STEM CELL THERAPY

We left early yesterday to head to St Augustine to the clinic for Bill's appointment.

As we crossed the intercoastal waterway, the tide was low and calm.

We were checked in quickly and soon Bill was called in.  They told me to head out and run errands because it was going to be at least 3 hours!  As I went into town ten minutes away to visit Hobby Lobby and Michael's, Bill went in and had 7 ounces of fat removed from his stomach to mix with his own blood to inject into his shoulders which have become so painful that he has a very limited range of motion.  This therapy is called ADSCs; What are ADSCs?

• ADSCs are mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) found in adipose (fat) tissue.
• They have the ability to differentiate into various cell types and can self-renew.
• They are abundant, easily accessible, and relatively low in immunogenicity compared to other stem cell sources.   

Bill will have 5-6 weeks of very limited use of his arms to let the shoulders heal.  Did you know that your stomach fat is this color?!  It was a shocker to us!

We stopped to take a quick peek at the ocean (right across the street from the clinic).

We are grateful God gave us a doctor who offers a wonderful alternative to surgery!

 

AHHH, MY OCEAN!

We met Matthew and the boys at Crescent Beach yesterday! 

 It was perfect weather for the day; sunshine with a steady breeze from the south so the 99* temps were totally bearable!  

I waded in the 80* water while the guys frolicked in the waves!

I rested under our canopy so I had shade 

when I started to feel a bit too sun-kissed.

The beauty all around me 

was such good medicine for every part of me!

The gulls, pelicans and sandpipers kept me entertained as I reclined and soaked up the memory of the whole day!

 

BLUE SKIES, BLUE WAVES

We were in St Augustine yesterday for an appointment for Bill and when we arrived, the receptionist informed us that the doctor (surgeon) had an emergency and would be back in office in a few hours!  So we decided to do our errands first and when we finally finished with the Dr later, we decided to visit the ocean! 

 The beauty was very good therapy!

This is along the inter-coastal waterway.

Just a cottage that appeals to me with the ocean in the back yard!

Oh, and we might've stopped for a delicious cone, too!

Lena was very glad to welcome my lap home and curled up for several hours--I was just as pleased with the rest!

 

LONG DAY!

Bill dropped me off for my annual series of MRI's of brain, neck and mid-back.  I have to do all three without contrast and then repeat it all with contrast.  I'm glad I have two arms because the first IV blew out within seconds!  The second arm held for the rest of the scans!  Two hours later, my brain was on overload from the noise alone!

These roses were outside the imaging center-very beautiful but they must've been a hybrid because they had no aroma!  

This is where I spent two hours!  I close my eyes before I go into the tube and that works for me so I don't feel claustrophobic!

After the imaging, we went to St. Augustine to the orthopedic doctor to get the report on my wrist!  It was a very good report, I am pleased to say;  I don't have to have a hard cast but I was surprised by the restrictions still in place!  I asked him for treatment for crafting withdrawals and he laughed! 

I was only half joking!

 I don't go back for another 4 weeks.

Just down the road was the ocean;  this used to be 100' of beach!  Hurricane Matthew changed so much of the beach front!

At the end of the cement break wall was this slip of beach in front of a big hotel.  There were birds and one lone surfer out--it was very blustery and cold in the 50's!

We went to have an ice cream to end out day out but the shop was closed.  We turned around in this little strip mall and there was this little shop!  It was delicious homemade ice cream and a nice artsy place-we sat down inside because there were only Bill and I and one other man.  After the hour drive home, I promptly took a nap in front of the fire for 3 1/2 hours!  

 

Sock Success

 A good day in the car is a good time to progress on a sock!

 We stopped in to visit the beach after a great time celebrating 

two grands' birthdays.

 The ride home brought us over the Dames Bridge;

Bill always stays in the middle lane to keep me calm! lol

The other side of the bridge is a long decline

and then a low road to the other side of the St Johns River.

The road is like the drive to Key West.

The sun lit up our view of Jacksonville-how beautiful;

very much a summary of our wonderful day!

A Beautiful Day for a....

 Christmas party with my quilting group at the beach!

 Well, not quite on the beach, but right there anyway.

 Our group of 12 ladies and 6 husbands, 

ate on the upper floor where we had a wonderful view of the ocean.

There were plenty of shrimp boats, sail boats and swimmers

because it was a glorious 80* and utterly perfect beach weather!

We came over the inter-coastal bridge at low tide

and all of the oyster beds were in full view!

