Explanation for being away from Forum

For those of you who knew me from being on the Forum here's somewhat of an explanation of why I have been away (from the forum anyway).  The rest of you can ignore the thread if you want.

Shortly after my Dad turned 90 a year ago March he entered a Skilled Nursing Facility the specialized in Alzheimer's patients.  He was at the point where my step Mom could no longer handle him at home.  He needed more one on one attention and one of the day programs that he attended said that they did not have the staff to devote just to him.  It was a wonderful facility and gave all of us peace of mind.  However seeing to his needs and my step Mom's began to take up more and more of my time.  

At the same time the arthritis in my knees was getting worse.  After a couple of months at PT and getting cortisone shots I joined a gym to strengthen the muscles in my legs should I require surgery.  All this time hubby and I continued to run the B & B.  I literally had no time left for the forum.

Dad passed in August after three weeks in the geriatric psych ward of the local hospital because he attacked a staff member at the nursing home.  With men especially as the disease progresses their behavior becomes more unpredictable and the only recourse at this time is to administer anti-psychotic drugs which are not FDA approved to be given to elderly dememtia patients and are dangerous.

Our son and his fiance set a wedding date for February 2009.  Since I had good days and bad days with my knees I finally decided to schedule surgery three months befor the wedding with the goal of dancing with my son at his wedding.  We closed down November 16 and the surgery took place on November 19.  I had bitlateral toal knee replacements.  The surgery went very well and I was home exactly two weeks after surgery having spent 3 days in the hospital and 1 1/2 weeks in Rehab.   A week later I was going to outpatient therapy and two months after surgery I was back at the gym.  We were shut down for 2 1/2 months for my recovery.

Luckily we have had a very good year since reopening in February.  The present economy has not effected us since we are an urban B & B near Yale.

So people that is my story.  I don't know how often I will be here on the Forum because lately I haven't even been able to get to the gym more than once a week but we are taking walks which I had not been able to do for a few years.

Bless you all.