I did not realize it has been over two weeks since I posted anything on this blog site. Oh my goodness. I haven't been all that busy, but I do remember thinking that there was nothing of any interest to write about. So I didn't write.
Now it's almost April. I have completed my six weeks sessions of Physical Therapy... had the last session last Friday. Since that program allows independent followup visits, I decided that it would be smart to continue exercising 'on my own' during this 'free month'. So that's what I did today. I actually made myself get up and go to the Collierville Baptist Hospital Wellness Center and do some Nu-step and Arm-cycle exercises. I got to see two of the four therapists who have helped me through the past couple of months, and they were glad to see me 'follow up'. It would be much easier to sit down and do nothing, but I hope I won't get into that rut.
With Easter coming at the end of this week, our weather is beginning to cooperate nicely. Everywhere I look there are tinges of green showing on the tree branches, bushes and shrubs. The flowering trees have been magnificiently beautiful for about a week already. Bradford Pear trees are always so pretty. It's a shame that they're not a sturdier tree, since so many suffer devastating damage in wind and rainstorms. But we can enjoy them while they bloom and hope for no storms for a while.
Our buttercups (aka jonquils and daffodils) are blooming nicely now. I've had a fresh bouquet of the 'taste of spring' on our dining room table for about a week now. Alan would collect some new ones when he walked outside, and twice now I've been able to get out into the back yard (using my cane, still) to pick several handfuls.
The little wild flowers that always come before the grass starts growing are dotting the front yard as they have for 40+ years. When the children and grandchildren were small, we'd put off mowing the yard until after Easter, so there would be plenty of places to hide the Easter Eggs. I miss the dyeing sessions with the children several days before Easter. We'd have a row of teacups with different colors waiting for the eggs, and the kids would create all kinds of designs as they used crayons or stick-ons that came in the dye package. Oh, those are such nice Memories.
Changing the subject completely, the cell phone that Ginny sent me arrived today. It's an 'extra' one on their Plan, and since we had non-renewed our cellular service back in December, this is a welcome gift. Now to learn how to use it ! :-)
Calling out is not a problem. Answering an incoming call isn't either. It's the retrieval of messages left if I don't have the phone turned on.... that will be something to figure out. The instruction booklets that came with the phone are easy to read and interpret, it's just a matter of using the phone and getting accustomed to having it available again. (I used it to call Alan to supper this evening, which saved me from having to walk from the kitchen to the front of the house to alert him.! Ha! It worked!) When Ginny told me she would be sending the phone, she said, "It's a phone. That's all. It doesn't do anything but act like a telephone." That is Exactly what we prefer. It's impressive to see what Other People can do with their iPhones, iPods, and with all those icons that show up on their screens... but I have no desire to get that involved with anything that detailed and complicated !
Monday, March 29, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Recognition
It's nice to be known around town - logically because I've been here 'forever' and have taken an active part in community affairs - clubs, organizations, library, PTA, and so on.
My website has the background music "Where everybody knows your name". A Methodist pastor used that phrase in one of his radio 'moments' a while back, describing what a church should strive to be. It's a good feeling to know that people do know who you are - wherever you go. It's nice that our community is kinda like that, too.
I was totally surprised a few weeks ago when I went to the pharmacy at Wal-Mart to get a prescription refilled. The assistant called me by name Before she saw the prescription form! I didn't know her - but she knew who I was. Now every time I go to the pharmacy this young lady will call out a greeting to me by name ! I know I've had many occasions to visit the pharmacy over the years, picking up meds for my sister and now for myself, but I really didn't know I was that recognizable!
A similar incident startled me when I checked in to Admission at Collierville Baptist Hospital for my Ultrasound test this past week. The admitting assistant gave me the routine papers to initial and sign, saying "you know this routine and probably don't need these papers anyway." That told me that she has 'met' me before at the same admission desk.
I am thankful that we have this fine hospital in our town so that we don't have to travel far for excellent care, but I do wish they didn't know me quite so well.
When I was hospitalized in February 2009 for Afib, one of the Pink Ladies came to the door asking, "Are you the famous Anne Babin?" Gulp...well, uh, yes I guess I am. I didn't know her, but we had a mutual friend. She came in and made a nice cheerful little visit.
My website has the background music "Where everybody knows your name". A Methodist pastor used that phrase in one of his radio 'moments' a while back, describing what a church should strive to be. It's a good feeling to know that people do know who you are - wherever you go. It's nice that our community is kinda like that, too.
