Found "some" Happy

okay ... so ...

found a bit of happy last night ...

Nate helped me prepare dinner ...

we had steak stir fry with peppers, rice and pototoes ... yum

after dinner ... I felt bad that I felt bad and didn't feel like making/presenting a dessert!

so I looked in the fridge ... and to my surprise ... I had forgotten about the cookie dough I had made up several days ago ... that was sitting there "waiting" on me to fix them!!!

Yum ...

So ... I was able to present my "table of three" some home-made, chocolate chip cookies with no prep at all! (don't you love it when this happens?!)

all I had to do was spoon it out of the bowl and onto a cookie sheet!

Ahhh ...

and the looks on my recepient's faces were ... rewarding ...

AND ... I didn't have to do much ... thanks to the prep earlier in the week!

So ... that was my first happy ...

my second happy ...

well ...

at the risk of exposing myself ...

it was this ...

I know ... I know ... crazy!

BUT ... if you know me well ... you will know that I LOVE paper towels ... (apologies to my green friends ... I save in other areas ... but this one I still have issues - working on it)

anyhoo ... I have a bit of OCD when it comes to paper towels ... just ask anyone close to me!

And when I'm nervous I wash my hands a LOT ... and a dish towel ... well ... it just doesn't get it for me ... because the whole time I'm using it ... I'm thinking ... "hmmm, did they wash their hands REALLY good before using this towel ... did they just use water and rinse? ... crazy thoughts ... I know ...

anyhoo ... this is me ... and I'm being rather "open" at the moment ...

ahem ... anyhoo ... paper towels ...

so ... I have been IN all week and not OUT all week ... and ran out of paper towels!!!!! OH NO!!!! This has been horrible for me!

I used three dish towels in a 36 hour period ... and HATED it!!!!

Okay ... so ... I know ... obsession ... with paper towels ... crazy ...

BUT ... they make me happy ... and when he brought in a package of 8 ... I was SO happy! Yep ... I immediately washed my hands just to use one ...

I somehow started feeling better after paper towels were back in the house ...

I even roll off a certain amount each time I use them ... I know ... crazy ...

But ... we ALL have our very own oddities ... and this happens to be one of mine!

Another "Tammodity" ... yep ... haven't talked about those in a while ... ha!

I have MANY!

anyhoo ...

today - I feel better ... no fever today ... still a bit crummy feeling ... but better ...

here's to a happier day ...

tammy

In need of a great big POUF! of HAPPY!

bleah!

blah!

yack!

yikes!

eek!

drab!

AAAHHHHH!

(moan)

(grrrr)

(oohhhhh)

(waahhhhh)

my sentiments at the moment ...

nothing magical about the moment ...

wish there was ...

then ...

my sore throat would go away ...

my fever would go away ...

my crumminess would not be so crummy ...

yep ...

that's where I'm at!

Not fun!

AND ... it's been a challenging first of the year so far!

The good thing is ... Mom is doing better everyday! Thank GOD for Aunt Betty and Nena ... couldn't make it right now without them!

LeAnna is home AGAIN today ... she had a slight fever last night, was flushed and started a bit of a croupy cough ... AAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!

okay ... when will my madness end?!?!?!?!?!!?

definitely NOT seeing the light at the end of the tunnel today!

what light?!

anyhoo ... sorry to be so negative today ...

wish i had some great big POOF! of happy to convey!

not happening at the moment ...

oh well ...

blah ... blah ... blah ...

whatever ...

Daze ... tammy

It's Still Overrated ...

my poor baby ...

bless her heart ...

blow, blow, blow ...

it's overrated - remember?!

ugh ...

I found her looking through her baby picture albums this morning ... she LOVES looking at old pictures ... and I thought she was too cute - so I had to snap a few!

and ... Princess ... she's a hoot!

I love my Princess so much ... she makes me calm, (even though she's not) ... and she makes me smile ... I have always had a strong love for my pets ... and Princess is near and dear ...

happy day ... tammy

I'm ... Dreaming ... Of A ... Va .. cation

LeAnna is much better today ... breathing better ... still at home ... but better ... we're hoping for school tomorrow!!!!

