Saturday, February 4, 2012

Quick Update on Suzy and Jerry

We are still amazed at the wonderful support from you folks out there, and the support we are finding here in our extended family community at this SKP Saguaro Co-op park in Benson, Arizona! We've even picked up more Followers than I can count, much less find room for putting their names in this post! Welcome all of you, and thanks for being with us.

So how is Suzy doing? Splendidly. She's eleven days out of surgery, all the six entry points for the laparoscopy are healing well. She is currently still on all liquids, this week three protein "shakes" a day plus all the water, CrystalLite, and hot herbal tea she can drink (at least a half-gallon a day is required, but she's way beyond that). It all has to be taken slowly, a sip at a time, because her tiny stomach is still healing from the surgery.

The protein shakes are from 8 to 12 ounces, they are absolutely delicious (especially after the vile stuff she had to drink last week!) in chocolate and vanilla. Other flavors are available, but not as readily. For additional variety, she adds in neat sugar-free flavorings made by Watkins and available in the spice section at WalMart. What flavors? Well, so far she has tried cherry, raspberry, cinnamon, peanut butter, root beer, almond and coconut. If you take a chocolate protein shake (available from Costco or WalMart) and add coconut and almond flavorings, you have an Almond Joy bar! With peanut butter you can approximate a Reese's peanut butter cup. Root Beer Float! Cherry Vanilla Ice Cream! Dream up your own combinations and have at it.

Next Tuesday, she will eliminate one of the three daily shakes and replace it with --- half a scrambled egg! (Have you ever tried scrambling half an egg? Which half do you use?) Instructions are to take tiny little bites, chew the heck out of them before swallowing. And she may not be able to eat the whole thing, believe it or not. This will go on for a week, and then she can graduate to a variety: a quarter cup a day of one food such as tuna fish slightly moistened with mayonnaise, cottage cheese, canned chicken, tofu, yogurt, lentil soup, even string cheese! Yay!

Suzy still needs to increase her activity, especially walking, and we are working on that, but walking has been difficult for her for years, so it's a slow go.

As for Jerry -- Thursday I was elected Secretary for the park's Board of Directors. It was kind of a shoo-in, as no one else wanted the job. The outgoing Secretary was working many hours a day on it, and I expect to do no less, as this is easily the hardest and most demanding of all jobs on the Board, more so than even the President's job. I'll have to be the detail guy, the "go to" person for policy, procedure, notifications, the tough letters to write -- and the one who must not let anything fall through the cracks. I've been preparing for this for a few weeks, so perhaps you understand why you won't be seeing much from ... Our Life on Wheels.

31 comments:

  1. I am so happy to hear all of the good news and changes in your life. Thank you for sharing the update on Suzy. I have been thinking about her.

    Just BS!(Bob and Sue)

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  2. So happy to hear that Suzy is doing so great after her surgery.... I pray for her continued recovery! We were thinking of you guys just the other day and how wonderful it was to be able to meet you...
    Have fun
    Donna

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  3. I'm happy to hear Suzy is doing well. I think it would be fairly easy to cook half a scrambled egg...once you figured out how to cut it first!

    Take care.

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  4. I'm so excited to see you guys tomorrow! I'm so very proud of you Mom, and you too Dad for taking such good care of her.

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  5. One of the hardest things I had to do was train my mind to realize that I couldn't eat that whole egg. Or that dab of mashed potatoes and two peas. But it sure sounds like Suzy is doing really great and as the weight comes off the activity level will go up. Keep up the great work you guys.

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  6. We are very happy to hear that Suzy is doing well. Good luck with with your new board position.

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  7. So happy to see that Susy is on the road to recovery. But 1/2 egg? It sounds like she is enjoying the different flavors of shakes.

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  8. Yea Suzy!! You GO GIRL!! Hang in there, you are doing super. The walking I am sure is not easy, as you had issues before the surgery. My hope is, as the weight comes off, the walking will get much easier...After not chewing for a few weeks, 1/2 egg sounds like heaven..just go slowly with EVERYTHING you do...baby steps.

