I just can’t….

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Thank you for your kind comments about our yard. I’ll pass them along to my hubby… he’s the one who loves to putter out there the most. We had lots of rain today so the grass will be shooting up like crazy the next few days.

My hubby is still in a lot of pain, and his whole leg is incredibly bruised and swollen. He grimaces every time he has to move with his walker. When he had both his knees replaced in 2012 (at the same time), he was in the hospital for 5 days so some of the soreness was taken care of in the hospital. We came home from this surgery the day after it was done, and he’s pretty sure the meds they sent home with him aren’t as strong as they were in the hospital. He’s managing, but it’s no piece of cake…

Anyway, I’m saying all that to let you know, I need to take some time off. (I don’t think I’d make a very good single parent…I’m pretty decent at “my” jobs, but when I have to do all my hubby’s jobs too, I’m a little overloaded.) I just can’t keep going like this, and give you anything worth reading. I’m getting to bed too late and having to get up too early, so I hate to do this (as I just gained several new subscribers), but therapy is staring tomorrow and I have got to take a few days off. My days remind me of when I had a new baby… all the attention goes to them… (in this case, it’s my hubby.) I hope you’ll wait for me to be back…and I hope that is Monday…

If you want to chatter with each other today, be my guest.

See you hopefully Monday!
Blessings, Jeanne

51 thoughts on “I just can’t….”

  1. Charlotte Trayer

    Oh, Jeanne, of course, you just take as much time as you need!! You really are on “overload” at the moment, and, as the saying goes, something has to give!! Your husband and his care are far more important than the blog right now, and I’m pretty sure we’ll be here whenever you have time to check in! I know *I* will be, anyway.

    I’m sorry George is in so much pain. When he was in the hospital with his knee replacements, were his pain meds oral, or were they something else? If they were something other than pills, that could be why he thinks the current one isn’t as effective. If he did have the pills in the hospital, maybe you could ask the doctor if the type/dosage was the same. Sometimes just a different kind of pain pill (not necessarily stronger) can make a difference, as it did for me this past month.

    Plus, of course, in the hospital there were more people coming and going around him, and sometimes even just that diversion can help moderate the pain a bit.

    Thought I’d mention, last night I finished the dress for Bella, my Ruby Red Fashion Friends doll. She is waiting anxiously to try it on!! I started it a month ago, and she thinks that was way too long to wait!! LOL

  2. Leigh

    Dear Jeanne, I am sorry to hear that George is in so much pain. I pray every day gets better. You have to take care of yourself too so taking some time off is certainly understandable. You have had a lot on your plate for a few years now.

    I am the caregiver to my 91-year-old mom along with another family member and it can be overwhelming. I have to pick and choose what absolutely has to be done and try not to worry about the rest. Although I have not commented much in the last year I always read your blog & try to keep up on comments – it is one of the little “time outs” I give myself.

    Blessings to you and George,
    Leigh

  3. Sandra L.

    Jeannie
    I am more of a lurking reader and a occasional poster especially the last 6 months but I always read your posts. No need to apologize for having to take a break as it is often needed and right now your focus needs to be on you and George. Please remember to take time out everyday for just you. Twenty minutes is what I have been told and if you don’t you will be of no good use to him. You have to clear your mind, decide what is important to get done and leave some things go. We will all be hear when you can return and if people leave they have no compassion for your situation right now.

    I need a knee replacement and have been putting it off for 2 years because just the thought of the pain is overwhelming. I am surprised they sent him home so quickly as where I live they send you to a rehab facility for 7 days and more if needed.

    Will keep George and you in my thoughts.
    Blessings.

  4. Joy

    Not much to say that hasn’t been mentioned, but to reiterate, take care of yourself, get take out, and maybe even hire someone to help. It will definitely be worth it. Maybe your church has volunteers for the duty?
    I saw several mentions of different pain meds. I would give the doctor a call or email and see what can be done as tomorrow starts the weekend when he/she might not be available. What about that ice machine? That might help.
    I’m sure the nurse or therapist will notice the amount of pain George is having and recommend something also.
    On another note, and you might mention to George as he will probably laugh, we’re having a shortage of steer manure around here. Everyone has been sprucing up their yards and planting vegetable gardens over the last weeks stuck at home, so finding manure for the garden is next to impossible. Now we can get TP, still no hand sanitizer, but now no manure. 🙂
    Get some rest when you can.

