I can see it…light at the end of the tunnel. I am optimistic I can make it. It has been a 5 month uphill battle of necessity but it is almost done. One last week of the knee cart, then one more week of walking in boot then on to real shoes. Yahoo!!
Soon to be twin feet
Left foot about 90% healed, Right foot soon to free of heavy boot. QC’s prompt on optimism is exactly where I am. I can see the end and optimistic that with therapy I will be back to normal…as normal as I can be at this point of my life. I am looking forward to spring where walks through the parks and forest can be done again.
I loved QC’s opening quote by Roy Bennett – “Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely.” ― Roy T. Bennett.
Life is a choice and life is what you make it. QC also stated the difference between optimism and pessimism and fully hit the nail on the head – Optimism is contagious while pessimism is infectious.
Think of how optimism can drive a car through rough times but pessimism will just deflate the tires.
The holidays is a hard emotional time for many. Recent tragedies can amplify those painful times. Reach out to those and give reason for optimism, give them hope to continue. Spread encouragement and kindness where you can as it breeds hope and optimism.
The wonders of medicine in today’s world is amazing. We now have out-patient surgery that get us home to heal which is such a better place if possible. But during that healing, certain precautions need to be made to make sure we don’t do harm to our self or undo the procedure we have gone through. There enters the dreaded pain meds. Not only do they make us groggy, they keep us somewhat immobile with extra sleeping, that gets old.
Don’t get me started on child proof caps!
I also understand the importance of these meds due to my stubborn nature – “Oh, I am ok, I can do that…not”? Uh huh. Stubborn. That’s me. My daughter told me I invented the word.
So we are in healing mode between the bed, the couch and the bathroom and of course the kitchen. I don’t think I have ever been too hurt to eat – probably why I have a high BMI. But its all good, one foot is ready and doing well and the other is starting the healing process.
Feet are kinda ugly aren’t they
You would think I would be feeling the same since it was basically the same surgery but no its been different. But healing all the same. Go back to Dr. tomorrow for x-rays to make sure bones are knitting correctly but as well as I did last time, we should all be good.
This has been an informative One Liner Wednesday post tagged in with Linda G Hill combined in with humor so come join in on the fun.
As I close in a note of a more serious nature, I again remind everyone of the beauty of kindness. Kindness is a reflection of God’s love that even in its smallest gesture brings a profound result of goodness and joy.
Last week I posted a challenge that was actually started on facebook to remind us the wonderful things we can be thankful for. In the US, November is a dual thankful month for us as we celebrate Veteran Day at the first of the month and Thanksgiving at the end of the month. So I am doing a daily thankful challenge but posting it only once per week each Sunday. If you want to check last weeks post out, it is located here. And if you would like to join in on the fun, I would love your thoughts.
Since pictures are so powerful in connecting our brain with our heart, I thought I would add pictures with my daily challenge.
Nov 5 – I am thankful that now with the weather turning wet and cold, I have a warm and dry house to live in.
First snow of the season, didn’t last long thankfully
Nov 6 – I am thankful that all the the medical testing I have been getting are showing good results.
Nov 7 – While the medical test were good, my BMI was high. BMI for those who may not know what it is, it means I am overweight. That means I have plenty of food on my table and for that I am truly thankful as there are some who do not.
Nov 8 – I am thankful for the laughter I have in my life as laughter can remove a lot of hurt in this world.
Nov 9 – I am thankful for the basic good health I have. Being in my mid-60s, I am on no daily medication other than a multi-vitamin. God has been good to me.
Nov 10 – I am thankful for all the military men and women who have served and sacrificed themselves for my freedom.
Nov 11 – I am thankful for friends and neighbors who do little things that mean so very much when you need the help.
And as we share in the thankfulness of this month always remember to be kind. Kindness is a gift from God that should be spread thick like jam on toast.
Means being justified by an end result – that can be wrong on so may platforms if it involves trickery or cruelty when used only for selfish gain.
Yesterday I had the second, and last, operation on my feet to correct misaligned bones. The anesthesia doctor was different and used a new technique by means of a nerve block behind the knee. The technique in the long run could be a real help for healing, in his opinion. After speaking with my surgeon this morning when he called to check on me, I asked him about this. He was not aware it was going to be used and I could tell in his voice that he question its use at this time but they were already starting it. It was very painful to administer using ultra sound to guide a needle through the side of my leg by my knee to block the nerves all the way down the leg through the foot. He had told me he would give me some light sedation medication where I would not feel the needle digging through my leg. but what he did not realize was that my body fights light doses of numbing medication. I needed horse size doses doing a job like that. He called another anesthetist to administer another does in the IV as his hands were busy. That helped but gee whiz.
But I am doing fine today, foot still numb a bit and I hope that wears off soon. Numbness is such a weird and uncomfortable feeling.
I do need to express the thankfulness of where medicine is today. We are such a far cry from the ‘blood-letting’ practice days. While that process of getting rid of the bad blood was good in theory, it really was not a good idea. But it shows the ever involving field of medicine and when you think of the diseases we now have control of or the diseases we are on the brink of discovering a cure of, it is all amazing.
And as I heal from hopefully this last procedure, I rest and enjoy my Christmas decorations,the enjoyment of the birds fighting over the several feeders (they don’t share well) and I am comforted by my loving companion and my gracious daughter as they take care of me.
Mimi
Below is a picture of my current transportation for the next 3 weeks. I think it was designed by a woman as there is an indention in the center so that you can pull the cart flat to the sink and clean dishes. I don’t think a man would have thought of that. And maybe that is not what it is for but it’s my theory and I am sticking with it.
My first cart did not have this center indention. I like this better.
As I was going through the painfulness of the nerve block, the operating staff were marvelous in showing empathy and kindness as I would get shoulder rubs, hand holding and gentle touches. Kindness is never wasted.
So I close as always with reminders of being kind and also a reminder that Nov 13 is World Kindness Day. The more you are kind, the more ways you find to be kind.
For the Love of 