TKR Lavender's getting a new left knee for Christmas

[tiredwife]

@lavender That is a lot to keep track of. My hubby has sleep apnea. I kept trying to get him to get tested, I was tired of not sleeping so I could keep poking him when he quit breathing. He finally scared himself once time when he woke up gasping and couldn't catch his breath. He got tested and has his cpap and uses it every night.
It is nice not to have to worry about him while he is sleeping anymore.

 

[lavender]

Hi @tiredwife Hope you are having a nice day. It is scarey to think that something could happen when someone is sleeping. Good your husband has been tested so now you can be ready if anything does not sound right. My brother was tested last year and he has sleep apnea to. The last time I saw the specialist my husband goes to he asked my husband if he ever noticed during the night that I seemed to have stopped breathing .

My husband wears a hearing aid that he takes out at night while sleeping so he said he would not hear it if it happened I have found while falling asleep I do breath funny, a little loud never noticed this before a while ago but know I do stop breathing sometimes as wondering why I gasp so will be happy to have it checked for me to just not at this time too much going on. His specialist is very thorough he makes sure everything is just right. My husband has at this time a number of health concerns and some are very serious. Not sure if I have always been told what is happening as a few years ago before he had this surgeon they did not have it pin pointed either but now they do.

I told his specialist yesterday after my appointment that he was very important to us he was the one who started things to turn around. He told me without going into detail too much my husband has serious health issues need to make sure they are monitored and looked after and hoping there is nothing that I have not been told about. We did not go back to work after our store closed. I had started my visits with the surgeon and at first just an exam and cortisone shot. We both held full time jobs for 38 years and the closing of our store was a major shock it was hard so during the time with my Dad in the hospital so much and my Mom as well we needed our time to handle things they needed done at one point my husband and my Dad and my Mom were all in hospitals different places or the same at times so needed the time to go back and forth to see them I was working at the time.

My Mom does not understand the break from getting another job she just does not if we had not have lost our jobs the time spent with her would have happened as it did before when we were working nights but not as often. Worked overnights and then took care of my parents then after that went home to get sleep so the chance to drive and do errands for her as we did would have happened less. We support ourselves she does not understand my husband will be 60 in another week so think he has worked long enough. Talking to the doctor one day he said that if my husband had not had the break he may not have lived to be with me now so his health issues were serious. At the time our store closed worried how to manage but sometimes things happen for a reason and now wondering if it all worked out for the best.

I had of been working still would not be able to return to the job I had if knee surgery would have had to change positions, and if still working probably would not have made the decision to have surgery would have waited and would not have had a chance to travel the distance to see my Dad everyday and that would be something that I would have regretted now. As they say and guess it is really true when a door closes a window opens think that is how it goes but our window is a chance to have time to do a few things we want to together that we did not have time to do before and take care of our health. Hope your husband is doing great and that his new knees are having an easy time. All the best to both of you Holly

 

[Pumpkin]

Holly,
If you even think you have sleep apnea, please get tested. I have sleep apnea and feel so much better with CPAP. Women often have more of a partial air way obstruction and may not completely stop breathing, but still have sleep apnea.
In the meantime in Canada you can buy an OTC device the AVEO TSD for mild sleep apnea, you might want to check into it. If you are tongue tied (I am) it does not work as well.
Properly breathing will help your apnea, and your recovery from TKR.
You can also ask you Dr. for an overnight O2 saturation test, easy to do, it is done at home with a monitoring pulseoximeter. He can give you supplemental oxygen if your sats are dropping too much, until you can be tested for sleep apnea, it will help with the O2 drop.
Sorry for the lecture, but I think this is important.

 

[appaloosa girl]

Hi @lavender. My husband has sleep apnea also. Very hard sleeping with him before he got his c pap machine. Don't worry about it now.
Glad your dr appt's are going so smoothly. Won't be long now. The time is going fast. I noticed that once my appts to see all the drs started. I had my 8wk post op checkup last week and he's very happy with how I'm doing. So thankful to hear him say that. I'm to the point now where I'm happy I did it. I'd do it again when the other knee needs it done. For now it's ok.
Dana


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[tiredwife]

@lavender Holly I believe that most things happen for a reason. Hope your hubby's health improves by leaps and bounds. Yours too!

