Life on Hold

 It's just the documenting part that's on hold, really.  It doesn't hurt to type as much as it just make my arm ache and takes away from my valuable time of squeezing an exercise ball or taking an hour to get myself ready for the day.

So just the highlights.

Dreaded shoulder surgery was successful.  Surgery experience couldn't have been better.  I had more actual pain with people drawing blood and putting in an IV than I did after the surgery.

At least 7/8 of my caregivers, including all the random wheelchair pushers and even the cleaning lady asked me about my "accent." Most of them placed me in GA or NC and two in Australia.  

Nerve blocks sound dangerous but aren't very. I'm a big fan.  I didn't even have to experience the blocking, or either I was asleep or under the spell of a forgetting drug.  One minute I was being cheerfully rolled through halls with people warning me it was going to get colder around the corner, and the next I was waking up clear-headed and pain free in my room.  Can't beat that! 

Less than 24 hours later, I had gotten up, twice, worked with occupational therapy, and practiced walking up and down stairs with PT .  

I had breakfast but not lunch.  Just forgot.  Looked good though.

Having an electric or lifting recliner has been a game changer also.  I sit in another chair during the day, but for relaxing and sleeping, I have my cocoon just the way I want it with just the right amount of right arm padding and all my stuff on a table to my left.   A really sweet lady on our community FB page  offered it to me.  I figured I would use it a while and pass it on, but I might get attached to  it.

Again, so little real pain that I'm worrying something is wrong.  Except for a half a hydrocodone at night, I'm doing great on Motrin, muscle relaxer for neck stiffness, and an occasional Benadryl for sleep since that one position can get a little tiring.

Daughters, granddaughters, and cats.  They have all been totally devoted to getting me better -- daughters to try to meet all my wants and needs and some things  I don't  even know I want or need. 

 Elise has been tireless in hoisting me up for 2 weeks now, maneuvering me into clothes,  fixing my sling and preparing nice meals for me.

Emily has changed dressings, reassured me of what is supposed to be happening, making me a medication spreadsheet and sorting my meds, making appointments, and entertaining me.  Who else would read me to sleep every night?  She's reading Dickens Christmas Carol, but we stop to discuss every sentence, so we've barely got to the appearance of Marley's ghost.  

We haven't had this much time together in years, the 3 of us, and we laugh so much my ribs hurt.  I almost hate to get well.

My little girls have been allowed to visit and watch a movie, White Christmas. They've already seen it twice, so there's been a lot of singing and dancing by some.

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One can watch a dressing change or see my bruises with interest while the other can't stop her tears at poor Mimi's condition.

Just not doing well with typing, so pics.

Gifts for our neighborhood heroes.

Gifts for me. One from Washington and one from Alabama.

These are neat books I got the girls from Puppy Dogs & Ice Cream Publishing.  

Beautiful cookies  made by my future PT Laura.  I know she's going to hurt me, but she makes pretty cookies.