THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS ... soon

At my appointment last Wednesday, as predicted, my surgeon, Dr. Campbell gave me the “all clear” to travel and informed me there was no need for any more visits. “Call if you need us” was his final words when we left the office. My healing has been textbook perfect and he told me whatever I was doing … continue doing the same. Again, I want to give credit to the “Senior Home Health Care” here in the area. Their support and encouragement made my part of the wound care so much easier and gave me peace of mind I wouldn’t have had otherwise.

Our friends, Margie and Roger bought a lot here at Citrus Ridge. They love Florida and plan to spend the winters here on a regular basis. There is an old trailer with a Florida Room attached on the lot they are having removed. There is also some furniture that needed a home so we took possession of one of the Lazy Boy Recliners that just happened to be an almost perfect fit for Phil. Our worn our sofa bed has been put out on the curb for the trash man and Phil is very happy with his new chair.

Phil plans to put new rear tires on our Penny the Pace before we head west but we still aren’t exactly sure when that will be. When we know, I will be sure to let you know ASAP! There was many fish caught on the last fishing expedition but Phil forgot the camera in the truck and Roger couldn’t transfer the photos he took with his phone to their computer so you will just have to take our word for it … honest! Between he and Roger, they caught 11 bass and probably lost that many more in the weeds. Phil says they were all 3 #’s or better.

Thanks for stopping by!
Until next time …

Remember that dumb squirrel? Well, either he got smarter or this is a different critter 'cause he figured out how to get up the pole ... ha!

Phil says yesterday he was up the pole and shaking the feeder to get the seeds out.

Pretty smart little fellow!

A visiting red cardinal. He comes to our bird feeder every day.

Phil's new (to him) Lazy Boy Rocker Recliner. He loves it!

Removing the narrow shelf that filled the gap behind the couch to the wall.

Phil vacuuming the carpet where the couch was bolted down.

Our old couch waiting for the trash man to come and pick it up. We really aren't going to miss it!

TIME HEALS ALL WOUNDS ~~

Or is that “time wounds all heels”? Oh well, in this case, time is working its magic and my wounds are healing. It seems like it is taking a very long time but actually, I am amazed at how quickly I am feeling as well as I do. It has only been 5 ½ weeks since my surgery and I make a second follow-up visit to my doctor on Wednesday. I think he will be pleased with my progress and maybe even release me to travel. We shall see …

Not much to blog about this week. I will share some pictures that we have taken here and there but that’s about all I have to offer this time.

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time …

Phil and Roger went fishing on Tuesday and Friday this past week.

Here is Phil's "fold a boat" being launched.

And, here is the fruit of his labor~this is one proud fisherman!

Don't worry, they "catch and release" so this beautiful bass will live to swim another day.

I was hungry for beef stew so we put together a crock pot full the other day.

It turned out to be delicious and this is Phil's bowl full the first time around. He had a second helping as well.

Yummy!

And, last but not least, here is a picture of our best friends, Gloria and Les taken at my sister, Dixie's 60th birthday party. We think it is adorable!

Les is holding that picture of me with my two dozen long stemmed red roses they sent me while I was in the rehab center.

NEWEST NEWS ...

Last Wednesday, March 10, exactly one month since my open-heart surgery I came home. I also had the first good night’s sleep since this all started. Six lovely uninterrupted hours! This has been nearly impossible in the hospital and the three weeks at Haines City Health Center. There is just nothing like your own bed!

I am doing well and have had the luxury of a home health care nurse the first two days and I suppose they will come three days next week. The nurse takes my vitals and redressed my stab wounds, one of which is still pretty raw looking. All the other incisions have healed beautifully although the leg wound (where they harvested the new veins for my heart) is still a bit sore but getting better every day.

We have had torrential rain since I’ve been home and even had a tornado touch down about 20 miles south of us. Yesterday the sun came back but along with the blue sky, we have had lots of wind. The rain kept me indoors but once that stopped, I have been outside doing some walking. Not a lot but a little more each day.

We have not done much but sleep and eat inside our cozy nest since I’ve been home but if the weather warms up, Phil plans on going fishing with our friend, Roger next week. According to the weather forecast, they will have a couple days in a row and I will be on my own. Roger’s wife, my dear friend, Margie has offered to baby-sit but I don’t think I will need a fulltime sitter. I believe I will be just fine while he is gone on this much-deserved outing! My hero has been giving me 24-7 care and really needs a break.

Thanks for stopping by!
Until next time,

Before the rains came, an assortment of birds finally found our feeder.

Even the doves came to visit.

Mr. squirrel picking up the seeds that spilled on the ground. Fortunately, he hasn't figured out how to get up that pole to the feeder.

Get ready for you closeup Mr. Cardinal. Isn't he gorgeous!

This post will be short and sweet. I wrote it while I was home in Penny for lunch. Nice to be at my own keyboard and able to sit in my favorite, comfortable chair while I write.

Phil cooked Lake Michigan salmon for me on the George Foreman grill and it was very good. I hated to go back to the nursing home but I will be there for at least another four-five days then hopefully, my surgeon will give me the go ahead to check out and come home. I am more than ready to sleep in my own bed and not have someone waking me up every couple hours for some Mickey Mouse reason (like bringing me fresh ice water). I know they have to do it but since I am a very light sleeper, it is hard to get back to sleep.

Overall, I am doing very well. You know that is true when all I want to do is come home. My wounds are healing nicely and rehab tells me I have passed all their requirements for release. My air supply is still a bit shy of normal but with additional exercise, I'm sure that will improve rapidly.

No pictures this week so I've included the one below of the lobby of a local Chinese buffet. We ate there just before my surgery and the dinner buffet looked pretty good. We paid for it but they didn't have it out yet so by the time they did, we were already full. Oh well ... I suppose we should have waited.

Thanks for stopping by and hopefully, my blog will get back to normal as my recovery continues.

Until next time,

The lobby of a local chinese restaurant. They reminded us of the giant vases we saw all over town in Zanesville, Ohio.

Beautiful but where would you put it?