Tag Archives: surgery

January Reading plus Red

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I charged up my Bird Buddy AI feeder this past weekend. It hasn’t been outside since last Spring. It doesn’t survive the desert heat of summer, so I retired it for awhile.Then I started taking my own photos of birds and forgot about it. I hadn’t seen Red since our Christmas vacation, so I thought maybe he’d like the feeder, where I used to see Red and Mrs. all the time. So, the first day I put Bird Buddy outside, look who showed up?

I’m late posting the January reading list from my Daughter-In-Law’s AP English class. I got sidetracked earlier in January. After Christmas vacation, my husband and I both got sick. I was in bed for more than a week. Then I had other business to deal with that was a nightmare. Better late than never. Plus the reading can be done anytime. It’s fun to see what we’ve read and find new things to read.

Each month goes back in time periods. The syllabus started with today’s literature. In January, we’re reading 1865 to 1905.

Here’s the syllabus for January:

FYI, my surgery Monday went well. Tuesday I was up and walking wearing my boot. I even went outside for a short neighborhood walk with hubby.

Here’s a photo I took of Red since his first appearance at the Bird Buddy. It’s a little blurry because he wouldn’t sit still for me and he was clear across the yard. My photos of Mrs. weren’t worth sharing. She’s a flighty little thing.

What have you read on January’s Reading List?

Is there anything on the list you’ve wanted to read but never have?

Finally! The Day has Arrived!

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I took photos over the weekend, sitting at the pool bar hidden from view of my bird buddies. This is a mourning dove. Good news! I had two Red and Mrs. sightings over the weekend. They are back, but I wasn’t quick enough for photos.

While you’re reading this, most likely I’m in a surgery center finally having a procedure done on my left foot. I say finally because I originally scheduled it for May 2025. But when I went in for my pre op appointment, I had an ACE bandage on my right ankle. The surgeon said she’d like to x-ray it — because many times women my age have breaks rather than sprains. Yes, wouldn’t you know it, she was correct. She had me in for surgery two days later because the fibula had a break and was bowed.

So much for my little bunion procedure. After months of recovering from ankle surgery, I finally wanted to move forward with surgery on my left foot. I scheduled it between taking care of my daughter’s shoulder surgery, her pug Waffles and our Hawaii trip. However, the first night I was taking care of my daughter, my son ended up in ER. I waited patiently to find out if he needed surgery. His was scheduled the same week as mine!

So, more delays for me. Then I rescheduled for today. Last Wednesday I had my pre-op appointment and my surgeon told me insurance denied the procedure. They said it wasn’t medically necessary. I said sure, I can no longer take my daily walks and can’t wear shoes. But hey, it’s not necessary!

The good doctor got me approved after a peer-to-peer meeting with the insurance company and right now I’m “under the knife!”

Here are more photos I took over the weekend:

The bully of the birdseed block: Curve-Billed Thrasher.

Another Mourning Dove.

House Sparrow at the birdbath.

Quail!

Have you had any issues with medical insurance?

Which photos do you like best?

Black Friday

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A beautiful poppa quail in a tree.

Now that the Thanksgiving Feasts are over, we turn the page to Black Friday. Why is the Friday after Thanksgiving called Black Friday? It’s a term from the 1960s coined by police in Philadelphia according to my searches on the internet. They used Black Friday to describe the increase in heavy traffic due to shopping. It also is the day that red ink turned black for stores thanks to shoppers.

I have found this week to be one of the most stressful thanks to my dad being admitted to the hospital last Friday. He’s a “Surviving Sue” person in my life, as a comparison to Dr. Vicki Atkinson’s book of the same title. You can read more about Dr. Vicki and her book on the blog Victoria Ponders.

I am the person in charge of talking to doctors, nurses, family members, selecting a skilled nursing facility, looking for assisted living, selling my dad’s house. Fortunately, by Thanksgiving, he was coherent, moved from the hospital to skilled nursing and is doing better.

We had one snafu. Years ago my dad and I went to his bank to put me on his account so bills could be paid in case he was in the hospital, unconscious, etc. I went into the bank in person with my notebook with his trust, will, power of attorney documents and learned that I was not on his account. I was added as a successor trustee, which means I can pay his bills after he dies. The bank didn’t accept the power of attorney documents and wants them to be redone.

All I can say is from my broken ankle and surgery, my kids’ two surgeries and now my dad, I’m ready to turn the page on 2025!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

What Black Friday deals are you looking for?

Are you ready for the holidays or wishing for a new year altogether?

Stairs, Surgery and a Recipe

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These are floating stairs in my son and dauther-in-law’s three story loft apartment.

I’m taking care of my daughter post shoulder surgery in the East Bay this week. I wasn’t quite prepared for how strenuous it would be. Mainly because I live in a big, flat house without a stair. My son and DIL have three stories that I find myself going up and down most of the day.

This spiral staircase goes up to the bedroom where my daughter is staying.

This is another view of the floating staircase above.

Needless to say, I was beyond tired the first day and stumbled home via Lyft to my Airbnb to fall asleep as soon as I got inside. The next couple days I got stronger. But I did sleep 10 hours last night. The very first night, my son ended up in the ER in extreme pain. He’ll be having surgery soon to repair a hernia. I’m waiting to find out when, so I can tackle those stairs some more.

