It’s been a while! If you read my blog in the past 4 days you are lucky because I managed to type over it with this post and all that juicy medical stuff is gone.  If there is somebody out there who wants a recap of the Tale of The Knee, please leave a comment and I’ll try to hold onto it this time. Suffice it to say after 4 years, threes infections and 6 surgeries, I am no longer the host to bacteria but I can’t walk. I live in bed and only get out to relieve myself, to shower, and to visit doctors as necessary. And add to that, my GP retired after about 20 years of service, so I’m starting all over. I have a nice female doctor who is doing well considering what I brought her. 

I am struggling to remember how Blogger worked and refuse to move to a different platform. I live attached to an iPad Pro, which is easy to use but a tad too heavy for my arthritic hands. After a day holding it for Kindle books, doing jigsaw puzzles with Magic Puzzle, colouring fine art in Happy Color, scrolling through Facebook, reading the news and watching any one of 5 or 6 streaming services, my hands are stiff and sore. Jim’s built me an easel thing that projects over the bed which is fine for watching Star Trek, Bridgerton, or Baumgartner Fine Art Restoration. Aside from the occasional doctor visit, such is my life. 

Regarding the Knee, it gets visits from the community nurses fortnightly. The opposite week we (I should say Jim) changes the bag here. Also fortnightly we get blood tests and they have been all positive. My inflammatory markers are low and I’ve been tested for everything anyone can think of. I take ciprofloxacin twice a day with all my other meds, and will for the rest of my life. Any bug that can get in will head directly to the knee. Why stray bacteria love knee hardware is one of those mysteries of life. 

 

This is one of the delights of life at the moment. Her name is Sophie and she’s a very small 3 year old Burmese cat.  She is slowly getting to like cuddling with me and frequently sleeps all evening on my lap. She is very energetic, loves to climb to the highest point in every room, loves wrestling with Max and washing him thoroughly. 

This will give you an idea of the difference in size. Max is 10 and is a total greedy guts; he complains loud and long if he thinks he deserves more. Sophie we tempt with special treats and have to find her when it’s mealtime. She will sit at my elbow if I’m eating something she likes (chicken) hoping I will be soft-hearted. (The thing behind Max in the photo is the easel with power cable). When she sleeps she goes solidly out and poking her or calling her name gets you nowhere. One has to pick her up while she’s totally limp and eventually she blinks awake. They both sleep a lot and make up for it with zoomies, wrestling, and patrolling the surroundings. Her coat is like velvet and almost black; his is like silk fluff. They both like belly rubs. 

Two updates that I’ll address later.  I am still a Swans fan and am thrilled that they are at the top of the ladder halfway through the season. I have revived my Yankees fandom but the games are rarely broadcast on ESPN.  They too are doing well. Knitting and fibre stuff has fallen by the wayside. I’d like to do more but the logistics of doing any of it in bed is beyond me.