Recovery

Megan was a little low on blood today so received a boost from a NutterButter Lover. She couldn't have her screw removed today because of the blood so she's first on the list Monday.

Visiting Hours Are Open!

Crawford Long visiting hours are 10 am until 8:30 pm daily. The hospital is conveniently located between the Civic Center and North Avenue MARTA stations. Parking is available in the hospital deck or surface lots in the area. For risk-takers there is a valet parking service. You must supply your own attorney.

Out of Bed

Megan walked down the hall this morning. With crutches. She sounds a little more groggy today than yesterday. She will be in the hospital until next Tuesday.

Blog Hijack

I'm back, posting for Megan. She's out of surgery and looking good. If you want to go see her send me an email and I'll tell you where she is.

Len

The Day Has Finally Arrived

Today is surgery day. In just a few hours, I'll be able to fully extend my left leg, and in a few weeks I'll get rid of the crutches. It's a good day.

Sunny Rothenhoefer 1947-2007

After several years suffering with severe heart and lung disease, my oldest sister, Sunny, passed away yesterday of a heart attack. She left behind a son and daughter-in-law and two grandchildren, her mother, and two brothers and two sisters. Sunny lived most of her life in Indiana, but moved to south Florida nine years ago. Her son and his family followed a year later. My mom told me yesterday that she thinks these last nine years have been the happiest in Sunny's life. I hope so. She was 60 years old.

Aw Shucks, I'm Thankful

Anyone who reads this blog knows I have much to be thankful for this year: 1. I'm Alive; 2. I'm Not Dead; etc., etc.

I'm pretty thankful for a lot of other things in my life, too. I have a husband who took care of me during the hardest part of my recuperation -- without a single complaint. My family (on both Len's side and mine) were extraordinarily helpful and supportive. And, I have wonderful friends, who visited me in the hospital and then when I came home. Other friends who don't live nearby called and sent cards and gifts and offered their support from afar. Those people in my life turned this terrible chapter into a very positive experience. I feel loved, I feel wanted, I feel so darned lucky. Thank you, everyone. You guys are awesome.

Surgery is a GO!

My tests came back slightly elevated, but inconclusive. So they brought in an infection disease specialist who has cleared me for surgery. Wahooo!!!!!!!

Wednesday, November 28 at Crawford Long. Oh, joy!

Can anyone help me hide my stash?

Len is starting to notice that nearly every time I go to Knitch, I buy something. He reads this blog and actually knows I have a lot of projects going, but I thought I'd acknowledge my addiction to the world. Eleven steps to go...

After more than two months and $13,000 worth of repair work, my car is back in my driveway. When Len and I pulled up to Sterling Auto Body in Decatur near the Farmer's Market, I almost didn't recognize the car as mine, it's been so long since I saw the little cutie. I immediately felt happiness when I recognized the car, and checked it all around to find the paint looks good and nothing seems amiss. And while driving it, I didn't have warning bells going off in my head about the handling, etc. They did a good job. That's how I want my surgery to go, whenever that happens.

I go back to court on Tuesday with the valet and the guy who hit my car while the valet was driving. I don't know what is going to happen there, so I'll wait and see what the judge and the lawyers do.

No news yet on the surgery. I went to Crawford Long Hospital last week for an amazing test on my white blood cells. They took blood, separated the white blood cells, radiated them, and put them back into my body. Then they took pictures of my insides to see where the blood cells went off to. (White blood cells fight infection, so being able to see where they go might tell the docs an infection's location.) I should hear something Monday.

Surgery? Not this week.

The gods are playing tricks on me.

My hip replacement has been postponed. Again.

I have some 'elevated levels' in my blood tests and my doc is determining what's up before cutting into me. He's got good reasons for the delay, but I'm still disappointed. Eventually this thing will happen. Eventually.

Counting Down the Days

My running joke these days is how excited I am to be having surgery this week, and it's not even plastic surgery!

