Update

Ok so we got the beds and I've been sleeping like a baby. Had the xrays on my upper back and shoulders but don't have the results yet. Results of blood work were all good except for some anemia. Stopped arthritis meds in case they were the cause. Lots of pain without the meds.

will write more later when it's not so hard to do.

Jenny

yea!!!!! My own bed

It's been months or more since I've wanted my very own bed. I do need it. I need a soft one that will let me roll from one side to the other. One that doesn't hurt my shoulders or my knees.

WE cleaned the bedroom today as they are supposed to deliver the beds in the morning. Yes I am going to take a nap. YES!!!!!!! It's been so long since I've been comfortable.

We don't have bedding for full size beds but that's ok. I bought some sheets and it's too hot for blankets anyway.

J

It's been awhile...

I think it's been a little over a month since I've posted anything here. My right hand has gotten so bad it takes a long time to type. I constantly hit the wrong keys and am continually having to go back and correct the mistakes.

Since I posted last we've had our family reunion. As usual I enjoyed the people most.

points of interest..

the hats from iona
the helpfulness from most everyone, especially brian
the inconsiderateness from one granddaughter which actually hurt my feelings
painting the little wooden birds
hillbilly night.. i'm sure christina won that
visiting, visiting and more visiting
and there's more but too tired tonight. J

It was a good day

Met A'lyces boyfriend and saw Christiano... had a good lunch and took pictures. Only problem is trying to go up and down the steps and needing help. Wish I could get some strength and balance back.

Tired and time for bed.

J

Thank you Dr. Freedhand

The worst thing happened to me today while shopping... I needed to use the bathroom but the handicapped one was in use so I went in a regular one.. I should have known better because the stools are so low and nothing to hold onto to get up. And what happened? Yes that's right I couldn't get up. My knees hurt too much to get off the damn toilet... I usually pull myself up with my arms but there wasn't anything to hold on to.. I sat there for a minute wondering what to do. Should I yell for help? But then how would anyone get in, the door was locked and besides I didn't want anyone coming in and seeing me there on the pot. Finally I turned sideways on the toilet and managed to get ahold of the pipes in back with one hand and lifted myself up. I will never use a regular stall again.

Don't think the replaced knee will ever be right thank you very much Dr Freedhand. J

and it does look good...

The porch.... finished cleaning it.

Try to ignore the pain.....

Maybe it will go away... not likely. But for the most part I've learned to work with the pain. Would never get anything done if I waited for the pain to go away..

Today I started cleaning the porch... rearranging stuff out there. I think its gonna look good.

Sleepy

J

Ok verdict is in....

It's been 9 days since the cortisone shot in the knee... at first I thought it helped but that only lasted about five days.. Now I don't think it's done much. Last night I had a hard time turning over again.. Don't know what, if anything, can be done. I see the doctor again June 18th I believe it is. Don't know if I want to try cortisone again. Don't think I want to do the series of three shots.. they are worse for the blood sugar. Might try one more cortisone shot and then if that doesn't help will have to think about replacememt. Fun stuff.

Tired. We cleaned the whole trailer this morning... now we need to take a trip.

Bed is calling..... J

Knee hurts

I read it might hurt more before it hurts less... maybe. Maybe not, but tonight it's quite painful. I'm also cold and that makes my joints hurt more.

Going to bed and putting my electric blanket on... maybe that will lessen the pain.

J

Time to write

I haven't written for days... I did go to the orthopedist and he gave me a cortisone shot in the knee. It didn't hurt so bad but I really don't like the way it made my blood sugar go up. It's not all the way back down now and it's been thirty hours, but it seems to be going down slowly and the doctors have assured me it will be ok.

I actually think the knee feels some better..still have to take pain pills though.. this doctor says he thinks my other knee, the one that was replaced, should be doing better by now. He says it shouldn't hurt on the sides the way it does and that I should not have a problem lifting or making it do what I want done. He agrees there may be some nerve damage.. says some of it might get better with a bit more exercise but that I am definitely NOT a candiate for physical therapy. says only two exercises would be good for me, the exercise bike or water therapy.. I asked about walking. He said to do what I could tolerate and take the cane.

I made a sugar free low carb cheese cake today... and some soup. That's about it.

