A Few Surprises Today

After getting that good news this morning from my friend that is a PT, I was excited to see what today would bring. It confirmed to me I was doing what I was suppose to do. Basically how my leg/hip reacts will determine what I do the next day. Consequently there were a few noteworthy surprises today.

My hip continues to feel stronger by the day. I can feel more stability each day when I stand up from a chair or get out bed. I do not try to twist at all when I move in the kitchen fixing meals or feeding the hounds. I remember the rules the PT gave me the day I left the hospital on September 8th on how to turn ... but, the doctors office gave me approval to drive again, did that happen today?

After starting the day in the middle of the night, it was slow to develop into the typical day full of sunshine. We had a chance for some rain in the early afternoon but by the time that rolled around there wasn't any chance of rain.

Stella walked into the kitchen half asleep this morning just past 6am to see if just maybe I had changed my mind about serving their breakfast earlier than planned. The answer was still 7am for them to gobble their kibble down.

I had nothing planned today. I was going to hang out, take some time off from walking, read a book and watch some of the MLB Playoff games. Sounded like a good day to me.

It's not rain but there is always some strange wet spots where the rocks are wet from the nighttime. Stella likes to check them out but not before I take a quick glance around the yard for any snakes or spiders.

I could tell as I walked around the house, took some trash outside to the bin and sat down a few times, that my hip was feeling really good today. I decided to take a longer walk today around the block. It's not the perfect square block but there is a big loop inside the neighborhood that would be pretty close to the same size as a city block. I wasn't sure how long it would take me but I've been wanting to do this for a few days now.

As it turned out it was shorter than I thought and as I stepped inside the house, my "outdoor walk" app on the watch just turned 20 minutes in time. A little over .64 of a mile. Stella and Heidi were laying on the patio facing the closed door and once again there were no signs that Stella had tried to dig herself out of the yard while I was gone.

With that finished by 9:18am ... the day was starting to turn out really well. The changing skies were beautiful today.

This is a photo just after sunrise.

My view as I stand just inside the patio, in the shaded part. I don't mind the neighbor's shed nor the tree in his yard ... I still like the view.

Once I let Stella back inside she decided the best place to sleep was right there in the way. That way I could be trapped inside the house and if I wanted to walk again it would have to be in the backyard ... no more trips around the neighborhood without taking her.

Heidi was pretty restless today. She couldn't make up her mind whether to sleep outside in the sunshine while the temps were in the mid-70s or back inside where the house was cool from the breeze moving through the house.

I stood at the fence a long time this afternoon taking in the beauty of this area ... from the Mule mountains on the left, to the mountain on the right that sits inside the Mexican border and over to the Huachuca's. The monsoons have really made everything green. I saw this morning on a Facebook feed that we had a little over 8" this monsoon which is about 3" below average. I got more than that in two straight days back in Indiana in April.

A good view of my backyard walking path. By mid-afternoon I could walk in the shade ... or at least my feet could. Otherwise from the chest up, the sun was pretty hot.

As I was about to finish my first lap around the yard I could tell that Stella was in the "thinking mode" ... I knew what she was getting ready to do ...

In a matter of 30 seconds she went from thinking about it, to flopping over on her side for an afternoon siesta.

By lap number 2, she was in a deep sleep and was that way for almost an hour.

Later on after my siesta I decided to walk again for a few laps ... when I asked she if she wanted to walk with me ... she thought by the way she looked, that I was asking if she wanted to go on her walk ... something we have not done since August 25th, when she had the growth removed from her paw.

I almost forgot ... what were the other surprises???

To change my security code for the garage door, the "home" button was on the main garage door controller hanging on the low garage ceiling. Then I would have 30 seconds to get down and walk to the keypad to enter my new code. I did not want take a chance standing on a ladder but the more I looked at it, I was pretty sure I could stand on my kitchen chair and reach the 'home' button that would start the process.

I used my 'good' leg, the left leg, and stood on the chair with no problem. I never felt like I was going to lose my balance. Taking my time I stepped off the chair with no issues with the surgical side leg/hip. So for the first time in years, even before I bought the house, the neighbor no longer has the security code to get into the house.

Since I was on a roll there was something else I wanted to try.

I have permission to drive but the seat was lower than I could handle in the Mini Cooper. So the other day I raised that seat up as far as it would go. Took my Stanley tape measure to see how it compared to the kitchen chair I've been sitting in for almost 4 weeks. Close enough.

I set the cane up on the driver's door hinge, backed up to the doorway just like I would be getting into any car, then lowered my butt onto the seat. Ahhhhh not bad. Before I swung my legs into the floorboard area, I raised my right leg with my hand just enough where my foot would clear the bottom door rail. I was surprised I didn't have to go too low to get in the raised seat.

Swinging those legs into position under the dash was just like I do when I get in position to lay in bed. I sat there a few minutes to see what kind of muscle reaction I would get. I wasn't driving anywhere today but I had passed the first test, that being able to get in and out of the car without breaking the 90° rule and keeping my knees below or level to my butt when sitting down.

I think my first trip is going to be to The Diner for a cheeseburger and a cup of their hottest chili, which will make me sweat under my eyes ... it's that hot and tastes even better.