We've been in the process of planning our vacation since the beginning of January ... I had looked forever on line at two different rental companies, going through every home they had ... it takes FOREVER to look through each one ... then narrow them down .... and finally I ended up with 3 pieces of typing paper full of homes to choose from ... along with all their detail, price, bedrooms, ammenties, etc. ... so it would be easy to refer back to once we were ready for a final decision.

So ... we narrowed down our search three weeks ago to one house ... REALLY liked it ... AND since we're taking Nana with us ... we wanted it to be a one level, not a lot of steps kind of home ... AND we found one ... that is even handicapped adapted ... which means ... one level and not many steps if any ... when we found this one three weeks ago ... there were plenty of dates available for June and July ...

Well ... last night ... I just happened to hop on line and "view" the availability of this home ... AND to my surprise ... only 1 week in June and 1 week in July were available ... SO ... after much discussion ... we rented our home this morning ... Yea!!!

I'm so excited ... and we are leaving July 4th for 10 days ...

Nana is so excited ... she's never been to Hilton Head Island ... and we're taking her to Savannah one day to tour and go to Paula Deen's restaurant ...

We're hoping in 4 months she will be recovered enough to enjoy herself ... and on days when she doesn't feel like getting out ... we have a nice home to sit on the beach (right across the street) and relax for awhile!

And this home has a private pool ... woo-hoo ...

Okay ... sorry ... just a bit excited ... but this made me a tad bit happy on this cold, dreary, rainy day in February!!!!

AND ... we have been looking forward to Hilton Head since we left there last July ...

I have talked to several people who go there for vacation ... they have always said ... "there's no place like it" ... " can't explain it" ... "so relaxing" ... "not touristy" ... "a whole different world" ...

AND ... we felt the same way ... we had the best vacation last year ... the best family vacation we've ever had ... and left with the same thought, "just can't explain it" ...

Anyhoo ... happy ... AND really needed a bright spot in my day right about now ... almost wish we were leaving tomorrow ...

happy day ... tammy

Blowing Your Nose Is Overrated ...

well ...

yep ...

LeAnna's home today ... developed a fever last night ... low grade ... still yucky symptoms ... she's miserable, but acting like she feels better today ...

she's "trying" to blow her nose ... BUT ... when I made the statment that she wasn't blowing hard enough to do any good ... her reply was, "but my eyes water too much when I blow to hard" ...

and I'm like DUH ... it's coming out your eyes because you're not blowing it out your nose!!!!

AAAHHHH .... not really ... but ... I have to use tactics when I can!

Anyhoo ... Mom is improving even more today ... SO happy ... it's been a rough 3 weeks!

As for me ... still teetering on "feeling okay" ... hmmm ...

The chicken and biscuit pot pie I was craving? Well ... I sacrificed some key ingredients apparently for "what I had" available and well ... I need to try it again when I get key ingredients ... however, the home-made biscuits on top were very good ...

oh well ...

i must go and work (which LeAnna doesn't understand WHY I have to work since she's sick), do laundry (which LeAnna asked me to PLEASE turn off the washing machine this morning - the noise was driving her nuts ... I informed her that while she's at school Mommy has to listen to the noise and it had to be), start supper (pork chops and creamed potatoes), color (I've colored so many My Little Pony pictures this weekend), play doctor/patient with LeAnna (since she's sick, she has decided she knows all treatments needed for all her stuffed animals and I'm their Mommy who's bringing them to the doctor) and straighten the house and fold the laundry!

Anyhoo ... so seeing as how I have nothing to do ...

happy day ... tammy

For Better AND For Worse ...

So ... today is a MUCH better day for Mom!

I am SO happy ...

her swelling is going down around her ankles, her incision sites look better ... the nurse came today and put steri strips on and checked them due to bleeding yesterday ... and being on blood thinner ... NOT a good thing to bleed at the moment! She feels better ... pain level is more in control ... thank GOD! Finally!!!!

