Are You Serious????

SO truly, the bottom line for the rest of my life is:

"You can walk as much as you like. The best recommended activities are walking and swimming. You can ballroom dance, play golf, and ride a stationary or mobile bike. It is best to use spikeless shoes for golf, and to use a golf cart (so that you don’t have to carry a heavy bag of clubs). Bicycling on a level surface is less stressful then biking in hill country"

HAHAHAHAHA THIS MAKES ME LAUGH! Ballroom Dancing? Joseph and I take private lessons and I do not sweat. Golf? Really? The bike may work - really? Only on level surface? Swimming - uhhhh not so much, but walking - that will be my main squeeze.

I DID find a THR (Total Hip Replacement) rehab specialist in Maui - she modifies pilates, which I love, to include hip precautions. I will ask if my insurance will send me there for rehab.

My mom is back in her home now - with 24 hour care. So far so good! I am so thankful for each day...

My Goal

A beautiful hymn that Marji Peterson found, and had her son Matt arrange - the tune is beautiful, the words simply bare.

My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace. Nor even blessing but himself my God.
'Tis His to lead me there not mine but His. At any cost dear Lord by any road.

So faith bounds forward to its goal in God and love can trust her Lord to lead her there
Upheld by Him, my soul is following hard 'til God hath fulfilled my deepest prayer.

No matter though the way be oft-times dark, No matter though the cost be oft-times great
He knoweth how I best shall reach the mark - The path that leads to Him, it must be straight.

One thing I know that "no" I cannot say - One thing I do, I press towards my Lord.
My God my glory here, from day to day - and in the glory there my great reward.

The Princess and the Soap

YAY! Today in my shower I did not drop my soap! Each shower I take, my prince waits on the bed for my beck and call. So far, it has been fruitful waiting for him, since I ALWAYS drop the soap in the shower, and being that I cannot bend down, he has to come to me rescue.

Today I was drop-free! Huge victory. I hope my prince does not think he can ease up to my beckoning - I will have to drop something else to keep him on his toes.

Physical therapy again today - I like Dana, who comes to my house. I am worried about possible nerve damage in my arms (I KNOW I have a lot of nerve, but really, must you make yourself known at all?)

We switched the shots from tummy to arm - I think it hurts less.

I am so thankful that i have medical insurance, and a job that I can work from home. God is so good!

Hours and Hours to Pass By

Wow - this time for the next 6 weeks here is reminiscent of my pregnancies - I had 4 pregnancies that I had to lay in bed for 6 months each. Just lay there - waiting. Now mind you, this was BEFORE laptops, cell phones, and DVD's.

I would check each day of the calendar as it passed, hoping to get to the half way point. Once to halfway, I could much more excitedly cross each day off, seeing the end of the confinement.

This time for me is amazingly different than those times. I have a TV in my bedroom with more channels than I need (I think it is called HD? - it is nice), cell phone, laptop with internet on my lap, chat, and instant messaging! I even have a cool walkie talkie to call Joseph in case he happens to be out of my voice range. OH! The biggest time-taker-brain-stunner is facebook! I cannot believe how much entertainment that provides!

I am WORKING from my bed! How cool is this?

Another good thing is I am free to call my parents all day long to see how they are doing - as my mom is in stroke rehab hospital (where I broke myself), waiting to be released Saturday to 24 hour in-home care. My dad has been home very sick for one week. I am thankful I can call them both all the time.

However, this time seems to be dragging on and on and on and on. Julz keeps me entertained, along with her new friend Vande ;) Visitors come and cheer me and break up the hours and hours that just drag on.

Waah waah waaaaaah....and I fight anxiety when I think of the accident that put me here. The sound of breaking bones, and then the muscles in my leg contracting for the next 24 hours trying to force 3 broken bones into place.....just makes me shudder. yuck - halloween stuff for sure.

Without faith in Christ, I really don't know how I would go through this.
Psalm 27:14 - "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." I am waiting.....

Functionality

So my sweet sister stopped by here on her way from Wenatchee to Arizona, bringing my car to me that I had to leave behind in Wenatchee when I was transported by ambulance back to Kirkland.


My most pertinent dilemma of the day is how to reach my "things". I am not supposed to twist in any way, shape, or form, and having things on my headboard did not do the trick. We needed to get something set up next to my bed so I could reach things without twisting.


We got a wooden low kitchen stool, and she put a cute Italian divided pottery dish on it, and placed all my necessary items on it. There are pain pills, remote control, cell phone, walkie talkie, gum, mints, hair brush, and those wonderful stool softeners. We though it looked pretty darn cute.


