Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Merry 2010 Christmas!!

As we end 2010, we want to wish all of you who read this very happy holidays! Our year was a good one. Still have not sold our house in Michigan, which continues to be a bit of a financial drain for us, but we have good health and really are very fortunate. Mike had his left total hip replaced this fall and his thoughts about that are further down in this blog. Various pictures of some of our other activities are also posted here. I found a good part time job as a public health nurse in a town about 40 minutes from here and think I will grow to love it. We have not been able to see our St. Louis friends either out here ...or in there...as often as we would have hoped...but are loving living here in Owensville. And are making new friends here. Mike has become a bit active in the local theatre group and we are going to join both the Arts Council and the local Democratic club. We have found a wonderful church which we are now members of. These folks have been so friendly and welcoming to us in every way....and we look forward to developing lots of friendships with them. We have joined the choir and love singing in harmony with their lovely voices. We have said to each other many times....how glad we are that we chose Owensville as a place to live...and look forward to having many happy years here!

Below are some pictures of our Christmas Decorations. We got two new electric heaters and have loved having mantles to decorate. This Christmas besides giving and going to parties with our friends...both new and old, we will have Mike's kids and grandkids out on the 26th for gifts and dinner. They are predicting snow on Christmas Eve so to go to the 11PM service at our church should be lovely! We can walk if it gets too deep!! Love living in a small town. Hope all your days are merry....and that 2011 is a wonderful year for us all!!

Some decorations on the porch.....











One of the smaller mantles.....




















And the larger one in the parlor.....

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Fall outings.....

One evening in the late summer, we went with some friends to eat in a restaurant which is inside a cave! It was interesting......the food was OK. But I think all of us feel....we've done it...no need to do it again! Then in October, my dear Uncle Larry and cousin Nick came for a visit. We toured a lot of wineries...cause that is the area we live in. Here is an old historic stone church...And the historic RR Missouris River town of AugustaAt a winery on the banks of the Missouri RiverUncle Larry swigging from the bottle....well....not really!At Hermann....a wonderful old German town near usAnd on a trip into St. Louis...we visited the house Uncle Larry...and my mom...grew up in. I lived there for a while too...a wonderful house in South St. Louis.

Family Reunions

We had two family reunions in August....the Balluff one in MT Morris....and here is the whole crew at breakfast....Enjoying our picnic/BBQ in the park....Aunt Ruth and Lucas...Aunt Ruth and Ella....the oldest and the youngest!A good pic of Luke...and it is hard to get him to pose...which is why there always seem to be more of Ella. But he is soooo handsome!!My brother David in town...and we took in a Card's game at Busch Stadium...fun!!And the Kuehnert/Wright family reunion...cousins reunited. And two kids named after my mom's cousin Evan who is missed by us all.All of the cousins....do we look hot...and I mean that in the bad way?? It was one of the hottest days of the year.....in the 100's! YIKESSS!!

Spring and summer fun 2010

On a hot summer weekend, we went to Sedalia to the Scott Joplin Jazz Festival...toured an historic home and listened to some great Ragtime Jazz.....
We saw Ella...our grand daughter get her medal in gymnastics






And went to the Rose evening at the Missouri Botanical Garden in June












Paid some visits for wine drinking and music to our local Wenwood Farm winery.....

And had fun with the kids in the backyard.....



Luke has great potential for golfing....hopefully his granddad can take him out this spring now that he has a new hip!In the spring my two BFF's and I went to the Mo Botanical Garden too...one of our favorite places in St. Louis.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

CONTINUATION OF SAME

Well, here it is two months after my surgery, and all is well. I'm playing golf, walking a lot to strenthen my legs. It is surprising how much you lose strength when you don't use some muscles for a few weeks. I'm going to my Orthopedist in two days for another follow up. I feel very good now and I'd say that I am about 90% back to my normal self. My legs do get tired, but could that be age??? I seldom even think of limiting myself actively, but I am cautious when walking on uneven lawns, and up hill. I really don't want to step in a gopher hole. I am now pain free after 3 years of enduring the hip pain of bone to bone contact. Hallejulia! Amen!
Thanks for reading. Mike

