Marks Daily Journal

Update on my health, and construction.

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:39:39 GMT

It has been many weeks since a new journal entry for me, so I thought it was time to spend a few minutes making one today. Having time to heal from back surgery my improvements are significant, and the surgery was a great success. I still have the other back problems that my surgeon said may still exist. He was being positive about the outcome, and now I can realize the extent of improvement to my lumbar. This morning was painfull getting out of bed, still I need medication that I was prescribed before surgery that is non-narcotic. Sleeping is limited with the weather causing me to change when and how much I can sleep. The anti-seizure medication to control nerve pain is what allows me to sleep, and if not sleep, then I am able to rest. I still prefer to do my reading on my back, on the board I use to support my entire spine. The change since surgery is the removal of severe sharp pain in my lumbar, that is now dull. I have to be carefull about lifting and bending is difficult. I wear my back brace to help me get through days working on my building. Other days I don't need to wear it. The veiws from my roof show the shingles I have applied mainly by myself, but asked my neighbor Christie to help me several days to give me a break from bending. Now the task is getting the walls covered with plywood over the frame and installing windows. Having the roof accomplished, and the slow but continued work on the walls progressing daily, I am hopefull that it will be enclosed finally this winter. My every day is focused on this building project, then I rest and read or watch TV on my back. I don't feel like sitting in a chair as much as would be needed to be more active in the journals. I try to get around to people's journals when I can.

Salty's Dog House

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:57:19 GMT

Having made Salty's new shelter before surgery it needed to be movable in pieces that were then screwed together once inside the pen. The two halves were then hinged together with door hinges. A crate platform for the floor along with a Mulberry limb sticking out adding weight. The Mulberry limb was from the Feb. ice storm that brought down large trunk portion's onto the fencing which then had to be chain sawed up and removed. I am still removing limbs outside his pen and fixing his wire fence.

My next door neighbor Paul VonBusch died, aged 85, and his neice was here from Chicago last weekend with a trailor to remove some of his possession's. Laurie, Paul's neice, and 3 women cleaned and helped with the move. I knew Paul for over 20 year's and the life out here will not be the same without him. She is now trying to take care of his estate, which was simply his lot's and trailer.

My back surgery recovery could not be going any better. I must wear my back brace when not sleeping or lying down watching TV. The brace keeps my spine held in a upright position and is the same wrap around brace used by worker's for moving heavy objects'. Since I no longer have any bone in the back of the 3 vertebra, the surrounding bone is strong enough to hold my spine in place. The brace is important so that the scar tissue being formed around the spinal sheath is done properly. I can feel it healing with some pain on the left side at first, then on the right, and now no pain. I still have 4 more week's that I can lift no more weight than about 8 lbs. or a gallon of milk as I was told. I did do some grass cutting yesterday with my lightweight WeedEater line trimmer and have no ill effects today. I did not twist at my waist and only with my arms. Sitting at my desk in my comfortable arm rest chair that tilt's back is now something that I can do for hours without pain while reading. My energy level is up and I do want to get up and do things outside in the warm sunshine and need to walk as much as possible. I ordered a book online from Amazon, Operating System Concept's, that was only $3.05 and $3.99 shipping. It is for college Junior/Senior, or 1st year graduate level, and requires a knowledge of computer programming language, and/or algorithm's. I do not have much knowledge about these requirement's, however, the first chapter's of the book explain beginning student - concept's of the operating system and an understanding of the computer. These are expensive text book's in perfect condition that I can obtain on-line. By reading as much as I can and ordering book's I hope to gain as much knowledge as possible on my own. If I think I am capable of understanding this profession, I may be able to be funded to take college courses. I am very positive about the result's from surgery. So far the remaining problem I have is with the numbness in my left arm and shoulder and upper back/neck pain. I would not be able to sleep without the medication that I was taking before surgery. These are the factor's that will determine the future employment potential I will have.

