Chat-a-Thon 2017-18 Thread!

[GoJays]

You don't like mountains??! I grew up with mountains in my backyard. Imagine my culture shock when I moved to Ontario.

[Natalka]

Jays, sure hope you are better today!

Just back from physio, fan pointed at my face, sipping ice water - had a good workout!

I first had to practice getting out of bed from flat to sitting, unaided. I can do that to the right easily, since at home that is my side. Getting out the left can be done, but it's rather indelicate, to put it mildly!
Practiced some sit/stands a bit differently than I had been doing - it is always nice to switch up the physiotherapists a bit, because each may have a different little tidbit of help to offer. Today was my first time with Safa, though I knew her from before. She was just going to take me to the stepper, but an aide saw me with her in the wheelchair, asked if we were going for a walk. The PT hadn't planned to because she needed another person to assist - and the aide offered, so great!


I walked from the doorway of my room, down way past the first nurses' station before I had to take a break. Gee, I just realized you would not know how far that is, lol! Anyway, about equal to yesterday but was better quality. Then went to do seven minutes on the stepper, which made me break a sweat. My hamstring wasn't as hurt by doing it as it was yesterday.

Discovered my main physiotherapist has good pull around here. She wasn't impressed yesterday that my stockings hadn't been put on - I had asked for help three times - and one of my meds hadn't been done either.

So this morning I was woken after six to get vitals done, I got up to use the washroom then went back to sleep. (Brekkie is just before nine, so are meds usually). An aide woke me up just after 7:30 to tell me she would do my stockings, and this one med. She came in with another aide and they eat h did one leg. It was quite funny. I just killed them with kindness and thanks.

Enuf for now. So very crazy to think March is here!

[lizzie bargain]

So impressed with your progress Nat!! I just knew you could do it-I know it is tough but so worth it to be able to keep moving once you are home. Breakfast seems kind of late there-and if I recall dinner is pretty early too or maybe that was your other hospital. Anyway you are rocking it and I am excited for you to hear you expect to go home in approx a month. Amazing progress!

[Lynn49]

You don't like mountains??! I grew up with mountains in my backyard. Imagine my culture shock when I moved to Ontario.

@GoJays , we lived on a street here banked by rocks across the street (where I fed all my seagulls), and behind our back yard. When Dad bought our property for our new home to be built, he also bought the next lot too, so we really were backed up to it. I wandered those rocky hills across the street and behind us, all my childhood and even in my teens..they were my playgrounds with friends and my get-away whenever I wanted my solitude.
But for some really odd reason I'm drawn to the prairies....I always said they were "in my genes" since both my parents were from Winnipeg. When we drove to the west coast in 2000 when my DH retired, oh my goodness...those fields that went on forever!! there were "prairie clouds", too! When those Rockies began showing up in the distance in Alberta I was so sad to see them.

Honey, I used to watch "The Farm Report" on TV when it was on! Hahaha! See? Gene's.

I found driving through those Rockies terrifyingly, absolutely terrifying.

Did you grow up in those Rockies? Where?

[walkonby]

Gosh....I have really enjoyed reading back about 3 pages worth of posts, should have brewed and sipped a coffee while doing it but oh well..... I learn so much from them.

I am now an expert on cacti, have an unexplained fear of train travel, envy people who grew up with mountains in their backyards, feel prepared for the Spring forward clock change, laughed at dogs in laps, gals in skirts standing on glass floors? and counted my blessings at NOT having caught a nasty cold or flu bug OR having had to endure the crazy February temps out Sask. way........" bikini weather " my ar*e! " ha ha .

Today was a run-a-round day. Some of it was fruitful I suppose. Another Blue Friday at Sobeys!!
I redeemed 1140 of my AM which paid for my entire order ( came to $120.00 ) and then I earned 431 AM right back in the process!! woo hoo

I truly benefited from my massage appt. this morning
On Thurs. early in the a.m. Rufus had bounded out to the backyard. He had been whining non stop to go out so I relented forgetting that their was a good 4 feet of freshly fallen fluffy snow out there.
He hopped his way down 2 deck levels, was now up to his neck ( Shih Tzu short legs! ) and because of his blindness hecould not figure out how to get back up to me at the door.