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

FOLLOW UP

One month after my surgery I returned to my orthopedist for a follow up exam and advise how to continue my treatment. I have followed my physician's advise to the letter, in spite of difficulty sleeping and restricted moving about in my world. We checked in at his office and I was taken to X-ray where they took pics of my hip. Wow, how interesting it was to see inside my body and the device implanted in my hip!
Plus the fact it is working well. Still no pain or discomfort to the joint or incision, just achiness in the other muscles of my back and legs. After the X-ray we sat in a examination room for a few minutes when all the lights went out. There we were in total darkness until a nurse came and herded us all into the parking lot in front of the medical center, not knowing why or what was happening. Everyone was there, patients like me with walkers, and some with IV's on a stand, and some in wheelchairs. My doctor spotted me there and came over and checked me out in the parking lot. He told me to get rid of the walker and go to a cane for two more weeks, continue on my meds, and check back with him in another month. Done!!!
Hallelujah!!! Jubilation reigns. It has been up hill from then on. Every day improvement is seen and felt. I am not back 100% yet, probably more like 75% and another 5% every week. I'm sleeping on both sides, walking without a cane a lot, but get tired easily. Hopefully in a month or so, I'll feel up to getting out the golf clubs again. Thanks to you all for your good wishes, prayers, and thanks for reading. Mike PS- the lights went out due to a transformer failure.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Caregivers

This blog would not be complete without a word or two about my caregivers. Let me just say that I really hate to be dependent on anyone else but myself in any situation. I have always had pride in the fact that I could fend for myself when push came to shove, that way I am responsible for any action or inaction on my part. However in this situation, I was always at the mercy of my caregivers- the nurses, my physician, physical therapist and most of all my wife, Judy, my personal nurse. What dedication they all had! They guided me, advised me, and treated me so well that I am going to be forever grateful. I know that I can never repay them for the wonderful service they gave me so gently and confidently. What a great group of people. My wife, Judy, has been so good to me in this helpless condition in which I was, meeting my every need with smiles and great insight into what I need, she has gone the extra mile and then some. I think that I am ahead of my expected healing because of her and my diligent program of exercise that was given to me by my therapist. Thank you Judy and every one of my caregivers. Mike

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Getting stronger.

Had I known this hip surgery would be so easy, shucks, I wouldn't have been so skeered. Fear of the unknown, that is just what is is. Solved by complete trust and faith in my surgeon and my God. Gosh I should have known, but then I'm only a poor dumb human. It will be three weeks since my surgery on this Tuesday, and I still have had little or no pain from my hip, or the incision since I left the hospital. The only complaint that I can think of is that the muscles in my other leg, lower back and arm and shoulders, hurt more than they usually do. They are compensating for the loss of weight bearing on my repaired hip. I am still using a walker which makes me feel like I'm 90 years older than I really am, but I could walk across the room without it I am sure. I hesitate to do anything that my doctor told me not to do, so I continue to be just an old dog. Judy has taken me out for a ride in the car, which was a treat, but I miss working in the yard and flower garden more than ever. I am going to follow the doctor's regimen to the letter and remain steadfast in my exercise and do the drugs as he has prescribed. I know in my heart that is best, I will continue to improve. Please return next week after my follow up with my surgeon, I may have more encouraging news. You all know that this is for the benefit of anyone who is contemplating hip surgery, and to put you at ease. Thanks for reading. Mike

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Continuation of the Hip Hop

Well, here I am two weeks to the day after my surgery. I have a nurse come to see me once a week to check my vital signs and to check my blood to see how the various drugs are affecting me. They ask me to evaluate my pain on a scale of 0-10. I'm pleased to say that it is a 0 most of the time, with and occasional 2-3. Most of that pain is not from my hip, but from my other muscles which are taking over the task of supporting my weight that I cannot put on my hip. There are 3 things that I must keep in mind, according to the doctor. 1) only 50% weight on my left leg, no more. 2) the angle of my body bending at the waist cannot excede 90 degrees and 3) my foot and leg cannot cross a line equidistant between my feet. So crossing my legs is a no-no. Also I must walk like a duck with my left foot pointed to the outside of my body. It must not be forced to turn to the inside.These things are getting hard to remember as it is difficult, with no pain, to resist just getting out and running or jumping or climbing trees, as I feel that I can readily do all that. I sleep at night very well, but it must be on my back. I have adjusted to that as I am a side sleeper. Judy said that I snore mightily on my back. So to insure a sound night for her, I must sleep where all my growling bear noises cannot be heard by anyone. (She suggested the car in the garage, but I nixed that) I am still a little uncomfortable siting and typing on the computer as it is close to the 90 degree rule. As time allows, and time does march on here, I will keep anyone interested apprised of my progress in future blogs. thanks for reading. Mike