Yesterday was absolutely horrible ... so we are all so glad that she is better today ...

However ... the house next door is not doing as well ...

LeAnna woke me up in the middle of the night not able to breathe ... so bad that I had to start the humidifier just to get some relief ... medicine, a drink of water and holding the jar of mentholatum - sticking it in her nose and just holding and breathing it. FINALLY went back to sleep and she slept for a while (thanks to the meds) ...

Today she's been stopped up and runny nose all at the same time ... weird how this happens, but does ... her eyes are watering like crazy and she's just a bit miserable ...

No fever right now ... that's good! There have been SO many kids out at school ... her teacher was even out last week some ... they've been sending notes home for us to "watch" and to KEEP THEM HOME if they are the least bit sick ... they've been wiping down the rooms with antiseptic ... this has been the worst I've seen it, I think ever.

And we have tried SO hard to stay well for Mom's sake ... the last thing she needs is to be sick on top of everything else right now! So ... whisper a prayer for me ... I have been so tired lately that I know my resistance is low ... and I can tell I'm not my best at the moment ... so hoping I don't get to participate in this country-wide germ spree!

My body is craving some home-made "something" ... I think I'm going to make some chicken and bisquit pot pie!!!! Hmmm ... hopefully later today I'll have it posted on Table For Three ... I'll let you know how it goes there!

Happy Daze ... tammy

Staple Remover Anyone?

Today was the worst day yet for Mom ... I don't think I've ever seen her in so much pain as today ... ever ...

The nurse showed up today and removed the staples ... day 15 after surgery ... so staples were starting to set up camp in her legs! And the nurse also stated that whoever put them in didn't do a very good job and some were embedded and put in crooked ... needless to say ... pulling, blood and screaming were all involved in this project!

She said today was more pain than ANYTHING up to this point ...

I can't imagine ...

AND ... she also started having muscle spasms in and around her incisions today! Oh My Goodness ... HORRIBLE!!!!

After two phone calls to the doctor's office ... someone FINALLY called me back! We got a new dosage for the pain medicine and some other "tips" to give her more comfort ...

It's been a crazy two weeks and today was BAD!!!!! I felt so sorry for her ... and all we could do was sit and watch her cry, and scream out ... and pray.

She was better this evening ... SO thankful for that!

Some friends of ours had to make a trip to VUMC last night with their 3 year old ... they called us late last night, around midnight ... things started looking bad ... so we took LeAnna over to Thomas and Renee's house and headed to the hospital ... we stayed for a while and then came home ... they were there all night, all day and were discharged this evening ... it was believed to be an obstruction in his bowel ... now they're saying there's not ... I truely believe God touched him!!!!

So ... it's been a LONG day ... and stressful at times ... I have so many stress knots in my back and neck right now, my knots have knots!

Yikes ...

Anyhoo ... all is well at the moment ... and I'm going to "try" and lay down ...

Do you ever get so tired and exhausted that you can't fall asleep ... that's me at the moment ... I need a big masseuse named Helga to pound on my back! ... ha!

Anyoo ... hoping for better days starting tomorrow!

happy ZZZZZZ - tammy

Fruits ...

As I grow older … I see things in myself that I don’t like … I look at others and admire them for certain “traits” they have that I wish I possessed as well. And in getting older, the things that I don’t like about myself seem to be getting worse! Ha! I guess that is what they refer to as “getting set in your ways” … YIKES! I’m not that old am I? Anyhoo … pushing 40 is NOT a fun phenomenon … but hey – it’s better than the alternative – right?!

Anyhoo … I guess we all have “traits” and “ways” about ourselves that we wish we could change … and guess who it’s up to?! ME! Yep … me …

So … working on myself … those things that I don’t like about me, work on changing and making different.

And to be honest … a lot of these traits no one even knows about … it’s a personal battle I fight – there are times I have to bite and keep my tongue suppressed when biting would make me feel MUCH better in a given situation! When actually what I would be doing if I gave in, would be biting into my own fruit! Oh well … makes one think – huh?!

