We will be having Frankie have some surgery on his right hind leg. He will have his knee cap put back into place as well as having the two bones realigned as they are twisted right now.
His recovery will take about 8 weeks. He will have a soft padding put on his leg similar to a cast but not. He will have that on for two weeks and taken off and the rehab will begin.
This was a difficult decision to make and one that Sam did not want to have to make. He is already nervous about it. He is very concerned that he won't be the same afterwards. I feel in my heart that he will be OK and better than ever. Frankie needs to loose some weight before surgery. I am trying not to give him anything other than his dinner but Sam just can't stop himself. They are after all buddies!
I really do want everything to work out as this would be devastating to Sam if something should happen to him.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
House Update and a Me Update
We haven't had an offer of any kind yet. We did have a couple come back a second time and was asking a lot of questions with our realtor during an Open House on Sunday. She felt we should have a contract from the way they were talking and even went so far as trying to place furniture. All good signs, right? So far there hasn't been any offers or communication from either side. Frustrating when you get excited about the idea and it doesn't happen. We will continue on to keep the house for sale. Maybe we will get an offer, like Jon did when he was on vacation. We are going to South Carolina for two weeks. Maybe...
I am still in my boot. I had some pain with my foot so bad that I couldn't stand on it. I went to the doctor and he took an X-Ray again and the stress fracture is healing but not quickly. He said all the pain I was having was still from the stress fracture. The doctor did give me an anti-inflammatory to take twice a day to help reduce the inflammation and pain. There are times when I think that I am getting better and then I do too much walking and the foot starts to hurt again. I am to see the doctor in a month and he is hoping everything will finally be better. I have my fingers crossed.
On a different note, it looks like we are going to have to have Frankie get an operation on his right hind quarter around the knee. His knee cap keeps moving and it is putting a strain on his bones and ligaments as well as giving him pain if he runs a certain way. There will be a lot involved in rehabilitation but if we don't do anything, Frankie's leg will become lame. This is the hardest decision for us to make. Frankie seems to do OK and we think, "OK, he is doing alright so we wait and see if there are any changes." Then he yelps from pain when he has done something and then we go back to the surgery. I have a call into the doctor to ask a few more questions. It really does look like we will getting the surgery for him. What he has is called Medial Patellar Luxation.
I am still in my boot. I had some pain with my foot so bad that I couldn't stand on it. I went to the doctor and he took an X-Ray again and the stress fracture is healing but not quickly. He said all the pain I was having was still from the stress fracture. The doctor did give me an anti-inflammatory to take twice a day to help reduce the inflammation and pain. There are times when I think that I am getting better and then I do too much walking and the foot starts to hurt again. I am to see the doctor in a month and he is hoping everything will finally be better. I have my fingers crossed.
On a different note, it looks like we are going to have to have Frankie get an operation on his right hind quarter around the knee. His knee cap keeps moving and it is putting a strain on his bones and ligaments as well as giving him pain if he runs a certain way. There will be a lot involved in rehabilitation but if we don't do anything, Frankie's leg will become lame. This is the hardest decision for us to make. Frankie seems to do OK and we think, "OK, he is doing alright so we wait and see if there are any changes." Then he yelps from pain when he has done something and then we go back to the surgery. I have a call into the doctor to ask a few more questions. It really does look like we will getting the surgery for him. What he has is called Medial Patellar Luxation.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Exciting Update
We had our Betty's Builders Golf Tournament on Friday, September 23. It turned out fantastic! We had invited 60 players and 60 players showed up. We wanted a bigger turn out than this but others that were contacted had other plans and could not make it.
All the golfers were either sub-contractors or contractors. They all received a goodie bag which contained the golf shirt, golf shoes, sunglasses, and a couple dozen golf balls. As the tee-off time was at 1:00 PM, we provided a box lunch. The lunch consisted of either a Turkey or Roast Beef sandwich which had lettuce and tomato, a bag of Dorito chips, an apple, and a large chocolate chip cookie. Everyone seemed to enjoy the food as all the lunches were taken. The drink was either the water that was provided on each golf cart or they had to purchase a drink.
