Tuesday, July 30, 2013

The Healing Is Coming Along Nicely

Today, marked a milestone for my husband as he continues to heal.  He walked to the top of the hill near our house and back home again.  A forty-five minute walk in the neighborhood was quite an accomplishment for him as his back surgery was just twelve days ago.  As we began the walk, he said his legs felt weak, but he had no pain.  By the time we finished the walk, he said he felt stronger than he had when we first started out.  This evening, we walked around our block twice.  I continue to marvel at how well he is doing.  We had a full day of having the car serviced and dinner out.  He said today he felt the best he has in a very long time.  This is excellent news!

It is so good to have my man back at my side for our daily walks.  Even better, he is no longer suffering and in pain when he walks.  For the most part, our roles have reversed somewhat.  I now walk the dog, and he carries the poop bag.  (Someone has to do it.)   I told Boston there would be a new sheriff in town just before "The Boss" had his surgery.  "The Boss," my name to Boston for his master, is much more lenient when it comes to discipline where the "The Boy" or Boston is concerned.  I think Jim feels a bit guilty that the dog can't run free after all the bunnies that populate the neighborhood, so he will allow Boston to charge after a bunny until he comes to the end of his leash.  A few times, I've been afraid the dog would topple Jim over as he charges off.

I, on the other hand, like a well disciplined dog as a walking companion.  So, the task of getting this dog to heel in a highly distractible environment has been one I have been working on these few weeks.  I am training Boston, rather late in his life, to stay by my side while walking without thinking he is free to run as if he were at the dog park.  I am using a gentle leader collar and treats to accomplish my training goals.  The treats always work.  He is coming along nicely in his training, but he hates the gentle leader.  I have always enjoyed walking my dogs, but Boston has always been a challenge for me, so while Jim's back is healing, Boston and I are learning to walk together.

The first few days after surgery are never great, and Jim had a rough couple of days after surgery.  In the long run though, we are amazed at how quickly he has recovered from back surgery.  That being said, I hope he never ever has to have another surgery such as this again.  It is just too hard on the body.  It is also hard on the caretaker.  We have made it through thus far and are looking forward to many more days of good health ahead of us.

On this past Saturday, Jim was taken to lunch by his dinner crew.  Three former colleagues of his drove up from Pueblo to take him to lunch.  These guys, all retired teachers from the school where Jim was principal, have met for dinner once a month for the past four or five years.  It was great for Jim to have them come to his new stomping grounds to take him out.  Thankfully, I thought to grab my phone and take a photo of these four fine educators gathered on our back deck. They  sometimes laugh and call themselves ROMEOS or Retired Old Men Eating Out.  One thing is for sure, when they get together, the conversation is rich with laughter and discussion of all types of subjects.  They were good medicine for Jim.


All in all, the summer has not been a bad one.  We are both healing and becoming more healthy.  We enjoy our new home and the beautiful setting in which we live.  We love the climate where we live.  In the mornings and evenings, we feel the cool mountain breezes as we walk or sit on the deck and listen to rustling aspen leaves on the trees that give us beautiful shade and privacy.  The last week has been especially cool and lovely as we have had just enough rain in our part of town to really green up the lawn and cool off the evenings.  Our a/c bills are much lower than they were in Pueblo, and so are our water bills.  We are happy for that.  We look forward to August and are not ready to see this summer come to an end.

I am doing much, much better health wise.  I am now taking pancreatic enzymes with every meal.  I no longer have pain.  The enzymes seem to be working.  I am so thankful for that.  Thankfully, I have good insurance.  I say that with true gratitude.  I can't imagine what my bills would be like these past few months of constant medical tests and doctor visits without good insurance.  The medicine I am on would have cost over $1400 without insurance.  I am only talking about my medical bills.  Jim's medical bills are not doubt astronomical also.  Again, thank heavens for our good supplemental insurance plans.  I know this is a hot topic these days and don't wish to create a political discussion with these statements.  I am just grateful that we are able to secure good medical plans for ourselves during our retirement years.  I realize that many in our age group are not able to do so.

One last word:  Thank you blogging friends, and all my other friends also, for all of your well wishes as Jim and I have faced health challenges this past few months.  Your words of support and concern have meant more than you know.  Forgive me for not reading your blogs as faithfully as I would like.  Hopefully, life will slow down soon, and we will all be back to normal.

27 comments:

  1. What a fabulous post, Sally. BOTH of you are doing GREAT.. That is awesome. God is GOOD.

    It's just terrific reading about your progress---both of you. Hooray... Thanks so much for a great post...

