Eureka - December 2018

December 9, 2018.

This week was not an easy one.

Sunday Mary Ann and I went to the Swiss Club for Turkey Dinner and dancing. They had their Christmas celebration early. Becky wore her dirndle.

Monday, we danced at the Moose Lodge. I walked several times by myself.

Wednesday, Mary Ann had the surgery on her back. We arrived at the hospital at 7:15 AM, had meetings with the doctor doing the anesthesia, and then the surgeon.

At 9:30 AM Mary Ann was ready for surgery. Two hours later the surgeon came to the waiting room and talked to me.

Later, I was called to the recovery room and spent the next few hours there with Mary Ann. Since they had to repair a leakage Mary Ann’s upper body was raised every fifteen minutes from a lying position to sitting. She was moved in small increments. The purpose of this was, to see whether she would get headaches. If those appeared, she would have to stay in the hospital. She was lucky and we were able to go home.

I stayed the night with her.

The next day Mary Ann was in pain, but it was manageable. Her sister Glenda brought some Cranberry Chicken and I cooked potatoes and vegetables, and we had dinner.

Friday morning Mary Ann was in big pain. She could not eat and when she tried it came up again. We had to call the doctor and he gave her another prescription for the pain. Her legs were really hurting.

This was a bad day.

Saturday was a lot better. I cooked some oats and some pudding and Mary Ann was able to eat it. In the evening Mary Ann’s mother and sister came and brought milk shakes. Mary Ann consumed half of one. That was progress.
On the way to Mary Ann's house I saw this beautiful rain bow. Unfortunately my picture never show the fantastic colors.

Sunday, Mary Ann was still improving. She gets out of bed more. In the morning I walked to the Boardwalk. There is a new Metal Art Bench. This one is painted.

December 16, 2018.

This week was worse than last week.

Wednesday morning I had to call 911. In the morning when I came to Mary Ann’s house, she was lying partially on the bed. She had gone to the bathroom and experienced terrible pain in her legs. She made it back to the bed, but could not get into it. She could not reach the telephone and just lay there.

When the medics arrived they could not put her on the gurney.  Any little move and she screamed. They told her to scream and then rolled her on a flat stretcher. Then they carried her to the gurney and from there she went in the ambulance.

When I arrived at the hospital she was heavily sedated. The surgeon came and a new medication was prescribed.

By Saturday Mary Ann’s condition had not improved. She can get up and walk a little but is in a lot of pain when she gets back to bed. She has no pain when she does not move.

Sunday was not any better.
While I stayed in the hospital with Mary Ann I did some walking in the neighborhood near the the hospital. I walked up the hill on Buhne Street.

 

December 23, 2018.

Tuesday, Glenda, Mary Ann’s sister, and I brought Mary Ann home. My car is too low now for Mary Ann.

Glenda drove Mary Ann’s SUV and we were able to get Mary Ann into the passenger seat.

Friday, Mary Ann had to call the doctor because the pain got worse than better. Now she takes more pills and she feels better.

Sunday we walked around the block. Mary Ann wanted to go outside.

This is going to be a strange Christmas.

December 31, 2018.

Monday morning, Mary Ann wanted to go grocery shopping. I drove her car. She was able to get in the passenger seat with not much of a problem. In the store she held on to the shopping card and was able to get around.

Tuesday morning, Christmas Day, I went to see Claudia and family.

Later Mary Ann and I went to the home where Mary Ann’s mother is staying and we had lunch there.

Mary Ann’s sister and husband were there too. They served prime rib, stuffed baked potato and green beans.

Wednesday was another bad day for Mary Ann. The doctor changed her prescription.

Friday morning I walked with the Ramblers the Hikshari Trail. There was Frost on the windshield of the car. This was my first experience with frost since I have been living in Humboldt County.

Hundreds of Canadian geese were feeding in the meadow next to the trail.

Saturday was a very good day for Mary Ann. I took her to a place where they worked on her finger and toe nails and did some other beauty treatment.

While she was getting the beauty treatment I went to Claudia and picked up a small bottle of Cannabis Tincture. It supposed to be good for fighting pain. When a friend of Claudia heard what Mary Ann is going trough she got the cannabis medication from a friend of hers. At this stage Mary Ann will try anything.

After I picked up Mary Ann she backed cookies.

Sunday was another bad day. She could hardly move. It is very discouraging. There is no real improvement. Every day is different.
Monday, the last day of the year, was not a pleasant one. While most people, who we know, celebrated at the Moose or Elks Lodge, we stayed at home and Mary Ann  swallowed a lot of pills.