I started a study a couple of years ago on the Fruits of the Spirit. It really became clear to me that God expects us to posses ALL of these fruits not just “a couple” … and if you really study this … WOW … eye opening … for years, I guess I took for granted what I was “quoting” when I would say those scriptures out loud … and when I started praying that scripture, for God to work on those areas that I wasn’t possessing … WOW … you talk about stopping and thinking … definitely made me stop and think!

AND … this week … we’ve been working on Long Suffering … and for my Mom the suffering has been VERY long … for me … us dealing with doctors/surgeons 2-3 times a day and nurses in between, just TRYING to get Mom’s pain level under control … has proven perfect for working on my “long suffering fruit”! We just want her pain to stop! And it’s been at a point of unbearable this week … she DID NOT have this kind of pain in the hospital! So to see her lay there and suffer … long … and hard … it’s been tough! And the last thing you want to do when you are swollen out the wazoo and hurting and sick at your stomach is lift your legs above your head and bend your knees in repetitions … and that’s what she’s having to do with the therapist … and they’re having to push her past the 90 degree mark … horrible!

Anyhoo … so … yep … some of the fruits have some slight bruising on them and need some work … not just for this situation … but for many I’m sure …

Anyhoo … just keeping it real … and like I said … we could all find some fruit issues in all of us … and I’ve learned – it’s not my job to be a fruit inspector for anyone else… it’s my job to be my own personal fruit inspector … and that’s what I’m trying to do. And some days … some fruits are tastier than others! =0)

Please say a prayer for Mom … I just got back from the surgeons office, picking up a new prescription for pain … AND we have to take her in on Monday to be checked, just to make sure the incision sites are okay and that every thing else is okay. We’re just praying this new drug works and she has a better weekend!

... But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galation 5:22-23

Happy Daze … tammy

3 Seconds, New Luggage, and the Lunar ...

So ... trying to get back in a routine ...

Tuesday evening, our friend Donald Lance called and asked if he could spend the night - he was flying out Wednesday morning and needed a place to stay ... (Donald is the one I posted about whose church was destroyed during the tornado in Jackson, Tennessee)

He arrived about 11:30pm Tuesday ... and we stayed up talking for a while ...

I was capitvated listening to his story about how it all happened ...

listening to him describe the sound ... he tried to emulate it and then said - "I just can't describe it ... it is a sound I will never forget"

he also said that once it started happening, it was over in 3 seconds ... that's it ... 3 seconds and left with destruction!

The one thing that he can't get over yet ... was the look on his oldest daughter's face (6) ... when it started happening, he had just shut the door and said "we need to pray, we are in the middle of this tornado" ... and his wife and two girls were in under the staircase and he was over by the door holding their baby and because of all the people crammed in the small block storage closet, he couldn't get to them ... his "instinct" was to get to HIS family and wrap his arms around them and protect them ... and he couldn't ... and the look of horror on Natalia's face - he says will always be with him! As many people have since then, we assured him that he did all he could ... and that he truely did save his family! His response was ... "there's just something about needing to protect your family and put your arms around them - and I couldn't!"

He was so positive and was "looking up" ... he is ready to move forward. It was nice spending time with him and talking.

I stayed up even later Tuesday evening, because I still had work to do ... I think I went to bed around 2:3oam ...

I had a phone conference first thing Wednesday morning ... and a doctors appointment at 10:30 ... which I thought was "just an ultrasound" for my thyroid ... it also ended up being my big diabetic checkup ... AAHHHH ... I did not remember, thus I had not recently had a pedicure (recommended by my doc) and he ALWAYS checks my feet ... anyhoo ... no biggie to him ... but it was to me! THEN he needed to check my pump site ... AAHHHH ... I had run out of insulin that morning and didn't take the time to change it AND my tape was barely hanging on ... NOT a good diabetic presentation yesterday morning! THEN ... got a phone call while I was there from another doctor ... saying that my pap test came back with abnormal cells ... WHAT?!?!!?! So ... going back to see the "fun doc" on Monday! THEN ... rushed back home with barely enough time to type up a report and get on another phone conference by 1pm ... that call went for two hours ...

okay ... at this point ... I'm screaming inside ... on top of being physically exhausted from the last two weeks and not much sleep the night before, I was also mentally exhausted from info overload ...

