New Program

New program, new procedure so says the doctor. This was my 7th surgery with him and the recovery with this one has been the most surprising.

Everyday I see him he keeps touting this new program he has for his knee replacement patients. Get 'em done and send them home. When I heard some patients go home the same day or the next day I couldn't believe it. But now that I'm three days into it here at the hospital I get it.

It's amazing. I don't know if he used a different implant or different drugs or different procedure or different rehab schedule but it's working. The comparison between my last knee replacement and this one is night and day. How can I tell this new knee is amazing?

With the walker I've walked the hospital hallways several times in the past couple days.
I've climbed up and down stairs without assistance.
I stood on my own two feet (and own two knees) and brushed my teeth.
I've taken a shower with no help.
I can get myself in and out of bed without needing to hold onto the walker.
I'm able to get myself dressed, bending and straightening my knee as necessary.

And all those things happened with little pain. Yes, I'm taking a slew of drugs as evidenced by yesterday's picture but obviously those pills are working. Tomorrow I'm on my way outa here. I was supposed to go to a rehab center for a couple weeks, but I've progressed so well they now won't take me. (Guess I shouldn't have worked so hard in therapy here!) So it'll be off to our place in Boise where kiddo and son-in-law can help me get to therapy as it'll be some time before I can drive again.

I knew it was going to be a good day when I awoke to a pretty sunrise out my window.

Pills

Surgery went well and recovery is going well. I've been up walking (with the walker, of course). The only down side is the number of pills I'm having to take to make recovery happen. This handful, plus another pill, plus a liquid, plus two more medications in the IV, all multiple times a day. Kinda rough on my little tummy. But I have a new knee so it'll be worth it!

Ready to Go

All hooked up and getting ready to go. See you later, old worn out knee!

The Allergy Card

Since I'm sneezing like crazy and my nose won't stop running I've decided to play the allergy card tomorrow at the hospital. Nope doctor, not a cold. Just allergies. (Now if it shows I have a fever that plan will be shot down.)

I know things always work as they are supposed to, but if the surgery is rescheduled it'll be tough to accept. Guess it just means I'm supposed to hang out with the cat a bit more. 

A clean, just-had-a-bath old cat. Although she's looking more like a little kitten each day. Poor girl. 

Bound to Happen

After a cruise ship vacation.
Three train trips.
Two taxi rides.
Four hotel shuttles.
Three airplanes.
Two bus rides.
Thirteen light rail trips.
Seven different cities.
Three states.
And
Two countries.
It was bound to happen.

I came home sick.

Which really shouldn't be such a big deal. Hubby came down with it a few days back and is pretty much recovered. But I've got a bigger issue.

My knee replacement surgery is on Monday.

My symptoms - A stuffy head, sore throat, earache, and chest congestion - are enough for a surgeon to call it off. But as this little vacation has showed me, I need a new knee ASAP.

Sounds like a good excuse to pile Alejandra's salsa on some refried beans. 

New Learnings

On the rails from Seattle to Portland today I learned two new things.

You know those kid movies where scrap metal machines look so ominous with billowing smoke, crushing cars and spitting them out? They really do exist and do look a bit scary.

And you know those houseboats like the one in Sleepless in Seattle? When it's time to move, no need to sell the house and buy a new one. Just hire a tugboat and move the house itself.

A Full Day

Hubby's had enough. While at our Seattle hotel he decided to spend the day watching World Cup Soccer and tennis at Wimbledon. Not me. It was time to explore.

First, I took the light rail to Pike Place Market to visit my new love, Ellenos Greek Yogurt. There is a tiny shop on the corner across the street from the market.


I've never had any yogurt like this before. Marionberry Pie Greek Yogurt? Yes, please. Lemon cheesecake Greek Yogurt? Yes, please. I took a small cup of half pie/half lemon down to eat at the park just north of the market.

The park is a good place to people watch. Tourists, drug dealers, prostitutes, police, homeless people, and cross dressers all intermingle to make for an interesting - and eye opening - experience. From the park you can also see the Seattle Great Wheel, one of the biggest Ferris wheels in the United States. Hangs out over the water, even.

I had to do it. Scooter even got to ride along. (Nice to have a ride scooter-accessible.) I kind of went picture crazy. The people on the ground look so tiny!

Next stop, the two-story Target. I've heard about these stores and the way you get the cart from the first floor to the second floor with the escalator but I just didn't get it. Now I do. Escalator for person, cart escalator for cart.

And if that wasn't enough excitement for the day, as I was heading back up to the light rail station I heard a protest of some kind going on. I usually avoid protest groups, and typically Seattle protest groups/causes are usually more edgy than the the crowd I run with. But imagine my surprise when I found the group to be teachers. Protesting what? The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation involvement in the public education system. Several people spoke before they marched and chanted their way to the Gates Foundation headquarters. 

Now that's what I call a day! 

Portland tomorrow. (Lisa, hope you have good weather on the menu for us!)