New Friends and a New Life

 I'm home. I've been home since the 14th. Being home is nice and a little scary. 

Janet picked me up and brought me home on Sunday, Dec 14th. Before leaving the hospital though, I got a fancy new boot and a cane to help me around in my house. 

Meet Harvey the Cane and Klause the Boot. Yes, I named them. I can't help myself. 

The boot is a "wedge" boot which has nothing under the toes. The wedge is in the back to keep all the pressure off the toes. It's been a challenge learning how to walk on it. But if learning to walk on it meant I can go home, then I'm all for it.

The cane and boot came with a PT specialist in the hospital who taught me how to walk on them and especially how to go up and down stairs. Who knew there was a right and wrong way to do that? 

I was still a little unsteady on them when I left the hospital and was sure glad to have Harvey around once I got home. 

The cat greeted me at the door then promptly ignored me for about an hour. I'm not sure he was sure I was sticking around. The poor guy had to spend a week alone with only Sherrie stopping by to feed and hug on him. Eventually he ended up in my lap as if life was back to normal. It wasn't yet, but we were on our way. 

I went right back to work on Monday. Happy for the distraction. Work peeps were amazing. The PMs picked up anything I had left, and took on all the new stuff. The boss was super understanding and willing to help me out where I needed it. They sent me some beautiful flowers while in the hospital too. It was unexpected and so very welcoming. I needed a little color in the dull hospital room. 

I have a Home Health Nurse coming in twice a week to take my INR (blood thinner number) and clean my wound. We're down to cleaning it every other day. For the days the nurse isn't here, Sherrie has stepped in to do it. (Have I mentioned how lucky I am to have such a good BFF?) There has been some talk of me doing it on my own, but I can't see it very well and am a bit uncomfortable with that. If I had to, I would, and I may have to. 

I have learned some new tricks this last week. I learned about Amazon Fresh. I can't shop you see so I had to get groceries into the house and Amazon Fresh was the answer. I miss grocery shopping. But for the next month this will do just fine. In fact, it's a little too easy. 

Now, here I sit on Christmas even wondering, yet again, how I got here. I've reached the acceptance stage of this adventure that this isn't a quick fix. It's a long game of healing. Healing takes time and patience and is SO VERY exhausting. Still, I've come to grips with the fact that I'll be down for the count at least through the end of January. Can't drive until the wound is completely healed over, and based on the look of it, it'll be weeks, if not months. 

One of the promises to the universe I made was that if I didn't have to do IV antibiotics at home, I would start paying attention to what I was eating. It hasn't been easy since I can't really cook much, but I'm making a plan and changing where I can. I'm sure the universe understands that I'm a slow learner and has given me a grace period to get used to this new reality. 

I bought myself a book to read to really, truly start understanding what being a diabetic means. I've been ignoring what this means and assuming that there weren't any real changes I need to make. I know that's wrong now and promised myself I'd learn more about this disease and how I can best management. 

I have weekly doc appointments now with the Infectious Disease doc. He'll be the main one I check in with now. Doc M, the podiatrist, wants me to visit him in a couple of weeks. I'd love to if I could get an appt. 

And so on this day before Christmas, I've stopped feeling sorry for myself. I'm learning to be patient and accept that this will take some time to heal and I'll be back on my feet in now time (pun not intended). I'm so very grateful for all the friends and family who have helped out either by driving me somewhere, bring me food and conversation, or just checking in. My tribe is very special to me and I've learned that they are here for me. It does take a village it seems.