  5. Linda D.

    Jeanne, we will stick with you through thick or thin! I’m so sorry to hear that George is having pain, and hope he gets some relief soon. You also need to take care of yourself, and we will always be here waiting until the day you feel better about coming back.
    Take care and know we are praying for both of you!

  6. Paula

    Jeanne, you and George certainly need this time to take care of yourselves. You, who will take care of your wonderful husband and things you need to do for yourself. I hope you rest when he does and hopefully you can get to bed earlier than usual.
    Take care and take the time you need.
    Blessings to you both.

  7. Julia

    I understand completely, Jeanne. We will all be here on the couch, waiting patiently for when you are ready to resume. 🛋

    I went on a really long bike ride yesterday. 15.6 miles. I have done this ride around a local lake before. I did find a road that was unknown to me. It’s always fun to explore new places right in my own neighborhood.

  8. Marti Garner

    Your family is more important that writing this blog. Take care of your husband and give him a hug. BTW, I would love to have such a nice lawn, but the only way I could have such a nice lawn would be with artificial grass. I live in SE Arizona at 4600 feet and we do not get enough rain and the water bill would be horrendous. I have to admit that I like the pictures of your home inside and out and the the work you are doing on it more than some of your sewing pictures.

  9. Laura

    Of course you need to care for George now. You do have a lot to juggle. I hope his pain goes away very soon. Surely the doctor can prescribed something stronger.
    I think in general things seem to be more difficult than they used to be. Di did grocery store trip this morning and that takes longer since some things are available and you search quickly for a substitute. Then you bring it home and there’s the whole disinfecting deal before it can be put away or some things are left to sit. I then did my usual freezing of produce things I freeze right away. It is nice to see the fridge and pantry restocked for awhile, managed to get by on three grocery trips since the beginning of March

    1. Joy

      Laura, you receive the award for the least store trips! That is quite amazing. I think you should be writing a blog on how you do it? After a week, we are out of bananas and yogurt. We always have a few bags of frozen things for dinner from Trader Joe’s which are great. But, I would love to see what you produce from your pantry. I’ll bet the dinners are great. 🙂

    3. Sandra L.

      Laura
      Same here. I was advised not to shop due to health issues. My daughter shopped for me twice and gave me the run down of how very different it is to food shop now. You can only have a general idea of what you want to buy. Forget your usual go to food brands and some things are always out of stock. We are limited to two packages of meat per trip. I usually only shop once a month so that was tough. Thankfully for her I am easy to please as far as food goes just don’t bring me okra or chocolate and I’m good. I went last week for the first time since March and it was overwhelming. Luckily I live in a Senior Complex and the Acme and Wawa bring a truck of food every Monday so that helps.

  10. Dorothy in PA and the World

    Dear Jeanne, you go and take care of your husband. We will all be here, sitting on the sofa, until you return. Sending prayers and hugs your way.

  11. Kathie

    You need time off and some time to yourself. Don’t worry about us!
    PWondering why he is having so much bruising and pain? I think if you would take a picture and send it and ask if it is normal it would be a good idea. If they are not concerned then you can worry less…and if they need to do something they have your pics to see.. measure his leg where it is swollen and do it tomorrow to see if it is better worse or the same…Do it for a few days. And of course ice,ice, ice🤪🤪😍
    Hugs

  12. Marilyn

    It’s 4:30 here and I’m wondering how you are getting along and where you are. I am not expecting an answer because if you had time to give us an update, we’d have it. Keep taking care of George and of yourself. As everyone says, we’ll be here when you come back. Prayers and good wishes.

  13. Barbara

    I totally understand your need to step aside for awhile. Since the middle of March I have been having the grandkids quite a bit and up until the end of May, there was schoolwork involved. I find myself taking care of the have tos and forgetting about the want tos a lot. I have had days when all I did was read your blog but it was too late when I got to it to comment. And as for sewing, well I try to make time for that, but things do get in the way. You know our prayers are with you and George and we’ll be glad to wait patiently for your return.

