We're Doing Well

Deana seems to be very lucky in that she has been having far less pain than we had been prepared for. She's getting more mobile and does not need my help anymore for standing and using her walker. We had our first PT appointment today (they come here for a few weeks, which is nice) and the therapist seemed impressed with D's status.

Now we have plans set for the next few days - exercises and treatments in the morning, then visitor time, if you would like to call or come by, in the afternoon. She does not need to rest in the day anymore, so call our land line with no worries about waking her.

D is also able to sit with her lap top, so if you email, she'll be glad to hear from you.

So, looks like I won't be posting for a while - let's hope next time I do, the "Where's Deana" blog will be updates of one of her road trips. No more surgery!

Lots Happening

We've just about made it through the first day home - one step at a time - or one drag of the walker at a time. Not the easiest experience for either of us (I don't care for giving her injections, and I'm pretty sure she's not thrilled either), but nothing alarming has occurred either due to my nursing or the knee. I've been keeping the meds coming so the pain is managed. D is walking with her walker, slowly and steadily. Mostly she is glad to sleep and rest away from the interruptions and drama of the hospital. Tomorrow she gets a "machine" delivered as well as her first visit from Physical Therapy.

Home!

Well, we are past the hospital stage, and we've made it home. It was not easy (sometimes the two steps up to our front door seem like a mile high), but thanks to Juan of Kaiser, and our JP, we are home, fed, medicated, comfy, iced, and ready for sleep.

We have had two telemarketing calls since our return, so we will unplug the land line for a few days. D will have her cell on if she's awake, so call with no worries about waking her, and my cell is 569-9400.

Based upon comments from the staff at KP, D is a trooper, a go-getter, and further ahead of many so soon after the surgery.

All Still Good

I see D much improved after visiting this morning. She walked far enough to pass the therapist's test and practiced going up and down stairs. There are a few more tests to pass before she will be discharged - the last is making sure the pain is managed with oral meds, so they are taking out the IV pain meds right now. I will head back for a three o'clock PT session, then will likely bring her home if the team OKs.

We have come to believe the protocol of waking patients every hour to check their vitals is designed to make people want to go home. D is very tired, so I imagine her first few days will be spent catching up on sleep. We'll unplug her land line phone, so if you'd like to call, please use her cell number. If she's sleeping, we'll turn it off, so don't worry about waking her. Or call my cell - 569-9400 - anytime.

I'll also keep posting here when I have news.

D's a trooper, and is in fairly good spirits. Hope she's home this evening so we can start focusing on the next stage of the journey. Thanks for all your emails.

She Walks!

Well, a little bit.

It's a busy day with treatments and physical therapists and tests, and between all that, she is trying to nap.

It's still looking good for a return home on Friday.

It's a Good Day!

Actually it's been a rough and long day, but good in that the operation has gone as planned, and Deana is well, and thanks to a big shot, in little pain.

We were at the hospital at 5ish, checked in and met the team. All were great. The three hour operation was for a complete knee replacement. We were in the recovery unit for a long time. Now D is in her room for the night.

Tomorrow will be busy with treatments and physical therapy. We are hoping she'll be home on Friday.

take care - Rachel

The Big Day

I've been kicked out of the hospital for a few hours while D is in surgery. All has gone well do far and we like her team. If you are reading this before ten o'clock, send some happy thoughts!

Count Down to OP Day

This segment of the "Where's Deana Blog" is not as fun as the last, but hopefully knee replacement will soon be behind her and she can head off again on a long journey. I will post again on the day of her surgery with updates for her friends. Until then, if you have any questions, you can email me at rachh22@gmail.com.

Back home.

Its good to home at last. Leaving Utah to drive home seemed like a very long way. I stayed with Dee and Lee in Lake Tahoe for two nights. It was good to see them and it made a good break. Tahoe was beautiful but the crowds were pouring in for the 4th. I drove home through Jackson and there was not too much traffic that way. Now I am home I have to get back into life.
My estimated miles for my trip were 4000. it ended up being 5398 miles, side trips add a lot onto the total. Everything worked out well. There is so much to see and I will go back to Yellowstone for sure, not in peak season though, it would be way too crowded then. Time with the kids was great. My car was great and Lady only let me down a couple of times. Hope to see you all soon. Its time to try golf again, my knee is sort of OK!
If you followed my blog I would love to know via email. Deana.

It was an early morning start for the family on Tuesday, 4.30am shuttle to the air port for their flight to Washington DC. They arrived there safely before I arrive at Lake Tahoe. For me it was a long day driving, It took me all day and I arrived at Dee and Lees around 6.30pm.
It’s a rest day today and then I drive home tomorrow.

Heading West

Last day with the kids!

