Ron and his bride in Vermont, 2024 |
17 Oct: We need to get up early to get to physical therapy by 9:30.
16 Oct: We spent the day indoors with Cynthia on her back on the floor with calfs up on a chair cushion. In that position, her back "releases" and allows the spine to realign somewhat. No physical therapy today; the clinic is closed. We ate our usual baked potatoes and steamed veggies at Los Amigos. Ron walked around the hotel about ten times with a couple down here looking for a new residence in a less congested area than Chicago or Springfield. At Cynthia's reminder, we did Ron's pacemaker test last thing before bed; we won't know he passed for a week or two.
15 Oct: Cynthia walked almost OK after a refreshing night's sleep, then iced and heated her leg, but was appalled that her pain became so great again after that "therapy." We saw Laura again at 10:15 for five trigger point injections to relax the bigger muscles surrounding Cynthia's pain. Dr. Schatz was going to stretch Cynthia's hip, but the pain was too severe, so he relented and cautioned us not to do too much. Let the muscles relax for a day or two. The mattress might be too soft, allowing her hips to sag while lying on her side. Carol and Bill delighted us with a visit and dinner at Los Amigos. Cynthia hobbled over! Ron is walking the Halloween trail tonight, dark as a black cat at midnight on a moonless night.
14 Oct: We hustled down to the clinic ASAP for an injection and physical therapy. First was the injection into the SI joint along with a caution not to expect immediate results - maybe three days. Then physical therapy wherein Stacy strapped Cynthia into a decompression chair that held her torso and legs while allowing her bottom to drop unsupported. Cynthia would have remained there all day if she could have; the pain relief was Soooo very nice. Ooohhh yes. Ron continues working on Volume II while listening to the Senate Judiciary Oversight Committee; what a bunch of prima donnas who consider themselves sacrosanct. Our internet hasn't been great, so we moved next door, closer to the router. After an evening meal at Los Amigos, we walked around the motel a couple of times. Cynthia is moving easier and is optimistic.
13 Oct: Cynthia's appointment with the physical therapist only 1/2 mile away. We could walk if Cynthia could walk. Cynthia’s edits disappeared, and later Ron's edits disappeared. Dr. Schatz is wonderful. He speaks quite forcefully and has comprehensive knowledge about Cynthia's problems, having read her reports and MRI. Apparently the problem is that her body is smarter than her brain. (The normal human situation.) Her brain says to ignore the pain, so the body has to scream louder. Yes, her problem originates in the L4/ L5 vertibrae, exacerbated by the torn hamstring tendon and gluteus maximus tendons, which press on the piriformis which strangles the sciatic nerve. The SI joint is also involved since her L5 is flattened on one side and cannot decide whether to become a rigid part of her tailbone or to continue acting as a vertibrae which flexes and bends. All these irritated body parts have convinced the IT band to tighten more also. He says this is an easy fix, once we can convince all the affected body parts to stop screaming. That was so incredibly reassuring, and he further said that all the exercise and stretching we have been doing is beneficial. Tomorrow Cynthia will get an injection. Ron started to walk across the dam but reconsidered half way and decided not to overdo it.
12 Oct: Sleep is good stuff. Ron walked across the dam after dark.
11 Oct: We slept and slept some more but didn't get much rest in the smaller bed. At noon we exercised, ate breakfast, and arose. (Cynthia says that it is tough work sleeping in a queen-size bed with a giant.) Cynthia’s head cold is a bit better, and she is walking a bit better. It is so peaceful at Lake Carlyle. The Lea Book sizes are now corrected to 8.5x11, and that size should be ready for publication in a couple of weeks. We ate a late lunch at Los Amigos, and Ron enjoyed a tamale for the first time in forever. Ron dabbled in James Lea again for an hour or two before walking to Walmart again for old fashioned oatmeal to keep his bride happy.
10 Oct: We stopped at Ruby Tuesday for one more lovely salad before riding out of Litchfield towards Hillsboro, through Donaldson and Greenville to the Mariner's Village Inn at Lake Carlyle. Raj & Pam welcomed us back. Then we napped. Ron walked to Wally World for groceries and came back with everything needed.
9 Oct: Cynthia stayed in bed with Rinoallergies. Maybe this is a head cold? She coughed most of the night. This is indeed awful and compounded by the hip pain too. Ron brought hot oatmeal, a scone, fresh fruit, and a cup of coffee from the hotel breakfast bar. Carol came to town to pick Ron up at 9 AM and showed him all the pictures that Bob Craig had left with her a month ago. Such fun looking at old Beatty family photos. Carol even fed Ron and Bill lotsa lunch; salads and veggies. Cynthia prepared more oatmeal at 12:45 PM. Now, she and her sore hip and major headache are going to try to sleep! Carol returned Ron to Litchfield at 3 PM so that Ron & Cynthia could enjoy another Ruby Tuesday meal.
