One Week Post-Op!

Happy Monday morning to you all. Thanks for helping me to do this, Joe. I am still sitting at the computer this morning, and so far, Sleeping Beauty has not dinged the ring-a-ding-dinger!

Thank God, we are one week after surgery today!

This is a great way to get exercise without sweating TOO much. I thought you might like to see this passive motion machine in action. This was taken before it quit while Ellie was in it, and it lasts only 30 seconds! I am sure that there is a way to have just the video come up, but I need more help.

Why, Oh, Why Did I Give Her That Ring-a-ding Dinger?

There it is---a cute little bell that was used for 36 and a half years in my classroom. I rang it just once, and every student that ever came through my doors stopped talking, or whatever they were doing, and looked up at me.

I gave it to Ellen to use when I brought her home after surgery. The first night she only had to use it once. The second night --only once; HOWEVER, now that she knows how to use it, .. ....... Poor baby, last night she must have had to get up once on the hour every hour for quite a few hours. The bright side to this is that the swelling in her leg and ankle had really gone down--a lot!
So far today, she has had her leg iced since breakfast; then, after getting a bath, I just put her to bed with the Passive Motion Machine, and more ice. She continues to do well, and right now I put the machine on a 56 degree angle! (I also made sure that she took a pain med.) If I had known that nursing was going to be this much fun, maybe my life would have taken a different path. (Surely, you know that I am teasing.)

For those of you who expected to see a picture of the knee, maybe later. There was no drainage this morning, and she decided to postpone changing the dressing until a little bit later.

That's all for now, folks.

An Angel In Disguise

Meet Shawn and her two daughters, Brynna and Lauren! Yesterday Shawn, the angel, came by to bring two bags of ice for the thermal machine that pumps ice water. That is how I ice Ellen's leg to keep the swelling at bay. We use about two bags of ice each day, and that is a wonderful thing. Shawn brought two more bags of ice today and two of her three daughters. We had a nice visit. The girls were really interested in just what all of this was about. Now they can go back to school and tell everyone that they have seen Nursie-Pooh, and she is doing great!

If you have ever seen a picture of Ellen with both of her eyes open, please remember what she looks like. When anyone says, "Let's get a picture," her eyes automatically close. This first picture is of Joe trying to hold her eye open. Even that didn't work! If you have any suggestions to help her to keep her eyes open, please let us know! She is too funny!

Oh, well, we tried, didn't we, Joe?
She had another really good day. I put the passive motion machine on a 53 degree angle, and upped the speed one level. She had no trouble with that. When I put her to bed tonight, I said to her, "Don't you hurt just a little bit when you walk?" She said, "No, not really!" She is something else.

She's Following Orders! WOW!

Hello, Everybody! It has been a beautiful week here in El Paso! The weather outside has been a little bad, but the weather inside is BEAUTIFUL!

The patient is just great! After a couple of uneasy days, she has mounted a strong comeback! Here is another picture for you, Nichole. It was breakfast this morning, and it consisted of an Egg Beater omelet with cheese, two pieces of turkey bacon, a small whole wheat bagel, one-half of a Pink Lady apple, and Vanilla Bean coffee. My sister, Janice, will recognize the coffee mug. It is one that was painted by my mom, and it is the same one that she drank coffee from on many occasions.


This next picture is of the Continuous Passive Motion Machine. It looks like a giant ski boot. Her foot is strapped in at the boot part. Another picture below will show you what her leg looks like all strapped in with the ice machine running ice water through it.

When I look at this picture below, I just want to holler, "Ouch!"

Poor leg--it has really been through a tough process. She is pleased with how it looks. We go back to the doctor in a couple of weeks. Hopefully, he will be very pleased with her progress, and his own handiwork.
Here is that precious leg all strapped into the machine. The blue thing that is attached to the black hose is pumping ice water all through it in order to keep the swelling down.
By the way, she is doing everything I tell her to do! Astounding, isn't it? She is used to giving the orders, and I am used to doing everything she tells me to do! This has given me amazing power! I kind of like it! (Hee, Hee!) Until next time. . .

I'm Goin' Home

If any of you are American Idol watchers, then you know that the song that is sung when one of them gets kicked off is "I'm goin' home. It's the place where I belong...". That's exactly where I am right now!! When the doctor asked if I still wanted to go home today, there was absolutely NO hesitation on my part. The care was just fine and everyone was very nice and the food ended up being great, but it was still time to come home.