I took the kids on a road trip, we stopped by a lake to eat our lunch. We visited the town of Morgan where Morgan took pictures of the Morgan Cafe, Morgan school district, fire dept. and many other Morgans! It was very exciting.

Next was Ogden Nature Center to see birds of prey, snakes and butterflies. It was very hot there and the mosquitoes were happy to see us. We still had a good time. The Olive Garden was the next stop and we had a great farewell dinner together.

Now we are all in a motel in Salt Lake City. I head to Tahoe tomorrow and the others leave here at 4 am. for the airport and a visit to Washington DC. to see Grandma and Grandpa Whoppers. Morgan and Kate are in my room and its resonably quiet. Iain and Adi have John and Meghan who are excited and noisy. Good Luck to them. I am going to miss them all.

Saturday

Morgan spent the last three days working as assistant timer at BYU for a High School track meet. This picture is in the press box and the view from the box.

The rest of us went for a picnic up the canyon, and we chased bugs and butterflies.
Iain comes home from Oregon tomorrow, he has been filming at theUS. National track meet.

We have had rain, thunder and hot weather the last few days.

Geocaching tonight

Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.

We found our pirate treasure hidden under some rocks. John who loves bugs and nature found lady bugs, beetles and a flying ant that couldnt fly, he told me it was because it didnt have an abdomant! He also said that his favorite thing in the whole university (universe) is his home.

Golf day with Iain.

I had a good round of golf with Iain today. Morgan called while we were at the course to tell us that our Ugly Tie had won the contest. The prize is a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts each month for a year!

Hiking in the canyon.

We went up high on this hike, beautiful flowers and a work out for us all.

The Weekend

Father’s day was fun.

Iain got cards and ties!!! I took my creation of an ugly tie to the Donut shop to try to win donuts for a year, just what we need. They gave one dozen donuts just for a tie.
We played baseball. John fell out of a tree! Iain had his race on Saturday. http://www.deseretnews.com/video/1,0000,900,00.html
He seemed recovered the day after.

I wonder what today will bring.

Our nature walk by the river

We had three cameras with us and it was very entertaining to watch the attempts at catching butterflies and dragonflies. We think that the animal was a black river otter, it had its baby in its mouth.

I think we walked about three miles and then went for ice cream.

Last day in Yellowstone and Grand Tetons

On the road at 5.30am! It was great to see the sun come up. The light is so special at that time of the day. I saw bison, white pelicans and deer but mostly the views were special. Yellowstone lake is very big and beautiful. I had breakfast at Grant Village on the lake. South Yellowstone runs into the Grand Tetons.
More great views, Jenny Lake was lovely, but it rained and hailed on me there. But I got a photo of a moose so that made me happy. Then I drove to Jackson and looked around. I found the National Museum of Wildlife Art, great paintings.
I am going to meet Dave who I haven’t seen for over twenty years. I am staying with his family tonight.

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

No TV, radio, computer or clock in the cabins so I didn’t worry about wake up time.
I left about nine for the area called the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. First stop was Artists Point, it was beautiful there, the waterfalls are so full of water and the noise is loud. I did a hike along the river edge it was one great view after another. The maps and signs are really good here, even on my own I can find the turn offs. Seven official stops, but there are always animals to stop for or another perfect view. The painter Thomas Moran was inspired here and so was I, but he wouldn’t have the cars and buses full of people to contend with. There was nowhere to be away from people.
This afternoon I drove to Fishing Bridge, I wanted to paint by the river. It kept raining off and on and when I started a watercolor it looked good with a few raindrops but when the paint started to wash down the page I decided to stop. Then the sun came out but I was headed towards the canyon cabin.
On the way back I viewed some more thermal wonders, stopped where I saw the grizzly yesterday, but no sign of one today. I shared the road with some buffalos. Dinner at the cafeteria and now I need to pack for an early start tomorrow. Eighty miles to the Grand Tetons, then the park is only about 43 miles long so I plan to go through and meet a friend for dinner, he is from the tennis center at Vallco, Dave Luebbe, and he lives around Jackson Hole. I will stay the night at Dave’s and then head to Provo. About a four hour drive. I am tired and will enjoy a sort of rest with the kids.

