My New Hip and Hop Party....

Day seven...I am back...

Ready now....set go....

How I See It....

Wow....pain galore...I cannot believe that I am now through the hardest part.

Surgery last Monday morning brought a new hip, tons of pain, fear....

A bone bleed that required a blood transfusion and 5 extra days in the hospital. for anemia.

I just could not see the light..

Lucky me...saw old friends, met new friends...and once again, survived.

These friends have warmed my heart.

I am on some pretty heavy pain medications every 4 hours.

Today, the pain broke..and I was able to move around enough to sew. without screaming.

I could not have  made it without the support of my blogging friends..xo

Today, I was able to rest outside on this glorious day.

My girl asked what I would like to eat.

I said Oreos.....I think our definition of comfort food is different..

 Here are 21 pot-luck travel covers...tute on front of my blog.

I had these all prepped for threading the elastic from a sitting position..like now.

 Pinned the hand warmers for teachers..

If I continue to improve like this...(knock on wood), I will sew these together tomorrow

after physical therapy.  I am grateful that  my PT will come to me.

She is the same one one that I had for my knee,  which is very nice.

Wonderful Rachel turned up at the hospital with Hugs and Kisses..

I love you Rachel.

Now, my girl found them and Hugs and Kisses are being rationed...

I am so happy. the surgery is over.

I am so happy to have hope again.
I am so happy to have a daughter like my Emily.
I am so happy to once again...see the light.

How a Quilter Prepares for Surgery

She sews..!!!

It is not in the Ortho Carolina pre-surgical manual.

What do they know??

I am only supposed to bring my insurance cards and  my drivers license..

So I made a wrist bag to carry them in.

This is the first time I have used the cool gold glitter--see through vinyl

Cousin Ann sent me from London.

It is perfect and gives me great cheer.

 My collection of Velcro included this matching red...

I used Batik for this quick bag because it does not fray.

 Filled with essentials...

I added my keys and my phone..

In 12 hours I will be under the surgical lights.

I felt that I should sew instead of fret.

Dr. McCoy has done my knee, and my shoulder too.

I will be under the care of the best.for this hip.

And so my friends, I sign off.

Believe me I would never,ever be looking forward to surgery

if my pain were not so bad.

xxoo

Grandma O'Quilts July Vacation.

You know that poor Mrs. OQuilts never gets a vacation...although Easter  in Cheraw was wonderful, South Carolina, that is.....

Some friends go to Europe, some take rides in the country...some to the beach..
Grandma O'Quilts cannot even ride in a regular car..her joints hurt so..
.She gotta do a van.
 Just sayin'

But, Monday...she is going somewhere...somewhere special.

There  has been a vacancy at the Mercy Resort in downtown Charlotte.

OrthoCarolina hip, knee and shoulder center.

Yup..Monday morning at 7:30 am, this grandmother will once again be under the knife!!

A brand new hip should brighten the horizons quite nicely.

The new shoulder of 4 months and the new  knee of a year will welcome the new hip into the family.

The Doc called today at 4, I went right down for my blood work..got my surgery bracelets..

Wahoo...pls pray that it all goes well.
I couldn't wait to share.

Look what I ordered from China...
I like to be friends with China....
I like to be friends with everyone...
Found this link on Facebook
But I will have to wait until after my surgery to play with them.
They even sent an email with instructions on using each foot.

There is a roach on my wall.  Stitch and Boo are trying to take care of it.
But....it is too high for them.  I called the neighbor..not home.
I called my XDIL to bring Lynsey the brave roach killer home...
No dice...It is rough to be a baby-grandma, isn't it.
So...kids are gone.
But memory flowers picked from the  yard.. are here on my keyboard.

My Dear Girl changed all her flight times to come home..
She and her man have to take different flights...awful..
But love continues...She can get home Tuesday which is terrific at such short notice.
She should be back in time to take me home Tuesday...but we will see.
I feel loved.

Today was the day...and more....

I think my sister loves me

She brought my favorite flowers to cheer me up

Today was the day:

That my sister agreed to take 7 year old Dylan to the dentist.

