Thursday, January 28, 2010

Another Stunning Moment

Caught on film - another bird stunned by the picture window.

It happens pretty frequently, but usually the bird manages to fly away immediately.

This one was stunned for a few minutes. Boris helped snap him out of a stupor.

C-Scope : Epilog

"You have a beautiful colon", commented the nurse during the follow up telephone call.
"Aw schucks", I thought, "You say that to all your patients!"
I really wanted to tell her that most people I knew would have vehemently disagreed with her!

During this follow-up call, I was informed of all that I had forgotten as a result of the Versed (sleep-inducing drug).
The doctor had come into recovery and informed me that the procedure went well and that I was given a clean bill of (colon) health.
I have absolutely no recollection of that.

I followed up with a call to my friend Mike, who gave me a ride home. There was a lot more that I had lost memory of:
1) texting him to find out whether he was on the way
2) complaining to him (in the car) that the Dr was 30 minutes late for the procedure
3) calling ahead to Red Hot and Blue BBQ to order a pulled pork sandwhich (I was starved)
4) standing at the pickup window of RH&B talking to Mike while waiting for the sandwhich
5) the ride back to my house

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

C-Day

C is for Colonoscopy. It happened this morning.

I am glad thats all over!

Actually the overall experience was not all that bad, that is, except for the 5-hour laxative happy hour in which I drank 4 liters of laxative the night before(that was horrible beyond explanation).

I checked in at 7:15 am and shortly after that, I was in a a bed on an IV. Later, the Dr came in, explained a few things, then they injected Fentanyl (pain killer) and Versed (induce sleep).

Next thing I know, I am in recovery. I have no memory of getting drowsy or passing out.

And, best of all, no pain in the butt!

Actually, really BEST of all was that I (my colon) got a clean bill of health. No polyps, no cause for concern. The report I got (along with pictures of my large intestine) indicated that i do not have to come back for another scoping for 10 years. YAY! I am not certain of whether they told me anything, because I really do not recall speaking to anyone after the procedure - one of the side effects of Versed is loss of memory.

Pictures are below.
WARNING WARNING WARNING
Graphic content below




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Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Today's Menu - Liquid Diet

Today I start prepping for the big day tomorrow - the "scoping".

To that end, I have been restricted to a liquid diet for the entire day. Only CLEAR liquids. Meaning water, juice without pulp, clear broths, etc.

OH BOY! I am so looking forward to this culinary experience.

Plus, as a bonus, toward the end of the day (starting around 4-7 pm), I get a special treat. I get to drink a full 4 liters of this tasty little cocktail:

Bon Appetit! Well, at least they gave me a choice of fruit flavors to add to it.
That is when the real fun begins, since there will definitely be some waterworks once this elixir takes effect. Better get me one of those cushioned toilet seats!

Monday, January 25, 2010

BackWash (from the Washing Machine)

Well... it happened again ... almost a year later!

I was washing a load of clothing in my washing machine and when it kicked into the mode that drains the tub, I heard this awful-sounding gurgling noise around the house.

The last time I heard that noise was just after I moved into the house, in December 2008. The washing machine was also draining and I heard the noise coming from the downstairs bath. I ran into the bathroom to find brown water coming up out of the toilet and the shower drain. It rose so fast that both the toilet and the shower floor (with a 3-inch lip) overflowed onto the floor.

The problem was that the main drain line to the street was mostly clogged. Unfortunately, the drainline runs under the large sweet gum tree in the front yard, so it's likely that the tree's root system has penetrated the pipes, causing the clog.

Looks like this will be a recurring annual theme for me. At least this time the water was not nasty brown in color and the shower did not overflow, although the toilet overflowed enough to get the little toilet rug soaked.


The really bad news is that I cannot get a plumber here until tomorrow morning. And I am hesitant to use the facilities until he can guarantee that the line is cleared again.

So, until then, I am driving over to the nearby QuickeeMart to use their facilities.
YUK!

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Cameron Park (Waco)

On the return trip from Bastrop, we stopped at Cameron park to stretch our legs.

Cameron Park is this jewel of a natural area in the middle of Waco, Texas. Its got great trails for trail running and mountain biking weaving amoung gullies that drain into the Waco River. Very lush with greenery and a lot of fun to ride or hike.

A really cool feature in this park is the "groves" of giant bamboo. Really amazing!



Saturday, January 23, 2010

Boris in Bastrop

Went to Bastrop this weekend to "watch" the 6th annual Big Chill Adventure Race.
This is the first time since the race started that I am not doing the race.
And, of course, this was the first year that the weather was gorgeous and temperate. Definitely not typical Big Chill weather.

But it was still fun to get out into the park with Boris. He had a blast.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Boris at 6 Months

Today is Boris' 6-month birthday. I hade had him for a little over 3 months. And life has been so different since!

That makes him 3.5 years in human years. If that is really so, then he is passed the terrible twos. And, to be honest, it has not been all that bad. Except, of course, the 2 incidents of pooping on the Persian rug. But, other than that, he has been a really great puppy.