 

[lavender]

Today before getting up my husband stayed in bed and talked for a little while. He was talking about our tree a tree we bought one year out on the highway . We saw if it was huge we wondered how we would get it home and the man offered to tie it onto our car. Driving home kept worrying what if it fell off it was so big not only tall but big around they all costed the same price so we bought this tree not expecting it was as big as it actually was till we got it home. My brothers called it our "Christmas Vacation tree" and finding it was touching our ceiling we had to take two feet off of the bottom . It looked big at the gas station where we bought it but wow.
Finding a way to stand it up needing to anchor it to the wall with a cord to keep it from falling over hoping it would not fall on anyone. It took up the entire corner of our living room stretched out quite a distance but boy she was just so beautiful such a beautiful tree. We started to decorate her thought we had lots of ornaments but this tree was so big that we had to find more what we had just started to get the decorating going. Our angel sat proudly perched on the top. She was touching the ceiling but this was such a lovely full tree. The Christmas Vacation tree still comes up in conversations my brothers named it that how amazing they thought it was that we got it home tied to our car. We brought a real tree home the first year we were married for our first Christmas. Not supposed to have a real tree but we brought ours up in a blanket so no needles left on the carpet think this was why they thought no real tree but ours did not make a mess. Found a stand and our first tree so exciting.

We loved this apartment till the weather turned cold the front of our apartment was solid windows so nice but when the winter came problems with the heat they kept putting off the complaint so after finding water coming up our drain in the kitchen we said no more carpet was soaked so many times but otherwise apartment was a nice one.

We moved after our first year there and the next Christmas we bought an artificial tree we lived on the 9th floor so harder to bring up a real tree .

Today we have decorated our tree after trying to get time to do this. It is so pretty keep finding more decorations so it will look full and sad that one of the sets of lights is not working had two the same they are really pretty and the bulbs have glass covers on them that look like crystal snowballs clear like crystal bought them a long time ago and still so nice but the second string no longer lights up so had to throw it out.

Happy to get our tree decorated, today we brought some of the water globes and other decorations down from our upstairs bedroom and thinking just about all decorating is finished. Taking it slow this year and having fun taking our time doing our stuff.

No appointments tomorrow looking forward to a slower pace not sure what we will do but staying home and watching a movie will be fine with me. Picked up a few things to bake with and maybe see if time to start trying but this week has been really busy. Hoping everyone is having a nice day. I am looking forward to surgery date it is almost here. Holly

 

[lavender]

Hi @Pumpkln Thanking you very much for the information about sleep apnea you have given me very appreciated. The specialist was telling me yesterday that if we have this very important to have it checked out. He also mentioned that there are dangers of leaving it without having it checked.

He also said that complications are dangerous if we having diabetes do not get treatment as we could stop breathing all together. This man is very thorough I am not a patient of his just my husband but he has started arrangements for his tests. It will involve spending a night in the hospital and then they monitor him he is suggesting to my doctor to set up the same tests for me to. Our hospital has a special department where they monitor sleep and thinking this is where he will go remember this place as they had my Moms pre-op appointment in it as no where else was available that day small room with a bed and someone monitors the patients there might help with sleeping wish I could sleep sounder go to bed so tired and then up and down through the night miss sleeping soundly like before.

I will be seeing my family doctor next Monday for 3 month followup so I am going to mention it to him to and see if something can be set up for me to. Your help does not feel like a lecture I appreciate your caring help very kind of you to share this information. I do feel that my breathing has changed over the past while find my self gasping and after talking about the symptoms know that I have stopped breathing. I am a very light sleeper really do not often sleep as soundly as I used to so this might explain why I am not feeling as well.

Once again thanks so much for your kindness remembering my brother telling me he was diagnosed and he was concerned about having this thinking by the description of what you told me and what the specialist said that we both have sleep apnea and getting checked worried that one night one of us will stop breathing and that is a scarey thought. Holly

 

[lavender]

@appaloosa girl Hi Dana So great to hear that your 8 week appointment went so well and that things are going so wonderful with your recovery from your surgery. It seemed like so long away when the phone call telling me they had a date for my surgery and now can't believe how fast the time is going. So happy at my appointments yesterday the surgeon and the specialist are great people and have complete confidence in both of them.

My husband is a sound sleeper he snored at night and I tried to rub his back to relax him sometimes it helped the snoring even stopped it. I did not realize I had breathing issues or could have sleep apnea till falling asleep and just before I fell asleep heard my own breathing surprised me never knew. Hoping we can both have a checkup for this soon as hearing what the specialist was saying is a little scarey. Knowing how many nights when my husband slept very still and quiet that I kept checking him making sure he was breathing wondering why it was so quiet worried that one day he would not be breathing not wanting that to happen to either of us . The endochrinologist that my husband sees is the specialist that is making arrangements for his test. Hope you are doing great and that your knee just keeps getting better and better each day Holly

 

[lavender]

Today no appointments just a little break as lots of appointments next week . A store that is owned by the same people who owned the company we worked for had a sale on today seniors day so purchases had an extra 15 percent off. We had planned on picking up a few pillows but have been waiting till they went on sale so today on top of the discount they were buy one get one free. A few of our friends are working in this store mainly bedding and housewares is what they sell and a little bit of furniture to . They also sell a some gift sets of candy and stuff. The store was built in the first store we worked for before they merged with the company that left and all went out of business. Really liked when our store was there very family oriented. They were asking how we were doing wishing me luck for surgery and my husband said they were happy that my knee was getting taken care of they knew how bad it had become at the end.

