wait, was that the weekend? so fast?

Now, I don't want to be a Debby Downer, but tomorrow is Monday, and on MONDAY, I have to go to the torture chamber again, the one referred to as Physical Therapy.  Oh, you can only stretch it that far?  That's what YOU think!  See, you did it!!

Not my idear of fun.  But.  I concur, it's a necessary evil.  It loosens things up...only for them to tighten back up again, AND swell!  One step forwards, two steps back, knee replacement surgery is the Bunny Hop.  

On Friday afternoon, Molly visited with Ophelia.  Evelyn and Sonja were here too. 

Sonja with Orange Guy on her lap, Evelyn getting the bug that Ophelia so confidently said she'd get, then she saw it and threw the tissue at it...Camille does not like bugs, and Char was just eating her Chinese take out.

Ophelia got to hold her baby cousin Kaia...

Smitten.  Absolutely.  

Charlotte Claire braided my hair for PT on Friday.  

Ophelia didn't want to say goodbye to Kaia...

Camille got some nice gifts, I got her a blue Yeti for her coffee, some new slippers, and a few girly gift sets, with lip plumpers and things like that.  She got nice shampoo and a gift card and some other things.  We had take out from the Chinese place, but I only ate a few bites then had a piece of chicken, that was marinated in vinegar and salt and pepper, air fried.  I just didn't want all the salt with the swelling I'm battling here. )

Yesterday, Evelyn and Nate came over, and Nate was bearing gifts.  He brought ingredients, and made us all Nashville hot chicken sandwiches!  We never deep fry anything, but he turned this place into a nice restaurant for the evening, fries too!  

He made those nooks and crannies, it was so good.  Spicy but flavorful, not tongue scorching.

Sonja and Oscar came over too, with Kaia, and we played some really funny games (jackbox), and laughed ourselves silly.  I was super glad for the distraction, amidst my home pt sessions, and limping to the bathroom.  I had a shower last night, which was a production.  The shower chair is in the shower, there is one four inch ledge between where I stand and that shower chair, chair has no arms, I had to lower myself onto it, I thought it was going to tip or slide...but it didn't.  Paul majorly helped me.  (I put on a big tank top, then took it off when he stepped out of the bathroom, ha, if you must know.). It was exhausting but felt wonderful.  I slept for a few hours on the couch, then a little nap in the chair.  

It's going slow.  Not to be a Negative Nancy, but it's slow.   REALLY slow.  The progress.  The exercises loosen things up minimally, then swelling, and stiffness...I'm trying to space out the Tramadol a bit more, but then it really hurts.  The new knee is wobbly and clicky, and I am not in love with it, but it's part of me now, so I am honestly trying to embrace it, strange as that sounds.

Here is my hope:  I can keep bending the knee, strengthening it, improve the range of motion, get it working, and move on with life.  This place I'm in right now, is almost suffocating, and I know it's only day five, but I want to see progress.  I'm weary of the deep aching pain, especially when I lie down on the couch at night and elevate my foot, the back of my knee hurts like the devil.  

I make myself get up every hour, walk, usually use the bathroom.  When I sit in there, I bend the knee.  It doesn't seem to get any easier.  It's so tight.  

And tomorrow, I have to go down those stairs again, to PT.  I know it'll be fine, and why am I worrying about it already, but that's how it is for me right now.  There are always various trials in life, everyone has them.  We need to learn to deal with what we're facing RIGHT NOW.  Forget yesterday, and do NOT worry about tomorrow!  Because THIS, sometimes this, whatever it is, is really hard or really painful, but I can do this.  One more rep, one more lift, just this...tomorrow is none of my business.  

Overall, I am very happy.  The girls are busy but help when they can, and Paul has been great.  I have no complaints.  The kitties have been a royal pain, however, especially Ms. Kettler, Old Kitty.  She is always up here, but she sidles down to my lap and kneads my thigh, she put her claws right into the bandage yesterday.  Then when I get up, she scrambles into my seat, and I have to shoo her out when I get back.  She looks at me, so saltily!  But, she forgives me and jumps right back up.  

Anyway.  Life is good, and I'm glad I was able to have this done.  I do not see the light at the end of the tunnel yet, but I am hoping it's there ha.  Thank you all for reading, and for comments and kind thoughts and prayers.  Feel free to keep me in line, I don't want to meander into Poor Me territory.  :). Have a good night...and if you live anywhere around here, enjoy tomorrow evening's SNOW!!!  (can you believe I'm saying that four letter word already?!)