Getting all the things done!

 Well, I had been doing so well posting every few days, but here I am - a week-and-a-half since my last post.     

When I last posted the other Friday evening (February 24), I said I had put a pork roast in the slow cooker for pulled pork.  What I didn't say - the reason I was making it was because we were going down to Sam and Steph's new home on Saturday afternoon.  

SATURDAY

And here's the reason we were going, haha!  Sam was having an issue with his car that he was so determined to fix himself, but dear old Dad was glad to help!

Sam had picked up the kids from Jenn after he got off work at 1:00.  We had a GREAT afternoon!  Steph and I and the kids had a crazy time playing LIFE, which I had brought along.

After the guys were done with Sam's car they relaxed in the very comfy living room.  

When we had eaten some pulled pork sandwiches and chips, the kids were feeling a bit stir-crazy.  So I took them in the van to find a playground in their new town.  This was a few blocks down the street, but a bit juvenile for them.

After a bit we decided to go on an adventure.  I just started driving.  We drove and drove and drove - no idea where we were or where we were going.  The kids have such a great sense of humor and we were cracking up the entire time.  When we would see really big beautiful homes, they would say, "They don't have any kids."  When we saw homes with stuff outside they would say, "They have kids."  One time we passed a house with a LOT OF stuff sitting outside everywhere.  I said, "They have kids.  Lots of kids!" When we saw an incredible view I said, "I bet they can see Penn State games from here."  At one point I decided to turn at a crossroads instead of going straight.  Sammy said, "But I wanted to go to Maryland!"  

Thankfully, GPS got us back to the house!  

Before we left for home I got this sweet picture in the kitchen. 

And a picture of this amazing fish they had won at a fair!  Our always died in spite of our best efforts!

SUNDAY

The next morning we had church, of course, and afterward we went to brunch with some of our friends. We had a lazy afternoon, then we went to Calvary in the evening.  We seldom get there anymore, but didn't want to miss the worship Encounter they were having with Unity, the church where Anthony and Lori had met back in the early 2000's.  I took the tiniest video.  I was afraid maybe it was creepy that I was taking a video in the middle of such beautiful worship.  

MONDAY

I had a long list of things to accomplish last week before my carpal tunnel surgery.  But I took time to watch some birds too!

I had ordered a mailing kit from iMemories in which to send my slides.  So one thing I accomplished was looking through all my slides against a back light on my computer and deciding which to send and which to throw out.  I took them in the mailing kit to Fed Ex.  

I also took some of the pulled pork and other sides to Dick at work to take to Anthony and Lori.  We were possibly getting some snow and ice, and I didn't want to try getting up their hill if that would be the case.  

We had intended to meet Alex to get Elizer from him that evening, but Dick thought the weather forecast sounded too risky since we would need to go over the mountain where it's always worse.  As it turned out, I don't know if the temp ever really got low enough for ice.  I think we could have gone for him. 

TUESDAY

On Tuesday morning we had just a dusting of snow.   

 I got our tax stuff ready to go to our tax guy, and Dick delivered it to him in the evening.   Destiny had to go to Lancaster that day, so she picked up Elizer from Alex.  They came here for the evening and overnight.  I gave Elizer a bath and then we had a cereal snack.  

WEDNESDAY

Wednesday morning began with a beautiful sunrise.  

After I took Elizer to daycare I went on some errands and stopped in at Michaels.  I found this welcome sign for the front door.  They already had their St. Patricks Day merchandise reduced!

We got these cute pics from daycare!

I made a chicken pie for Lori and Anthony in the afternoon and took it over to their place.  Then I picked up Elizer.  Dick and I took him along to our soup and bread supper at church before the Lenten service and choir practice.  He LOVES the playroom at church.  Destiny came to church to pick him up when she got off work.  

They were watching Little Mermaid and eating ice cream when we got home later.  They stayed here overnight again. 