Catching up on the blog from Iain's home;A whole day in Yellowstone

Early start from my hotel in Gardiner, about 5.40am. The early bird catches the worm! It also sees more wildlife in the park. On my way to Canyon Lodge I saw elk, buffalo and a coyote. It included a high drive along a mountain road. Canyon Lodge is where I am staying for two nights. It was too early to get a key to the cabin. After a second breakfast I headed out towards Old Faithful.
Mammoth Lakes hot springs area is very impressive, but I didn’t stay there for long as I wanted to hunt for animals. There was a spring called Beryl that was very pretty with rocks and fast moving water. There were a lot of fly fishermen standing in the rivers, they must have been freezing.
It rained steadily for a while and I had to wait at a road work stop for almost half an hour. For lunch I had Jalapeño bread with tomatoes and Laughing cow cheese and cherries for dessert. I enjoyed this sitting by a raging river.
I stopped at several thermal areas before I got to Old Faithful, who performed very well for the large crowd. All the springs are very different and they are good to look and listen to. Yellowstone Lake completed the circle; it is very large and beautiful and the road runs along the edge for a long way.
Just as I thought the day was over with sights, I saw a grizzly bear swimming across a river, I didn’t see it get out as there were so many people who walked in front of my car, but what a treat to see. My cabin is okay, not the Ritz. When I was unloading my car it started to rain heavily, I got into the cabin quickly and then it hailed for quite a while. I didn’t want to go out again, so I had bread and cheese again for dinner.
Tomorrow I am not rushing out early, and I am doing things close to the cabins, I need a rest from driving. I have driven 3788 miles from home; I thought the trip total would be about 4000 so I was a bit off on that.

Tetons

Spoke with Deana this morning - driving through the Tetons. She was having a lovely time, with fabulous views on all sides and had drenched three coats by hiking in the rain and hail. Tonight at the Luebee Residence in Driggs, Idaho.

Tomorrow she's heading for Idaho Falls - hope the Grandkids are cleaning their rooms as Grandma Deana's getting closer to Provo.

Yellowstone and Plans

Deana's off the grid - no cell, no internet. And I missed her call, so she'll have to fill in her activities for today in a future post. Tomorrow she is heading to the Tetons, and will meet a friend, Dave Luebee, and stay with him and his wife tomorrow night.

Here's a web album of some of the photos I took while with Deana in Alberta.

Yellowstone

Just heard from Deana - sitting with other tourists waiting on Old Faithful. It does not seem good for emails or blogging for the next few nights as she is in a remote area. Today she was on the road at six to get best animal viewing - saw beautiful elk and bison crossing a river. She says the rapids are amazing.

Yellowstone and my computer works!

Today I planned to drive to Big Timber as Rachel told me it was a good place to visit. On the way Livingston caught my attention and something made me visit there. A quiet old town with some great building. Big Timber was next and that has gone downhill, I had brunch at the old hotel. Nowhere else in town had any activity; the museum was closed and the visitor center.
Then I headed to Yellowstone, the north entrance. I got in the park at three and have just got out at eight. I drove and stopped ten million times! I took many photos but this is the time that I could use a better camera. It poured with rain some of the time then the sun would come out. What a place, it has everything. Mountains , hills, rocks, grasses, flowers, rivers, waterfalls, buffalo, deer, mountain sheep, heron(I think; it may have been a young emu) tomorrow I stay in the park for two nights so I will look out for old geysers! Yes I did have a good day.

Yellowstone on the Horizon

Deana's plans have been made - Today she is driving from Bozeman, with a side trip to Big Timber, which a few years ago was a great tourist spot, but it has changed. She had lunch at the historic hotel and turned around and is heading towards Yellowstone. Tonight she is staying in Gardiner, then she has two nights in a cabin in Yellowstone.

Helena to Bozeman

Downtown Helena was a fun place to look around, they also had a farmers market. The grandkids are getting the pet that I purchased today, it has promised to be good with me until I pass it on in Provo.

Lovely sunny day again. I had lunch at Bert and Ernies in Helena.

Then I had a pretty drive to Bozeman and checked into another Hampton Inn. Downtown Bozeman is not too big so I had time to check it out and had dinner at Over the Tapas , good food. Now I am trying to book into Yellowstone, no space on Sunday night so I am working on plan B.

Great Falls to Helena

I thought that the Snoopy cloud was worth a picture.
I had a late breakfast at a local restaurant, the two waitresses had probably been there since day one. Then I went to the Charles Russell museum which was good to see. It showed how he had grown with talent from a young age. I then bought a sandwich and ate that at the Lewis and Clark museum. Great place, good job that they had a women to look after them. There was a pack like the one that Sacagawea carried her baby in, it was very heavy.
I had trouble finding places in Great Falls so I was glad to leave, little did I know that it would be the same here. Lady helps sometimes.
The drive to Helena was lovely. The grasses, mountains and river. There was a road called Recreation road that is used by boaters and fishermen, I didn’t know where it ended up but it worked out for about twenty miles. Hampton Inn tonight, I need to go to dinner somewhere close. Haven’t planned tomorrow yet, it may be raining.

Calgary to Great Falls Montana.

They did let me back into the USA.
Rachel is home in SJ. She would have been a help here in Great Falls. I dont like it here very much and Lady didnt either. The Charlie Russell museum tomorrow and then I will move on.
I stopped a few times today and found an amber vase that I really needed in an antique shop.