a whole new level...

 So I just got home from Physical Therapy.  Now, I have not been in a week, because I cancelled Wednesday, was feeling very sinus-y and a bit dizzy, then Friday's was cancelled because of weather.  Well, they wanted us to come in earlier and Paul had a work call, they had so many people cancel because of the snow and wind, they were closing early.  Anyway.  This fine day I went to PT.   I hobbled in with my walker, and the two therapists looked at each other, one said that today we're trying something different.  I skipped the heel slides and leg lifts, just sat and stretched the leg, did the bike, then...a long walk down the outer hallway with the cane.  Now, this is not my favorite yet, I feel unsteady and unsure.  I hobble.  My arm flails and tries to grab the wall for balance.  But down the long hall we went.  Then, up a flight of stairs, using both knees, not up with the good...just like a normal person, the therapist said..then back down, like a normal person, then back up, three times.  Then back down the long hallway.  Then the leg press and leg lift machine, then...the stair stepper...that was the hardest, because I was tired by then.

Then...he folded up the walker and said, Don't use this anymore.    Okay.  That is easier said than done.  He walked with me down the long hallway as I hobbled on the cane.  

We are home.  Paul made me a hot drink (bone broth with chocolate protein powder) while I ice the knee, and Juni is on my lap snuggling.  I used the cane to get to my chair, and the walker is still folded up in the foyer, where it shall stay...so now I HAVE to use the cane.  It's what I needed.  The PT said if my knee didn't buckle on the stairs, he think I'll be okay.  

So.  I have huge mixed feelings right now.  I am SO happy to be making some progress!  I am not in good shape, so I need to step it up, on the bike and practicing on the stairs.  I have a goal to get back into that pool for swim class!!!

I love this pic, Sam with his little Samantha, and Aunt Mariel holding baby Kaia, with Sonja in the background...

Ruth is a nice big sister!  

We had a busy weekend, lots of company, very nice.  Yesterday Paul and I made some chili.  He carmelized onions and peppers, garlic mmm.  We also ordered three pizzas for lunch.  Emily and Mariel were here, we celebrated Em's birthday, sort of.  I made brownies, she brought a "heater cake", which is what we've always called the frozen square Pepperidge Farms cakes.  I did order her some nice suede Birkenstock knock off clogs from Amazon.

Anyway.  It's windy and cold, and I'm cozy and tired.  Orange Guy woke me up to go outside last night, like half hour after I had gotten back in bed from getting up to use the bathroom.  You cannot ignore him, he meows so shrilly!   I was so wide awake when I got back in bed...then I fell to sleep and had a really bad dream about the end times, bad times: gangs and thugs were taking over people's houses.  It was a violent dream and very sad, bad things happened to Paul and to Charlotte, and then I woke up and didn't want to go back to sleep for a bit.  It was ridiculous but so real.  How can our brains make these things up?  

Ah well....you have a nice day, and stay warm!