The tournament lasted a little longer than expected. The 4-some's were to play best ball but they instead all took their own turns playing their individual balls. The course was very challenging to everyone. Pechanga is an Indian reservation. On the golf carts was a GPS which would also explain the hole you are at, give the English name and the Indian name of the hole, and the particular plant that was around it and how this plant was used or something interesting about the course. This course was an 18 hole course but it also was very spread out. The cart paths were like a roller coaster. You would drive up a steep path up the mountain with the return going down just as steep but add on a sharp turn. You have to look out for other golfers being on the path so it did get cosy driving by each other. Once at the hole, you could be shooting over ravines or across streams. Once you were on the green, you still had to deal with the different curves and gullies. As I said, tough course!
This whole day was timed out to the minute. Of course, it doesn't quite work out that way. The players were supposed to play the best ball, which meant that the four would tee off and whoever had the best location, the rest would pick up their individual balls and play from that location. It turned out the some of the golfers were playing their own ball right where it lade. This caused quite a few to be late for dinner. We had to hurry them up from socializing to getting their dinner and sitting down so the program could be started. We lost quite a few of the golfers as it was getting late so they just left. The ones that stayed heard from me as I told my story. Writing my story took some effort as I had to condense 30 years to 2-3 minutes on my life with MS and how the MS Society has helped me. Everyone said that the speech was good.
We raised for the National MS Society, Pacific South Coast Plaza, $52,700.00. We were so excited and pleased as this was the very first tournament for Betty's Builders. We already have the course scheduled for June 2012. Now we get to start recruiting for the next tournament.
All the golfers were either sub-contractors or contractors. They all received a goodie bag which contained the golf shirt, golf shoes, sunglasses, and a couple dozen golf balls. As the tee-off time was at 1:00 PM, we provided a box lunch. The lunch consisted of either a Turkey or Roast Beef sandwich which had lettuce and tomato, a bag of Dorito chips, an apple, and a large chocolate chip cookie. Everyone seemed to enjoy the food as all the lunches were taken. The drink was either the water that was provided on each golf cart or they had to purchase a drink.
The tournament lasted a little longer than expected. The 4-some's were to play best ball but they instead all took their own turns playing their individual balls. The course was very challenging to everyone. Pechanga is an Indian reservation. On the golf carts was a GPS which would also explain the hole you are at, give the English name and the Indian name of the hole, and the particular plant that was around it and how this plant was used or something interesting about the course. This course was an 18 hole course but it also was very spread out. The cart paths were like a roller coaster. You would drive up a steep path up the mountain with the return going down just as steep but add on a sharp turn. You have to look out for other golfers being on the path so it did get cosy driving by each other. Once at the hole, you could be shooting over ravines or across streams. Once you were on the green, you still had to deal with the different curves and gullies. As I said, tough course!
This whole day was timed out to the minute. Of course, it doesn't quite work out that way. The players were supposed to play the best ball, which meant that the four would tee off and whoever had the best location, the rest would pick up their individual balls and play from that location. It turned out the some of the golfers were playing their own ball right where it lade. This caused quite a few to be late for dinner. We had to hurry them up from socializing to getting their dinner and sitting down so the program could be started. We lost quite a few of the golfers as it was getting late so they just left. The ones that stayed heard from me as I told my story. Writing my story took some effort as I had to condense 30 years to 2-3 minutes on my life with MS and how the MS Society has helped me. Everyone said that the speech was good.
We raised for the National MS Society, Pacific South Coast Plaza, $52,700.00. We were so excited and pleased as this was the very first tournament for Betty's Builders. We already have the course scheduled for June 2012. Now we get to start recruiting for the next tournament.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Golf Tournament for Betty's Builders
I spent this morning at Clark Construction's office putting together bags with golf goodies (golf shoes, shirt, golf balls, sun glasses, and golf baseball hat) for all the golfers that will playing this Friday, September 23, at The Journey, Pechanga's golf resort and casino.
