder and Beloved nearby.  This is something I do yearly whether it needs it or not (laugh) and is NOT a favorite task.  This time I am using the disposable Windex wipes to clean each pane of the light fixture, both inside and out.

I am reading ... Month of Meals, 3rd Edition. This is a meal planner and cook book published by the American Diabetes Association, "Quick and Easy Menus for People with Diabetes, Classic Cooking."  Although Beloved and I don't have diabetes, many of our friends do.  It's a good book for anyone because the menus are a healthy balance of what we all should be eating.  The copy I have is several years old.  If you are interested in a newer version, click here.

I am hoping ... the people who are re-paving our street get the job done this week before our dinner party this coming Friday night.  My alternate plan is to call our guests and meet at a nice park for a picnic menu.

I am hearing ... the tower fan blowing gently on me as I sit here typing.  We do have air conditioning but at times women my age need additional cooling agents to keep us at a calm temperature. (smile)

Around the house ... there is almost always laundry to fold, I need to dust all the plantation shutters in anticipation of the dinner guests this Friday, and this is the day I feed my outside flowers and veggie garden with Miracle Gro.

One of my favorite things ... is a beautiful table setting.  Recently my little support group met for dinner in the home of BB (the Texas blonde with a real flare for color and decor).  Since this is an all-girl group, she went for feminine color at the dinner table using a delightful combination of paper products and re-useables. Here is a picture I took with my iPod camera:

The Simple Woman's Daybook is a weekly habit enjoyed by many bloggers.  It is a pleasant and effective way to bring more traffic to your blog.  For more information about the woman who came up with this idea, go to http:..thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

If the link doesn't work for you copy-and-paste it into your browser.

The Simple Woman's Daybook for July 26

FOR TODAY

Well, actually, I am composing this on Sunday evening for Tuesday's post.  You see, it's a busy week, so Sunday evening is my best opportunity to sit quietly and think about simple things!

I am thinking ... how good God is.  Even when there are "trials on every hand and we cannot understand" (as the song goes), it is the perfect comfort to know our Lord has got it all under control for His glory. And if it's for His glory, then it's for our good!

I am thankful for ... baking soda.  Here's a tip I've used for over thirty years:  if you feel that a urinary tract infection may be coming on, drink a glass of water with half a teaspoon of baking soda. Drink it right down; don't sip it slowly.  Yes, you may have a little belch afterwards, but that's nothing.  If you do this at the first indication you might be having a urinary tract problem, this can often set you back on course again.  And do keep drinking water, pure water, and lots of it.  Flush out the system of whatever wants to pull you down!  If this doesn't work, or  if you are aware of a medical reason  you should not take the baking soda, then seek medical attention.  This is just a suggestion that has worked repeatedly in this household for, like I said, over thirty years.

From the kitchen ... my blessed "servant girl"  by the name of "automatic dishwasher" is busy while I am sitting here in my chocolate wing-backed chair, balancing my computer on my lap.

I am wearing ... aqua capris, a black tank top (with it's overshirt draped on the arm of a nearby chair), and my favorite flippy sandals.  I was wearing aqua earrings earlier in the day, but I removed them before calling one of my daughters-in-law on the phone.

I am creating ... food!  One of our nieces and a friend are on a road trip this week and we happen to be at a location convenient for free lodging along the way!  This afternoon I made orange gelatin with shredded carrots and crushed pineapple to go with tomorrow night's chicken stir-fry menu.  I also made a Cinnamon Roll Cake which I plan to serve for breakfast (departing from my usual cereal menu for that day).  

I am going ... to enjoy showing the girls around, giving them a break from all the driving they've been doing.  

I am reading ... still in Dr. Charles Stanley's Turning the Tide.  I love to underline and make margin notes as I read.  Here is a statement I underlined from pages 39-40:  "I believe that investigating the successes and failures of past empires and civilizations can be instructive, motivational, and a great defense against avoidable mistakes." I learned the same thought from Elizabeth Elliot years ago.  Take this a step closer to home and examine the lives of not only nations, but also people.  Look at the choices they made and how it affected their lives later and the lives of those within their realm of influence.  As Elizabeth Elliot has advised, "read the dead guys," meaning that we should read the biographies of those who are now dead.  See how God worked in their lives.  Many times autobiographies are a waste of time, in my opinion.  They are just an opportunity to boast about accomplishments and to gloss over poor choices.  Read and think about how God worked in the lives of those who are now dead, when nothing is left but the truth.