My back surgery

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:27:36 GMT

I will be having my surgery on Thur. which is a laminectomy of L3 and L4 of the lumbar spine. I had sent an email out to several people and was wrong on the description. A laminectomy is removal of the bone I found out. On my preparation sheet it is circled Discectomy/Decompression and tells me what I must do following surgery and things to prepare before hand. The surgeon did notice on my 2006 MRI that he thought the disc looked good. So Disectomy, or partial removal of the disc, will be something I will find out about. At the hospital when I went for pre-surgery anesthesia interview and lab work, I was told I was schedualed for Laminectomy of L3 and L4. At the clinic where I go for pain management, the nurse told me that without having spinal fusion, and hardware, my surgery should be one of a faster recovery with less difficulty. I studied 'laminectomy' on the internet to see what is involved.

When I phoned the surgeon's office this past winter it was after having a steroid epidural and not having good results. I was unable to do anything but lay on the board I have, as the pain made it too difficult to do any activity. Since I am on Medicaid I had been told in 2006 when the pain management could not get me an appointment to see a surgeon, that I would be on a waiting list because doctor's were not getting paid from Medicaid for up to a year. Also they only get paid a small amount of the total bill. If they do a number of Medicaid patient's, they would lose too much money. So it took a year before I could see the Physician's Assistant Doctor, and he recommended the steroid epidural treatment. When I called this winter though, the surgeon got me in immediately which I am gratefull for.

I finished building Salty's doghouse and it is a great one. I will put in a photo after surgery. I start doing something and have to stop because of back pain and then re-start day's later. Today I am getting my small cabin organized and cleaned some from it's usual condition, so it will be nice to return to.

Thank you for all your well wishes and prayer's, and I will be making some new journal entries following surgery. As many of you know I have not been active in the journal's for some time, as sitting at the computer has been too tedious because of my back.

Wed. April 9 - Feeling well

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:28:47 GMT

I am home now, and am resting, and walking up and down the lane in front of my home. My surgeon said the stenosis was very bad and unusually thick, indicating it had healed over an old fracture. It was so thick and strong that no fusion or added material was needed to splint the area after bone removal. I explained to him how I had rolled down the interstate over and over after being hit on my motorcycle by the hit and run driver. It just kept pounding my spine. That was the 1971 injury. The truck wreck in 1973 left my entire back in pain - as a result of the force of the impact and being thrown about in the car.

I am only explaining the origin of my injury since the surgeon found it to be unusual in comparison to that of a person suffering from arthritis after years of accumulated wear.

Everything went exceptionally well from the time which was moved up requiring me to be at the hospital at 5:45 a.m., because of the patient that would have been before me, not having the surgical tools available, till being released on Saturday afternoon.

I remember being on the gurney and the next thing I knew I was being woken up in my room. I was in no more pain than my back was normally before surgery. I could feel something different - like more feeling in my legs though. I was only turned from my left side to my back to my right side the first day. It was not until day 2 when I got up out of bed and began walking that I could feel more pain from the surgery. Walking is fine, it is just the movement from seated or lying position that causes some pain. I just get past it quickly though and am doing well now sitting on the stool in front of the computer.

It is Wednesday and the pain keeps lessening. I have been sleeping a lot and have made one visit to a journal person that happened to be my first commentor and encourager. I will visit each person in order so I don’t miss anyone.

Having walked nearly the two miles - I am suppose to build up to, yesterday, I will again today, in between rain showers, up and down my lane with Salty. Things are going better than I had hoped for so I only have good news as a result of the surgery.

I thank everyone for your concern and encouragement.

Cabin addition

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 12:08:09 GMT

I would like to show how my addition over my kitchen is coming along from the work done during the summer. A ramp style roof was built since placing ladders where the cabin roof is would be impossible without scaffolding. This will make working on that area easy in the future for painting of the eves or siding. A window will be placed on the lower right hand side above the ramp. At the bottom of the right hand side are the porch joists which we have now finished. They will have boards on them that will allow a ladder to be placed to work on the roof end. Things have gone slower than hoped for but by getting the roof on before winter this year will be an accomplishment. We still have to get the heavy plywood roof up, which I may have an extra worker for - I hope. It is not that big of a roof to shingle so I could do all of it myself to save money. Things will then stay dry underneath. I will be able to paint the plywood (4 by 8 foot boards) with white primer oil base paint that can be painted in below 60 degree F weather. We can then work on installing the exterior walls during the winter along with the windows. Then in the spring I can paint the cement/fiber plank woodgrain look siding with latex paint. Over the plywood goes Styrofoam insulation. Thank you all for your concern during the time I have not been active in the journal community. I have not been getting enough sleep and my back has kept me away from sitting at the computer. Also I have been on my back reading - when not working on the home project.

