SLEEPING IN HOPEFULLY

 

It will have been one week since Stew's operation this afternoon, and he's doing so well!

This afternoon he has an appointment with a physiotherapist.  Hopefully he gets a good report on his progress, and an outline of what he needs to keep doing, or add into his regime.

He was seen by a physiotherapist in the hospital for a grand total of about forty minutes, and we just got the bill.  $260 +.   I nearly spat the dummy.  OMG that is daylight robbery.

If today's physio charges that much, we won't be going too often.   And YES, I know he needs physio, but they can just give him a list of what he needs to do and send him on his way!

So, not much happening this morning, I shall take a photo of #4 Tote Bag, then get on with another couple.  They will probably be wonky house ones.  Or a Fat Bottomed Girl.  Dunno yet.

ONWARD...

DRIVEWAY WILL BE FINISHED TODAY

 

'W' told me yesterday that he would finish the driveway today.

He just has to put the concrete 'anchoring' strips around the edges, cover them with soil and grass seed and it will be done.   I wonder if he will actually put the soil and grass seed down today?  

I suppose I'll find out eh?

ABOVE: That's how the extension looked yesterday afternoon.  

ABOVE: Stew and I are very impressed with the attention to detail... I love it!   I know it's 'only' a driveway at the end of the day, but it's bloody lovely.

The left hand side is going to be the 'walkway' to the front door now.  

My plans for the day?  Think I'll make a couple more Tote Bags. I've got some fabric already cut out.

While I do that, Stew can lounge around in the house, watching sport on the telly, or a movie on Netflix.  

I suppose I better get up and make him breakfast...

Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

11 am and MEH.  I feel like death warmed up.  So shitty with this cold and sore throat.  I tried having a mid morning nap.. no luck.  Wasn't really tired, just feeling ikkk.

Stew is doing great, his knee is still hugely swollen, but I think I can see some improvement with that today.  He's getting around much easier and his pain is under control on a whole.

ABOVE: The concrete is going down, and 'W' said the soil and grass seed will go down today as well.  He is going to 'barricade' the driveway so no one drives on it until the concrete is set.  He reckons it will be totally fine by late Saturday or Sunday.  I can wait.  It will be worth it at the end of the day.

I'm now going to do an hour or so in C.Q's, before getting our lunch.

2.30 pm and I've been sewing for a couple of hours now.  Getting things done.

'W' has finished the driveway, and is just watering the grass seed.  I'm now taking a little break for a late lunch (Stew's already had his).

Someone asked me if any of the neighbours have made a comment about the driveway yet?

YES.  Two have said it looks very good.

And the ARESHOLE to our side/back, who made us lose our shed?  He drove past yesterday while I was out there with 'W', and 'L' from the village.  He drove INCREDIBLY SLOWLY, looking in at our place the entire time ... it's a wonder he didn't drive into something, he certainly was not looking where he was going!

I couldn't help myself.. and said "Take a photo why don't ya"?

I do believe 'L' sniggered.   He's well aware of how much of an arse that man is.

If there's been any negativity about it, I've not heard.  And ...

TOO LATE.  It's done.  A fait accompli.   Come Sunday my car will be permanently at my actual home.

ABOVE: Done and dusted.  The barricade will be up till 'W' comes back on the weekend.

I shall water the grass seed every day, it won't be long before it grows.

ABOVE: One Tote Bag done, and the second one of the day is about 50% done.  I don't know if I'll get it finished today, my batteries ran down.

Lacy called in to check up on us... that was nice.

She's doing well, keeping busy with her cute little home, her two cats and a bunch of guppies (fish), that's she's breeding.  

:Lacy wants you all to know she is not 'breeding' guppies, they are just doing it all by themselves.  She didn't set out to have 30 baby guppies!! 😂😅😆

It's now 8.36 pm, and I've just finished a second bag for the day.  I'll have to show you tomorrow, as it's now dark outside.  I like to use my tree as a prop.  lol

Catch ya tomorrow.

AN FBG WALK, THEN HOME TO STEW

 

First up for today, I'm off to Cambridge to an FBG walk.  I won't be staying for the morning tea after the walk.  I'll get back here quick smart... so Stew isn't on his own for too long.

Though, I expect the Landscape man will be here doing the driveway.  So, there will be someone nearby.

Plus, he does have his phone if he needs help, so I'm not going to worry too much.

