I know, I know, its been 2 weeks since my last post. As I'd stated and even titled a prior post, 2 weeks of crazy. Whew! I was so pooped by the end of the weekend. Lots of work, lots of food lots of friends and family and I loved every bit of it, mostly.
Mothers Day was marred by Mom falling again & giving herself a big goose-egg on the back of her head. She was taken to the hospital and then, a couple days later, to a rehab facility to work on her balance, AGAIN. The only good news that day was that G., my sis, & I found an amazing new restaurant. A blend of Thai & multi- Chinese styles called Hot Fusion. Go try it. Seriously! Delicious.
Any ways, back to Mom, she's doing fine now. Still in the rehab center but doing fine. She gets sprung today but was told she wasn't allowed to bake or cook at all anymore unless she had someone there to assist her. Thats rough on her, she loves to bake cookies and brownies for everyone but she can't lift the pan anymore and she can't hear the timer either. Its sad but I hope she finally continues her exercises after this is all said & done. Trust me, I already know the answer to that dream, but I can dream.
Spent Friday getting the last of the ingredients for my chicken satay for the party, made the marinade & peanut sauce, threw the chicken & the marinade in freezer baggies to do the magic for 25 hours, made the clam dip and relaxed for a moment.
Saturday, the day of the annual party, I got up around 5:30 am and began working on the backyard. Hanging the lights & lanterns, opening umbrellas, setting up tables, lashing the lattice work onto the stands to cover the hammock, sweeping the patio, cleaning off the patio furniture, blah, blah, blah. Oh heavens! The best thing ever was having someone come & clean the house while I was working in the backyard. Had to do it early before it got too hot out. It did reach 99 degrees that afternoon.
Well, the party was a great success as was my chicken. Everyone seemed to be sated & happy. Surprisingly, the clean-up was next to nothing. G. came by the next morning and picked up alot of left-overs and helped me finish putting things away. Very nice.
Sunday, I went to a graduation party for the youngest daughter of 1 of my dearest friends here in town. I can't believe it. Now she's about to move to Maryland with her boyfriend. Time has flashed by. Good luck to you in your new life W. I'm so happy for you.
I'm pretty much up to full work days this week at work, not quite but almost. I did, however, teach the World Beat dance class for the 1st time since the week before my surgery. I was such an excited mess, I can't tell you. I cried in the hallway before the class as did S., a regular participant, when she saw me dressed to teach it. I cried as I spoke to the class, introducing it, I cried as I started to dance, I cried after the class was over. All from pure joy. I can't begin to explain the elation of dancing that way again. I didn't hold back and it was amazing. Yesterday I even taught a barre class and was able to do most of the class with them. Yes, I changed a few of my typical exercises since I can't do the kneeling and hinging back as of yet. But just give me time, I will.
Thank you to my surgeon and his staff, the staff at the hospital, the PT's, my family & friends, Everyone! Thank you! I'm getting my life back. My knee does swell but I have no pain, nada, zip, zero. Unbelievable. what does hurt is the instep of my left foot and my right metatarsal-phalangeal joints. (toe to foot). I find it fascinating what works and what is strained now. Ahhhhh, the compensations rearing their ugly heads, but I will fix it all. Look out Tucson, I'm back!
There was a funny part of the day on Tues, at noon, we had a sort of training and part of it was a video of a total knee replacement. I sat & watched fascinated while everyone else was freaking out and worrying about me watching it. Oh well, I liked working on cadavers in Human Anatomy in college too. Utterly fascinating.
I'm now trying to do more at work of my regular stuff instead of being upstairs. I like the other upstairs work but I miss being on the floor, too.
Oh! I finally got a call from the short-term disability company stating that they were sending out a check. I requested from 3 different sources 2 weeks ago, to let me know what was up with my claim. This system is ridiculous. It shouldn't be this much of a pain to get your benefits you've worked your entire life for. Yeeeeeeeeeeeeesh! Oh well, I'll quit bitching and just be happy they got it together for the moment.
As for my knee, I am now able to get down and up from the floor without needing to grab ahold of anything, I'm able to do demi plies', haven't tried a grand plie yet. Baby steps, Judi, baby steps. I dying to go to an Afro dance class but thought better of it as I'm pushing my knee at work a little more each day. I certainly don't want to put myself back. I've asked my surgeon for the go-ahead to full duty after the 1st of June. Not sure I'll get it but I want to do more.
I realize my recovery has been remarkable. Truly! I came into the surgery fairly strong, and I kept doing my PT work even when the PT's weren't there. When I got the chance, I got into a pool and worked too. I walked unassisted after 2 weeks, I danced after 7 weeks, in the recital, I danced/taught African & Belly in a class after 9 weeks. I'm ahead of the game. This IS what I got the damn knee replacement for. To do what I wanted and loved to do.
But all I'm trying to say is be pro-active people. Don't give in. Yes, it hurts like a son of a gun. You need to start preparing before your surgery. Start strength training the area, if possible drop some weight. Ask yourself, Why are you getting this done? Do your post-surgery work. On your own! Be responsible.
