Well it has been a long time since I posted anything and so much has happened. I had a complete knee replacement done on my right knee a week ago last Friday and I can't believe how much this little piece of your body can hurt when it wants to but let me tell you . . . it HURTS! I don't think I've ever had anything in my whole body hurt like this and to think I get to do it all over again on my left knee next summer. I can hardly wait.
They put an epidural in my back and then something in my IV to make me sleepy. They said I wouldn't be knocked out but I wouldn't remember anything either. While I was asleep they put another epidural in my groin right at the top of my right leg. This one dripped morphine onto the new knee cap and I assumed it would take all of the pain away. While it worked really well and kept me numb for the most part, it never took the pain completely away and I've had to deal with that.
I was in the hospital for four days and then I came home on Monday evening. Bob was such a trooper and stayed with me whenever I was awake. I appreciate his help so much, I couldn't have done this without him or Amy. Amy has taken such good care of me during the day while Bob's at work. I'd be a mess without her help.
They sent me home with Loritab 7.5 mg which isn't very strong. Not even as strong as what I was taking for the pain while I waited for surgery. Needless to say, I was in continual pain which was not any fun. I called the Dr. on Tuesday and told him that they just weren't cutting through the pain so he asked me if I'd ever taken Oxycontin. I told him I had taken it when I had my rotater cuff surgery but I really didn't like it. The problem was that I couldn't remember why I didn't like it so he thought I should try it. He called some in for me and Brooke went and picked them up for me. I took two just like it said to and went to bed around 10:30. I woke up about midnight and had a really bad headache. I took some Tylenol with codeine and went back to sleep. Then I woke up an hour later with a full blown migraine headache. Now not only did my knee hurt but my head felt like it was going to explode. Before I could even think about what to do I was in the bathroom trying to throw up, but since there was nothing in my stomach to throw up, I just sat there and dry heaved into the toilet for a half an hour.
I couldn't help but have Bob awake by now so he came in and asked if there was anything he could do. I told him to wait a minute and I'd be out. I asked him to give me a blessing which he gladly did. I fell asleep finally and when I woke up my head was much better but my headache was not completely gone. Now I remembered why I hate Oxycontin. I called the Dr. Wednesday morning and he said he wasn't going to mess around with the pain anymore and put me right on Dylated. It works a little bit better but it still gives me just a touch of a headache so I have to be really careful. I tried to call the home health nurse assigned to me yesterday but she never called me back. I wanted to know if I could take the Loritab and alternate it every two hours with the Dylated, kind of like you do with Ibuprofen and Tylenol in children. I called her service twice and never heard back from her so today I just did it and man, do I feel so much better. I cried through my exercises yesterday but when I did them today it seemed so much easier. Don't get me wrong, it still hurt like nothing else, but I didn't cry even once.
I'm going to go to school in the morning for a half day. We have a faculty meeting at 8:30 and I really need to go so Cheri is going to pick me up and Amy will come and get me when I'm ready. I have had really high blood pressure since my surgery. It's consistently been up in the 170's over lower 100's which is really not good. Danielle was going to call my doctor and keep him aware of it so we'll just have to see what happens.
I'm really tired now and I think I'll try to take a little nap before dinner. I haven't been sleeping very good at night because I keep this dang machine moving my leg all night long and so I'm tired a lot lately. I'll try to keep this up to date so that next summer when I have to go through the whole ordeal again I'll remember how I felt. There's something to look forward to aye? Real fun!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Finally, Our 2nd Canada Trip , , ,
Treyson - What a stud!
Our Little Kennedy Girl!
(Heather took lots pictures of the kids while we were there so I'm going to post them, in no specific order, throughout this post. Heather! you are amazing!)
Kennedy 'HANNAH MONTANA' Who?
Our Little Andie Mae
Michael & Princess Clair Bear
Amy & Princess Alie Kae
We have had a great summer with two trips to Canada and a lot of memory builders with my family. I have the best family and we have so much fun when we are together. I can't wait until we do it all again. This time all of our family got to go except for Cyndi.
