Completion of an Adventure Among the Tumbleweeds and Flowers

 

Oh, man! What a week! Terry took me out last weekend, twice on Saturday, and I was happier than a seagull with a French fry. Once I was able to go down the ramp from the house, across the front porch in the wheelchair. Second time out included the walker in hand, arm braced around the sturdy handrail we have along the steps to the side of the house. This trip happened on Monday, after sweet man returned to work. 

Dawn sent me a text stating she was on her way from Springfield to come and visit for a while. I excitedly began to wipe down the toilet, do dishes, and ensure the dogs had not left me with a huge pile of hair or some other lovely gift. All looked wonderful. 

A quick check of the house and I heard my phone ringing. I answered to find Mallory asking to come over. Of course I said yes! She arrived a bit later, only having about eight miles to drive. Mallory and I sat talking and watching Togo make himself at home on her lap, flopping to his back where he spread his legs wide to ensure he could get a belly rub out of the deal. A few moments into our visit and we heard a knock on the door. 

I yelled, "Come in!" In walked Jessee, Zyrah, Dawn, and outside at the table sat Kylee, taking a moment to vape before entering the house. Dawn suggested we all get ready as she was taking us out to pizza for lunch. The girls wanted to go to Mountain Mike's for pizza, although I had never been there before to give them a thumbs up or down. 

The trip was much simpler because of my new ability to get out of the house using the walker instead of the cumbersome wheelchair. I folded the walker, stuck my hands inside the side rails, and grabbed the guardrail on the porch steps. Wow. What a difference the ability to put some weight on my foot makes. I am one happy little buckeroo now. Off we went into the wild blue yonder. 

Arriving at Mountain Mike's, I found the easiest way to get inside using the walker. It was simple enough. We chose a table off in the back room and set our personal items down on a couple of tables. The pizza and salad bar plus drink dispenser was in the main room. We all lined up and waited to get the pizza and to fix our salad. 

They had a decent variety of pizza available, but I have to say it was just okay. Dawn wanted to go to Abby's, but the girls said they wanted to try something new. It wasn't a bad choice at all. The eatery was just something I probably won't go to again and again. 

Pizza and salad and drink for $9. All you can eat. This deal lasted until 2:00 PM. We all had our fill of pizza, that's for sure. The salad was good. I had water to drink and then Canadian bacon and pineapple pizza with one of mushrooms, pepperoni, and olive. It was good, but like I said, not really good. 

There was an arcade room in the building and Zyrah found that to entertain her. She loves putting quarters in the machine that spits out small "gifts" such as rings, tattoos, rubber balls, and other little things that children love. She even received a couple of pieces of candy, including a Twizzlers licorice pack, including three small piece of licorice in fruity flavors. Jess tried one and her mouth will never forgive her for it. She had to spit it out and close the chapter on that idea. I guess the licorice had been in the machine for a while ... A long while. The candy had become brick-like. Not good. 

It was awesome to see Kylee. She was all smiles and full of fun. Her happiness is nice to see. I love it when my family members are happy. 

Dawn tried keeping Zyrah happy by giving her quarters and then checking out her loot upon return from the arcade room. 

Zyrah loves her grandma so much. I can't wait for Zaelyn to come along in a few more months to give us another baby in the family ... More on this a little later in the post. 

Jessee is hanging in there, waiting patiently for her new baby to come along. Mallory? Well, she's trying to dodge my camera clicks as best she can. Without climbing through the wall, I'm not sure how else she will be able to do that in the position she's in. After claims of hating herself in photos, she always comes out very cute in any picture I have taken of her. She is another beautiful daughter, but it's just trying to convince her of that. I love her and think she is a special person and a welcomed family member. 

While waiting on the girls to finish their haul from the arcade, I sat looking outside. This car caught my attention due to the single red rose sticking out of the roof. I thought it was interesting. But, like I've said before, it doesn't take much to entertain me since I have been homebound for so long. Being outside is a whole new world now. Don't judge. 