My husband found two nice bed pillows and then thought it would be nice to buy me a body pillow . He came back to the car and so pleased with his purchases. Then we thought well if the pillows are buy one get one free the body pillows probably are to. So on our way home he went back in and they gave him the second pillow as we only had one of these pillows so two for one and they were a great deal.

Now changing our pillows on our bed to the new ones and that will give me two to use for elevating my leg after surgery. Thinking the body pillow is a great idea to as it can be put on the couch and kept there for elevating my knee down stairs. My husband is always trying to help with whatever he can and trying to make sure that I have what I need for this surgery so new pillows for our bed and solving the problem with what to use for elevation.

We visited our park after the first trip to the store and so many ducks and geese took loaf or bread and then had a spare for next time so between the ducks and geese more then one hundred feathered friends all looking like they would like some food. Felt so nice surrounded by them sitting on the bench by the water we love to sit on and all coming up close to have their turn. We decided that the weather might not be as nice tomorrow so used both loaves my husband said so many do you mind if we feed them what we have and I said nice to have the extra not getting as many chances to go to our park and hoping they all had a turn they are so lovely and we enjoy our time with them.

We met a man who was walking his dog and he stopped and we talked on our way back to our car. His dog is beautiful and his name is Sam. Very gentle he is a large dog long hair black and white around his shoulders and he was so soft. He explained as we were telling him how lovely Sam is that he found him one summer while they were up in the north at his cottage. Sam was looking very in need of food and warmth and seemed to be lost so he took him into his cottage. Gave him food and a blanket to sleep on and love. He placed an ad to see if anyone answered it had anyone lost their dog he said he had no replies so took him to the vet and had him checked he came home with them and he wondered if he would have to go again would someone who was looking for him see the flyers he had placed around and come to get him. But no one came he said they are so fortunate that he wandered in to their cottage area that day how much they love him and seeing him how much he loves them. He said he wondered if someone had left him there times were tough around 2008 and maybe someone felt they could no longer care for him he was only about 18 months old then now 7 years old what a beautiful dog . I wondered if he was a border collie and now just after looking this up he is. His hair is long black silky long hair and his shoulders are white his hair had a little bit of a curl he sat and let me pat him.

So gentle and I told him he was very special how much his family must love him. Love seeing people who love their fluffy families love to see them walking them and talking to them feeling how much they love their dogs and cats see that they are cared for and how much they bring into one another's lives. Hoping to see them again our little visit together was a pleasure to be a part of

New pillows to sleep on tonight and even better they were on sale and then the discount so not feeling like we spent something we should not have spent. Almost the weekend now weather cold but no snow fresh and now getting ready to finish our decorating of our tree found some beaded garlands from other years looks so pretty on our tree. This year instead of our angel we have an old fashioned Santa he is dressed in his red coat carrying a Christmas tree and a cane and furry collar and border around his coat. We bought him one year after Christmas when things were marked down he is always kind of left but he needs to have his turn and he looks so nice think he will like being on our tree and more see him the more happy we chose him this year just for a little change it was my husband Jim who suggested what would I think if this year our tree top had a Santa happy he did he looks great. Holly

 

[tiredwife]

@lavender Holly that was a great buy on the pillows!
Glad you got to stop by your park and feed your winged friends. Sam sounds wonderful!

 

[lavender]

@tiredwife Hi the time in our park today was so nice stayed long enough to feed our friends and then it was getting cold hoping to go tomorrow busy day but love to see them probably not taking bread gave them both today but maybe we will find something just the same around our kitchen. Just a tiny bit of snow on the ground clear roads and sidewalks.

Every year our park hold something they call Sparkles in the Park they are setting the decorations up now. So many trees are lit, buildings washrooms and other buildings are decorated like gingerbread houses, Music will be playing when the night that this beautiful display starts so many lovely decorations . You can drive along the pathway from the street down into our park and all the way along so many wonderful things to see. Last year the display was blocked when the bad ice storm came as so many trees were damaged down by the river lots of branches on the ground so many were without hydro for three or more days my brother was one that had no power.

We went the year before we bought our car with them on the way home from our Christmas supper and it was amazing. The accept small donations usually 5.00 for a car with the four of us in it and this money is donated to a charity It will be starting soon so hoping to go and visit one night before my surgery it is breath taking and so much work goes into putting it all together noticing all of the large boxes under the trees thinking they are what the lights will be plugged into so pretty. Holly

 

[lavender]

We have now finished decorating our Christmas tree . Started doing it in stages usually do it in one day but just so much going on this past week and the week coming is going to be even busies. Still no baking done. Hope to do it today but now thinking maybe Sunday hoping to get some done but might just have to make do with the shortbread we bought. I have things to bake with but just seems no time still time before Christmas so maybe this weekend. Holly

 

[lavender]

 

[tiredwife]

@lavender Maybe you could take some photos of your Sparkles in the Park. Your tree is very pretty and festive, is that some of your needle point on the wall?

