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Friday, December 21, 2012

Back in Africa....and Driving!!

I have tried several times to post a blog letting people know that I'm back in Africa but each time I write... my blog does not post. I'm not sure if it's an internet problem or what.

My friend Nancy Stauffer and I arrived in Africa on December the 12th. See the photo of us at the Libreville Guest House. I now have my long term visa which lasts two years. We took the ride down to where I live and are getting settled in. My house is all decorated up for Christmas and Nancy is now baking some Christmas cookies. :-)

Today's Positives:
1. We had good flights to Africa and I have my long term visa.
2. I'm about settled in at my house.
3. My house is all decorated up for Christmas.
4. I am able to drive my vehicle...using my left foot/leg to work the clutch!



Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Preparing my Return to Africa!

Last week I moved out of my apartment and now I am at my step Mom's house until my December 11th flight back to Gabon.  I am so glad that my Gabonese Entry Permit (visa) just arrived today so I will be able to enter the country. Many people were praying for this because a colleague of mine has had to cancel her flights twice because her visa did not arrive. She got one today as well so I'm sure she is thrilled!

My friend Nancy did not receive her Visitor's visa yet so we're still praying about that. She is flying to Africa with me on Tuesday.

Monday I had a good Orthopedic Dr. visit. It was my 6 month post TKR Total Knee Replacement appointment but it has not quite been 6 months. The Xrays were good but did show a bit of calcification on the sides and back of my knee, perhaps why I have not made further progress with bending my knee. Dr. said that I can still make progress with my knee bend up to one year after the knee replacement. I need to really work on bending my knee.

Today's Positive:
1. I received my Visa!
2. Mom and I are going out to eat dinner this evening with my friend Nancy and her Mom. We are going to one of my favorite restaurants, Summer Kitchen.
3. I am making progress with my many projects that I'm working on before traveling.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Thanksgiving Day + Packing!

I had a nice Thanksgiving Day. I was at my Step Brother's home at noon. Then I went to my cousin's home at 4pm. I ate plenty the first meal and very little the second meal. I never felt stuffed for which I am thankful.



Now I am busy packing up my belongings into plastic bins, suitcases or a throw away pile. I move from my apartment this next week. On Tuesday friends with a truck will arrive to put my bins into storage in someone's basement. Thursday another truck will pick up my furniture. Between now and Friday I will move my suitcases over to my Step Mom's house where I will stay for ten days before flying back to Africa. I am being very careful to leave plenty of spaces to walk so that I do not trip over my piles of "stuff"!



Today's Positives:
1. Today I weigh what I weighed before Thanksgiving.
2. I am making progress with my packing.
3. It is chilly outside but I have no where to go. I'm staying inside today.

Have a good weekend!

Friday, November 16, 2012

Thanksgiving 2012

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.” Psalm 28:7 NIV



Next week is Thanksgiving Day and I am so thankful to the Lord for what he has done for me. Yes, my “heart leaps for joy” even if my leg cannot leap at all. BUT, I can walk! Yesterday I did aerobic walking for 18 minutes (I wear a pedometer) and I could have walked longer! I am also thankful to you my prayer partners for your continuing prayers for me during over nine months since March 5th when I broke my knee/wrist.
What are my plans for Thanksgiving Day? Well, I am invited to TWO meals that day. At noon I will be with my step family and later in the afternoon I will be with my cousins. I should not go hungry. It will be a good opportunity though to see everyone before I fly back to Gabon.
When do I fly? My flights are on December 11th and I fly from Omaha to Chicago and then to Frankfort, Germany before flying to Libreville, Gabon. Guess what. My nurse friend Nancy is traveling with me to Gabon and she will stay for about seven weeks! She has been to Africa three times before but never to Gabon. Nancy, an ER nurse, has helped me in many ways during these 9 months of convalescence.
Praise:
1. The Gabonese highway that was washed out by rains a few weeks ago was rapidly repaired and the southern and eastern parts of the country are no longer cut off from the capital city.
2. A couple from my Sunday School class helped me get four boxes of my things to UPS so I could mail them to the shipping company for shipment to Gabon.
3. I now have very little pain in my left leg.
4. I am making good progress at packing up my belongings that must be put into storage and other things that I will take with me to Africa.
Prayer Requests:
1.  Pray I receive my Permit to Enter Gabon. It was applied for by our Business Manager in Gabon and he will email it to me when he obtains it. I do not need a normal visitor’s visa.
2. Pray that Nancy’s passport would arrive from being renewed and that she would then obtains her Gabonese Visa.
3.  Pray for me as I finish packing up and then as I move out of my apartment before the end of the month. Yes, I will need some people to help me those last few days of the month.
4.  My main laptop computer was having problems with the keyboard this week so I took it to be repaired by the “Geek Squad”. Pray that it gets repaired and returned to me before my flight on December 11th.
Have a good Thanksgiving Day, a day for reflection on what God has done for you.
I will write again before leaving for Gabon.

