"Just Checking In "

I had no intentions of doing a post in the near future but here I am, unable to stay asleep. Waking at the wee hours of predawn for the second morning in a row.

I have once again quit smoking and it is affecting my sleep patterns but I'm not fighting it. My energy levels have gone through the roof since I haven't smoked, one of the reasons being that I would use a cigarette as an excuse to sit and take a fifteen or twenty minute break.

Any of you who know me, also know that I have troubles sitting still and relaxing so this endless amount of energy is a bit more than my OCD personality can handle. But I also know that it's all for the best and this too will level out eventually.

This is about my fifth time quitting over the past forty years and I've got a good feeling about this one. My husband hasn't smoked in over four months so now I have no one that smokes around me anymore. Except on occasion.

Good things have been happening to my family. This isn't something that we are used to, I am not complaining. It seems that we are in an "UP" time right now and I have only God and all of my friends who have sent prayers out to him to thank for this time.

I received my shots of cortisone and Synvisc in my knees on April 6th. It was four days before I could walk without discomfort which happened to be on my birthday. On that day I was able to actually walk, for about one block and I can tell you, That was a birthday gift!

While at the Ortho doctors office I had to get new ex-rays as it had been a year since I've had them. My doctor looked at them and told me that I had the knees of an eighty year old. I was a bit stunned by his statement even though I knew that they were bad as I was to the point of using a wheelchair in the stores.

I did a lot of thinking that following week. Some mulling things over in my head and with my husband. I called the ortho center that week and scheduled the surgery. 

At first the surgical coordinator had scheduled me for the left knee which is a bit worse than the right. I told her that I would like to have both knees done at the same time to which she replied that the doctor only did that in extreme cases. She would have to check with him on that first.

A few days later I received all of the surgery information and appointments for a bilateral knee replacement surgery. Both knees. So for now the surgery date is August 16th. They would have done it sooner but I needed to wait until my husband could be home for his vacation which wouldn't be until anytime after August 1st.

There is also a big "If" involved with this. We have to come up with our share of the surgery costs and post-op visits five days prior to the surgery. So this "If" is a big one. I am scheduled for an MRI in July which will eat up all of my deductible, which is good, it will help.

In the meantime the Ortho center will work with my insurance and give me an estimate sometime over the summer. So for now, my husband and I are saving every penny we get!

We may not make it and if not well, we'll just reschedule for a later date. But Lord knows I just want this to be over with. I understand all of the rehab that will be involved but I am so willing to go through it all to be able to go for a walk. To be able to work for more than three hours without having to sit for the entire rest of the day and night. To be able to walk up and down the stairs again, normally. And to be able to go to my grandchildrens events and babysit without fear that my knees will give out at the wrong time.

Your prayers have been heard. And I need them now as well. My husbands job has been improving and he has another company that is calling him all of the time that also has good insurance. For now he is staying put as he has the three weeks vacation coming which if all goes well we will use.

It's mostly in Gods hands now but we are being pro-active. I have been riding my bike and trying to do as much work as I can since getting my shots. Trying to lose weight and strengthen my legs as much as possible. I have four months to do it and lots of inspiration. Also one of the reasons I quit smoking again.

Summer is quickly approaching and my Katie is excited about summer camp. She will go the first week of June and then she will be a camp counselor for four weeks through the summer. This means that she will be gone for five weeks this summer! It's going to be very lonely but as my daughter-in-law said, it will give me a taste of what it will be like when she leaves home one day.

I have a parent, teacher meeting this morning with all of her teachers and I expect to hear good news. We shall see!

 It is Holy Week and I have been busy already with churches, yes churches. I've went to mine and Katie's. I will also be attending at least two more services this week and have been reading the book of John.

There has also been a lot of gardening going on around here. I have transplanted several Hostas and cleaned several spots in the yard. Getting the shots has enabled me to do some extra work and it's a good feeling. My son Frank and his wife Amy bought me a beautiful Celtic Cross to put in my yard for my birthday. Now I just have to find the right place for it! 

I had the great privilege of watching over my little guy, Jack, yesterday and we were blessed with the perfect day to go outside. At first I was a bit worried as my yard isn't fenced in and I can't run.

But fortunately I soon discovered that he was perfectly contented to sit and play with Grandpa's old trucks for hours and hours!

He was even more than willing to pose for me as long as I showed him the photos! I took him up on his offer, naturally!

We spent hours outside and I was able to get some more weeding done. I'm feeling it this morning but it was worth it. Jack took his first nap at my house yesterday. I was happy that he finally felt comfortable enough to sleep here. 

He woke up happy! He stayed for seven hours and didn't want to go home! That was a first for us. It was a good day.

I haven't been online much at all the past several days. Which means that I am way behind on reading blogs. There's been quite a bit going on around here and honestly I just haven't felt like being on the computer. With all of the rain that we are supposed to have this week, I suppose that I will find the time!

So if I haven't visited you, hold on, I'm comin'!!

I'm going to leave you with these beautiful words that I read last night and that are the focus of my belief.

John 3:16

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

"Have a Blessed Holy Week."