I was totally surprised a few weeks ago when I went to the pharmacy at Wal-Mart to get a prescription refilled. The assistant called me by name Before she saw the prescription form! I didn't know her - but she knew who I was. Now every time I go to the pharmacy this young lady will call out a greeting to me by name ! I know I've had many occasions to visit the pharmacy over the years, picking up meds for my sister and now for myself, but I really didn't know I was that recognizable!
A similar incident startled me when I checked in to Admission at Collierville Baptist Hospital for my Ultrasound test this past week. The admitting assistant gave me the routine papers to initial and sign, saying "you know this routine and probably don't need these papers anyway." That told me that she has 'met' me before at the same admission desk.
I am thankful that we have this fine hospital in our town so that we don't have to travel far for excellent care, but I do wish they didn't know me quite so well.
When I was hospitalized in February 2009 for Afib, one of the Pink Ladies came to the door asking, "Are you the famous Anne Babin?" Gulp...well, uh, yes I guess I am. I didn't know her, but we had a mutual friend. She came in and made a nice cheerful little visit.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Routines
With the exception of a couple of days when meetings added to the schedule, the month of March has become pretty routine. I've gone to Physical Therapy three times a week with increasingly intense exercises, lots of walking and practicing going up and down the stairs at the hospital.
I saw my primary care physician last week about my 'numb feet' and he gave me a prescription that was supposed to relieve some of the pressure of the numbness. Instead it gave me a sleepless night with not good pulse rate and a terrific headache the whole following day. So much for that.
I had the scheduled Arterial Doppler Ultrasound on both legs and feet on Monday this week.
Because my primary care doctor is the one who ordered the test, results won't be available to him (or to me) until he is back in the office next week. He is out of the office all this week, probably for Spring Break.
The Ultrasound took about one hour. I had no idea what to expect, and it was quite interesting to listen to the sounds of blood coursing through the arteries in my legs. I asked the technician who did the test if she could offer an opinion, but of course they are not allowed to say anything. The radiologist has to read the test findings and then report to the doctor. Protocol. So we wait. In the meantime, the numbness is still very prevalent, but the swelling has diminished somewhat - except at night.
Because I was in PT from 11 to 12 on Monday, and the Ultrasound was for 1 p.m., Alan and I had lunch at the cafeteria there in the hospital. Even with his cane and my walker, we managed (with help from a nurse in the line) to get food selected and taken to a table. We enjoyed one of the best hamburgers we've had in a long time. They were huge, but we managed to consume all of them. Then it was time to register for the Ultrasound, so the timing worked out really well.
I actually drove myself on an errand on Tuesday - in the rain; and then drove to PT today - both ways. It's kinda strange to be at the wheel again after not driving for so long. Today, March 10th, marks 3 months since my lung surgery. Seems like it should be a much longer time, since my strength has been so slow in returning.... or at least it seems very slow to me.
The buttercups (aka jonquils, daffodils) are blooming in the front yard now, and I'm wishing I could go pick a bouquet. I'm a little bit wary of bending over to pick the blossoms, using the walker or the cane... just not sure about stability. I still have 'wobbly' times when walking. Maybe Alan will bring some more flowers in for me later. He picked a few yesterday to give me a 'taste of spring', he said. It's Time for Spring.... everyone is so tired of cold.
I saw my primary care physician last week about my 'numb feet' and he gave me a prescription that was supposed to relieve some of the pressure of the numbness. Instead it gave me a sleepless night with not good pulse rate and a terrific headache the whole following day. So much for that.
I had the scheduled Arterial Doppler Ultrasound on both legs and feet on Monday this week.
Because my primary care doctor is the one who ordered the test, results won't be available to him (or to me) until he is back in the office next week. He is out of the office all this week, probably for Spring Break.
The Ultrasound took about one hour. I had no idea what to expect, and it was quite interesting to listen to the sounds of blood coursing through the arteries in my legs. I asked the technician who did the test if she could offer an opinion, but of course they are not allowed to say anything. The radiologist has to read the test findings and then report to the doctor. Protocol. So we wait. In the meantime, the numbness is still very prevalent, but the swelling has diminished somewhat - except at night.
Because I was in PT from 11 to 12 on Monday, and the Ultrasound was for 1 p.m., Alan and I had lunch at the cafeteria there in the hospital. Even with his cane and my walker, we managed (with help from a nurse in the line) to get food selected and taken to a table. We enjoyed one of the best hamburgers we've had in a long time. They were huge, but we managed to consume all of them. Then it was time to register for the Ultrasound, so the timing worked out really well.
