Mailbox

Hubby spent his first full day back at the office today. Though I missed him terribly, I survived. He's due back in the office for full days (he's been working from home afternoons) in the middle of April, so we are starting now to ease into the change.

I also had a friend come spend the morning with me before she took R. to a birthday party for the afternoon. Two more friends came for a fun lunch.

Rick's out of town all next week, taking the kids on a long-awaited trip to Disneyland with his parents. My parents will come and stay with me, but we will have a pretty big week with therapy appointments, a luncheon through my mom's church, seeing my neurologist, and possibly going back to visit the rehab hospital.

Disneyland is the first "big thing" I've missed out on, but a big trip like that isn't remotely a possibility in the foreseeable future. We've had to put the trip off several times, for various reasons, sine our 6-year-old's 4th birthday, so it has to happen this way. The kids are excited, but honestly I'm trying not to think about it much. I pray it doesn't "hit" me too hard after they are gone or when they get back and are talking about it even more. I do hope they all have a wonderful time!

I used my big walker, but the kids and I walked the length of our block all the way down to our mailbox and back tonight. I had my cell phone in the basket of the walker and the emergency call button around my neck (I think the range only goes directly in our yard, not clear down the street). With three kids also with me, especially the very responsible and mature 12-year-old, I felt confident enough to try. It was quite a bit harder than I though it would be and, my left foot was really dragging by the time we even made it down the street. I was panting and sweating and exhausted by the time we got home. But I'm thrilled we were able to do that. It was my first time out of the house, without adult supervision, since the stroke!

I know it seem like rather random information to post, but as I don't want to forget it, I'm recording it here. I've now had two physical therapists tell me that "walking is just controlled falling." Apparently our bodies act like they are going to fall with each step we take, but we normally "catch" ourselves with our legs and that's what moves us forward. I pray that I learn to take regular "controlled falls" and that God prevents me from the uncontrolled ones!