Stitches removed

Whew, the day we've been waiting for. Buddy saw both his doctors and got a good report. He
will remain on the motion-sickness patch for about 10 more days and hopefully that will see
the last of his vertigo. Dr. Golden's nurse removed 22 staples and doctor was pleased with
the surgery. He is not to drive until he is off medication and no longer needs the walker.
this has been a prolonged situation and we are both tired of it and anxious to get on with
our life. genelle

Well, another day and much the same. Buddy is still plagued with virtigo. He is on a generic
meclizine and that seems to help some. I think he is afraid to sit up now for fear of another
episode. We posponed our appointment yesterday with his surgeon and are now scheduled
for Thursday. I just hope he can make that and have his stitches taken out.

Well, we've survived another episode in the "get Buddy well" saga. The last two days
have been terrible for him. His vertigo started acting up on Saturday and he spent the entire
day lying flat in bed. Even his private essentials had to be lying flat. I was worried about
his lungs because Dr. Swartout had been concerned about his oxygen level and had told him he
wanted him up a good part of the day. Finally we called his service and got Dr. Chen, his
associate this morning. She said this could be as a result of a lot of things and told me to get
him a motion-sickness medicine called Bonine. He took the pill and Steve and Pam helped
him sit up and we put about 6 pillows behind his head putting him in a sitting-up position.
He is doing better. His appetite has been good and he sleeps well. He is concerned about his
appointment with his surgeon to get the staples out. Dr. Chen reminded us that his visiting
nurse can do that for him also. The physical therapist comes tomorrow and hopefully he
will be feeling better. Steve looked up "vertigo" on wikapedia and found out a lot of things
about it-far more than I realized. I, personally think (after hearing Steve read from Wiki-
pedia) it's his oxygen level. It was low in the hospital and Dr. Swartout was concerned
about that. Buddy is a very shallow breather and does not breath deeply. Boy at the things
you can find out that you never had the slightest knowledge about!!!!!
Please keep us in your prayers. He was doing so well before this vertigo attacked him. I
hope tomorrow will be much better for him. Genelle

Thursday-Things are going well. The Physical Therapist came and assigned more exercises
for Buddy. He is doing more and more things for himself. It's raining off and on-or precisely
showering. I can even leave him alone for short periods of time. Thanks for all the thoughts
and prayers. We love you all. Genelle

Well, we're home at last and glad to be here. Buddy is doing exceptionally I think. He can get
up by himself, sit down use the bathroom, walk from the bedroom to the kichen three times
a day. His spirits are good as are mine. That hospital gets old very quickly. Everyone was very
nice, but it's not home.
I enjoyed my stay at Nancy and Joe's new home. It is so pretty. I spent 6 good nights there
and slept well. The physical therapist, Phillip came today to get information and to introduce
some exercises for Buddy to do. Tomorrow a nurse will come an do some blood work. Buddy
was maybe on the road to pheumonia with the chest congestion and the low blood level, but
everything seems so much better and he did have a pheumonia shot before he left the hospital.
We see Dr. Golden and Dr. Swartout in about two weeks. Go.lden to remove the staples and
Swartout just for a checkup, and information about the blood work.
We've been watching the inauguration throughout the day and really enjoyed Obama's
speech. We are praying he is up to the task.

Monday after the first

Boy this has been a busy few days. We collected rent on Saturday- they bring it to us now. I
have also been working on Income Tax - the pain in my rear. I'm doing more on the computer
now. It's probably not much faster than I used to do it, but much more enjoyable.
Ashley came down to help and it's always great to be with her. I have all my christmas
stuff put away, or did I already say that the last time. I guess I'm glad enough to say it
twice.
Yesterday and today were set aside to pay bills and balance the check book. Now that's
a superduper thing to do. I repeat ( you may not have heard me say this before) I am as
smart as I want to be. The smarter I am, the more I have to do.
Buddy goes in the hospital next week and I am dreading it and looking forward to it
as he is. He has been in a lot of pain and therefore has taken it a little bit easier than he
usually does. I hope he doesn't come home until he is off pain medication. He reacts very
strongly to drugs and I want him to be able to get by on Aleve and Tylenol.

New :Year's Day

Well, it's here at last. I look forward to the new year, but I also know it brings Income Tax
time. I've worked a couple of days and am already tired of it. but at least I've got a head start
on it. I actually never got around to watching the Rose Parade except as I went by the TV. I
never can imagine how it's done, but what a beautiful job every year.
Papa watched the Penn State-USC game on an off too. Amy came over to pick up some things
and showed us her new apartment in Santa Monica. She starts school on Monday for an extra
class so her spring semester will be her last and she can graduate with her class. Almost time
for Jeopardy. We must start the new year out right you know.