Friday, March 19, 2010

I've Got Weather Helm! ! ! ! !

MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:

"Weather Helm" is a sailing term that refers to the tendency of a boat to "turn into the wind." Due to the design of the boat, the type of rig she carries and the configuration/combination of sails she is carrying, a boat will, if the helm (steering wheel) is release,tend to sail along on course by itself. If any of the above mention characteristics is out of balance, the boat will turn up into the wind (weather helm . . . turning into the weather) - a good thing as she will slowly come to a stop, or she will turn away from the wind (lee helm . . . turning to the lee of the weather) - not always a good thing as she will keep right on sailing whether you are on board or not. A balanced helm - will just a slight weather helm - is always best.

I have developed a "personal weather helm" as with the hip replaced and the muscles not fully stretched out and realigned, the strive of my right leg is not as great as that of my left, so I find myself going in small circles to the right. This will undoubtedly correct itself as the healing continues and the crutches get dumped for a cane and eventually for nothing at all.

After a weekend of horrendous weather, this week has been progressively more wonderful, with temps in the 50's and even flirting with the 60's. There is even a possibility of one day in the 70's over the weekend . . . before the return of the snow. That last part is mere speculation, but it seems to fit seamlessly with the way things have been going so I just tossed it in.

Yesterday was a truly glorious day as I got to take my first shower. Please keep you snide comments to yourselves!!!!!!! After two weeks a sponge baths, to be able to stand in the shower and have the water beat down was glorious almost beyond the power of speech. As I said to my home health aide, "Boy, I could stand here for an hour!" He informed me that I had a 45 minute time limit as that was the length of his "assisting" and I couldn't stay in and get out of the shower all by myself. . . . without prior medical approval. I did 30 minutes! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

The staples get pulled next Wednesday and I can't wait for that. My mobility is great and I can "scoot" quite well, and stairs are not the problem I anticipated. I am still ambushed by "fatigue." It is not surprising when, after doing 50 stairs or so, that I get the sudden urge to do a serious power nap, rather it is the "sneak attack" that comes when I am simply sitting and reading or working at the computer and I doze off in place. While they are probably getting less in duration and fewer in number, they are still annoying.

No bids or bites on anything up for sale. I can "appreciate" God's control of the situation but the "trusting" part at times is a real high wire act. I have to move from saying that "so far" God has always been there and just believe that such will always be the case. Easier some days than others, but I be working on it.