UPDATING LIFE GOING ON

Last Tuesday Oct 22, went to my first dental appointment. He did a crown, and did fillings under the crowns on my front teeth and one other. Right side done.  Go back Nov 5 and he will do 2 crowns and fill under another crown.  Hope it goes as well, and will have top teeth saved for awhile.  Then he will work on bottom front. Fill under 2 crowns, small filling in others, one is iffy. If he cannot save it, it can become part of my lower partial.  Will hope for the best.

Monday Oct 27 , Jim went for his first post op check from back surgery.  Incision is healing as expected, and he is progressing on schedule. He will have lots of soreness til completely healed. Got script to begin therapy next week for awhile. Then just walking should get his leg strength back to normal. 

Have had some great almost springlike weather, but cooler is coming tonight, so Fall will really be here.  Got my Halloween candy ready for Friday night.  Life is good.

HERE'S TO NO MORE PAIN

Friday, October 10, Jim had back surgery...Lumbar Laminectomy. He has limped around in pain in his legs, one worse than the other for years now. Has had all the injections that did not work, and has been living on pain pills for several years now. He just kept getting worse til he had more days down than when he could do anything.  He finally decided to have the surgery.  I was not really sure he would go through with it until they wheeled him away.

Went in to see him Saturday, and he was standing up. Therapy had been having him walk around.  He said his incision site hurt a lot, but he had no pain in his legs.  I was so happy.  Hope now that he will have a lot of good days and can walk all he wants.

Recovery will take awhile, and he will have to make sure and follow the instructions until it heals.  It is so amazing to see him just walking around the house already and not limp.

His beloved dogs were so missing him, and glad to see him home.  Dallas just seems to relax and quit looking out the window.  Charlie stays right with him and will not let him out of his sight.  They are some happy doggies now.

This is really the time to do the Happy Dance.

I NEED A TOOTH FAIRY

Went Friday , 19th, for a dental check up and cleaning.  I knew it would not be good news. I used to go every 6 months for cleaning and check up. Life got in the way and it has been at least 3 years or so. So I need lots of fillings and about 3 new crowns .  Hopefully this will work and I will not lose anymore teeth.  I do not want to have to have false teeth.  Everyone complains about them. 

I have actually been lucky.  I got my caps, crowns, partials  and bridges probably 30 years or so ago.  And with some small fillings along the way and a couple of new partials I have sailed on.

Inflations rears its head.  I probably had $2500 in my original big work years ago.  For the plan in place now it will be over $5000.00.  Crowns have over doubled in price.

But I am trying to look on the bright side, and hope he does not run into any problems with teeth he cannot save. And I will not have to have to have all of them pulled.  I do not need them to last another 30 years at my age, but would like to go out with what teeth I have left now. 

SMITH FAMILY COUSINS REUNION

Great day for a picnic in the park.  We gathered in Greenwood, Mo for the first time we have tried to get some of the scattered family together.  We were not to successful in finding or getting some we have not seen for years together.

But for the ones that came, we have a good time visiting and lots of good food.

JIM'S 78TH BIRTHDAY BBQ

We had a fun day for Jim's 78th. All four of our kids, and part of the grandkids and great grandkids went to the Park for dinner.
The weather cooperated for August, had some showers that kept the temp down. A very fun day.

SUMMER SWIMMING

Started swimming July 9th. Late start this year, so season will be short.

Aquatics through Health Center are Tuesday, Wed, and Thurs. Exercises led by Erica, life guard, Monday and Friday,and any day that the Aquatics are called off due to their cold water rule.

I like the change off, Aquatics are slow and easy stretches, and Erica's are more aerobic and use more muscle. Good overall workout. 

I feel better after I go.  I am so sluggish and have to lose some weight. Am tired of using energy carrying the extra around.

Need to add sit ups and walking to move more.

I have no discipline, but if I stand naked in front of the mirror more, that is real motiviation....YUK.


Dance out.............

VACATION WAS FUN - JUNE 30 - JULY 7TH

On June 30 th we took of with Tim, Debbie, and Drea on our long ride to Spencer WV.  Stopped in Madisonville, Ky Monday night and stayed with Monica and Dan. Got to Linda's Tuesday late afternoon.

Linda, Sandy, and I played the slots all day long on Wednesday. I lost.

Thurs evening we met with lots of family and ate at a restaurant.

Friday evening, July 4th, we went to Chris's house and had a cook out and several of the played Cornhole game.

Saturday, July 5th we went to Bills cabin. He had a pond and shelter house and we had a cookout, the kids played in the pond.  He had all kinds of blow up toys for the little ones, and a trampoline out in the middle for the older kids, a paddle boat and fishing boat and he had made a Zipline the kids could go down and end up in the water. Visiting, eating, and more Cornhole game.  At dark there were fireworks.  It was a great day.  One of the boys counted 53 there though it was had to count with everyone moving around.

All good things come to an end, and we had to start home mid morning Sunday.  We drove til after dark and got East of St Louis and stopped and spent the night. Got home about noon the next day.

Vacations are fun, but it is always nice to end up at home in your own bed.

Bill, Linda, Chub, and Jim.....Brothers and Sisters.