MY FABULOUS OCTOBER
Well..... October has certainly been a Fabulous month for me. It started out with our delightful granddaughters visiting us for a few days while their parents went off for some "adult time". Then mid-October I had my hip replaced, and the last couple of weeks have been spent recovering, and filling my days with quiet pastimes and visits from friends and family. Not a bad way to spend a month if I do say so myself.I hope you'll read on for more updates, photos, and general Fabulosity.....
FAMILY-ING
October started with a 4 day visit from the grandgirls. It almost got cancelled because one of them had a cold and I couldn't afford to risk getting sick the week before my surgery, but she made a last minute recovery and we were able to look after them while their parents had a lovely time together to celebrate their wedding anniversary.
We did all the usual activities (slightly curtailed by my inability to walk very far) and it was just delightful to spend some time with them.
BLOGGING
It's been another good month of blogging and enjoying engaging with the comments. I love it when someone takes the time to let me know what they think, and I'm especially grateful for the interaction on my Facebook page as I shared the lead-up and outcome of my hip replacement operation. Feeling the care and concern and encouragement was an absolute joy. While I was a little out of action I had the opportunity to share a guest collaboration on grandparents and divorce - something that a lot of people our age are having to deal with. I found it so interesting to read that grandparents had rights and how to exercise them.
If you missed any of my posts this month, the links are below:
HIPPING
For those of you who followed my journey over the last several months from debilitating hip pain to total hip replacement surgery, all I can say is thank you. So many people left me words of encouragement and prayed for me when it looked like my surgery wouldn't go ahead (more on that next week!) I'm recovering really well and am amazed at modern medicine, the skill of the surgeon, the care of the nurses, and the fact that I was released to go home 24 hours after having such a big surgery - and nothing beats being at home to recuperate. If you missed my post last week you can find it here: THR
Here's a few photos for those who are interested and missed the ones I shared on Facebook.
CREATING
I've spent less time playing with scissors and glue over the last few weeks due to the need to be resting up and sitting carefully. I've been dabbling in some calligraphy again, and I did a little bit of neurographic art to try my hand at creating a neurographic tree. To make good use of it, I included it in one of my collages - I've shared them below:
JIGSAW-ING
To make up for my lack of creativity while I've been more housebound, I've finished a couple of jigsaws. This one was a challenge but very satisfying as it came together.
FABULOSITY
Most of what I'd rate as "Fabulosity" boils down to having a new hip. But a bonus of having surgery is that lovely friends and family give you flowers. These were from my daughter, two lots of my neighbours, and my sister-in-law. Needless to say, I felt very loved.
A FABULOUS QUOTE TO FINISH WITH
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| via pretty girl postcards |
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Those flowers are lovely! So glad you are recovering well and your surgery didn't have to get postponed.
ReplyDeleteThe flowers have lasted amazingly well Joanne, and yes, the relief of having the op take place was hard to describe!
DeleteHIP HIP HOORAY! You did it. So happy for you. Wish a similar surgery would be available for sufferers of osteoarthritis (back, hips and sacroiliac). Here, they offer nerve blockers which exacerbate the problem if done after a prolonged period of time and no promise that it would work. I LOVE your collages and neurographic art. It's magical and beautiful! Speedy recovery and all the best to you! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHi Yvonne - I'm so grateful that there was such a straightforward operation available and a steady recovery ahead. My mum has osteoarthritis in her neck and back and the pain is a constant issue for her. She's tried many ways to deal with it - without success. A nurse mentioned CBD tablets the other day and I think that might be something she's going to try - just to get some relief. I hope eventually they find something to ease your pain too. :)
DeleteNow you're hip and happening, aren't you? Sorry I couldn't resist the bad pun. I'm so glad that you're on your way to recovery and will soon be zipping around on your scooter and walking on the beach! Love the art and all your creativity. ♥
ReplyDeleteHi Corinne - I really like "hip and happening"! And yes, my scooter is calling from the garage, but I'm not quite ready yet to risk myself on the road. I'm allowed to resume driving in a week, so maybe I'll take it out for a run once I'm okay with being out and about again. It's funny how narrow your world becomes when you have to rely on others for transport.
