Today started hazy, warm, and humid. By the time we finished our walk, the sun had burned off the haze and the sky was crystal clear. I haven't been able to take any pictures for over a week, so I decided to grab my camera and see if I could find something interesting to photograph. I found a couple of wild flowers still in bloom by the front of the shop and the duck family swimming on the pond. It felt good to be outside again and able to bend over a little (still can't get all the way down) to take pics.




After breakfast, Matt and Rachel brought over his four wheeler and sprayer so he could put weed killer on his soybean plots. When he got done, he and Rae stayed to visit for a bit. Since it was rather warm and humid today, we spent most of our day inside with the AC running. I still have trouble with sitting any length of time, so I alternate sitting with laying down throughout the day. John's shoulder is feeling better, but he still has to be careful not to move his arm away from his body. He is looking forward to PT starting next week and being able to get some movement back in the shoulder.

We overslept this morning so John had to eat a quick breakfast before heading up to Sara's for his 9:00 a.m.haircut appointment. He looks and feels much better with his hair cut nice and short and his beard all trimmed up.

After he returned home, he got showered up and then decided to give lawn mowing a try. The grass back by the pond grows so fast because of all the moisture in the ground that it has to be mowed almost twice a week. He wore the brace that straps his arm to his side so he wouldn't accidentally move it while mowing and was able to get it cut. Just having to sit around is very hard on John, so I was glad he was able to get out and do some things.

I was able to do a little more around the house today. I am finally able to bend over a little easier, but sitting for any length of time is still painful, but getting better each day. Matt, Sara, and kids stopped over this evening. Hanna is also entering some photos in the fair and wanted me to help her get them ready for printing. After she gets that done, she'll come back and pick out some mats and frames to finish them up. We spent the remainder of the evening visiting and have a lot of laughs.

John and I both felt much better this morning, so we decided to give walking a try. We walked about a mile and made out just fine. It felt good to be outside and get some exercise after a week of being house bound.

I am entering a couple of my photos in a contest sponsored by the Soil and Water Conservation office in Bagley. The entries have to be in by Monday, so John and I took a quick trip into town to drop them off and to return some books to the library. Sitting is still a little hard on my back, so I was glad the ride was not very long. John is very limited in what he can do with his right arm as the elbow has to stay right up against his side; however he is getting much more proficient using his left hand. His biggest challenge is eating and not spilling food down his shirt. We have gotten a good system for keeping the incision dry while showering and for getting his shirts and sling on and off. I think this will be going on a quite a while--we will know more after his first PT session on Monday.

John and I would like to thank everyone for all the telephone calls wishing us well and checking up to see how we are progressing. Also a big thanks for all the helping hands. This experience has taught us how to be gracious and thankful receivers

The clouds and heavy rains of yesterday led the way to beautiful weather today. A cold front came through which gave us sunshine, low humidity, and gentle breezes. John took advantage of the nice day and was able to get outside and check his garden. He is rather distressed about all the weeds that have taken over after all his hard work getting the garden pretty much weed free. I keep telling him even though there are weeds, the tomatoes, potatoes, onions, and carrots are growing good and we will have plenty of them to eat. Everything is nice and green and makes the garden look great even if half of it is weeds.

Since we finally got a whole day without rain, the lawn mowing crew came over this afternoon. Sara, Sam, Hanna, and Rachel arrived after lunch to attack the jungle that is our grass. Sara used a push mower while Sam mowed using the ride-on. Hanna and Rachel walked around making sure everything was picked up before mowing began. The girls then came inside to give me a hand. I still can't lift or bend over very well, so they did some straightening up inside, helped get clothes put away, gathered up the laundry, and started a load of towels. They made sure the baskets and remaining laundry were up high enough for me so I wouldn't have to bend way over to reach things. They are such good workers and helpers--really take care of me.

Sam and Sara did a great job on the lawn. John was able to be outside and give Sam some direction on the easiest way to mow. However, there was a little miss communication when it came to mowing along the stone parking wall. Sam misjudged the distance and took out a few bricks. The rule is if you break it, you fix it. Sam fixed the wall.




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After the mowing was finished, everyone came inside to visit for a bit before heading back home. Both John and I are improving more each day and hope to be able to start taking short walks in a day or two. Life is slowly returning to normal more every day.

After both of us having a rough night, today we have finally turned the corner. The stronger muscle relaxers have really helped. I still can't bend over or pick anything up yet, but now I can walk around pain free. The muscles in my back are relaxing more everyday--soon I should have full movement again.. John stopped the strong pain pills and seems to be doing fine with just some Tylenol. He was able to shower and get rid of the big brace and just wears a sling during the day.

It was a very stormy day with heavy rains, so it was a good day to just be inside and watch more movies. I have been watching a Pirates of the Caribbean marathon. Matt's family stopped over this evening to deliver the pizzas we ordered for Sam's football fundraiser. Now I don't have to think about supper tomorrow evening. The clinic called today to set up PT for John. He will have his first session on Monday, August 2. Looks like he will be going three days a week. It sure feels good to be up and around again. Soon we should be back to normal or as close to normal as we can be.

John and I were up bright early in order to be ready by 8:15 a.m. for Joanne and the kids to pick us up for our doctors' appointments in Bemidji. She dropped us off at the clinic and then headed off to Walmart and the library where she would wait for the call the I was finished. My appointment was for 9:00 a.m. but I never got called in until after 9:30 a.m. After sitting in the car for a half hour ride my back was very painful so I spent that time pacing the waiting room. I had a good visit with my doctor--he really explained muscle spasms to me and now I have a better understanding of what I am dealing with and how to deal with them. He prescribed a much stronger muscle relaxer and said if things don't settle down in a week, he'll send me to PT.

Since my appointment took so long, by the time we got out of there, it was time for John's appointment. Fortunately, that office was right down the road. We called Jo, and she came and picked us up. We dropped John off, and while he was seeing his surgeon, we went back to Walmart so Jo could finish up her shopping and I could pick up the things we needed. Since I can't bend over or lift anything, Jenni was my shopping partner. She pushed the cart, put the items I pointed out into the cart, unloaded the groceries for checkout, and then loaded the bags back in the cart. What a shopper!! I couldn't have done it without her.

It was then back to the Lake Region Bone and Joint office. I went inside to see if John was ready, but he was still in with the doctor. We waited about ten minutes and then he came out. Good news is the staples and big dressing were removed. He is now in a sling which he wears during the day--the big brace just has to be worn overnight. This is to keep the arm in place while he is sleeping. He also got orders for PT, but we don't know when that will start. I think it will be a little while until the incision is healed a little more. All in all, we had good news and I hope and pray that we are both on the mend. We are still both laying low and spending more time than usual watching DVD's and TV.

It was a beautiful day and both John and I were able to get outside for a little while. John got a chance to look over the garden and picked some carrots that were ready to eat. He still has some pain but it is easing up more each day. Tomorrow he goes to see the surgeon. Since my back is still painful, Joanne has volunteered to drive us to our doctor appointments in the morning. I am scheduled for my annual physical, so I am anxious to talk to him about my back pain.

The grandkids had their world series for baseball today. Hanna and Josh's teams took first place and they won some very nice medals. Matt and Sara went out of town overnight for Sara's birthday, so Sam, Hanna, and Rachel are staying with us. They were pretty tired, so we spent a quiet evening watching movies and just vegging out.