J

Tomorrow is Friday

I have an appt with the orthopedist.. I think he is probably going to give me a cortisone shot in my knee.. I really don't want it because it's probably painful. Hate pain. I guess everyone hates pain, but it seems like I've had a bit more than usual lately. But maybe it will help me walk. I need to get stronger and I think walking will help with that.. Now if I can find some shoes that don't hurt my feet....

Ate too much today. Can't lose weight if I eat too much.. and still I'm hungry for oatmeal/walnut cookies and cake frosted with coconut frosting... I love to eat. I love to cook new things too.

My bedtime.. J

I worked outside

I pruned a big hedge... thinned it out and shaped it... then I pruned all the shrubs in the back yard. It was hard but I liked doing it.. Made my back hurt really bad and I had to take an extra pain pill. But it looks nice and clean and neat back there now.

Tomorrow it's supposed to rain. I wanted to clean the fountain but won't be able to if it's raining. I think we might go shopping. Just to do something. I don't really need groceries but a few little things like milk and bread would be good to get. I like getting Macs milk during the week because they never have it on the weekend

I'm tired. Going to watch jeopardy. J

eeeeek

Lately I've been noticing my knee getting more stiff... felt like I couldn't bend it very easily. So I decided to get on the exercise bike.... OMG that really hurt. I could barely bend it. It did loosen up after I worked at if for awhile though, so must get on it more often.

Can't type tonight. too many mistakes. Maybe tomorrow. J

Thursday... the sun shone

We went to the cemetery today... I took an arrangement for Kiko and Mom... didn't take new arrangements for anyone else but they still had flowers that looked good from last time. I did take the easter eggs out of Marthas and put in some new flowers there.. we straightened things up a bit.. didn't stay there very long. Kind of hard to go there. But I don't want the flowers to get faded.

The daffodils Ramon planted are growing and blooming...

Hard day.. I must get up and walk tomorrow. My leg is getting stiff, hard to bend. Have been thinking of trying to go to a gym. Will be very hard. Too many bad joints.

J

The weekend is over

The weather was beautiful... I was able to walk the last three days. Was hard and I had to use the cane some, but I was out there. I know the more I do the easier it will be.

I didn't do any crafts this weekend.. I do have an afghan started for the dog... also have plans and materials for a black ornament... I found the prettiest ribbon to use on it. Might start that tomorrow.

We put the topper on the bed, now it's even harder for me to get in it. Tomorrow we are taking off the frame and setting the whole thing down on a 2x4 frame. That should lower it about 4 inches. That should help.

My bedtime. J

It's been a very hard day

I set up the donation page for the cancer walk in September... too much to think about. J

Wednesday

Rain, thunder, lightning and hail.... boy am I ready for dry weather. The ground can't soak up anymore water for awhile.

I wanted to go look for a memory foam mattress topper today but the weather was too wet.. I walk so slow, even with an umbrella I would drown.

I finished the fabric birds... boy am I glad to be done with those. My old hands just couldn't hold the pieces very good. They aren't good but I will put them on the tree anyway.. Also put the trim on the round ball I did. I like it.. so cute and sooooooo easy. I'm like a pre-schooler now. I need easy.

I need a snack.

J

I'm home

Back from a few days camping.. first three days were great. It was warm and I actually got a little suntanned. Was pink but didn't burn. Then the weather turned nasty.. last day there we had to stay inside... was supposed to stay an extra day but the weather was not good so we came home.

I did get all the pictures in albums while there and made a really cute ornament... worked on the fabric bird ornaments but didn't get them done.. worked more on them today. They are actually too hard for my hands so won't make more of them. They don't look very good.

My bedtime. J

Going camping.

Gonna try not to think about anyones problems... just want to sit. J

Good Friday

We aren't celebrating Easter.. .. used to always celebrate every holiday but anymore they are almost just another day. I suppose we could go out to dinner or something, but we probably won't. We will be getting ready to go camping next week which I'm really looking forward to.

Worked on my bird... finished one except for the teensy eye buttons which I don't have. Almost finished the second one. I have a total of five cut and sewn part way. Want to hem some pants, fix a jumper and make the dogs shirt. Always something.

I hated the weather today.

J

Walked again

Must get shoes.. must must must. The shoes I'm wearing to walk in are the ones I used with my orthotics.. can no longer use the orthotics so that makes the shoes very loose and floppy. As soon as I put them on I feel tired.

