Don't hate me 'cause I'm cute.

It's good to be out of the hospital and recouperating at home!! Well, almost "at home". Gary and I are staying at my Mom's house for a little bit while he is recouping. Our house has a fairly steep staircase to get up to the bedroom and only bathroom, not exactly new-knee-friendly, while Mom's got it all on one floor. So she has moved herself into the upstairs bedroom at her house and let us take over her first-floor bedroom and bathroom. It has really worked out quite nicely, as my Dad likes the company during the day (and he is doing the mother-hen job very well!). Kind of nice living with Mom and Dad again after all these years of being out of the house......... Hopefully we will really be "home" next week if Gary feels up to it.
His physicial therapy home sessions are going well. The therapist says he has about 85% movement in the joint already, which is where they expect their patients to be at 4 weeks or later, not in less than 2! We will find out next Monday if home visits will continue or if he has to actually go to the office for the continuing therapy.
He is generally feeling pretty good, but gets really tired during the day. Do you think it has anything to do with the fact that he is taking Oxycontin AND Oxycodone?!?!?!
We hope you all have a very nice Valentine's Day and send our love to each one of you!!

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety-Jig

Well, after a grueling eleven days in Myrtle Beach, we are back home in Fredericksburg, VA. It IS good to be home. After all, a person can only take so many days in a row of sleeping until 11 A.M. , lounging around all day and napping in the afternoon and then getting dinner, relaxing in bed with someone you love and watching TV. Oh yeah, and playing Nintendo Wii...now that will wear you out, let me tell you. So now we are back home, Thank God!!

As stated earlier, Vicki and I have started trying to work on our combined weight problem by starting WeightWatchers and thereby joining Abby and Teddi and form our own little support group. We have also started going back to the gym, which I really need for my legs. Unfortunately, the pool at our condo was under renovation while we were there, so I did not get the kind or amount of exercise I hoped to get while on vacation. However, we will be back there, with some of you, from March 5-19 and the pool will be finished by then.

So, for now, it is back to the salt mine called NPS so I can continue to support my wife in the style which she believes she so richly deserves (and she probably does). Love to you all.

Dear Family, Just to let you know that Gary came home from the hospital yesterday. He will be staying with Deb's Mother as they have kindly invited him to use their first floor bedroom and bath... no steps to be concerned with. Also, Bruce will be there with him during the day so he will have company.
I visited him in the hospital on Saturday. I was amazed at howell he manages walking on the new knee. He expressed to me ho strong it feels to him. I met his doctor who popped in for a visit and he said that everything was the best it could be. Praise God for His goodness! I know Gary would love to hear from any of you.
I looked at Dominic's latest photos. What a little darling and growing up so fast!
Last night at rehearsal, we started working with the "plant"... Little Shop of Horrors. It is an amazing thing to watch! I hope as many of you as can will come!
The show will be very good but it is worth the trip to see this "plant" move, talk, and sing!... Love you all, Grandma

Dear Family... I just spoke with Deb and learned that Gary has a blood clot problem which is being addressed by his internist. This means he will not be coming home as planned tomorrow but will need to stay a few days longer. His progress with the new knee has been remarkable. The therapist told him that becauyse of his hard work, he was several days ahead of where they would have expected him to be.
It is very painful, he told me, but then it has been painful for a long time and now he is looking forward to a pain-free existence when it is healed. He is on blood thinner and being carefully monitored. Please continue to keep him and Deb in your prayers. ... Love, Mom/Grandma

Up and At 'em

Gary has a new knee! Today is the first day after surgery and already they had him up and walking, very slowly and gingerly and with a walker. It's like learning to walk all over again so that you can be mobile enough to get around but learn how NOT to hurt too much while getting there. Tomorrow's schedule (that's Wednesday) includes several HOURS of physical and occupational therapy. Talk about major ouchies!! He is feeling really good about the new knee, and even through the pain can tell it is very stable and strong.
Ask him about the surgery and he can tell you how it sounds when they use the sledge hammer to pound the new knee into the bone because he was fairly awake through the whole thing! They use a spinal block to paralyze and numb from the waist down and give sedation, but don't put you the whole way out. He and the Anesthesiologist were carrying on a conversation about the Super Bowl during part of the surgery! WOW!! Modern medicine is amazing........
Gary has his cell phone with him, so if you want to call feel free. If he is too tired, too drugged, or in too much pain, he just won't answer- but please leave him a message.
Thanks for all the calls, good thoughts, and prayers. The toughest part is yet to come.
Gary and Deb

Gary's Surgery

So we're watching the Super Bowl and it's the end of the third quarter and Pittsburg is winning- YEAH!! Here's a quick update for you all. Gary is scheduled for surgery tomorrow (Monday Feb 2). We have to be at the hospital at 5:45 AM. They didn't tell us exactly what time he is scheduled for, but we're assuming since we have to be there so darn early (or in my words, at the butt-crack of dawn) that it will be between 7 and 8 AM. We'll let everybody know how he's doing as the week goes on. He's done really well with staying on his diet this past month and has lost 35 pounds!! His blood pressure has come down to normal levels as well. He's ready to get this knee replacement done and get back to feeling good again and being able to do things without so much pain or his knee just giving out for no reason.
That's it for now.........talk to you all soon! Love to all, Deb and Gary