Monday was another therapy day with a different therapist who mixed things up a bit. I once again rode the recumbent bike for five minutes and on Tuesday I managed to ride our bike we purchased specifically for my recovery period. Purchased from where else–Craigslist–for a whopping $25 and it was in Billings!
Tuesday we had a great day–Jeane and Jill brought lunch, and dishes, silverware, napkins, etc. Jeane didn’t want Mike to have to wash dishes–she thought of everything. The two of them collaborated on the lunch–delicious vegetable beef soup, amazing cornbread, homemade pound cake, whipped cream and blueberries. It was so good to see them and spend time visiting–Mike has known these two ladies way longer than I have and they are the best of friends to both of us.
The rest of the week was a blur of exercising, another therapy session and way too much sitting. I get up and walk often but still feel as if I sit too much–not my usual mode of operation! I usually log over 10,000 steps per day on my fitness tracker–I’m now logging less than 1000 steps and I think part of those are vibration from the recumbent bike😏!
I have taken over doing the laundry–didn’t like how the Cowboy was doing it. My Mom had a sister, Aunt Bonnie, who never sorted laundry, she just threw clothes of any sort into the washer until she had a load. The resulting pink underwear for my uncle didn’t seem to bother either of them. The Cowboy has heard this story many times and when I first came home from the hospital he told me he was going to do an Aunt Bonnie load. YIKES–my good clothes tossed in with towels and washed on hot!!! I’ve also started helping him with meal preparation–I make the salads, something he doesn’t like to do. He does most of the other cooking and the cleanup.
He’s started to prep things for our departure south–we are still a few weeks from leaving but those weeks will fly by. He puts Sta-bil in the gas tanks of all the vehicles we leave behind, removes batteries and carts the batteries to our basement where they won’t freeze. He’s still working on a project for our friends/neighbors. And he’s still being a good nurse, a dang good nurse and for this I am grateful.
We did travel to Columbus this week–my orthopedic surgeon or his physician’s assistant host a clinic at the small branch of Billings Clinic hospital located in Columbus, 54 miles from our home instead of the 100+ miles to Billings. They see post-op patients, people needing injections, etc. Brian, the physician’s assistant was pleased with my progress and removed my staples. Back to Big Timber I had a therapy session and the therapist “promoted” me–to more difficult exercises! YIKES! Not sure I’m liking this promotion!
All the above photos showing the last of our fall colors were taken with my iPhone. A nasty wind later in the week took away our fall colors.
Does anyone other than my Mom sleep on their back, all the time??? I, before this surgery, could not fall asleep on my back. In order to get any sleep I’ve had to learn to sleep on my back, it’s still too painful to prop my operative leg on a pillow and sleep on my side–I’m getting closer to being able to do just that but not yet. I can’t wait!!
And Hooty came back. I sat down on the recumbent bike Saturday afternoon, started pedaling, looked out the french doors and there he was! He stayed in that tree for a long time then moved to our deck and then out across the creek to another tree. He was still in that tree after dark.
Life is good!
Restoration Cowboy Style 
Jana- great read. Sounds like you are progressing however agonizing slow darn it. Seems like you didn’t lose your turn at the laundry. That’s something. Or maybe not. LOL.
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It is so slow Lloyd–I’m not a patient person for sure! More good days than bad.
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Next Tuesday is my surgery.
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Looks like you’re doing really well! The recovery is tough, but I think you got this! Thank you for talking about the process, lots of people gloss over having knee replacement, and I’m glad you’re telling it like it is!! hope you have continued success!
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I’m glad I had the friends who had just had knee replacement about a month ahead of me–they honestly let me know what to expect. It’s probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do physically! Thanks for your kind comments.
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Your area looks so beautiful, enjoy the last of the Autum colors!
So glad your knee is progressing along nicely!
Nice to know Mike can help out too!
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I told him I was getting used to his help with meals–maybe it would continue??
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These pictures are stunning…what a beautiful place to spend your time. Glad to hear you’re progressing to harder PT, that means you’re almost done!
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Our neck of the woods is stunning–I say just about every time we go to town, “I never get tired of this drive.”
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I didnt roll over until 5 weeks. I have had several surgeries and my knee was the most painful. You are progressing just fine. Only a few more hard weeks.
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I’ve had many surgeries–a lot as a child which I don’t remember. Two surgeries as an adult that were soooo minor compared to this! Thanks for the encouragement!
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So good to hear that therapy is going well and getting harder. You are a great patient:) Getting a bike for your house was a perfect idea. Keep pedaling!! Beautiful photos. The tree colors may be fading but they sure look pretty with the mountains. Hooty is just too cute. Love that expression.