DeleteI love your new art... really going to have to put exploring neurographic art on my possibilities list. And hip hip hooray for sure!!
ReplyDeleteI think you'd be great at neurographic art Pat - it has a rhythm to it and is pretty hard to stuff up (perhaps that's why it appealed to me?) :)
DeleteHi, Leanne - I am so happy to hear that your hip surgery happend for you earlier than expected and that all went well. Your artwork and your flowers are both beautiful. You indeed are very loved...and fabulous too!
ReplyDeleteHi Donna - I certainly felt the love in the lead up to my op and in the aftermath. People are so kind - and I don't think we acknowledge that anywhere near as much as we should - we tend to get caught up in the doom and gloom and forget that there's still a lot of good in our world.
DeleteHi Leanne, so pleased your hip surgery went well and you will be running after the grandgirls again in no time. Isn't time with our grandchildren so special? Looks like you all had fun. It certainly has been a Fabulous year for you and hope that 2023 continues to be another Fabulous year. x
ReplyDeleteHi Sue - I feel like choosing "Fabulous" for my #WOTY was a great way to stay positive during a tough 12 months. To go from full mobility to almost no mobility in such a short time was so daunting, the surgery, the recovery....it's all taken time and I'm looking forward to having my life back on track for 2023!
DeleteWhat a great October you had Leanne, topped off by your hip-hip hooray moment :). I'm so pleased to hear you are recovering well and enjoying the care of others. The visit by your granddaughters prior to the operation would have been just lovely! Also love the flowers - well deserved. That fabulous quote at the end says it all - keep being fabulous :)
ReplyDeleteHi Deb - it was definitely a big month for me with the uncertain lead up to my op, the visits from family and now pushing through to recovery and getting my life back on track. I feel like I still have a way to go, but it's forward now instead of sliding backwards - and that's a huge blessing to focus on - and pretty darn Fabulous!
DeleteLots of fabulousness in October for you Leanne. I was shocked when I saw that you went home so early. Modern medicine is amazing.Good to hear and see that you're recovering well. Your flowers are gorgeous. I do love your art and am in awe of your artistic streak.
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer - I was so grateful to be able to get out of the hospital environment and home to my familiar surroundings. It helps that my husband is very caring and looking after me worked with his strengths. I feel like I'm over the worst now, but have a way to go before I have my distance strength back - slowly, slowly..... And thank you for your lovely words about my art xx
DeleteYou certainly had a fabulous October, Leanne! With grandchild time, new hip, and a lot of art. I'm glad you had a good experience with your surgery. I hope you're feeling you're making progress with your recovery.
ReplyDeleteHi Susanne - my recovery is going really well. I want to get stronger faster, but have to keep reminding myself that I'm only 3 weeks post-op and it was a big surgery. It will take time for my muscles to heal and for the suturing etc to settle. I'll get there, I just need to be patient with the process.
DeleteI love that quote at the end and the first pic with the shadowy grandchildren - it's gorgeous. Glad the hip recovery is going well (you look great btw) and I think your art is really something. Do you make cards or give them to people? You could even sell them, you know. So definitely a pretty fabulous October!! #WWandP
ReplyDeleteHi Lydia - I loved the water and grandgirls pics too - it was a good time of the day to take them (especially for an amateur like me). Thank you for your kind words about my art. I've done a few postcards for the grandgirls and a birthday card for my mum - but I think it's easier to keep it as a fun pastime - less judgement and more enjoyment!
DeleteYou did it so well in October despite the health challenges and worries about surgery cancellation etc. So pleased you got to see your granddaughters. They are the best tonic ever!! Love the art. And that you are so grateful in all your write about your surgery. It often takes a pretty major "life something" to help us view our world and ourselves differently. Way to go, Leanne. Great to see you join in for Wednesday’s Words and Pics. Next week it will be the 10th one! I am enjoying our connections via blogging each week and hope you are too. Denyse.
ReplyDeleteHi Denyse - it was certainly a month of ups and downs, but there are always joys to hold onto when life is tossing you around. I've also come to realize that "what will be, will be" and we just need to allow life to happen. I was beyond grateful when everything fell into place for my surgery to go ahead - and now I just need to persevere with the gradual strengthening of all the cut muscles etc.
