Quite a bit has been happening since my last few posts. It’s kept me on a pretty tight leash, but things are starting to ease a bit.
Bayou had to have ankle surgery 10/17. She stepped in a hole while gardening in mid-2010, and it never healed right. A much-needed MRI later, and lo and behold the brevis tendon was split down the middle. AWESOME.
This surgery, in case you know nothing about it, is a 6mo recovery. Minimum. So rather than wait any longer, she opted to go under the knife. The procedure was a success, but the aftermath has been a challenge. She got a chest cold 2 days after the operation which was a major bummer, but did manage to get up and moving and back to work the following week. Bayou is still on crutches with a walking boot, but PT starts next week with the hopes it will wean her off them entirely.
She’s having a common side effect which is intense, stabby nerve pain on the outside edge of the foot and down the big toe. But that too is easing; hopefully in a couple weeks it will be almost gone.
I’m not sure who has been more challenged by this; she by having to be so dependent on me, or me having to shoulder my full-time plus job and the house duties- including cooking. Yes, don’t choke, you read that right. I, the confirmed anti-kitchen crank, have been cooking. And not badly, either.
We’ve managed to settle into a decent flow, but there are days when I think there is a breaking point and I am perilously close to it. But a couple deep breaths later, and we’re generally on track. It’s not perfect and never will be, but at least the laundry gets done, we’re eating, and the animals aren’t totally stir-crazy.
Being so focused on the home side of things has given me a lot of time to think, reevaluate, and conclude there are a number of things in my life I do not need. It will take some time to weed those things out but at least I feel a tad bit more certain. There is a peace associated with truly examining these things that is hugely satisfying. Each day it becomes easier to think about those things I want in my life, and cultivating them. Hopefully it be a habit sooner than an active exercise.
I hope Bayou’s recovery progresses swiftly. If Missy were similarly laid up, I’d be in exactly your shoes with the cooking and making sure the dog gets walked and all of that. You’re giving me hope!