Blooms

Thu, 05 Apr 2007 15:19:19 GMT

This is one of my apple trees taken on Monday before the cold moved in. I used Greg's suggestion of using a (clip-on) sunglass polarizied lens to take this shot. It worked out well as I compared it to one without. I have the woodburner going this morning so I had a good night unlike last night which I woke up to a cold cabin. The woodburner is needed during the day today though, and yesterday I had not needed it all day. I am using Flickr now to add my photo which is easy once I figured out a quick way. Helen explained to me how to use AOL Pictures also. Let me know if you want my method of using Flickr - it's quick and easy. I can no longer access my photos from AOL File Manager on My FTP Space. I have my little red truck licensed/insured and had repairs made so it is on the road this year. It is a 1986 Nissan, and my car is a 1985 Ford Crown Victoria. I don't do much driving so the two vehicles are dependable and should last me a long time. I will see what the back surgeon says in May about surgery, other than that everything is on hold with my construction of my addition. I will try to do some light work and can not afford to pay someone to do the things I can do myself if I am able to.

Spring

Sat, 31 Mar 2007 22:57:20 GMT

I took this photo on Friday across the cow pasture from my next door neighbors yard using my telephoto setting. The overcast condition made for exceptionally green grass with yellow dandelions dotting the foreground. I used a contrast adjustment only when editing. With the good news about John's cancer being gone this is a spring to celebrate for him and Krissy.

Val's and Krissy's Pet Hunt

Fri, 10 Nov 2006 18:45:19 GMT

I took this photo last fall of Salty with the camera on automatic and should have had it on 'Sport' to catch him in action (in focus without blur) so I will do that next time. He is right at 4 years old now according to his approx. age when I got him as a stray one year old something puppy. We are staying warm today with it in the mid to lower 20's after being 13 degree's at 5 am. I could not sleep because of my back so I was up all night nearly. The woodburner is going as well as my electric heater placed around my cabin/kitchen and I am staying warm thankfully. Poor Val having run out of oil, that must be awful! Salty does need a bath so when it gets into the 50's I will fill the gallon jugs with warm water and use his flea soap and give him a good bath and he can shake off outside.

COLD!

Wed, 07 Feb 2007 23:00:52 GMT

After reading in Nancy's Journal the topic of cold I took this photo of the chimney from my woodburner. It has been COLD here in S. Illinois being below freezing for a week with more forecast. Though yesterday it for once got above 40 F. The coldest night of the entire winter was down to 5 degree's F. Weather changes have made it difficult for me to sit in a chair so I have been off the computer for days at a time and then on only briefly. I have been doing a lot of reading on my back with a board underneath a cushion reading scientific, historic, and cultural-political material from various magazines given to me and that I subscribe to. I also have a wealth of 'Art in America' magazines from the 1980's that I browse and a subscribtion to 'American Art Review'. The PBS airing of 'Jane Eyre' was extremely captivating with it's dipiction of the of the 19th Century class culture in England along with a tremendous story line of an orphan girl's life. I am devoting my time to getting important things done in my home as I can so I am putting those things first. I appreciate all of the comments I recieve and hope you will be patient on my responses to your journals or by email. I don't think it would be a winter without some cold and snow though I know some are getting more than their share of snow in places. From my little view on life, I say 'good-bye', mark

(A request for my friend Barbara) She is a wonderful singer and if you would care to listen to her and make a vote for her I know how grateful she would be. I only say this because she really is a talented person.

http://www.ksuperstar.com/play/?recording_id=32457

Christmas is here and the end of the Year

Sat, 23 Dec 2006 21:26:54 GMT

It has gone from warm and rain to cold and damp so I got the woodburner going in my cabin ( with the gray shingles ). Haven't been doing anything much on the construction for awhile except for a few hours over a week ago. This shows the second floor which is above my present kitchen. On the left lower is the first floor. I hope the weather will stay in the 40's F enough and that I will be able to work on a lot of cutting and light work during January. Wishing everyone that reads my journal a 'Merry Christmas' and thank you for your comments this past year.