Thinking Out Loud #7

First of all, Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone! I’m linking up with Thinking Out Loud again which has become my Thursday routine.  TOL is sponsored by Amanda at Running With Spoons.  If you have time today, stop over there to see what everyone else has on their minds.  If not, just book mark it and go back tomorrow instead of spending all of your money on-line!

I feel I’ve been grumbling a lot in my Thinking Out Loud posts, but today there’s none of that.  This post is about thanks and gratitude.

I have so many things this year for which I am thankful that I’m not sure where to start, so I may jump around a bit as things come to me.

~I am so very Thankful for the amazing gift and opportunity I was given this year.  This time last year, I was not feeling very well.  The cold and damp of the impending winter were starting make me feel the beginnings of the degenerative joint disease that got worse and worse through the winter and spring.  As the winter progressed, so did my pain and discomfort.  Finally in March, I could barely walk.  I was so very lucky that I was able to find Dr. Richard Rothman at the Rothman Institute in Philadelphia.  He changed my life by giving me two new titanium hips (yes I AM bionic!)  and I will always be grateful.  Besides, he told me I looked like I was in my 20’s…of course he was wearing glasses!

~I am so grateful to my best friend, Gail.  Not only did she come back to New Jersey from her vacation in Maine to spend two weeks with me while I got on the road to recovery, but she opened her home to me for almost three months while she went back to Maine.  Her house was more conducive to my recovery than mine was.  She let me stay there and only laughed when I referred to myself as her “squatter.”  She couldn’t be better.  I’m so lucky to have her as my friend.

~I am so grateful to my sister, Ele.  She visited me almost every day while I was there.  She supported me and encouraged me and always made me feel I could get up and get back to normal.  She was an especially welcome visitor when Ralph went West to his Army reunion and then on to New Mexico.  She was great, but then she always is!! I’m so lucky to have the best sister in the world.

~Finally I want to say how lucky I am to have Ralph.  He was admittedly a nervous wreck before during and after the surgery.  He tried not to show it, but it’s hard for Ralph not to show his emotions.  That’s one of the best things about him.  He fed me (too much at times!) kept me company, worried about me, cared for me and encouraged me.  He is wonderful and I’m so grateful that he came into my life.

 

I wanted to share this picture of Ralph and Me.  We don’t look Too Happy, do we?!?  This was taken on Thanksgiving 1993.  I don’t know this because I was smart enough to write it on the back of the photo.  For some reason our family Never got that concept.  We have tons of photos with nothing written on the back and we have NO idea who the people are.  Most of the people who could identify the photos are gone.  So Ele and I are left making up stories about who they are.

I know when this was taken because we also have a video that my niece, Mary took on Thanksgiving 1993.  In that video, you can see this photo being taken.  It is the coolest thing to have something like that.  It’s almost a little creepy, almost like it’s the paparazzi!  It’s fairly long and Mary narrates the entire video.  We lost her in 2007 so it’s wonderful to hear her voice and experience her sense of humor again.  It is a  gift and I’m thankful for that.

~My thankfulness is boundless today.  I can’t show enough gratitude to these people who have made my life so full this year.  So have just come into my life recently, others have always been there.  There are many others, but this is long already.  I’ve always been lucky.  I don’t know if I’ve always been grateful or thankful enough.  I am now.

Be sure to stop over at Running With Spoons to read the other Thinking Out Loud posts.  I bet you’ll find a lot of thanks and gratitude there, today.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Thinking Out Loud #2

I had so much fun last week participating in Thinking Out Loud with Amanda at Running With Spoons that I decided I’d give it another try.

I want to thank everyone for you kind comments and for taking me into the group with such warmth.  It’s amazing after having taken this long hiatus from blogging that old friends and new friends have just come right back now that I’m here again.  I am very grateful for that.

When I started typing this, I really had no theme in mind.  I suppose in the coming weeks it might be a good idea to start out with a CLUE what I might be writing about.  So since I mentioned being grateful, perhaps gratitude might be a good topic.  I’ve had so much to be grateful for lately.

