Friday, October 31, 2014

All Hallows' Eve

The kids are out trick or treating with friends and I have these spooky dudes looking at me. The house smells like pumpkin guts and burning wood. This what fall is all about.

Halloween

The Fantastic Mr. Fox and Fantasy Football on the way to school this morning. On another gruesome note, I just got the staples on my knee out. It was annoyingly painful but it went pretty fast for having 38 of them.

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Fiddling Fox

Sam played at Edison High in the greater Springfield area orchestra this evening. I think the football and basketball coaches would have rather seen at practice but Sam wanted to be part of this multiple grade school orchestra concert. He had been practicing for it all month. It's good that he likes things beyond sports, keeps him well rounded. His ears are part of his Halloween costume, TheFantastic Mr. Fox. A Roald Dahl book.

Two Weeks

With two weeks almost behind me, I'm starting see some faster improvement in my leg. I've graduated from a walker to a cane and the swelling is going down quite a bit. The whole thing is still a little painful but that's to be expected. My Pt session on Wednesday was pretty brutal. She had me doing some things on my feet that was causing some severe discomfort but I went back at trying them again today. I know this is a long process but I'm getting through it step by step.

Sent from my iPad

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

House Arrest

The knee is improving a little everyday and I'm getting more and more energy. It's amazing how a little surgery can knock you out for a while. Everything seems to be going how it's supposed to be going while I did expect to have more movement in the leg by now, I'm not terribly disappointed. My big activity this week will be getting the 30 plus staples out on Friday. That and a couple more PT sessions.

The biggest problem with doing this surgery this time a year is that I'm missing all the good leif turning action. Their are a few spots on the way to work and school that are pretty spectacular and I'm going to miss those spots at peak. Maybe I'll get out and see something this weekend.

Sunday, October 26, 2014

One week home

It's been a week since leaving the hospital and while I've had some better days than others I'm still experiencing some good pain. I did more moving from upstairs to downstairs and spent more time on the motion machine than past days but that sucka is still really stiff. I know everyone's knee is different and healing times may vary but it's clear I won't be in the early healers club on this one. More PT and exercise tomorrow.

Sent from my iPad

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Bed - Chair

And back again. Same old routine around here the last week and while I don't really feel like running around in the leaves, the same thing, day after day is kinda a drag. The knee is still really swollen and the pain is still high but I have good parts of the day. Hanging with the kids in bed before their football game as fun.

The boys lost their game today but combined for 6 touchdowns. Sam threw two TD passes to Dylan, ran a TD and had a pick 6. Dylan also had a pick 2, he intercepted an extra point conversion attempt by the other team. This is the team they will see in the championship game in two weeks. I hope their defense improves a little by then.

Friday, October 24, 2014

It's been one week

The knee might actually hurt more a week after surgery than it did last week at this time. I have been shedding the effects of the injected pain blockers all week and have the night sweats and chills to prove it. The oral pain meds continue, as does the continuous motion machine, walking and stretching. Mom left yesterday and she was a huge help getting through a tough week but the boys are starting to pitch in more to help out.

The PT says the amount of stiffness and pain at this point is a little odd but as we talked today we realized that my knee was such a twisted mess for so long, the soft tissue is having a hard time adjusting to the new "straightened" knee joint. She thinks once the swelling goes down, I will start to see significant improvement quickly.

I'm going to miss another boys football game tomorrow which sucks but if I'm lucky, I will catch the playoffs.

Monday, October 20, 2014

A Stitch at a Time

Well, staples really but as nasty as this looks, it's in good condition. Got back from the hospital at around 6:30 last night, ate some cereal, took some pain meds then went to bed for almost 12 hours. Mom and Nicole are making sure I've got everything I need and while it hurts a bunch, it seems to be getting a little less painful and slightly looser every day.

Saturday, October 18, 2014

D-Day plus 1

The surgery went well yesterday. In the operating room at 7:30am and out by around 10am. Mom and Nicole hung out and met me in my room. The pain was pretty extreme last night but it has subsided quite a bit today but it still smarts. I got up and walked 80 feet on Friday, 130 feet and stairs this morning and a nice 400 foot trip around the ward this afternoon.

Having Mom and Nicole staying with me in shifts has been fantastic. I believe Nicole is staying with me again tonight. I've also spent most of my time in a chair today, which is better for my body than stretched out on the bed. Baby steps.

Friday, October 17, 2014

Checked In

My left knee lasted me a little over 50 years. It's time for the upgrade.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

October Sky

The light is fading fast for weekday football practices. Only a couple more weeks until it will be dark at 5 and we will not have practice.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Fox Business

Nicole helped the Fox News people understand how the affordable care act is working. They add some truthyness every once in a while.

Monday, October 13, 2014

Tick Tock

That's what a knee is supposed to look like, mine, not so much.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Ward Fest

Our friends Larry and Kate Ward (far right) moved to Boston last summer but returned for a visit this weekend. We had 20 people over to celebrate the visit. It was kinda a mini Halloween party since we are not having one of those this year. 5 days and counting.

Thursday, October 09, 2014

It's starting to look...

As seen at Market Street Bloomingdales yesterday. Seems a little early but I liked it.

Bay Bridge

On the plane on the way home from another Council meeting in San Francisco. It was informative and fun as usual. I've been fighting a cold so my only night out was Tuesday which was a lot of fun. Went to bed at 8 last night and feel much better today. I'm right over Denver right now so about 1,300 more miles till I'm home.

Sunday, October 05, 2014

Shoe Fetish

The boys and I had a good time shopping for shoes today. We ended up at World of Hoops store at Pentagon City mall where Dylan scored the black Micheal Jordan "29's" and Sam got really bright Nike's. They both seem like good shoes and they fit well, Sam with an 11 1/2 and Dylan in a 10. These kids love shoes and know a lot about them. It was fun watching them try things on and the excitement they get from walking out of the store, bags in hand. We also pick up some fancy USA socks that match their LMVSC Patriots uniforms. We picked up new football gloves and had a late lunch at Fiona's as well. It's been a fun boys weekend but we are all looking forward to Momma coming home tomorrow.

Saturday, October 04, 2014

Yes I Did

The temp is 59 degrees at 7:30pm so it's time for the first fire of the season. It's getting down to the mid forties tonight and I've been itchin to light one up for the last few weeks. Nicole is in California so the boys and I are watching Irish football and Nats playoff baseball. Good times.

A Beating

The little Ducks were firing on all cylinders today in a 45-0 drubbing of the Vipers. While the Viers played poorly, the ducks came out on fire. Dylan intercepted 3 balls and returned 2 for touchdowns, he also caught a long pass from Lucas for a TD. Sam intercepted 1 ball but went to his knee immediately because we were winning by so much, Dylan did the same with his third interception. They both could have easily scored on those picks. Sam scored on a long throw from Nick as well. Mick scored twice, a pick 6 and a long pass from Lucas, Nick scored on a pick six as well and Lucas scored a safety. It as an all around beating.

Thursday, October 02, 2014

Sick Sam

Dylan went to basketball tryouts tonight but Sam stayed home with strep throat. He's pretty sick but in a good mood. Dylan was really solid once again at the tryouts and the new recruits look really good. Not sure who's on the team yet but the boys look good for making the roster and with some new blood, we are bound to have a pretty good year.

Wednesday, October 01, 2014

Mmmmm Wine

I'll have one of each I believe. Grandma brought me this from Santa Fe. It may be my new hanging around home and drinking wine shirt since it probably won't show red wine spills, being burgundy colored and all.