But I walked this morning again.. same distance though. I really need to start increasing the distance but it's still rather hard.. Won't be able to walk in the morning because we have to be in Redding early. I have to walk before breakfast. That's my only good time.

Worked on my fabric bird ornament... looking ok cute.

bedtime

J

Ok

Got the bird yesterday and put it on the wreath today... I've posted a pic on my craft blog. But what did I do today?

I walked this morning... thought I walked a bit faster. My fast is a turtle crawl but I do my best. Maybe it will get better. I want to be able to walk the football field in Sept in Woodland... not sure I'll be able to do it and not sure the heat won't bother me. I don't do heat very well.

I washed clothes and towels. I went to walmart. Cooked dinner and cleaned up afterward... then we watched a show about the worlds heaviest man.. It's sad but at least he was in pretty good spirits.. I've got to look up his website.

J

No ornament work today

But I did re-do the feng shui wreath in the living room.. Just need to find a bird to put on it... but I hung it anyway and an happy that it turned out so pretty.

hungry tonight. Should just go to bed. Got up earlier than I wanted to but my shoulders were hurting and I couldn't get comfortable.

g'nite. J

No walking today

Hadda leave early for Macs appt. I did go to trader joes and walk some there, then I fiddled around in Micheals looking for things to use to make ornaments with.. Couldn't find the snow paint I wanted. Couldn't find any holly leaves. They oughtta know people make Christmas decorations all year long, not just at Christmas.

I'm really tired tonight.. didn't sleep good last night and got up way to early..

It's raining and the wind is blowing. Icky. Don't want rain. J

Walked

Yesterday but hadda use the cane halfway.. walked again today and made it around the block without the cane. Gotta find some walking shoes.. J

Should not brag...

Didn't make it without the cane day before yesterday... yesterday and today I didn't walk. It was way too windy. I'll go tomorrow.

What did I do today? I went to Redding and sat in the pickup with the dog while mac had a toe cut off. I read some magazines and worked on an ornament. Tomorrow I want to experiment with flax seed and try out the sewing machine.

J

I walked

around the block without the cane... did the same thing yesterday. I am getting stronger and sleeping a bit better. I'd still rather use the cane because it's easier to walk with it... but don't want to become dependent on it.. I'm taking the pain pill how the doctor advised. His words were to 'stay ahead of the pain." Just means to not let the pain get out of control and then take a pill. They don't work as good that way. I guess it makes sense, it seems to be working. Next I'll try two blocks. Would love to try my bike but don't think my knee would bend enough.. I so want to get a three wheeled bike. Wouldn't that be fun? I don't care if people laugh at me.. need to do what I want. But just cant afford that right now. J

I've decided to try....

To get some of my strength back, to work on balance and being able to walk without the cane or shopping cart or support of any kind. When I had my knee done, I had the walker then went to the cane. I used the cane to get into the store, then the shopping cart to hold onto.. For the most part I've stopped using the cane to get into the store but usually hold onto Mac...... today we went to walmart. I was using the shopping cart as usual... I wanted to look at some clothes so Mac said he'd go get the water while I looked.. ooops he needed the cart to put the water in, so that left me without the cart, without the cane and without him to hold on to. I can't tell you how off balance and uneasy I felt. THAT IS AWFUL.. AWFUL. No reason for it either, just need to get my self back to myself.. I know I will never be as strong as I used to be but this is a little much.. I walked down by the river this morning. It was hard and I had to use the cane almost all the way. Next time I'll take a pain pill before I go. If it takes pain pills to help me get back some of my independence then so be it.
J

Haven't written in here in a long time.

Seems like I'm always just too tired. Went to the orthopedist. He says the knee is ok, will always feel numb and stiff.. Might have some nerve damage that may or may not get better with time and effort.

I wanted to start a new ornament today but didn't get to it.. was busy all day doing something. Now its bedtime. J

Wednesday done

Started out raining, turned sunny so we went to get the flowers and the floral foam.. turned hella cold and I got the most awful sinus headache.. rained after that, poured, wind and hail. I want spring!!!

Started working on a new ornament.

J

recap of the day

Went to the doctor, got antibiotic, new prescription for pain pills, an inhaler for when the allergies hit and a referal to a new ortho doc.