8 Oct; We had lunch with Carol and Bill at Ruby Tuesday. Carol brought the printed Volume One, and we were astonished that it is only 6x9 instead of the intended 8.5x11. AuthorHouse will revise/resize it to 8.5x11. Later in the afternoon, Ron rode out to the farm to see his sister and Bill, and Cynthia took a nap at the hotel. Her cold/ allergies have worsened. Sistah Carol fed Ron a wholesome dinner of salmon, broccoli and sweet potato. Great news, Cynthia can stop worrying because the deposit arrived at the bank.
7 Oct: Up early to the sounds of rain. After breakfast, we rode to Litchfield. Ron was delighted with the scenery on the smaller, familiar roads that we took. We arrived in mid-afternoon and enjoyed an early dinner with Carol and Bill at Ruby Tuesday. Cynthia’s cold/allergies are somewhat improved with RX nasal spray. Hip pain is not improved after sitting on a hard chair yesterday at lunch in Bonaparte. Route, same as last year: US 218 into Keokuk, US 136 (crossing Mississippi River) 3 miles to a R on IL 96 S (don't miss the 2nd Right) 28 mi to a L on US 24 S (before Quincy) 3 mi to a R on I-172 E for 20 miles continuing onto I-72 for 55 miles to a R on US 67 S just west of Jacksonville, 4 miles to a L on Woodson-Winchester road 4 miles to a R on IL 267 S 22 mi to & through Greenfield, Illinois, L onto IL 108, 22 mi to R on I-55 S 7 miles to Litchfield (best route)
6 Oct: Off to Keosauqua to visit cousin Rex. Finding Danielle and five BIG dogs at the house was quite the surprise. Rex, Danielle and the dogs are there to take care of his father, cousin Rex, who cheerfully replies that he is alive and well. Marvin and Doris picked us up to take us to lunch at the Bonaparte Retreat (click here). Cousin Sharon joined us there, and we all enjoyed a comfortable conversation. Sharon says that her sister Carolyn took a photo of the piece of lumber with the name "William Beatty" that came to light during the remodel. We called Scott since Cynthia won't ride out the gravel road to his house, but he declined to come into town to see us, so we were able to leave in late afternoon and arrive in Keokuk, Iowa before dark, laid down in bed, and slept for a couple of hours. Ron then rode to the gas station, to ALDI for raspberries, and to Walmart for air in the tires. We then enjoyed sleep, lots of asleep.
5 Oct, Sunday: We left "early" (before noon) and arrived in Fairfield before dark. The Super 8 is not a bad motel and is conveniently close to a Walmart that sells blueberries, raspberries and bananas. We went to sleep early and enjoyed our sleep.
4 Oct: This was an exciting morning watching Kole play football. He caught a pass for a "first down," sacked the quarterback and pursued runners all over the backfield. Best friends Cynthia and Ann were so very happy to see each other that we are elated that we went. Jerry and Betty picked us up for the class reunion luncheon, thanks to Dave and Annie. Roy's daughter brought him down from Pine Mont, MN, and Myra made it out, looking good and still very comfortably mobile.
3 Oct: We were up early to see Dick and Jane at 9 am - - - except they read the blog last night and thought that tomorrow meant Saturday. All was not lost. They showed up about 11 am, and we spent hours enjoying conversation. After they left, Cynthia screwed up her courage, and the two of us walked across the road to Subway for dinner. After our subs, we walked an extra mile getting back to our room, by which time Cynthia's pain was tolerable.
2 Oct: We got in gear by 1 pm to walk over to the Iowa Welcome Center and enjoyed talking to Charlie Henderson. Cynthia found lots of interesting cards to send to the great-grandchildren. We continued walking from there and are really quite pleased that Cynthia was walking more easily today, Thank God. Ron has been pushing forward on the Volume 2 indexing. We enjoyed another delightful visit with Dave and Pat over dinner this evening at the Woodfire Grill in the Casino. We had way too much adult conversation about medical afflictions, but after an hour of that we segued into talking about children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren until Pat's pain became too great and we left. Unfortunately Cynthia's sciatic pains returned to and from the restaurant.
1 Oct: Tomorrow has come and gone! We will precede fall south after a few more days in Northwood, Iowa. This Holiday Inn is either on the farm owned by Cynthia’s Turvold great-grandparents or next to it. Cousin Ray came to visit for a couple of hours and took Ron to Subway in Northwood for lunch. Ron remembered to bring half a veggie sub back to Cynthia, and she appreciated it mightily. We managed to walk up and down the hallways about half a hundred times, and then again later, with the pleasurable results that Cynthia fell asleep early and slept well all night.
Remembering sister Merrilee.