THURSDAY

On Thursday morning I was in the bathroom doing my hair when he came to the door wearing the jacket of the outfit he was to wear that day over top of his pajamas.  They matched, hahaha!!  He was trying so hard to do the zipper himself.  He is so good at dressing himself - pants, shirts, socks, shoes, coat, hat.  Just not zippers.  

I did our laundry that day and other things I just can't remember, lol!

That evening Elizer was having fun building towers with blocks again.  We had also gotten a picture from daycare of him building a tower during outdoor playtime!

FRIDAY

On Friday morning Dick and I left around 9:00 am for Geisinger's Lewistown hospital, about 45 minutes away across the mountain.  

A few weeks ago when I found out that Elizer's daycare would be closed all this week due to Penn State's Spring Break and he would be with Alex for the week, I messaged my hand surgeon that I have a small window of time in which to get my right hand done.  I heard back that he would also be away all that week, but he could do it the previous Friday at the Lewistown location.  I decided to schedule it.  

There was once again a chance of snow, ice, and wind.  But thank God it waited till we were back home!

Ready to go!  

I was really disappointed to find out before the surgery started that the equipment for an endoscopic surgery, as I had had on my left wrist, was not available at Lewistown.  I almost started to cry when I realized I would have a bigger incision this time and possibly a longer recovery time.  My dear surgeon even asked the other staff in the operating room, "What would it take to get the equipment we need from State College?"  A nurse said, "Well, someone would need to drive across the mountain to Grays Woods and get it and bring it back, and then we would need to sterilize it when it gets here."  I said, "It's ok. Just go ahead with the surgery."  At one point in the surgery he said, "Jean, I am doing this carpal tunnel release with the smallest incision I have ever made."  God bless him!!  He is one of those doctors (my age) that hopefully will not retire for a long, long time.  He just recently started doing some surgeries at Lewistown, and I heard so many of the nursing staff say how much they like him and are impressed with his expertise.  

Here I am on the way home later.  Several people commented on Facebook that I look tired or maybe under the influence of anesthesia.  No, I did not have any anesthesia.  Just local stuff carefully injected into my veins.  I have a cast this time, which I will get off this coming Friday. 

As I said, it started snowing as we got back to State College.  In a short time it looked like this.  But later it turned to rain and all the snow disappeared.

I slept ok that night, trying to somehow keep my arm elevated.  

SATURDAY

On Saturday I just stayed in my robe.  It seemed too hard to figure out bathing or fixing my hair.  Destiny, Elizer, and Dick were here, and they all love me no matter how I look!  I had some fun with Snapchat filters!  I didn't know which was scarier - my real look (top left) or the filters, haha!

Of course Elizer loves the filters!

More fun with blocks!

Later in the afternoon Destiny and Elizer left for their house and Dick ran some errands.  I very slowly and carefully folded laundry while I watched a few more episodes of Call the Midwife.  Love it, love it, love it!

SUNDAY

Yesterday afternoon we took Elizer to meet Alex.  It's so cute to see them so excited to see each other. 

Look what we saw in our front flower bed!!  I'm glad Spring flowers are so hardy, because our winter weather is definitely not over.  It sounds like there is more on the way. 

 

TODAY

And here I am again in my purple robe.  I think I'm doing pretty well.  Using my left hand to hold my coffee mug is no problem.  The fingers of my right hand enable me to use a pen, but the cast gets in the way somewhat.  There are a few things I've done that really made me say "ouch."  One was as simple as  picking a sock off the floor.  It really hurt my incision.  Strange.  I obviously can't slice or dice things with a knife or anything that takes a lot of force.  My left hand just can't seem to figure it out.  And I'm not allowed to drive.  Hopefully he'll tell me on Friday that I may.  It's amazing how elbows and teeth come in handy for some tasks, lol!

I managed to bathe and wash my hair by kneeling in the tub at the faucet and keeping my right hand out over the edge.  Last time the doctor had said to use Saran Wrap over the bandage, but it really didn't work.  This time he didn't suggest that.  So I'm doing my best to keep it dry.

And finally, that's all, folks!!