Tuesday I return to my new doc for a pre-op visit where his staff will go over the whole procedure with me and we verify that I am healthy enough to have the surgery. I spent a lot of time in doctor's offices these last couple days getting blood work and x-rays, etc. done for this purpose. Nice to know Dr. Minter wants to start with a healthy patient!

I have already planned out my knitting projects for the next couple weeks so I have plenty to work on while I'm recuperating (that is, when I not exercising my new implant!).

Yes, I am a happy, happy girl.

OMG! I HAVE A DATE!

Okay kids, big news: I'm going under the knife next Friday, November 9!

Dr. Minter was very cool, gave me loads of information, explained the problems and how he hopes to fix them. He also said my hip is pretty messed up. My body is trying to fuse the joint with extra bone -- much longer and my body would succeed. He gave me a much more realistic recovery time: It will probably be a year before I feel back to "normal." (snicker all you like)

So, here we go! I'm finally on my way!

Yet Another Delay

I'm beginning to feel like a broken record. Every time I have an appointment with Dr. Furie, I tell folks that is when my surgery will be scheduled. And, every time I actually see Dr. Furie, he has a reason not to schedule my surgery.

I went to see said doc yesterday, fully expecting to schedule my surgery for next week, and was foiled yet again by the good doctor. No, I didn't punch him in the face like I announced I would. He just wants me to see another doctor -- one who has performed my special kind of hip replacement surgery 100s of times.

Okay. I get that. Dr. Minter will work with Dr. Furie on my custom acetabulum cup -- some kind of thing they will make once they've opened me up. Mine is a special case, not your normal everyday hip replacement, so special things need to be done for me.

One thing Dr. Furie said that I will be holding on to until my surgery finally is scheduled is that "is what we need to do to get you back to normal."

Normal? You mean I'll actually get there some day?

Okay, I can wait a little longer for normal.

So, sometime before Thanksgiving, folks. I'll keep you posted.

Work work work

It's been a busy couple of weeks at Treats. I don't often mention my day job in this forum, but it is spilling out into my after-five life these days. We are preparing for our fall event, where around 3,000 corporate real estate and workplace professionals will arrive in Atlanta for a few days of education, networking, and drinking. I am excited for this event to be over, partly because I won't be so swamped with writing scripts and editing the magazine and all the minor details I have to make sure are completed. Mostly, though, I can't wait for it to be over because right after the Atlanta event I'll have my final surgery that should take care of the pain I've been having.

I'm really glad the event is in Atlanta this fall, because traveling would be really difficult for me at this time. By the time our spring event comes around in San Diego, I should be fully healed and easily able to travel. I'm glad, too, because I'm excited about going to San Diego. And, a week or two after I return from California, I head off to Scotland to wallow in all things wool. Not a bad way to go through life...

It's finally beginning to feel like fall here in Atlanta, and I'm motivated to sew up all the pieces I've knitted this year and turn them all into sweaters and whatnot. I've finished two things this week alone, and I can think of three more that I can work on next week. Then, I can start on some new stuff!

Why I Have No Children

Woman Delivers 17-Pound Baby

'Nuff said about that.

Surgery Update
Yesterday's surgery went well. I slept about 20 hours after I got home. The amazing thing is, I've been having a lot of pain in my left leg for the last few weeks and just chalked it up to the fact it isn't healing well. Nope. It was the infection. I feel so good today. I had no idea. Hurray!

Yes, it SUCKS to be me!

The surgery I've been waiting and planning for has been postponed, but -- ooh, lucky me -- another surgical opportunity has popped up! I asked Dr. Furie to have a look at a lump near my incision site this morning. It concerned him so he referred to Dr. Mason to determine what it is. Turns out it's an infection that has abscessed and I need immediate surgery to remove all the bits. FUN. The best part is, this requires general anesthesia! So, I'll be at Atlanta Medical Center Wednesday morning at 6, preparing for another day in a drug-addled state. At least I'll be good to go tomorrow afternoon and back to my version of normal by Thursday.

Now, that my rant is over, I can relax. I do feel better now.

Another Delay

I'm really bummed this morning.