    I hope George starts feeling less pain soon. I know he would like that and so would you. It’s so hard to see our love ones feeling poorly. Someone mentioned not necessarily a stronger pain medication but a different one. I’ve noticed that different things take care of different kinds of pain. It’s a matter of finding which works. You said therapy is starting tomorrow. Hopefully the people there will find a solution to this. I can’t imagine being in pain and doing therapy. Evidently I had a pinched nerve in my leg for several weeks and finally a couple days ago I must have got in a position where it was released. My leg is sore now but not the pain I had, so I definitely empathize.

    When you are up to it, we will reconvene on the sofa for more renovating/redecorating or sewing adventures. Until then big hugs for you and your hubby.

    2. Laura

      Hi Barbara,
      I wanted to congratulate you on your soon to be grandchild. How exciting that will be. I’m sure your son and daughter in love are delighted. My friend had a new baby when her eldest was 16. She loved hauling out all the baby stuff she had saved for a first grandchild and using it all over again.

  14. Jeanne W

    Hi everyone,
    I thought I would give an update.
    My hubby had Physical Therapy today and the therapist was great. She took lots of measurements on his knees and calves and told us ice was his best friend right now. I told her the swelling had gone down some since he’d been on the Lasik (water pills) for a few days and she said she wished I had taken pictures of his legs before.
    They gave my hubby a nerve block in his thigh before his surgery to ease the pain somewhat after he woke up… it did, but it wore off after 2 days…that’s why when we got home, it seemed unbearable. The therapist said it would get better.
    When he had his knees replaced, they had a hard time getting his pain under control and said because of his big guy size, it was hard to know just how much to give him to make him comfortable. They finally figured it out, but he was in the hospital 5 days then, and not at home trying to figure it out.

    He is going to be going to Therapy Mondays and Wednesdays…they said for 19 visits…he said, We’ll see.

    The doctor said he had bone fragments (the therapist said spurs) on the back side of his knee area and there was extra bone that had formed along the inside of his knee (like if you sat with both your knees touching) that was removed. The therapist said with all that was done, it wss pretty much like a knee replacement surgery again. The dr. showed me pictures of the plastic disc in his knee that had worn down on the one side. It was replaced.

    It’s just going to take a while and we thought it was going to be a more simple surgery/recovery than it appears it will be.

    We’ll be fine…
    But just not as quickly as we thought…
    Thanks for caring.
    Blessings, Jeanne

    1. Ingrid B

      Dear Jeanne I’m thinking of you and your sweet husband, praying for a quick and complete healing. You’ve got this! Take care of your honey and take care of yourself too!!!
      Love you
      Ingrid

  16. Laura

    Thanks for the update, Jeanne. Sounds like you have a wonderful PT to help get George back in prime condition. Take care of him and yourself. We’ll be sitting on the couch having lemonade, iced tea, and petit fours until you return. Prayers for a more comfortable day. Maybe you can find a funny movie to watch together. After al, laughter is the best medicine.
    If you like I Love Lucy (Lucille Ball), the movie “The Long, Long Trailer is hysterical. Give me time and I can think of more.

    1. Barbara

      Definitely “The Long, Long Trailer”. My parents took us to the drive-in to see that when I was a kid and awhile back I saw it on TV again. It never ceases to be funny no matter how many times you see it. Loved that movie.

    2. Ingrid B

      Dear Laura,
      Great advice, laughter is good for the soul and has been proven to be good for the body as well.
      You can’t go wrong with a Lucy Ball movie!

  17. Marilyn

    Nothing is as easy as it sounds, is it? Not your sewing room, not George’s knees. Thanks for keeping us up on this. You have your own team cheering you both on.

  18. Susette

    Thanks for the update. I was really worried. The medical transcriptionist in me coming out. Glad his pain is under control now. Whew!