We left Mountain Mike's with stomach aches, but headed out to Walmart to see what kind of trouble we could get into there. I wanted to go and asked the girls if it's some place they would even enjoy. We all agreed it would or could be fun. 

Once there, Kylee went in and grabbed me an electric scooter. I always feel so strange on them. It's a feeling I have yet to figure out. All of us took off in different directions to search out the treasures we had in mind. I grabbed dinner for Terry and I, plus a couple of extra things that were just fun, not needed. 

Shortly after we were back in our cars. Dawn and Jess headed for home from Walmart and Mallory drove us home. I couldn't help but snap some photos of our flowers out front, only because the temperature was about 81 and flowers are beginning to bloom. 

I'm not sure what these are exactly, but I call them bluebells. 

Our climbing rose bush had a few blooms on it as well. The grass is so tall now that it's blending into the greenery of the climbing bush, but they are blooming nonetheless. 

I love the "sparkle" of the sun hitting the one chain link or raindrop on the bush that shines in the light.

The blooms on the climbing vine aren't large, but they are cute. We have several already. 

Now that the family has driven back home, Mallory and Terry and I had said goodbye, and sweet man and I sat to eat dinner. We watched our episode of Medium, and prepared ourselves for bed. Another wonderful day in our lives. 

Wednesday April 4, 2024

My physical therapist arrived today. It was an interesting conversation. I found myself at the end of an adventure. The end of having to have therapy two times per week. John, my therapist, had me sign off today. He has taught me enough to ensure my life is easier in getting around my home and getting things done. How to balance better, to avoid another fall if I can help it, and even how to strengthen my legs and arms to accommodate all of my weight on one foot and the walker. 

Between things he has taught me and helped me to understand the stages of healing with an injury like this, I have taken it beyond and have helped myself to achieve goals. I can now get up and down the stairs while still feeling safe and secure. I have found ways around vacuuming my carpet in my bedroom and office. The Crosswave has been helpful in vacuuming and mopping the floors as well. 

I have done dishes by myself, using the techniques John has taught me. Washing baseboards and spots on the walls, washing down what I can in the bathroom to keep it semi-clean is important to me and I have achieved that goal. Learning that a Swiffer with a wet pad on it can remove cobwebs and dust along the baseboards has assisted me in cleaning too. 

With a smile, he wished me well in the future. I returned the sentiment, telling him he was appreciated. Now I am signing up for outpatient therapy at the hospital to complete my education on how to get my ankle back into action as it once was. 

I had been walking a little bit without the walking boot on though, but described to John how swollen and purple the foot was looking at night. He suggested I back off a bit on getting that cocky and to wait for an okay from my surgeon before attempting that again. So, even backing up a step, I will move past this phase in my life. Eventually, it will come.   

Thursday, April 4, 2024

Today was a typical work day for me. Terry relaxed and enjoyed his day off. In the evening he asked if I would be interested in going out to eat dinner. Well, you don't have to ask me twice!

Boom! We were out in the car heading toward one of our favorite places and one that we have not been to in quite a while; Hacienda Vieja. 

Photo by A. Hiram, a Google Guide 

Once again, the staff greeted us with warm, friendly smiles and began to serve us immediately. One waiter appeared with chips and salsa, our favorite. A second waiter asked what our drink of choice was for the evening. Mine is always soda water with a twist of lemon or lime and Terry chooses a diet soda. 

I ordered a combo meal as always and Terry followed with a different meal. We both chatted, laughed and ate food until we couldn't hardly breathe. As always, the meals were perfection. Good stuff. 

We finished eating and chose to go to Walmart to grab some stuff for dinner tomorrow night. It's nice not having to go out every night for items to make a meal, especially when it's difficult to get in and out of your house. 

The time spent out of the house is so appreciated and sweet man sure is patient with me while we are shopping or with getting me in and out of the home. I guess I expect people around me to be frustrated, but they all seem to be doing everything for me with a genuine smile. I am truly blessed and love them all. I appreciate everything they do while also trying to do as much as I can on my own. 