OH ... and to top that ... I now am supposed to put my insulin pump (normally in my stomach) IN MY HIP!!!! WHAT?!?!?!?!?!!?!!!!

Okay ... that was enough to send me sailin' ... have you ever tried to ... never mind ... to much detail ...

So ... found out that my insulin is not distributing very well with it in my tummy ... MANY years of this and it's starting not to work ... SO ... the junk in my trunk is getting some new luggage!

Lovely ...

Oh well ...

L I F E !!!!!!

Crazy ...

Anyhoo ... My Mom is in SO much pain ... yesterday was horrible!!!! Ended up calling the doctor and MOM talked to them ... crying ... said she didn't have this much pain in the hospital!!!! The doc said, either ... something is wrong in her knees (infection, etc.) OR it's because the pain meds the pharmacy gave us was generic! YIKES!!!! So ... yesterday was miserable AND the therapist was there working with her for 1 1/2 hours .... More YIKES!!! And since one knee was only bending at 87 degrees, they had to push her past 90 degrees !!! AAAHHHHHHH!!!!! - yep - pain city!!!!

So ... we're hoping for a better day today ... (at both houses) ... =0)

OH ... caught the lunar last night ... I was going to take a picture ... but it was WAY too cold to stand out there that long with my shutter open ... the lunar eclipse is not happening again until 2010 ... (that sounds almost sci-fi doesn't it? 2010 ... which in fact, it's only 1 year and 9 1/2 months away! AAAHHHHHH!)

Happy daze ... tammy

We're HOME!!!!!

On the 12th day of rehab my Momma said to me ...

PLEASE .... take me home ....

yeah ... I was going to write a complete 12 days of rehab song ... but decided I have much better things to do at this point ...


Finding slight humor in every situation is sometimes the only way to cope!


Well ... we made it! She was so worried about the "car" ... but I think she totally surprised herself! Getting in the car was a very smooth transition and getting out was not bad at all ... Nathan came home from work and helped us ...



She was SO happy to be home ... however ... she has been in extreme pain today and at one point said "more pain than in the hospital" ... she had very intense therapy from Sunday to this morning ... and then coming home, getting adjusted to a "new chair" ... a "different bed" ... well ... a non-$2,000 bed, with no bells and whistles ... just a rough day ... AND therapy starts at home in the morning at 9am! The nurse comes Thursday to draw blood and remove the staples - fun! Eeek! The next three weeks will be continued therapy even though it is at the house ... someone will be coming to the house everyday except Tuesdays with therapy 3 times a week and the nurse visits to draw blood two times a week ... YIKES!!!! Oh well ... at least she's in the comforts of home!


Just glad it's over with and we're zooming down the road to recovery!

The last 12 days I have blogged about Mom's progress with her surgery ... years from now we'll look back on this and all the details of the last 12 days will have blurred into a moment in time that will probably be discussed in a few short sentences.

She's already happy she did this and even said she wished she had done it sooner!

Thanks to all for your prayers and concern ... hopefully we'll have a brand new Nana in a few months who feels better than ever!

happy daze ... tammy

Day 11 ...

Tomorrow is coming home day!!!! I brought some of her things home this evening ... she is READY ... We are ALL ready!!!!! She's still worried about the whole getting in and out of the car issue ... but I think she will be fine ... that's what we keep telling her anyway! Bless her heart ...

She has been in pain today ... therapy is SO intense ... and they put her through the mill again today! She got in the car again this morning ... did much better ... which made her feel a bit better ...

