Well we made it to New Smyrna Beach, it wasn't easy but we made it.
Nov 1 We hitched up and headed north out of Arcadia, but something wasn't right, so we pulled over about 10 miles up the road and found that the breakaway cable had caught on something and pulled out which engaged the 5th wheel brakes and smoked em. the breakaway box was actually smoking when we pulled over. We had a spare one by a fluke, so we didn't need to unhitch and go looking and after about 2 hrs Danny had the new one installed but we had no trailer brakes. The drive north was very slow but we made it to New Smyrna and our space for the next 4+ months and we just didn't feel ready to deal with the brakes yet.
Danny had planned to get back to his Orthpedist as soon as we got here this year and he did, but it was his left hip giving him all the trouble not the shoulder. We had Drs. appointments scheduled for the first few weeks. Danny got some spots removed by the dermatologist. I was in for Dental work and got referred to a dental surgeon. We both saw our GP for a few issues and we got new glasses ordered from Costco. Danny's hip surgery got scheduled for Dec 11, and he started physical therapy on Nov 22. I went to the oral surgeon and had a Gingivectomy on Nov 29 and hope that never gets repeated. By Dec 1st I was down with a headache to beat all headaches I have ever had and it came and went for 6 days. When I went back to have my stitches out they told me it was not uncommon to get headaches from the procedure. Crap I would have liked to know that a week earlier.
We discovered where the hydraulic leak is! When we left cousin Herbie's we sunk the left wheels into the mud and as we set at about a 30 degree tilt and Herbie got his tractor hooked up to the front of the truck I noticed the hydraulic fluid leaking out all around the bedroom slide. So this was confirmation that all the leak wasn't in the leveling jack. Now where was it? We finally decided to face the task of tearing into the bedroom. We removed the wine storage. lifted the subfloor inside the bed box and there was the problem. A hydraulic line had rubbed and was leaking, the carpeting was pinkish. We started cleaning up the mess. The carpet in the bedroom will have to go but first we just cut the section under the bed and cut the foam padding and started filling a construction bag with soaked paper towels. It took the better part of a day but at least the clean up got started. Danny did some research and found a hydraulic shop. He removed the problem line and as it is at least a foot longer then needed, we took it in to have a new connector put on below the leak. The shop said: "No way, that is cheap line and I will sell you a new line for what it would cost to fix that and you'd still have a bad line." So Capt Dan came home and he and Jerry next door installed it. We got a neighbor over to watch the line while I exercised the slides, and Dan watched the fluid reservoir, in n out, in n out, in n out, in n out. Then in, wait 20 mins, out, wait 20 mins, in, wait 20 mins. No leaks no problems and lots of air exiting the system. It was really good to have this project started. Started only because we have to deal with the carpeting.
Thanksgiving! We went out with our friends Jeff and Kathy and had a lovely dinner.
I did recover from the headaches and just in time to take Danny in for Hip replacement surgery on Dec 11th. This surgery went very well except for the Urinary issues that came to a head. So we checked out of the hospital on the 14th and went to the ER on the 15th when Danny got a Catheter. Now they want him to see a Urologist on Monday. The problem arises with trying to get in to see the Urologist, who "squeezes him in" on Thurs at 1, just to remove the catheter but can't see him for an exam until the end of January. Meanwhile back on the farm we have a home nurse coming everyday to check on his hip, and she recommends a local Urologist, but we can't get in to see him until Jan 12, but we are on the cancellation list. So we are just getting by with the hip slowly healing and the Urologist calls and can see him Dec 27. This sound good.
Christmas! The weather was fairly nice till Christmas day and we planned a sort of potluck with Jeff and Kathy and Dan and Flo. We had the potluck and had a really good time, but dessert was taken home to enjoy in the warmth of our own homes.
Those little spots Danny had removed came back from the lab and he needed to see a plastic surgeon to get the one on his nose taken off with a Mohs procedure, BUT the surgeons office is closed till after the first of the year. Thats on hold.
