Knee - d an Update?

Yesterday Kari drove me to my first post-op visit with the Orthopedic Surgeon, in which he (Harold Jackson, MD) assured me that I'm doing very well.  He removed the staples (about 25 of them) and said that I could get the incision wet this afternoon.  I have so much experience in Orthopedic Surgery, but not much from this side of the knife!  Having worked in surgery for many years, I know lots about the procedures themselves; but not much, if any at all, about the recovery process.  And, much of the recovery experience is subjective - different for everybody - so it's not necessarily advantageous to compare notes with others who've had this surgery; however, I think everybody does compare, at least a little.

The home health nurse, Cindy, who has been visiting me here at Kari's, is, herself, a Total Knee Replacement 'survivor.'  She had the surgery about two years ago and likes to compare notes with me.  Yesterday, she rolled up her pants leg to show me her scar, which is really not bad at all.  My incision line looks rather yucky at this time; I know it will fade and become less angry looking.

The 'hole' near my shorts is from the drain that was placed during surgery - and removed before I left the hospital.

Dr. Jackson took out his trusty instrument for measuring the degrees of flexion (bending) and extension (straightening) of my knee.  Those torture exercise sessions I've been having a couple or three times each day are really beginning to pay off.  Before surgery, my right knee had developed quite a deformity, where I could not with bend or extend my knee through very many degrees.  When I stood with both legs as straight as I could make them, my right knee jutted out almost two inches in front of my left.  Now, as I stand and look down, both knees are in the same alignment.  Yippee!

More difficult is flexion (bending); Dr. Jackson had me sit in a chair and draw my right knee as far back towards the chair as I could.  He measured the degree of flexion at 90 degrees (a right angle) and said that is excellent progress as this stage of the game.  I'll continue to be diligent about all my at-home exercises to increase that flexion degree to as much as will be possible with  artificial knee components.

I'm anxious to get back to the gym and swimming pool.  Swimming is actually my favorite form of exercise; the doc said I can swim this week and that it's a desirable form of exercise because of the buoyancy provided by water, making all exercises less traumatic.

OK, enough knee news!  My newly-engaged granddaughter, Quinn, is coming home this weekend; she and my daughter, Kari, have appointments to view several venues for her wedding.  As of now, the wedding date is in October, 2015; so, they have lots of time to make decisions and get things done for a beautiful wedding.

This was Quinn Easter morning - before Landon popped the 

big question at Easter dinner

The Duane siblings with Landon, the groom-to-be

L to R: Spencer, Avery, Addison, Holland, Tate, Quinn, and Landon

A Few Fun Family Fotos . . .

I’ve collected a few photos in the last couple of months that I’d like to share . . .

First of all, here's a pic of Kari visiting Grandpater Spence, who unfortunately fell and fractured his hip on February 25th.  This photo was taken on March 4th in the rehab facility.  Spence was 99 in November and is sharp as a tack.  He'll be returning home after his rehabilitation.

Outr family is never complete without photos of our pets.  This is Eleanor (Roosevelt) in February

 

This is Ginger Duane with a new hairdo

And, of course, this is Midnight Lace (Lacy) - travel partner extraordinaire

This is a photo I posted a couple of months ago - Quinn (26) and her very serious boyfriend, Landon

Addison (22) takes a break from Teaching 4th grade in Colorado Springs to hit the slopes

 Addison's 22nd birthday was in February.  Her class was asked how old they thought Ms. Duane is:

 Addison was selected from thousands of applicants to take a position with Teach For America - in return the Federal Government paid for her Teaching Credential and will pay for her Master's Degree after her two-year commitment is completed.  Here's her class

Ms Duane

Holland is #3 in the lineup of Kari's family.  She recently returned from studying in Germany and has accepted a position as a nanny until next term as a freshman in college

Kari and Mimi (that's me) getting a pedicure in February when I flew home to renew my driver's license

The men in David's family:  Big Sam, Little Sam and David.  Now there's a group of long legs!

Here're David with Tate and Avery, two of the 14-year old triplets

I'd never thought of myself (5'7") as a shrimp . . .

The almost ever-present iPhone

Five of the 6 home at one time!

L to R:  Spencer, Tate, Addison, Holland and Avery

Stay tuned for an upcoming visit with the Jeff Sherman family:  Jeff, Alice, Malia and Samantha - This is one of my favorite, but very old (2009) photos of Jeff's family.  Wait 'til you see how Malia and Samantha have changed . . .

L to R:  Abby, Malia, Alice, Samantha, Jeff and Mimi with little Bella on Samantha's lap

Spencer, my youngest son, and his girlfriend, Rachelle in Greece.  They're currently in Bogotá, Colombia

That's it for today . . . Happy Saturday!