LeAnna was out of school today ... so I had to take her with me ... she has been neglected "some" ... not really ... but it has been all about Nana the last 11 days or so ... and she has had to spend alot of time at the hospital ... where I'm constantly saying "wash your hands, keep your hands away from your mouth, keep your shoes on, be a little quieter, don't run, walk slower, be careful, don't hit the bed, ... and on and on and on ... SO today on the way to the hospital ... I asked her what she would like for lunch ... she said ... Mom, the only thing that will make my tummy feel good is Tequilas! (not the drink - the restaurant!) ... so I comtemplated (after taking myself out of line at McDonalds) whether to call our order in or actually go there and eat ... I figured by the time I called it in, I could be sitting down eating chips, with my meal 1/2 way to the table ... so ... that's what we did! We're sitting there eating our chips and salsa and she says ... Mom, I could eat Tequila's for breakfast, lunch and dinner - everyday! She LOVES the fajita chicken nachos ... her favorite ... and she orders it everytime we dine there!

Anyhoo ... I called Nana's room and there was no answer - which meant they were still in a therapy session ... so the obligement to "dining in" was buffered ... and for a good cause ... for the last 11 days we have done so many drive throughs and hospital cafeteria food ... that I honestly have lost my appetite ... I can not wait to be able to cook at home again!!!!! And I know Nathan is ready too! I have been craving a home cooked meal!!!! Getting home at 8-9p every night ... the last thing on my mind is cooking ... it's been all about sleeping just to get up and do it all over again the next day!

So ... tomorrow, Tuesday ... is coming home day ... she is so ready to come home and who wouldn't be ... there is nothing like being in your own surroundings and the comfort of your own home! However, she did mention that she would like to bring home the $2,000 hospital bed (which I talked her out of) ... the beds on the unit are new and do everything but feed you! And she is definitely going to miss her hospital bed ... we had "getting out of bed" down to a fine art technique! We keep reminding her ... her situation is only temporary ... everyday she's progressing and getting better ... unlike my Dad ... who got nothing but worse everyday ... BIG difference! AND nice for a change!

I'll post some coming home pics tomorrow ...

Now ... I have TONS of work to do for my job before going to bed ...

happy daZe ... tammy

Day 10 ...

We're on the home stretch!

The days are getting REALLY long ... and we are SO excited about Mom coming home on Tuesday ...

Mom had a so-so day ... she hurt a LOT due to intense therapy ... and we thought we were going to get a slight break this weekend ...

She had Physical Therapy twice today and both sessions were very intense ...

She was hurting so bad at one point and was not due for more pain meds that she finally went to sleep ... she also went to sleep very early this evening (6pm) due to being SO tired from the therapy (they had her walk twice today from her room all the way to the therapy room - which probably equaled 80-100 steps ... this is excessive verses her 7 steps to the bathroom!).

Crazy ... and she was one wiped out Nana!

Anyhoo ... SO glad she's coming home Tuesday ... not sure how much longer we would hold up staying there day and night ...

Here are some pics from today ...

LeAnna arrived after Sunday School today while Nana was still at Occupational Therapy ... LeAnna went to the therapy room and surprised Nana and then pushed her back to her room.

This is the similated car that she's been "attempting" to get in and out of ... this morning was her second attempt and did much better than the first attempt! She's feeling a little better about getting in the car Tuesday morning ...

Walking up steps in Physical Therapy ... SO much we take for granted that our knees do for us!

LeAnna decided she wanted to be the patient ...

this was so funny ... Nana had to go to the bathroom ... afterwards ... I'm trying to get Nana back in bed ... and we've got it down to an "art" ... once she gets on the bed ... she has to scoot one hip at a time backwards and each "scoot" she would grunt with pain ... in the middle of this ... we heard LeAnna grunting with her ... I looked over and she was laying on the cot doing the same thing Nana was doing ... I snapped a picture really quick to remember this cute moment ... after I got Nana back in bed ... I did "the routine" to LeAnna to get her in bed and she thought this was great!!!! She even asked to spend the night ... NOT!!!!! Definitely going home ... aunt Betty came in to relieve us and we left there this evening about 7:30 ...

This has been a crazy ride ... lots of hills and curves ... but she is on a road to recovery and we're behind her all the way - cheering her on ... Go Nana!!!

happy daze ... tammy

Making Progress ...

We're making progress everyday ...