He is very well behaved and, for the most part, he obeys commands that I give him.

He is still very much a "velcro dog", going everywhere that I go, even when he is so tired that he can barely stand up.

I took this picture today at a local park:

For comparison, here are his 12-week and 8 week pictures:

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Scoping where the sun don't shine.

Yes, I am getting older. So much older, in fact, that I am finally old enough to warrant that special look inside that most of us would rather not discuss.
Yes, it's a Colonoscopy!
UGH!
Its all precautionary, for no other reason than "its that time in life to get it checked out".
But I am afraid what they might find in there as a consequence of my sometimes unhealthy dietary preferences.
It all takes place next week. I will be getting the details shortly.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Poultry-Fresh Breath

You can tell that I am a new doggie owner and trying to do things by the book.
Yes, I admit it, I brush my dog's teeth!
Why not? It only takes a few minutes. And, if it helps to neutralize "poo breath", then all the better.
Also, if I actually keep up with this oral hygiene program, maybe I can minimize dental cleanings in the future.

And you got to love the flavor selection: poultry, liver, peanut butter, and even vanilla.
I guess dogs don't like mint.

Potty Mouth

What is it with dogs eating poo????????
Even though Boris has been doing it for a while, especially cat droppings that the neighborhood cat leaves in one corner of the front yard, it never ceases to amaze me why they eat poo.
Thankfully, he does not eat his own poo. Not yet anyway.

Today was particularly disgusting. I let him go down into the lower yard (by the creek) and he immediately found a stash - I assume this was raccoon poo. I ran over to get it out of his mouth, but saw nothing on his tongue. However, stuck to the roof of his mouth was a nice sized chunk that looked like a dollop of peanut butter. But it wasn't peanut butter.
Nasty!

Monday, January 18, 2010

Shoulder Therapy - Moving to Active

Today the shoulder therapy move forward to AROM - Active Range of Motion. This now involves USING the muscles rather than simply stretching them.

As expected, we are starting with baby steps - simple, lightweight movements.

But, its going well. In most cases, there is a lot better movement and a lot less pain than expected. Except, as last time, one form of external rotation. That one is still very tight, very painful, and does NOT seem to be making any progress.

Otherwise, in general, I feel like I am making progress. I am starting to use the arm for everyday functions with limited range of motion, but at least getting it into use again.

A step at a time...

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Dallas Indoor Dog Park

There is an INDOOR dog park in Dallas. As you might expect, its not free. Its $7.50 a visit. But, on a crappy weather day, its a good place to bring a high-energy dog to blow off some steam.
It is a VERY NICE facility. And surprisingly clean and order free. Its got special dog turf, which has complete drainage underneath. Plus, large pressure (maybe steam) hoses for the staff to use to clean up skid marks.

It's also got some playground equipment in the center.


Here is Boris on a small section. He can actually run most of the course, except for a high hoop at one end.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Shoulder Therapy - Session 2

Went for the second session of physical therapy for my shoulder. This is still PASSIVE range or motion, so its still just forcing the muscles to stretch rather than actually using the muscles. Nonetheless, it is pretty painful for some of the stretches.

So far, it seems to be going well. For most of the exercises, my range of motion seems better than I would have expected and the exercises have not been as painful as I anticipated.

HOWEVER.... there are a couple of exceptions. A couple of the stretching exercises are REALLY PAINFUL and my range of motion is much less than the rest. Specifically, rotating my forearm outward while my elbow is at my side. OUCH!

Based on the exclamations of the therapist, I think she agrees that it went really well.
Maybe she says this for everyone, but she was saying things like:
That is amazing.
This is wonderful.
You have better range of motion that most patients I have seen at this stage.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Shoulder Surgery : Physical Therapy Begins

Major milestone today - I started physical therapy today!

At first, it was a little disappointing - as the PT bent my arm in all directions (eliciting lots of pain), she commented that the range of motion was not all that great, as she had expected. At this point, she was doing the initial testing and getting measurements.
Hmpff ..... I expected a much better prognosis!

However, once she started taking me through the exercises (PROM - Passive range of motion), she commented that my ROM (range of motion) was a lot better than the initial testing indicated. She was really surprised that after a few reps, my ROM was a lot better than most patients that she has seen after rotator cuff surgery.
Much better... that's what I was expecting (wishing for).

I was given a list of 7 PROM exercises to do at home twice a day.
It was a good day!

Dreaming of Ouray....

I saw this sight this weekend off of the Northshore trail at Lake Grapevine. One of the residents left on a sprinkler head and created this little ice garden. It brought back memories of ice climbing ....

This is the closest I will get to "waterfall ice" this year. After 8 consecutive seasons of ice climbing in Ouray, I will finally have to skip a year (due to shoulder recovery)

Ouray 2009 - Notice the (faint) resemblance???

"Waterfall ice" is a term in ice climbing to designate ice created by flowing water (versus glacial ice - comapcted snow). Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice-climber

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Hitting the rocks...

He's got to learn to scramble up and down the rocks...



Dog Food Ad?