We go see the Urologist and he wants Danny in for a TURP, I'm not going to explain it, look it up. Jan 9th we go to Florida Hosp. in New Smyrna for an out patient procedure. It takes all day and it is about 5 when we finally head home. Yes home, with no propane. Yep both bottles empty, cause the fridge blew its fuse again, and was running on propane. So I lug both bottles out to the truck and run them down the street and get em filled. Then back home and get them back in their little closet. And it is about 9 when we go back to the ER so they can flush his catheter. I'm ready for bed! The next day another visiting nurse starts to visit us to check on his progress with the catheter and conveys the need for water, lots and lots of water. Danny is directed to drink a bottle of water every 45 mins. I have to get up in the middle of the night to empty the catheter and give him another bottle of water to drink. Now remember he is still recovering from hip replacement and hasn't got to start Physical therapy yet. The next day she is much happier about his fluid consumption and says keep it up. I head out to do some grocery shopping and when I return home at 4 we have a plugged toilet. Not black tank mind you but toilet. This is not good. After quick research I discover it is not that unusual, and there are even tools, but we don't have them, I try a near by RV service center and they have a possible solution, but they are closing in 2 minutes, after agreeing to stay open for me I make a quick(?) run down to Edgewater and try a black tank flush hose that goes down the toilet with a hose attached. I try plunging it up and down and discover that the hose part folded back on itself, rubbed against the drain and now has a hole so I can't send a jet of water down it. CRAP! Literally. Off to Home depot, the guy at the RV place suggested I try a piece of coax lopped at one end. Strong enough not to fold back on itself yet flexible enough to make the 2 - 45 degree turns in the plumbing. But I didn't get the right stuff. I also bought a drain auger which I had to unbend to get the 45 degree angle in, still not clearing it. Last resort, we have a regular water hose that we no longer use, I start feeding it down the toilet and at about 5.5 ft it stops, no wonder nothing else worked, nothing else went that far down. So I plunged a few times and woosh. Now we turn on the water and flush, and flush, and flush. We have a working toilet! Thank goodness, with Danny on a catheter this was not going to be a good night if we hadn't gotten this resolved. Now we will purchase the right tool and have it on hand for any future problems.
Danny gets the catheter out on Friday and everything seems to be going well. (hahaha)
Getting back to the Carcinoma on Danny's nose, well the Dr he was referred to no longer takes any insurance patients, what? So we get another referral and the following week we have to go to DeBary to see a cosmetic surgeon about Dannys nose. Easy process, she gets all the edges with the first slice and after they feed us pizza for lunch we are headed home. Later in the week he sees the Urologist and gets a thumbs up on more activity, but still no lifting 10+lbs.
Now we finish out another week and finally Danny can start Physical Therapy, and I start at the Gym, same place.
Is it February yet? I'm real tired of January.
Not quite yet. Butter has to see the VET. seems she has arthritis in her knee joint, causing her to favor her right hip. She gets a shot and some pills and we shall see.
Now its February.
Feb 1. We have a day planned. Drive up to Camping World in St. Augustine. Now I have a tool to clear the toilet. and assorted other items. Stop at Costco for Dog Food and Cosequin (for Butters joints) then a nice Dinner, well dinner anyway before going to see the Lion King in Jacksonville. This was my Christmas gift to Danny and he really loves it. But getting out at 10 and then the long drive home makes for a long day and a good sleep.
We got a mobile RV repair guy to come look at the frig which blew another fuse and is on propane again. He seemed to know right away what was wrong, so he will order the part and hopefully we will stop having to replace a blown fuse ever couple of weeks.
After all this, yes we still love the life we live. This has been a very stressful couple of months and we are starting to look forward to heading west this summer. The brakes will be replaced on the 5th wheel before we head out. But not this week, this week we will celebrate LOVE and maybe get out and have a little fun. For those wondering we did not get beyond one dive in November because of my headaches then D's surgery. So we will talk to our Dive Master and hope to pick it up again in November 2018 when we return once again to Florida.
So things are looking up and we are picking out vinyl flooring for the bedroom, I'll fill you in on the progress as we finish the bedroom. Yes Capt Dan is feeling much better! Physical Therapy continues and we are starting to have Florida like weather here. Maybe we can pack away the sweats and coats.
