Dear Friends,
I am so tired.
You know the kind of tired that prevents you from forming complete sentenc.
The kind of tired
that makes you forget…
what was I going to say anyway?
tired. tired.
when you shouldn’t be tired.
you are not the patient.
you are the care-giver.
and yet
you are
tired, tired.
here is a picture of our patient. Knee replacement, left knee, yes:
Our Patient who is now at home and recovering wonderfully
I shouldn’t be tired, should I?
The patient should be tired, he should.
Yet he is perky and doing well
and I am–yawn–I am–
ok, never mind, here’s another picture:
What it looks like from the 8th floor of Marquette General Hospital
And here is another picture because
I am going to fall asleep
in the middle of the
afternoon
on the day before
Easter.
See Lake Superior? Yes? From the 8th Floor of Marquette General? Yesterday?
Yes, our patient is doing lovely. He is already planning on going back to work on Thursday, and he has dismissed the Home Health Care and he is toddling along on his walker with gusto and enthusiasm and he is doing his physical therapy exercises for his total knee replacement but I…
the helper…
am…yawn…um…ok….wishing you all a Happy Easter…but headed for a nap…g’night…
P.s thank you for all your well-wishes and prayers and thoughts. You guys are da best! G’night…
“Dr.” Karma prescribes wine and rest for the weary caretaker!
Caretaker Kathy likes Dr. Karma! 🙂
After Easter, call for a massage. Great stress buster!
Hugs to ya both
SuZen
Massage = good. Yesssss…. Likes you, too.
Caretaking is hard work (but not a real word).
Who dare sayeth that caretaking is not a real word? I kick their butt! It’s a real word as of 4 p.m. today. I sayeth. Glad you agree about the hard work, friend Lisa.
I like making up new words, it makes me sound all writerly and stuff. 😉
1. Soak in a hot tub
2. With a good book
3. A glass of your favorite wine
4. And a piece of to-die-for chocolate
5. Ahhhhhhhhhhh
1. check
2. check
3. check
4. chocolate chips work?
5. checkkkkk…..
Thank you, Laurie!
so glad to hear! 😉 Hope you get a good long nap in!
Oh I woke up bright-eyed and chipper today, Ruth. Barry says he wants to talk with you soon about the surgery.
I would love that! I’m running today…but I will call. Hope you are all fine. 😉
Do call! We have lots to share!
Hang in there, dear Kathy. The caretaker always tires first. Get some rest. Laurie’s advice about wine, book, and hot tub should be immediately heeded–that is if you can keep your eyes open to read and now drown.
Hugs,
Kathy
I didn’t drown, Kathy! Ha ha…was so tired yesterday. But got a nice night’s sleep and now feel my usual self, thank you.
Yawn, Reading this post has made me sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeepy.
Shove over and don’t hog the whole bed …
‘night …
Night, Sybil. Gosh I never once thought that you READERS would get sleepy! There’s six of us snoring in bed now. tee hee.
The caring caretaker needs to be cared for too. So glad the patient is doing well. Even in the midst of your weariness, you still take great pictures. My best wishes to you both.
Why thank you,Bonnie! The patient made me bring the camera into the hospital, and he also gave permission to publish this photo.
Caretaking is such loving work. It uses up so much energy that finishing sentences is not required. Finishing words is not required. Rest for the caretaker, however, is required. Rest, renew, refuel. Love replenishes. 🙂
It IS loving work, Robin. What a lovely way to put that! Yesterday, no matter how many catnaps I took, I couldn’t resurrect. But one always has to resurrect on Easter, don’t we? (And the book I am reading is called “Be Love Now.”)
Oh! How is it? I have that on my reading list. I read “Be Here Now” last year, and am looking forward to reading more from Ram Dass. 🙂
I loved “Be Here Now”, but am not feeling as good about this book. It doesn’t feel like it’s written half as well. But the message is a good one–the remembrance to be in our hearts, to be the love that we are. (It was humbling this week to realize that when I get tired it feels so much more challenging to realize that love that we are…gosh darn it…)
Looks like a great place to recover! But I’m sure your couch or bed will do nicely for you, too. Happy Easter and Happy Convalescence – to both of you!
Happy Easter, Ms. Heather! (I hope nobody is convalescing at YOUR house.) I slept like a baby for 9 hours last night, and our patient slept equally well. We are doing good today, thank you.
Glad to hear he’s doing good. Now you need to give a little care to yourself and let yourself sleep…sleep…sleep…he’ll be fine while you let go for a bit. Hugs to both of you.
Thank you, Ms. Dawn. It felt soooo good to sleep so long last night! And today we’re having turkey, one of the few days of the year that we eat meat. It’s a little itty bitty turkey that Barry got from his boss at Christmastime. Hope you have a wonderful Easter!
I’m so glad you rested long and well! Happy Easter to both of you.
