One Week Post Surgery

LiveJournal Tags: Bucktail Camping Resort,melanoma,Mansfield,surgery

I don’t have a whole lot to talk about but figured I would give everyone an update. We arrived in Mansfield, Pa on Tuesday and got a campsite at Bucktail Camping Resort. We stayed here a couple times last summer when Linda spent time with her grandkids. Linda did all the driving to get here…all 1700 miles from Aurora, CO. Although I wanted to help her do the driving, it was probably a good thing that I didn’t. I unhooked the car from the rig, while Linda checked us in, and just carrying the hitch into the garage of the rig made me get really woozie and I had to lay down so I wouldn’t faint. I get tired quickly but don’t nap cause I have a horrible time getting a good night’s sleep. The area directly under the incision, on my arm is that numb, ouchy feeling like you get when you wake up in the middle of the night and realize your foot or hand has fallen asleep. Linda and I were just talking about what might be causing it cause it’s driving me crazy. I was trying to do some stretches to see if the muscles are tight, etc. to alleviate it and then it hit us. We can see on my arm where they had to pull the skin together, where the melanoma spot was, and the skin in that area is really tight and it’s directly under there where the numbness is. Just wrapped too tight, I guess. See I knew there’d be an explanation for it. Just don’t know how to loosen it up. I think the numbness is easing up….just not quick enough for me.



I can’t get over how lush and green it is here in Pennsylvania. We had gotten used to so much drought-stricken areas out west that this is such a stark contrast to all of that brown backdrop. It’s also been raining ever since we arrived so it’s getting super green and super lush. Our site is nicely shaded and has a beautiful, tall shag hickory tree towering up through the tree canopy. It’s just gorgeous and so majestic ! Boomer is having a ball exploring different parts of the campground as we go out for little walks. They are calling for more rain tomorrow but the weekend is supposed to be perfect so tomorrow night the peace and quiet we’ve experienced these last few days will be replaced with the squeals of little kids and their families. The air will be filled with the smell of campfires and camping will be in full force. Since this campground has so many rides and amenities, geared towards children, the daily rates are quite high so it is pretty quiet during the week. There are many seasonal sites here and that is what draws families to come here from Friday night to Sunday afternoon. They can leave their work behind and get away with their families for rest and relaxation.
Tomorrow it will be one week since my surgery. The doctor said that it would be 5-10 work days before the pathology report would come back on whether the melanoma has spread to my lymph nodes. We’re hoping that we will hear sooner, rather than later and that we get the “all clear” message to resume life as we know it. Until then, I’m trying to “hang loose”, rest and get my strength back. I thank everyone for their prayers and good wishes. Keep ‘em coming…..the biggest speed bump is yet to come.

