Surgery Number ... I've Lost Count

So the 12th day of Christmas was Monday, which would make today the 20th day of Christmas...but, technically that's not a thing. However, today is the 19th day since my little procedure, and I am counting that as a definite thing! Thinking back to my hysterectomy in 2012, and my hip replacement in 2015, this back surgery of 2025 has been the best of the three! 

There has been relatively little napping, my stitches look good, and the worst part of this recovery was probably the allergic reaction I mentioned last week. Now that the intense itching is past me, I can revel in the fact that the last 20 days have allowed me to knit not one

not two

but 3, that's THREE!, full pair of self-striping, Christmas socks

PLUS five tiny gnomes!

The gnomes are currently meeting to discuss what I should cast on next...and now that I'm off the heavy-hitting meds, I'm also working on getting approval to return to work soon. Although getting back to work will ultimately cut into the knitting time, the paycheck will make me feel better about all the yarn I own!

I mean, we all knew I'd go back, if only for the socialization I'm missing...gosh! I hope I remember how to act around people. I don't want to have to go back to puppy school...wait, that's a story for another day, isn't it? 

Anywhoo, I'm recovering well, knitting much and doing my best to follow doctor's orders, so I can continue. Prayers and good thoughts appreciated! What's been your biggest challenge this week? Drop a comment (or send an email) to let me know how I can pay for you...

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

On the 10th Day of Christmas...

On the 10th day of Christmas, my recovery gave to me: a bumpy, red, itchy rash all over. To be fair, it was probably the meds. I'm now off all pain meds and taking Benadryl, plus an antibiotic, until I stop scratching! 

So here's how the song goes for me these days: 

On the 10th day of Christmas, the season gave to me...

Ten bumps and hives

Nine marks where I've scratched

Eight alarms on my phone for meds

Seven new prescriptions

Six exercise walks

Five kinds of healing teas

Four socks  almost finished

Three friends a-visiting

Two additional prescriptions

and a new bottle of Benadryl for me! 

If you've been playing along at home for any time, you may remember that I am super prone to side-effects. So prone that I make my Sweetie read the info sheets, so I don't feel like I'm just "manifesting" a reaction, but I'm only allergic to a couple of things...well maybe a couple new things, now too....lol!

I think I'm also allergic to Sweetie saying, "Stop scratching!"

The good news (and this really is good) is that I'm not in much pain. I've had zero pain meds today (my last Gabapentin was at 10pm last night), and I'm doing ok!

So you take the good, you take the bad, you take 'em both, and there you have... whatever you have. God is still good, and this will pass. In the meantime, I'll just be over in the corner scratching and hiding from anyone who tells me to stop it! 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit (don't scratch!) in Good Health! 

Have a Hap- Hap- Happy New Year!

Because of my surgery, we did not get to see our son and his family this year for Christmas. I'm happy to say that our daughter and her family did make the trip out to visit her brother, and this picture was one of the fun memories that she sent to me from "Kansas, she says, is the name of her star!" I added some details, and we all wish you the happiest of new years for 2026!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Ready or Not...

Christmas 2025 is in the books, and 2026 looms large ahead! I am thankful this year, 5 days after back surgery, that I was able to do some fun things this week! From a nice Christmas visit

to having Christmas dinner with our daughter and her family (and the boys' gingerbread houses),

to casting on a pair of new Christmas socks (Must Stash Yarn in the colorway "Bumbles Bounce"),

to fun cards and greetings from friends!

New gadgets made this possible, and helped me to manage my pain along the way...

TENS unit. I've read the how and why it works, but I've had too many narcotics to explain it to you. Also, it's purple, and I'm sure that helps. 

My back brace is nothing compared to Joan Cusak's neck brace in 16 Candles! Whew!

...I have even managed a few chores along the way, including getting the lights off the tree, 

and I've finished the first Bumbles sock!

So all in all, 2025 has been a good year, despite some hard losses. We've lost friends who were way too young, family members we thought we had more time with and friends who have been like family for decades...we will mourn for them all and pray for those left with holes in their hearts. Please Lord, help them find their meaning and worth in You and in Your Son, whose birth we celebrate every Christmas. 

I've often heard that Jesus is the Reason for the Season, and I'm thankful to Pastor Paul of White Flag Church (from St Louis, we livestreamed their Christmas Eve service on Wednesday) for reminding me that I am the reason for the season, and YOU are the reason for the season. Jesus came for sinners, you and me included, so that we could be connected with God in Heaven forever. Yes, so much to be thankful for! 

Am I ready for 2026? Am I ever ready for a new year? I guess it doesn't matter, because ready or not, here it comes! Let's see what it brings together.

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

PS-If you want more details, I had an L3/L4 Laminectomy, with the removal of a synovial cyst on my spinal cord.  The benign cyst was putting pressure on nerves leading to left hip and leg pain, and the recovery has included some pretty intense nerve pain in those areas. But this is just a blip in my lifetime,  and I should be "right as rain" in a few weeks. Prayers and good thoughts gladly accepted, thanks! 

Merry Christmas! (2025)

I've spent the last 3 days trying to remember how I felt 3 days post-hysterectomy and 3 days post hip-replacement, and I'm still not sure I can pull up those memories. But I did manage to heal from both, and I'm sure I'm on the right track to recover well again. Hopefully I'll forget this pain, too, and God is still so very good!

Today I am thankful for modern medicine, ice, my TENS unit and my sweet hubby. Couldnt get through this without you! Oh, and Jess. She's also been a peach. 

I hope your Christmas is good, and that you find the light and love of Jesus today. Thanks for stopping by, and Merry Christmas to you while you Knit in Good Health!