Hi, Colleen! Hope you had a wonderful Easter. We ate turkey. We so very rarely eat meat here at home. What did you eat?
Thank you Kathy, we did! We don’t eat a lot of meat either, very little for me, Rick a little more so but still not much, considering his Australian roots and heritage! We had our once a year ham…..uncured, unadulterated and slow cooked. And fresh local veggies and asparagus. Very simple.
Simple is the best. I am happy you saw my question and answered, dear Colleen.
Been kind of busy the last few days so I am just getting caught up on my internet news. Glad to hear caretaker and patient are doing much better. I am sure he will be relieved to have pain free knees once he looks back, after his recovery period. For now give him a pain pill and crack the whip as he works his way though the PT, he will be happy he did it in the end. As for you, pop the cork, put your feet up, and reward yourself for your hard work as well. The very best to both of you.
Christie, I am always happy to hear from you. I will tell him about your “crack the whip” comment, lol. He’s been doing his physical therapy really well–tomorrow he starts working with the actual therapist twice a week. Thank you for your well-wishes, my friend.
Well, of course the care taker is tried. Emotional, physical, and spiritually tired!
Rest, relax all is well, all is as it should be.
Hopefully you followed Dr Laurie’s check list as well.
Big ((Hugs)) to both of you!
I followed the checklist to the T, Jeff! Dr. Laurie AND Dr. Jeff know just what’s needed…Thanks for the hugs. And back atcha!
Great news!
Fountainpen
Thank you for all that you do, Fountainpen. We so appreciate you.
Oh, you’re taking me back to the years of caretaking of Mama … oh, gosh, I didn’t mind, most of the time, really I didn’t. I was grateful that I was capable enough … I did grumble about doing her laundry, though. All the frustration was directed at a few dirty clothes and linens! Must have been symbolic somehow. i feel your weariness and cannot add to the wonderful comments of love and caring left here for you, my friend. You are wearing your CareTaking well, and you are loved. Thank you for squeezing us into your day/s …
I can’t imagine what it must feel like, Susan, to caretake someone like a Mama for years. I would imagine one would feel all sorts of emotions! Frustration and tender love and care, intermingled. I am not feeling weary any more, actually went back to work for a few hours this morning. Wanting to write something more today, but feeling like I have nothing to say….although that rarely proves the case, does it?
I’m so glad your husband is feeling much better, can see it in his smiley faced photo.
As for you, off to bed young lady. Have a good sleep and a well deserved rest,xx.
I like being called a young lady. **big grin** Thanks, forestfae!
*smiles* thats what my husband always says to me when I have had a rough or very tiring day and he would like for me to get some rest 🙂
Wonderful news and nice photos. Now, time to take care of the care taker. 😉 Zzzz
Zzzzzs are so good when we’re weary. Glad to be able to report good news to you! Thank you for commenting.
Of course, I meant for you to take care of you. Sorry, sometimes I get lazy with the pronouns. 😉 Hope you’re sleep has caught up.
No pronouns needed here! Thank you, I THINK I’m caught up on sleep now.
It’s always hardest on the caretaker – well maybe not the pain part. Hope you’re getting some rest. Take a photo of Barry and the walker for posterity. Hope you UP weather is good. Snow is forecast for Breck this week, but I’m in Denver enjoying spring flowers.
OK, must take walker photos for posterity, Barb! (Hadn’t thought of that.) Our UP weather is ccccold. No snow, but very few spring flowers yet either. We’re in between… Enjoy your Colorado week!
Seeing Barry’s smiling face and hearing you got a good nap makes my heart glad. Keeping the good thoughts and prayers going !
John, we’re doing well here. Barry starts Physical Therapy in town tomorrow, and says he’s going back to work on Thursday. We’ll see… Thanks for the good thoughts and prayers, friend.
Wow! Even the picture from the hospital room is amazing. Huge lake that Lake Superior! Take care of the care taker Kathy!
I thought it was a good idea to show Ms. Lake Superior outside the hospital window. She’s The Defining Landscape ’round here. Along with the woods. We can’t really see the lake from here in our woods, except maybe a tiny bit through the trees. (And both the caregiver and patient are doing fine now.)
It’s always harder on the care-taker!!! Both of you take care of yourselves.
Hello, Cee! I think both of us are doing better after the weekend. His leg is pretty bruised, though… I appreciate your good words.
Really glad to hear that Barry’s surgery went so well, Kathy! But make sure to schedule some time for yourself—get some rest and eat some high nutrient dense foods!
We’re having a lovely vegan curried lentils and cauliflower dish over brown rice tonight. A friend of ours who is getting her knee replacement in a few weeks shared the recipe. It looks good… Thanks for the good wishes, Christina.
