phyllser

DD & SIL bought "theater seating last year.. a triple and a double... all recline, all have cup holders, and there's a lift up thing to hold remotes etc. They are SO comfortable... I LOVE them! Leather, nice looking, too.

Got a text from Steph a while ago.. tests showed nothing. I wonder if the problems are stress related. Doc doesn't know what's going on. Good news on the Master's program! You'll do okay! I read DaVinci Code, and saw the movie. Often Earl walks with me and then I have someone to talk to.

New knees are a wonderful thing!! I agree!! So happy to walk NORMAL with no cane, no pain! LOVE IT! Sorry, I guess I already said that! I need to go check out Kohl's for pants, & JC Penney's!

Hi... I'm here! Watching out the window as the rain comes down. It is our afternoon wine w/Judge Judy time. Tracy just popped in for a short visit. I will miss that when we go south! Did my 1/2 mile walk in the drizzle... before the pouring down rain started. Around and around the parking lot is VERY boring! I wear my headset and listen to music, but I need something else. Likes books on tape or something. I STILL have to do my exercises. Been talking about that ALL the day long and still haven't done it. Did do a lot of packing and cleaning out my closet. And I already posted about my HATS!! LOL Booked a cruise today, too. Seven day Mexican Riviera... Cabo, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, out of L. A. Jan 30-Feb 6, only $1250 for both of us including taxes and insurance. Hopefully we can watch the SuperBowl onboard!

Haven't really looked in to that. And don't want to spend too much money because I'm not at goal yet. I used to make a lot of my own clothes, and our kids' clothes when they were little. Oh... even in their teens sometimes. Made one daughter a long dress for prom. Remodeled my wedding gown for the youngest... took it completely apart, made alterations and put it back together! But... don't sew much these days. I just have to look and look to get those relaxed fit petites! Found a pair of casual Champion pants last week at Target, but need some dressier pants for church. Can get away with jeans at our church here but not so much at the RV park. Esp singing in the choir. Excellent suggestion. I already had a lift chair (recliner) and it is perfect. Walked in a cold drizzle today.. 1/2 mile. No cane, no pain. I love it!! Still need to do my other exercises.

Shopping for pants is a nightmare for me and I am desperately in need of some smaller sizes now! I am barely 5 ft tall, short waisted and still have "thunder thighs"! So must be petite, low-rise and relaxed fit! UGH!

Would definitely let your PCP know what's going on in his office and tell him you are thinking about changing doctors because of it. He needs to know how his staff operates! As far as being the youngest.. yes, I guess it would be frustrating that you "wore out" your knee at that young age, but on the other hand... you age is on your side as far as recovery and rehab. I know how nervous you are, believe me! But you will not be sorry. I am so glad I did it and wish I'd pushed for it LAST year!! You have lots of support here! We're rooting for you, praying for you, keeping you in our thoughts, etc! HUGS, GF!!

Good Morning, Gang! We are packing, packing, packing. Earl just made me go through all my hats! Thirteen going to Goodwill, 2 bags full going with me. You all know I have a hat problem right?! I have one bag full of sun visors... half cloth and half the foamy kind for the pool. Need different colors (with sparklies on them) for different colors of swim suits. Then need different color cloth ones to go with different color clothes. Then need the ones that cover my head.. would you believe I've outgrown some of my hats. Yes, I had a fat head, I guess! So, I have cloth ones and nice warm furry ones and one knit one with ear flaps in case of really cold, windy days in the desert. I'm really working on my purse problem and will not take two bags full of them with me. But I do now need fanny packs again because without my scooter basket... I hate to carry things.. have a couple of over the shoulder purses, but starting to use my fanny packs again.. and now they actually fit around my waist! Shoes are another problem! I need some sandals, I need crocs for the pool, I need my slip on Easy Spirits, etc! Anyways, we have a full garbage bag full of stuff ready to go out the door to the Goodwill... all inventoried for taxes. I had to let go of some very favorite things... especially a long, comfy purple thermal nightgown that I LOVE but I am swimming in it and have to give it up. Unfortunately, it's from Lands End and they don't sell that one anymore. I ordered a flannel one from them last night but it just won't be the same. Earl warned me that I better get a warm nightgown because we will have some cold nights as we travel south. I have so many exercises to do now it's overwhelming! I went to Target and bought a ball... about the size of a soccer ball... that I'm supposed to squeeze between my knees... lying flat in bed. And I have ankle weights for leg lifts, etc, etc. I know I have to do all this stuff... and do my 1/2 mile walk, and it's all very time consuming. I was going to go try out the stationary bike at the clubhouse because I so much enjoyed that at therapy yesterday, but Earl says no because it's an old crappy one. Sky Valley has top of the line so I'll be using those for sure. Weight was up yesterday... bummer! Crab cakes and loaded baked potato Saturday! Took two meals to finish it, but probably too many calories. Kind of frustrating, though, since I did all that walking. May have been retaining a little Water, though... ankles slightly swollen. I exercised yesterday.. both at PT and at home, but not enough to work up a sweat and I didn't walk... cold and windy and a BUSY day.. dr appt, TOPS, PT, etc! So I didn't log any exercise for the day in my signature.

