Surgery

I did it - I had knee replacement surgery. I had it done just over two weeks ago and still can't believe I did it. It went smoothly with no complications and now all I have to do is recover and get this knee working again. Straightening it is incredibly painful and that process seems to be going nowhere. I am hanging around 11-14 degrees from straight. Getting it to bend is just as challenging but also has been more successful. I'm at a 95 degree bend right now. You need 110 degrees to climb steps properly so I'm getting there. But if I can't get it to straighten any more, the surgery might have been almost pointless. People will still notice a limp and that's what I wanted to get rid of. Kale, the PT guy, tells me I'm doing well for the amount of time since surgery so I'll just hold on to that.

I have the summer off because of the surgery. I get 7 weeks of vacation - I haven't had that kind of time since I was in school and not working over the summer (about 25 years ago!). I have done a lot of sleeping and a lot of television watching. Just like I did 25 years ago!

It's Scheduled

Terrified - that's what I am. I've scheduled my knee replacement surgery and it ain't gonna be pretty. Four days in the hospital, no RA drugs, compression hose and shots in my tummy for 10 days (which Shawn is going to have to do). And that's not even touching the whole recovery/physical therapy ordeal! I guess the good thing is that by this time next month, the surgery will be over and the tummy shots halfway through. I don't know if I can actually do this. Hell, this is elective surgery - I don't HAVE to get it done! I might end up in a wheelchair if I don't, but I don't HAVE to do the surgery, right?

I just have to focus on the benefits. By September I can maybe be in heels again. And feel comfortable in dresses and skirts (even with the scar?). I can possibly ride a bike again or go rock wall climbing. Or walk around the block without someone asking me if I need a lift.

I can do this. I can.

Greece!

Wow, was the Greece trip great! Dan and Kelly were the best hosts, driving us all around not just Athens but a few ancient sites and out to the island of Paros as well. We went nonstop from the minute we hit the shores. I ate like I shouldn't have and STILL lost 3.5 pounds - that's how much walking we did!

We wandered through the Athens shopping center (a few times!), hiked up to the acropolis, roadtripped to Delphi and Nafplio and basked in the sun of the island (while walking around shopping!) After all that, Kelly was still upset that we didn't get everything in that she had wanted to! I told her one more site might have just killed me!

Traveling with Gayle was very easy - and she had a wonderful time, too. She attached to the girls almost instantly and left calling them her adopted grandchildren. I knew the girls would make the trip for her - she loves kids that much. Next time Dan and Clan visit, I am going to have to include Gayle in any plans!

I hope I can get one of the brothers out there to visit - although I'm sure Dan was glad to see me, I know he has so much more in common with his bros. John might make the trip. Charlie possibly if he would get his passport.

I recommend Greece to anyone - more the island than the mainland of Athens. As the ancient Greeks would say, "Oompah!"

Greece Bound

This time next week I will be packing for Greece, we leave next Friday. It's kind of hard to believe I'm actually going to get there! Maybe not with Shawn as was the original plan, but it doesn't matter - I'm going! I have so much to do between now and then I can't even think about it!

One thing I 'get' to do is visit the knee surgeon next Monday for a consult on my knee. I had sweaty palms and a racing heart just making the appointment to see him! I'm not sure I'm going to make it to surgery! I just keep focusing on all the things I'll be able to do in 6 months that I can't do now. Focus!

I have started a new diet, Slim4Life. Very expensive, very time consuming and very restricted. And I'm not sure it's working very well! They guarantee three pounds a week if I follow their guidelines but I don't think I'm going to get that this week. I have to drive 30-minutes (one way) tomorrow to check in and we'll see what they find on the scale. I actually lost almost 9 pounds last week (my first week) but 5 of that was the easy-drop easy-add weight I always play with. If I can get to 160 by the time of the trip, that would be amazing. I just weighed and the scale said 166 - this morning it was 163; I don't know which one to believe! In any case, this is a very hard, not fun diet and I doubt I would recommend it (due to the amazing cost they don't warn you about). I hate having to wage this war.

Time to Get Serious

It's time to get serious about losing weight. Friday I went to Slim-4-Life and signed up for a year program. Cost a fortune but it has to be cheaper than the drugs I'll be taking forever if I don't get a handle on the weight. They guarantee that I will lose 3 pounds a week if I follow the program - that will be 16 weeks. Kind of intimidating but at the same time, knowing in 16 weeks I will be back to fighting weight is exciting. I have to drive to Shawnee Mission Parkway THREE times a week, at least until I get the weight off and then I assume I can cut back to maybe twice a week during 'reintroduction to eating regular' and the maintain portion. I figure I can do this for a year then go back to Weight Watchers (pretty much for free) to maintain long term.

This plan has me taking a bunch of supplements. There is a fish oil supplement I told them I can't take because it reacts to one of my meds. I hope the other supplements don't have reactions. The biggie one is full of various herbs and Chinese stuff so I might need to do a little research on that one. It's all natural, but full of oriental stuff! But I feel good that I'm finally doing something serious about this weight. I have a long way to go with 16 weeks and 45 pounds but I'm at least on the road.

Ashes to Ashes

I picked up Cujo's ashes this afternoon. I also bought a container that kind of looks like an urn - it doesn't have a good seal but I figure I can glue it closed after the ashes are put inside. I don't know when I'll be able to do that. It was all I could do to keep from crying when I picked up the ashes. I got to the car and bawled.

♥♥♥ I miss her so much. ♥♥♥

Adjusting to My New Normal

I'm working on adjusting to my 'new normal' without my Cujo. The boys go outside as soon as I let them and the house is quiet and still. Just me. I hate it.

Shawn's passport has been returned to the passport people and they are suppose to be sending it to our post office for pick up. It should be here next week. BUT, Shawn is thinking he won't be able to get that last week in May off because they keep firing sales reps. I think I'll drop in at the travel agent tomorrow to see what kind of options we will have for our Greece trip but I won't plan anything. Shawn really doesn't want to go and is desperate for excuses to not be able to make it. Although I'm excited about the passport showing up, I'm still pretty pessimistic we'll make the trip. It would be an incredible trip, though!