We had a wonderful women's ceremony tonight. There were six of us under the blue moon behind the Redd Shedd. We shared and wept and laughed and sang. The drum and shakers added their voices to the whispering trees around us.
My knee had a bad day. I was given some exercises to strengthen my leg and I lost my head. I overdid and my leg was mad at me all day. I skipped the workout today so I should be better tomorrow.

Today was a great day for me. I went to x-ray and then to Dr Gibbons who told me that the new knee looks good. He said the healing and recovery are advancing in a normal manner. Later to PT where I was told that it would be great if everyone did as well as I am doing. I have 2 more weeks of PT. My muscles are weak in that leg and my new job is to build myself some strength. I told the hen house ladies that soon they will see me leaping over tall buildings in a single bound. They will look up and scream, "It's a bird, it's a plane... it's Superanne."

PT Dan said I should start working on strength now. I have a new focus! I can walk full weight on the new knee but still pegging along. I sure have some bad habits to dump.

When I asked PT Alec if there was a knee replacement support group in the area he said he didn't think so. I went on line and found one but it was pretty scary. I wrote Ann about this and she suggested I get in touch with Zoe who had a knee replaced three years ago. So I did and she is a most wonderful support. She knows what it is about and what I can expect for myself. I know we all heal differently... some more quickly... but she is the comforting voice of experience. Some of my stress has been alleviated and I am stepping along with the expectation that... this too will pass and some glad morning I'll look back and smile.

Dish washing space.

Today was first day of ricing and Annie's household went to see if they could make rice. So I have had Cedar all day and we had a good time. She put  a stool in front of the sink and washed dishes for me. It took about 30 minutes. She didn't complain but showed me her prune fingers. Now she shows signs of fatigue and will soon be sleeping.
Kalene is a beginner so I am interested to know how she did. She said although she would try knocking and poling, she thought poling would be her choice. I always did the poling when I was ricing. You can see all around and catch the cooling breezes.
I am still walking the hall 3 times a day for 30 minutes. But Alec said I need to focus on trying to straighten my leg with every step. I use two quad canes for this. I feel like Yul Brynner prowling the corridor. Remember how he walked? So cool and svelte, like a cat. Can you picture that?

PC very slow tonight and I keep getting bumped off my pages so this will be brief.
I went down to the Henhouse for a change of scenery, played some solitaire and listened to the radio.
I keep the dial at KAXE and suddenly I heard my cousin Andrew Paul Favorite talking and laughing. It was quite a shock as he has recently walked on. I smiled to hear him speak but wept to know he was gone to the other side. The moderator said he had passed on just six days after the interview. I have been sad all day.
I didn't do my three hall walks today. The knee was so stiff I decided to give it a rest. I put the heating pad on for awhile and then back to ice. Now I am going to put it to bed.
Good night.
Yes, I went to bed but kept thinking that I had vowed to give my recovery 100%. So I got up and walked the hall for 30 Minutes.
Good night.

Graduating to the quad cane has apparently put some new stress on my lower back. I did some gentle stretches and it has calmed down. I did two sessions of 16 laps in hall and will do one more soon.
I took Ed and Gloria to Subway today. It was my way of showing appreciation for all their kindnesses toward me and Mr C. Ed drove as I am still being restricted.
I had a BBQ pork on toasted flat bread with pepper jack cheese, tomatoes, spinach and onion. I also had a cold tall root beer. I ate half of the sandwich and will have the rest tomorrow.
Flo called and we had a nice chat until my phone lost power. I e-mailed her at once so she would understand that I didn't hang up on her in the middle of a sentence. She has been traveling for weeks. Tonight she and Carter were taking the canoe out to the island in Skunk Lake for a brat supper.

The good news of the day is that I don't have to use the walker all the time now. I have a quad cane for balance. I will use the walker in the morning as walking is difficult when I first get up. I also used a different piece of exercise equipment today. PT Alec calls it the torture bike. I like it because it shows your progress and heart rate. I tried to go faster and faster to quicken my heart but Alec told me to slow down.
After being pulled and stretched for about 20 minutes I asked Alec if I will get past the stiffness. He said I will but it is not going to come without a struggle. I gain ground during the day and lose it when I go to bed. I wake up stiff as a tree every day. He said that is normal.
I did 14 laps three times today. The hall is my track and Mr C is my primary cheerleader. He sits in the doorway and smiles as I go by.
I was disappointed when Alec told me the doctor will not allow me to drive the car for 3 more weeks. I guess it is because I use the narcotic pain pill twice a week. I take one 45 minutes before PT.
My family has gone to the pow-wow at Pine Point so I wont see them until Monday. I hope they have a delicious time.

I did my PT workout twice today. Did not try to improve my numbers but worked on control and balance. Cedar helped me in PM as she had a bad leg cramp and needed to use the cane.
We also selected a colorful candy box for our blessing box and have each written down a blessing for today. We will collect them until New Years Eve and read them together.
My friends Carter and Flo are back from their travels and e-mail indicates that they will come visit soon.