He's a big boy.

And he has Coco.  😂😅😉

ABOVE: This is how the driveway looked after the landscaper left yesterday.   I hope there's a big change when I get home from my walk.

It doesn't look like a big enough area for my car, it is very deceptive.

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  A lovely sky this morning  on my way to Cambridge.  

And its not even cold enough to wear my new FBG sweatshirt.  

I have got a freakin' head cold. Sniffing and sneezing, not fun. Seems to be going around, Steve and his kids have it too. Stew hasn't  caught it ... yet.
12 noon.

The walk was really good...

ABOVE:  Today's walk stats.  Walk photo to come later.

After the walk I came back to Hamilton, grabbed a few things from the mall... and home in time to make our lunch.  Which was Chicken/Bacon Tortellini.  

ABOVE:  knee progress.  It's looking good.  Another week and the clear dressing can come off.

ABOVE:  Progress when I arrived home... all ready for the pavers.

ABOVE:  And there it is, the first paver is down.  

I bought some Covid tests while I was out, cos my throat is killing me, and sneezing???  OMG, they won't stop.  But, THANKFULLY... my covid test was NEGATIVE.  Very relieved about that. 

And now... I'm knackered and might just have a quiet afternoon. 

ABOVE: Today's walk photo.  

Stew and I lay down after lunch... and he went to sleep and snored like a trooper.

I didn't sleep... why?

Cos my socks were annoying my toes, and I couldn't be arsed bending down and taking them off!  How dumb can ya get?  Well, clearly that dumb.

It's now 2.50 pm, we are both up and listening to 'W' cutting up pavers.  He's got another day of work before it's finished.  And I can't drive on it until Saturday or Sunday, so the concrete edge can set.  The concreting will be done tomorrow, then covered up with grass.  It's just to hold everything in place apparently.  

It's going to look awesome.

7.25 pm, and a quiet afternoon was had by both of us.  My cold is dragging me down a bit, hopefully it doesn't last long.

Stew is getting quicker, and better at walking around the house.  And getting a bit too confident, he was about to walk down the hallway without his crutches... till I told him off!

I don't want him falling and stuffing up the knee, and putting back his recovery.  

'W' worked until 4 pm, then knocked off for the day.  He got HEAPS done today... I will show you tomorrow.

For now, it's sign off time.  Coronation Street is on this evening, then I'll be off to bed.

Catch ya tomorrow.

RUNNERS... AND A NEW DRIVEWAY

 

Today... is THE DAY.

We are getting our driveway extension started today.  I am thrilled beyond words.

I have kept my car down in the distant carpark for now, as I didn't want ANY BASTARD NEIGHBOUR to get wind of what's happening, and put in a formal complaint before it's even done! 

I'm damned if that's going to happen.  I want our new driveway, and my car up by the house to be a fait accompli before anyone gets an idea to complain about it.

Once it's actually DONE, there will be no way they can stop me putting my car ON MY OWN GODDAM DRIVEWAY.   And a driveway WE PAID THOUSANDS of dollars to get installed I might add.

You can expect photos!

ABOVE: This is the before photo... with the letterbox already moved to it's new position, off to the left.

ABOVE:  Those are the four Braid Runners I finally finished yesterday afternoon.

I'm now contemplating what to make next.  I'm thinking.. some more Bags?  

ONWARD...

10.30 am, and things are ticking along nicely today.

Stew is all good, in pain but that's to be expected.  It will get better day by day.

He's fed and watered, and now in the front room relaxing.

I've been sewing.

ABOVE:  I'm so happy right now.  I've found another use for fabrics that are not suitable for Braid Runners!  Tote Bags.

That's the first one for today.  The next one is using some really old fabric from our friend Martyn's Mum's Stash... happy to be using some of her fabric too.

ABOVE:  'W' arrived at 8.30 am and got right into ripping up the old pavers.  He reckons the job will take him 2-3 days.  Whoop!!!   It's happening. 

Right, back to C.Q's.

ABOVE: We now have a little digger in our yard.  😊

ABOVE: Bag number two for the day features cats.  I'm experimenting with sizing.  This one is fairly large.  Might make the next one smaller. 

