Therapy Thoughts–A Very Good Day

day #12 post op

Just next door to the facility, these magnolias are all in bloom, as well as a few lingering wild pink phlox.

This was a really good day in rehab.  First thing this morning, Bob checked me out of the facility to take me to the orthopod.  It is less than two  miles to the doctor’s office, with the hospital in between the two locations.  But it is mostly rural, the street lined with magnolias and orange groves–a pretty drive. 

I wore my green therapy shirt, posted yesterday, and I was amazed at that everyone from the receptionist to the X-ray tech to the doctor himself noticed not only the shirt but the incision on the knee in the design!  It made everyone smile, including me. The doctor checked the X-rays, declared my knee  hunky dory and was out of there in a flash. 

We decided that since the appointment was so fast,  I wouldn’t be missed for some time.  So we a run for it and dashed home, a mere 8 miles.  I loved on Rastus, who was just beside himself, and Hannah, whose smug attitude made it clear to Rastus that my arrival was no big deal as she sees me alllll the time. 

Laurel in front of the mother thumbergia plant

We toured the yard in the golf cart, putting my mind at ease that all the seedlings that we had dug up and transplanted before my surgery were thriving.  Eight dogwood,  2 thumbergia and 3 Lady Margaret passion vine volunteers  all have become well established and grown a lot. I was afraid to go in the house for fear I would hobble to the sewing room and refuse to come out.

Shelly brought Robert and Laurel for a visit during lunch. Of course, I loved that.  Susan invited them to come to therapy with me and they enjoyed showing off with the 1 and 2 lb. barbells,  convinced that they were  soon to be the next Mr. and Miss Atlas.   Yesterday, the family went to see Toy Story IIIand Robert was so excited about the movie.  I was excited to know that now I can embroider some Toy Story characters on shirts for him and stop with the Transformers and Spiderman designs.

Therapy was encouraging, as I was able to do some things I found impossible just a two days ago.  We practiced climbing some steps and then went out to the courtyard.   It has paths with different bases–mulch, pebbles,  sand and asphalt–as well as a little foot bridge with steps on one end and a ramp-like incline on the other. 

 In the center of the area is a nice oak tree surrounded by heavily blooming Knockout roses. After I commented on all the dead blossoms, Susan got me a pair of scissors and turned me loose deadheading all 20 bushes. I even pulled some weeds!  It felt so good to do even that little bit of gardening. And it felt really good to know that I can do all this just 12 days after a surgeon cut through the bones on my leg and shoved in a new knee.  The miracles of modern medicine make me so grateful that I live in this day and age. 

I had a nice long phone visit with Judy Day just before PlayGroup met for dinner here in my room.  As usual, we had a grand time. PlayGroup Judy (not Judy Day, who lives 900 miles from here) brought pizza from her son’s pizza parlor and a delicious salad she had made with greens, spinach, blueberries, walnuts, strawberries and homemade dressing.  We laughed and caught up with everyone’s news and bemoaned Mary’s situation.  She has been touring Italy for 6 days now and still does not have her luggage! 

Finally, Annie Lu, my darling Taiwanese nurse, removed the staples from my knee.  That’s one more step toward a full recovery.  All things considered, it has been a great day.  I am well pleased with my life and my situation.

Now, if I can just get some smocking done in the next few days……