Saturday - update

Martha had good progress this morning but yesterday was a crazy day.

Her roommate had a massive heart attack after having double knee replacement surgery. I haven't heard all the details but this event was pretty emotional for Martha, as you can imagine. Martha said she really liked her for a roommate too. (All we know now is that she is in ICU.) Martha was also pretty nauseous yesterday and found out she is allergic to codeine. Basically she was pretty itchy and she said she wanted to claw her skin off. So, her therapy didn't really get done yesterday.

Today is a new day! Paul says she was up and doing much better! She ate a good lunch and walked around some. He feels confident she can go home tomorrow. The weather is not too good up there and the hospital is nearly an hour from their house.

The said "Thanks!" for all the flowers and cards.

Room Number information

This is Bern again :o)

Martha is in her room now, Room 5C4A . She got out of surgery at 10:00 AM, then spent about two hours in the recovery room. The doctor said the procedure went very well and the fit of the new knee was perfect. Other than possibly replacing the plastic lining if it wears out, the replacement should last as long as she does. He said she should go home Saturday. Paul says they were hoping for Sunday instead of Monday, so Saturday sounds even better!

If you want to send a card, you can go to:
http://www.lvh.org/lvh/Your_LVH/Patients_and_Visitors

I did - it was very easy!!!

Surgery Update

(this is Bern posting for Martha)



The surgery went well!

They arrived at the hospital at 6:00 am, it took a little while to prepare everything for surgery (the epidural - sounds familiar to me!). The actual surgery lasted about an hour.

The doctor came out to talk to Paul at 10:15 EST and said that everything was fine. The knee matched up perfectly and Martha will be in recovery for 1 - 2 hours then move to a room. When I know the room information, I will post that.

It looks like she could go home on Saturday if everything goes well.

Great news!

Knee Replacement Surgery tomorrow!

My right knee today!

My last set of x-rays

The time is nearly here....I've been putting it off for years - I can't wait any longer.
Thursday, February 21st - my old knee will be out and a brand new shinny metal and plastic joint will be in!

The pain is terrible when you have a bad knee - it's like the worse toothache you've ever had and it hurts all the way up my leg. Some days it just isn't worth the pain to get up and walk - but of course I do. I am a tough old broad, but this is too much. It's making me feel old and I hate that. So.........I found myself a top notch orthopaedic surgeon who does the "custom fit" knee from Otismed - www.otismed.com - check it out. My doctor is Thomas Meade in Allentown, PA - www.oaaortho.com. I'll be in the Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest in Allentown, PA from Thursday until Sunday or Monday.....that is just in case you feel the need to send cards, flowers, food, money, gift cards.....or come to my house and help Paul and Dozier care for me afterwards!! Check out the hospital website below and you can actually send me a FREE card!!!!!! How cool is that?

This is not going to be fun - lots of work in rehab afterwards........hopefully the physical therapy kind, not the drug/alcohol kind!

Anyway - I will post this to let everyone know that after Wednesday I'll be invisible for a few days (or weeks). I'll have my laptop fired up at my bedside as soon as I can get off the hard drugs and keep everyone informed on my status..... Bernadette is going to take over my blog for awhile to keep everyone informed!

Love and Peace and take care of your precious knees.....Martha
http://www.lvh.org/locations/cedarcrest.shtml

2008 Miss America Pageant - Las Vegas

It is cold in Pennsylvania!

Baby, It's Cold Outside! Snow, blustery winds....burrrrrrr. I sure liked the weather better in Vegas and in Texas. Dozier does not like to go outside when it is cold. He develops this terrible "limp" and can hardly walk after he is on the deck for ....seriously....1 minute! It is so funny - he is instantly cured as soon as he comes in. Yesterday we had "Dip'n Dots" falling from the sky! Seriously - it wasn't snow, sleet, hail or rain....it was like Dip'n Dots...unflavored of course.

Snowing Dip'n Dots! Thunder & Lightening, too.

I am beginning to prepare myself mentally and physically for my total knee replacement that I'll be having on February 21. I have so many "orders" to do and not do the week prior to the surgery..just hope I can remember it all. I will be in the hospital for 4 days - then home. Just Paul and Dozier to care for me!! Yikes!! I'm not worried - I know I'll be in good hands!


I just wanted to share some of my favorite pictures from my Texas trip.....such fun!

Miss America Pictures!