I worked on my zig zagular sock for the car ride there and back!

Stepping Spritely!

 Yes, my first pair of socks from the single bed machine!

That second sock was so much quicker than my first attempts!

I remove the live stitches from the machine onto the circular needle and graft the bottom of the toe to the sole stitches;  then I stitch up the side seam.   

I did this work in several waiting rooms and in the car today.

( An hour to do all of the machine work and just under an hour to graft and seam. 

 I am sure I will improve that time as I get more familiar with the process, too. )

Not surprisingly, I loved every minute of it!

 After the doctor appointments, we went out to eat again and then drove on the beach.

We saw this shrimping boat and watched it as it headed back after a day out fishing.

 It was a balmy 81F outside, no bright sunshine so it was utterly relaxing to drive along,

watching the sea birds, listening to the waves and unwinding inside and out.

 There were a lot of these areas taped off--turtle nest sites!

A few months from now, there will be volunteers guarding the newly hatched babies

 as they rush to the ocean.

 We headed back to the access road and then home.

A very wonderful evening to close out the day.

WOUND UPDATE--DON'T LOOK IF YOU GET SQUEAMISH!

This is the wound at the doctor's today.

It still looks miserable until you realize that the pink skin around the wound 

is the area that used to be the size of the open wound--so we have seen it shrink by 50%.

All Around Town

 We did a little of this the other day!

 Followed by a lot of this!

 And the mesmerizing work of the waves did wonders for all of us.

Coming and going allowed me to add another row to the array of little squares!

I had originally thought I would be done with this row (a 10 x 12 block arrangement)

but now I am thinking about another row or two! lol

Beach Therapy

 Bill had a doctor appointment this afternoon. 

 After a very encouraging visit, we headed straight to South Beach Grill

 and enjoyed a delicious meal and uninterrupted conversations.

The ocean breeze worked its magic; 

 blowing our concerns away 

while lightly teasing our napkins from our laps.

 We ended up having a divine appointment with men who were teaching the surgeon a new

treatment for wound care and were still there as we were called in for our check-up.

  It will replace the wound vac--the bane of Bill's existence!

They took one look at Bill's elbow and said they could treat it right now!

Did we want to hear more about it?!

We agreed after a crash course of what they were planning and we watched amazed 

as they walked the doctor through the procedure.

First , his wound was filled with 'ground pig bladder' 

which is a powder to spark cell repair in the wound.

Then it was covered with a material similar to artificial skin, 

a protective layer and then bandages.

We go back in 10 days to check the progress;  in the meantime, no wound vac, 

no changing dressings every two days

 and a whole less pain!!!!

 He has the same limitations as to activities-which are no lifting or bending of the arm 

no swimming, still!

 I have to admit, it is the first time we have had hope since this whole ordeal began 14 weeks ago.

 See what I mean-smiles and relaxing prevail!

 The beach has a new free Library-painted so pretty

 except for a bit of graffiti--someone feels so profound; 

 "The world changed by example not your opion  opinion."

Mildly profound but rent your own billboard!

The sunset over the inter-coastal waterway at low tide;  the oyster beds are clearly seen.

Fall Sock Progress

 The sock flew along with  much more pleasure when I used plain knitting.

 I tried the gusset heel-no wrap and turns either for the heel. 

 I liked the results and the fit but will have to tweak the heel placement line on my cardboard form!

I did have to rip out and try again once.  This yarn is a bit heavier than the pattern I was trying so the row gauge was off and the first try made the sock too long.  

(It might've gone to my daughter! lol) 

 I hope to nail it with no repeats on the second one.

  I am working on the k2p2 rib for the leg now-I'm not sure how high I will make it yet.

 On the way to the beach with friends today, 

we passed the newly cut hay field and they had it all baled! 

 It looked very Fall even if the temperatures didn't reflect that at all!

We went to Corky Bell's on the St Johns River.

It was a wonderful time to catch up.

 We had a great meal at our fav restaurant and they headed to St Augustine Pier.

The tide was just going out so there were tons of shells to sort through

 and we walked up and down the beach. 

 So nice to share a day!

 When I got back home, a nice KnitPicks pkg was waiting for me!  

 This is a treat for me-one of their wooden bowls for knitters! 

 It is superb!  Don't hesitate to treat yourself to one!

I haven't shown this in a while;  I finished the top row last night. 

 It is so relaxing to knit on it one block at a time....