That his 8 year old sister threw a fit insisting that she had a tooth ache too.

and that the dentist wants her too and that Dylan is clearly our favorite OMG

That I found out that my son lied to me.

That my sister had to do my grocery shopping because my pain was too great..

That my daughter listened to my woes in great support.
That I wanted to double my Tramadol, but did not.
That I could  have eaten an entire bag of Oreos and drank a few glasses of wine.
But, I had neither!!

That MP cheered my day by having a bday party at quilting tonight.

THE PARTY

MP's birthday party at quilting:  given by
Our talented group...this apron made by her sister, Muggs..

 Jewelry holder made by Sherry

 Death by Chocolate cake made by Marie

 Drenna's present.. a quilting tray..

Drenna also gifted Margaret her birthday present..all finished.

 This was made from a jelly roll.

Nancy and I gave this as part of my present
MP loved it.

I filled it with a doily made by my grandmother
and two holiday potluck bowl covers,
one for Thanksgiving and one for Christmas.
Getting ready!!!

Wrapped the present in vintage type fabric 

with 2.5 inch strip as bows..

We pinned and trimmed the table cloth MP is making for her party table..
Batiks are so pretty..

Last but not least.. Grandma O'Quilts with her karate chickens..

And a faded memory of the Grande Dame, my mother.....age 92 out on the town.

They say that Lincoln said that folks are always as happy as they mean to be...
Or something like that.
Thank God for friends and family.
This article is very helpful to me...as I keep waiting for my old self to re-emerge.

The River of Grief

Moxieburt and Me

Surviving the third night alone with my hip, my Tramadol, my cane and my vino.
My friend, Kara...says that pain is a thief..stealing hope and perspective and more.
Thank you Kara, for understanding.
Here is the field where my man's spirit is..the morning dew., the afternoon rain..
I love it, outside my sewing room window.'

Nancy texted to say that she was on the way to Goodwill with baskets.
I said...do not bother...I love clutter:)
Pay attention friends, You might get one for Christmas..lol

Friendship is books coming just in the nick of time.
Muggs and Katie have saved me..over and over again.

Out of the blue, I miss my mother.

All things happened at once at my house..

No break for the weary.

It would be lovely now to have a glass of wine

and a lovely chat with my dear ol' ma.age .93..

OMG  This picture is from 2012...18  months before she died...How in the world did I think  her age did  not show???  Talk about how a person's spirit transcends their looks..
And, of course denial..
My mother loved dogs.....Zoe came to visit.

I am a fabric show off...Always  have been..
Above and below...a little cheery visit to Equilter is equal to a Tramadol or two.

 Checking out some stash for the holiday makings..

Peter said I had moxie.  That was a wonderful compliment.
Like mother, like daughter.
My mother's email address was Moxieburt!

Post and Pain and Potluck covers

Here is the picture of the original jelly roll top that I cut up for the four smaller quilt tops I just finished..posted the last few times..  I made this June, a year ago, when I was in the nursing home recovering from my first replacement surgery.. Jelly Roll Race Tutorial from Missouri Star

, I got a grip tonight...and from a sitting position, I cut pot-luck cover tops
 (tute on  my blog)
and rip-stop backings...all ready for sewing when I feel like it.
Sewing of course with my left foot.
Once they are sewn, another sit down project will be threading the elastic.
After these, I will start on the plastic grocery bag holders for the pantry.
Teachers should like those. Then maybe the tissue covers and the hand warmers..
Then the potholders...I am ready in mind, when the body says GO!

Praying for strength as I await my fourth operation in 14 months...My right hip has deteriorated so badly and so quickly  that I now need a cane in the house.
I am in so much pain, which brings me to tears..
 I am afraid I will fall.and ruin my new shoulder...

Complete hip replacement surgery scheduled for August 7, but I am so trying to get a cancellation to have it earlier.

I never thought I would be eager for an operation.  Crazy life. 

I called  the surgeon's PA...but all she told me was to rest.and take meds as prescribed ....

