Posts by GrreatTeacher

18

Caleb & Sophia

by MissDaSilva in

jw
friends

always felt really uncomfortable with these kids propaganda videos.

.

beyond creepy and it reminds me of the hitler youth.

GrreatTeacher

Didn't I see pictures somewhere of life sized 3D statues of Caleb and Sophia that kids could have their pictures taken with on some Bethel tour somewhere?

Beyond creepy.

16

about a month ago i started having a clear out of old clothes, books and bric a brac etc….. i don’t know what came over me but i decided to chuck out all my old jw literature because we literally have no more room.

it started with magazines, then books, ministry literature and once i started, couldn’t stop.

weird right?

GrreatTeacher

Ah, Stan, what is it with the cereal boxes?

My mother in law is something of a hoarder. Her children went over to do a forced clean up before her apartment inspection.

She didn't like letting any of it go, but she was throwing a pretty ridiculous fit about an old box of Cheerios. They argued back and forth until she finally admitted she had a stash of money in it!

Several hundred dollars almost went right down the trash chute!

Why? She actually has a bank account and a wallet and purse we bought her so she can keep a little cash on hand, but, no, putting it in an old box of Cheerios makes more sense to her.

43

Hip replacement on Monday. Wish me luck.

by GrreatTeacher in

as the title says i'm having a total hip replacement on monday.

the pain has grown over the years and now i'm using a cane to walk.

after steroid injections and physical therapy, it was decided that a total hip replacement is appropriate.

GrreatTeacher

Well, just checking in again. I've had a lot of trouble getting my bowels back online. At first nothing was getting through, but once they finally got the message that things were open for business, they've been moving things through a little too fast! I've had to make many athletic runs to the toilet and so have been giving myself lots of physical therapy as a result! My nurse came today and said I looked like I was moving better, my gait looked better, and the muscle strength in my leg and even abdominals had improved. Even when you're wrapped up in bed, when you know you have about 20 seconds till go time, you will work whatever muscles you can to get there on time! The only other case I've experienced was when my husband screamed that the baby had turned blue when he was 3 days old. I had torn muscles where I could barely walk and couldn't get out of bed without significant help, but I managed to jump out of bed and run to the cradle, grab the baby and beat on his back until he started breathing again! I have no idea how I did that because I really couldn't walk at the time. The kid was okay. He's now 22.

Also had a fever over the weekend which finally broke so I'm feeling better today. Nothing healthwise is ever easy for me. I guess I can't complain because it's only been a week, though. I went off the dilaudid Thursday and am now using Celebrex. So, that's positive. The implant itself is not extraordinarily painful and I am getting up and around with a Walker. I can get myself in and out of bed on my own, but I'm still getting my husband to stack pillows up for my leg.

Another thing that I want to share was very hurtful and highlights the lack of natural affection that the JWs suffer from. A week before surgery, I came here for moral support and got it in spades. Thank every single one of you! I had a friend help me deep clean my bedroom before surgery. I've had friends and neighbors provide dinners, homemade cookies and personal visits to check on me. They have volunteered help for any need I may have and said to call on them. My JW mother sent flowers, which was nice, and agreed she'd come a little later after surgery when I was feeling better which was fine by me. She then called to set up the time and date, I told her I was feverish and not up to visitors because she wants conversation and to be entertained rather than to just be helpful. She suggested Saturday or Sunday then told me, " No, Sunday's the meeting and I won't miss it for that." Can you believe that? I'm sure you can, but it's shocking all the same. She is not helpful when she comes to "help." She went to my sister's to help after she had a baby. My sister asked if she would make her a sandwich and she melted down, saying she felt like she was being "used." I was there and it made me see red. I yelled at her for being so selfish and only thinking of herself when it wasn't actually about her at all. It was about my sister and her new baby. I told her to leave if she didn't want to help. She did, crying all the way, complaining to my father on the phone. I called him too and told him what happened and told him in no uncertain terms that she was not to come back until my sister invited her. Can you see why I'm not excited for her visit? But, it appears that the meeting is more important so, she can just wait.

Anyhow, thank you all again! I'm rambling and I haven't proofread. I probably need a little nap in this recliner with my feet up.

43

Hip replacement on Monday. Wish me luck.

by GrreatTeacher in

as the title says i'm having a total hip replacement on monday.

the pain has grown over the years and now i'm using a cane to walk.

after steroid injections and physical therapy, it was decided that a total hip replacement is appropriate.

GrreatTeacher

Well, it I Wednesday and I get released from the hospital today!

Usually you're only kept one night, but I had some complications. I had intractable pain which was not even touched by Dilauded. It was horrendously painful, like nearly as bad as childbirth type of pain.

Finally, the hospital pain management doctor got involved and added Xanax to knock me out so I wasn't tensing up and increasing the pain. After 2 days I finally slept for several hours and broke the pain cycle.

I was able to do Physical Therapy this morning and so I'll be going home later this afternoon. Yay! I had a little trouble with low blood pressure and kept feeling dizzy and nauseated yesterday. They said I was slightly anemic which isn't unusual for total hip replacement. I responded to a lot of IV fluids so no blood transfusion was necessary.

Also, I found out that my insurance will cover a home health aid who can do occupational and physical therapy in my own home! Eventually I'll transfer to outpatient physical therapy.

Thank you so much everyone for your support. It really means a lot to me! When I was doing my slow and deep breathing to try to get on top of the pain, it helped me to think of all the love and support you all sent me on this thread. Thanks so much. 🤗

43

Hip replacement on Monday. Wish me luck.

by GrreatTeacher in

as the title says i'm having a total hip replacement on monday.

the pain has grown over the years and now i'm using a cane to walk.

after steroid injections and physical therapy, it was decided that a total hip replacement is appropriate.

