Knee Surgery - Part 4

 Hey, let's see some leg.

 Three little incisions.

 A pimped out cooler thing.

Supposed to fill the cryo-cuff with cold water to help the swelling. Are we having fun yet? Perhaps when you take the prescription pain killers the fun begins?

Knee Surgery - Part 3

 In recovery - he doesn't look so bad.

He was hungry because he couldn't eat after midnight the night before. Coffee and a donut - not bad. While he was in recovery I had to pick up the dogs from day care. I took them home, fed them and was just about to leave the house to return to the hospital when a huge storm came through. There was a warning for possible golf ball size hail and damaging winds, then the electricity went out. Wasn't sure how I was going to get the car out of the garage.

The rain lets up a bit so I try to open the garage door on my own, but kept getting interrupted by phone calls.  A friend called the wrong number b/c my number was next to someone else she was trying to call in her contact list, the nurse at the hospital called to tell me Todd was ready to go. I asked her to tell him he should order more donuts and watch another movie. Todd calls wondering why I'm not there. PEOPLE...... PLEASE, if you would just STOP calling me, perhaps I could get this  %^*(#@  garage door open and return to the hospital. After hoisting the garage door open (on my own, thank you very much, good thing I lost weight and built up some muscle) I had to prop it open with a ladder and luckily it was high enough for me to drive the car out. Geez, we rely on electricity so much and take it for granted, plus did I mention my phone started to run out of power by this time. Here's the impatient patient finally at home.

Knee Surgery - Part 2

...... and he's off to surgery. Head net, violet hospital gown, socks with rubber grippies = new fashion statement. Then the wait. I got some reading done, checked e-mail since I took the day off from work, checked the all-important Facebook. The surgery didn't take too long, only about an hour. The prep took way longer.

Knee Surgery - Part 1

Todd injured his knee in June while running. It finally hurt so bad he went to have it checked out; an MRI revealed a torn miniscus so surgery was scheduled. The day before surgery he had his pre-op appointment and surgery was tentatively scheduled for 10:30 am. BUT, he had to call the day before, after 4 pm to confirm the time. When he called, surgery was scheduled for 11:30am.

The morning of surgery he was instructed to wash his knee for 6 minutes with this suds filled sponge. Not sure what kind of special soap was in it, but you figure, after 6 mins. your skin might be red from all the rubbing. We were just about to leave the house when the phone rang and he was told to come at noon.

Finally at the hospital, checked in, gown on and the nurse came to "clip" him. Bye-bye fuzzy knee and.....

 HELLO sexy knee.  ha! ha!

Being silly while we waited. And no, we did not have any "laughing gas," but that might have been fun too.

More Blueberries

Half the blueberries Todd and I picked were given to mom and dad. So when they came for a recent visit, I thought they'd have fun picking too. 

 Dad's bucket almost full.

Three more pails; mom and dad love to put them in their oatmeal and shakes.

Blueberries + Friends = FUN

 I gave some blueberries to my colleague and friend, Signe. She loved them so, much I took her to get more.

Everyone has to do some quality control.

Family Picnic

 Everyone lends a hand setting up.

  Decisions, decisions; which beer to drink?

 Beautiful cousins, Ann and Dawn.

 Chef Matt - ribs with homemade bbq sauce, THE BEST!

My fabulous nephew, Guillermo. Just started his last year of high school, speaks several languages, smart, and he's just so much fun! Un abrazo, sobrino!

Blueberry Season is ON!

 I missed the strawberry pickin' season earlier in the summer so I didn't want to miss the blueberries.

 The bushes were just full of them.

 It was a gorgeous day!  But it's not just about pickin' the berries.....

 .... you also have to do some quality control. Get those antioxidants.

About ninety minutes of picking = 3 ice cream pails or about 18 pounds. Ooooh the possibilities...... blueberry pancakes, blueberry bread, blueberry muffins and other yummies.

Family Fun - Day 5

Taking family photos is..... fun, chaotic and a good photo needs everyone's cooperation.  The strategy is to take lots because the more you take, the likelier you are of getting one that is worthy of putting up on the wall or sending out in a holiday greeting.  These are not those kinds of pictures, here are the "out takes." Matt, Jessica, Josie, Gretchen, Flynn, and Mort.

The other Wellnitz pack trying to get organized, not getting a lot of cooperation from the fur babies. I guess Pancho thinks this is his best side.

 Sometimes you have to take a break from photos and just be silly.

So much cuteness in this pic (I'm of course referring to my nieces and the pups).

Family Fun - Day 3

 

I realize I published yesterday's post out of order. Oh well.... when you're on vacation, who keeps track of the days anyway?

Misty is swimmin' in the lake - better than doggy day care any day.

 Tufts of moss.

 Another beautiful shroom.

 Brats and beans are better outside.

 Then you take the left over bread and have fun.......

........ feeding a family of ducks.