I quickly donned my DS's size 14 knee high thick rubber boots, grabbed my coat and mitts and went on a rescue mission.
Naturally Murphy had enough sense NOT to go down there, no instead he chose to bark non stop on the top deck level ....his way of telling me Rufus was " stuck in the well? " ha ha

I scoop up Rufus and on the way back up I do the best Funny Home Video pratfall ever! Straight up and smashed down on my tushie! Rufus was cradled into my chest on impact, but wriggled free and found his way up to the back door.
I laughed at my situation, muttered a few words and then got up, took 2 more steps and fell again!
o.k. so now I realized it's not me OR the boots....there was tons of ice under all that snow.

At this point Murphy is still barking, which I am sure our neighbours all appreciated at that early hour.
Once up at the door, the thing would not slide open. I tried not to panic.
Removed my mitten, grabbed the handle firmly and gave a heave of a pull only to fall one more time!

Both boots were filled with snow ( of course I had no socks on ) ....I laughed so much....felt like a kid again.
After the cleanup inside I wondered if I would have any owies the next day....so happy I felt nothing!
But......then as I said at massage today.....boy did he find the owie spots! he worked them all out too.

I want Spring to come NOW!!!!!

[Natalka]

Good news to share, I am officially off "precautions" - free like a bird! Less hassle for staff, as well as me.
First thing I did was ask for a menu for tomorrow so I could make my own choices. Hopefully it gets down to dietary in time.

Yes, I know it's not a hotel, and it's not room service - but I have missed things like being able to choose peas instead of squash, or tea instead of the brown stuff that tastes like warm water with a brown crayon dipped in it!

The best part of knowing what you are getting a day ahead, is that it's enough time for me to send out an SOS to my son or husband if a supper the next day is gross or, as I had happen this week, two days in a row where the main part of the meal was very cheesy. I do have pills I can take so I am able to have some dairy, but I do not waste them many times on hospital food, in case the item is inedible.

No biggie, but when we are trying to get strong, nutrition is a very important part.

Have a great day, everyone!

[GoJays]

That's great that you've been given a little more freedom @Natalka!
@walkonby, I love your posts

[avoncallingu]

I haven't read anything.... I'm just on to say.... Tootie's growths were BENIGN! !!!! I could jump over the garden fence...if I had one.

I'm so relieved and happy and crying. Good tears!

[Natalka]

@avoncallingu - great news, indeed! Give that sweetie a good scritch behind the ears from me!




Oh, @walkonby - what a to-do you went through, holy casserole!
I did giggle as you described it, and was hoping it didn't end up with you in a cast or something...

[GoJays]

That's fantastic news @avoncallingu !



We haven't seen the dancing banana here for a long time.

[Lynn49]

@avoncallingu , WHAT a relief to know that Tootie's okay!!!! That's excellent news!!
@walkonby .....you painted quite a graphic picture for us, with your escapades trying to extracate Rufus from the clutches of that awful snow! Hahahaha!!! Sorry, I thought it was all hilarious, knowing that you're okay. I can picture the whole thing!!

Well, g'night everyone, sweet dreams, happy Saturday!!

[Lynn49]

[GoJays]

[GoJays]

[Natalka]

@GoJays - lol I must still be half asleep, I didn't get the last one at first, then reread where it was from, now I have that darned accent in my mind!


Happy Caturday! I so badly miss my kitty!!!

Had a good sleep even though I was up to the biffy once.
My husband and I had a cozy fish and chips supper last night. The yummy smell drove people here to distraction. We had a nice visit, but he was SO tired, I sent him home even though he didn't want to leave.

Today PT isn't until 11:30, so I can sloth around a bit - do a set of exercises each for my knees/legs/back, and the others for my hand/elbow.
My husband brought my forearm brace, so I will try that if I get to have a walk today.

We are back too having an extreme cold weather advisory - windchill is -50. The night staff didn't want to go home this morning!

Have a fun day, everyone!