ABOVE: Stew's lunch today:  Chicken Salad, Mussels with a Tangy Seafood dip, and fresh fruit.  I'm feeling very, very GOOD WIFEY-ish.  *snort*

DOGSTARS:  I think the village manager IS worried about there being a 'run' on people wanting to do what we are doing!  But, as I've said before, many of those that live here only have one car, or can use their garage for one car, and have the other on the driveway out the front.

We are having to use the garage for my sewing 'room', hence no where to put a car in there.

Stew is doing small walks around the house and doing his exercises right now.  I don't think he will be going on any walks outside yet, as uneven ground would not be safe right now. 

3 pm, and I've spent an hour having a catch up down at Craft Group.  Stew is sleeping, so it was a good time to nip out.

I didn't do any work down there, just sat and yakked.  Yakking is good for the soul. 

8 pm.  I got home from Craft Group to a sleeping husband, and no driveway man working.  He had knocked off early.  So, not much else got done today.

I haven't done much else myself either.  Had a quiet afternoon/evening.

Forgot to get Stew his dinner... Whoops.  He got himself some yoghurt and fruit.  He needs to move anyway... I'm consoling myself!

Time to sign off for the day.

Catch ya tomorrow.

HAPPY 16TH BIRTHDAY TO COCO

 

ABOVE:  Our beautiful Coco is 16 today!   She is still doing extremely well for her age, and no one who meets her believes she's that age.

I'm going to give her some special treats today.

ABOVE: I watched this on Facebook the other day, weird things pop up all the time.  This one made me smile.

It's SO TRUE!  😂😉

ABOVE:  Yesterday afternoon I was looking at Stew on his lazy boy chair in the lounge, and thought, NOPE.  His knee was still bent, and it's supposed to be kept flat/straight.   So, I kicked  him out of the lounge.

ABOVE:  I set up the sofa bed, and made him sit on that.  He has a big screen tv in there, with SKY SPORT... he's set.  He might find it more difficult getting up and down from the lower seat, but he must keep his knee in the correct position.   We ain't doing anything 'wrong' in relation to his recovery if I can help it.

ONWARD...

11.55 am.  So far so good!  We both slept fairly well, no problems sharing the same bed.

He's not been in too much pain, it's kept at bay with pills of course.

I made him breakfast, before he settled down for the morning in the front room, watching rugby.

I meantime, went into CQ's and did this:

ABOVE: The first of two Fat Bottomed Girls Sweatshirts I'm making myself.   I'm happy with this one... now to think of what to put on the back of the second one? I'll have to think on that.

Right now though, it's time to make our lunch.  We are having a Chicken Salad.

6.10 pm, and I've had a busy afternoon.  After lunch I got into CQ's and finished all four Braid Runners I had 'on the go'.

Photos tomorrow.

Then I prepared 'dinner' for Stew, which is usually something light.

Tonight I gave him this:

ABOVE: Probiotic Berry Yoghurt with fruit.  And decorations.  He smiled at the decorations, handed them to me and said 'Use them again tomorrow'.  😂😉

Now I am winding down for the evening, and will probably sit and watch TV, do a jig saw and not much else.

Stew has enjoyed a quiet day, took his pain killers on time, did his exercises, and watched the telly in the front room.  

I will encourage him to join me in the lounge for a while tonight, so we are spending some time together.

I have been giving Coco some 'treats' the past couple of days, and some really yummy tinned dog food, which she doesn't usually get.

AND... yep.  Massive gut reaction, diarrhoea everywhere outside!  So, no more treats for her sadly.

And well... that's me for the day.  I know it's early to sign off, but seriously, not much else is gunna happen now.

Better not anyway.

Catch ya tomorrow.

FBG SWEATSHIRTS

 

On Wednesday afternoon I ordered two plain purple sweatshirts online.  (blanktees.co.nz)

The arrived less than 24 hours later!  Amazing service.

I am going to wear them on FBG walks when it's bloody cold.

And now... I am making them 'mine'.

ABOVE:  Once the first one is finished, I shall show you.  I'm hoping it looks OK.

ABOVE:  Last night, once it was cool, I planted the two new little ground cover plants we got for by the letterbox.  I also put a paver there, one that's not heavily 'decorated'... I think it looks nice there.

Stew's surgeon is visiting him around 11 am this morning. Depending on how that goes, Stew could be coming home today.  I am going up at around 10 am, so I'm there for when the surgeon arrives. All indications from yesterday suggest he will be coming home today.

ONWARD...

12.30 pm.

And he has been discharged.