You're a woman and you're young... she's not taking you seriously! I think you should get a new realtor! If she's not following through I'd think you have every right to do that.

Thanks, Diana! New PT I saw today was impressed, too, as was her co-worker. Showed me some new exercises, added ankle weights, and put me on stationary bike for a few minutes. She said 3 minutes, but then she set the timer for 3 HOURS! What can I say?! She's blonde! LOL! She kept glancing at it wondering why the buzzer hadn't gone off yet until I said, Uh... I think you set it for 3 hours instead of 3 minutes! Duh! So I did 5 minutes on the bike. It felt great! We have one at the condo clubhouse I can use and some really nice ones at the RV park we stay at. Oh, well... don't think I could've talked DH in to the NM "short-cut" anyway!! LOL! If you guys get anywhere near Palm Springs this winter, let me know!

Thanks to all of you for the kudos! My ortho tried to put me off, too, as he did LAST year. I just didn't want to wait another year to be able to do some walking! So I did some research online about obesity and knee replacement and everything I found said that patients should NOT be denied knee replacement because of obesity. Risk of infection is only very slightly higher in obese people. So I went back in and said... steroid injection didn't work, I want to go through with surgery. Yes, it is a BLESSING not to have to use a seat belt extender!! And have the tray table come down and not rest on my stomach!! YAY! Yes, I've been very pleased with recovery/rehab so far! Four more sessions of PT (starting outpatient today after a month of in home), and then we're on our way south for the winter! I wanted to have both knees done at once but the doctor wouldn't do it. Would definitely be a challenge. I hope your neighbor does well! I have a partial in my right knee but doc says it needs to be converted. Apparently the hardware is coming loose because of the weight loss. He's watching it for now, but I may be having the right done about next June, too!

Well, it took me 2 hours to fall asleep last night, but then I slept good until almost 8 a.m. We know how to set the pressure on the CPAP now, too. I use an out of state provider for my supplies, so when the Pulm. dr. ordered the pressure change, they had to have a tech call and walk me through changing it over the phone. So DH wrote it all down. I think my pressure is too high... on 11 after my repeat sleep study this summer, and it had been on 9 since 2005! And that was after I talked them in to turning it down TWICE. First the dr. wanted it on 13, then persuaded them to turn it down to 12, then I saw him the day before knee surgery and he agreed to turn it down to 11 (which we'd already done!). I'm still not happy with it and struggling every night with the pressure and the mask not fitting right. So now he's ordered an automatic machine.. pressure adjusts automatically, and a new mask. You won't believe what they charge Medicare for this stuff! Got an EOB over the weekend and I was astounded!! Like $330 for 6 of those little nose pieces, $48 for 6 filters! Give me a break! We need healthcare reform, alright, but not what they're doing! How about eliminate the fraud first!! At any rate, waiting for my new machine to arrive. Oh, yeah... and they were going to send me a new humidifier.... exactly like the one they mailed me in May! I told them to check and see if the one I had would work. And it WILL! I knew because I'd already checked online! Guess what they charge Medicare for that???? $595! Kind of like the defense contractors charge the government!! UGH!!

Sounds yummy! You could top it with your favorite salsa.. or even some home made salsa or pico. Or maybe add some shredded chicken. I think she was wanting to make some "refried" beans from scratch, though. I have no idea how to do that.

Hope you finally got to sleep. I've had so many nights like that this past month. I think it's partly my knee and partly too much anti-depressant, so I started breaking them in half. (Sertraline... generic Zoloft) and it has been better since then. I don't think I've had a night of prolonged sleeplessness in about a week now. It's so frustrating when you're so tired and can't fall asleep.