Washed clothes

Made the second floral arrangement.. did a big basket for Kiko.. it came out really pretty.. now I need to go buy floral foam and some more flowers. Hope it's not freezing cold, windy or raining tomorrow...

J

Slept better so

I thought I was better.. NOT.... I've had the most God awful sinus pains today right in the front of my face, and my ears hurt. When I blow my nose my ears pop. Tired of it so I made an appt with the doc tomorrow morning. Need an antibiotic.. also need a referral to a knee doc so he/she can look at this knee and tell me if it's doing what it's supposed to be doing. Could be my back is so rotten that it's keeping my knee from working ... joy in aging. Crap.

I wanted to start another ornament today but I really want to get to the cemetery and put some new arrangements out. I'm feeling bad because I know the wind and rain damaged what I put out and no one has gone to check. Wish I were closer so I could check more often.. anyway I made the first arrangement today. Did a wreath for Mom.. it's pretty and springlike. She'd like it I know. Maybe I'll get kikos basket done tomorrow... maybe I'll get Marthas done. Not sure yet what I'll do for Grandpa but I do know I need to go buy a few more flowers.

That's it for today... J

It was a ....

WARM day... boy could I use some more of those. Finally bought the stuff I've had on my list for weeks. Odds and ends of little things.

Finished my ornament so I have done two now. Well the birds were five in number but it was one project... so I did those and the new ornament. Bought some remnants I think will be good for more of the quilted type ornaments. Posted a few pictures on the craft blog.

Going to bed now.. sinus headache is awful. I've had this stuff for a whole week now. Enuff.

J

day is done

Coughed all night and it looks like tonight is gonna be a repeat... hate coughing. Hate coughdrops too. I'm always afraid if I take one in the night I'll go to sleep with it in my mouth and it'll slip down my thoat and choke me.

I hear a frog croaking out there.. it rained so much today I have puddles in my yard. Was windy too but it's clear now. Tomorrow it should be sunny. Hoping for NO wind. I need to go to walmart and payless. Didn't get the things I needed the other day cause there just wasn't enough room for everything.

I started a new Christmas ornament... need flat headed straight pins. I only had a few so couldn't do much. It's gonna be cute.

Almost my bedtime. Hopefully I will get up earlier tomorrow. I've been going to bed late and getting up late.

J

So tired

Did too much and still don't feel as well as I should. Tomorrow I'm going to have a do nothing, go nowhere day. Might start a new ornament. J

And so now it's something else...

Gee whiz. Now I have something like strep throat, earraches, fever, and stuffed nose. Fun fun. I need some sunshine. I need some peace and some order in my life.. and tonight my blood pressure is high. I definitely need a vacation.


J

Birds are done

For pics check the craft blog.. J

Something is better than

NOTHING.

Bought a new step stool today... it's bigger, more sturdy, non-slip and has handles sort of to hold onto. Now I can see on the second shelf.

Finished the other side of my yellow bird.. need to put the gloss sealer on it. Need to put a hanger of some sort.. I'll take a picture tomorrow and put it on my craft blog.

Bought a few stems of artificial flowers... mac painted the basket we brought home from the cemetery. Need to start making some new arrangements. Want to do some spring type flowers.

My knee hurt a lot today. This was a three pain pill day.. might have one more when I go to bed, maybe not. J

Very productive day

I used a big lint roller and cleaned dog hair off the furniture.. I'm so glad to have that done. I used to do it weekly but since getting my new knee etc I just haven't done it regularly... now that I have the living room all cleaned I'm hoping I can keep it up. Still need to work on my bedroom but that will have to wait till next week.

I started painting the little birds today.. my brushes are too big. My eyesight is not so good, maybe I need new glasses now. I've had these for about 5 years now. And my hand isn't so steady. Seems hard to use my right hand for some reason. Well I know the thumb is shot but still I should be able to do something with it and not have it so unsteady... I hate getting old. Hate it.

Time for bed.

J

Tired day

I didn't sleep well.. maybe tonight. We went and ordered Josh's cake, cleaned a bit of the back yard. Didn't do anything in the house. I did get the prices off the little wooden birds and also sanded them down a bit.. looked online for pictures of birds. Not sure how I want to paint these. Should I make them glittery like Christmas decorations or shall I make them along the line of Mexican folk art.? Shall I make some of each? I have five of them so could do more than one type. I did print off a few pics that I might like to try.

