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! 

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! 

9 Days Later...

Well, it's been 9 days since my surgery, and I am feeling good. When I think back to the hysterectomy 3 years ago, and how I felt (like I was hit by a bus), I almost can't believe how good I feel! I'm still having some pretty fuzzy moments, and I occasionally nap without warning, but overall I feel great. One thing that's the same as the last surgery...there hasn't been as much knitting as I supposed there would be. Still, I am managing a few stitches here and there. :)

I know that I had shared about my pre-op anxiety, and I'm happy to report that even that wasn't as bad this time around. I did ok on my way in and out, although I did have some pretty funny (and totally irrational) fears...

Ultimately, I woke up from surgery, and I have a new hip. I also have pain, which I expected, and some side effects that I did not (numbness in the non-surgical leg is apparently pretty normal), but I'm dealing with those just fine. I must have communicated my fears to friends and family before surgery, because some of the post-op texts I got were pretty funny. Others just really communicated to me how loved and cared for I truly am. Here are few of my favorite texts and text conversations , pre- and post-surgery, and upon my arrival back at home:

"Have a happy surgery!"

"I'm sure you already deserve a gold star." 

"Hi...glad you're alive still...been praying for you. :)"

"Yay! Now take a nap!"

"Yeah! Hope you have a very quick recovery!! Now it's time to snuggle kitties!"

"Do you want to go for a run?"
"Sure, I'll meet you on the corner of never and again."

"Perfect."

"Try this Sweetie make me a sandwich and make it snappy"

"Sweetie says that's not funny...but I think it's hilarious!"

"Tell him I said less talking and more action"

"Awesome :) Glad your home"

Thank you local friends, for loving me through your kind words, cards, visits, meals brought in, and by tooling me around town to my various appointments in the next few weeks. And thank you internet friends, for prayers, good thoughts, and caring messages. You guys are the best, and my life is so blessed because each of you are in it. 

For the rest of today, between my physical therapy exercises, I think I'll try to get back to that knitting. I hope that you will have some time to do the same.

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Claiming Hippie Status

This week has sure been busy, and this post is going live just a little late today. Where has the time gone? Let's take a look...

Sunday evening - Check into hospital for hip replacement,
and work on some pre-op knitting before bed. 

Monday morning - IV in, prepped for hip replacement surgery.

Monday afternoon - post-op knitting. Stuck in bed...and...ouch. 

Monday evening - FINALLY in the chair! So happy! And...ouch.

Tuesday - get well carnation from Dr. Stanfield! Nice touch.
A little less ouch, and I get to shower!
Also, knitting & napping, physical therapy...and...ouch.

Wednesday morning - IV and catheter out, AND a shower!
More physical therapy, and more knitting & napping.

Wednesday afternoon - HOME!!! I guess White Cat missed me... 

Wednesday evening - post-op knitting DONE!

Thursday - I guess BOTH cats missed me!

Black Cat: I didn't miss you. Did you bring me anything?

Friday - post-post-op knitting finished!

Saturday - post-post-post-op hat cast on! 

Between all the sitting, knitting & napping, there's been quite a bit of physical therapy, exercise on my own, visiting with friends, and lifting my leg. 0_o It's been a busy week indeed!

All in all, I am glad to have the surgery done and over. Even though I am in considerable pain more often that I want to be, I'm feeling strong, and I have quite a bit of energy! Met a great group of people in my surgery group at the hospital, and I had great nurses, therapists and other caregivers. If it wasn't for the pain (and waking up every two hours for a vitals check, around the clock), my hospital stay was almost like a vacation!

I'm still doing a bit of napping and a lot of knitting as I recover, but I thought I'd pop over to say hello to Blogland and officially claim my Hippie Status, now that I have a new, shiny, left hip! 

Hello! I'm a Hippie...a pretty knitty Hippie...with a new hip! lol!

Surgery didn't cure me of the silly, I guess. I'll call that a good thing. :) 

I may or may not be on the computer a little less than usual, but I'm still here, and I am well. I hope that you are also! Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

Monday, Monday...

Monday, Monday....can't trust that day. 

Or so the song goes. 

I, however, choose to trust that Monday will be good to me. Monday is the day I get a new hip. I am excited to NOT be in pain all the time, eventually. I am a little anxious about general anesthesia, which is pretty normal for me, and for all sane people. (Please do not tell me you are not anxious, or that you would not be anxious if you were me. This would not be helpful. Just tell me that you will be praying for me. Even if you won't, it will comfort me to think that maybe you are.) Finally, I am nervous about abandoning everyone where I work, even though they are all very smart people who will figure it out, or put it on hold until I get back. Maybe, come to think of it, I'm really worried about what my desk will look like when I do get back! lol!

In any case, I have simple, post-operative knitting at the ready, 

and I think all my ducks are in a row. Tomorrow is the annual church picnic, and I am eager to see what the pot-luck goodies will be! But today I will just chill and knit (maybe something a little complicated?) 

while I wait for Monday. The waiting, they say, is the hardest part. I think "they" are correct. 

I anticipate that I may miss a blog post or two. I will be in the hospital until at least Wednesday, and I haven't had time to blog ahead, so I'll miss seeing you all here in Blogland. But, as Schwartzenegger would surely say, "I'll be Bach!" I don't know why he wanted to be Bach. Maybe he thought Johann Sebastian was a cooler name than Arnold. Cool or not, Arnold would beat Bach in arm wrestling, for sure!

Wow. All of that even before I get sleepy-time pain meds? I can only imagine what I'll imagine post-surgery! If it's good, I'll blog it! In the meantime, happy knitting to all the knitters, and happy everything to everyone! I'll catch you on the flipside with my brand-new, shiny hip! 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!