You are the sweetest person to always ask how I am doing. I check in to read the posts about every other day or so. I still can't sit for very long periods. I hope it won't be that way forever. It is for my FIL who broke his hip 23 years ago.

I just started using a cane around the house this week, where I can hold onto things as I walk. I use a walker when I go to doctor appointments or the, very few and far between, visits to the store. I usually only go to grocery stores where they have the motorized carts because my leg starts hurting after a lot of walking.

I made it up to the garden to supervise the final clean up early in the week. We had such beautiful sunny weather Monday. It was the first time that I really spent some time up there. I sat on the bench and watched what DH did and offered 'advice'. DH has done a great job and I told him that he was hired as my new gardener. LOL! I hadn't really been up there since Oct. 11 when I broke my hip.

I have been busy also getting in ALL my doctor appts before the end of the year. Since we had met the deductible, everything was covered. In the last couple of weeks I had my mamogram. I had to go back for more detailed mamograms and ultra sound then a biopsy. Just what I needed right now! Luckily everything came out OK. I also had my colonoscopy. Boy do I hate that prep stuff!!! And that turned out fine. And a unexpected vision test because of seeing flashes in my left eye. I think it is stress and I am falling apart at the seams.

And then there was getting everything ready, or as much as I could, for Christmas. Good thing you can order almost anything on the internet and have it delivered. I am going to make my maple syrup fudge, but that is all the holiday baking I will do this year. DH did all the decorating this year. We kept it pretty simple. A small 4 ft. pre-decorated and lighted tree, stockings on the fireplace and a wreath on the door.

I go in for a 4th month check up mid Jan. to see how everything is healing. I take it one day at a time and still hope for the best in the future. I am doing more and more each week. DH and I work together on the meals, and with the cane I can carry things so don't have to be waited on hand and foot. It is nice to be able to do things on my own. And I took a shower for the first time standing on my own, no shower chair, without supervision. Sounds funny, but it is the little things that you appreciate.

I wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season. And thanks again for asking. It makes me feel so good to think that I wasn't forgotten. I have had some pretty down days, but most of the time things have been alright. Got to keep looking ahead, not behind.
Clare

Good news Aptosca! I hope it keeps getting better 'n' better!

So glad to hear you are well on the road to a complete recovery!

Merry Christmas!

Carol

Oh Clare, I'm sorry the recovery has been so difficult and that you had the biopsy scare; but hopefully you weren't too scared as most seem to come out ok. My goodness, you've been through the mill!! It sounds flip for me to say there's a silver lining to every disappointment, but I'm so glad your dh is there to take care of you these days. Were any of your siblings able to come help for a bit? Sometimes recovery from major surgery can be very slow going at first, then pick up steam. I'll say a little prayer that it will be that way for you now! How is your ds? Has he been upset about your inability to do much or is he handling things ok? Hope you don't mind my asking.

I would think much of the garden is dead now as you had snow, didn't you? And tonight and the next few nights are going to be quite nippy, I believe. I wish I had ordered more online, but that happens only when ya think ahead, and that's not me right now. My dd at school out-of-state got home last night, but dd1 will stay in India until the end of Jan. (She's volunteering.) It's our first year without one of them and she's as sad about it as we are. Maybe that's why it took me so long to get going on the Christmas shopping. I hope we might make a trip to S.C. during the break as I find looking at the ocean very relaxing. It's been quite awhile since I've been and I'm craving something yummy from Gayle's. :) Hang in there, and know that lots of us are thinking of you and wishing you sunnier days ahead.
Erin
P.S. Will you be able to let us know about the flashes? Do you get migraines? 'Cause I know that can be related to them. You're very smart to get all these things taken care of post-deductible!

Thanks everyone for the well wishes.

Erin - No it is not migranes, but might develop into a detached retina so have to watch it. We didn't get snow, but it did get down to 28° overnight last week. Killed all my tropical plants like brugmansias. DH has worked out a routine and has adjusted to what I can and can't do. He is glad I am improving and getting back to my old self.

It sure was one H@!! of a year!
Clare

Clare, I am so glad that you are on the road to recovery and have got some of your independence back. But you certainly have had a rough year! I was surprised to read that you lost your brugmansias - you must be at a higher elevation than we are. We only have one, it's about forty years old, and so far it's handled everything that the Central Coast has thrown at it. I hope that you'll get some new ones - such amazing blooms.

I also hope you don't mind my saying this, but, ladies and gentlemen, I've met Clare and she is such a positive and cheerful person, truly fun to be with.

May you go from strength to strength in your recovery...

Sable

Sable - Thanks for the get well wishes and compliment. We all should get together again soon. Maybe in the spring after all the holidays.

I haven't been a "positive and cheerful person" lately. I did have to go in to the Ophthalmologist again this morning and he did laser surgery to re-attach the retina where it had torn. DH asked me when we got home a little awhile ago - what next? I will be so glad when this year is over. Then maybe it will be the end of all this bad luck.
Clare

Good healing thoughts, aptosca!

Clare, I agree about the get-together. Let's keep that in mind after the holidays.

Good news about the surgery for your eye! I'll keep praying for the bounce-back of that positive and cheerful woman that I met!

Sable

I had no idea you were having problems, Clare, as I haven't been reading too much here lately. I'm glad you have things under control and are being treated well.

That's scary about your eye. I've been seeing blue flashes in my left eye for about 3 weeks and while they've eased up, maybe I need to go get it looked at. I googled about it and it said it could just be normal aging, but now I'm not so sure!

Good luck, sweetie and I hope you're all better soon.

Thanks everyone for the good wishes.

flamingo - Please make an appointment right away. They thought mine at frst was just normal for my age, but it didn't go away and got worse. Keep on top of it.

sable_ca - Thanks, I hope things settle down here for awhile so I can enjoy things more. Lets keep reminding each other about the get together.
Clare