I actually drove myself on an errand on Tuesday - in the rain; and then drove to PT today - both ways. It's kinda strange to be at the wheel again after not driving for so long. Today, March 10th, marks 3 months since my lung surgery. Seems like it should be a much longer time, since my strength has been so slow in returning.... or at least it seems very slow to me.
The buttercups (aka jonquils, daffodils) are blooming in the front yard now, and I'm wishing I could go pick a bouquet. I'm a little bit wary of bending over to pick the blossoms, using the walker or the cane... just not sure about stability. I still have 'wobbly' times when walking. Maybe Alan will bring some more flowers in for me later. He picked a few yesterday to give me a 'taste of spring', he said. It's Time for Spring.... everyone is so tired of cold.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
EOM thoughts
Thoughts for the end of the month (EOM): in the first place, February is a short month, but outside of that fact, the days seemed to drag sometimes and fly by other times. I guess it's not unusual when the calendar has so few listings of "things to do" ... besides Physical Therapy, that is.
Physical Therapy - a.k.a. as Pain and Torture - has been a challenge. The first two sessions nearly did me in. I was seriously overworked in that second session, and it took several days for me to get over the exhaustion caused by doing too many repetitions of each exercise. I kept doing what the nice instructor said, because I didn't want to give up so early in the game. But I found out pretty fast that I can only do so much in a session and then I have to stop.
Going three times a week to the PT sessions has been better since the instructor has lightened up on the intensity and I don't get so desparately tired each time.
There have been three really nice meetings during the month, that I have attended and enjoyed immensely. Ruthanne drove us to the Colonial Dames meeting in Bartlett; Alan chauffeured for the Contemporary Club tea over in Fayette County, and Ruthanne was the driver for the trip to Holly Springs for the Genealogical Society meeting there. Each group is different and very special with a lot to offer. It was good to get out and see those various friends and participate in the activities.
Now it's time to turn the calendar page to March and start a new month. I hope the temperatures will begin to warm up; everyone is so tired of cold weather. Thank goodness our area did not get any more snow (yet) this winter. The heaviest snow I can remember occured in the middle of March in 1968. We had 17 inches. Maybe our 6-inch snowfall earlier this month was all we're due to have this year. I hope.
Physical Therapy - a.k.a. as Pain and Torture - has been a challenge. The first two sessions nearly did me in. I was seriously overworked in that second session, and it took several days for me to get over the exhaustion caused by doing too many repetitions of each exercise. I kept doing what the nice instructor said, because I didn't want to give up so early in the game. But I found out pretty fast that I can only do so much in a session and then I have to stop.
Going three times a week to the PT sessions has been better since the instructor has lightened up on the intensity and I don't get so desparately tired each time.
There have been three really nice meetings during the month, that I have attended and enjoyed immensely. Ruthanne drove us to the Colonial Dames meeting in Bartlett; Alan chauffeured for the Contemporary Club tea over in Fayette County, and Ruthanne was the driver for the trip to Holly Springs for the Genealogical Society meeting there. Each group is different and very special with a lot to offer. It was good to get out and see those various friends and participate in the activities.
Now it's time to turn the calendar page to March and start a new month. I hope the temperatures will begin to warm up; everyone is so tired of cold weather. Thank goodness our area did not get any more snow (yet) this winter. The heaviest snow I can remember occured in the middle of March in 1968. We had 17 inches. Maybe our 6-inch snowfall earlier this month was all we're due to have this year. I hope.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
February - half gone
Where did this month go to so fast? It was just the other day that we turned the calendar page to a new month!
We've had so much 'weather' it's hard to remember exactly when things happened. The first snow dumped 6 inches in our yard and helped pull down a lot more little twigs and branches that the ice in January must have loosened. This was a perfect snow-man kind of snow, and lots of yards sported snow families within hours. I didn't even try to go out to build one for us, though. I did that one year not too long ago. Built a snowman all by myself, in the front yard. He was not very big, and all covered with old grass clippings and leaves, but he was "my" snowman!
All these bitterly cold days have caused a lot of cabin fever around here. It's too cold to get out and go, and staying home gets tedious after a while. The Vancouver Olympics have offered a variety of programs to watch on TV, and the ice skating is always my favorite. We've commented several times that WE got the snow and cold weather that Vancouver really needed. It was warmer there than here!
Physical Therapy started last week with one session - mostly evaluation to find my strengths and weaknesses. I'll be going to Collierville Baptist Hospital three times a week for four weeks, starting this afternoon. I hope it will help me regain some strength, stamina and energy. My weight keeps dropping... and I am not trying to lose pounds! If it continues to slide, I guess a doctor visit will be in order.
