This fine morning, I went to the pool, and it was a wonderful drive in the sunshine, sparkling on all the snow. We went out to breakfast afterwards to a little diner that serves the absolute yummiest cinnamon raisin toast I've ever had, something I actually try to avoid like the plague, but I cannot resist it when I go there...which is hardly ever, so meh. Diner coffee is always enjoyable, probably because you're just sitting there chatting and sipping and it's getting refilled...you feel like royalty.
Home...ahh, home. Margaret was here because she had some important work calls, so I helped with the kids. Kathryn came over too, so there were 6 small children here. They are 90-95% good, ha. Today they went outside for a bit, except for the almost two year old and the 18 month old. They colored and used the stamp sets and played with the toys, and read books, and ran wild. I made spaghetti and meatballs, and some burgers and hot sausages for dinner. Then....they all went home, Jon and Cam left, and it's all quiet in here. It's either too noisy or too quiet.
Yesterday, Camille and I went out and about, then Grace came over with Grant, Ruth, and Maeve. They colored and played and ran around, and had lots of snacks. We had French toast, sausage, whipped cream, and berries, and eggs for Grace and I.
Okay, the blog title today suggests an excitement about injections. Well, these steroid shots I get in my knees are really blessings. I hate hate hate the actual jabs of course. You get one and it it kills, and you know another one is coming, oh dear. But. They do help. They aren't perfect miracles, I still have terrible pain in my knees, but they help me to last a bit longer on my feet, especially for the first few weeks after getting them. Last summer when I first found out how bad the arthritis is in my knees, I read about it when I got home, of course, Dr. Google. One of the symptoms was not being able to straighten you legs all the way. Well, I didn't have that! Guess what though? Now, if I accidentally straighten my left leg all the way in my sleep, it screams with pain. If I'm on my feet too long, I seriously have terrible trouble bending my knees to sit down. It forces me to listen to my body and take frequent breaks. I hate it, but it's my lot in life at this point. I try to be healthy, I fast, and eat low carb (I know, I know, the cinnamon toast, but that is not my norm!). Anyway. I don't mean to complain. I am just thankful that I'm due for those injections tomorrow, because I'm leaving for my Norway trip next Wednesday.
No one wants to be a burden, and if I can't walk fast, or far, or have to stop and rest, ugh. I am going to ask my doctor for a note to give to the kids, so they know I am not exaggerating. :)
So tomorrow I go to my orthopedic appointment, yay! I am super thankful...yet I know that they won't help forever, and I am facing the replacement surgeries, so if you had it done, how was it? Would you do it again? How were you able to get up and use the bathroom, move around, get in and out of the car, do stairs, right after the surgery? Was it awful?
Anyway. Today was a good day. Grandchildren are such blessings. Have a good evening.
11 comments:
Such cute pics of the kids!
I have rheumatoid arthritis, not the same but I get what you are saying. Especially the part about not wanting to let others down. I hate if we are out and I'm slowing people down. Glad those injections help!
My husband gets those injections. Well, he gets like silicone or something injected into his knees. His are bone-on-bone and this is like a cartilage replacement. I'm not sure if you get the same thing. But his only works a few months before the pain gets bad again. We went to Israel in 2022 and he pushed through! Found places to sit while our guide was talking, pushed to get to each site then sat and rested. Missed out on a few things due to his limitations but had a great time! I expect you will too. Can't wait to hear all about it!
Hi Della! I want to start by saying what an amazing woman you are and such a great Mom. When I discovered your blog, I followed for about a year, then went back to the beginning of your blogging and read to present day. How fun to do that and see your family grow.
Now the knees…..have the replacement done. In 2022 I had left knee done, in 2023 I had right knee done (then in 2024 an ankle replacement which you don’t need). I’m 78, so you can whisk right through it. My husband (76) is currently 7 weeks out from his knee replacement surgery and you’d never know he had it except for him doing PT and icing several times a day. We used same Ortho Dr, but hubby had a newer technique, less invasive. His was called a “jiffy knee”. Please ask your Dr about it (or Dr Google)😉 If you know there will be some pain, some limitations for the first 4-5 weeks, you will have better results. Yes, you walk to bathroom with a rollator, yes you can do stairs, but you cannot drive for about 6 weeks. So worth the inconvenience for a few weeks to have great mobility the rest of your life. Please consider it.
Hi Della, I had both knees done at the same time at age 59, no problems. One and done! Have a wonderful trip!
I know! My son-in-law is taking his kids to the zoo tomorrow, and asked me to come...um, I'd love to, but I couldn't keep up, and all those steps!
I love that he was able to make the Israel trip! That's fantastic! I get only cortisone, but the dr. mentioned the silicone for sometime down the road when these injections stop working as well.
Judy, first of all, thank you for kind words, and you know, I've never gone back and read through my blog, what a good idea, maybe next winter when I don't have a good book. You whisked right through those surgeries, so nice to hear. I'm sure there were plenty of sufferings mixed in. I did ask my dr. today about the jiffy knee, he brushed it off and said I could get some more years out of my knees, "keep your own body parts for as long as you can...", he said. It is in my future though. Thank you for taking the time to encourage me!
Now that is impressive, wow! Thank you, I think I will!
Hi I am a new-ish reader and was wondering what your family’s connection to Norway is. Do you have family there? I enjoy reading your blog and what an awesome record of your life! You should totally go back and read it from the start!
Our church has a conference center in Norway, where people from all around the world gather. We're going to a Sister's Conference there next week, and will see so many of our friends! I'm going with friend Patty, Emily, Mariel, and daughter-in-law Grace, and will see Charlotte Claire there. My daughter Sonja married Jon's Norwegian friend, Oscar. So we sort of have family there now, even though Sonja and Oscar live in the U.S., his fam is there.
Had a knee replacement last April - I'm 62. GET THE REPLACEMENT sooner rather than later! You heal faster the younger you are. It wasn't bad at all (you've given birth 16 times!! How bad was that?!? LOL) - when you get up the next morning to walk on it - it's amazing you don' that pain any more - of course you have some from the tendons being cut - but truly, it wasn't bad. I forget I even had it - we walked 5 miles this past weekend & my hubby couldn't keep up with me! I am probably looking at having the other knee done in the future - but for now, I'm doing really well!
You will kick yourself for waiting. I truly mean that.
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