Thankful for all God has done,
Carolyn

Monday, November 5, 2012

The Road FELL!

Yep, a couple of weeks ago a Gabonese ROAD FELL. Heavy rains undermined the road and it suddenly just plain FELL!!



This was HIGHWAY #1 in the country and connected the Southern half of the country with the capital city. It also led to the highway that went to the Eastern half of the country. I don't know how they repaired this road drop so rapidly but they did and traffic is now going back over the road.

Monday, October 29, 2012

My Mini Vacation


My friend Su and I just finished a four day, two night mini vacation. So what did we do?

Thursday we went to Desoto Bend, a National animal and bird refuge. We did not see many migratory birds as we had wished but we had fun driving through the refuge.



We then drove to Blair, NE and went to three thrift shops, and ate at a Mexican buffet for lunch. Here is Su at the Mexican restaurant.





 After a short drive we arrived in Fremont,NE and got our hotel room. We relaxed a bit then went out to eat. We had decided to eat in restaurants that were not our usual choices. That night we ate at Penny's Diner:



Friday Su and I went to three thrift shops and out to lunch at Arby's. In the afternoon we went to a movie matinee and then out to eat supper at a USA Steak Buffet.



Saturday we drove back to Omaha and went to two more thrift shops on the way to Godfather's Pizza for lunch.

I drove Su to her home after lunch. This morning we met at parking lot where Su left her car and I drove us to Bridge Church so we could visit a new church. Our church partners sometimes with Bridge Church to minister to an inner city area so we wanted to visit Bridge Church. We listened to a good message. After the service Su and I went out to eat lunch, thus declaring that our mini vacation was over.

I have to admit, I did not use portion control during our mini vacation. This photo (From Funny Potato website) is NOT of Su and me. I'm just showing it to illustrate being off track! I ate just too much during my vacation!



Although I did some walking, I did not do enough walking and I did not exercise. I know that I must get back to exercising!

Today's Positives:
1. I had a great four day vacation!
2. An envelope with three checks that I sent to my bank, and that did not get registered as a deposit was returned to me. I had put it in the wrong envelope. I can now resend these checks to my bank in the CORRECT envelope ...so the almost $300 can be credited to my account!! I'm am so glad that I got the envelope back!
3. Longtime friends were in town this afternoon and I got to see them at a reception given in their honor.
4. I will be back on track with healthy eating and exercising TOMORROW!

Have a nice week!

P.S. The last photo was sent to me by email from the website Funny Potato:   www.funny-potato.com/



Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Carolyn's Capers... October 16th


Good News: Returning to Gabon!
Praise the Lord and thanks for praying. I have received approval to return to my work in Gabon and the Bongolo Hospital. I’m in the process of making reservations to leave Omaha on December 11th, arriving in Libreville, Gabon on December 12th. After a few days in the capital city, I will travel to the hospital which is about 350 miles further south.
What have I been studying?
I have just finished taking a six week, seven session Women’s Bible study at church. I was one of the table leaders.  Here at my apartment complex we finished a weekly study on Acts and tomorrow we will start studying Romans (see photo from apartment study). I am also finishing my second correspondence course for renewal of my Nursing License. This course is entitled, Geriatric Assessment.