ABOVE: Getting in and out of the car was difficult, luckily he won't need to do that again for about a week.

ABOVE: Me being the dutiful wife... lunch is served, with decorative greenery and a flower.

I've told him not to expect that again.  😂😅

ABOVE: now he's safely ensconced in his chair with a cuppa tea and food, I'm popping out to the supermarket for the fresh fruit etc.

He has his phone handy in case he needs help... but I think he will be just fine.  He has Coco.

2.40 pm:  And PHEW!  I'm knackered.  I did a rather big grocery shop, picked up Stew's prescription, came home and unloaded it all, then grabbed some lunch for myself.

I think we have enough food in the house to last us a month, at least!

7.25 pm, and we've had a quiet afternoon, as expected.  I looked after 'the man', made sure he had everything he needed, then had a nap.  I needed it.

My head is pounding... should really take a chill pill.

That's us for the day, we shall be off to bed at a decent time tonight.

Hoping Stew gets some sleep, and me too.

We are going to try sleeping in the same bed for now.  If it doesn't work out, for whatever reason, I'll move into the spare bedroom for a while.

Let's just wait and see how we go tonight.

Catch ya tomorrow.

THE SCHOOL RUN

 

This morning I am doing the 'school run' with the boys.

Bex is in Invercargill and Steve has a hospital appointment.  He's taking Lily with him, so I just need to get the boys to school.  Easy as.

After that, I will go up and visit Stew in the hospital.

I will ring the hospital soon to find out what his night was like. Hopefully it was OK.

ABOVE:  I forgot this photo from last night.  It's the nurse showing us the little device that is connected to inside his leg.  They will be using it to infuse pain killers directly into his knee... literally flooding the area with drugs to keep the pain levels down.  Shame ya can't go home with that.

At some point he will have to contend with pain again until his knee is all healed and working again.  But he will have pills to take, thankfully.

ONWARD...

ABOVE: Stews breakfast, Eggs Benedict.  How nice. He's had an excellent night... he's sparking on all fours in fact. 

ABOVE: And there it is in all its GORY. It's going to be fun watching it progress from that to ?  Time will tell.

ABOVE: First time up on crutches... the physiotherapist is really impressed with how well he's doing. Bearing in mind all the pain killers he's got on board right now, it's no wonder hes not in too much pain. He's been warned tomorrow will be a different story. His pain will actually get worse  before its slowly gets better again.

He MIGHT be home late tomorrow. 

ABOVE: Morning tea in Braemar... and even I was given a hot chocolate, and a hot custard tart! That tart was bloody delicious 😋. 

I left the hospital after an hour or so, and went shopping.  Nothing fun, just some dog food and a night light for the bathroom.

I didn't find a night light I liked, so thought about it and decided to use one of our Scentsy wax burners.  It lets out quite a bit of light, so I'll see how that goes tonight.

 

Stew has been finding the light coming into our bedroom first thing in the morning wakes him up too early.. hence I want to now close the curtains, instead of keeping them open.

BEFORE anyone comments:

*** It is so private around here, having the curtains open overnight was just fine, and let air in through the open windows too. ***

It is now 12.10 pm, and I'm going to have a nap.  I'm so damn tired!  I will visit Stew after me nap.

4.45 pm.  And the nap didn't happen.  I simply could not fall asleep, so I just lay down for an hour or so.

Then one of the maintenance men arrived to instal a new smoke alarm.  Then I went up and visited Stew again.

He is still doing really, really well.

His surgeon has said he will most likely discharge him around midday tomorrow.

That would be awesome, provided he's still doing as well as he is right now of course.

Now I'm home again, and will probably do bugger all for the rest of the day.  I've got last night's Coronation Street to watch, then I MIGHT go into C.Q. and work on my latest little project.

The four Braid Runners 'on the go' have gone on the back burner for a few days, until I get this other little project done.

Weird how I've felt like a wet dish rag all day, and now, at 6.30 pm I'm feeling like doing all sorts of jobs!

I've just sorted out the linen cupboard, scooped dog poop (eeewwww), got a huge load of washing off the line, and am about to tackle a couple of other little jobs.  Go me.

8 pm and all those other little jobs are done and I feel good for having done them.

Time to sign off for the day.

Catch ya tomorrow.

I forgot something monumental!

I gave myself my Trulicity injection!

It was easy, I didn't even shake!

So proud of myself.