The Grand Little Bake Shop

10/13/2026

🎂Thank you Sheila for trusting me to prepare a cake for such a lovely occasion!

Appreciate the support of The Esmonde Family Scholarship.

10/07/2026

cookie

10/04/2026

🧡🔥🧡

09/28/2026

Day 20 Right Hip Replacement (anterior) Update:

The wins: Getting in and out of bed and the car on my own is finally getting easier. Huge milestone!

The reality check: The unexpected side of recovery that no one told me about —the burning with each step, the stabbing pain near the incision site, intense muscle spasms, and the heavy exhausting toll of insomnia. And the mental game…I just didn’t know it would be like this. It makes me see folks with chronic conditions in a whole different way.

The non-productive cycle: When pain keeps you from sleeping, healing takes so much longer.

The small upgrade: Traded the walker for forearm crutches. They feel a bit awkward right now, but I'm hoping they give me a little more freedom.

Recovery is definitely a marathon, not a sprint. Some days I feel a bit defeated and just want to feel like myself again, but I'm trying to keep my eyes on the prize.

I know not every day will be a victory lap but I’m in it for the long haul. I’ll refuel and try again.

Thanks for being there for me.

09/25/2026

Do you think this is factual? Should I test it out? 🍪♥️🍪

09/23/2026

Funny story… a few days after coming home from my total right hip replacement our grandson’s stopped over to check up on me.

The youngest one, Beau (4), reallllly wanted to see my leg. It seemed very urgent. I complied and showed him my leg/incision/bandage. He looked super disappointed and stepped back. I asked him what was wrong. He threw his hands up in the air and said loudly “where is your metal leg”?? Hahahaha. I had to laugh because I DID tell him I would be getting metal placed IN my leg but I think he took it literally. 🤣

09/21/2026

It’s easy to smile with a cookie in your hand!

09/20/2026

Yes. It’s tragic! 😕

Ready to make some NOW!!

Can’t wait.

What kind should I make?

1. Chocolate chip

2. Pumpkin with brown sugar glaze

3. Oatmeal with m&m’s?

09/20/2026

***DAY 11 Total right hip replacement (anterior)***

Major surgery is not just mentally and physically challenging, it MAKES you think about what’s really important, come face to face with your vulnerabilities and truly appreciate those who stepped up and showed love, care and support. ♥️

Today my neuralgia is definitely easing up. Instead of the temp inside my right thigh being on BROIL with every step, it’s now come down to a much more tolerated 300 degrees. Thank You God! I keep looking down at my hip thinking “surely the intense heat has melted off an inch or 3”. But alas, it did not. 👎🏻

I am still needing a walker, using the ice machine constantly, laying on my back to sleep 👎🏻 and longing to go into the kitchen to whip up a batch of SOMETHING!

I really look forward to being able to take the stairs, DRIVE, watch my grandchildren play their sports, walk on my own, clean my own house and bend down to pick something up.

It’s not ALL bad. I have a wonderful caregiver who has been so much more that just filling up my ice machine , setting up my little table with necessities before he leaves for work and making my meals. He’s my shoulder to lean on, the one who makes me laugh, he encourages me when I am just over it all. He really is my rock. BONUS: He is easy on the eye’s ☺️. I feel so very lucky he is so consistently good to me.

So all of that said…I am turning a corner to feeling better. I am not as patient as I thought. I have lots to work on there.

Thanks, as always, for the love. I know being an over sharer isn’t for everyone. But I do appreciate the support and encouragement you have given me even though. ♥️♥️♥️

09/20/2026