Mom has been in a lot of pain the last couple of days ... I think today was a little better as far as pain goes ... BUT ... with it being Saturday, she only had PT and OT once each ... so that gave her a little break from the hard week we've had ... they are very aggressive in Rehab and they mean business!!! So she welcomed her slight break today ... PT was rough this morning, but all in all, it was still a better day than the last couple of days.

I was with her all day today ... left about 8pm this evening ...

YES ... very tired ... thank GOD she comes home Tuesday morning! It will be MUCH easier to care for her at home ... she's just worried about the actual ride home (getting in and out of the car) ...

She is still so swollen, which in turn makes PT difficult ...

OT this afternoon was an "easy out" ... they worked on upper body "arm" strengthening ... and discussed plans of going home ...

This afternoon Renee came to visit and then the Batson's came to visit ... this helps to pass the time when company comes ... =0) and keeps her mind off some of the pain by occupying her with conversation ...

Mom, Renee and myself played SEVERAL games of Racko this evening ... Mom really seemed to enjoy herself ... HOWEVER ... for her to be able to play properly, she layed in bed and Renee and I stood up on either side of the bedside table and played ... thank GOD I wore flats today ... =0)

I must get some good sleep ... it's back up there in the morning to relieve my aunt ...

Mom is not the only one who is happy she's coming home Tuesday!!!!!

happy daze ... tammy

What A Party ...

What a busy day yesterday ...

From working, last minute errands for the party, the party, and the hospital ...

We took dinner to the hospital and had dinner with Nana ...

Nana is in a LOT of pain!!!! She has so much swelling right now that therapy has been very difficult ... pain to tears yesterday ... not fun! Especially when the therapist had to pull her legs past the 90 degree mark ... with all the swelling, it "seemed" impossible ... she made it through okay ... but with lots of pain!

Today she is working on getting in and out of a similated car ... not good! Thank goodness we have 4-5 more days before actually trying to get in a car ... she is supposed to come home Tuesday morning ...

Here are a few pics from the party yesterday ...

we painted picture frames ...

added stickers ...

inserted the picture we took last week ...

ate ...

decorated cakes ...

made puzzles ...

it was a fun filled two hours!!!!

these are a few of the cute boxes (out of cereal boxes) to insert valentine's into that they made this week too ...

then ... to the hospital to visit with Nana ... she was really not feeling well last night ... this is LeAnna (who dressed herself) occupying herself on the cot next to Nana's bed ... we have practically lived at the hospital for a week now ... and she's made herself at home!

working like a crazy woman this morning ... and now on my way back to the hospital ...

happy daze ... tammy

Oui Oui ...

Happy Heart Day ...

LeAnna got woke up this morning by her new "talking" puppy ... needless to say - she jumped right up and was ready to begin her day of festivities at school ... we have a party this afternoon and I'm in the process of trying to get it all together ... in the middle of everything else going on around here!!!!

Mom is on her way to recovery ... she is experiencing LOTS of pain ... thank God for pain pills!!!! She's poppin' them!

We still have no clue when she's coming home ... if you ask her if she's ready - she says NO WAY!!!!

They told us yesterday that we have to do something to the 6-8 inch step into the side door or she won't be able to get in ... this should only be for a little while, until therapy gets her to that point ...

So ... we're trying to figure something out ... build a ramp, pour a step ... who knows!

AND ... just thinking about trying to get her in and out of a car seems impossible at this point ... SO much "I'm learning" that we take for granted everyday when it comes to just bending our knees!

Thank goodness the surgery is over and we are progressing with therapy on our road to recovery! Thanks for all the prayers and support - we do appreciate it!

My "funny" valentine got me something ... he had to build up the gift and make sure I was "okay" with it ... (not your "normal" candy and flowers) and assured me I could return it ... and that I could "add to it" before me even seeing it or knowing what it was!!!! I couldn't even imagine what it could be while he was chatting about all of this!

I just stared for a moment ... then went into shock about it ...

Wow!!!!!

Did I love it? Oui - Oui (that would be Yes! Yes! in French)

Pronounced - Leh-crew-say (for those of you who aren't up to snuff on your french!) - yep ... I made sure I was pronouncing it correctly ...