 I told Flo the one who drives must wear the tiara. She complied.

Kalene and Geezis took my grocery list and returned with good stuff for tomorrow. I gave Kalene several old photographs of the family. Including several of her father Charles as a boy.

I also loaned my Mexican rug to Annie for a wall covering. I will not give it to her as it was a gift from Roberto and Ann.

Gloria, Ed, Randy and I had an ice-cream party after supper. I shared the ice cream that Cash brought on Monday.

A long and busy day. PT went well and Alec the therapist is pleased with my progress. I do work myself pretty hard in the morning because that is when the knee is so stiff it is like walking on a wooden leg. I can now do 10 laps of the hall without resting. I do 40 step ups. I am not doing so well on the stretch band. I have a couple of new exercises to do now. I did one on the steps after supper and it felt pretty good. The other one is done lying down. I will have to use a strap to pull the leg back. I thought I was walking quite well but he evaluated my style and said I was moving with a hitch step. Therefore, I am not ready for a cane so remain married to the walker.
Before going to the rehab center Gloria and I put a basket of my stuff in machine and then into dryer. We sat outside for a long time and it was wonderful to be part of the sky. The pigeons were flying low over the roof and swooping down in joyful flight. Then Gloria washed a basket of clothes and soon Randy was working on his basket of dirty things. It was a clean up day.
Gloria brought me a piece of pizza for lunch and Randy brought me a container of wonderful cheesy broccoli soup with spice and bite. It was delicious. Such good and generous neighbors.
I worked the hall for awhile and did the stair stretch again.

Cedar with Kalene's dog, Oliver.

Then Leah called to say Cedar and she were coming over to pick up photos for Michael. Mr C was so excited to see Cedar that he was mad with joy. Running and jumping and twirling like a dancing dog.
Leah took a tour of my small abode and declared it to be enchanted.

I woke up early to sit in a pool of moonlight with Mr C. It was a wonderful time of communion and prayer.
My good friend Cash came from Thunder Lake to visit me on her way to Grand Rapids. We had a good visit but she had bad news concerning her health. She has several eye diseases that are threatening her vision. She let me read the report from Mayo concerning the genetic nature of a rare condition that has attacked her eyes. She is trying to remain positive and live one day at a time but she is dealing with anger, too. I will hold her up in prayer as she is holding me...
Granddaughter Kalene has completed her first solo cross country road trip and we are glad she has arrived without mishap.
Tonight we enjoyed a grilled pork chop dinner that is not sitting too well with me now. The nausea threatens to keep me awake again.

Friend Leah is here from White Earth, too. So we had a lovely visit. She called Michael so I could talk with him briefly. He was surprised but recognized my voice after a couple of good hints. Leah has requested that I look for some photos that I have of Michael's mother.
I asked her to pose with the broken hand of Jesus. The result is below.

Leah with the hand of Jesus.

I also want to give photos to Kalene as she will take care of them. I have lots of baby pictures of her and Charles, her father.
Geezis has made a really lovely purse from her old jeans. It is very nice. She has creative style.

Last night was the best rest I've had for 2 weeks. Then in late morning a knock fell upon my door and when I flung it open there stood an angel! It was Ellie. She had made the drive from Crosby to cheer me up. I took a quick shower and washed my neglected hair. We went out to visit Peg for a while, then out to Annie's but found no one at home. Then to Shelly's for a light lunch. I had a small bowl of cottage cheese and a small bowl of cole slaw. My chosen beverage was water. Ellie gave me a slice of her chicken. I was hungry but ate slowly for fear of being overcome with that dreadful nausea. It went down nicely.
When we got back to the manor I had a message from Karl. They were in Deer River looking for the manor. I went outside to see where they were and saw Mary down the street. She waved and disappeared. Soon I saw Karl coming toward me with a big smile. Mary parked the car and joined us. Oh, it was lovely. Ellie was introduced but soon departed for Crosby.
After a few minutes Ed and Gloria arrived and we shared introductions again. Ed talked about his travels on the West Coast and Karl was familiar with the territory. After they left Karl told me so much good news about our old friends Pat and Mickey that I thought I was going to float away.
They also told me that our old friend Joe O'Brien had gone to the other side about a year ago. They did a ceremony for him at Waubun and he made his appreciation known to them by an overwhelming sense of his presence.
We talked about the time when Joe and I got lost looking for Mickey's sweat lodge. Then he got the truck stuck while trying to turn around. So he had to employ the shovel for several minutes. I wanted to help him but he would not allow it. At last he got the wheel free and we eventually arrived at the proper place for a very fine ceremony.

This chair is my favorite place to sit these day.