~I am grateful for the true and absolute gift that I received in the form of my hip surgery.  I promised not to talk Too much about it and I won’t but a few things have to be said.  I’m sure I was suffering from this nonsense of degenerative joint disease for a long time. Basically, arthritis, but they like to give things fancy new names these days.  The problem is that is was there in various joints but not so much that it had any serious adverse affect on my daily life.  I was “fine” throughout the summer and fall of 2013.  Lots of walking and going about my regular routines.  Then the winter of 2013/2014 came around-cold and damp and unbearable.  Suddenly it hit me.  I couldn’t sit for long, sitting down and standing up were extremely painful, I stood most of the time because that was the least uncomfortable position.  Walking any distance was difficult at best. The surgery is a gift.

~It was a bumpy journey getting to the right place for the surgery.  I went to one doctor who had been recommended.  He put me on medication because “we always try this first and we let the patient tell us when they’re ready for surgery.”  I took the pills for a month without any relief.  I went back in a month and said, I’m ready for the surgery and was told “we don’t do hip replacement surgery anymore.”  What?!?  I asked for a recommendation for someone who did it.  I got the name and called for an appointment.  This was June-I couldn’t be seen until the end of August.  I took the appointment but I didn’t think I could wait that long. We had a friend who had recently had emergency foot surgery at the Rothman Institute in Philadelphia. I called for an appointment and I was scheduled for three days later.  The amazing thing is that the appointment was with Dr. Rothman, head of the organization!  I was amazed.

~I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Rothman, the Rothman Institute and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital where my surgery was performed.  There is an entire Rothman floor there and it was wonderful.  From my first appointment with Dr. Rothman, through scheduling, pre-admission testing and medical clearances there was never a single glitch.  They even had excellent vegan/vegetarian food choices! The care I received was incredible and the results have been mind-boggling.  At my first appointment with Dr. Rothman he showed me my x-rays.  I can’t believe that the other doctor could have looked at those same x-rays and not known that I immediately needed surgery.

I suppose it was all meant to be this way.  That first situation didn’t work out because I was meant to find Dr. Rothman and his staff and I was meant to have these amazing results.  I am so grateful for what they did for me.  If any of you are in the Philadelphia/New Jersey area and need orthopedic medical care, please don’t hesitate to contact the Rothman Institute.  They can work miracles.

~I am so grateful to my best friend, Gail.  She spends the summer in Maine, but came back to New Jersey to open her home to me for my recuperation.  She’s a nurse which is good because I was full of questions about what was going on.  Her home was more conducive to recovery-all on one floor, lots of room for maneuvering my walker and a shower that you just step into instead of a tub.  It was also fun to just spend time together in spite of the fact that I was trying to recover. Without question, she is the best.

~I am grateful to my sister, Ele.  She came to visit me nearly every day during my recovery and especially after Gail went back to Maine.  Even after I was up and around and doing well, she was there.  She kept close watch on me while Ralph was away, in case I needed anything.  As sisters go…I got the best!

~I am so grateful to my wonderful Ralph.  He was a wreck leading up to the surgery, he was a wreck during the surgery and now 13 weeks after surgery, he is still a wreck worrying about everything I do.  He’s even more of a worrier now that we’re back at our house.  But I try to show him that I am careful and I am getting stronger every day so that I can do things.  Eventually, he’ll see that I’m good as new and able to get back to my routines.  He says he’s aged through this process.  Well, I’ve aged too but I survived and so will he.  He is the most wonderful man in the world though and I am grateful every day for him.

This has been a lot of Thinking Out Loud and I hope I didn’t stray too far off track.  I am so very grateful for this entire experience.  I often refer to it as a miracle because that is what I feel it has been.  I’m walking and doing things I almost never thought I’d do again.  Each day gets better.  It really is a gift.

That’s it for me for Thinking Out Loud, don’t you think it’s enough?!?!?  Be sure to check out everyone’s thoughts over at Running With Spoons.  Lots of interesting things there.

Be Grateful.

