I have way more blog post in the last three years titled…..”Post-Op” than I care to admit. Yet, here I find myself again. 15 stitches. Limited motion. Limited activity. Cover when showering. Daily cleaning of the area and wrapping. Physical Therapy suggested hourly to help prevent scar tissue build up and help with mobility. PT appointments. At the end of the day I still work on finding the silver lining in all of it, but this girl is tired.
Thursdays surgery removed the permanent sutures put in to repair the ruptured tendon in my thumb on December 1st. My surgeon, along with a second opinion from a colleague, was concerned the sutures could be hanging onto some bacteria, preventing my staph infection from clearing up. While in there, he also removed a significant amount of scar tissue from the December 1st surgery, which is good because it was attached to my tendon which was preventing me from bending my thumb anyhow. He also cleaned up the recent hole from the infection that I was unpacking, cleaning and packing twice daily and stitched that up.
Stitches come out in three weeks.
For now, patience and physical therapy and caution since the permanent stitches were removed. He feels the tendon has had time to heal, but not really be strong enough to do most things.
I just wanna camp soon and be able to do what I need to do for that to happen!
My daughter Tess came in from Dallas on Wednesday, took me to the hospital at 9:30 am Thursday morning for surgery and we were home by 3:30. She took me to my first PT on Friday, the day after surgery. She also went with me to my post op appointment on Monday. She was a huge help while she was here. She had called and really wanted to come in to help, and while I didn’t think it was necessary, at some point I realized she was telling me, not asking. I’M SO HAPPY SHE CAME! She was here until Monday evening.
Tess cooked almost the entire time she was here making sure that Mike and I have several things we can pull out of the freezer over the next few weeks (maybe longer!) and have a healthy dinner ready within minutes.
She made two batches of Instant Pot Shredded Chicken.
She divided them and put them in freezer bags, she used some of the chicken to make Chicken Salad, used some to help me make White Chicken Chili,
She helped me with a grilled Flank Steak for salads or a breakfast of steak and eggs! Freezes great!
We made a container of Dump Ranch Dressing as I love this stuff!
Tess knows I love my breakfast hash so she made several individual servings that included diced chicken sausage and veggies and she froze those in individual servings. She also introduced me to frozen diced sweet potatoes from Walmart to simplify making some side dishes. She cooked up two packages of bacon and put those in the freezer for an easy breakfast.
Tess made the three of us this Shepherds Pie for dinner one night and it was awesome! And really, doesn’t food just taste better when someone else cooks it?
Tess made 36 Grilled Turkey Burgers (these are going to come in so handy and they are a Mike favorite!). I’m awful with actual recipes but I’ve been using this method recently and not only do we like the way they taste, the mushrooms help keep them from tasting dry.
Turkey Burgers
- 1 T Olive Oil
- 6-8 oz mushrooms, diced
- 1 sweet yellow onion, diced
- 2 lbs Ground Turkey, 93% lean
Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Cook mushrooms and onion in olive oil until onions are translucent. Set aside to cool. When cool, mix with turkey and make 12 burgers. Grill over medium high heat about 5 minutes each side until center of burger reaches 165 degrees F. You could also cook these in the skillet for 7-10 minutes.
Besides a great burger on a bun, or a bun-less burger with a side of sweet potato fries, I’ll use theses for burger bowls (think lettuce, pickles, red onion, bacon, avocado, cheese), maybe top with bacon and an egg for a hearty breakfast or dinner, break apart to use as my protein in a salad topped with Dump Ranch Dressing? These burgers are super versatile.
Knowing we have a freezer full is really going to help me eat the way I like to eat and help me to feel my best! Really thankful for my kiddo right now.
The weather was absolutely amazing the entire time Tess was here, so we were able to take advantage of the deck and the fireplace, which she hadn’t seen. It was nice to have a relaxing place to hang out.
Happy to have cooked protein on hand to make meals so quick, easy and healthy!
The freezer is stocked. Let the healing begin. Again.
I just got signed up for the vaccine! I see a bright 2021 ahead, I don’t care if it did start out crappy!
Until next time friends!
Stay safe and be happy!
“love the life you live, live the life you love”
This too shall pass. This too shall pass. I’m going to keep repeating it.😂😂
I’m so glad Tess was able to be here. Definitely made things feel a little easier to handle. Yes, so ready for better days!
Oh, Julie! You are having quite a time. Hang in there!
I bet Tess is feeling so good about this visit.
So glad for you that with all that attention from your doctor’s your thumb will heal well this time.
And your incredible patients while this healing process is complete.
To better days with family, friends, and Effie.