WE LOVE YOU, JACKIE!! Good job on the soda!! Johannah is 7, going on 20!! She'll be 8 in January. She wasa a miracle baby, as were her two brothers. DD & SIL were married 13 years when Johannah was born and had been through YEARS of infertility treatment, two failed adoptions (moms changed their minds) and when she was conceived... Jodie had decided it was the LAST time she was trying invitro. Then 16 mos after Johannah came Charly... NO infertility treatment that time, and then Thomas 2 years after that! Doctor told them she had a 30% chance of ever getting pregnant... polycystic ovaries. Hmmmmm..... "IT"?? I'm afraid for even the cat to get too close to me in bed right now!! LOL Maybe in a few weeks I'll dig out that pamphlet they gave us at the pre-op class!! I very rarely feel hungry... I"m on another subject by now, BTW! But tonight it's driving me crazy! Weigh in tomorrow so I can't go raid the refrigerator! I had my usual eggbeater omelet for breakfast..and a slice of turkey bacon. Lunch out with DD & SIL and I had chicken taco salad. Dinner was 1/2 can of french style green beans (40 cal) and some of Earl's homemade spaghetti sauce... crushed tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, garlic. Had a 60 cal Jello pudding this evening, but I'm so hungry!!

Hi, All.. Yes, it's been rather quiet here lately! Its been one month since my knee replacement surgery and I'm pretty pleased with my progress. Home nursing and PT have both released me. Have had complete extension from day one of home PT.... that's supposed to be the hardest, and I'm up to 114 degrees flexion. I start outpatient PT tomorrow, but just four sessions.. two this week, two next week. Then we head south in the RV for the winter. They'll teach me exercises I can do on my own. I'm walking 1/2 mile every day, sometimes twice a day. At first I was using a walker, then a cane, but tonight I walked it for the first time without even using the cane. Had DH walk with me and he had the cane just in case I decided I needed it after all. But I did fine and didn't need it. I do two trips around our condo loop for 1/2 mile. I'm taking very few pain pills, none yet today.. will take one before I go to bed... maybe. I've lost 6 lb since surgery. Walking is helping... haven't been able to walk 1/2 mile in probably more than 10 years.

That is not at all unusual for a cat to do. Cat we have now hid under the bed for a few days. One before that hid behind the washing machine for a few days. She'll come out when she gets used to her new surroundings. Marshmallows...You had TEN?? I like mine BLACK!! Haven't had any in a couple of years! Well... maybe one last summer at Tracy's when we had a campfire in the backyard one night. You'd think they'd plug you up! LOL Yeah, I'm kind of pleased with my progress. Haven't done all my exercises every day like I should, but still walking 1/2 mile every day. Skipped yesterday, but was very busy and active all day. Did it twice on Friday, once tonight. Earl went with me... he carried the cane because I wanted to try walking without it. I did fine. Don't think I need it anymore. PT eval tomorrow. Have to remember to go buy weights for my ankles at Target while I"m over there. PT facility is right next to Target. I have wrist weights... 2 or 3 lb... I forget. I'm going to start using them when I walk. They will remind me to swing my arms more. Ankle weights are for leg raising exercises.. not for walking. So far flexion is only up to 114 degrees...maybe more when they measure tomorrow.. but still so much fat and flabby skin in my thighs, it sort of inhibits bending my leg. Extension is perfect. Doc and PT said that is the hardest and comes last, but for me it was easy and came first. Visit with the grandkids yesterday was so fun. Johannah made me feel a little guilty... every time I said anything the least bit negative... knee hurts, or such, she would close her eyes, fold her hands and was making it quite obvious she was saying a prayer for me! It was cute! So I had to shut up! Then when I said we better start thinking about heading home, she disappeared and came back with three throw pillows to "help me feel more at home"! So I had to put it under my leg and stay 15 more minutes! So glad you're able to go. Good that you're meeting new family members. You will have an enjoyable visit, I'm sure. Yes... you will see me walking. I'm planning to walk to the clubhouse for water aerobics instead of ride the scooter. And when I get to Three Rivers, Jacki and I are walking down to the river. Earl said I couldn't because of the rocks, but she said she's working on cleaning up the path. And she's going to carry the wine. We're going to sit by the river behind their house and drink some wine.