 

Saturday Snapshot~October 18

It has been Quite Some Time since I’ve participated in Saturday Snapshot.  Lots of things have been going on in my life.  The most time-consuming one and the reason I haven’t been seen or heard from is explained in this post.  Surgery and recuperation with ongoing physical therapy have kept me busy.

But I’m back and I can’t believe that this is my third post for the week, so I guess I’m getting back on track with this whole blogging thing.

That being said, I’m linking up today for Saturday Snapshot with all the fun and talented people who meet up at West Metro Mommy Reads.

During my recuperation, I was lucky to have the opportunity to stay at my best friend’s house which is all on one floor. It was easier to get around and it has a step-in shower.   It has been a wonderful gift to be able to recover here.  That comfort and convenience has been invaluable in my recovery.

When I started to be up and around again, I took a walk outside to the front yard.  This is what I found.

I was so happy to see the bee hard at work on the daisy.  When I was growing up, daisies were always my favorite flower.  My only attempt at art is drawing a single daisy, so they hold a special place in my heart.

I’m looking forward to seeing all of the great photos.  My first time back and I realize how much I’ve missed being part of Saturday Snapshot. Be sure to make your way over to West Metro Mommy Reads to see what everyone is sharing.

Happy Saturday!

Thinking Out Loud~Numero Uno

I’ve been intending for quite some time to join in on Thinking Out Loud hostessed by Amanda at Running With Spoons.  I’m finally getting to it.

The point is to just share some random thoughts about life in general.  At least that’s my understanding.  I like it!

~Why is it that I haven’t blogged since August and now I do two posts in two days?  I have no excuse.  I’ve been busy healing from my bilateral hip surgery and I’ve been focusing on that and I promise not to talk too much about it!

~Thinking out loud has to be quiet, because I have a headache that is sticking with me in spite of two pots of coffee.  I’ve decided that I’m not taking anything for headaches.  Prior to my surgery, I took so many over the counter things for pain, I’m trying not to take anything.  I’ve had nothing since the surgery in spite of a couple of nasty headaches.  I’ve been working around them.  I will survive.

~More randomness-I’m annoyed with myself that in spite of having a Lot of time on my hands during my recovery, I haven’t done nearly enough reading.  I did read two books, early entries in the Lisa Scottoline series of Rosato and Associates.  I liked them enough but got stuck in the middle of the third and haven’t read anything since.  I am chagrined (hangs head in shame.)

~Has anyone else noticed the way newswoman, weather  women and traffic women dress on TV?  They all look as if they’re going to a cocktail party…even at 5 AM. I can’t quite figure it out.  Not to mention the almost identical hair styles on all of them.  Long hair is nice, but by the time you get to a certain age, you really should be looking for another choice.  I’ve reached that certain age and I no longer have long hair even though I used to love mine.  This headache is making me cranky I think.

~I’m amazed daily at either how incredibly clever or incredibly stupid TV commercials are.  I love humor and I love a clever idea, but I am stumped as to how some of these get past the ad executives let along the censors.  This is beginning to sound as if I have spent too much time recently watching TV, which I have.

~Speaking of TV, I am overjoyed at the number of networks that are now broadcasting Law & Order in all of its incarnations.  It has helped me through my recovery especially during the time that I was alone because Ralph was on a road trip that I had to miss in the interest of completing my physical therapy. Also considering the fact that I don’t think I would have been able to ride for the long periods of time it takes to go from New Jersey to Texas to New Mexico.  L & O got me through it and I’m eternally grateful to Dick Wolf, creator of the great series.

~Speaking of which, Why am I still in New Jersey and not in New Mexico.  I don’t have a good answer for that, but I’m working on that.  Trust me, there will be more about that on a future Thinking Out Loud.

I think I rather like this Thinking Out Loud idea.  I hope that Amanda and the other people who link up on Thursdays don’t think I’m too weird.  Hopefully, they’ll be weird along with me.

Happy Thursday!!