Oooh, that sounds delicious, Kathy!! A dish that’s perfect for warming and healing the body. I was actually just thinking of you because I am, incidentally in the UP right now at my mom’s and I made her banana ice cream last night for dessert and she LOVED it! I hope it turned out for you 🙂
It turned out delicious! See you tomorrow, Christina…
Oh, Kathy– I hope you have been able to take care of yourself since writing this post, too! I think you were/are feeling so tired because caretaking is such a deep form of giving– a truly selfless gesture. Sending my continued thoughts for Barry’s recovery and your well-being, too. 🙂
Oh thank you, Dana! I think I have (mostly) revived. And our patient continues to revive daily, thank the lucky stars. I know you have given selflessly with your caretaking lately, too, dear friend. May the lucky stars beam down on you as your season unfolds.
Barry has been having a lovely rest in hospital hasn’t he?
And here you are, thinking “Barry’s the one it’s happening to, I shouldn’t feel so tired, so stressed. It’s not about me, it’s about Barry”, aren’t you? So you battle on. I know. I’ve been there, a long time ago, and cracked after one year of being the strong carer.
Take good care of yourself too Kathy…please? Sending love and prayers to both of you. xxx
He’s been out since Friday, Joanne, be he did have a lovely rest in the hospital–what am I saying? He barely slept at all! Nurses kept coming in to poke & prod at all hours. He’s sleeping now, though, after his first physical therapy session. I can’t imagine being a caretaker for a long period of time. I honor you for having done that, and I suspect there were many, many days when you didn’t crack… Love, Kathy
Happy to hear the patient is doing well. I have determined that being a caretaker absolutely demands afternoon naps.
I could probably take caretaking lessons at your feet, oh, Carol. I love afternoon naps. Have already had one today! I’ll bet you’re snoozing away now. 🙂
Hi Kathy 🙂 It’s Tuesday and I am finally catching up after returning from my sister’s. I sure hope you got some good sleep and are feeling refreshed now. I know from experience just how exhausting the job of caretaker can be! Please remember to take extra good care of yourself, even though your mind is more on dear hubby 🙂 I’m glad he is recovering well and is home now…you will both feel better being at your haven in the woods ♥ Oh gosh….the view from the hospital room is incredible!
Hope you had a beautiful Easter Kathy ♥ On to the next….:)
Brenda, it’s lovely to see you again! I’ll bet you know so much more than me about being a good caretaker. I am just a baby caretaker. 🙂 Glad you liked the view. We are happy, happy to be home and to have the first physical therapy session under his belt. We even went out for breakfast today! Hope you had a lovely Easter, too, my friend.
Thank you Kathy…it was a lovely Easter 🙂 I am so glad Barry is doing well….I am envious of pain-free knees.
It gets a lot easier. It really does. And your patient looks like a good sport.
And W0W. You had an eighth floor water view. I am jealous.
I think it’s so funny that both of our knee patients were on the 8th floor! It already feels like it’s getting better, and am relieved that the physical therapist thinks the swelling is normal. Yesterday his FOOT turned purple! Bruising all down the leg. I think the height of my exhuastion was last weekend. Can’t imagine how good we’ll feel in 3 months. No. In four months he’s going to have the second knee done. Our doc wouldn’t do both at the same time.
Our doctor only did it somewhat grudgingly and made it quite clear that he and the hospital would be losing money on it.
I know that double replacement is a bad idea for many people, but when you’re relatively young, strong, and healthy, it seems to me overall it would cost the medical industry less. The insurance companies are not on board with it and won’t pay the doctors and hospitals. It’s a travesty, I think, and not in the best interest of some of the patients, particularly the younger ones.
Losing MONEY on it???!!!! My goodness… I wonder how Barry would have fared with the double knee replacement. He certainly wouldn’t have been back at work… he wished he could have waited until retirement to have these dang knees replaced. Wondering, is it permissible to ask?, how old is your husband? Barry is 55.
We must be living in parallel universes. Mark and I both just turned 55 this year.
We are, Christine! Except I’m a young’un…I won’t turn 55 until this summer. 🙂
It might be worth a short stay in that hospital for the view from the 8th floor.
Caregivers receive an extra star in their crown….just thought you should know 🙂
Yep, you too could have that view from the 8th floor–probably would only cost about $40,000 for two night’s stay! lol…
Catching up with my blog reading after our vacation… Kathy, caregiving is an exhausting occupation, an emotional roller coaster ride between frustration and satisfaction and all points in between. Barry will improve soon so that’s a blessing. Hope you got some rest! *hugs*
I shall have to read where you went on vacation, Barbara. Hope you had a wonderful time. I know you understand about caretaking. We are still concerned about Barry’s swelling–edema–so will return to the doctor if it continues. Trying to do everything necessary for complete healing…
Oh that’s so funny, Kathy. You were all pooped out too. lol! Glad to hear Barry’s doing well. Maybe you gave all your energy to him. lol!
I hope you continue to feel more energetic, Marianne. Barry and I have commented more than once how much of his energy seems to be going into healing.