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  9. Thanks for the update. Appears that Suzy is doing well and right on schedule. Keep up the good work...

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  10. Thank you for the update. Congratulations on being elected secretary, Jerry. Dave is the secretary/treasurer of his football officials association, and I can appreciate all the work that you will be contributing to your board. Suzy, I'm happy to hear of your good progress. Enjoy those (tiny) meals! I'm sure you will continue to do well. Take care, both of you!

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  11. It's good to hear about Suzy's progress. A little at a time, but you'll eventually get there!

    Jerry, how do you find time (or energy) to take on a board position? My hat is off to you!

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  12. Great update! Thanks. We've been wondering how it was going. Suzy, sounds like you really are determined! Keep it up. Jerry, you sound like you are hangin' in there, too. Doesn't sound like you'll have much free time, but also sounds like your work on the board is something you'd like to do. Still planning to get together before we leave AZ.

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  13. May be a little tough going at the moment for Suzy adjusting to all the new eating habits & food but just think of all the healthy benefits down the road. She will be a new Suzy........

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  14. My sister walked with a cane before her surgery and now she walks with no problems and crawls around the floor with her grandkids, it will all come together in time. Glad to hear you are doing well. Jerry, hope all goes well with the board position, I am traveling to Tucson next month and thought I may stay a day or two at your park.

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  15. Good for Suzy! I hope things continue to progress well. Good luck with go-to-man

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  16. Thanks for the update - and congratulations to you both. Susie for doing so well, it can't be easy for her, and to you on the new job. I agree that the Secretary is the hardest job, but a good secretary on the board makes for a great place to live.

    I like the way you guys are combining the flavors to make the shakes interesting.

    The walking will become easier as Suzy walks more. She'll do fine with a great cheerleader like you. :)

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  17. WONDERFUL news about Suzy! Those shakes sound so delicious. I may try one.
    If you aren't used to walking, it can be rather boring. Just keep remembering all the good that will come out of it.
    Keep up the good work Suzy. It will all pay off in the end.

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  18. So happy to hear how well Suzy is doing -- I have been thinking about her -- and you too Jerry of course. The "go-to-man" should be an interesting position! Tell Suzy to hang in there and keep up the good work -- the activity will come!

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  19. Delighted to hear Suzy is recovering well ... and congrats on your election ... I've had a couple of those "shoo-in" ones ... a lot of work to be sure.

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  20. Sounds like she is doing great! The garbage can have the other half egg if you don't want it! The garbage doesn't count calories.

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  21. Glad things are progressing so well. Sounds like you have a great attitude, so success is assured:))

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  22. So glad Suzy is making progress. And thank you Jerry, for taking the time to post this update. We're all pulling for both of you. God Bless.

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  23. I'm so happy to hear how well both of you are doing. Enjoy your visit with Kat! Love you

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  24. Great news!!! So glad she's doing well. We're still praying! Hugs......Pat

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  25. Good to hear all is going well.

    My what discipline...1/2 scrambled egg!... I appreciate that is all her stomach can cope with but have you ever tried to chew scrambled egg.

    A few steps every day and Suzy will find herself walking well before she knows it.

    Blessings

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  26. Such wonderful news!!!! Take care!!

    Donna nana.donnad@yahoo.com

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  27. Thanks for the update, Jerry. Sure happy to hear that Suzy is doing well. Onward and upward, enjoy some sunshine!

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  28. It is a blessing that things are going so well. I pray it will remain that way and soon Suzy will be 'fit as a fiddle'.
    Thanks for the update, Jerry. Take care of yourself as well.
    Hugs, Pam :)

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  29. Hey Jerry...........I know you're really busy but can we have an update on Suzy? Hope everything is OK. Lots of prayers headed your way. Hugs......Pat

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  30. Hope everything is still going good! Miss hearing from ya'll.

    Donna

    nana.donnad@yahoo.com

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  31. Hope to see an update soon. Miss you guys. Praying.

    Donna
    nana.donnad@yahoo.com

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