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  2. How light my heart is after I've read this blog! Wonderful news regarding Jim and you, too, Sally!!
    I loved this sentence: "He said today he felt the best he has in a very long time." Well, I gotta just do a happy dance about that!! Can't ask for too much more than that 12 days post-surgery, eh?
    The photo of the educators also lifted my heart. I know that you are a retired educator, as am I...and we will have "chalk dust" running in our veins forever... Amen.
    What a happy group they are! And to know that they helped Jim feel even better is reason for smiling.
    I'm so glad that you and Jim are enjoying the cool breezes...lower power bills...and overall are settling in so nicely.
    Continued prayers for you both. Know that I'm thinking of you, Sally. I loved being here. It does my heart good to read a post like this.
    Sweet dreams from south Georgia.
    Love,
    Jackie

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  3. I'm glad you're both doing well! My hubs is a pushover when it comes to our pup too, but she toes the line with me : )

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  4. What an upbeat post - delighted for you both! Strange how you feel you actually know people when you read their blog long enough even when you live in a distant place...

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  5. I am so glad to hear good news. Surgery is an incredible assault to the body. It seems as though one must be healthy to do it. Mike is not out of the woods yet, but progress is mostly forward so I am thankful for that and, yes, for health insurance.

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  6. You are certainly headed in the right direction, both of you. When I think of all that has been accomplished in your lives during the past year, I am quite amazed. So glad to hear you are both healing, too. Sending you lots of cyber hugs, Sally. :-)

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  7. It is great to hear that you are both doing so well and that life is good and getting back to normal....what is more normal than walking the dog. It sounds like you are getting very settled in and happy in your new home.

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  8. I'm so glad jim is healing well and that you are feeling much better, too. I can't see the Sally of a few months ago pulling Boston to heel! You are a good pair and hopefully starting here and now the two of you can get the long overdue break you've needed between health issues and setting in. Take care and keep at it! Lookin' good!

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  9. Great to read that you both are on the road to recovery and feeling wonderful - finally!
    My Dad also belonged to a ROMEOs group. They met weekly for breakfast.

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  10. So glad to hear this news! Yes, indeed, good supplemental insurance is a must at our age. This is the biggest expense we never anticipated!

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  11. Hi Sally 12 days post op, Wow! Jim is doing so well. Take care and he will be leaping around and a new man!!

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  12. I think that is GREAT! I am glad both of you are doing okay. I am glad your husband is doing so well and you too. It has been a long journey for you too. sandie

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  13. It's so good to read good news about you and your honey! It's wonderful to see and hear that things can be healed in time!...:)JP

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  14. I LOVED reading great news about both of your health and that your husband is healing and you love where you live!!! Amen amen!!!

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  15. So glad to read that Jim is home and healing well. Also happy to learn that you are feeling better, Sally. Let's enjoy summer awhile longer, shall we? It's been wonderfully cool here in the mountains with some daily rain.

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  16. Such a positive post with great news. So glad you are both doing so well.
    You are smart to train Boston. Being pulled off your feet by a dog can be very painful.
    Keep up the great progress.

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  17. It just made my evening to catch up with you and learn that you're both doing better. Phew! I love that photo you took. They do look like a merry group of men who enjoy each other's company.

    I'm thrilled to hear that you're both pain-free. Thank goodness!!!

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  18. This is wonderful news, Sally! So glad to hear that Jim is recovering so well from his surgery. And Boston must be thrilled to have "the Boss" back home as well.

    My husband has been waiting for months to find out why he wasn't recovering as quickly as he'd hoped and just learned that more surgery--shoulder and back are very likely soon. I'm hoping both will finally enable him to do more than he has in a some time.

    Glad to hear, too, that the enzymes are working and helping you to feel better!

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  19. Hi Sally. What an uplifting post! My goodness , Jim is doing so well with all that walking. Isn't it a miracle how our bodies can recover like that and so quickly after the operation. Like you, I pray that he won't have to go through any more operations. Enough is enough!! I can't tell you how happy it made me to read that you feel so much better yourself. That's wonderful news. I hope that Jim will continue to recover and that Boston does well with his training ! Take care x

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  20. So glad to know there are retired guys out there going to lunch like we gals are doing.

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  21. So glad he is doing so wonderfully well. A gift from the gods indeed. :)

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  22. Good news indeed! As to walking Boston, judging by your decorum philosophy, you must be a former teacher. Oh wait. I knew that...:)

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  23. So glad to read that Jim is recovering so well and that you are feeling so much better, Sally. It's been a hard time for you both, but hopefully you're now in calmer waters and can enjoy the rest of the summer.

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  24. It does my heart good to know that you and your husband are doing so well now, health-wise, and that you love your new home.
    I hope that you now both go from strength to strength.
    Maggie x

    Nuts in May

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  25. What a wonderful post, Sally. I am so happy Jim is doing so well.
    Always nice to read your words.

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