Lovely morning chit chat thread - April 2026

So Stella we will all be coming to you now with advice on our fur babies .  I love the quote Chelle we all definitely have to know how to bounce on here.  I would like to go to Croatia in September to Mlini but it seems so expensive.  Might just be Portugal again.  Felt like trying somewhere new.

Lee x

Hi Stella,

They're saying next week on the wound vac, but haven't told us what day yet. Once it's gone I'll still need time to heal before they can start the temporary prosthesis fitting. Right now they're trying to adjust my medication to help with the phantom pain, but it's been such a frustrating struggle, it's way worse than my original amputation. I'm allowed to eat, but I eat super small portions. My appetite hasn't been the same since December, and I get nauseous easily. There's just so many things that I'm trying to work through, I'm always exhausted and get frustrated while having what feels like endless emotional breakdowns. Between all of my mood swings though, I still smile from time to time.

Apparently the work on our house is coming along, but I guess I have to wait to see it in person. My dad sold my Jeep a week ago, which was bitter sweet, I loved my Jeep, and my collection of ducks in the dash. It's a Jeep thing, Jeep owners leave unique little plastic or rubber ducks on the door handles as a way to compliment each others Jeeps. It sold in less than a day, and I'm sure the new owner will love it. We're now looking at accessible vans or SUV's that have a ramp.

I've been watching a lot of gardening videos on YouTube to help keep my mind on other things, so it was kind of a bonus when when Patrick shared a photo of his flower garden on the other thread yesterday!

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend, with warm weather! Susan, I hope you're still on the mend and hanging in there. 

~Stacy

Stacy, 

You are very brave! I hope they can move you forward quickly! That's a tough course. 

I am doing well. They are having problems finding an appropriate pain relief to go home on. Injections are restricted to hospice patients and of course I can't swallow pills. They don't want to give me a patch because those are for chronic pain and this is acute.  They have an excuse for everything and I'm frustrated. But I don't need much and I'm past ready to go some.  

Sorry to be on a rant tonight

Hi Stacy and Susan I am so sorry about your pain, I hope that you both get some relief soon .  I hope your wound vac comes out soon Stacy.  I hope you are both home sometime soon.  Are you still face timing your little  Macy?  She will be missing you and will make such a fuss of you when you go home. As I am sure Faith will do too Susan.

Lee x

Hi Stacy, responding to your post is difficult. You are only one of very few people worldwide who have done it, and come out the other end. Your emotional life right now is understandably difficult to manage. Can you get in-house counselling? I'm sure your medical team will get the pain under control and make you feel more comfortable. You are doing fine, just keep it up. Do you have a photo of that jeep with the duck dash? Love to see it. You will get to love your new car too, just wait and see. Meanwhile you can think up alternatives to ducks to put on your new dash? Thinking of you

Hi Stacy

You are doing remarkably in coping with such huge operation physically and mentally. I hope the would vac will be gone soon and they can start on prosthesis for you. Another step towards getting back home to your family and Macy. I am so sorry you are still so much pain. It is quite tricky to have adequate pain control without being too sedated. The body is still in big shock and will have to take its time. The finishing line does look so far away but you also need to recognise how far you have come. One day at a time, you will get there. 

Have you watched any British gardening TV program? The main one is gardener’s world, I also like beechgrove garden series. Monty Don is the famous presenter, he has travelled the world to view gardens and they are quite entertaining to watch. I believe one of the US garden is featured. I particularly like Around the world in 80 gardens. 

Gentle hugs x

Sorry to hear about your pain meds issues Susan. Can you have oxycodone in gel form orally ? I had that, there are fast and short acting, absorbed via oral mucosa. I just have one when needed and they last around 3-4 hours. 

Hi Patrick,

Thank you so much for the kind words! I'm still seeing the same counselor that I went to before I had the surgery, she comes here for our appointments. One of my long time friends has a Jeep as well, and we both enjoyed going to Jeep shows, poker runs, and other local events in central Ohio. In case you're wondering, the color is tuscadero pearl, and I even went to an auto parts store and bought a small spray paint can of the same color with the metallic flake in it and spray painted one of my pairs of crutches. I only used them at Jeep shows or poker runs, I was trying to match my Jeep. You can see the ducks in the dash. I know I have a closer photo of them somewhere on my phone. The ducks, and the notorious Jeep wave whenever passing other Jeep owners was such a fun experience to be a part of, and I'll miss it dearly. My friend still has hers, so I'm sure I'll be able to ride with her at some point.

Hi Lee, I got to Face Time with her on Easter, she was outside trying to eat a dandelion, her attention was on everything else except my dads phone. She loves giving me the cold shoulder.

Thanks for the recommendations Stella, I just looked it up and found full episodes on YouTube of Gardener's World, so I'll definitely watch some of those this afternoon and tomorrow. That appears to be similar to what I enjoy watching, so I'm sure I'll love it. I just need to keep my mind focused on other things as much as possible.

I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend.

~Stacy

Hi Stacy,

Wha a great car, and a gorgeous colour. We were in the US early this year on holiday and rented the same model in black. We loved the Jeep wave, and someone left us a small yellow duck on the door handle in a Tucson grocery store carpark. We guessed it was a jeep thing but your earlier explanation enlightened us a little more.

All the best to you,

Derek.

Hi Derek,

Some people think the Jeep crowd are a little weird or that we're a bunch of dorks, but it was always such a cool experience to be a part of. That's super funny that you guys got ducked while driving a rental. It's not the most comfortable vehicle on long trips, but they're fun to drive, especially with the top and doors off in the summer. My friend and I always wanted to go down to Florida for the Daytona Beach Jeep week, but never got the chance to.

~Stacy