L to R..Callie Bruner, Ali Wren, Ellen Bailey, Sarah Beth Bailey, Katie, Brooke Bailey, Kristen Riddle, Brandy Glover and Amber Wren

Ryan and Ellen Bailey

Ali Wren, Amber Wren, Sarah Beth Bailey and Brooke Bailey
























Miss Arkansas and Mr. Arkansas!
Katie and her boyfriend, Andy.

















































Sarah Beth and Katie

The Bailey family

The "Second Moms"......just having fun

Miss America 2008

Here I am -- finally getting to my blog! I've had computer issues, but finally have resolved them.

Katie has done great....consistently scoring very very high. She hasn't won a prelim, but I feel sure she will place. I'll just stop gabbing and post some pictures...I know that's all you really want to see!!!! Viva Las Vegas......I won $5.25 last night playing "Wheel of Fortune". Whoo Hoo!

Cold and Snowy

It's cold and snowy....it's 3:30 in the afternoon and I still have on my flannel jammies! Dozier and I are just worthless today. Actually, since I took this picture we have at least an additional inch and it's still coming down. If you look at the weather for Hazleton, PA, the next 5 days all are SNOW. Have you ever really looked at snow flakes? I always think of manna from Heaven. I believe that the manna may have looked like snow on the desert flooor to Moses and the Israelites. Hummmmm......don't think I'll try to bake any of this!

Woolrich!

I found a new store! Woolrich! Surely you've heard of it - they make the beautiful woolen clothes for the really cold weather. This place has been in business for 175 years! Now - this is not an ad for Woolrich, Inc. - but I was so excited when I stumbled up on it only an hour from my home. Paul had a meeting in a little town close to State College (where Penn State University is)....so I tagged along for the ride. While he was in his meeting - I drove around this little village -and there it was......"The home of Woolrich - the company store - Woolrich, PA"!

I shopped until Paul had to drag me out - I will go back! Here's my new coat - a red one - the perfect color. It's warm, red and wool!

I also bought an Army blanket.....yep....a real, genuine, wool Army blanket! $9.95! Awesome!

You should go to their website - www.woolrich.com and check this stuff out.... The mill is here where they actually process and dye the wool - then turn it in to fabric.....my next adventure for sure....later.

Warm Pennsylvania!

The snow is melting! It was warm today - 65 degrees!
Snow gets very ugly when it begins to melt and the layers of unknowns begin to appear. If you've never lived in the north - it is not a pretty sight. The melting muck is everywhere....and it makes a mess of your vehicle. Parking lots at Wal-Mart, etc. have mountains of the nasty stuff. Seriously....10-15 feet tall mountains! I don't like it.....give me the pretty snow that stays until at least March. This is spring suffering - not early January!

The weather guys say that next week we'll be cold and snowy again.......it can't come soon enough for me. I can take this in the spring - but January ...... PLEASE!

New Years Eve

What a fun time we are having! I changed my first Jaxon diaper today!! He had a poopie....and as I was changing him.....I got my first Jaxon pee shower!! Seriously, he really got me! I had to change clothes and so did he.....and everything in a 5 ft. area! No problems with his urinary system!

He is without a doubt the most beautiful baby ever born! Seriously! My babies were beautiful, but this one....he is in a class all his own!

A new pic....but - you should check out Bernadette's blog - heltontexas.blogspot.com,
her's is much better than mine!

Saturday with Jaxon

Will stayed with Bern and Jaxon. Everything went great.....he had his hearing test this morning and he had a perfect score. Bern had her shower .... Jaxon has his little "man" surgical procedure... which he did NOT enjoy.....Bern and Jaxon will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow ........all is well at Helton Texas!

Pictures - Jaxon Friday evening...

Anna, Monica and Betsy with Jaxon.

Grandmama's Baby!!

Bern and Jaxon got to the room..which is beautiful....around 4:00.
Harry T came to see Jaxon.....and brought him an LSU Jersey and socks! Seriously LSU!!

Jordan came by for a visit..as did Bern's friend Susan.

Door Wreath made by GranMama

Uncle Michael and Jaxon

Jaxon, Michael and Sarah

Look at that hair!

With my Mom....

Bern's friend, Susan...Anna, Monica and Betsy

Grandad finally gets his turn!

Fresh Picture.......

Baby..Baby...Sweet Baby!!