Excited to show the head caregiver our creation - he looked at it and quickly said "You will knock things off of that." I insisted like I always do, that being cute doesn't mean it HAS to be impractical! It is PERFECT - I LOVE the dish!


My practical, function-before-style man left the room and appeared with HIS most recent purchase for the cause:











We GASPED! I argued - pleaded, then gave in - and I STILL knock things off!

Babysitter Today

Today I had my first babysitter in a long time - for me. I mean, the babysitter IS for me.

Joseph got oldest son Jason to come watch me while he had to leave for a few hours. Like a good parent, he had me showered, clipped my toe nails, prepared my food, and gave Jason instructions how to move my leg in and out of the bed. He even remembered to charge the batteries on the walkie talkies. (I am trying my hardest to wait until the Seahawks game is over before I summon my babysitter)

Babysitters have it way too easy.

I am thinking of doing a family Mount Rainier climb - that could be a great goal!

Day 3 - not too funny

Today I realized that my dream of racing the Diva Half Marathon in Honolulu on April 1 is gone. In September I told my Maui friend that let's decided by October 15 if we want to go for it. On October 15 I was getting emergency total hip replacement.

At the end of August, I injured my hip running - by adding too much distance on hills, and not stretching afterwards. After ex ray at doctor, they determined it must be bursitis, take prescription anti-inflammatory and to REST it. Next day I left on airplane for a 12 day business trip, which was nearly impossible to rest. I ended up buying a cute pink can there. One month after that, I took a little fall at the Kirkland waterfront, while watching the Vanderhoff family photo shoot. It was a bad fall, and really set my pain back a reeling. I told doctor pain is worse, he prescribed me the big steroid treatment. No help.

On Thursday I go to Wenatchee to be with my mom who had a stroke. I spent one night in the hospital with her - the second night I fell getting out of the shower, having basically 3 breaks in my hip - completely severing the head, breaking the neck, and dislocating it all. They can usually relieve pain with traction - but I was not a candidate for that since I would bleed out. I had to endure for 24 hours.

So now, I am left with no running in my future at all - ever and forever. WEIRD timing? SO, the question of running the Diva Half Marathon is answered. Next thought - IF I can get a doctors OK, I CAN WALK THAT THING IN 3.5 HOURS! I was not a speedy runner anyway, and I can still wear my cute running outfit.

I have had an

Anterior Total Hip Replacement

and have learned that there are as many hip replacements as their are hair colors for women. I did it good.

I have 2 weeks to decide what my next goal will be (well, after walking again) I fear my new hip made my leg way too long. They do say it takes 2 weeks for the joint to settle in. I can wait before I scream.

My mom - my dad and her are truly forced to hire in-house care now - which is really difficult for them. My heart aches for them and this huge huge life change. I pray for peace for them.

I really wanted to go to church tomorrow, but Joseph said "You cannot sit that long, and you will have to go potty, and you cannot use a regular toilet" I forgot about that. I will be released soon - but my parents won't.

Funnies Day #2

Funny #1: Had to shower today - first time at home. 2 brains, one super-high-speed-but-not-as-accurate-brain which is totally dependent on a slower, more methodical (thus more accurate) brain.

Shower takes FOREVER to get hot water. So, brain #1 says "get the seat in the shower and the water running so when things are ready it will be warm water". Brain #2 thinks it best to get everything, and I mean EVERYTHING organized before shower entrance. Brain # 1 assumes brain #2 will obey - and takes off all clothes ready to make way into shower. Brain #2 does not obey - by the time I am in shower, I am totally frozen and sit and shiver for 15 minutes before I could start washing. I mean, I thought all it takes it getting IN the shower - everything else just magically falls in place.

Funny #2: Joseph feels the dogs should not be in the bedroom while I am getting from bathroom to the bed, so he tells them "out!" and they are required to watch from the hallway. Today I realized that Joseph really missed his calling. He stands at straight attention, holding his hand out to the dogs to keep them out, while telling me to focus and stop talking. HE can do 2 things at once, why can't I??? He needs a whistle so he can be a London traffic cop.

Two Weeks of Hilarity Coming Right Up, I AM Thinking

First 24 hours finished of two weeks of 24 hour around the clock care from my husband for my recovery. He doesn't even know I have a blog, probably doesn't know what one is so I will take this opportunity to tell on him.

I could have died laughing a few times today and last night.

FIRST of all, I have to take pain pills every 3 hours - so he set his cell phone up for alarm through the night to administer them to me. Well, each time the alarm went off, he stood up, put on his sweat pants, walked to my side of the bed, and handed me the pills and water. I obediently drank, and he walked to other side of bed, removed his sweat pants, and crawled back into bed. I finally gave him permission to just stay put, and watch me take my pills.