The forecast for tomorrow is a little bit warmer than today. I sure hope so, since we have a very nice meeting to attend in the afternoon, and a nice day would make it even more special.
We've had so much 'weather' it's hard to remember exactly when things happened. The first snow dumped 6 inches in our yard and helped pull down a lot more little twigs and branches that the ice in January must have loosened. This was a perfect snow-man kind of snow, and lots of yards sported snow families within hours. I didn't even try to go out to build one for us, though. I did that one year not too long ago. Built a snowman all by myself, in the front yard. He was not very big, and all covered with old grass clippings and leaves, but he was "my" snowman!
All these bitterly cold days have caused a lot of cabin fever around here. It's too cold to get out and go, and staying home gets tedious after a while. The Vancouver Olympics have offered a variety of programs to watch on TV, and the ice skating is always my favorite. We've commented several times that WE got the snow and cold weather that Vancouver really needed. It was warmer there than here!
Physical Therapy started last week with one session - mostly evaluation to find my strengths and weaknesses. I'll be going to Collierville Baptist Hospital three times a week for four weeks, starting this afternoon. I hope it will help me regain some strength, stamina and energy. My weight keeps dropping... and I am not trying to lose pounds! If it continues to slide, I guess a doctor visit will be in order.
The forecast for tomorrow is a little bit warmer than today. I sure hope so, since we have a very nice meeting to attend in the afternoon, and a nice day would make it even more special.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Catching up again....
I just realized I have not posted anything for several days, so here I am again - trying to catch up.
I sent the following message to the family after I got home from the appointment with my heart doctor:
We left here at 12 noon and got to the office building without any delays. (the snow/ice had melted off the main roadways by that time)
With only a ONE hour wait today, my checkup went well. Blood Pressure 120/70, weight 134 (fully clothed), and EKG was "okay".
Dr. Allen will let me change my heart RX from the one that makes my feet/ankles swell so badly, back to the med that was better... I have some of that one on hand, and will get the new RX filled when we go to Wal-Mart next.
He said I should have my blood checked at the C'ville office - in three weeks. That's for the coumadin level... and maybe in 6 months I could get off that one entirely.
He wants to see me again in 3 months, so that will be at the C'ville office too - he's out here on Thursdays, and since I don't do the Book Store on Thursdays now, I can keep appointments at this office instead of at the Baptist East complex.
WE got home by 3 p.m., and encountered no ice or bad road conditions going or coming back. The 40+ temp today has helped tremendously. BUT there is still a lot of ice piled up along the way, and unmelted areas "waiting for more"? I hope not.
------
So, that's the 'report' from Feb. 1. It's been a busy week with the FRIENDS meeting on Wednesday and grocery shopping on Thursday. I was delighted to get back to the Friends meeting, and received a royal welcome there. Like the kindergarten student who said he liked to miss school because they clapped for him when he came back. :-) They clapped for me, too.
Grocery shopping was, as usual, a big job. The checker commented that we must have been "out of everything", which is pretty close to right. So our cart was full when we finished checking out. The rain was beginning to fall a little harder when we got back to the car, so I did not even try to help load the bags into the trunk. Poor Alan - had to do it all.
Now it's Saturday and I'm waiting for Ruthanne to come pick me up to go to the Colonial Dames meeting and lunch. Charlotte will be going too. This group meets quarterly, so it's been a while since we've seen these friends. We did not go to the November meeting since I was still reeling from the shock of the X-ray and CT scan results on Nov 2nd. That seems like a long time ago.
I commented yesterday to a phone friend that I was so impatient to regain my strength, when we both realized it has not yet been two whole months since the major surgery. I need to practice patience..... not easy.
I sent the following message to the family after I got home from the appointment with my heart doctor:
We left here at 12 noon and got to the office building without any delays. (the snow/ice had melted off the main roadways by that time)
With only a ONE hour wait today, my checkup went well. Blood Pressure 120/70, weight 134 (fully clothed), and EKG was "okay".
Dr. Allen will let me change my heart RX from the one that makes my feet/ankles swell so badly, back to the med that was better... I have some of that one on hand, and will get the new RX filled when we go to Wal-Mart next.
He said I should have my blood checked at the C'ville office - in three weeks. That's for the coumadin level... and maybe in 6 months I could get off that one entirely.
He wants to see me again in 3 months, so that will be at the C'ville office too - he's out here on Thursdays, and since I don't do the Book Store on Thursdays now, I can keep appointments at this office instead of at the Baptist East complex.
WE got home by 3 p.m., and encountered no ice or bad road conditions going or coming back. The 40+ temp today has helped tremendously. BUT there is still a lot of ice piled up along the way, and unmelted areas "waiting for more"? I hope not.
