I have 20 minutes before heading to pick Maggie up from work to take her and Abby to the dentist. Crazy busy summer, spent mainly driving daughters (or having daughter drive me) all over the city. But it's certainly been productive.
First major project has been re-doing 3 rooms in the house plus replacing "my" chair. Tom and Maggie painted 2 rooms, we re-carpeted the same two rooms, sold the old furniture, moved Tom's office upstairs (to co-exist with the guest room rather than the tv room) and bought new furniture. Mom was here to see the new stuff and we continue to progress -- still haven't landed on a "solution" to Tom's book collection (he'd like glass doors on shelves and we're pricing options) so they're stacked in the dining room. Less chaotic than before, but getting there. The third room getting a face lift is the master bathroom -- decor circa 1984 when the house was built. Not doing anything about the (small) size at this point in time (it's an interior room, we're on a slab, cost, cost, cost), but redoing cabinets, tile, walls, and countertops. Should be much better!
Second project has been getting Maggie to drive as much as possible. She'll be 16 in March, and we'll be ever so much more happy with her behind the wheel knowing she's got a LOT of experience. She drives to/from work every day (with me as passenger!) and anywhere else where family is going. Even drove to the airport to pick my mom up! She's again working at the JCC summer camp with the kiddos going into first grade. This year she's doing it to accumulate her required volunteer hours (100) for graduating high school plus a bunch of extra ones.
Abby's summer projects included summer theater camp and swim team. Mom flew down to attend all three performances of Aladdin. Abby was a fish-mom and a jewelry peddler. She made it to the district meet this year in the "country club" league, but didn't qualify for the city meet. Mom was able to attend the meet on the west bank this year 2 July and was a really GREAT SPORT considering for half the meet I was working inside the air conditioning as an averager. And Abby got to cool off in the water! She's also adjusting to her new braces and doing well with them.....
As for me, I continue to do what yoga I can daily and try to keep the old muscles strong. I return to the orthopedist in September and I think that will be time for considering "next steps" as the slight improvement experienced from the synvisc injection seems to have tapered off a great deal. He's thinking the next step will be some arthroscopic work to clean out "stray" pieces of torn cartilage before we move into full joint replacement. Quite frustrating, but a test of faith and patience. Sigh.....
Enjoy the rest of summer!