AND happy to find out ... they have a new LeCruset store in Hill Place!!! DANGEROUS!!!!! Now that I have permission to collect!!!!

Can't wait to cook in it ... you can do virtually anything in this - so excited to try it out!!!!

And it has a lifetime guarantee ... this is stuff I can pass down to LeAnna

If you're not familiar with the product ... each piece is hand-made, which means every piece is original with slight variations ... cool ... it's cast iron with enamel and is known for its fashionable colors that are available ... mine is red. So excited! They actually carry LeCruset at Williams Sonoma as well ... but very excited they actually have a LeCruset store here now!

I must hurry and prepare for the party this afternoon ...

happy day ... tammy

We're Finally In Rehab ...

Okay ... so the weekend was a blur!

My cousin got sick and so it's pretty much been just my Aunt Betty and myself with Mom ... Sunday I was at the hospital for 14 1/2 hours and then my aunt relieved me and stayed the night with her ... I was back early Monday morning to relieve her and was there until 8pm last night ...

Mom has improved everyday ... and is doing so much better!

She has totally shocked the therapy people and have exceeded their expectations ... yea Mom!

We were told all along to do EXACTLY what they tell you to do - if not - you pay!!! She was SO scared that she worked through the pain and ended up exceeding the requirement!!! Her knees went past 90 degrees before expected too!!!!!

Yea!!! We are SO proud of her!!!!

The therapist told us on Monday morning ... that when they have a patient that doesn't "try" and work hard ... one of two things happens ... they either have to go back to surgery OR the therapist lays you down and pulls on your legs until the scar tissue rips !!!!!!

OKAY ... that's all we needed to know!!!!!

Thank GOD Mom heeded the prior warnings and did great!!!!!!

She got really sick yesterday and we spent about 4 1/2 hours with a rag on her head and a bedpan in front of her ... (NOT FUN) ... she got TOO much pain meds on an empty stomach ... YUCK ... anyhoo ...we're learning and adjusting ...

She was dismissed from Baptist Hospital yesterday afternoon and moved to Baptist Rehab ... we were so happy to find this out!!!! This was our first choice and she got in!

She has to be much more independent in Rehab - but she wants to and that makes hers, and everyone elses's life much easier!!!! Again - yea Mom!!!!

She is doing very well and this morning started her 4 times a day regimen of therapy ... she will be in rehab for 5-7 days ... And then once she comes home we will be going to therapy 3 times a week (we think) ... for about 6 weeks or so ...

We are SO very proud of her ... she has come so far already and just from Saturday to Sunday looked like a totally different person! Yesterday she looked more like Nana and was feeling much better ... even said, "wish I had done this a long time ago!" Even said on Sunday (when having to get up and walk) that she had MORE pain the last two weeks (prior to surgery) than walking on Sunday!!! Woo-Hoo Mom!!!!

I'm back up there after lunch ... had a meeting this morning for work ... trying to fit it all in this week!!!! Whew!!!! VERY worn out ... BUT had a good nights sleep last night ... and that helps!!!!

I'll post more later ...

If anyone would like to send her a card, etc ... here's her address:

Ann Johnson

c/o Baptist Hospital

Room #6310

2000 Church Street

Nashville, Tennessee 37236

.... here are some pics ...

looks like the doc got side-tracked here ... he didn't cut too straight! ha! Only saying this because the other incision is very straight! This hurts me to look at it!!!! Ekkk!!!!

This is the first thing I noticed when we walked into our "rehab room" ... Okay ... gotta do something about this ... it bothers me and I sure can't sit here all day looking at it ... so I made the comment that "this would be something for me to do" ...

must have bothered Mom too, because she said, "hand it to me - I'll work on it" ... (therapy hadn't started yet so this was actually exciting to have "something" to do I guess)

If you could have seen her the day before this you would be astonished!!!! She is blowing our minds!!! Go Mom!!!!

pretty flowers ...

and a pic made by LeAnna ...

Happy Daze ... tammy