After they left I called Pearl and she joined me in the Hen House (Community Room). We played a few hands of King's Corner. But I was almost too tired to enjoy it. Then Gloria helped me back up the stairs and brought me a piece of delicious watermelon.
So ends a perfectly delightful day.

My PT home work has made some progress on strength but very little in flex. I must keep trying and harder, too.
Being physically confined to this small area and corridor has been depressing.
I used to live alone in the woods. Sometimes didn't see another person for 3-4 days. I often did not speak to another person for 5-6 days. But I was never lonely. Here I feel left out of life. My knee and my discomfort has become the center of my life and I find it quite unpleasant.
I did receive a call from an old friend who says he will arrive tomorrow within lovely wife. I haven't seen them for too many years. That will cheer my night and day.

My sleeping place at Pigeon's Roost.

The nausea is somewhat relieved and I hope to sleep well tonight.

Another red letter day is drawing to a close. The 28 staples were removed and I saved them to make earrings. Now the incision is nearly healed and held together with steri-tape. In two days I can shower without wrapping my fairly large leg in saran wrap.
I had an intensive session of Physical Therapy and got some exercises to do at home. The therapists are investing themselves in my recovery and I will be there 100%! Even if it makes me cry. Gloria has been coming to the hospital with me as she is going to face this in a few years or less. I am her mentor and she is my angel.
One day I was in such agony that I told Alex, "You're just like Captain Ahab!" He asked, "Was he a bad guy?" That made me laugh!
Gloria said, "Anne, if you start kicking him... I'm out of here!" Alex turned toward her and said, "Oh we're past that now. Last week she was kicking me." I said, "This week I'm down to name-calling." Then we all laughed together.
One day as he was pushing my foot back to bend my knee I screamed and fell over on my side. It was quite involuntary. Alex remained calm and said, "If you're all right now we can continue." And so we did. Ouch!
More than once he has said, "You'll thank me for this some day." I'm sure I will.
Mr C, my dog, has found a faithful walking companion in Ed, Gloria's husband. Those two have formed an exclusive walking club and Mr C told me that he is the president.
Peg came over to see how it was going for me. Ann called from Xalapa, Mexico, and I had her on speaker but it was a poor connection. So we hung up and she Skyped me. Then Peg and Ann and I had a long and lovely conversation.

Peg bedecked with silk flowers.

Today I got a call from Steph in WI. She is leaving for a ten day vacation and will be out of reach until she returns. She was just checking in with me before departure. As she is a retired RN I told her about the nearly constant nausea, lack of appetite and poor bowel activity. She recommended an oz. or two of wine before meals. Annie brought the wine and left. I found it was a corked bottle so I called her and asked if she had a cork screw. "No, but Mel does." So she called Mel who came over and opened the bottle then cleaned up the kitchen, too.
I drank 1 oz. of wine and had a very small supper because I was afraid to eat too much. I did NOT get nauseous! So ends the red letter day.

Sorry for neglecting the blog for such a long time but one of the unexpected benefits of the pain medication has been blurring vision. Therefore, it was difficult to read and not much fun writing. So here we are and it is a red letter day for me. The staples will be removed today. Hooray! That should give my knee a bit more flexibility.
Something I and the Alex, the Physical Therapist, are working on. First we flex, then we aim for balance and strength. I feel like a newborn calf... weak-kneed and clumsy. I propel myself along with the walker at a snail's pace. But every day I see small improvements.

PT crew.

With the worst of the pain gone now... I am relieved of the heavy doses of pain-relieving drugs. In fact, it was yesterday that I went back to tylenol. I will take the heavy duty stuff only as needed. Like 30 minutes before therapy!
Another difficulty has been eating! I have no appetite and have struggled with nausea from day one. I won't bore you with the details as I am sure you have all been there.
I walked to hospital alone early thursday morning, was admitted and awakened several hours later in a cool and quiet room. Then I was wheeled into a nice big room where I would live on a one-man raft for a few days. With assistance, I was soon on my feet and in due time received an overdue shower. Physical Therapy began almost immediately.

Big bed muffin.

Nurse Pineapple gives me a foot rub.

I was released on Sunday into Annie's care. It was at this point that things began to deteriorate. The drugs were getting the best of me but I didn't know what was wrong. I was taken to the emergency room one night on suspicious of heart attack. All classic symptoms present but EKG showed no heart troubles. On following night I went to ER again with a dreadfully swelled up leg and discharge from an unintended injury to the back of the leg. This occurred while still in hospital and may even have happened during surgery. I don't know. No treatment necessary.
Eventually I was moved into the Redd Shedd where I thought I was ready for more independence. However, when Annie took the family camping and left me pretty much alone I was struck by a horrific episode of drug induced paranoia. I endured for 2 days and nights but on the third night I became hysterical with fear and called the police.
A very gracious officer arrived and brought me to the manor. I stayed downstairs with Pearl for 2 days .
When I was able to climb the stairs I moved back to Pigeon's Roost, #8.