WIAW~Who Knows Where or When

Hello!  Yes, I am still alive, still recovering from my bilateral hip replacement but pretty much doing fabulously!  I still have probably two weeks of physical therapy left and (being the Good Patient that I am!) doing my exercises daily and using my cane for another week.  I’m trying hard to get out and get some walking in every day because my physical therapist tells me that’s important.  The days that I am able to get extra walking in, I do feel better.  Eventually, I will write a post All About the Adventure that was my surgery.  In the meantime, I move along trying to feel like my old self.

Part of that is getting back to blogging.  I have missed it So Much!!  I need to get a schedule set up for myself again and stick with it.  What better way of getting back on schedule than joining in for What I Ate Wednesday hostessed by the lovely Jenn at Peas and Crayons?  So here goes!

My food offerings are somewhat random as you can probably tell from my title.  Just a few tasty things, some of which I’ve saved for a few weeks, always intending to do a post!

 

Ralph and I went out to breakfast on Tuesday morning.  Right before going into the diner, I swore to myself that I would make a good choice, allowing myself to get back on track with my food.  So of course, I ordered pumpkin pancakes!  I did ask for the sugar-free syrup…Do I get points for that?!?

 

One of my all time favorites…pepper and egg sandwich with American cheese from our local pizzeria.  I love this and it never fails to satisfy.  Also, it always reminds me of my Mom.  Good enough for me!

Ralph and I went to a wonderful wedding for the son of close family friends.  I was very happy when along with the usual meat and fish choices, the invitation offered a stuffed mushroom.  Having no idea what that might be, I made that choice.  Was I ever pleasantly surprised.

 

The base was rice, then the Portobello,  It was then stuffed with what I think was a tasty puree of white beans and wonderful herbs and spices.  Topped with yellow squash although several people have said it looks like potato chips.  No chips but it was Delicious and very filling.  I loved it!

Of course, it wouldn’t be BCDC without at least one salad.

 

We have recently started going to a local Italian restaurant that we hadn’t gone to before.  This is their Greek salad.  I love the combination of the greens, olives, tomatoes and feta.  It’s a much more delicate Greek salad than some of the ones I get around here.  It is just delicious.  This restaurant has other good choices too, but I think this might be my favorite.

Just typing up this post is getting me back into the feel of blogging.  It’s not that I haven’t wanted to, I just haven’t had the enthusiasm for it.  I feel that coming back.  Maybe it’s the Fall.  I always want to start something in the Fall.  In this case, I’m re-starting something.  The whole idea makes me happy!

Be sure to stop over at Peas and Crayons to check out all of the other wonderful food and ideas that everyone is sharing.  I know I will!

Happy What I Ate Wednesday!!

WIAW-A Vegetarian Goes To The Hospital

I am so excited to be back and joining in for What I Ate Wednesday for the first time in a LONG time.  Hope I can remember how this works! Be sure to check out all of the food fun cooked up by Jenn at Peas And Crayons.  Hope I can remember how to link-up!

I suppose it should have been the least of my worries, but I was very concerned about what I would get to eat when I was in the hospital.  As a vegetarian, that was a valid concern.  I envisioned eggs for three meals a day.  That actually would have been fine with me.  I know that the grilled cheese sandwich they gave me for dinner the day of surgery was like a gourmet meal…I was so hungry.  That set the tone for me and when I saw the list of things available for me to choose from, I was impressed and excited.

There were many choices and I enjoyed them but sadly, due to my body’s dislike for pain medication, the first two days were kind of a blur.  I did eventually remember that this would make a good WIAW post and took two pictures.

 

This was vegan meatloaf with carrots and sautéed veggies.  It was really very tasty.  I would have enjoyed it more if I had remembered to request some ketchup, but it was good.

Breakfasts were usually a cheese omelette and yogurt which was good every time.

 

A little blurry, but as I’ve said, I was a little blurry for the first few days. This was Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie.  It was a vegan meatloaf base with sweet potatoes on top.  Served with couscous and sautéed veggies.  I loved it!

There were many other choices which sounded good, but I went with the ones that sounded a little more out of the ordinary.  I guess that I should mention that the hospital was Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.  It was a wonderful place and they took exceptional care of me.  As I said, not the least of which was offering me things that I could eat!

