It’s the pervading emotion around here. Don was gone most of last week, the house was quiet; it was the perfect time to get things done. But we couldn’t. Or, is it that we wouldn’t? Maybe a little of both.
Until the surgery site fully heals around Mom’s new pacemaker, a danger remains that she may push, pull, or lift too much or too high with her left arm, thus pulling the leader wires out of place. Ironically, in doing its job of stimulating her heart to beat more regularly, the little medical marvel has brought renewed energy that she cannot put to much use yet, which spawns her restlessness and indirectly leads to mine.
Since Mom is forbidden to use her walker because she may lean on it with too much pressure, I have become its three-week replacement. Although I am glad to do so, it definitely shortens the leash for both of us. While it makes her feel like she should refrain from bothering us any more than she can help, I struggle with the frustration of trying to do anything for myself because it either takes me out of the house or I get interrupted multiple times and lose interest. The result is that we grind through our days repeatedly trudging at snail pace between the bathroom or the chair and count as our accomplishments only that of getting dressed and undressed. The highlight of our days is lunch and a DVD.
Although Mom and I tend to sit and mourn what we cannot do, I think that we both circle back to the fact that it is still better than the alternative losses we could have suffered. What’s a little short-term inconvenience? The fact that Mom is restless to be doing more is a good sign of her recovery and, to be truthful, I doubt that I would be any more fruitful if I had a chance, anyway. I find that I mostly feel industrious when I can’t do anything about it; as soon as I’m free, the notion leaves me entirely. So, for the week that’s left of Mom’s restrictions, we will continue to endure, if not with grace and cheerfulness, at least with fortitude, politeness, and thankfulness. Six more days and counting…
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