Graduation to a cane - not a candy cane either

Hey Everybody - I hope you're all enjoying the Christmas season and looking forward to the holidays with family and friends. I just thought I better take a few minutes this Saturday morning and check in to let you all know I'm doing great. Thanks to all of you who have sent notes of encouragement because there are days when they are really needed.

I really have to say I'm getting along great. I graduated from the walker to a cane last Thursday so that makes life a lot easier. Got my 21 staples out on Thursday also - there were as few "stingers" in there, but as a whole not too bad.

As to my comment about there are days when notes of encouragement are really needed - Ole tells me I'm way too hard on myself. My mind set is that, okay, it's been a bit over two weeks now and I should be back to normal. Enough of this being dependent on someone else thing and having to ask for help. Why is it that asking for help is such a difficult thing? I guess I'm just a bit too independent and used to doing everything for myself. Ole doesn't begrudge me anything. He's always right there and has been since the beginning. In fact there are times when he wants to do too much for me - although I must admit it's nice to be coddled and comforted at times. Anyway, the whole thing is getting old and I'm ready to go dancing again - at least in my mind if not in my body.

I don't see the doctor again until December 31 when he will take x-rays and let me know if everything is in place. The most difficult thing right now is that I have to sleep on my back. I've always been a side sleeper - NEVER a back sleeper - so that's been very difficult to get used to.

And it seems I've always got company in bed - Lucy and Simon (kitties) are absolutely loving the fact that I take naps a couple of times a day and snuggle right down in the blankets as tight up against me as they can. And I have a secret to tell you. I've started letting Daisy (German Shepherd) up on the bed when I take a nap. She's been so much company to me and knows not all is well, so tries to comfort me by being close. She's such a sweetheart. Anyway, it's a good thing we have a king-sized bed, huh?

I had my first excursion out this past week - after getting my staples removed we had some errands to run and stopped by Sam's and Walmart. Sam's was a piece of cake as I got to drive one of those electric carts around the store. That definitely wasn't as simple as it looks. Lots of traffic to watch out for but I made it through without running into anybody's backside. Then there was Walmart. Our Walmart either doesn't have any of those electric carts or they were all in use because Ole couldn't find any for me to use. So I had to use a wheelchair with a basket on the front. Boy do I have a new appreciation and respect for people who have to use wheelchairs all the time. It's very difficult, not just the getting around part, but getting things off of shelves that are too high or too low. And the saddest part of all is how rude the general population is.

I've had lots of company - and have such good friends. They're busy doing my Christmas baking for me and delivering it, etc. I truly appreciate it all, but keep telling them that neither Ole nor I need all those goodies - our waistlines don't exactly benefit from the calories - but boy are the cookies good.

So Ole and I are having a very low key Christmas this year. Our tree consists of a Norfolk Island Pine with red bows on that we bought at Walmart for $10, and just a few lights and decorations here and there. I've got a few gifts that need to be wrapped, but Lovely Daughter has taken some of them home and will do that for me. We're having Christmas at her new house this year. I've got a few things here at home to wrap but will put them in pretty Christmas bags, so that will simplify things. I haven't gotten to any cards or letters yet, but if they don't get out until between Christmas and New Years this year, that's okay too.

So all in all, I think I've got a pretty good attitude about the Holidays - pretty laid back instead of my usual "Oh, my gosh, everything has to be done and perfect" attitude. But then I've got a wonderful family and great friends that are all supporting me in that attitude this year.

I truly appreciate all of them.

If I don't get back to you before Christmas, please have a wonderful holiday and enjoy and appreciate your family and friends. God bless you all.

Love Lena