We barely were able to load all the stuff we will be giving away, into our Ford Explorer. It was packed to the top, from side to side, every space taken. We could not even see out the rear view mirror but had to use the side mirrors. Luckily the traffic moved well so it was not necessary to change lanes very often.
Upon returning home, the top tier of stuff was removed and brought into the house or garage. The bottom layer stayed in the Explorer.
The vendors used, for the shirts and shoes, need to go back to school and learn how to count. We didn't receive enough of the correct sized shirts or the correct sizes in golf shoes. We did have plenty of golf balls and sun glasses.
We had ordered the golf shirts and had the Betty's Builder's logo put on the sleeve and on the golf hats. We haven't received the golf hats yet so this will be a last minute stuff into bags when they arrive.
This tournament is the first one of its kind for us. We are doing this to raise money for the National MS Society. It looks like, at this point, that we will be able to give a check to the Society for about $43,000. We haven't finished collecting money though, from raffle tickets, mulligans, and a reverse auction that will be held after dinner. A reverse auction is one in which we are asking for money, to provide needs for those who are living with MS and can't afford it any other way, from the audience. A sample would be asking a $100 for a wheelchair or $7500 for 2 or 3 scooters. All the added money will then be added to our present amount with the final total amount going to the Society. We are hoping to get to $50,000.
Lunch and dinner will be provided. There also will be contests for the longest drive, closest to the hole, best score, etc.
As I said, this is the first year for this event. Plans and thoughts are already flying for next year and doing the tournament even bigger.
During all the speeches during dinner, I have been asked to speak and give my story, as well as, tell how the Society has helped me. I have started to write things down but so far it isn't going very well. I haven't liked my beginning sentence so the flow is not there yet. Telling my story can start back many years or within the last 10 years. I may touch upon how I was diagnosed and then move to the present. I don't know what I want to do with this. I better figure it out soon as the golf tournament is this Friday.
We barely were able to load all the stuff we will be giving away, into our Ford Explorer. It was packed to the top, from side to side, every space taken. We could not even see out the rear view mirror but had to use the side mirrors. Luckily the traffic moved well so it was not necessary to change lanes very often.
Upon returning home, the top tier of stuff was removed and brought into the house or garage. The bottom layer stayed in the Explorer.
The vendors used, for the shirts and shoes, need to go back to school and learn how to count. We didn't receive enough of the correct sized shirts or the correct sizes in golf shoes. We did have plenty of golf balls and sun glasses.
We had ordered the golf shirts and had the Betty's Builder's logo put on the sleeve and on the golf hats. We haven't received the golf hats yet so this will be a last minute stuff into bags when they arrive.
This tournament is the first one of its kind for us. We are doing this to raise money for the National MS Society. It looks like, at this point, that we will be able to give a check to the Society for about $43,000. We haven't finished collecting money though, from raffle tickets, mulligans, and a reverse auction that will be held after dinner. A reverse auction is one in which we are asking for money, to provide needs for those who are living with MS and can't afford it any other way, from the audience. A sample would be asking a $100 for a wheelchair or $7500 for 2 or 3 scooters. All the added money will then be added to our present amount with the final total amount going to the Society. We are hoping to get to $50,000.
Lunch and dinner will be provided. There also will be contests for the longest drive, closest to the hole, best score, etc.
As I said, this is the first year for this event. Plans and thoughts are already flying for next year and doing the tournament even bigger.
During all the speeches during dinner, I have been asked to speak and give my story, as well as, tell how the Society has helped me. I have started to write things down but so far it isn't going very well. I haven't liked my beginning sentence so the flow is not there yet. Telling my story can start back many years or within the last 10 years. I may touch upon how I was diagnosed and then move to the present. I don't know what I want to do with this. I better figure it out soon as the golf tournament is this Friday.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Injury again
I went to the doctor's on Thursday because I had been having swelling with my left foot. This is the foot that I had bunion surgery on. I had put ice on it, took Advil for the pain, put it up, and nothing worked. A week went past and I thought I should have it checked out. I thought maybe there was a problem from the surgery that popped up. That was my first thought anyway.