My chauffeur, home helper, nurse, cook, and errand runner all showed up at the same time! Sharon is her name. :o) She has been doing all the jobs with a smile on her face. ( I think it is there because she can finally order me around and I won't give her any grief!) I'm sure she will acquire a few more names before this whole ordeal is over. We had a lovely ride down Mesa street! When you have been inside for a few days with only a glimpse of the outside world, the air feels wonderful.

I wanted to tell everyone thanks for all the thoughts, prayers and get well wishes. It is at times such as this that I realize how thoughtful and concerned people can be. It's amazing how the Internet keeps us connected from all over the world! I know there are still many weeks of recovery to take place, but hopefully the worst part is over. Sharon and I will keep everyone posted on how things are going. I'm sure we will have many tales to tell!

Ellen's Hospital Fun

Okay, this is going to be all about Ellen's knees, so if you don't want to see them, skip over this part. This first picture is taken before surgery last Sunday. You can see the swelling in her left knee. You can't see the hurt.

This second picture is of Ellen and one of her therapists, Hector. He was the nicest person, and was so very sweet to her. He was amazed himself at how well she has done.

When the nurse came in to change the dressing after her shower this morning, I was able to get this gorgeous picture of her left knee as it looked two days after surgery. (Pretty tracks, don't you think?)
Nichole, this one is for you. I just had to take a picture of her lunch today. It is chicken cordon bleu, rice, peas and carrots. For dessert, it is fresh fruit, and to drink -hot tea. Yes, that is a pansy on top of the food. Isn't it pretty?

I thought I should at least show you dinner, so below is dinner. It is seafood newburg served over pasta with steamed broccoli, fresh fruit, and iced tea.

Here are some flowers sent by friends.
I was so excited today because Ellen had an amazing day. She walked longer this afternoon. The Continuous Passive Motion Machine was put on an almost 45 degree angle. She is going to be very hard to keep up with when I get her home. I am thrilled to death for her. She deserves to feel better for awhile. I might get to take her home in the morning. AMAZING! Absolutely, AMAZING!

Hooray for Ellie!

"Hooray for Ellie, Hooray for Ellie. Someone's in the hall shouting, 'Hooray for Ellie'."

Hello, everybody, it is going to be a great day today! This is Sharon writing this in Ellen's hospital room. She is doing great! Her surgery was on Monday morning and it went really well. It took about two hours, she was in recovery for a little more than an hour. Then they brought her up to the room. The only bad thing was the morphine drip. It made her throw up, and they could not find an anti-nausea med that worked. It was agonizing for me to watch. Finally, a magnificent nurse came on duty who worked with the doctor and found one that did. They changed her pain med. I left to go home last night with a heavy heart, but this morning she called me around 6 o'clock. She sounded like a different person! Was I ever excited!!! She ate a good breakfast this morning; at this moment, she is sitting up in her chair about to take a little morning nap. I brought the computer so she could catch up on her email. She put a huge smile on my face this morning. I got to see her scar, and I took a picture of her knees before surgery, and now I have one of her after surgery. I also took a couple of her walking down the hall. She loves her therapists, and they both are really nice.

I will try to put the pictures on the blog, but I wanted to write this first to let you know that she is doing great so far. When she goes home, I will stay with her until she is able to handle everything.

We were sorry to hear about Michael's Aunt Kathy, and hope that she is able to fully recover.

This hospital is small, but wonderful. It is owned by the doctors who are in the orthopedic group. There are only 25 beds, so the nursing care is also wonderful. The food, you ask? Well, it is still hospital food! Those were her words.

Thanks for your prayers, and good thoughts!

It's a Baby!

Okay, okay, it is the most pathetic little bird nest ever built. Ellen has a tree in her backyard. It is a beautiful old tree that provides great shade on her patio. We noticed earlier this spring that there were the beginnings of a new home just above the back door. We did all we could to encourage the mother to build in a safer place, but she just kept building. She must have been in quite a hurry to finish that house because one day we came home and there she was just sitting.
Well, we watched and watched every day, and on Wednesday of this week, we went out to look, but the mother wasn't on the nest. Then we began to look around, and saw one half of an egg shell! We started looking for a dead baby bird, not thinking that she could possibly be alive. Well, she was! The little thing was in the corner, and Mother Bird was just staring us down. We told her not to worry, that we wouldn't hurt her baby. Sure enough, yesterday we went out and the baby was in one of the planters along the fence. She must have been practicing flying. Congratulations to us! We are now Bird Grannies!