I am hoping ... that the expected street paving doesn't go on while we have guests this week and next. Fresh tar is so stinky!

I am hearing ... the gentle hum of the ceiling fan high above me and the occasional tapping of Beloved's fingers on his laptop just a few feet away from me.

Around the house ... last week I did some stenciling on a wall in the guest room.  When I get around to it,  I'll post pictures, making a tutorial of the process.

One of my favorite things ... is stepping into our house from the heat outdoors to where it is refreshingly cool.  Thank the Lord that He taught somebody how to invent air conditioning!!!

A few plans for the rest of the week:  nursing home ministry, some sewing, and the usual laundry and housecleaning.  I apparently strained a muscle in my back recently, so some of that housecleaning may take a back seat to more gentle activities.  Beloved will be teaching the lesson in our Sunday School class this weekend, substituting for the usual teacher.

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing ...

Our front porch faces west, which means it is very shady in the mornings.  Beloved and I take our coffee cups (or sometimes tea for me) out there on Saturdays to just quietly sit and sip. We have lots of big full trees in our neighborhood, robins, and bunny rabbits scampering about on the green, green grass.  DL gave me that red geranium last summer. I was able to successfully "winter over" this plant and also a pink one from PB by placing them in the sunny south window of my sewing room.  It is very satisfying to do that, saving significant money.

The Simple Woman's Daybook is a weekly habit enjoyed by many bloggers. It is a pleasant and effective way to bring more traffic to your blog. For more information about the woman who came up with this idea, go to

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/ 

If the link doesn't work for you, copy-and-paste it into your browser.

The Knee Bone's Connected to the Leg Bone

(Perhaps I should have saved this picture for Halloween?)  I mentioned in this past Saturday's post that someone in the family is going to be having non-life-threatening surgery in a couple of months.  But before we got that news, we had to get past the staff at the Orthopedic Surgeon's office, including this bony fellow (or gal?).  

A few weeks ago Beloved and I were carrying things up the stairs when he turned to see if he could assist me and missed a step in the process.  He tumbled down 3 steps, landing on the landing (I know that's phrased awkwardly) and heard his knee pop.  To make the long story short, his first diagnosis was a torn meniscus, then a torn ACL, and then a few days later a knee replacement was scheduled due to all the arthritis in there as well.

Beloved has been on the Internet a lot lately, reading all he can about what to expect.  Fortunately (or not), we have several friends who have already been through this same replacement, so they have been very helpful as well.  We plan to collaborate on some blog posts about the experience, with this being the first one.  

The bony guy in the doctor's hallway was good enough to allow me to photograph his right knee.  In case you are squeemish, I kinda think this is really plastic we are looking at, so relax.  I'm not seeing any arthritis in this picture (below), but we saw plenty of it in Beloved's MRI.  For the uninitiated, the smallest bone on the right is the knee cap, the top bone is the femur, and the two smaller bones on the bottom make up the lower leg.

He's had a large Baker's Cyst at the back of the knee, which is evidence of the body's attempts to compensate for the arthritis.  That was drained this last Thursday and has already filled back up again.  

Well, some of you have just read more than you wanted to know while others may be wanting to know more.  I can tell you for now is that he's exercising the leg to do all he can to get the muscles into good shape for the workout the knee will get after the surgery.  He's making plans to take 4 weeks off from work but those who have been through this say 6 weeks is more realistic.  The big issue with that is it takes time for the patient to be able to bend the knee enough to sit comfortably in a chair.  

We are also stewing over our options to get a bed on our main floor since the first few weeks on crutches don't make going up the stairs to the master bedroom a pleasant option.  After all, it is that same stair case that was his downfall in the first place!