I called twice trying to talk to the nurse and did not get a reply. I was thinking that nothing must be wrong as no one was thinking it was a problem. How wrong was I! Yesterday I received a phone call from my doctor's nurse saying he wanted to see me and could I come at 11:00. Sure, I said.
I had a conference call at 10:00 which lasted until about 10:50. I thought I was going to stop the call so I could get the appointment. It ended in time for me to leave. It was also a good thing that the doctor is pretty much around the corner; I got there right on time. Signed in and waited. And waited. And waited. I didn't get into an exam room for an hour and 20 minutes later. I was brought to an exam room and waited another half hour. The office had many new patients so they took longer with their appointments. I couldn't be upset by that as I would want the same care too.
When my doctor finally came into the room, he only had to take one look at my foot and knew the problem. He pressed on my foot around the toes and asked if this hurt. I just remembered that cartoon where someone goes to the doctor and says, Hey doc, it hurts when I do this and the Doc replies, don't do that. Well, that is what I wanted to say to the doctor. Yes it hurts! Don't do that! He told me I had a stress fracture. He would take X-Rays but it probably would not show up. The doctor told me it was probably due to the way I was walking. Ever since the surgery, I would try to avoid putting a lot of pressure on the right side of the foot. Because I had done that instead of walking normally, it was pulling on those tendons which caused the stress fracture. He also told me that had I continued to walk on it, the stress fracture would have become a complete fracture.
The treatment: I have to go back into my boot for 2 maybe 3 weeks and then if it feels OK, try to go back into the regular shoe. I see him again September 30 to have the foot re-Xrayed. I don't know what will happen if it isn't healed! If I have to continue with the boot, then I guess I will continue with the boot.
We will be flying to our house in South Carolina starting on October 1 for two weeks. It won't stop the flight, just maybe activities.
Here, I thought I was finally over everything. I guess I thought wrong...
I called twice trying to talk to the nurse and did not get a reply. I was thinking that nothing must be wrong as no one was thinking it was a problem. How wrong was I! Yesterday I received a phone call from my doctor's nurse saying he wanted to see me and could I come at 11:00. Sure, I said.
I had a conference call at 10:00 which lasted until about 10:50. I thought I was going to stop the call so I could get the appointment. It ended in time for me to leave. It was also a good thing that the doctor is pretty much around the corner; I got there right on time. Signed in and waited. And waited. And waited. I didn't get into an exam room for an hour and 20 minutes later. I was brought to an exam room and waited another half hour. The office had many new patients so they took longer with their appointments. I couldn't be upset by that as I would want the same care too.
When my doctor finally came into the room, he only had to take one look at my foot and knew the problem. He pressed on my foot around the toes and asked if this hurt. I just remembered that cartoon where someone goes to the doctor and says, Hey doc, it hurts when I do this and the Doc replies, don't do that. Well, that is what I wanted to say to the doctor. Yes it hurts! Don't do that! He told me I had a stress fracture. He would take X-Rays but it probably would not show up. The doctor told me it was probably due to the way I was walking. Ever since the surgery, I would try to avoid putting a lot of pressure on the right side of the foot. Because I had done that instead of walking normally, it was pulling on those tendons which caused the stress fracture. He also told me that had I continued to walk on it, the stress fracture would have become a complete fracture.
The treatment: I have to go back into my boot for 2 maybe 3 weeks and then if it feels OK, try to go back into the regular shoe. I see him again September 30 to have the foot re-Xrayed. I don't know what will happen if it isn't healed! If I have to continue with the boot, then I guess I will continue with the boot.
We will be flying to our house in South Carolina starting on October 1 for two weeks. It won't stop the flight, just maybe activities.
Here, I thought I was finally over everything. I guess I thought wrong...
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