Wichita Falls

We’re on the move weekly, covering sections of Region 2 in Texas. Our region covers from the Oklahoma border down to Alvarado, west to Abilene and east to the Arkansas border. We had been staying at The Vineyards Campground, located in the town of Grapevine. The park used to be owned by the Army Corp of Engineers but is now owned by the city of Grapevine. It’s a very nice park with lots of space between sites and most all of the sites face the water. The water level is currently down 10’ but it is still very pretty around the lake.Then we moved to Grand Prairie, which is only about 30 minutes from Grapevine. We stayed at Traders Village for a week. Traders Village is a giant flea market with a bazillion vendors offering all sorts of things. We’d never been there so we were anxious to see what it’s like. We walked from the campground to the flea market, next door, about 9:00 a.m. and the vendors were just getting set up. We didn’t get to see much cause nothing was set up yet. Our only purchase was a bag of freshly made kettle corn that a woman was making in a big copper kettle. We ate some of that and walked back to the campground. to break camp and leave for our next park. We’re currently in Wichita Falls, in the northern part of Texas. It was really hot today and it’s supposed to be 98 degrees tomorrow and 100 degrees on Monday. Texas is in a heap of hurt in regards to the drought. The other night on the news it said that many areas were now in “exceptional” drought status, which is the worst category. We heard that of the three reservoirs that serve Wichita Falls, they only have 24% of the water they should have in those reservoirs. Wow, that is scary stuff. Texas and California are both in really dire straits with their water situation. I hope that municipalities in these two states mandate water conservation measures on new home construction. The worst is yet to come for drought conditions and whether you believe in climate change or not, the reduction in water in some areas is a reality that these people have to live with.
It’s hard to believe that in about a week we’ll be up in Breckenridge, CO working and that our time doing TACO sales will be over. The time sure has flown by and we’ve met so many great campground owners and managers. Being in the campground business is really hard work….as one owner told me, “It’s the hardest thing you’ll ever do”. You have to be available at all hours of the day and night to take care of your customers. When the wi-fi goes down at 2 in the morning, who ya gonna call ? It’s been awesome to hear from these owners about their businesses and help them with the marketing for their business.
Our car is acting up again. The engine has been making a ticking sound for about a week so we took it to the Nissan dealership, which was on the way after leaving our last park on Friday. Next door was the Ford dealership and Linda took the motorhome there to get the oil changed and tire pressures checked. Her appt went well….mine not so much. At first they told me that the replacement engine that Linda had put in back in November was bad. They said the lifters were clattering and that was the sound we were hearing but they would further assess it and let me know the extent of the problem. I was not a happy camper. I needed an oil change so they went ahead and did that; then said that the ticking stopped. So their conclusion was that the gasket or seal in the oil pan is leaking and the loss of a little oil was causing the lifters to be noisy. Long story short….we sat there for 7.5 hours with no decision on whether the warranty on the engine would pay for a new seal so we said…Forget it…we’ll keep an eye on the oil…and we hit the road. Two hours later we arrived here in Wichita Falls. We know that we need to get a newer vehicle but since anything new would need all the stuff installed to be able to tow it (braking and towing brackets), I don’t want this type of decision to be made in haste so we’re going to try to keep an eye on it till we get home this fall and then maybe we’ll be ready to get something different. Keep your fingers crossed that she holds up over the next few months. I’ve got faith in her that she can do it !
Hoping that everyone is enjoying springtime. Not sure that it has arrived yet back home in Pennsylvania. Seems every time I talk to my mom, it’s really chilly and rainy there. Linda and I did have some sad new in the last ten days. Jay and Kelly lost the baby that she was carrying. It was hard to see babies and cribs at the flea market last Saturday, when I had just heard that my new grandbaby had died but I trust that God had bigger plans for that little Peanut. I know that things happen for a reason, and sometimes for no reason at all, but as they say, the things that don’t kill us….make us stronger. Our hearts go out to Kelly and Jay….may their love grow stronger as they come through this together.

Dallas

We’re finishing up our first week, working the Dallas/Arlington KOA project. It’s been colder than I imagined it would be for Texas but I’m told that this is typical weather. Been in the 40’s during the day and 20’s at night. Tomorrow it’s expected to get up to low 50’s and the same for the weekend. I’ll take it !! Tired of freezing to death. I feel like I’m back home in Pennsylvania…Ughhhh !
Since this is a new job for our company, it comes with all of the legwork and research that goes into a new job. We’ve covered about 70 businesses so far…got another full week of selling ahead but looking forward to tomorrow cause our friends Wendy and Cindy are arriving to hang out with us for a week. Yippee !! We’re excited to see them. Didn’t expect our paths to cross since we originally were supposed to go to Florida to work. They are leaving the Escapees park in Livingston tomorrow and driving here and staying till the 15th. Will be great to explore the area with the girls and warmer temps to boot to do it in. Yeah !
Boomer is having a ball here at the park. We are parked directly in front of the dog park and so far he’s met Molly and Amy. Whenever he sees these two ladies come to the park, he goes crazy and Linda takes him over for their play date. He comes back a happy boy. He goes out with us during the day and squeezes in play time at lunch and supper time. Boomer’s got it rough !
Hoping to do some sight seeing this weekend and check out the area. Who knows what mischief we’ll get into. Just hope this head cold/sinus thing that Linda passed on to me goes away cause I don’t have time to feel crappy. It’s no fun trying to keep your nose from running, your face from hurting and your head from feeling like it’s going to explode. It seems that I get this 24-48 hour dose of ?? whenever we gets several days in a row of rain. Kick up the leaf mold ? Throw pollen around ? Don’t know what it is but it can just hit the road and get out of my head. Gotta run….need a tissue.