Ups and Downs

I had a very good experience this morning!  Since my surgery, I haven't really been able to move my leg sideways on my own -- for example, laying on my back with my legs straight, I would not have been able to move my left leg out away from my body or back.  If things did not improve, my future snow angels would look very lop-sided.

This morning, all of a sudden, I could EASILY move my leg back and forth that way.  That means that some of my nerves and muscles are waking up!

Unfortunately, I was so giddy and thankful that I could do this again, that I did it about 23 times which was probably too many.  Heh.  So tonight I'm really sore.  Eventually I will learn to do an appropriate amount of exercise so that I can do 3-4 sessions per day and not feel like I've been hit by a truck by 5:00.

Soreness aside, it is proof that things are improving very well.  It feels AWESOME to have these little victories.  It pulls me away from the discouragement of the discomfort and focuses me on the good that I will feel in the future.

It's interesting to experience something completely new.  Not saying something new and FUN, but just something for which you have no basis of experience.  When you have no basis of experience, you don't know if what you are experiencing is positive or if something is wrong.  That's where my anxiety lies these days.  I know things are supposed to hurt -- that goes without saying.  But what pain is healing pain and what is pain that indicates something is going wrong?  If I have any anxiety, this is where it's coming from.  I just have to keep in mind that I am young, I am strong, and I am doing very well so far.

I've been graced with good company these days.  As I've mentioned, my mom is here to take care of me.  Poor thing has to get up with me in the middle of the night as I take my meds and inevitably use the restroom.  Maybe she's making up for tripping over my catheter tube in the hospital.  (There's a unique sensation.)

My dad has also been by several times, which I love.  He has to drive almost an hour each way so I'm touched by his efforts.

E has been making daily visits (she'll be taking over for my mother starting Monday night).  My friend, Pam, made dinner for us this evening (pork chops, potatoes, corn) and our friend, Dorothy, stopped by yesterday for a visit.

Honestly, I feel so loved and cared for.  :)