  19. Sylvia from NH

    Sylvia from NH
    Just read all the comments and I agree you must take care of both George and yourself.
    I had a knee replacement 5 years ago and it still is a bother, ice does help, not yet but down the road I have found the clay packs are great. Just freeze them up and they do give comfort.
    Also I have just started using CBD roll on 900/ 1000 mg. I know that can be controversial
    but if something helps use it! We will all get our doll fix sooner than we know! Take Care,
    Sylvia

    1. Ingrid B

      Hi Sylvia,
      I use CBD ointment too. After two back surgeries and pain for a few years afterward, my son gave me what his wife uses in her practice. Her patients love it, it is safe, nothing in it that would make you high. I use it in the AM so I can walk upright lol and in the evening so I’m able to sleep. I love it!
      Hope your knee continues to heal.
      hugs
      Ingrid

      1. Leigh O

        Hi Ingrid and Sylvia – or anyone else that can help
        I don’t know anything about CBD but I am very interested if it might help my dear 91 Mom. She has a few compression fractures (Osteoporosis) in the back and is currently on a pain patch that doesn’t give her much relief. I know you are not doctors but a product name or web site would be appreciated. Thanks so much
        Leigh

        1. Ingrid B

          Hi Leigh,
          The product I use is called Pain Relief Ointment it’s level 05 clinical strength. Im not sure if it’s available to the public but it’s worth looking into. The website is http://www.cbdclinic.co
          phone is 1-888-422-3254
          It is pricey, 7.05 oz cost $150. but it lasts quite a while and it helps!
          Good luck

          1. Leigh O

            Thanks Ingrid I very much appreciate the info. I will look into it, it just breaks my heart to see her in such pain.

  20. Ingrid B

    Hello Ladies,
    I thought I’d ask a question, we know what Jeanne is busy with, so share with us what you did this weekend. It doesn’t have to be sewing or doll related.
    I have been enjoying some alone time (hubby is in S.C. visiting our son and his family. I’m calling it a golfing trip. I believe much golfing is going on. ; ) Before leaving he rototilled and brought in dirt and rototilled some more leaving me with a lovely raised bed to fill. Yesterday I planted 3 rose bushes. It’s the start of another garden. Color me happy!
    Happy Sunday everyone

    1. Dorothy in PA and the World

      Dear Ingrid, what a great question. Here’s what I did today.

      First I went to church on the radio. Then I chatted with friends and family. Finally, I caught up on some TV shows. I have been following the series An American Aristocrat’s Guide To Great Estates.

      It sounds like you had a nice weekend.

      1. Ingrid B

        Hi Dorothy,
        I’m so glad you enjoyed your weekend. Sounds like a nice relaxing day. I’ve never watched “An American Aristocrat’s Guide To Great Estates”, I’ll have to check it out.
        My Sunday was spent mostly outdoors, the temp was a lovely 72 degrees perfect for puttering around the gardens.

    2. Charlotte Trayer

      We went to church on the radio, too (Dr. J. Vernon McGee–with the Lord many years now, but his messages are always so good). Later today I called around a bit and some restaurants are opening “tomorrow”, but IHOP was open Today, so we went out for dinner tonight!! Yay!!

  21. Ingrid B

    Hi Charlotte,
    I’m so happy for you, what a lovely weekend you had. I think I’ll find out if Dr.. McGee is on in my area. I love listening to different pastors. I generally come away with something to edify the soul. Lucky you dinner out! IHOP is fun, did you have breakfast for dinner or one of their yummy entrees?

  22. Julia

    Sunday June 7th was my parents wedding anniversary. It would have been 66 years. We are SO glad we celebrated their 65th last year!

    1. Ingrid B

      Hi Julia,
      I’m so very sorry for your loss… Anniversaries and birthdays will always be difficult. I hope you found some joy this past weekend. I’m happy that you celebrated 65 years as well.
      Hold on tight to all those wonderful memories!

  23. Susette

    One of the questions the other day was about what business you would like to go into if you could. It turns out I’m kind of in business with my daughter-in-law Suemae. She visited the Santa Barbara Art Museum where the lady in charge of the gift shop asked about the mask she was wearing. She asked if I might be interested in having them carry the masks in the gift shop. I didn’t want to get into business licenses and taxes, etc., so eventually Suemae decided to carry them on her business website since they mostly have an Asian theme. She is an artist and also teaches Chinese brush painting at SBCC and on-line. This way we can get money to donate to causes of our own choosing. I’ll also be donating masks with other designs directly to a shelter on the list at masksforhumanity.com, a website that lists charities for you to choose. I kind of perfected? and made them easier to make than the directions Jeanne posted, essentially a pocket, pleated and with elastic (scarce as hens’ teeth) ear loops. Thread is no picnic to obtain either. Had to order on eBay and paid almost $14 for spool of black Gutermann thread! It’s keeping me busy while Staying at Home.

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