My son put together a schedule for my daughter with times to take medicines, do her PT exercises, ice her shoulder, etc. It’s very complete and helps us stay on track and not let the day slide away.

My son also typed up a few of his own recipes for me to help them with their busy schedules. The Overnight Oats recipe is below:

Funny, I took care of my son five years ago for his shoulder surgery. I’m staying in the same Airbnb that I did then. I guess it’s my surgery digs. I have to say, I had a ton more energy five years ago and also, I wasn’t recovering post my ankle surgery. What a difference those five years made on my body. It was the COVID years, too.

Despite the unfortunate events that brought us together, I’m grateful for the time with my kids.

Do you notice a difference in your energy level or fitness from five years ago?

Is it better or worse and why?

Fear of Vacation

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A beach walk near Santa Barbara

I used to look forward to our beach vacation every year. Until this year, that is.

I literally lived for beach time. Especially when the kids were young and we’d go to Laguna Beach for two months — or even the entire summer. Living in the desert, I’d need to get out of the heat. The kids would have swim lessons at the city pool and we’d head to the beach for the rest of the day. They’d have hours of free play, using their imaginations building drip castles or building a restaurant and serving me assorted dishes made from sand and seaweed.

brother and sister playing at the beach
My kids when they used their imaginations to play in the sand.

Now that it’s almost beach vacation time, albeit much shorter than the vacations in the past, I’m apprehensive. Why? Because I have been on two trips the past few months. And they didn’t go well.

First, we explored the mountains and forests of Arizona. I tripped on our first hike. I thought I had a sprain, but I broke my ankle. Within a week of coming home, I was rushed into surgery. That put a damper on my summer.

Next, we flew to a friend’s daughter’s wedding in Northern California. We came home and got terribly sick with COVID.

Needless to say, I worry about what’s going to happen on our upcoming vacation. Shark attack? Car accident? Food poisoning? My imagination is going wild. This morning I asked my husband, “What’s wrong with staying home? I like it here.” After all, there’s no place like home.

Two summer vacations ago, we were worried about our Daughter-In-Law’s cancer. I was so worried about her tests, surgery, etc. It puts a harsh reality on our summer vacation — that everything is not beach mode and real life worries take hold — regardless of vacation or not.

FYI, If you think it’s a good time to break into our home, think twice. I have two neighbors watching out, plus a house sitter. Good luck!

I’m sure once I get to our destination, everything will be okay. At least I hope so.

Where is your favorite location for vacation?

Baby Steps

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Mrs. was dining on sunflower seeds at my Birdbuddy AI bird feeder over the weekend. I abandoned my Birdbuddy because of my injury until this weekend. It was one more thing I didn’t want to ask my husband to do — charge the camera and fill the feeder with seeds. It waited until I could handle it myself.

My physical therapist told me to come in my tennis shoes for my next appointment, which was last Thursday — and to leave the boot at home. It was the first time I’ve been in tennis shoes since I fell wearing them!

I was more than a little nervous at the prospect of walking into my appointment without my boot. I survived the experience and my husband and I celebrated with tacos afterwards.

I’m reflecting on how far I’ve come in six weeks since surgery.

Never did I think taking a shower without help would be a luxury. It is. At first, I wasn’t allowed to shower and the nurses in the surgery center told me to take “bird baths” at the sink. After a week or two using the sink and splashing water all over the bathroom, my baby step was to take a shower with a plastic sleeve and saran wrap around my leg. My husband had to encase my leg in plastic and help me in and out of the shower. I also had to get in and out of the shower wearing that blasted boot!

This morning I filled the Birdbuddy and the bird bath. I also washed the casita window after a major rainstorm so I can sit and take clear photos! Woohoo! Who knew I be so thrilled to do household chores.

Baby steps, but I’m making progress! Sometime next week, I’m looking forward to hosing off the patio, pool bar and outdoor furniture. I also hope to get in the pool — hopefully at the end of this week after I see my surgeon.

It reminds me of the old saying, “This too shall pass.” Also, I’m thankful for what I have and my health!

What experience have you had that you began with baby steps?

What minor things in life are you thankful for?

Sights from my backyard

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Friday I went to see my surgeon and she removed my cast! YAY! Then she put me in a heavy duty boot and told me to use my walker and walk around the house and outside with 50% weight on my right leg. The other thing she said was I could take a shower beginning Sunday with no huge plastic sleeve topped with saran wrap on my leg. WOOHOO!

It’s the little things like semi-walking and taking a shower that are making my days!

Part of my morning routine, after coffee and writing three pages, is to venture outside. I sit for about 45 minutes to an hour watching and listening to my birds. I also listen to the Hallow app on my phone. I’m listening to a podcast on it called “Bible in a Year.” I’m on day 180. I find this to be a peaceful and helpful way to approach my day. I was so over being laid up last Thursday that I didn’t want to do anything. Getting outside plus listening to this app and my birds has helped me over the hump.

Here are a few sights from my backyard:

Here’s a honeysuckle I took with my iphone while sitting outside.

Here’s a selfie of me in my sundress and boot with my walker.

Aloe in bloom next to honeysuckle.

One lone blossom on top of a saguaro.

What little things or moments in your day make it special?