Packing and Shipping!
I am getting a couple of cartons of things ready to send UPS to Ohio where they will be put into a container and shipped through the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean and then on to Gabon. I also ordered a new recliner that will be a good support for my legs. That too will go into the Gabon container.  I do not plan on sending much to Africa this time since I already have plenty of “stuff” over there. In the next two years I need to GET RID OF 35 years of belongings!
Speaking I have done.
September 16.... Ecclesia Adult Sunday school Class September 24th... Alliance Women at Christ Community Church
October 4th… I spoke about Africa to 30-35 residents from my Apartment Complex.
Thanks for your Gifts!
Thank you for your investment in me and my ministry! The primary investment vehicle to support my work is the Great Commission Fund. Contributions can be made through a local Alliance church, online at The Alliance's official website or by sending a check to the C&MA, PO Box 35000, Colorado Springs, CO 80935-3500. You may designate your gift to support me by writing “for the support of Carolyn Thorson” on the memo line.
Physical Status.
I have finished seeing my doctors except for one last check up in December, just before I fly out. I have seen my eye doctor and need new glasses. My dentist filled one very small cavity, one not needing any anesthesia. I had a Post Ovarian cancer check up and all is fine. I went to a Travel Clinic to get my vaccinations up to date.  I no longer go to Physical Therapy but I do go to the Wellness Center and for exercising and swimming. I am still working at better bending my left knee.  Ibuprofen is what relieves my knee pain now. I walk without my cane at times and at other times I use a cane to steady myself.
Vacation Plans:
A friend and I will take a vacation from October 25-28. Su is from my church and we have vacationed together in the past.  We plan to stay close to Omaha and hope to do the vacation on one tank of gas!
Prayer Requests:
1. For the 24 Nursing Students studying at the Bongolo Hospital Nursing School.
2. For Karen Fitch, Terry Newman and Amanda Martin who are teaching the Nursing Students this quarter.
3. That I continue to make improvement at bending my left knee.
4. That I make good use of my time as I finish up many projects that I want to do before returning to Gabon.

Monday, September 17, 2012

GRADUATION plus Rain!


This morning I "graduated" from hospital Physical Therapy. After 38 outpatient trips to the PT department, I have completed all that I will do there. Those 38 trips did not count my 8 weeks of INPATIENT PT and my three weeks of home care all over the past 6 plus months!

My Physical Therapist measured my knee bend. Results:

August 31st.... PT bent my knee 90 degrees. I bent my knee 84 degrees.
Sept 10th... PT bent my knee 91-92 degrees. I bent my knee 80 degrees.
Today.... PT bent my knee 96 degrees. I bent my knee 86 degrees!!!

I'm still making progress, even though I went one entire week between PT appointments. That means that my workouts at the Wellness Center are helping me improve my "BEND"! Praise the Lord!

To celebrate Graduation I went out to eat brunch. It was raining quite hard so I came home rather than go shopping. The sun is now out so perhaps I'll run some errands.

Today's Positives:
1. Today I made good progress in bending my knee.
2. I graduated from PT!
3. Omaha had a good rain to help in this drought we've been in.

Enjoy a cute photo that I call "The Squeeze" I got it in an email from the website:
www.funny-potato.com/


Saturday, September 15, 2012

Go HUSKERS!


Nebraska 42, Arkansas St. 13. Go Huskers!!



Actually, this photo was taken two weeks ago but Nebraska won that game as well. My TV could not get the game today so I asked how it went when I saw someone else in the hallway with her Nebraska Tshirt on!! Go HUSKERS!!

Today's Positives:
1. Nebraska beat Arkansas State.
2. I have had a great day of cleaning, writing emails and backing up my computer.
3. I'm headed out the door to meet a girlfriend for supper. We're going to plan a short vacation for sometime probably in October.

Have a good evening!!!

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Doing "The BEND"!


The Olympics are fun to watch and also inspiring for keeping us motivated. The "sport" that I am learning is, "The Bend"!! Yes, I am learning to BEND my left KNEE!

At the hospital Rehabilitation department my Physical Therapist helps me with my BENDING exercises but having me on the BioDex machine. My ankle and thigh strapped in and then the machine bends my knee to what I can tolerate. I then use a machine where I extend my legs in and out, a Press machine. I don't know the name of it. After than I use the NeStep (spelling?) machine which also helps me bend my knee and strengthen muscles in my quad.

