New Year's Advice

These aren't my words but I sure like them!

An Old Farmer's Advice:

Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.

Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.

Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.

Words that soak into your ears are whispered . . . not yelled.

Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.

Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.

Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.

It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.

You cannot unsay a cruel word.

Every path has a few puddles.

When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

The best sermons are lived, not preached.

Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.

Don't judge folks by their relatives.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.

Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't bothering you none.

Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.

Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.

The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.

Always drink upstream from the herd.

Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.

If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

Don't pick a fight with an old woman. If she is too old to fight, she'll just kill you.

Giddy

I had my 4-week post-op doctor's appointment yesterday. Okay it was two days early but she was overbooked for Friday due to the upcoming holiday.

So we did x-rays again and the fused joint is slowly filling in and healing. Still no weight-bearing (walking) for at least another two weeks and I'm not getting my hopes set on that as I'm sure we'll err on the side of caution and wait the full eight weeks.

I was curious as to how this time around compared to the first surgery in June - especially since I'm not having any pain and minimal swelling this time around.

So I went back an pulled photos of my foot at the 4-week post-op timeframe.

July 16, 2010

This next one was taken a week later.

July 26, 2010

Compare that to this one taken yesterday morning.

December 29, 2010

What a difference! No wonder it feels so much better this time around.

I am trying not to be hopeful or optimistic as I tend to be a pessimist by nature - preferring to be pleasantly surprised if things work out well and mentally prepared if they don't. But I am giddy with delight with the progress this foot is making. I had to go clear to October 8th to find a shot where my foot looked even close to what I have right now - that was 16 weeks post op!!!

October 8, 2010

And then two weeks later it started looking bad again.

October 23, 2010

Note the lump, bulge, or whatever you want to call it on the side of the foot by the big toe. Trouble is brewing!

And of course the foot when disaster struck  three weeks later . . .

Novemer 11, 2010

I'm hoping and praying that this time it will work out great. I want to get back to my life and my dogs. Time is slipping away and time is not infinite for us mortals!

Pretty Flowers

My doctor and her staff sent me get well flowers after the surgery. I should have taken the picture when they were fresh but just wasn't on the ball that day. They came the Monday after the Friday surgery. Answering the door and taking them from the florist driver was a major accomplishment that day!

Get Well Flowers

There was a pink daisy-like flower in the front but it died a few days ago. The blue carnation needs to come out now. But still a very pretty arrangement and very thoughtful of the doctor and staff. I appreciate them.