We had a classic Bedlam Farm Spring afternoon, cleaning up, raking, and preparing for my surgery on Wednesday. There is a lot to do. Tomorrow is the final prep. We go to see Dr. Daly, the podiatric surgeon who will be operating on my foot early in the morning. She’ll check out my toe for the last time.

I worked on my raised beds; Maria did one of her favorite Spring chores – taking dirt from our huge manure pile and scattering it all over the pasture for fertilization. Don’t ask me why, but she loves doing this (photo above.) I communed with the donkeys for a while. They were all over me, which was unusual.

We’ll review the list of things I need to do after the surgery and get some safe painkillers for when the numbness wears off. Then we’ll go to my primary care nurse, Amy Eldredge, for the final clearance.

She’ll review the medications I can and can’t take for the surgery and beyond. No insulin for a couple of days. She’s in charge of pain prescriptions.

Then we’ll go shopping together to ensure we have enough food for a week; shopping might be difficult for a while. Then we’ll get the downstairs ready. I’ll sleep there for three or four days until it’s clear that I can walk safely.

(Lulu’s Eyelash)

John Greenwood, a good friend, will be coming Wednesday to meet us after the operation to help Maria get me into the house after the surgery. I’ll bring clothes and sweatpants and other nighttime things downstairs so they are nearby.

I can’t shower for weeks, so I’ve got cloth wipes and will wash my hair in the kitchen sink. Dr. Daly does not like those rubber sheaths you can put on your legs to keep them dry in a shower—too much moisture around a fresh wound.

I’m supposed to elevate the leg for a long time every day, put ice on the wound to keep it from swelling every 20 minutes and keep surgical boots on at night even while I sleep. That should be interesting. I think I’ll be working right away and mobile in two or three days. We return to change bandages and check on the wound every five days for two weeks.

Somewhere in there, we need to get the roof finally fixed. The work goes on.

This will be an outpatient operation, and I should be in the hospital for four or five hours and home before dinner. As a person with diabetes, I will be scheduled early since I can’t take insulin or most medications that day. Maria will drive me and stay with me throughout the day except when the surgery is underway.

That should take less than an hour, closer to 30 minutes. An anesthesiologist will check on me before the operation and study my breathing. I can’t bring a wedding ring or any other metal on my body.

I hear the most demanding part will be when the numbness wears off; then, the pain will run wild for a bit. I’m not getting or wanting any opioids, mostly heavy-duty Ibuprophen. Maria and I talked a lot about ensuring she has time and space to work on her art. If I need help after two or three days, I’ll hire a nurse or ask a friend to help. This is important to me.

We had a very nice and quiet Sunday. We stayed in bed night and did some shipping (we’re doing a full shop tomorrow). I wake up two or three times a night but going back to sleep. I’m supposed to bring my sleep apnea mask and base in case I need oxygen.

I’m edgy but also looking forward to moving on with my life.

Sitting with Lulu and Fanny

Maria, talking to donkeys.