OK, mabe not!




Boris Unleashed - a Winter Hike

Took Boris for a hike along the Northshore Trail at lake Grapevine. I was going to do the dog park, but the North Dallas park was closed. This turned out to be a good idea, since I got to work with him off leash on trails. I wanted to train him to respond to my commands as sort of a verbal leash.

For the most part, he did really well. He never ran too far down the trail before coming back to check on me. A few times, I stayed back and hid from him (as a test), but he always made sure that I was never too far away.

He really had a blast in the woods, zooming in and out of the trees.

Someone left a sprinkler running in the cold weather... Boris loved it!

Friday, January 8, 2010

View of my keyboard



PLEASE play with me!







Maid Service : As seen on CraigsList

So the little dust bunnies (from Boris' fur) are starting to come alive and dance in circles around me. Getting kind of dirty (and freaky).

Unfortunately, my vacuum cleaner is a backbpack model (don't scoff, its really functional) and, what do you know... I cannot get it onto my back due to my gimped-out shoulder. So, I decided to look into getting a maid service. After looking on the web, I decided to try Craigs List.

And I found this...
http://dallas.craigslist.org/mdf/hss/1540519217.html

Text of ad below (just in case it gets deleted)

Sexy Maid Service by MILF ~ House Cleaning in Lingerie ~ Great Gift!
We have a SEXY maid service based in Keller and specializing in house cleaning with sexy lingerie or skimpy outfits. What is your husbands fantasy cleaning lady? Our SEXY maid is a super hot MILF, large firm breasts and a nice ass that will come over and clean your house!
No touching but lots of looking and teasing is what we offer!
Prices based on square feet or by the hour!
One hour special for $100! Our SEXY maid will come to your house in a SEXY outfit for one hour.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Shoulder Surgery : 4-week checkup

Went to the ortho for a 4-week checkup. He moved my arm in a few directions, generating some pain, but the pronounced that I was ready to begin physical therapy.
Woohoo! I am SO ready to get going on this!

For the first week, I will do PROM and AAROM, then the following weeks will be AROM.

I have a script for 4 weeks, 2 times a week. Then I go back to my doctor to check progress.

Definitions:
ROM - Range of Motion - the amount of mobility of the shoulder
PROM - Passive ROM - Mobility exercises remain completely passive without the use of muscles to move the shoulder.

AAROM - Active Assisted ROM - ROM with assistance from another person or your other arm and minimal use of muscles

AROM - Active ROM - ROM using the muscles.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Boris' Girlfriend Molly

OK, so she's a bit cranky with him...

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Shoulder Surgery: 1 month later

Its been 1 month since the surgery and the recovery seems to be going well, albeit mostly uneventful. There is not much that I can do except for 2 simple passive movements to keep the joint moving. But there has been virtually no pain at the surgery location. pretty surprising based on other reports I have heard.
The worst issue has been muscle ache when sleeping. Some muscles in my shoulder will start to ache when I am sleeping at night - so much so that I have to get up for the pain to go away. At this point, I am attributing this to muscle atrophy, but its only a guess.
I wear the sling most of the time, primarily as a reminder to NOT use the arm except in limited motion. Basically, I should not be using the muscle that raises the arm to the side. But to be safe, I should not be using any shoulder muscles.
When I do not wear the sling I try to keep my arm held to the side of my body. This does wonders for the arm pits. ;-)
As for exercise, there has been some, but not much. I have been to the gym 3 times to use the StairMaster and the recombent bicycle, the only 2 methods of cardio that I can do without any kind of impact that might hurt.
Yesterday, I went on a 6-mile hike at Rocky Hill Ranch and ran most of the last 2 miles with no pain or problems - that is, other than looking peculiar since my right arm was hanging motionless at my side while the left arm was swinging back and forth as usual.

I go back to the doctor on Wednesday for a checkup. I am anticipating (hoping) that he will start me on physical therapy very soon. I am SO ready to get started! Bring on the pain! That will tell me I am making progress!

Camping at Buescher/Bastrop

This past weekend, I took Boris down to Buescher State Park (outside of Austin) to meet up with some friends (Dianna and Gale) who were camping there for New Years. Buescher State Park is jst down the road from Bastrop State park, where we have spent a lot of time racing and doing navigation training in the past. There has been a major winter race - The Big Chill - held in Bastrop for the last 5 years, and I did it every year. But NO more - too damned cold. Nonetheless, Bastrop is a beautiful park with great hiking trails and a permanent orienteering course for navigation training.
On Friday, we hiked around Buescher in the early afternoon with all the dogs - 4 in our part of the group. At one point, we had to cross a small creek. Boris was chasing the other dogs around and managed to leap across with no problem - the first attempt. However, the second attempt was not so successful....

It might appear that we are being unkind by not helping him, but he needed to learn how to get out of this by himself.

After a while, we finally caved....

Friday, January 1, 2010

Happy New Year from Boris

Boris had fun on New Years eve!

NOTE - there was no alcohol in the bottle, just an orange that he was trying to get.

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