A Reminder to be Thankful!

I am reminding myself that two weeks ago I was dreading surgery and now it is over and I am recovering well enough.  I am ready for a life that is not measured by medication recording and physical therapy exercises.  But except for early morning pain (very early—5:30 or 6:30 am) I have had little pain and I am walking with a cane not a walker. 

I have written before how thankful I am for Jim’s patient and loving care.  I am also thankful for friends who have brought food and called and stopped by.  We moved here almost six years ago and it is no small blessing to have made new friends here when we left so many friends back in South Bend.  A friend brought me chocolates.  Another friend made us the best chicken soup I have ever had—and it was enough for two meals.  Other friends came by yesterday to visit and brought wonderful scones and flowers. Still other friends from years ago with whom we were able to renew friendship brought a chicken pot pie from McCaffery’s —again enough for two meals.

We left a small church in South Bend where we knew everyone and knew we would be cared for by them.  But this week has been one in which two staff people from our large congregation here in Princeton have called to see how I was dong—and I have received a few cards.  We have found a church home here too.

Plus Jeff and Susan always make us feel welcome in Princeton.  They brought Olive Garden take out for Mother’s Day and that too made two meals.

I am weary from not sleeping all that well and from knowing I have to meet up with my home physical therapist’s standards this afternoon.  I am tired of choking down so many pills and still have 20 days to go for most of them.  But I need to remind myself to be thankful for progress and for people who have helped and encouraged me along the way.  

May 15 I left a message at Dr. Culp’s office about my early morning pain.  The PA tried to call me back but my phone sent it to voice mail as an unknown caller.  Jim googled in Safari as to how to fix that and I hope we did.  I left messages back for the PA twice but have no answers.  That is frustrating and I hope for a better night tonight—it was a wake-up at 3 am with pain that made the rest of the night difficult.

But on a positive note, Shilpa, my home PT, said to put the walker away and walk without the cane.  She had me doing 8 laps around the dining room table without an aid.  She also had me going up and down the 17 steps in a normal fashion—not one step at a time.  I feel very uncertain about the walking and will have to build confidence.  The steps were really OK—hanging on to a railing makes that secure.  

May 16. Cory, the PA at Princeton Orthopedics, called back this morning and reassured me that my pain is normal—after exercise all day and putting weight on that leg when I lie down and rest, the pain occurs.  I could get a stronger pain medication if I wish but I will hold off on that.  I feel at peace about his call.    Although I do not feel as much at peace when my hip hurts deep inside the bone at 4:30 am!  It is as if it is telling me to get that artificial joint out of there!  But I have no pain all day long so that is so good.