Tag: laundry

Ahead of Schedule

On By Michel McDonaldIn HealthLeave a comment

The surgeon who operated on my leg told me on January 28th that I could put pressure on my leg in 6 to 8 weeks. Last Friday, Paul, my physical therapist told me that he thinks I’m ready to start putting pressure on my leg now, and that he would like to see me using a cane instead of crutches. I’ve been using a cane since I came home that day, and have been using a cane ever since. I’m supposed to start putting pressure on my leg in 2 – 4 weeks, but I’m doing it now.

Of course I’m not jumping up and down or walking all over town, I’m just walking to the bathroom or the kitchen. We went to Dollar General Market a couple nights ago and I did just fine, except for when my partner kept stopping to look at labels, or to look a greeting cards. Every time I had to stop and wait, it put pressure on my good leg to keep me upright, which really hurt. I could have put pressure on both legs, but I didn’t want to put too much pressure on my bad leg.

I’m excited because I wasn’t expecting to be able to walk for another 2 to 4 weeks. It doesn’t hurt as much as I thought it would, but I do feel pressure on the top of my bone at the knee. I can feel the pressure from the metal plate (or rod?) and screws when I wiggle my toes. It’s a strange feeling, but I’ll get used to it, I’m sure.

I haven’t gone out on my new tricycle yet because I’m afraid I might have an accident if I go out this soon. I’m having issues with the fenders, because they feel like they are too close to the tires. The back fender is a little bent from shipping. I am also having trouble turning right, which isn’t that big of an issue because I will get used to it, and my body will get used to how odd it is and it will compensate, but for now I’m just a little afraid. I’d like to take it to the grocery store on a test run soon. I still need to buy more chains and locks to chain the seat to the frame and another U shaped lock to lock the frame to the handicapped sign pole. I would love to buy one with an alarm, but they cost a lot of money.

The one thing I am happy about is that I am no longer bed ridden. I actually have freedom again. I can go to the kitchen on my own with my cup and get my own drinks. I can make meals, do dishes and laundry and I can feed the cats outside again. It still takes me forever to get anywhere, but at least I get there, and that’s all that matters to me.

Back to a Normal Life. Sort of.

On By Michel McDonaldIn HealthLeave a comment

Walking_Cane

Yesterday I put my new Schwinn adult tricycle together by myself in the kitchen, which meant that I had to put pressure on my bad leg as I walked around the bike. I told my physical therapist what I did, and that last night I really paid for it because I was in a lot of pain. He told me I was in pain because my leg isn’t used to it, but he said that I’m ready to start putting pressure on it, even though I’m 2-4 weeks early according to my doctor. But I agree with him about being ready because it doesn’t hurt at all to stand only on my right leg. I actually did that at physical therapy with both hands ready to grab something if it hurt, and I didn’t feel any pain. I was more surprised than one of the girls that work there.

One of the therapists showed me the proper way to use a cane. Yes, there is a proper way, I did not know that. I thought I would use my right hand and extend the cane on the same side as my bad leg. I was half right. I have to use my left hand, and I extend the cane and extend my right leg at the same time. So it’s good to know. I used a cane when I came out of the hospital when I had pneumonia only because I felt dizzy. I didn’t have a specific leg that I had to use the cane with, so I just used it to keep my balance.

We happened to have a cane in the car, so when I was on ice in PT, I called my partner and asked him to bring the cane to me, and he did. I walked out with a cane and holding my crutches and the other patients were shocked that I was walking without my crutches. We see each other every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the same time, so we’ve all become friendly and all know each others names heh. It’s like Cheers.

When we came home, I figured since I can start walking with a cane, it will be so much easier to start doing chores around the house again, like doing the dishes, taking out the dog, doing laundry etc. I took the dog out during The Ellen Show and I was fine. I just did the dishes the other day so we don’t really have that many dishes to do, so I’ll wait until tonight after dinner because I plan on making dinner tonight. I’m so sick of ham sandwiches for dinner lol. Oh, speaking of laundry, we put some clothes in the washer before going to PT and there are towels in the dryer that I have to fold, so I think I’m going to get started. My life has to start getting back to normal some time, it might as well start today.

My broken arm is on the mend

On By Michel McDonaldIn Daily BlogLeave a comment

cartoon mike healing broken arm

I am very happy to report that my arm is healing and I can finally go back to my normal routine.  I’ve had a great vacation from my chores for the last month, but it’s time to go back to work.

Well, the truth is, I’ve been doing certain chores like laundry and doing light cleaning here and there, it’s dishes that were too difficult to do.  I even mowed the lawn 2 weeks ago with just one arm lol.  I didn’t do it last week or this week because, well, I’m lazy lol.  I did the dishes today with both arms and laundry yesterday with both arms and it did hurt a tiny bit, but it didn’t hurt so much that I had to stop.

It’s funny how you think that you want to not have to do things, but after awhile you start to miss it.  I know that sounds odd, but it’s true.

