Updating things.

I'm 5 months and 2 weeks past my last surgery, and the hip is doing good.  I finished my antibiotics in October, and saw the infectious disease specialist.  He released me, so all is good for now, well except for my back, which will probably never be good.

In September, we got word that Jerry's sister was ill and in the hospital, and things were not going well.  So Kim, our older daughter, told us she was ready to go see her Aunt Betty and we could ride with her.  I'm glad she did the driving, because she is a good driver.   We got there and Betty was alert and talking and happy to see us.  They allowed all of us to go in and see her, which isn't usually allowed in ICU, we got to be there when the doctors showed up, and told us that it was just a matter of days.  The meds were not working and she would get sicker as the days passed.  Betty had told everyone she was ready, and tired of being in pain. The family decided on Saturday morning to go for Comfort Care,  and she passed away Sunday morning.  That meant another trip to Missouri, and they had asked Kim's husband to be a pallbearer, and Julie, our other daugher was going too.  So we all loaded up the morning of the funeral and headed north again.   It was a good trip, considering the circumstances, and we got back home about 7pm that night.  and we were tired, but glad we had gotten a chance to say goodbye.

I dodged a bullet...

no, not a real bullet, but I was scheduled to have another surgery on July 9th, because of a problem with the hip.  I was on strong antibiotics, and thankfully they kicked in and started clearing the problem up in time for the surgery not to happen. Since then, I'm off the iv antibiotics, and the spot has healed up.  But I'm still on oral antibiotics until about Sept 4th, and maybe longer. I'm now walking with a cane, and hopefully soon I will be able to walk without that, but who knows.  I'll gladly keep the cane as long as I don't have to use the walker.  
School is about to start, in fact next week.  2 in high school, one taking colleges classes and the other one taking vocational classes, per his choice.  And one is halfway though his sophmore year in college.  all are doing well, keeping their grades up and participating in band and choir, or some other activity.  

He walked into the yard and

moved into the house.  Just before we lost Buddyboo, a new dog came into our lives.  He showed up and followed Jerry aound and down to the shop, where he stayed until Jerry came to the house.  Then he walked over and laid down beside the yard fence, next to Copperhead who was on the inside of the fence.  They played through the fence for a couple of hours, so I opened the gate and let him into the yard. 
When it was time for Copperhead to come inside, he walked into the house right behind CH like he'd always been here.  By that time, I'd decided if no one claimed him, he had a home.  Needless to say, no one claimed him, and he has been here since April.  His name is Bocephus, and I'm guessing he and CH are about the same age, he might be a bit older.   He is neutered, as is CH and they play for hours together. 
Where CH is long legged, curled tail like his Husky ancestors, Bocephus is slick haired, straight tail, and legs that are shorter than the hound/lab mix we think he is, so I am guessing some bassett or something with shorter legs mixed in.  Temperament wise, he's very laid back, as opposed to Copperhead who is typical Husky, in the middle of everything.  and the wonderful thing is, with a buddy to play with, CH has calmed down and isn't so needy of attention.. Nothing like an 80 pound dog wanting in your lap.

BuddybooWhodini

For the past 13 years we have had this little stinker, he was a 2 year old when we got him, his name was brody, which I disliked so I changed it to Buddy, then we added the boo.  Well shortly after he arrived he managed to get into our bedroom without making a sound, so we added the Whodini.  When he arrived, he had been crated his whole life, and we were his 3rd home.  I made him a promise he would never be crated again, and this was his home for the rest of his life.  Sunday night, that time came.  He was showing his age, and having some issues walking at times.  Other times he would take off down the steps like a young pup.  I hated losing him, but I know that he is at the Rainbow Bridge with all the others that have gone on before, waiting to see us again. 

So long until we meet again.

Replacement #3 and a flood

My surgery was on May 8th, and they sent me home the next day.  It is now almost 4 weeks post surgery and I am still using a walker per doctor's orders, all looks good but I'm still in pain, but that is to be expected. 

Oklahoma and Kansas and other places have received a lot of rain and all those places run into the Arkansas River at some point west of us.  A levee was breeched at Dardanelle, which has flooded a lot of farm land  and homes. Covered a lot of roads, too.  Our levee at the river just north of us almost collapsed, but hard work from many in the area have built a cofferdam and prevented it from happening.  If that had happened we would have been blocked in until the water goes down.  Thank you to all that worked tirelessly to prevent this.   Now Highway 64 to our east is underwater, and the interstate is in danger of being covered.  The water is supposed to be going down soon, but then we have a forecast of rain, so who knows when that will happen,

Here we go again.....

Yes, here we go again.  My hip has failed for a 2nd time, and I am being seen by an orthopedic specialist this time.  Even though the cup put in with screws, it has managed to partially come loose.  Anytime it moves, I am in pain.  So if all goes well, I will be having another surgery on May 1st, and hopefully this will be the last one.  None of the doctors can explain exactly why this is happening.
This is not what I had planned for this spring. We will be celebrating our 50th anniversary 4 days before I enter the hospital.  
I have lost 3 cousins and an aunt since December 18,2018.  The cousins were all several years older than me, in fact one of them has a son my age. My aunt was 93 and had been in bad health for awhile, I was sure hoping to see her just one more time, but there was no way that I could go to Oregon in the past few years, so I talked to her on the phone, until she was moved into a hospice situation.
Seems like about all I post any more is deaths and surgeries, so if that bothers you, I'm sorry.  I was hoping to post about the trip I had planned to Branson MO to meet another Jettie, and go for a ride on the Branson Belle.  Maybe see a couple of shows and just relax and have fun, but that has to be put off now at least until fall.