The Mom is Back!

    I passed a critical milestone today in my life after right side total-hip-replacement -- I advanced from the walker to the cane! I cannot remember being so excited about something so seemingly mundane, but when your ultimate goal is the restoration of personal independence, this is indeed a big step (no pun intended). As of this weekend, I have also left my pain meds behind in the dust and am hoping that my brain cells will start regenerating with regularity now that I am leaving the drug induced brain-fog behind.
   I am two weeks post-op and am so thankful for my brand-new steel and titanium hip joint. I am, for the most part, relatively pain free and cannot believe how much mobility I have already recovered. For those of you who had seen me pre-op, miracle of miracles, I can now stand up straight and no longer waddle quite so much or walk with my hindermost parts stuck out like a sore thumb. I had lost 3/4 of an inch in height and the physical therapists are hopeful that I will be able to recover most of this now that I can stand upright! My mom would be so proud that I am even excited about being able to hold my shoulders up!
   My family will certainly testify that my recovery has been a roller coaster ride. I will not bore you with the details, but days 6, 7, and 8 post-surgery were the worst. A weekend visit from a friend of Ed's who has had both hips replaced really helped to turn the tide for me. He encouraged me not to push too hard, to ice a lot each day, and to fill the bed with pillows of assorted sizes and shapes. It wasn't anything profound, just good plain common sense, but just what the doctor ordered. I took his advice to heart and quit trying to act like a rock-star hip replacement patient. It has paid off.
   I appreciate all of the prayers, calls, cards, notes of encouragement, meals, rides to therapy, trips to the grocery store and more that I have received.  They have made such a huge difference in my recovery and not only I, but my family thanks you as well.  The Lord has been faithful to me in ways great and small, and I know that I am a blessed woman. I still have work to do (they will NOT let me behind the wheel of a car yet!), but I am well on my way. As I have relied on my family, friends, and brothers and sisters in Christ, I have been mindful of this scripture:
          Two are better than one,
          because they have a good return for their work.
          If one falls down, his friend can help him up.
          But pity the one who falls down and has no one
          to help him up.        
                                       Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
and I have been comforted and found reason to hope in this Word of the Lord:
          The path of the righteous is level;
          O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth.
          Yea, Lord walking in the way of your commands, we wait for you.
           your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.
          My soul yearns for you in the night;
           in the morning my spirit longs for you.
                                               Isaiah 26:7-9a
Of course, it makes perfect sense, but I had never seen that the Messiah was referred to as the "upright One" particularly in the context of walking a path that He has made smooth for each of us, His children, who are so prone to stumble and fall as we limp along. It won't be long before I will be running in the path of His commands, for he has set my heart (and my hip) free! Join with me in praising His Holy Name!