To stay off my feet...OMG..quite discouraging..

I can only sleep downstairs in my recliner...

So, there I am...Old Grandma O'Quilts with two cats and a dog..doing the best I can.

My son came by yesterday..  He has just started Methadone again and feels a bit better.

He did some repairs around the house and spent nice time with his children.

I was so happy to be with him.

My friends are all again on vacation and carrying on with their lives...as it should be...
No one can do anything for me anyway...
So, I have taken to writing letters to my dear man, online 

It is helpful!!!!
 Because I know he would understand and love me so.
He would let me whine and just give me a hug..
xo

Suck it up Buttercup #2

Starting the holiday present thing...
Potluck bowl tute..
I have two patterns on freezer paper, a small size and a large..
I usually iron them on the top fabric and then pin other fabrics under.
Unless of course I am just making one, then I put fabric right sides together
with the Rip Stop so it is ready to sew.
After I cut these, I will get out the Halloween and Christmas and Hanukkah fabric.
Nice to have started, at least.

In keeping with my new regime...

I relaxed this weekend.

I sat outside.

I read books.

I slept.

It is called self-care.
I found these library books by Richard Paul Evans...probably books
everyone has heard of.  They are feel good books.
I started with The Walk about a man who had lost his wife.
I found them quite relaxing...so relaxing that I read three this weekend.
I discovered how to relieve the awful pain in my hip while waiting for surgery.
Do nothing...do not walk..do nothing.. OK...

 Monday was something else.
My son called at midnight last night asking me to take him to an
assessment at a treatment facility today..He said he would meet me at the bus stop near my house.
He was sleeping in the woods last night.
Immediate anxiety about the woods part...but it was nothing new..
Today, I did the necessary task and he was thrilled and grateful.
So was I...You never know.

I am so grateful for friends to have lunch with.
Lunch out is my salvation.
My new life...kids off, nap, lunch out, nap, kids home
Reading with kids, sewing.
Really I love this life...
No timeline...no "Shoulds"..

New attitude...Suck it up Buttercup!!!
My grands keep me going...
They are the best!!!

Scrambled with a clear view...

Here we go...scrambled jelly roll number 4..
And, oh, so the last...I have a bit more scraps..but I will put them
into my orphan block box for place mats for Meals on Wheels.
Done with the jelly roll thing..(for now)

 
 The polka dot fabric is for the backing..I will self bind the quilt, to give it a little punch.
This might be perfect for a young boy...

My Emily and her man went camping on the edge of a river
in Bend, Oregon last night...On the way back to Portland, they
stopped in a little town for coffee...That little town,
just happened to be called, Sisters...and it just happened to be
hosting the quilt show...Can you believe it????.
My goal..to go with her next year...Wahoo..
And to bring Cousin Ann???!!!!
Mark the date.

Quilts were everywhere...here the donut shop

Last night at the midnight hour, I felt alone and distressed.

Who would understand, the grief and hip pain??

I wrote a letter online to my love.
I felt so much better.

Then I went to bed..

The O'Quilt Blues (and whites)

Last of the jelly roll scramble...just working it now..
Nothing finished..nor measured!!

Stitch checking out the color for himself...very vain...you see...

My grand-girl helper.
Lynsey is totally proud that she is like Ms Stephanie.
They fold things together...This girl has the skill-set..
She was so proud to show me...She did the bottom part and
Stephanie did the top
As you know....now I cannot use my whites!!!!
What if Grandma  messes them up????
The wrath of Ms Lynsey!!!

Surgery scheduled for August 7...complete hip replacement...

Again................  OMG.

I had the bloodwork done today, hoping to be on the cancellation list.

Pain in my hip is radiating down my leg..pain and more pain.

I have difficulty walking, lifting my leg to drive the car, sleeping.
If all goes well on August 7, I will have had 4 surgeries in 14 months..
Wahoo...new me.
But...this is the midnight hour...what if this...and what if that.
And, my man is not here to help me.....
No..Mrs. O'Quilts...just go to bed..
We all know.the sun shines brightly in the morning.