I go up the stairs. I can do that.  But then I go down stairs. I can do a 4 inch stair but most stairs are 7 inches so I am not yet able to go down stairs. I do not know though that I will be able to do 7 inch stairs since I have had problems with stairs since breaking my left ankle almost twenty years ago!

I go to the mat and work at bending my knee. Then my PT bends it for me until I cry out, "STOP". She does so immediately. Then she measures my knee's bend.

Last week I was able to bend my knee 75 degrees and my PT bend my knee 83 degrees. Yesterday I was able to bend my knee 78 degrees and my PT bent my knee 82-83 degrees, essentially the same. I cry "STOP" too soon. I just don't tolerate pain very well, even though I take strong pain pill just before I go to the Rehab department.  My goal for bending that the Doctor would like to see is 100 degrees but he said that I might not be able to get past a 90 degree bend. I've been working on this for over 7 weeks now.

There are certain exercises that I do at my home between Rehab visits. It is hard to keep motivated in doing these and I really depend on my trips to Rehab. These will end in September.

My Rehab will continue to be three times next week but then two times a week for the next three weeks and then only once a week for the remaining three weeks that the insurance will pay. That is even with the 18 extra Physical Therapy sessions that Insurance has awarded me.  My time with the help of my PT is passing quickly but my progress is going slower than she and I would hope for. Two factors are that my knee continues to be quite swollen and also that I continue with pain (although it is lessening).

I would appreciate prayers that my knee would not swell, that my pain would end and that I would be able to bend my knee 90-100 degrees. Thanks.

Today's Positives:
1. Last night Omaha had 5 minutes of hard rain and this morning it is much cooler here. I have the door open to get some fresh air.
2. I'm still enjoying watching the Olympics.
3. This afternoon I will go downstairs to particpate in group exercises. A physical therapist from some rehab department in town comes to our apartment each Thursday to lead exercises for anyone interested.

Have a great day!!


Friday, August 3, 2012

PT Progress + Surprise Visitors!


Wednesday at Physical Therapy I made Progress. Before that I had bent my knee 70 degrees but Wednesday I bent it 75 degrees. Before that the Physical Therapist had bent my knee 75 degrees but Wednesday she bent it 83 degrees!

Just after I had lunch today I got a call from my brother Bill and he and my sister-in-law Shari were in town for Shari's 35th High School reunion. They live in Colorado. I had seen Bill awhile back but I had not seen Shari since last Summer at a family reunion. They came over and we chatted for about an hour. Here are two photos, one of Shari and Bill and the other is of Bill and me.





Today's Positives:
1. I had a good morning session at Physical Therapy. Even got to show the PT that I could walk without the cane. Of course I was walking right next to the paralleled bar, just in case. She gave me suggestions to make my walk more natural. I'll still be using my cane but it felt good knowing that I could walk without it!
2. I had an unexpected visit with my brother Bill and sister-in-law Shari.
3. It's FRIDAY!!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Physical Therapy!

I had a good Physical Therapy session at the hospital this morning. Here are some photos:

Me on the BioDex machine. My ankle and thigh are strapped in and the machine is calibrated and set to the knee bending that I can tolerate. Then the "GO" button is pushed for about a ten minute session.


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My first walk around the PT gym....using a quad cane.


Today's Positives:
1. I was able to tolerate more of a bend with the BioDex machine.
2. I was able to walk around the P.T. gym with a cane.
3. I was able to step onto a 6 inch step with my leg that has the new knee. A normal step is about 7 inches high so I am about ready to climb stairs.

Praise the Lord that I am making progress!

Monday, July 2, 2012

Two Weeks after Total Knee Replacement!

On Saturday two of my nieces and one of my grandnephews came to visit me for awhile. They live in Colorado so I was very glad to see them.



After they left I received a phone call from "Edible Arrangements" "Edible Arrangements" wanted to make a delivery that needed refrigeration. Here is the lovely fruit arrangement that I received. I found out later was from a retired woman from church.



Sunday morning I went to church. Veterans were honored during the 9am service. I am Veteran Army Nurse.