That’s it for me.  I’ll be short for my first WIAW back in action.  Be sure to check out all the fun over at Jenn’s blog, Peas and Crayons.  I’m so happy to be back!

Happy What I Ate Wednesday!

 

In Case You’re Wondering…

I have NOT fallen off the face of the Earth! In fact, I’m alive and extremely well.  This is my first time on the computer (or the Blog!!) since my surgery on July 23 for bilateral hip replacement.  I should probably be sharing more details, more specifics, but I’m not feeling up for that just yet.

I can say that this has all been an incredible experience.  Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to be where I am today after such a short time.  I came home after 3 days in the hospital to feeling little or no pain.  Things ached a little as I learned to be up and around and how to do things for myself.  However, in short order, I was up and doing things I never expected to be doing, especially without pain!

I completed the at home physical therapy and have had my evaluation for out-patient physical therapy.  I’m now waiting for the authorization from my insurance company.  They’ve given me at home exercises to do in the meantime and I am diligent about doing them.  Also, I try very hard Not to sit too long.  Every 10 or 15 minutes I get up and do a little road race around the house with my walker.  I’m actually starting to move around in some areas of the house without the walker.  That’s making Ralph extremely nervous, but I’m very careful and I have to learn to do it eventually.

Once I’m on more of a regular schedule (with fewer afternoon naps!)  I will be getting back to posting on a regular basis and give some more details of the process.  It is amazing and I am so fortunate to have been able to have this surgery.  It is a blessing.  I won’t be gone so long next time, I promise!

Happy Sunday!

Counting Down

I don’t intend to do a day by day countdown to my surgery, but today is 8 days until the big day!  I’m feeling pretty calm in spite of myself. I’m not really worried about the surgery.  I feel very confident in my doctor and everything I’ve seen of the Rothman Institute is amazing.

I suppose the thing making me most anxious is having as much as possible taken care of around here before I go.  Also I keep going back and forth about what I have to pack up and take with me.  Of course, if I forget anything, Ralph only has to travel 3 blocks to get me something.  The trick will be trying to tell him where to find something.  That’s why I want to have as many things with me that I think I might need.

As Gail, said, “Hey, I have a washer and dryer. Just bring enough underwear for a few days and we’ll do a load!” I’m sure everything will work out and I know I’ll be in good hands.  Ralph will be close by and visiting several times a day.  Gail and I will have a good time, just having the chance to spend the time together.  As Ralph said to his sister yesterday, it will be like a giant sleepover.  I think it will.

I still need to make some lists and I think that will be my project for today.  Just so I know what I’m doing.  Over the past few months, I have become a big fan of lists thanks to my friend Meghan at Clean Eats, Fast Feets.  I’ve got a couple started, but they need more work.

I won’t have to worry about food while I’m at Gail’s we’re both on Weight Watchers, she’s almost reached 90 pounds lost and we’re both vegetarians so we can have a great time.  Also there will be lots of coffee drinking.  She only has a small coffee maker so I’ll be taking my big one over for my time there so that we can drink coffee to our hearts content!

I suppose I should stop chatting here and get to work.  I’ve got a load of laundry in the washer that should be about finished.  Now I get to make my very Slow way down to the basement to switch it to the dryer.  Lots of fun.  I won’t mind when I can walk down the steps like a real person again.  Even laundry will be a pleasure, just so that I can get down the steps.

Lots to do, so I’m on my way.

Happy Tuesday!

Step By Step

Good Morning! I’m back again…on my irregular schedule, you never know when I’ll show up.  Eventually, I will get on a schedule, but a the moment, that doesn’t seem to be happening.

I’m moving step by step toward the big event on July 23rd.  I’m trying to get a few small projects completed around the house prior to going into the hospital.  Some things I have to take care of because I won’t be home for at least two weeks because I’ll be staying with Gail when I get out of the hospital.

Tuesday was a trying day.  It was my day for several pre-surgery appointments.

 

I started out with a physical with a medical doctor.  Because of our infrequent trips into Philadelphia, we left early and got to the appointment about an hour too early.  However, we only waited about 15 minutes before we were into the appointment.  That went well.