Need to go t bed now .. got up too early.

J

OK...

The albums are finished. All 2009 pictures have been stored.. Now I can start something else.

I cut my hair today... right arm and hand is pretty bad. Could not reach to do the back with it so had to pretty much cut all of it with the left hand.. I am so not left handed. This may be the last time I cut my own hair unless I can get that arm a bit more flexible.

Rode the exercise bike and did some other non interesting stuff.. pulled my back which is not funny. Hopefully it's gone tomorrow when i get up.

Tired.

J

Worked and worked...

But didn't finish.. I almost did though. I was putting in the 2009 pictures in albums.. only had a few left and just couldn't do anymore. I was so hungry and my back hurt so bad. I thought I'd eat and then finish after dinner but David came over and I never did get back to it.. that's ok cause I really didn't feel like doing anymore on it tonight anyway.. Won't take more than half an hour to finish the album tomorrow.. I'll be so glad to get that done. I want to start a new craft and needed to get these pictures done first.. I have some little wooden birds I want to paint and decorate for the Christmas tree.. they are actually January's project, but I'll get them done and another one before Feb is over. Need to get back to doing something.. hate just sitting and it's not good either.. not good for ones health.

Did my chair exercises this morning and did a few with light weights.. I am so amazed by the loss of strength in my right arm and hand.. also how hard it is to make my right leg and foot do what I tell it to do.. Worrisome.

J

update except

There's nothing new...

Got the window washed in the bedroom, took down the curtains and washed them.. spray and wash took out the stains, yea for me. I still want to buy drapes for in there but at least for the time being these are clean. Will rehang them tomorrow. The carpet seems to smell ok now. Guess several pounds of baking soda did the trick.

I've been riding my exercise bike daily and walking when the weather is good. Also been trying to walk faster when we shop etc but nothing is really helping. The knee feels stiff and one whole side of it feels asleep. The whole knee feels heavy and swollen. I don't think it was done right.

I'm tired tonight.. not much sleep last night.. hungry too. need a snack. J

A few things done

Finished cleaning and reorganizing my bathroom.. need a clock and a vase of flowers in there to complete it. Need to do a little work on my bedroom too. Started to put things back in the other bedroom but when I bent down to put some books on the bottom shelf of the bookcase I could smell the carpet.. smelled like cat. Tomorrow I'll get some baking soda and sprinkle that all over to see if it will absorb the odors.. then in a few days we'll probably rent a carpet shampooer and clean it. Don't want mac to do much right now as his back/leg is getting so much worse. The pain pills don't give him much relief and they make his head feel weird. The pain patches did nothing and the physical therapy didn't help. Next step is a spine doctor for a cortizone shot in the spine.. I probably need it too but I won't. The pain pills do help me.

I walked around the block. the last quarter of the way I had to use my cane. Did five minutes on the exercise bike.. also walked all around food maax and then did quite a bit of standing after we got home.

Bought some asparagus so we can have bacon wrapped asparagus for dinner tomorrow.. love that stuff.

J

I cleaned closets today... that darn closet pole in my bathroom is about 10 inches too high. I really need that lowered. Sorted out some clothes that I never wear and some that I just don't like and some that don't fit right. Have a whole box to take to a shelter if I can find a shelter around here...

Rain rain rain and more rain. I'm getting tired of it. I walk so slow now that it's difficult to go anywhere when its raining.

Got all ready to go to drs appt this morning,,,,, up early, showered and went out in the cold just to find out he doesn't practice in Red Bluff anymore. Wonder when someone was gonna tell my. Irks the hell out of me to think they did that.. I really wanted this follow up on my knee cause it is swelling some still and it gets stiff too. Anyway now I don't have a knee doc. Whatever.

J

Another day

Another very tired day.. Can't fix the problems, can't do anything. Have to go to bed. Maybe I'll sleep. J

I guess

A person can only do as much as they can do.. and I know when a person has done as much as they can do then they can do nothing more. Sometimes an end comes.. Sometimes even as much as a person hates it, they reach their limits and they know it. Even if you love someone with all your heart you sometimes have to quit. You just do. Even if you try, you know when you are done. You know at this point it's a matter of survival. Can't be done. Not working and energy is being expended for nothing. Why nothing? Because it's not working. So very sad. J

Who am I?