I'm still going to PT but my job is working out so I'm able to do the exercises while working. You might have to put some extra time in but for heaven's sake, DO IT!
Mothers Day was marred by Mom falling again & giving herself a big goose-egg on the back of her head. She was taken to the hospital and then, a couple days later, to a rehab facility to work on her balance, AGAIN. The only good news that day was that G., my sis, & I found an amazing new restaurant. A blend of Thai & multi- Chinese styles called Hot Fusion. Go try it. Seriously! Delicious.
Any ways, back to Mom, she's doing fine now. Still in the rehab center but doing fine. She gets sprung today but was told she wasn't allowed to bake or cook at all anymore unless she had someone there to assist her. Thats rough on her, she loves to bake cookies and brownies for everyone but she can't lift the pan anymore and she can't hear the timer either. Its sad but I hope she finally continues her exercises after this is all said & done. Trust me, I already know the answer to that dream, but I can dream.
Spent Friday getting the last of the ingredients for my chicken satay for the party, made the marinade & peanut sauce, threw the chicken & the marinade in freezer baggies to do the magic for 25 hours, made the clam dip and relaxed for a moment.
Saturday, the day of the annual party, I got up around 5:30 am and began working on the backyard. Hanging the lights & lanterns, opening umbrellas, setting up tables, lashing the lattice work onto the stands to cover the hammock, sweeping the patio, cleaning off the patio furniture, blah, blah, blah. Oh heavens! The best thing ever was having someone come & clean the house while I was working in the backyard. Had to do it early before it got too hot out. It did reach 99 degrees that afternoon.
Well, the party was a great success as was my chicken. Everyone seemed to be sated & happy. Surprisingly, the clean-up was next to nothing. G. came by the next morning and picked up alot of left-overs and helped me finish putting things away. Very nice.
Sunday, I went to a graduation party for the youngest daughter of 1 of my dearest friends here in town. I can't believe it. Now she's about to move to Maryland with her boyfriend. Time has flashed by. Good luck to you in your new life W. I'm so happy for you.
I'm pretty much up to full work days this week at work, not quite but almost. I did, however, teach the World Beat dance class for the 1st time since the week before my surgery. I was such an excited mess, I can't tell you. I cried in the hallway before the class as did S., a regular participant, when she saw me dressed to teach it. I cried as I spoke to the class, introducing it, I cried as I started to dance, I cried after the class was over. All from pure joy. I can't begin to explain the elation of dancing that way again. I didn't hold back and it was amazing. Yesterday I even taught a barre class and was able to do most of the class with them. Yes, I changed a few of my typical exercises since I can't do the kneeling and hinging back as of yet. But just give me time, I will.
Thank you to my surgeon and his staff, the staff at the hospital, the PT's, my family & friends, Everyone! Thank you! I'm getting my life back. My knee does swell but I have no pain, nada, zip, zero. Unbelievable. what does hurt is the instep of my left foot and my right metatarsal-phalangeal joints. (toe to foot). I find it fascinating what works and what is strained now. Ahhhhh, the compensations rearing their ugly heads, but I will fix it all. Look out Tucson, I'm back!
There was a funny part of the day on Tues, at noon, we had a sort of training and part of it was a video of a total knee replacement. I sat & watched fascinated while everyone else was freaking out and worrying about me watching it. Oh well, I liked working on cadavers in Human Anatomy in college too. Utterly fascinating.
I'm now trying to do more at work of my regular stuff instead of being upstairs. I like the other upstairs work but I miss being on the floor, too.
Oh! I finally got a call from the short-term disability company stating that they were sending out a check. I requested from 3 different sources 2 weeks ago, to let me know what was up with my claim. This system is ridiculous. It shouldn't be this much of a pain to get your benefits you've worked your entire life for. Yeeeeeeeeeeeeesh! Oh well, I'll quit bitching and just be happy they got it together for the moment.
As for my knee, I am now able to get down and up from the floor without needing to grab ahold of anything, I'm able to do demi plies', haven't tried a grand plie yet. Baby steps, Judi, baby steps. I dying to go to an Afro dance class but thought better of it as I'm pushing my knee at work a little more each day. I certainly don't want to put myself back. I've asked my surgeon for the go-ahead to full duty after the 1st of June. Not sure I'll get it but I want to do more.
I realize my recovery has been remarkable. Truly! I came into the surgery fairly strong, and I kept doing my PT work even when the PT's weren't there. When I got the chance, I got into a pool and worked too. I walked unassisted after 2 weeks, I danced after 7 weeks, in the recital, I danced/taught African & Belly in a class after 9 weeks. I'm ahead of the game. This IS what I got the damn knee replacement for. To do what I wanted and loved to do.
But all I'm trying to say is be pro-active people. Don't give in. Yes, it hurts like a son of a gun. You need to start preparing before your surgery. Start strength training the area, if possible drop some weight. Ask yourself, Why are you getting this done? Do your post-surgery work. On your own! Be responsible.
I'm still going to PT but my job is working out so I'm able to do the exercises while working. You might have to put some extra time in but for heaven's sake, DO IT!
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