Graduated Physical Therapy but still a long way to go...

Graduated Drayer Physical Therapy on Friday the 14th of September. Yeah!
I still have to exercise.  I have 6 exercises and I am still doing water aerobics several times a week.  I was given strict instruction to do the exercise because my knee could still freeze up....I was told it would feel much better at 6 months and all well by a year.......good Grief....This really was the WORST surgery I have ever had and I have had a few...

We are STILL at the hotel.  The insulation under the house has been replaced.  I believe the air conditioner has been fixed.  The walls and ceilings have been fixed.  We picked out all the paint colors and there is some paint on the walls at the house.  We met with the Floor man last week, I am very excited about what we picked out. We meet with the Cabinet man tomorrow and that should be all we have to pick out.  Hopefully they will start in full gear soon.  We have been at hotel since August 8 and it is now September 16th and there is still so much to do...we are thinking that maybe we should move into the camper in our back yard which will save gas money for sure...It would be a lot easier with Marley to just be in the back hard instead of alone in the yard or stuck in the hotel. She needs more exercise....decisions...decisions....

Lupus is pretty much under control.  I still have the joint pain and I don't have a lot of energy but I guess that is just how it will be....

More to come...

30th Anniversary, Our Welcome Home and 2 Months Post Op

30th Anniversary, Our Welcome and 2 Months Post Op

We had a very nice 30th Anniversary at the lake house.  We left on Saturday morning and got there unpacked and just relaxed the first evening.  The 2nd and 3rd day took the boat out but it was just too hard for me to get out so we spent the 4th day floating around in the lake at the beach area.  The evenings we either went out to eat or grilled out.  We were tired and ready to go home on Wednesday.  After cleaning the lake house and packing the car we were ready for home and a nap!

When we walked in the house our hearts skipped a beat as all we could see and hear was water running out of all our ceilings ....I was screaming turn it off!!! And he was running around trying to find the cut off which was under the house all the way to the front....Our home is completed flooded! Kitchen flooded. Up to ankles in water. Ceiling soaked. Cabinets destroyed, all wallpaper will have to be removed. Foyer flooded. Living room flooded. Carpet soaked all way to fireplace. Hardwood and carpet all has to be removed.  also the drywalls will have to be replaced all over.... Catwalks soaked. Upstairs bathroom floors, sink cabinet  and playroom and guest room floors wet as well as the walk in closet with all Christmas decor and trees.. 1/2 bathroom downstairs soaked..all wallpaper and floors removed. Closet downstairs. About 5 inches of water under house. Horrible. It's gonna be up to a month to be fixed. We Are now living at Hawthorne Suites on Centennial Olympic parkway about 13-15 miles from home. it's very nice but of course there is no place like home.

We go back and pick up things we need as we realize we need more and more items to live  in a hotel for a month...


What a week...no rest for the weary...last thing I want to do is go to Physical Therapy but....I know I must...last Friday I was at 113 degrees on the range of motion on my knee.  My goal is 125-130.
Both knees are really hurting this week as there has not been time to rest.....

More updates to come.....

7 Weeks Post Op

My Physian Assistant hinted I may have to go in for manipulation under anesthesia if my range of motion isn't between 120-130 by 1st of September (Its 103 right now.)

I work with 2 Physical Therapists and a Personal Trainer and they said no way will I have to go back in for manipulation under anesthesia!! 

I'm getting a stationary bike today. Do water therapy twice a week and PT 3 times a week... I am woman hear me roar!!!

So this week some really cool friends gave me a stationary bike it also works your arms which makes a fan blow on you😆

I am doing water therapy at our pool at least 2 time a week and I am really working it hard at PT.  The downside to this is I can barely walk in the evening.  I haven't even had an appetite at dinner so haven't ate in a few nights and I'm losing sleep because I can't get comfortable.

Soooo we will see how this goes.  I'm getting ready to go to PT where they will hopefully measure me today and Ill update if I have progressed this week.

ROM (Range of Motion) is 108!! Yeah!!! Went up 5%.
Working to get to 125!!
Was 70 after surgery!!

Five Weeks Post Op

God has showed me so many things through this journey I have been on.  I used to take this for granted...simple things..like rushing through a quick kitchen clean up on my way to work.  This morning I tidied up my kitchen...it was all I could do to make it to the recliner...
Yesterday I called in to PT....my 2nd outpatient....I just didn't think I could do it...they said come in..you have to come in...as I went through the process God showed me how BLESSED I am...a 6 year old unable to jump on one foot from square to square..an elderly lady in a wheelchair lifting 15 pounds of weight...a Walton County Sheriff picking up small objects with fingers..it was all he could do...a football player trying to learn to run again.  Thank you God for opening my eyes and showing me I only have to just look....open my eyes and look to see how truly  blessed I am...