I am now on Post Operative day 13 since having my total knee replacement on June 19th. This morning I had another visit with my Orthopedic Surgeon after he had put me on strong antibiotics last Friday due to a very reddened area around my incision. The skin was much better today. I will finish the ten day of antibiotics but I do not need to see the Dr. again for four more weeks which will be my six week checkup. I was glad that the infection is clearing up.

This week I will finish up Home Health Care and on Friday I will start outpatient Physical Therapy. I will have Heidi, the same Physical Therapist who did electric stimulation of my "quads" for three weeks before my knee replacement surgery. I am glad that I will have Heidi again as I like the way she worked.

Today's Positives:
1. My infection is clearing up.
2. I am coming off of "shut in" status so I will be able to leave the house to do something special on July 4th. I'm not sure what it will be yet!!
3. When questioned about the bending of my knee Dr. said that he did not know if I would be able to bend it 90 Degrees even by the time I see him for my six week checkup. Most people need to bend their knee that much by a few days after surgery. Mine has bent between 60-65 degrees, today only 60 degrees. I am glad that at least I know what the Dr. expects of my knee/me. My knee has gone through a lot since I broke it on March 5th.

Thursday will be my Four Month Anniversary since I broke my knee. I'm not sure if that is something to celebrate or not. I prefer to celebrate that I can now WALK!!

Sunday, June 3, 2012

What did I learn about S'Mores?

A marshmallow can be "roasted" over an electric stove! :-)



Countdown 'til my total knee surgery, 16 days (June 19th)!
Have a great day!!

Thanks for coming back for S'More of my BLOGGING! 246

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Postponed Surgery!!

I saw my orthopedic surgeon this morning. He had consulted two other surgeons. One suggested that my repaired leg break needed to heal more before doing a knee replacement. The other one suggested that a knee replacement could be done at any time. Well, my surgeon left the decision up to me, but I could tell that he really thought it best to wait for surgery another 3-4 weeks. Mind you, I was supposed to have surgery NEXT TUESDAY! Well, I decided that I would WAIT for another 3-4 weeks....meaning 15-16 weeks total from March 5th's leg/knee break and 13-14 weeks after having had my leg (Tibia bone) repaired. I do not yet have the final date for surgery.

I'm not happy about being in a wheelchair and wearing this long leg brace for another 3-4 weeks but Psalm 18: 30-36 in the NIV translation has some thoughts that have been good for me. God's way IS Perfect!

30 As for God, his way is perfect:
    The Lord’s word is flawless;
    he shields all who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God besides the Lord?
    And who is the Rock except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength
    and keeps my way secure.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
    he causes me to stand on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for battle;
    my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You make your saving help my shield,
    and your right hand sustains me;
    your help has made me great.
36 You provide a broad path for my feet,
    so that my ankles do not give way.

One thing has changed. I will have Outpatient Physical Therapy at the hospital three times a week until my yet unknown surgery date. The PT will be on my Quads (upper leg), above the knee and also my left ankle, both of which are weak from no or little use. I figure that having the PT before surgery will mean less PT need AFTER surgery!

Today's Positives:
1. After having two Doctors' visits today my friend Su and I went out to eat lunch.
2. Tomorrow I'm going to a Meeting at a Club House...and with my TOPS friends. I've not seen most of them since my "accident". TOPS is "Taking off Pounds Sensibly". Each time that I return from Africa I go back to the same TOPS club to help me keep my weight stable during my U.S. time.
3. I am very glad that I have a Handicapped Bus pass to be able to use for getting to and from the hospital for Physical Therapy. These three times a week sessions will start this Friday.

Thanks everyone for your many prayers over the past 11+ weeks. As you see, they are still needed. Bless you.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Woodbridge Village Photos and "Joint Camp"!

Here are a few photos I took yesterday. The first one is of my apartment building.


Here is a photo of me in the Lobby-Library at the entrance of the apartment building.


Here is friend Nancy with my grocery cart of items bought. The cart is at the entrance of the building so residents can get their groceries to their apartments.



Today's Positives:
1. I heard today that the Omaha bus company accepted my application to take handicapped transportation (Moby). As soon as my bus pass arrives in the mail I will be able to have the bus arrive at the door for me and my wheelchair or walker. My pass will be good for six months.