Today was my appointment with Dr. Furie where he was going to set a firm date for my final surgery. But, my CT scans show there is still a little unhealed fracture in my acetabulum, so Dr. Furie says we have to wait another month before setting the date.

I'd been internalizing a lot of my discomfort because I knew the surgery would take care of so much -- I figured another couple weeks and it would be over. Alas, I have to wait until the first of November to get this thing done.

I hope.

Bad Car-Ma

Earlier this week, I saw an accident happen. Yesterday morning, my friend Erin called to tell me she crashed her car, and last night a valet driver attempted a U-turn while parking my car and another car slammed into it.

What a week.

There I was last night, minding my own at a trendy downtown restaurant with some co-workers, giving our now-former colleague, Marie, a proper send-off. I'd only been there about 20 minutes when the valet people came to get me to talk with the police about my car. Obviously I'm not responsible for anything here, but the owner of the valet company tried to say he wasn't either.

It seems it was my driver's first day and he wasn't technically an employee. The valet owner nearly convinced the cops to arrest the kid for auto theft when I stepped in and explained that I gave my keys to a valid employee of his company. That employee gave me a ticket and I paid the valet fee. That employee MUST have given this kid the keys to my car and told him where to park it. So, yes, his company is responsible.

The cops agreed and cited the kid for unlawful U-turn and my good friend, Ashley, made sure the valet owner gave us all his insurance information. No one asked for mine and I didn't provide it.

My brand-new car is hurt pretty bad (the driver's side is crushed and the rear wheel is turned in and two airbags went off), but aside from some airbag burns no people were injured, so that's the important thing here. I called my insurance company and they said they'd take care of me and go after the other guys for their money, so I'm cool, if not a little put-out. I already have a new rental car, a much less-tricked out version of my own Mazda 3.

The thing that burns me is that I looked for handicapped parking first and when there wasn't any, I used the valet (there was no other option). And, I had to pay $5 for some kid to park my car on the street, not even in a real lot. What a scam.

Deja Vu All Over Again

As a matter of pride, on the days I work in my downtown Atlanta office, I drive there on DeKalb Avenue. Why? Because that's where I nearly lost my life in the accident all those months ago: Being able to drive down that stretch of road makes me feel strong somehow, like I can lick any fear.

But, after this morning's commute, I won't be driving down DeKalb again for a while.

Not far after I passed the infamous Rocky Ford Road intersection where the middle lane changes direction depending on the time of day, I noticed a car in my lane ahead of me (that would be the right lane, because, I'm not so fearless as to drive in the middle lane and risk some other idiot coming at me from the other direction) that had its left blinker on.

We approached a stoplight and there were no cars in the center lane. When the light changed green, the car ahead of me pulled out just a little like he/she was waiting for oncoming traffic to clear. I just kept wondering what that person was thinking, making a left from the far right lane.

Just as the driver fully entered the turn, a car came from behind us and slammed into the car.

It appeared no one was injured, so I continued on. I know I should have stopped, since I was clearly a witness. But the fact is, being so close to that accident and watching it play out made me nauseous. I knew I'd vomit if I stopped.

Clearly, the car turning left was at fault.

But, this morning's accident happened to someone who, like me, was confused by the center lane directional change. Those roads are dangerous.

How many people need to die/get seriously injured and how much damage needs to be caused before the DOT finally puts an end to this practice?

As for me, I'm sending a letter to the DOT to complain about these dangerous roads.

Swallowing My Pride

I finally did it. I got a temporary handicapped parking permit for my car. It's pretty difficult for me to walk through grocery-store parking lots, and since I've been going out alone more and more I decided it was time.

I got an affidavit from Dr. Furie to verify that yes, indeed, I am injured. Then I took it to the DMV today to get the tag. After standing in line behind several other people using walkers and crutches (including a man who must be the oldest human driving), I handed over my ID and the affidavit, and minutes later had the permit.

I haven't used it yet, but I am sure it will come in handy in the very near future. Thank you DMV.