Good Morning! Nice sunny day here, but bracing for the coming week, which doesn't look good weather-wise! I may NOT be riding my scooter over to PT tomorrow! Looks like cold and rainy ALL week, even through next weekend. Hmmmmm, we'll be stepping up the packing of the RV!! :seeya::biggrin::blushing: That's the kind of weather we want to escape from. Plans for leaving are shaping up. Will leave here Oct. 8th if all goes well, and leave the area on Oct. 10th. That gives us two nights in the "south end" to go to Grandparents' Day at little GS pre-school and some time to say goodbye to DD & family. The three little ones really miss us when we're gone. We had a very nice visit with them yesterday and I tolerated the 1+ hr drive each way quite well. We went out for lunch to their favorite "peanuts on the floor" place and when we got back we walked the kids to the park. Well.... they wanted me to walk, but I explained that it was a little too far for Graminator to walk yet.. and too much up and down hills. So I rode the scooter. Thomas likes that anyway... he ran alongside and we pretended we were running away from monsters and dragons!! Had crab cakes at the steak house... two and a baked potato. But I only ate one and half the potato. Finished it off in the evening at dinner time. No soup or salad, some steamed veggies and I ate 1/2 a roll and a couple of peanuts. Hope you all have a great day. Have to go get ready for church. Then maybe lunch with other DD & SIL before coming home to watch the Seahawks game. Didn't walk yesterday, so have to fit that in today at least once. Did do DD's steps several times yesterday. First time for that many steps. Not reciprocating yet though.... up with the good, down with the one that is still in recovery mode. That's okay for now. I did it once to show DD that I could, but need to build strength in that leg. Need to get ankle weights for exercises.

Janet, So very sorry to hear about your aunt. Will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Hope you can find reasonably priced travel. Hugs, GF!

Gosh! Hope that starts feeling better soon. You don't need to be dealing with that with your knee surgery coming up!

SO..... How is everyone's day going?? Can't believe the weekend is here again already! We are busy beavers getting ready to leave in two weeks. Spent a long time going through my closets and drawers and bathroom drawers, etc. and all my CPAP stuff. Filled up 1 1/2 baskets with STUFF! Earl took a carload of things to the RV including ALL the canned goods in the kitchen! He washed his 53' Chevy while he was over there and brought it home. Then we were discussing the fact that he was going to make spaghetti for dinner and he took all the french style green beans... Okay, so we'll use angel hair instead this time. Then he realized he also took all the canned tomatoes! So he just took the Chevy back so he can get some of the canned goods back!! Did my 1/2 mile walk this afternoon. Only did one lap yesterday because I was having a little more pain than normal and I was tired after a pretty busy day. Hope you all have a great weekend. We have nothing special planned but going to see if youngest DD is busy tomorrow. Maybe we'll take a ride down there. I think I'm ready to take on her stairs! Need to spend some time with them before we leave.

Hmmmmm....... never thought about it. Don't have it frequently, but do eat it from time to time over the last 2 years without any problems. Like it with hot dogs or sausage. Mom used to make it with spare ribs, too. Problem is, then I want some mashed potatoes with it, too!

Good Morning! Late start to my day. Slept in because it took me so long to all asleep last night... or I should say, this morning as it was almost 2 a.m. Set up my Rx/vitamins for the next 6 weeks yesterday and noticed the Sertraline (genericZoloft) is scored...indicating it is okay to break in half. So I'm taking 1/2 a pill each day starting today. We'll see if that helps as I did notice that insomnia is one of the side effects and I started to have this problem about the time she increased my dose to 100 mg. I'd been taking 25 mg before that. I think that was too much of an increase. We'll see how this goes, but I will be going in to se her in the next two weeks because I need my new Rx for CA. We will be stopping on our way south, Janet, but hope to not take 2 1/2 weeks like we did last year! One night with friends in Salem, one night at my sister's... still in OR, two nights on the way from there to our son's in bay area. Then about 3 nights there so we can see grandson's football game on Friday night and GD's soccer game Saturday morning. Then always enjoy watching NFL with son's family so will stay until Monday morning. Then a couple of days in Three Rivers. Poopers... that sounds like about 2 weeks, doesn't it!! Oh, well... we always enjoy the journey! Earl is bugging me about giving him clothes to take to the RV. UGH! I will give him some today! He's got stuff stacked up at the door ready to take over to the RV at DD's!

Very good! Withdrawls???? Nah... no partying on Thursday nights??! Wonder where everyone is!? Janet is problem having a time out and chilling after her bad morning. And, of course, there's Survivor and the season opener of Grey's Anatomy! I myself am watching BONES! I love forensic stuff! Already watched Survivor. There are a couple of guys that I REALLY dislike... Russell and Ben, the doctor! Weasels!

Yeah, we go to an RV resort in Desert Hot Springs, about 20 miles from where Janet lives. So if you wait a few weeks... you can drive over, pick up some kittens and go SHOPPING with us!! LOL