------
So, that's the 'report' from Feb. 1. It's been a busy week with the FRIENDS meeting on Wednesday and grocery shopping on Thursday. I was delighted to get back to the Friends meeting, and received a royal welcome there. Like the kindergarten student who said he liked to miss school because they clapped for him when he came back. :-) They clapped for me, too.
Grocery shopping was, as usual, a big job. The checker commented that we must have been "out of everything", which is pretty close to right. So our cart was full when we finished checking out. The rain was beginning to fall a little harder when we got back to the car, so I did not even try to help load the bags into the trunk. Poor Alan - had to do it all.
Now it's Saturday and I'm waiting for Ruthanne to come pick me up to go to the Colonial Dames meeting and lunch. Charlotte will be going too. This group meets quarterly, so it's been a while since we've seen these friends. We did not go to the November meeting since I was still reeling from the shock of the X-ray and CT scan results on Nov 2nd. That seems like a long time ago.
I commented yesterday to a phone friend that I was so impatient to regain my strength, when we both realized it has not yet been two whole months since the major surgery. I need to practice patience..... not easy.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Another new day
Going to the lung doctor today was an all-day affair - almost. We left at 9:15 and didn't get home til after 1:20 p.m. Only a few minutes of that time was spent at Wendy's getting lunch 'to go'.
I asked the nice nurse why it seemed like ALL doctors make appointments for a certain time, but it is one hour or more after that time before the patient is even called into the exam room. Then there's another lengthy wait to see the doctor himself (or herself). Of course each doctor has his own priorities, and I like having one sit down and spend time talking with me about my particular concerns, but really - does it take THAT long to see each patient and then to record what happened during that visit?
I have another appointment next week, this one is with my heart doctor. I know from experience that I won't see him within the hour of the appointment time. We'll most likely have a two-hour wait in the waiting room, plus another period of time in the exam room after his nurse gets her info.
There's not much I can do about it, except not keep appointments -- and that won't work at this stage of my recuperation. Just have to be sure to have reading material with me, and maybe a bit of chocolate to tide me over. Hubby manages the waiting time better than I do, for which I am thankful. I would hate to have to do these appointments by myself.
My checkup today was good - in spite of all the waiting - and my next appointment will be in April. The lung doctor wants to keep a close check on me to stay on top of things. I'm glad.
Speaking of reading material, I'm reading Stuart Woods' new "Kisser", another Stone Barrington novel. I have enjoyed everything Woods has written and this one is no exception. I also have the latest Robert B. Parker novel waiting for me after I finish "Kisser".
It's good to get back to reading! For several weeks I have not had any interest in any of the books I brought home from the Book Store to have while I recovered. I don't know if it was because my eyes were as weak as the rest of my body, but for some reason I just couldn't get into books for that time. It was easier to turn on the TV - and watch the Food Channel. I enjoyed the reruns of some of the good old sitcoms, too, on WGN while I was doing daytime TV.
I asked the nice nurse why it seemed like ALL doctors make appointments for a certain time, but it is one hour or more after that time before the patient is even called into the exam room. Then there's another lengthy wait to see the doctor himself (or herself). Of course each doctor has his own priorities, and I like having one sit down and spend time talking with me about my particular concerns, but really - does it take THAT long to see each patient and then to record what happened during that visit?
I have another appointment next week, this one is with my heart doctor. I know from experience that I won't see him within the hour of the appointment time. We'll most likely have a two-hour wait in the waiting room, plus another period of time in the exam room after his nurse gets her info.
There's not much I can do about it, except not keep appointments -- and that won't work at this stage of my recuperation. Just have to be sure to have reading material with me, and maybe a bit of chocolate to tide me over. Hubby manages the waiting time better than I do, for which I am thankful. I would hate to have to do these appointments by myself.
My checkup today was good - in spite of all the waiting - and my next appointment will be in April. The lung doctor wants to keep a close check on me to stay on top of things. I'm glad.
Speaking of reading material, I'm reading Stuart Woods' new "Kisser", another Stone Barrington novel. I have enjoyed everything Woods has written and this one is no exception. I also have the latest Robert B. Parker novel waiting for me after I finish "Kisser".
It's good to get back to reading! For several weeks I have not had any interest in any of the books I brought home from the Book Store to have while I recovered. I don't know if it was because my eyes were as weak as the rest of my body, but for some reason I just couldn't get into books for that time. It was easier to turn on the TV - and watch the Food Channel. I enjoyed the reruns of some of the good old sitcoms, too, on WGN while I was doing daytime TV.
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