Saturday, December 19, 2009

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

13 comments:

Schnitzel and the Trout said...

Merry Christmas Lena to you and Ole. It sounds like you are doing quite well. Amazing what patience can do and how difficult it is to find it sometimes. God Bless. As for the pets---hey, they want to feel like they are helping you too. Aren't they amazing? They know..they know.

harrietv said...

One of the hardest things to do is to relax and let someone else do the work. You did it for Ole, didn't you? Let him have his turn.

It's the kind of year when you can be thankful for all the good things that happened. (Include the cane!) A blessed Christmas to you all.

Anonymous said...

Merry Xmas to you and yours. I'm glad to hear you are coming along well. Don't push yourself too hard. Yes it is hard to wait, but that is much better than suffering a setback due to impatience and having to wait even longer. Life in a wheelchair is definitely not all it's cracked up to be - I'm sorry you've run into so many rude people. In my experience (in New England) in the cities it was bad for people being rude, but not in our little communities. I HATED having to go into Springfield (MA) to shop. Well, not to carry on about it, you'll be out of the wheelchair soon enough and can soon reach your own groceries. Be well and Gd bless, Mel

Paula G from Indiana said...

Merry Christmas to you and Ole too!!! Keep that good attitude, you don't need to do it all right now. You'll be back and stronger than ever and be on that Harley terrorizing the neighborhood, LOL! Five years ago I had a busted foot and I loved getting to ride around on the electric carts in Walmart, Target and Costco. I was back to walking before the Christmas crowds though. I did get a real eye opener as far as seeing how wheelchair bound people have to look at the world (I did one dog show in a wheelchair). Glad you are back!

~ Sil in Corea said...

Enjoy being on the receiving end of the generosity this time, Lena! So glad to hear that you are making such good progress healing; you'll be dancing soon! Hope you have a Wonderful Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year!!! {{{{{Hugs}}}}} ~ Sil

Marge said...

I'm glad to hear that you are doing so well. Just relax and take it slow and you'll be better than 100% really soon. Will you be able to travel this winter? We're heading to Texas this year. Never been there before.

Wishing you and your helpful Ole a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Capitolady said...

I'm glad to hear you are on the mend. I had to use one of those carts once and it is amazing how rude people are. Even some ones you know.

Feel better!

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas, Lena! Glad to hear you're on the mend!

Anonymous said...

Lena, you don't know me. I live in Southern Alabama. I do a blog that I wanted to share something on about Luthern Airlines from another blog you have -- apparently now closed. Not only do I want to do a blog on Luthern Airlines, I want to refer to that blog and even possibly use the photo of the Lutheran Airline Stewardess. I want to do this so much because I am a copycat and because I think all of it is so funny. I'm going to give you my email address in this comment in case you feel like responding maedeans@yahoo.com

Today is the day you find out from your doctor if everything is in place. For me, today is the day I have my 3rd in-office surgery (hopefully the final one) to tweak the original foot surgery on my right foot on April 10, 2009. I had no idea when all of this began that it would drag out this long. Today is also our 51st wedding anniversary -- whata way to celebrate -- huh?

My maternal grandmother was named Lela and my mother was named Leno (God rest their souls). Somehow that makes me feel related to you.

Hope all goes well with you Lena. A happy 2010 to ya!

Carolyn said...

Happy New Year to you and Ole. I hope 2010 is your happiest and healthiest year yet! I miss your writing! God bless you and your loved ones.

Paula said...

Hi Lena, I have been absent from the Internet for a while and the blogosphere...I'm glad my catching up on my blog reading finds you post surgery and doing well.

Anonymous said...

I noted that you received a SPAM comment on the blog that you have closed after I left my comment/request. I hope I did not cause that. I wish you well in your recovery. Mae Dean Smith maedeans@yahoo.com

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