I was just telling Terry on the way home tonight that since I fell, I can't think of one person or event of any kind that I thought someone was not helpful or kind. The hospital staff, my family, doctors, nurses outside of the hospital or inside the hospital, all were amazing and caring. Even the therapists are great. I do not want to experience it again, but they were such wonderful people and good at what they do. Like I say every post and will continue saying, I am blessed. 

Scooting around the aisles in a store on an electric scooter is always an experience. Trying to keep the movement at a controlled pace is often quite a challenge. I almost took Terry out at the knees a couple of times. Thank goodness the scooters stop on a dime. My poor man. But hey, you should see me drive a car. At least the scooter stops when you ask it to. 

Driving home we chatted a bit more and enjoyed that time together as well. I do love being with him. He makes me laugh and even when we're not laughing, he makes me smile, knowing he cares and that he loves being with me. He reminds me of that every day with an "I love you," every couple of hours. As he says, "I'm just that kind of guy." That he is. 

Our night was relaxed as we watched a new series we are into called The Resident. So far it has been pretty good. Lots of medical drama and roller coaster rides of emotion. Good show. Not sure how many seasons or episodes are in the Netflix option, but I'm hoping it continues for a while. 

In the second episode, one doctor and a few nurses had come up with the idea of the "Say Ahs," a cute name for an a cappella group. We saw the first of the group as a nurse began to sing a song in front of a patient. Terry looked over at me and said, "That must be the Ah Shits!" It took my breath away, quite literally, and a bout of laughter followed. In fairness to him, he could not recall the proper name for the group but he did know there was an "Ah" in the title. 

Tears streaming, I could not stop laughing for several minutes. It took me a couple of seconds for my brain to connect to what he was referring to when he made the comment, but once I caught on, breathing was over for me. This, this is why I love being around Terry and know that we are meant to be. It may not be as funny to others, but we get each other. Yes, childish at times too, but it still makes me laugh. I grew up with this type of humor in my brother, Mark. Terry is my people. We sing the song of our tribe quite often and make it clear we are meant to be together as the puzzle piece that fits snuggly into my soul.  

Anyway, that is our weekend as it sits now. We still have Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with the chance of Dawn coming down from Springfield for another visit tomorrow. If not Friday, then possibly on Monday or Tuesday of the following week. I genuinely love when the girls come to see us. I miss them dearly when they aren't around, even though they are not that far away. 

Speaking of family, we did receive some news on April Fool's Day. Katie and Keenan, my granddaughter-in-law and grandson, are expecting a baby again. They wanted another child but were planning on having their third child in about a year. Spencer is only five months old. We are all in shock and excited too. 

Jess is expecting her second child as well. Spring is here, definitely, and our family is proving it! We are growing in number and I couldn't be happier. 

Our special fur baby is definitely loving spring, but he is also blowing his coat again. Every time the dog moves a mass of hair comes to the surface of his coat, needing to be brushed or pulled off or it falls on its own and finds a nice place to roll to. This usually means under the couch, in the middle of the floor for all to see, on top of the couch, or even on one of us. 

Every day during this blowing of the coat period, we pull enough hair to create another dog. I just need some sky-blue eyes and a cute nose to bop and we're good to go. Even with all the hair, we adore him. 

Jasper fortunately does not blow his coat twice a year. Kit on the other hand joins Togo in the massive tumbleweed overflow. Don't get me wrong, as Jasper does shed like most normal animals, but not much at all. Kit has long hair and sheds fairly well, but doesn't leave piles of hair along his path. Togo loses enough hair for the three of them. So, with all this, once again I will be pulling out the Crosswave to remove fur and take my house back. 

Now, that fur is a blessing, as they are all three beautiful creatures to us. Even outside of the pets, blessings around us are abundant and Terry and I are reminded of that fact more often than not. We hope you find your blessings each and every day. Be grateful for them and hold them dear. Until our next post, take care of yourselves!

Spring produces beautiful flowers, showing bold design, colors, producing lovely aromas, and shows the graceful rebirth of fruit or new seedlings. Nature, in and of itself is an amazing blessing we can all be grateful for. Love your surroundings and what nature provides for you.