Table Legs and Rusty Legs

If you were to visit our house today, you would most likely need to stand on your own two legs, as we are in a rather disheveled state.

Pre-knee-surgery, Rusty finished building both the table base and the table top.

Rusty is carefully applying glue to the tenons of the table legs.

After quickly assembling all four glue joints, some final adjustments are necessary.

Double-checking to make sure all legs are true.

We now have a table base, completely assembled, sitting in the dining area.  In our seating area we have a very large table top, covered in blankets for protection, awaiting its attachment to the base.

Some finishing coats have already been applied to the base.  Once Rusty is capable of lifting and moving a large table top, it can be placed on the base and its finishing will begin.

In the meantime, other than the countertop, there is no place to sit and eat.

Rusty's knee surgery happened on January 23rd.

Pre-op and feelin' pretty mellow.

Doc said the knee was bone-on-bone and really needed replacing.  All went well during surgery.

Rusty does leg raises in physical therapy, the day after surgery.

Before the pain block was completely worn off, Rusty could bend 105º

Rusty awoke from surgery with severe hiccups.  The hiccups and constipation seemed to be a bigger issue than the surgery, but of course he had lots of pain killers for the knee.

As expected, Rusty came home on Sunday, three days after surgery.  Hiccups were still a big problem.  All of the rugs have been removed from our home so that they don't present a tripping possibility.  Chairs have been arranged so that it's easy for Rusty to have an elevated knee.

By Monday evening, the hiccups and upper esophagus were causing him a great deal of discomfort and anxiety.  It seemed as though nothing, not even medication, could make its way down. Rusty felt certain he had some type of blockage.  So, we headed to the ER to find out what needed to be done.

They told Rusty he was an excellent patient as they put this tube up his nose and down into his stomach.

X-rays were taken of Rusty's chest and stomach.  They determined that although his iron levels were very low, there was no blockage; which gave us both some relief.  However, the hiccups continued.  In fact, they were to continue for another five days (10 days total)!

On Saturday, the tenth day after surgery, Rusty seemed to have his worst hiccup day ever.  Between his hiccups, gagging, and difficulty breathing, I began to emotionally lose it as well.  It all seemed so much like what I witnessed with Frank over 7 years ago.

Rusty did get a change in pain medication on Saturday morning and by Sunday morning the hiccups had disappeared!  Hurrah!

Friday Rusty saw the Doc for his post-op visit and to have the staples removed.  Doc says everything looks good.  Rusty's been going to PT 3 times a week and doing his exercises at home on the other days.  We believe he's on his way to continued recovery.

Cabin fever and boredom have set in.  We are both anxious to be active and having another exciting adventure.  Multiple trips to Walgreen's to get more prescriptions filled is not that exciting.

I've been ice skating once a week to get prepared for my upcoming lessons.  Next Saturday I begin a six-week session of ice skating lessons.  I just need to be careful not to injure my knee...