I am still wearing the sling when I walk the dog or when I’m just fartin’ around the house because it feels uncomfortable to just let it hang, it even hurts if I’m not holding it up, but when I’m just laying in bed or doing dishes or laundry I can take it off.

The part of my arm that broke is still in a bit of pain, but what is causing me the most pain is the middle of my arm because my arm is bent 24/7 and I guess it just needs to stretch after awhile.  You know how when you are in the car for too long and it’s nice to get out and stretch your legs?  Well, it’s basically the same thing.

The E.R. doctor said it would take 6 to 8 weeks to heal and it’s been 4 1/2 weeks and I can tell that it won’t take a full 8 weeks.  I’m sure I still have another couple of weeks of wearing the sling, then I can probably take it off for good.  Although I can’t predict the future, but I’m sure I’ll be good soon.

I’ve never broken a bone in my body in my whole life so I’ve never experienced this and even though it was torture for me, I’m glad it happened because I finally got to know what it was like.  I know that sounds silly or strange, but it just seems like something I should have experienced at least once in my life.  I don’t have a bucket list, but I think if I did, breaking a bone would have been on it.  That’s not to say I want to experience it again lol.  I can’t imagine ever going through that again so I’m going to have to be really careful from now on.

Anyway, I can’t wait for my arm to heal completely so I can go back to normal, whatever normal is.

Crocheted Swiffer Cover

On By Michel McDonaldIn Amplify, craftsLeave a comment

What an idea! I never thought of this. If you have a Swiffer, instead of wasting money on buying new swiffer pads every darn time you have to use it, just make your own. You can make as many as you want so you don’t have to keep washing the same one every day, instead make about 5 or them and when it’s laundry day you can just wash them all at once with your regular laundry.

Anyway, here is the pattern and an image of the final product at the end.

Amplify’d from www.favecrafts.com

Mop or Sweeper Cover

Instead of using disposable covers, crochet an economical reusable cover for your flat mop, sweeper or duster. The cover easily slips on and off for cleaning. For the knit version of this cover, see the Mop Cover Knitting Pattern.

Materials:

  • Yarn: Lily® Sugar’n Cream Ombres (56.7 g/2 oz/ 86 m/95 yds) #00133 (Shaded Denim) 1 ball
  • Crochet Hook: Size 5 mm (U.S. H or 8) crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge.

Instructions:

Main Piece
Ch 37.
1st row : (RS). 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook. 1 sc in each ch across. Turn. 36 sc.
**2nd row : Ch 1. Working in back loop only of each sc, 1 sc in each sc across. Turn.
Rep last row until work from beg measures 4 ins [10 cm]. Fasten off.**

Sides (make 2).
Ch 12.
1st row : (RS). 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook. 1 sc in each ch across. Turn. 11 sc.
Rep from ** to ** as for Main Piece.

Join Sides to Main Piece : Place 1 Side at each end of Main Piece and pin outer edges tog. With RS facing, join yarn with sl st in any corner. Ch 1. Work 1 row of sc around outer edge (through both thicknesses of Side and Main Piece at each end), working 3 sc in each corner. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

Note : Slip each end around the dusting tool’s base. When one side is soiled, flip the side pockets inside-out and use the opposite side to keep cleaning! The ridge stitch design helps trap dirt.

Read more at www.favecrafts.com

See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/8xop

Todays Agenda

On By Michel McDonaldIn Daily BlogLeave a comment

I’ve already gone out on the bike trail this morning at 4:30am and returned before 6:30am doing 20 miles.  Since I had 2 flat tires in 2 days on the front tire I’ve been leery every time I start riding after stopping at like a stop light or a stop sign because it just feels like I have a flat tire.  Then I get off the bike to check and it’s still hard from all the air pressure inside of it.

I’m still exhausted from all that work I did yesterday at the rental house next door.  I still have to do the bathroom, the bath tub, sink and toilet, the floor is already mopped.  Then I have to rake up all the leaves and dog poop that the last tenants were nice enough to leave me to clean up.  I think 3 large piles that he raked up but never actually shoveled up and thrown out.  What a nice guy right?  So now I gotta do his dirty work.  That’s it!  No more pets allowed.

Michael Jackson’s memorial service at the Staples center will be broadcast live from 9am to 1pm on almost every channel today and Darrin wants me to record it for him from CNN.  He wanted me to record it from E! but I was going through the guide on the cable but E! doesn’t show it being live until tonight so there’s something wrong there lol.  They say 10am PST but it shows the Michael Jackson True Hollywood Story being played over and over.  I think CNN will do just fine.

So at about 6pm tonight is the new show Warehouse 13 on SyFy channel.  Yes I said 6pm.  I have SyFy HD which is eastern time zone so I get to watch it as the east coast does.

My day is pretty much set already.  UGH!  I have to go fold laundry before I go next door lol.