Look closely and you can see the bird sitting on the poor little housing project. After the baby was born (hatched), we could even see right through the nest. Isn't that something? Have a great weekend!

Always Smile At Our Nursie-Pooh

What a fun week this has been for Ellen! She has been Polk's school nurse since 1993! This has been Nurse Appreciation Week. She has felt not only appreciated, but very much loved.

You should see the mountain of cards made by the students. Each day was a special designated day. One day was water day; one was fruit and flowers; one was fun band-aids day; one day was anti-bacterial wipes day, and today is Scrubs Day.

Today is also the last day of this school year for Ellen because she is having a total knee replacement on Monday. Sharon will take her to the hospital at 5:30 in the morning. Her surgery is scheduled for 7 a.m. She is anxious to have this surgery because she hopes to be taller when it is over. (Plus, she really doesn't want to hurt any more.) Any of those who watch her walk will also be happy for her when she doesn't hurt.

The reports of her having severe PMS are actually true!
P: Pedicure on Tuesday
M: Manicure on Wednesday
S: Shampoo/Haircut on Thursday
She had to take care of all of these important things before surgery.

Sharon is at school with her all day today to help cart home all of the good-bye presents, goodies, etc.; also, to give moral support. If we can get through the day without tears flowing, it will be a miracle.

Say a little prayer for us as we walk this new path! Have a great weekend!

A Tribute To Our Moms!

We decided to write a special tribute to our mothers for this special day! Who knew when our moms gave birth to us many years ago (and we do mean many) that a baby girl born to Ferne Ellyn George Vise in Texas, and a baby girl born to Eleanor Laughlin Meyer in Missouri would someday be the closest of friends? We decided that our moms would have liked each other very much. They both had a wonderful sense of humor, a flair for sewing, a deep spiritual life, and a love for family.

Ellen's mother was born on July 28, 1922. She passed away on Novemeber 18, 1985. Sharon's mom was born on December 16, 1921. She passed away on September 3, 2006.

This is the first Mother's Day that Sharon is unable to call or to send flowers to Momma. It has been a hard year of firsts, but we think Mother's Day puts all of our moms in the forefront of our hearts and minds. This first picture is one of Sharon's mom just before she became ill. The one right below shows both parents of Ellen. Both ladies were beautiful, and lived in times when there were special traditions celebrated each week. Sometimes we wonder if they have met each other in Heaven. If so, we know that they would be laughing and having good times.

Sharon's mother was a mother even as a child. She took care of her two younger brothers after her own mother passed away. Always, she had cared for someone else. Sharon and her sister, Janice, were fortunate to be born to someone like her. She is still loved by those she left behind. That includes three granddaughters, and two great grandsons. Even though she is gone, she lives on in all of our hearts.

Ellen's mom died at the young age of 63. She was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS) and would often joke that when she saw him in Heaven she was going to give him a piece of her mind! She loved baseball like any other respectable St. Louis native, but she thought it quite undignified to have such a terrible disease named for a great baseball player.

Ellen's sister, Carol, had two sons. Several years went by and her mom thought that would be the extent of her grandchildren. Ellen was in the Convent, so there was no hope on that front! Then 1978 rolled around. Carol had another son, Ellen left the Convent, got married, had Nichole in 1979 ..... then Carol had Christine in 1980, and in 1981, here came Joe!! So, in a matter of two and a half years, she went from having two grandsons to having four PLUS two granddaughters. She took great pride in all of them.

Sharon's mom "adopted" Ellen. It doesn't matter how old we get; to have a "mom" in your life is a treasure. Ferne was that special person to Ellen. When she was in the hospital, she would tell people that she had three daughters . . .... two she gave birth to and the blond, she adopted! Ellen was only 36 when her mom passed away. There are still days when she is missed. We thank God for Ferne, who was always there to step in when a hug was needed.

Here's to our moms! Even though they did not know each other here on this Earth, perhaps they are celebrating Mother's Day in Heaven. If you are lucky enough to still have your mom, be sure to call her, give her a hug if you can, or lift a glass in her honor! Our moms live on in the sparkle of our eyes, laughing gently, loving wisely. Moms are the place we came from, our first home, our first love. May you have a very Happy Mother's Day!