Am I not who I thought I've always been? Who am I anyway? All my life I've prided myself on being a thoughtful, caring person who fights for most causes,, especially if it includes poverty stricken, children, hungry or homeless people. I especially HATE to see people make fun of those who are different... gays, fat people or those with mental illnesses. Has all my life been a lie? Who am I? Who the hell am I anyway? I don't think I can do this. Everyone tells me this is the best thing to do.... that I must do it for my own sanity. I know that's true but it's not me. Not not not not me. I don't think I can do this and yet I can't not do this. I hate this. It's not me. It's not who I am, is it? I would hate to think this is what I've become, cold, heartless and uncaring.

Ok I did start

printing the pictures... first I had to finish cropping and lightening some of them.. I got about 36 or so printed, not even close to half of what I want to do. I'm putting four on a page. But as expected I ran out of ink,, so hopefully tomorrow I can get a cartridge.

What else did I do today??? Hmmm can't think. Maybe I did nothing else. Oh yes I did something. I cleaned out my computer, cleaned out all the old mail both recieved and sent. Cleaned out my favorite places and ran a scan disk and defragmented. Then I emptied my temp. internet files and tossed all the cookies. I even emptied the trash bin.. computer ran much better too. They get bogged down. After I get the pics printed that I want I will delete some of them from the computer too. I have already put them all on the external hard drive.

That's it. J

I must confess

I did not print any pictures as promised and planned. But I did work on some pictures. I've chosen all the ones I want to print and today I was checking each one to see if it needed cropping or lightening etc. Didn't finish getting them ready.

But I made to pans of oopsie rolls and one pan of cheese biscuits. It's something.

Very tired. Going to bed now. J

OK that's it....

No more loafing days.. tomorrow I start printing the 2009 pics that need to be put in albums.. Don't know what I'm waiting for. I got up really early this morning and didn't sleep worth a darn last night.. the wind was howling and the windows were rattling... and the dog was restless and I had coffee too late which kept me awake and I drank too much of it which gave me irregular heart beats.

That's today in a teeensy nut shell. J

Rain?

YES WE'VE HAD RAIN.... and it's beeen so windy. I haven't been out of the house in days.. Maybe tomorrow it will be better.

I still haven't started a craft... but I've thought about it.. does that count? I think I'm going to rig up something to set on my night stand so I can put my lamp on it and that way maybe I can read in bed sometimes. I used to love to read in bed. I'm going to ask santa for a kindle.. but until then I do have several new books.

Also want a three wheel bike and don't want to wait for Christmas to get that. I was saving my cents but used it for Christmas stuff and then the money I got for Christmas I used for flowers and craft stuff.. now I'm broke and must start again..

J

Not writing daily anymore...

Guess it's because I don't do things daily that are worth writing about ... today I did get my closet cleaned. Concentrated on the craft side. Lots of stuff in there and now I know where it's all at in case I need it. I want to start doing some type of craft before this month is over. I made a resolution, to myself... to make at least one Christmas ornament per month for the whole year. I also have that table scarf I started way long ago.. hard to sit and do it when the tip of my spine is so so swollen and sore.

need toast.
nite
J

I'll finish at some point..

Ironed one more pair of drapes , put the pins in and got it hung. Now we're at a standstill till the other smaller pair comes.. then the hard work begins. I will have to put three panels together for each side of the front windows and then iron the whole thing. I think we'll iron them on the table. I''ll put a blanket or something over the table. I'll be so glad when this job is finished. It's proven to be a lot of work. Don't want to work.

Went and had one lump removed from my arm. Hurts a little tonight but not too bad. No arthritis meds for 2 more days the dr. says. Will go back in February to remove the one from my face.

Other than those two things and cooking dinner, I've done nothing today.. need to get working on the 2009 photos. Can't believe I haven't printed one single picture or updated one single album...

I'm tired tonight.. J

Boy it takes a long time

to do just a little bit ... that's when you can tell you are getting old. I worked all day just getting tiebacks cut and put on the sheers.. and I ironed one curtain. Wore me out. geesh.

J