2. I attended "Joint Camp" today at the hospital. It was an hour long lecture with information needed by me before my total knee replacement surgery which will be on May 29th.

3. After "Joint Camp" Friend Nancy and I went out to Village Inn for lunch. It was free "pie" day at the V.I.

Monday, May 14, 2012

BBQ and more!

Yesterday noon here at the apartment complex we had a BBQ Potluck dinner. Here are a couple of photos.


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Today's Positives:
1. I knew one person in these apartments before I moved in. She invited me to have KFC dinner with her and her family this afternoon. I spent a couple of hours with them.
2. My cell phone quit working today but I took the battery and SIM card out and then put them back in again and my phone started working again.
3. Tomorrow I have a blood draw at my Dr. office and my friend Nancy will take me. I do not know what we'll do afterwards but I suppose we will go somewhere. She's off work tomorrow.

Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there!

Monday, May 7, 2012

Knee Replacement Surgery Planned!

Three weeks ago I had the metal fixator taken off of my leg...the bar which had held my knee in place. Xrays showed that my knee was in good position.

Last week the Xrays were redone. There was a marked difference in the Xrays done two weeks before and those done last week. In fact, my knee had started to slip out of place. I was fitted with a brace to protect my knee from again going totally out of joint.

This morning I saw one of my orthopedic doctors who agreed with last week's doctor that I needed surgery again. A total knee replacement surgery is now being planned, probably for May 29th. I'm waiting for verification of that date. I am satisfied with this decision.

Today's Positives:
1. It was decided that I needed a total knee replacement and it is being scheduled.
2. I got my hair cut today. First time in three months.
3. I ate lunch at Subway today. WooHoo!
4. I got to go grocery shopping today! I didn't buy much but it was fun being able to choose my own food!!

Friday, April 13, 2012

“Please Start” | PrayFit

Here are some good thoughts for today!

“Please Start” | PrayFit

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Happy Easter + Some Photos!

Easter Sunday Morning:
Christ is RISEN! He is RISEN INDEED! I plan to watch my church's 10:45 am service online. They put that service online each Sunday. There is even an online Pastor. There is a 930am Protestant service here in the Chapel of the Immanuel Skilled Nursing Center but I'm afraid if I go to that, I'll not have time to get downstairs and set up my computer afterwards. I sure did enjoy listening to about two hours of Easter music on the radio this morning.

There is a lady from church who will be bringing Easter dinner to me and we'll eat together. I think she's bringing it from a good restaurant. She asked me if there was anything I didn't like and I said "porcupine". She laughed.

Last Weekend's visit from my brother Glenn, sister-in-law Judy and their daughter Kristi:


My family, along with my StepMom picked up Burger King (my choice) food so we could eat together and so I could eat something besides "hospital food".



Yes, I had a Whopper and Fries!


Yesterday was my first four hour "pass" away from the Nursing Center. I was picked up at 8:30 am by a Medical Van.... and taken to the "Farm House" restaurant to meet with my Nursing Class of 1970 for a mini reunion. We had a great time together. I was well taken care of, being "out on the town" with eleven other nurses!!







Today's Positives:
1. I have been able to gradually cut down on pain medicines that I need to take for my leg. I still take medicine but not as much.
2. I had a great time at my Nursing Class reunion brunch.
3. Christ is RISEN!

Happy Easter!!

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Update and Impressing the Therapists!

The Weekend: My brother Glenn, his wife Judy and daughter Kristi came down from MN to see me here in Omaha. It was good to spend some hours together. They stayed in my apartment since I, of course, am in the Skilled Nursing Care Center. with my broken leg and broken wrist.

Monday: I had an appointment with one of my orthopedic doctors. I had X-rays and am on the mend. My leg was (still is) really swollen so I had a Doppler test to make sure I did not have a blood clot and everything was ok. My Doctor would not give me any response about when I can move out of the skilled nursing center.