DeleteYou did, indeed, have a fabulous October, Leanne. I hope your hip is continuing to heal and that you will be enjoying full mobility again soon.
ReplyDeleteHi Christie - it's going well. I want to be 100% but have to keep reminding myself that it's only been 3 weeks since a major operation - healing takes time and those poor muscles need to recover from being cut and sewn. I'll get there slowly but surely!
DeleteHi Leanne, well October has turned out well for you and I'm so pleased for you! You'll be all set for a fabulous Christmas with your new bionic hip! Great that you're recovering well and have lots of nice activities to keep you busy. I love your neurographic tree!
ReplyDeleteHi Min - I'm really looking forward to December - we have a few days' holiday booked and I'm hoping that by the 6 week mark, I'll be strong enough to be walking and cycling again. Christmas without pain is going to be an even bigger joy!
DeleteThat art is lovely Leanne. Very creative. And I love that you've had some time with your grand daughters. I just commented on Deb's post that she's creating wonderful memories and you're doing the same. x
ReplyDeleteHi Deb - sometimes I wish we lived closer to them, but then we get a few days together and get to create little routines and outings that I'm sure will bring back memories for them in the years to come. Simple pleasures - that's my aim for us all.
DeleteLove that quote!! Glad that all is going well with your recovery! (visiting from the weekend coffee share - )
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer - yes I loved the quote too and all is definitely going well with the hip recovery - still a way to go yet, but getting there a little more every day.
DeleteThese photos show that you had a fabulous October. Cheerful & lively. Glad you are recovering from your surgery. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDelete#Weekendcoffeeshare
Hi Amila - yes it was a lovely month - even with the restrictions post-surgery. Life really is all about how you choose to make it - and I choose cheerful every day :)
DeleteI love the puzzle you finished. I linked a couple of puzzle images to the bottom of my coffee share this week. I am currently working on a puzzle of the map from The Hobbit.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy an interesting puzzle. 1000 pieces is my perfect size and the picture needs to be full of different colours and images to tempt me to tackle it. Anything that is all the same colour is too fiddly and boring and I won't even bother to start it - I'm getting fussy in my old age!
DeleteIt sounds as though you can look forward to a fabulous November as well. Congratulations on your new hip.
ReplyDeleteYes it was a wonderful month - made even more so by having my operation go ahead and finally getting rid of the pain I'd been putting up with for so long. Recovery is taking time, but soon I'll be back on track and every day I get closer.
DeleteHi Leanne, I'm happy to hear that your surgery took place and you're recovering well. Beautiful family time, artwork and flowers. A fabulous October indeed. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.
ReplyDeleteHi Natalie - thanks for the party and yes, I'm very happy to have the surgery done and dusted too. It's amazing how much the whole thing impacted my life, but I'm so grateful to be on the other side of it and recovering well.
DeleteSo glad to hear you're on the mend and had such a good month with family. I'm at 23 days and counting!
ReplyDeleteHi Kathleen - wow that's only 3 weeks away! I hope the lead up goes smoothly and you don't have any of the last minute crises that I found myself dealing with. It's funny how everything seems so much bigger and more fraught when you're in the middle of it, and so much smaller when it's behind you.
DeleteSo glad you were able to have your surgery! I hope your recovery continues to go well, and you're able to move pain-free.
ReplyDeleteHi Janet - I think the pain in the lead up has made me less bothered by the pain of recovery. I still ache - but less intensely - and in the muscles rather than deep in my hip and groin. And I know it will keep getting better (rather than deteriorating) so that's a huge positive.
DeleteI loved your update Leanne. That shirt you are wearing..the bionic woman is awesome. So glad it was a good month and your recovery is going so well. What a cool jigsaw puzzle. I have one I'm working on and it's taking me forever.
ReplyDeleteHi Kirstin - I couldn't resist the tee shirt - it makes me smile when I wear it. And yes the recovery is going along steadily and in a positive direction and that's such a relief after deteriorating for so long in the lead up.
Delete