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And we are taking the bike with us when we go south–no toy in the toy hauler so lots of room. We hated to see our leaves go–those photos were taken about a week ago and a major wind storm took care of the leaves. Hooty is so cool to have around–just wish he would poop somewhere else other than on my deck furniture!:)
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So impressed with
your improvement! My husband said that
once the therapist told him that he couldn’t
break his new knee, he felt better doing all
the exercises.
I had to learn to sleep on my back during
a bout with back trouble……was hard but
it was the only way I could lay without pain.
It finally became ok. My body still wanted
to get on my side. Lol
I know your a trooper from following you
for these past years! Blessings to you.
Your Cowboy gets A plus. A good helper
is vital through this.
I’m still only able to read half of the letters
in this comment so please excuse any
errors. This site is giving me fits. Lol
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Your issue is so strange Linda–I haven’t had anyone else mention not being able to see the letters. I appreciate your perseverance! My surgeon told me the same thing in the pre-op area–“you can’t hurt this new knee unless you fall, do the exercises.” I so want to turn over on my side!
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Good to see you’re progressing with your rehab. Glad I’m not the only one with an aunt Bonnie…I shrink sweaters. Great owl pictures.
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I think Aunt Bonnie shrank a lot of clothes! Thanks for commenting!
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Dear Jana, I adore your photos here! The yellow leaved trees with the snowy mountain backdrop, and the Owl Photos! Each one could be sent to Spoonflower and turned into a fabric panel for a quilt. Spectacular! Good luck with the knee therapy! Take care.
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Thanks so much Ruth–I am amazed at the quality of photos I produce with the new iPhone!
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You all live in such beautiful places – thank you for sharing the pictures! And also thank you for the unvarnished truth about knee replacement recovery; it will help a lot of future patients know what to really expect.
After a lifetime of stomach or side sleeping I had to learn to sleep on my back exclusively due to neurological issues. It took a while but I now am comfortable with it – a very small neck pillow stuffed with rice that gets heated a bit in the microwave first helped a lot. Good luck with your new harder therapy!
Ceci
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I might have to try the small neck pillow although I do have a really great pillow from Casper. I have two friends who are about a month ahead of me in this recovery process–they gave me the unvarnished truth about what to expect and I wanted to share. Thanks for commenting Ceci!
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Great news about your therapy Janna. Your fall pictures are gorgeous! The new phones (IPhone 13/14) take really good photos. I took all the pictures of the Oak Creek Canyon that I posted last time with my phone as well…was very pleased. I hope you are planning to frame your owl photos. What great captures…the detail, especially the feathers, is incredible! What wonderful creatures they are! Have a good week!
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Thanks Gay! I have always been a phone camera skeptic but not with this new iPhone 13. Your Oak Creek photos were so good!! I hadn’t thought of framing one of the owl photos but I may do just that, we have empty wall space in our AZ home.
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Your photos of the owl are so wonderful, Janna. Sleeping on your back? ick. I can’t breathe that way, maybe with my head propped WAY up? Hope I don’t have to try it any time soon. Your progress is truly amazing. Mixed loads? Good thing you took over that job. 1000 steps? Yeah, even with my walking junk I still can get around 10K per day. Funny story, when traveling the FitBit thinks that when I am driving I am logging steps. I can get 3000 steps on a good morning drive. Cracks me up. Lovely friends you have, no matter where you go. Good weather wishes for you as you prepare to head south.
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Thanks Sue–it was that iPhone camera again! I too laugh–when we are in the ATV my tracker goes crazy and I will log something crazy–11,000 steps. We too are hoping for good weather–this is late for us to be leaving!!
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So glad you are doing better! When hubby Dale had his knee surgery years ago we found out he was allergic to morphine & had to stay in the hospital a few extra days to get him back on track- he was goofy as all get out! Which iPhone do you have now- those photos are amazing! If that’s your view at home I would never tire of looking at it! Stay safe, well & in good spirits. Travel safe & soon. Chloe
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Those photos are of our view as we travel home, up the Boulder. Our house sits down by a creek and our view is limited until we get up into our hayfields. We can see some mountains when the leaves are off the trees. I have the iPhone 13 and I love it!!
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I’m so glad to hear that you’re doing so well. Sleeping on my back? No way!! That must be so hard for you. I laughed out loud at your “Aunt Bonnie” laundry story. Eric and I both do laundry, but I won’t let him touch mine or the household laundry because he throws everything in together. And he always forgets to check at least one pocket, so there is always a tissue or paper towel that he has to pick off of his clothes, haha!! Love your beautiful fall photos, and Hootie is adorable!
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Thanks Laurel! Sleeping on my back is an oxymoron–not much sleeping going on! Mike is good about checking his pockets for tissues before dumping items into the laundry basket.
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