Today: I am making good progress in Physical Therapy (PT) and in Occupational Therapy(OT). Yesterday the Doctor said I had to be able to walk 50 feet using the walker. Today I walked 50 feet. Of course the second time I walked I could only walk 25 feet because I was so tired. My problem is that my GOOD side is hurting so much, right upper arm, right hip, etc. Being able to use only my right side for everything is putting extra stress on that side and my muscles are rebelling. Today I was also given a foot "hook" so I can get my own bad, pinned leg into bed and not have to ask for help. I will not do it without someone being present but at least they can see me do it myself!

The key here is that the OT and PT departments have to make THEIR recommendations to the Doctors if I can live independently or not so it is those people I need to "Impress"!!

Today's Positives:
1. I now have a "foot hook" to help me get my bad leg into bed.
2. I walked the required 50 feet distance today for the first time.
3. My friend Nancy Stauffer helped me find an apartment in a Senior Residence housing area and Monday or Tuesday the Occupational Therapist will go with me over to the apartment to check it out and see what I would need to help me live there safely. It has no stairs, walk in shower, etc because it is built for seniors.

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I just wanted to catch you up a bit on what's going on with me. Another time I will add more photos.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Fractured left leg/knee and left Wrist on March 5th!

Finally a photo of me in the hospital with my left wrist splint around my already operated wrist break. Then there is a left knee external fixater. The metal apparatus keeps my knee joint in the desired position. It is fixed into the bone on the inside be four metal "pins". That is a gentle way to describe what is jabbed into my bone!! The fixature does not hurt, especially since I have had it for almost two weeks now.


Today's Positives:
1. I get up with a walker and into a chair 1-2 times each day.
2. My leg surgery is finally scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, 1:30pm Central Zone time. It could not be done before the swelling went down.
3. By the end of the week I should be out of the hospital and into a Skilled Care Center. They are all quite full and I am praying that the center across the street will have a bed for me.T

Thanks for prayers, cards, visits, etc from so many in Omaha and around the world.


Monday, February 20, 2012

LifeLong Friends + Mission Conferences

A week ago Saturday I was able to get together with three friends from Nursing School days. Last Thursday I got together with two more. What fun it was to chat and get caught up on "the latest". Most of us graduated as nurses in 1970.





I have finished speaking in two Iowan church Mission's conferences. I am back in Omaha but Wednesday I will go to Red Oak, Iowa to spend five days speaking at their Mission's Conference. After the Red Oak conference comes the Shenandoah, IA one.

Thanks for your prayers.





Monday, February 6, 2012

Omaha Snowstorm Photos!

Saturday we had a snowstorm in Omaha, 9.1 inches. I stayed home all day. Did go out and shovel the sidewalk near the front door for ten minutes of exercise. The homeowners' Association plowed the driveway. They may have done sidewalks too but I needed the exercise.


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I woke up Sunday morning not knowing if the driveway was plowed or not. If it wasn't, I was going to have a hard time getting my car out of the garage. The drive was plowed so I was able to go to Sunday Bible Study and morning church service. I had received the group email from Pastor Mark Ashton the day before that yes, Christ Community Church would stay open. Many churches closed. The email reminded people that yesterday, February 5th would be the day that the church was launching a weekly online church service. We already have four services in the church, 2 services in a High School in the next county, one or two services in the city jail and now we have an online service. Here is the link to the online church service:

http://cccomaha.churchonline.org/

I leave this Saturday, February 11th, for a six week speaking trip. I'll be able to get back to Omaha twice the first week but then probably not after that. I'll be the speaker at the Mission's Conferences at seven churches. During this time I'll be speaking to children, youth, women, Sunday School, Sunday morning services, on the radio, at a Jr. College, at a High School and even at a Valentine's Banquet. Yes, this 62 year old never married woman will be the speaker at a Valentine's Banquet!!

Today's Positives:
1. I'm making progress in getting ready for my speaking trip (although still have lots to do).
2. My driveway got shoveled out so I could get to Church yesterday.
3. The weather in Omaha will be above freezing and sunny most of the week so our snow should melt! The ground did need the moisture but it's good that it will not last long.

Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

The Flu!

Check out another blog on my Christmas in Wisconsin. This one is called, "The Progression of the Flu"! Click here:

The Progression of the Flu

 Just wanted you to know that I did NOT get the flu!!