I haven't posted to this blog for quite some time and lest you think I have forgotten about doing it, I have not. We have had a rather busy summer, although most was taken up with medical crap we both endured. Cathy had successful cataract surgery on my birthday, June 3, and got new glasses in August. We are not sure why the surgeon took so long to approve having a new prescription made. Now she sees 20-20.
As many of you know I had 4 laminectomies and lumbar spinal fusion on July 17. Thanks to all who sent get well cards and letters; I enjoyed them especially those cards referencing mechanical breakdowns and repairs. My recovery has been easier than I imagined and I have lately been wondering why I waited so long to have it done! I have not used any narcotic pain medications for at least 3 weeks and I long ago tossed the cane. I have one more followup with the surgeon on October 14 at which time, according to his assistant at my last visit, he will pronounce me "free to do whatever I want"!
It is a great relief to me that I will be able to keep my flexibility and be able to crawl around underneath the motor home setting up and taking down for travel. If the surgery had been as extensive as originally proposed (4 to 6 fusions with rods and screws oh my!) I had figured I would be as rigid as a tin soldier. Dr. Knaub was very understanding and accommodating and agreed to fix the worst, most dangerous, of my various problems in order to allow us a few more years of travel.
And so we have begun plotting out our travel for this winter and next spring. We must appear in person in South Dakota before June 2014 to renew our drivers licenses. If we were to be later than our birthdates we would have to take the entire driver test, both written and practical so we are planning to be there in late May.
We will head to Texas on October 21 traveling through Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana before hitting TX. Tuscaloosa Alabama presents a scheduling problem this time of year as the Alabama football crazies book up every available campground site when the team is at home, so if we get there during a home game we may have to go elsewhere! We will revisit a State Park we stayed at and liked near Hattiesburg MS. Once in Texas we are planning to go along the Gulf Coast below Galveston to Port Lavaca and Corpus Christi. We may stay there for a few weeks before heading toward San Antonio and points north. Our Thousand Trails membership will be very useful as there are at least five campgrounds in their system along our proposed route.
When the weather turns warm enough to begin the northward trek we will head straight for Sioux Falls to take care of the licenses. We will have an opportunity to check out some areas of Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa as we follow Interstates 35 and 29 north. After taking care of business in South Dakota we will head to International Falls Minnesota and take our time getting there to enjoy some of the lakes and wilds of northern MN.
From there it will be a rather straight shot to Milwaukee and hope to be there by July 4th. My High School Graduating Class is having a 55th reunion over the Labor Day weekend and we are planning to be there for that as well as to see some family in Western Pennsylvania. Afterward it will be back to the Hershey area for the annual physicals and checkups with our drug suppliers to ensure an adequate supply for the next upcoming seasons. But that is just too far off to be thinking about now.
As normal, Kendalyn spent the summer with her father in Illinois and came back a week before school started again, 8 pounds heavier and about a foot taller!!! Or so it seemed. She always has been a lanky lass and is now nearly as tall as her Mom. Keeping her in clothes is a challenge to say the least, but they went shopping on Labor Day and came back with 5 bags of basics and cute outfits that should last the school year.
Her Uncle Randy had gotten her a two-wheeler with training wheels for Christmas and it found its way to our campsite this spring. Before she went to IL, she was pretty shaky even with the training wheels. The bike waited for her return in August and when she visited she seemed a lot more confident. So much so that she asked to have the training wheels, first raised, then removed. And she took off and did not look back. I have a couple of pictures of her success posted with this. Also posted are pictures of her heading out for the first day of 5th Grade. She already loves her teachers, especially Mr. Drago, her math and science teacher. He is somewhat of a musician and has posted several videos on Youtube which, of course, the students love. She is eager for swimming since she is in the school building with the pool this year and it is a 5th Grade rite.
Above is the first trial at home at Christmas. Looks a little tentative.
Above and Below - No training wheels and supreme confidence.
Laura takes a picture on the steps of their home every year on the first day of school. Above is the First Day - 5th Grade.
Busy Lady in a rush to catch the bus!
Without a look back, she boards the bus.
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