Then I had to give blood.  This is one of the things that Rothman Institute does just in case it’s needed during surgery.  I think it’s probably a good idea.  I am NOT a fan of needles, but it went well.  I filled my bag in 7 minutes.  The phlebotomist was impressed.  Probably because of all the water I drink.

After that was pre-admission testing where I had my blood pressure taken for the third time  that day.  I spoke with a nurse practitioner, then had more blood taken (for testing this time) and gave a urine sample (that’s always fun)  It was all very orderly.  This entire organization is so organized and efficient.  I continue to be amazed.  My only issue was that the three appointments were in three different buildings.  They were only about a block apart but for me at this point, that’s like having to walk a couple of miles.  I was truly beat at the end of the day.  But…step by step, this will all be better.

I am starting to feel a bit of anxiety related to all of this.  I think it’s causing me to go a little off track with food.  I’ve always been an anxiety eater.  But fortunately after all of these years on Weight Watchers, I know ways to handle that.

 

I cooked up a batch of Weight Watchers veggie soup.  It’s so filling and it always serves as an avenue to get me back on track.  It doesn’t take that much work-maybe 15 minutes to put it together.  Then my trusty crock pot does the rest of the work.  It’s so comforting to have a big bowl of that for dinner.  I usually add some beans either canned or home cooked, but that gives me a big boost of protein which I’ve been told is a good thing to add in prior to surgery.  I even add in some cottage cheese.  Some people think that sounds disgusting, but I love the gooey cheesiness that it adds to the soup.

So that’s where I stand at the moment.  I’m being positive about the whole thing and I look forward to being up and around like a regular person again soon.  I hope to get my blogging schedule worked out as well.

Until then, I’ll see you when I see you.  Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Happy Friday!

Staying On Course and Preparing

Good Morning! I hope that everyone had a wonderful Independence Day!  We had a great time at my sister, Ele’s house.  It was fun and we got to meet some new people.  As always, I was working hard to stay on track with my Weight Watchers program and that’s part of what I want to talk about today.

Since I haven’t been posting very often, I haven’t been talking about my efforts to stay on track with Weight Watchers. As always it continues to be an important part of my life.  I can’t remember exactly where I stood when I last posted about it, but things have been going well for me.

 

One of the reasons for my continued success is tracking every day in my journal.  I’ve long been convinced that this is a great tool when it comes to losing and maintaining weight.  Throughout my 27 years as a WW member, regardless of some bad choices or bad habits I’ve slipped back into, I’ve never given up on tracking.  It’s always been my theory that whether it’s a good choice or a bad choice…Write It Down.  You’ll never realize where your real stumbling blocks are if you don’t write it down.  Most of us are surprised how easily we can forget what we’ve eaten if it doesn’t go down on paper.  I know a lot of members like to use the apps either on smart phones or iPads, but for me, paper and pen is what works for me. You’ll notice what I’ve written in red.  I’ve recently started reflecting on each day, giving myself a grade for how I did and many times a pep talk for the next day.  It works.

Through all of my recent issues, I’ve continued to follow the program and track.  In fact, as of my meeting on Saturday, I was 17 pounds below my Weight Watchers goal.  I have not tried to do it, I have just been diligently following the program.

The fact that I’m at a healthy weight is one of the reasons my doctor gave for the fact that when I have my surgery I can do both hips at once.  I’m happy to be able to get it all taken care of at once.

Regarding my surgery, Tuesday I go into Philadelphia for a day of a physical, giving blood and pre-admission testing.  It’s going to be a long day and I know I’ll be looking for a nap when it’s over.  To my knowledge, that will be my last duty before the surgery.  Then I just get to hang out and anticipate the whole thing.  I go from being just slightly anxious to full-blown Nervous!  More often than not, I’m able to keep it at just anxious and I hope to continue that way.

I’m sure I’ll be talking more about this as the countdown continues.  For now, I’m going to concentrate on doing what I can around the house so that I’m not completely frustrated and behind when this is all finished.

Hope you all enjoy the rest of your Holiday weekend!

Happy Sunday!