2 Weeks Post Op

Hospital Day 1 Rick and I met Heather at Clearview Medical Center.  at 6:30 am.  I was called back pretty quick.  Dr came in and informed me that he had prayed for me and was very encouraging. I went to Operating room at 7:30 and when they put the oxygen mask on that's all I remember..

Woke up from anesthesia with oxygen and CPS machine on.  Moving my leg up and down.  I had a button I could push as often as needed to get .25 of Dalotted.


Dr said there was allot of Synovitis which is inflammation caused from Lupus. They had to do a lot of cutting that out, as well as the arthritis and trimming bone and fitting knee.

I had some Ginger ale and was taken up to my room about noon....I think...

I was able to remove the oxygen and settled in.  I never thought the pain would be this intense...horrible.. In the first hour I hit that button 160 times but only 11 of them actually gave me meds.. Ha... The nurse said she had never seen that high of number in all her years....ha....


I had a major panic attack a little later in the day..I was hot but cold...I was breathing fine but felt like I couldn't  breathe. My head was roaring and I couldn't hear good. The pain was horrible.... It was a night mare...Rick helped me through it...

I found when the grand-babies showed up I felt so much better.  We shared dinner and that was nice.  They stayed an hour or more and I was getting sleepy so they left.  Rick got me all settled in I went to sleep and he went home.

When they did my vitals during the 9:00 pm hour my oxygen level was 82 it's suppose to be over 95. My blood pressure was 57/48.  They put me back on the oxygen and I have to suck that ball thingy 10 times every hour.

It's 9:30 pm now. First evening.  My leg is going up and down on the machine.  I'm watching The Voice.  And I'm very tired.  Praying for a good nights sleep.


I haven't felt like blogging until today. 1week later.  1 week of endless pain, helplessness and unbelievable that this has been so painful.

2 weeks out....better but been basically doped up with Percocet and Valium round the clock since surgery..

Last Friday started in home  PT and yesterday I got my 20 Staples out.  I am doing in home PT 3 times a week for the next 3 weeks then out of home PT not sure....according to Dr. I can get in the pool on 4 the of July weekend...we will see...Right now still using my walker to get around.  The  trip to the Dr sucked out all my energy.  I did get back on all my Lupus meds and I slept better last night than I have since surgery.

That's all I've got now.  With intentions of writing everyday this is all I have for 2 weeks...who knew????

Isaiah 40:31

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.”

Countdown to Knee Replacement

Countdown to complete right knee replacement. On June 10th Clearview Regional Hospital at 7:30 am with Dr. Michael Smith, Orthopedic Dr.


Memorial Friday knee horrible and Saturday morning. Iced it

 Sat night swollen glands under left arm. Hurt all day Sunday 26th but did go to church .

 Wednesday 29th headache all day.  Good knee day.

7 Days till surgery Monday Pre op at Clearview  took 2 1/2 hours.

Had a pretty good week prior to surgery.  Tried to do a chore each day to have my house clean when I get home.

Wednesday swollen glands and hurt under right arm.

Thursday night itching all night, ugh!!! Vaseline spray lotion in the can really helps.

This is Sunday the day before my surgery.  Had to rush out of Sunday School class due to upset stomach.  Had to leave and come home....Hope to feel better because we are suppose to be having lunch with friends....

To avoid infection I have to sleep on clean sheets right out of the dryer tonight. They gave me special cleansing stuff for shower tonight then another shower again in morning.  Then put on fresh clothes out of dryer.  All in efforts to NOT get an infection.

Nerves are on edge... Fear of the unknown mostly but I know God is in control.
He knows.  He holds my hand.  He is in control.

My Orthopedic Dr is suppose to come in and pray with me before my surgery.  Is that awesome or what?!?!?

Will update when I start feeling better after surgery. Until then I appreciate all of your prayers. Thanks friends.

World Lupus Awareness Day/ Avise test results

Today is Lupus Awareness Day.  I wore my Lupus Fighter T-Shirt, got my toenails painted purple and got the results of my Avise test results.  I positively for sure have Lupus. It took 2 weeks to get the results.  I am not a patient person as I have probably mentioned more than once in my blog. I am sure my Rheumy was so happy to get the results...even though I thought we knew I had it she felt like she wanted  to test me because I just did not seem to feel much better no matter what she did or what meds I was taking.  We decided to continue all meds but one.  Put me back on Cymbalta and rest up for my knee surgery.  More info on that when I see my Ortho on the 21st.