February 3, 2012

  • The Big Surprise

     

    TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

    Home Health showed up today around 11:30am.  They did call and I was expecting them.  What I didn't expect was that she had a copy of orders that came from my doctor for daily changing of my bandages.    She also came with a huge bag of supplies such as gauze, both pads and rolls, silk tape (I thought it was paper since it tore so easily), sterile water in spray form and other stuff I have no idea of what it's called.  She knew about the special salve I had and asked me to include it.  All the supplies were left here and I put them in the boot shoe box from the Beast's new boots.

    But....daily?  Shit.  That puts a real crimp in things except that the nurses do call before they come.  If I start HBO therapy, that will feel like I spent the day just taking care of the amputated toe and my wounded heel.  I suppose that's not really a bad thing because I am anxious for it to heal.  The problem has a lot to do with any chance of taking a shower.  I have some foam stuff the hospital gave me which is called Foaming Body Cleanser.  I guess that means I will be using that a lot or just a PTA bath....LOL 

    It says you can use it on your hair and I tried that.  Once.  Yuk!  Although it smells nice, it leaves a strange coating on your hair no matter how vigorously you towel it after saturating your hair.  Well, I HAD to try it.  I couldn't wash it at the hospital, after all.  I'll just wash my hair at the kitchen sink since it has a sprayer there.  That'll make Baron run!  He sees a spray of water and takes off.  Weird, since he will sit still these days and let the Beast use the hose on him to bathe him.  To exercise him, I used to use the hose and threaten to wet him down when he was younger.  I think he appreciated the hose though when he discovered it cooled him down nicely during the summer.  His black coat helps heat his skin quickly outside.  As much as he loves to be out in the yard, or on the deck when we sit out there, the sun will chase him inside the house for relief.  Poor baby.

    I told the nurse today that I really need either new pressure stockings OR some time without it so I can wash the damn things.  I'm sure that them becoming a bit dirty is not a good thing. 

    My *stitches* (and staples) are really red looking but aren't seeping so they are just irritated the nurse said.  I take Bactrim twice a day for infection so I shouldn't have to worry about that but I know some pain when I am walking around.  I can feel it pulling the staples and stitches when I walk so I have been trying to walk as little as possible.

    I told the Beast that I know I am feeling better most of the time but it aggravates me that I am still so handicapped and my healing seems so slow to me.  Yet, the doctors and nurses all seem amazed that I am doing so well.  It makes me wonder what others in my situation do that I am so different from that it seems unusual.  Guess I just have a different frame of mind.

    The Beast has kind of gone crazy with things since he took over the household due to my not being able.  He bought this steamer/refresher that's for clothing.  It's really kind of neat because it sanitizes.  He has a special attachment to it and used it on his recliner, my recliner and the love seat to get the smells out of them.  It's not supposed to clean but it sure brightened up all three items.  He bought me a steamer/cleaner for my floors, too.  I'm sure you've seen it advertised.  It's a Shark brand and it's amazing how great a job it does.  It brings up the shine of the wood floors and dries quickly.

    He also bought an ironing board, a new iron (which I sorely needed) and a new four slice toaster.  I swear, every time I turn around, he's got something new.  It was mostly for him, if you know what I mean.  When he started attending the JW meetings, he bought himself lots of new clothes, including shirts that require some ironing.  He uses the steamer thingy to take wrinkles out of them.  I told him that he could avoid that if he got the shirts out of the dryer as soon as the dryer is finished but......he's a man and he just doesn't do it.  He'll learn or be stuck both steaming and ironing forever.  I once told him....*if it HAS to be ironed, out it goes!*  I really meant it and I threw out my ironing board shortly afterward.  I'm not an idiot so I bought a table top ironing board for when I do need to iron something.  I have to iron seams for when I am sewing, for instance.  Oh, there are a few things I will take out the old iron for but everyday things...doubtful.

    Love you all.  Enjoy the good weather while you can.  If you are in an area hit by snow and ice, keep safe and warm.