Monday, September 13, 2010

Midsection Pain or the St. Johns Hospital Hip Hop

About three years ago now, when we were in Texas avoiding the Michigan winter, I noticed something of a pain coming from my leg near my hip joint. It was rather painful to walk so I took some aspirins and it went away. It went away until about 6hours later. Then one day I was riding my bike and took a rather unintentional, awkward, and embarassing spill landing on my side. Watching me do this inglorious act was a group of about 10 picnickers about 10 feet away! I dusted my self off, smiled as if it was a regular occurrance, righted my bike and said that I was fine, and not to call EMR. The next day I had to cancel my golf game with the fellas I usually joined once a week. A few days of rest and a few ibuprofen tabs later it felt all right again, except for a few elbow scabs that were healing. Nothing severe enough to keep me from playing 18 holes for sure, and at that time I was coming in 1st or 2nd in our group of 6. Never had to buy a round of beer as the bottom player.
Well winter came and went and we returned to MI and I continued to play my usual golf once or twice a week limping around at all the local courses there. I kept the OTC drug companys in business. I was switching between Motrin, naproxin sodium, acetaminiphin and aspirin on consecutive days, never taking more than the recommended dosage. My liver meant too much to me.
Meanwhile we moved to MO. I limped my way through that.
Advancing to 4 months ago, I had my physical where they took an xray and informed me that I had an arthritic hip and warned me that I had a hip procedure coming soon.
Not me! Said I. Can't be true as I am too tough and indestructible for this, besides it scared me as I had never been in a hospital before..since I was 9 yrs old, that's almost never and I really don't remember much except that then there was no TV and my entertainment was a nurse who came in once in a while to play checkers.

About August 10th I went to Washington MO to the Patients First Clinic to talk to an Orthopedist about getting a new hip to replace the old worn out one. I engaged Dr. Dean Lusardi to do the surgery and he scheduled me for 195 minutes in the Operating room on Sept 7. I counted the hours, days, and minutes until the big day arrived. I got up at 5:30 AM, showered with the antiseptic soap that they gave me and Judy drove me to St. Johns Hospital where they prepped me for surgery at 9 AM. I don't remember anything after that until I woke up in the recovery room at about 12:45PM. Where did the time go? Birds were singing, music was playing and I was floating in the air. Wheee, what fun that was! They took me for a ride up in the elevator to my private room. (don't remember the elevator ride either)

I felt like a special king of kings as the nurses were looking after my every wish.

My doctor came in and asked me how I was doing, and I remember telling him that I was still alive. I still was feeling no pain and all I wanted was to drink water and sleep. That night I must have awakened 10 times to go potty. Had to call the nurse to help me get out of bed. Then every two hours the nurse came comes in to take my temp, blood pressure, and a blood sample. It was a very long night.

The next day I had my wife and my pastor visit me. I enjoyed seeing someone whom I recognized. The hospital food was horrible that day, but got much better as the days wore on.

I think the explanation for that is that my taste buds were screwy, and I got hungrier as time passed.

Hospital nurses are so kind and gentle, and that is just what I needed, as being moved from position to position for eating, pottying, and sleeping was a little trying.

My hospital stay was 3 days, I was really ready to leave. Driving home from the hospital was an hour except there was an accident that blocked the road for another 45 minutes.

Now in retrospect, the experience was not that unpleasant. I am glad that I had the procedure done. I'm exercising every day for my new hip, eating well, and sleeping like a dead man. In another 3 weeks, my doctor says that I won't know I've been through anything like this. I have a new perspective on life and looking forward to more golf. Thanks for reading.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Christmas 2009 is now history...and what a time it was!