 

[lavender]

Hi @tiredwife and everybody Hope you are having a nice day. Our tree is finished I helped build it and helped hand the lights around the tree to my husband and back around with more. I had to keep sitting my legs just did not manage that well so after a little while could do no more decorating. When the lights were all put on I helped hang decorations with breaks in between but most of the decorations that my husband found by the end and the beads my husband put on.

Just can not stand still that long my legs needed a big break after we finished but it is really pretty now all finished and thank you. It took three days to get it all finished one to put it together and then a rest then lights then a rest and then the rest by my husband.

They are some of my framed cross stitch pieces and the wall they hang on is full of cross stitch lucky my husband likes my cross stitch but then again he bought many of them for me. Encouraging me that even when I say maybe you would like to put up something else to he says he loves looking at them. He is amazed how a piece of linen can turn into a cross stitch finished piece. Our dining room has more and the end of the living room up our staircase and into the hallway and both bedrooms but he likes them to he says he remembers me making them and the look of complete joy on my face as I stitch he loves them on our walls so lucky as many men would not maybe mine does.

Almost finished my Lady of the Mist cross stitch just a few more inches down and 6 inches across and she will be done and she is really beautiful. Felt like she would never be this close to being done but now she is almost finished and then going to frame her and up on the wall she will go. Going today to do something we have not for a while to our favorite restaurant in the town nearby for breakfast and looking forward to the beautiful drive along country roads and the wonderful food they offer Hope you have a nice day and all the best Holly

 

[Minnie's knees]

@lavender Holly the time is going by fast. Your surgery date is almost here. I am so glad you were able to get your tree and decorations up so you can enjoy them. The sparkles in the park sounds like it will be beautiful. I would love to see some pictures of it. Enjoy your breakfast and scenic drive.

 

[tiredwife]

@lavender Love the cross stitch pictures from what I can see they are lovely. Glad you got your tree done.

 

[lavender]

Hi @Minnie's knees and @tiredwife Hoping to get to see the sparkles in the park went one year and it is amazing so many lights and ornaments the park is all a glow with lights and music and hoping to get there before surgery time. Just two more Mondays after this one and the second Monday is my surgery day. Happy to have our tree up one more thing off the list. Our trip along the country roads was lovely no snow really but no worry of ice and that is a good things

Along the road to our favorite restaurant in the town we go to Mennonite tourist areas in this town and the cooking at our favorite place is so good. We have waited to go for a little while but they were happy to see us and nice to see them to all decorated with trees and garland and lights so pretty.

Along the roadway to this town we always look for one house along our way. A Saint Bernard lives in this house so nice to see him always watch for him or her. This morning she was waiting by the front door for someone to let her in and her tail was wagging just like our Daisys tail did like a propeller going round and round peaking in the door which has a glass window just the right height. We always look as we pass same size as our dog Daisy and reminds me of the long walk we took together never realized just how big she was till looking at a picture the other day I found in one of my drawers she was how I lost my fear of dogs.

Love doing cross stitch so neat to see the picture forming as you stitch a few stitches here and there and looking at what you stitch you realize you have just created a little arm, her hair or part of dress ruffle just love doing it. I have one kit that is called Kitty Litter that is a basketful of kittens all different types all different expressions and teddy bears sitting by a quilt , one that I have started is a Santa who has fell asleep in his arm chair kittens and puppies scattered across his chest some nestled into his chin, others held under his arm cuddled so cute. Another project that needs to have more stitching done but love doing them takes you into almost another place seeing them all come together.

Then needing more wall space but my husband says lots of room why are you worried just put it here. Happy he likes my stitching and telling him if he could learn to stitch how we could do it together he laughs and says that why I gave you some for you to do and me to watch. Seeing how much I can stitch on The lady of the mist today as she is a very lovely cross stitch know just where she will go when she is all done love to hang them where they can be seen might have to move someone for now but will see still have to frame her and then finished. Holly

 

[lavender]

My husband took these pictures last night I had these cross stitchs in my Grams cedar chest too large for frames that I can find but he thought I would like them in my pictures section still need washed and pressed and stretched but will look better then just a little wrinkled. The angel is called Peace Angel and the second picture is called Shakespears fairies going to try to frame the second one my self thing my frame will be big enough but the angel may go to my friend who does framing as she is 21" high and my largest frame is only 20" Holly

 

[Minnie's knees]

@lavender Holly those are so beautiful. Thank you for sharing them with us.