GrreatTeacher

Listener, thank you so much for thinking of the practicalities. My husband is the cook of the family, but I'm laundry, cleaning and paying the bills. We're caught up on laundry, it's clean enough for me to move around the house safely, and the bills are paid for the next few weeks.

We have wonderful neighbors who have volunteered to send us meals for a few days, and other neighbors have said to call on them if we have any needs at all. My mom and dad are coming later in the week any my husband is taking 3 days off work, but he works from home so even when he goes back, he will still be handy.

I also gave a son who is a senior at university who still lives at home, so he can be a Gofer too. It is his Final Exam week, though, so I don't expect to see him much. I am sorry it had to happen that specific week for him because he has been concerned about me, but I've had to wait 3 months so I'll take the surgery when I can get it.

I hope I haven't forgotten anything!

7

How Saturnalia became Christmas

by BoogerMan in

jw
friends

the transition from ancient to present and pagan to christian: .

4th century ce, after which a new winter holiday began to be celebrated in rome: christmas.

but how was the pagan festival of saturnalia celebrated, and how did it influence and morph into the christmas celebrations that we know and love?.

GrreatTeacher

Funny, as an elementary school teacher, the kids love the extra fun that comes at Christmas time.

When I worked in a Catholic school, we could have lots of fun, but the point was that baby Jesus was celebrating his birthday. Decorations fell along those lines. Nativity creches were common.

When I worked in public school, no nativity and no Jesus were allowed because of the separation or church and state in the US. We had lots of Santa and snowmen. We watched The Polar Express the last day of school before Winter break. We studied other celebrations like Hannukah and Kwanzaa. We were allowed to put up Christmas trees in the classroom. I usually bought giant snowflakes to hang from the ceiling. I made sure my kids had little bags of goodies like pencils, stickers, bouncing balls, candy, etc. And we had a little party with games. My kids lived in poverty and that might be all they got so I tried to make it festive before they left for the week or so of Winter Break.

43

Hip replacement on Monday. Wish me luck.

by GrreatTeacher in

as the title says i'm having a total hip replacement on monday.

the pain has grown over the years and now i'm using a cane to walk.

after steroid injections and physical therapy, it was decided that a total hip replacement is appropriate.

GrreatTeacher

LV101, I actually asked the surgeon to see the implant and it is a metal monstrosity. There was a spiky part at the end with a notch in it and my husband asked the doctor what that was for. I knew. I told him that the spike went into the leg bone and the notch was the place where the hammer hits it. The doctor said I was correct! I've gotten a lot more sympathy from him since then! Thank you for the good wishes.

43

Hip replacement on Monday. Wish me luck.

by GrreatTeacher in

as the title says i'm having a total hip replacement on monday.

the pain has grown over the years and now i'm using a cane to walk.

after steroid injections and physical therapy, it was decided that a total hip replacement is appropriate.

GrreatTeacher

Birbie, thank you for the good wishes! I've had quite a unique experience with refusing blood transfusions that make me sure I will get one if I need one. My parents nearly died in a serious car accident. My father's entire pelvis was shattered and he needed to hang around the hospital for 5 days in pain before they could arrange a bloodless surgery instead of getting the emergency surgery he needed. Needless suffering and poorer result. My mother had a head injury with a terrible concussion and much blood loss. She had a terrible time healing because she didn't have enough blood cells to heal her body. It stretched her recovery out several months and she could have been well in a few weeks. Needless suffering and still has concussion symptoms today. Also they were both recovering and couldn't take care of each other. Needless burden on their kids for months. And the Hospital Liason Committee swarmed like vultures at the hospital, having them sign paperwork. They were there not as support, but as enforcers. I've washed my hands of it. They have the right to make their own medical decisions, even if they're terrible, but they should consider the terrible witness they were giving to everyone in the medical community. I thanked the doctors and nurses for saving their lives despite themselves.

But, beyond that, thank you sincerely for your good wishes and I hope to check in within a few days with very good news!

SeaBreeze, you're a dear. Thank you!

Listener, good advice. I am doing everything they are asking including going off ibuprofen a week in advance, using an antibiotic ointment in my nostrils 5 days in advance and showering with Hibiclens antibacterial soap (and staying soaped up for 10 minutes!) the morning before, the evening before and the morning of my surgery. I also have to drink 10 ounces of Gatorade 4 hours before my surgery and I just found out my arrival time is 6:30 am to a hospital 30 minutes away! I guess I'll be getting up at 2:30 am to drink it and won't be getting a good night's sleep. But, I am following ALL the directions! I'm listening, Listener!

43

Hip replacement on Monday. Wish me luck.

by GrreatTeacher in

as the title says i'm having a total hip replacement on monday.

the pain has grown over the years and now i'm using a cane to walk.

after steroid injections and physical therapy, it was decided that a total hip replacement is appropriate.

GrreatTeacher

Ron W., nice to hear about your golfing clients. I don't golf, but it sure would be nice to even take a walk around the neighborhood. I see the daily dog walkers out the front window and I'm very, very jealous!

Peacefulpete, I WILL just do it! Looking forward to PT.

TonusOH, I never thought I'd need a new hip at 52, but after trying everything else, it just came down to either accepting my diminished life or getting out there and LIVING with gusto. You'll know when.

43

Hip replacement on Monday. Wish me luck.

by GrreatTeacher in

as the title says i'm having a total hip replacement on monday.

the pain has grown over the years and now i'm using a cane to walk.

after steroid injections and physical therapy, it was decided that a total hip replacement is appropriate.

GrreatTeacher

Vanderhoven, thank you. If not Tuesday then maybe a little later in the week!