In Loving Memory

Mr. Kitty

3/2004 - 7/2009

Mr. Kitty showed up on our deck in March 2004. Our daughter, Kim, was home from college on spring break. The weather was supposed to turn cold, and Kim put on her winter coat and turned on the back light and sat outside in the cold with Mr. Kitty until I agreed to let her bring him inside. I had no idea that he would become such a loving friend and my constant companion these past 5+ years. He touched my heart in a way that I didn't know possible, and I can't imagine life without him. Thanks, Kim, for bring Mr. Kitty into our lives.

Do not stand at my grave and weep

I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awake in the morning's hush

I am the sweet, uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry.

I am not there. I did not die.

Rest in peace my dear friend. I will miss you.......

Surgeries at our House

I came home from the hospital on Thursday after having a total knee replacement on Tuesday. I'm doing well, but I think the recovery time on this is going to be a lot longer than I want. When I woke up this morning I asked Bill if we were going to put the tree up today because it sure feels like it should be Christmas time soon. I still need to use the walker to get around until the knee gets stronger. I'm upstairs and Bill is being a wonderful caregiver bringing my meals and helping with exercises. Here is one of my lunches:

Then Mr. Kitty had surgery on Friday night/Saturday morning. He had been acting a bit lethargic before I had surgery and would yowl in pain once in awhile. My son and daughter-in-law took him to the vet on the day I had surgery and she said that he had a bee bee lodged against his spine. She didn't see a point of entry, and since we don't let him outside she felt the bullet had been in him since before he came to live with us (2004). Since he has lost so much weight because of the overactive thyroid, she thinks that the bullet just moved and lodged there. By Friday he was hiding in the closet and not eating or drinking so he had surgery. When Bill picked him up we found that they had removed a 22 caliber bullet from his spine. He's sleeping a lot but seems to be more like the old Mr. Kitty

I have a couple of appts this week with docs and surgeons so will go from there. The days are taken up with exercises, eating, napping, and taking a shower.

Knee Surgery Tomorrow

I haven't posted in quite awhile. I've been dealing with the fact that I need to have knee replacement surgery on my left knee and getting ready for it. I am ok if I just sit down, but when I walk even a short distance my knee and lower leg begin to hurt and then it spreads into the good side of my hip and back. I know I can't keep going on like this, so I am having surgery tomorrow morning at 11 am. For the first week after I am realeased (probably after 48 hours or so), I will have to stay in bed laying down with my leg in a Continuous Passive Motion machine, keep ice on my knee, and do some exercises. I am hoping to be able to post more while I'm laying there, but since these are uncharted waters I don't know what I will be able to do. Having said that I have prepared enough applique and knitting projects to last at least 6 months...probably more. That doesn't include books, quilting and knitting pattern books, and sudoku puzzles.

Yes, there wil be photos.....NO not of my knee. I've taken other happy photos to post like the one above. I will post more when I can.