I'm rehabbing really nicely now. This week I was able to get back into my "good" ACL brace, the custom fitted one, and can walk with only one crutch. It's so wonderful to be ambulating without a brace that holds my leg stiff and two crutches. I'm back to doing almost all of my pre-surgery exercises and machines at PT, but doing them slower and at lower levels and less reps. At this point it's all up to me to get strong again. My therapist talked to me about the local gym here in my little town and we discussed the machines they have available there for me to work with. I went for two weeks between my therapy and surgery and it's a good alternative to PT. But there's no cute therapist there! My life for the past several months has revolved around those two days a week when I blew my hair dry, put on decent workout clothes, some make-up, and drove 60 miles round trip. I guess the good thing is now I can go to the gym five minute away with wet hair and whatever workout clothes are comfortable. Since there's no cute therapist there! Wait, I already said that. Seriously, though, I guess it's not uncommon to bond with those folks who have been helping you get well for months on end - and to miss them when you've reached your goals. I'll send them a Christmas card but I doubt by December they'll remember who I am. They see so many people each year. But, yep, I'll miss them - a lot. Dang!
Here's a picture of Penny on the car ride home after a month at the boarding place. She was like "Who are you and where are you taking me? I want to stay there and play with all the other puppies!"
Right now she's in the empty sun room. I threw some old rugs down in there, and she drug this one over to where sun was coming in. She stays out there until the sun goes away. Silly dog! And, yes, there's a shovel by the door going outside. I call it my snake shovel and I carry it out with me each time I walk back there with her. I've only seen one other snake since the first scare, and it was an itty bitty baby about pencil-length long. It's harmless and she wasn't interested in it at all. But I'm armed and ready just in case! And, yes, those azaleas need trimming again. I bought a battery-operated trimmer and will tackle those just as soon as my leg feels stable enough. It's hard to find folks to do these little jobs for me.
Back five years ago (has it been that long?) when my late boss was so sick with cancer and I was working such long hours, Anne Sutton suggested that I get a needle project that I could do to relax. I did one of her redwork patterns and really used it as a reflective time and the stitching was so relaxing. Remembering what Anne said, I found this preprinted Santa face by Lakadaisies in a box in the Cottage. I don't even remember buying it, but it was nice to have it all ready to stitch. I used a dark plum on everything, but stitched the holly in a dark green and put a touch of gray-blue in his eyes. The thread was the Needleworks thread on a spool, two strands. I had gotten a lot of this from Anne a few years back and although I have a lot of floss, it's my go-to thread for embroidery now. This is definitely not my best work as most of this was done reclining back on pillows on the sofa. I started it about two weeks after I was home from the hospital and finished it this week. A couple minutes here and there when I would get frustrated or start feeling sorry for myself. Thanks again to Anne for suggesting this type of project during tough or sad times.
Sadness - I'm so saddened by the tragedy that happened in Lafayette a couple of days ago. It's so scary to think that this type of thing can happen in your community. One of the beautiful young ladies who was killed was from my little town. Her parents live just down the way from my brother. She was just 21 years old. I just can't wrap my mind around this. Please keep her family in your prayers, as well as all the victims and families of this senseless shooting.
I stopped at the market yesterday on the way home from getting poked for blood again. I'm going to cook today! Hooray! Baked chicken and veggies, probably Brussels sprouts, squash, maybe asparagus, a butter lettuce salad. The produce here isn't nearly as nice and varied as it was in SoCal, but I lucked into going in a nice market nearby that was just unloading their weekly shipment. I'm ready to get real food in my tummy again!
Off to do my morning ritual of exercises before I get in the kitchen. I lead a very simple life these days ...
9 comments:
Sounds like you are getting stronger every day. Thank goodness you have stitching to do, this Santa is fabulous. It certainly can soothe the mind and keep on from dwelling on their issues at times. Such tragic news from your corner of the world, these lovely young ladies, everyone, SO senseless. Do you have someone that could stop by once a week or once every two weeks for "odd jobs". Kind of just keep them on your 'payroll'? I think lots of us struggle with that same issue, it's a small job, but too big for us, or we don't the tool to do it, or need 2 people because it's a job requiring a ladder?
Sending good wishes on you're continued recovery. I won't say "speedy." My beautiful mother is recovering from a broken hip. Our motto is "one day at a time." I know you will start to feel like part of the gang at your local gym. I agree that a good looking PT is very motivating! Hugs to you and your faithful companion.
A much better report. It is nice to hear things are progressing and nearing a normal life. Good work on your part.
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I'm happy to hear you are on the road to recovery. And you kept busy too! Your Santa stitchery is looking beautiful. It's hard to keep up your abode when you are not 100% and trying to find help is nearly impossible, no matter where you live. My brother is very involved in AA and he sponsors quite a few people and he is always trying to keep them busy. So one of the guys he sponsors cuts my mom's grass and does most of her yardwork. She pays him and the rest of us are always saying what is she doing paying some guy to do her work when one of us should be doing it. But it makes my mom happy that she is helping out someone in need and in truth, it's one less thing I have to worry about doing for her. Anyway, I'm glad you are feeling better.
sounds like you are doing great! just take it easy and follow the doctor's orders. Love the stitchery! There is nothing like handwork to relax you. I do a lot of hand-piecing on my commuter bus trip home from work every day (about 1 1/2 hours) - I work for lawyers, so it gets me in a better mind-set by the time I get home!
I cannot believe Penny would rather be boarded than be with you! My mind will not wrap around that. I'm so glad you are getting so strong again. I'm glad your cute PT guy is worth drying your hair for. I've had PT guys I would rather slug than get glammed up for. I'm not typically a violent person but people who cause me great pain while bragging about their own physical running and biking drive me to the edge. Then there was the PT guy who strapped me to a stretching machine that made me throw up. Oh, dear. I'm exercising a lot these days just to stay away from PT ever again. Maybe PT guys in LA are much nicer than where I live. Keep stitching and working out! I'm so glad to hear from you. Congratulations on graduation to one crutch! That is a big accomplishment!
Glad to hear you are on the mend. I've been thinking of you.
Penny back home and cooking again...a great week! I was inspired by this red work and dug threw mile stash of stichery...nearly as big as my stash....and pulled out a half down Halloween piece. I am going to keep with the never ending hexie project for quiet sit down projects. I do love how relaxing the hand work is!
I have been through cycles of physical therapy probably five times at the same place. The owner remembers me well. You would think he would forget because there are so many patients but he seems to have a good memory. Maybe your cute therapist will remember too.
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