Women's Gab Session
I felt bad for her but she was okay with it and told me not to worry about it. Jamon just started a new job working with his brother out at Van Orden farms and Cyndi was booked up to work on those days that we would be gone so she said that there was no way. I felt really bad but she was ok about the whole deal, so the whole family went to Calgary except for Cyndi Lynne and her family. We really missed them.Jeffrey and Emily with Jaycee and Jaclyn
We left at 12:40 a.m. so that all the kids could sleep. Alie is a terrible traveler and Andie's not much better, but this way they both slept the whole way there. Bob did all of the driving except the last couple of hours when Adam drove on the way up and I drove from Dillon to Blackfoot on the way home. Brooke and Kade traveled with us and their kids slept all the way too. It sure makes for a better trip when they do that.Our Little Alie Kae
We got to Calgary on Friday morning around 10:00 a.m. and Bob and Kade took a quick cat nap. I had been cramped up in the back with junk under my feet so when I finally got a chance to get out and walk around I was so stiff and sore I could hardly stand it. I was that way for a couple of days which was really not a lot of fun but it did get better with time. All it took was the few days before we had to go home. Then I got to do it all over again. I sat in the front this time.
Cyndi with Jaclyn
Friday was my sister Cyndi's birthday and we had a lot of fun. Of course Cyndi did all the cooking for her birthday. It was absolutely amazing. She is a fabulous cook, I wish I'd got some of her cooking smarts. She spoils us to the max every time we visit.Adam, Brittany and Pam
Heather took pictures of Alie, Andie, Treyson and Kennedy. She's so good with that camera of hers. She took some awesome pictures. She even took a couple of Cyndi and I when we were ready to leave. Of course I looked terrible. It was about 9:00 on Thursday night and Heather promised me that she will photo-shop it and make me look better than I do on a good day. I told her I wanted 50 lbs. off , a new hairdo, and my skin crystal clear. She promised me she would do her best so I'm gonna hold her to it. I haven't got the proof of that pic yet but Adam and Amy have some of theirs and Brooke just got a couple. The ones we've seen so far are amazing, I can't wait to see the rest of them. Kevin and Bob
Cyndi and Kevin really spoiled us. Kevin had ordered a bunch of coats on the internet and was giving them all away. He gave Bob two really nice jackets that fit him perfectly. Cyndi had bought me a beautiful lantern for my patio. It has potpourri in the bottom and a candle on top of that. It's so cool, I just love it. Then I also got another lantern, a tray for my bathroom counter and a brown chest for my watches and jewelery. I really didn't need them but they are awesome and I love them.
We celebrated Grandpa Cameron's birthday (which isn't until the end of November) on Saturday at McKenzie Lake over in South West Calgary where Pam and Cherri live.
Adam, Brittany & Andie at Cherri's
Mom & Dad at the beach
Then that night we had a nice dinner at Cherri's house. Apryl came up with the idea of drawing out a family tree and each of us writing our family on the branches and then our grandkids on the branches as leaves. That way the kids could see where they came from and how they all fit into our family. What a great idea eh? It was a lot of fun and I think it helped the kids to understand a little better.Dad at the beach
Then Grandpa talked to all of us about his life and the accomplishments and trials he has had throughout his life. He talked about his childhood, when he was first introduced to the church and how he met Grandma. It was so nice and it was so good to see him relaxed and enjoying his family. He has been such a great example to me in my life, and to my children. I'm very grateful for that. Whenever I've needed anything he has always been there with the answer to any question or concern. He's an amazing man and I love him very much.A few comments
Kourtni, McKenzie, Holly & Grandpa
My girls all did a bunch of shopping and came home with some really cute things. Amy was worried about Cyndi Lynne so she made sure, though she couldn't afford it, that we had outfits for Lauren, Camryn and Griffen. She even bought Cyndi a shirt so that they all had a bit of Calgary. She's got such a big heart! She would do anything for anyone. I'm very proud of her and pray for her continually. We had such a great time. I just love my sisters and their families so much. I had a really hard time saying good-bye. I've been very blessed throughout my life. I was born into a family that loves and supports each other, with parents who care about their children as well as each other. A family who can be together forever if we try hard enough. Nothing worthwhile comes very easy, but I know it can be worth it. I look forward to visiting again soon. I love being home again, but a vacation is always a welcomed treat!
Our Family (all except Kendall. We missed you.)
Dinner for Twelve . . .
After all of the festivities involving grandpa's birthday celebration and after the weekend was over, all of my sisters (except Apryl, she'd already gone back to Edmonton) and I and our husbands all got together and went out for ginger beef. I love that stuff! Barb and Ryan, my niece and her husband, went with us. We had a really nice night with lots of laughs and good conversation. It's so fun to be all together. Some people think that we have a very large family and in this day and age that is not a common thing. I'm so grateful that our parents saw fit to have seven children and that my sisters are my very best friends. I love them so much and am grateful to each of them for the things I learn from them and the support they give to me. They are so special to me and I love them all so much!
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