It's been a good day. The hounds slept a lot, even I had a siesta for about an hour and I have almost finished a book I bought the other day. Now that I think about it, I might not be able to drive anywhere until Monday. They are having a large bicycle ride this weekend and the main check in point, motels and dinner is being held just around the corner from where I live ... down the street and around the corner down by the main highway ... the place will be packed cars and bicycle riders.

I have enough food to hibernate at home this weekend and miss the mass of new people in town this weekend.

Getting stronger in the Wild West ... I'll be back on the road soon.

The Body Said To Walk

I thought it was going to be a day to "take off" after my big day yesterday. I had multiple short walks of around a 1/4 mile each, went over 6,000 steps for the day and had a restful night of sleep. There wasn't what I would call soreness but something on the side of my hip this morning while I laid in bed. Not painful, not numb nor discomfort ... just a feeling of some sort. As I walked around using the walker in the kitchen making coffee, letting the hounds outside and a few trips down the hallway, the leg and hip started to feel better ... I decided to watch and listen to see what the day would bring.

The hip felt strong again as I turned from the kitchen counter to the fridge, multiple times. I felt strong if I just stood without any support of a walker or cane. I was still willing to give things time today to see if I would continue to walk or take a day off. That would mean no walks to the mailbox, down the street or laps around the backyard ... just steps inside the house with normal activity.

It didn't take Stella long to get back to wanting breakfast at 5am. She unexpectedly let out a loud bloodhound howl as I was about to turn the corner toward the kitchen. It was so loud I was sure she was waking up the neighbors. Once Heidi heard that she woke from a deep sleep then sprinted and slid down the tiled hallway.

I stuck to my guns and told them breakfast would be served at 7am, no sooner ... go back to sleep. Believe it or not they did. Heidi turned back to her bed and Stella snuck into the computer room in the right corner. Both were sound to sleep as sat down with a cup of coffee.

I took it as a good sign that I had walked out on the patio to take some photos and completely forgot to bring my cane with me. I went back inside and moved around the kitchen on my own two feet, putting some things away and fixing some breakfast. Fry's Market would be delivering my online grocery order at 9am so I needed clear counter space.

A friend had told me that Al Roker on NBC Today, had a hip replacement about a week or a few days after me and I should tune in to see how he was doing. He was also walking with a cane but when he was giving the weather forecast he was moving fast, going back and forth, a few steps forward then back. I was beginning to wonder after seeing that if I had been too cautious, too timid at times to stretch my stride out to a normal stride.

I remembered that everyone is different, each recovery is different and to just listen to my body and just walk. By mid-morning Stella has passed out in one of her favorite spots. It didn't take long for them to get use to the new rule of not getting on the furniture. They don't even look and beg to do it anymore.

Heidi loves her new bed from a few weeks ago and spends the majority of her time right there. It doesn't matter what time of day or night it is ... if she feels like sleeping, off she goes to the back of the house.

I could tell as time went on I was feeling pretty good and even better than I expected. I thought I'd feel some soreness after yesterday but didn't. When I took a small trash bag out to the bin, I felt strong walking across the driveway and once again I had forgot to take my cane. In fact I couldn't remember where I had left my cane ... couldn't find it anywhere !!!!

Then the light inside my head clicked on and I remembered leaving it on the arm of the patio chair.

Since Heidi and Stella no longer get their lunch at noon, they like to hang out near the kitchen or in the kitchen close to the door where the dog treats are hidden. I think MJ spoiled them with dog treats where she would pass them out each time she left, which was twice per day. Today Stella wasn't moving until I gave her at least one treat to hold her over until their mid-afternoon meal.

Heidi does not like getting her picture taken. She moved every time that I had her almost lined up for a great shot.

My USPS email notice let me know I had a lot of mail today. A LOT of junk mail but only one envelope of any importance. My body was wanting to walk so off I went with my mailbox key in hand and Stella in the backyard with the door closed. So far this past week she has shown no signs of trying to dig her way out under the gate while she stays in the backyard. I don't think she leaves the patio as she stares inside through the door window until I return.

Not intending to change anything on my walk, I could feel my pace was a little faster and my stride might be a tad bit longer. Going earlier in the afternoon meant less traffic, not that I have a lot, and I could make it back home before two school buses dropped off the kids from school.

By the time I got home I had the usual .26 of a mile and felt like walking even more ... so I did lap after lap around the fence line inside the yard. It didn't take long before I was over .65 of a mile and just clicked 20 minutes total time. Definitely not a speed record but that's not the point. I walked the whole way without any kind of support, holding my hand in my hand just in case I might need it. I could have walked longer if I wanted. The goal is to eventually walk 1 mile without support.

It was my longest walk yet ... 20 minutes, no support.

I'll plan to watch both MLB Playoff games tonight but I will not make it through even the first one based on recent times. I am usually tired before 8pm and definitely before 9pm and I don't hesitate turning the lights off and officially calling it a day. The body is dictating when to walk and when to rest.

I read somewhere today that at 6 weeks I should feel 80% normal and will resume normal activities. That is the exact time for my next follow up appointment with my surgeon. After a year I will most likely forget that my hip was ever replaced. It will take about 3 months for the bone to grow into the implants.

I felt so close of taking the car for a short drive and not too far from the house but once again, I have nowhere I need to be and it cannot hurt to add more days of healing before I try to get behind the wheel.

That's about all for today. Sorry I don't have more photos but the hounds didn't do much and I did a lot of reading.

My progress continues in the Wild West.