Funny #2: He has to give me an injection every morning in my tummy. He started yesterday in the hospital with a nurse witnessing. I know this is out of his comfort zone. Today, he gets ready for the mission and sees a bruise from yesterday's shot! He kept insisting that is NOT where he gave the shot yesterday - this is NOT his bruise! I said nevermind - just go. So he has to find the fatty place (hahah in tummy that is pretty easy) and swab it real good with alcohol. He swabbed, then kept pulling the skin (fat) up and down and up and down. I said "now you have to swab again - what ARE you doing anyway?" and he thoughtfully said "You don't have as much fat in your tummy as you did yesterday". HAHAHAHAHAHAAH

Funny #3: He is super excited to get the walkie talkies out! He gives me mine, and shows me how to use it, goes out of the room to test it. This is cool. SO, he as in the NEXT room, and I told him I have to go potty (which I need help in and out of the bed) and he said "use the walkie talkie". I said "honey! You can hear me! Just come!" but he would not come until I used the walkie talkie. HAHAHAHAHA

Funny #4: When I am walking, using the crutches, he thinks that I cannot TALK while I walk! HE is always saying "concentrate, don't talk". WOW someone tell this man that women can do ANYTHING while talking!

Gotta love this man. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

I Lost My Head

So, here is a picture of a normal femural head. I "severed" my head, and torked the bloods vessels, muscles, and ligaments around it.

Oh and brother Del was there in emergency room to make sure there was one brain working, and he just informed me "and you broke your neck at the obturator internus" - That sounds pretty cool.

Drug Induced Ebay Shopping

This is really a story that presents disbelief, at least to me.

You know how I was into a running program? I was SO psyched ~ did the 5K, and had begun training for a 10K with my eyes on a half marathon in April. One day while Julianne was at soccer practice, I added too much distance and time to my run, and neglected to properly stretch out afterwards. (dummy me) In a few weeks, I was unable to walk without assistance. Went to doctor, Bursitis. What a total and complete PAIN!!!

Well after nearly 2 months, it STILL hurt. Poo -

Subject change - my mom (who suffered a severe stroke 3 years ago) had a fall - she passed out at her home, and was taken by ambulance to ER) They suspect another stroke. She was too weak to do anything at all on her own, and required 2 people to transport her from bed to chair. Her breathing is really shallow, which is a worry.

I went to Wenatchee on Thursday to be near her, and see how things are. I slept in the room with her on the most comfortable bed ever. After 2 days, they moved her to the Rehab Clinic (rehab for body after a stroke, that is) SO, I decided to stay there too, in a most comfortable bed. Before bed, I decided to hop in the shower in her room.

Nice enough shower, although the shower curtain was horrible, and filled the tile floor with a slight layer of water. The clothes I left on the floor were wet too - rats.

As I stepped out of the shower ever so gingerly so as not to slip - WHAMMO CRACK BANG CRUNCH! RIGHT smack on my hip - the bad hip too!I heard a breaking bone - I swear I heard it. I could not move - my poor mom was in her bed unable to move and barely able to call out to me. She heard the crash even without her hearing aids in. I could hear her calling me, but could not answer, afraid of what I did to myself.

GOOD thing I was in a rehab bathroom - there were bars on the walls everywhere to help me get up! I managed to get to a chair in there and assess my condition. My initial assessment- disclocation. However, I could not confirm my diagnosis without Google.

My mom call her nurses, who put me in wheelchair and rolled me down to ER - SUPER convenient ~ Exrays, morphine , more and more morphine. Not good news at all. The bone that is connected to the joint "head" was completely broken, and at a right angle. The joint head had no support, so it snuck out of the joint (that must have felt really strange to that head - afterall, it has been in that location for nearly 55 years)..

Ligaments and muscles were a catastrophe. Upon further investigation, the doctor surmised the the extent of my crime, I mean accident, that I must have had a hairline fracture instead of bursitis - thus explaining the wretchedness of the injury.

They wheeled my bed to say goodbye to my mom: I began calling people who did not believe me. (I mean really who would?) I was then ambulanced from Wenatchee to Kirkland, my home sweet home hospital. I required surgery within 24 hours since the bone was completely severed.. I discovered the new worst pain I have ever experienced. I was totally and completely out of it for 24 hours but the pain never once let up.

They called in a cool doctor to perform my total hip replacement! "I am too young", cried the new runner!

Back to Blog Title: I have my laptop and can shop on Ebay.

FREEDOM!

This is how I feel! The truth shall set you free - and I am free indeed!