We had lots of plans this Christmas and the following pictures tell the tale of some of them. We had wonderful times with friends and family. December started out with 3 dinners one each week...one at our friends', the Fould's house, one at ours, and one at our friends', the Smiths' house. We have known each other for a looooong time...and live in kind of a triangle from each other...about an hour apart from each other. We planned on sleeping over at each other's houses the night of these parties...so we could have some glasses of Christmas cheer. Each one of us cook and decorate differently...so that makes it interesting. Each party is a little different and each party was wonderful!



We started at Barb's where she had a wonderful array of appetizers to start us out with.....

Their two kitties Doozi and Sunshine entertain us between courses always...and are sooo cute!Then we tucked in to a wonderful, fabulous meal of paella! What a great time! Wonderful meal and beautiful setting! Click on this picture to make it bigger and see that beautiful paella!

The next dinner ...about a week later was at our house....we had appetizers in the parlor....

Here is how it looked before I put all the food out actually....pics reversed! Mike got me the wonderful centerpiece for one of my Christmas gifts!And here is the table before we started eating.....being the hostess I never took another one until we were done! But I made Cocquille St. Jacques....thanks to Julia Child! Yummy if I do say so myself! And I heard everyone else thought so too.....

The next dinner was at the Smiths who live on the family farm in the country....a wonderful spot! Jan's hobby is trains and dollhouses and her train is really fun to watch!The table before......They made a fabulous beef roast stuffed with mushrooms which was to die for....should have got a shot of that!Thanks Ron for taking this picture...I am so rarely in them! I think all three of us had spectacular trees....should have taken one of Barbs which is the biggest and absolutely wonderful!The Smiths have beautiful horses on the farm.....Ron relating to one.....







My sister and brother in law came for the holidays and during that time we got together in St. Louis with some dear old friends of both Susie and me.....here at Seamus McDaniels in Dogtown are: Kevin, John, Lynn, Susie, Dennis....And ME





Before my relatives arrived on Christmas Eve...we had the kids and grandkids over on a Sunday for Christmas Brunch and gift exchange...as usual they were darling. Hats were the item this year for both grandkids....Luke.....Geeez...look at those eyelashes! He is sooo handsome...but does not really like his picture taken at this age.....My wonderful niece Becca knit this hat for Ella....she looks so cute in it!And she loves to have her picture taken at the age she is at!

Then Christmas Eve came and my sister, brother in law, and nephew came in on a rainy Christmas Eve! Thank goodness it was not ice or snow. It did snow that night and we did have a white Christmas which is so rare for Missouri! But was pretty. We were very glad we did not have to go anywhere that day though.......

We had Prime Rib....which turned out great! First time I ever cooked it!


Corey, Mike, Susie and Dennis before dinner......We had so much fun with them...but it did involve a lot of running around to get Corey to the bus station to go see his dad and then to the airport...we handled it though and the weather pretty much cooperated. And we were so glad he was here!!



We got some rather bad news a couple of days after Christmas. Our brother had had chest pains while he was at the hospital for another medical emergency of another family member in he and his wife's family. He was rushed to the cath lab and ended up having 2 stents put in. Very scary for us. Heart disease runs in our family and our mom died of it way too young. He is fine now though. We did drive down to Springfield to see him and so glad we did! He was in the hospital for a few days and he and his wife, Pam did not make it here as planned for New Years. We missed them! But are glad all ended well!



Paul....another brother, his wife Judith and their son Evan did arrive for New Years from Chicago though and we had a nice lasagne dinner the night they arrived....

We went to a fun old quaint restuarant near here on the Gasconade River for New Years Eve dinner. It used to be an old mill and will be fun to go to in good weather and sit outside and watch the river. But that night....Great food....great company!We all then came back here and played games and drank champagne until midnight. Missed Steve, Pam....and David and Nat...but was great to be together! Had lots of fun during the families visits...and the weather was not too bad. Played cards, watched DVD's, caught up with talk....ate a lot. What you do during the holidays. They were great in our new home and we hope we have many more like them with family and our best friends! Thank you all for coming! And Happy 2010 to all who read this!!!!