Dearly Beloved,

Wow, has a lot changed this week! I hope all of you had a wonderful week. Here the colors continue to change and the leaves are falling more rapidly. Scott harvested the last of the tomatoes and the plants are withering with frost now. Old man winter is knocking on the door.

My hip is improving daily now, which is really exciting! I seem to require less and less down time to recover and can stand and walk and exercise for longer periods. They really pushed me in PT this week and my therapist said it was time for me to start testing some limits and see what my body could do. So, I did…

I figured out how to get back on my yoga mat on the floor and do part of my salutation sequence! I am so unbelievably excited by this! I didn’t think I’d be able to do this until the 6-week mark, but I did it on my 3-week anniversary! I included a video my friend Marta took when she first saw me do it. It’s the one with me on the yoga mat. I’m also walking more and more without a cane and my walk improves continuously now. I included a video Scott took yesterday, after the yoga mat video. I can put more weight on the leg, but I can only hold it about 1-2 seconds. I’m still working on strengthening it. I’m happy to say I made it all the way around the block a couple of days ago! A feat I have not managed in a couple of months.

Rhonda’s Hip Adventure Videos  You can always click on the “i” in the circle to find out what a video is about and when it was taken.

I’m also resuming my Qigong when I get up in the morning. Great way to loosen everything up and get moving. I’m going to try some easy Tai Chi this afternoon. Tai Chi is an awesome way to work with weight shifting and balance without too much strain.

I had my first outing—dinner at Scott’s dad’s place with my mom and Scott and Jim’s old neighbor, Kitty. It was great to get out and be able to sit through a whole meal!

Tonight, we are going to see an Edith Piaf performance at the theater downtown. I’m really looking forward to it. It will be the first time I experience the elevator.

I tested out driving around the block yesterday and it was a cinch, so I’m back in the saddle again and Scott is done “Driving Miss Daisy” on her Princess Pillow. Thank you, Scott for all your patient chauffeuring and errand running these last few weeks!

The pain is now minimal and I’m only taking a couple of ibuprofen at bedtime and a Benadryl. Sleep is much better and more restful.

Oh, other big exciting event of the week was being able to put on socks and underwear without having to use tongs or my grabber tool! The flexibility in my hip is greatly improved and that makes life so much easier.

It feels like I am rejoining life and the world now after a more reclusive, introspective time. I’m happy to be back! I look forward to connecting with each of you when the time is right.

As part of my rejoining the world, I’ve decided to reinvent rhondaashurst.com. I’d like to use it as a blogging platform, and also a repository of my writing and favorite resources. I was inspired by the many bloggers who helped me with their stories about their own hip surgeries and recovery. I’d like to add to the growing database out there by posting my own Hip Adventures. But, I also have a lot of other topics I’d like to explore and this feels like a good way to do it.

I’m hopeful I’ll be able to get it up and running within the next couple of weeks and then I’ll shift my updates to that platform and email out a link to all of you. I think it is amazing what we can do on the Internet! It is a great way to share information and learn about how others have come through similar challenges. Like my dear friend Mary says, “When we tell each other our stories, we help each other heal.”

So, I don’t know if I will be sending out another group email update. We will see how it goes.

I want to express my gratitude to my amazing partner, Scott, who has attended lovingly to my every need with patience, steadiness, and lots of positive energy. I could never have done this without you and I am continually amazed by you. Thank you for loving me and for teaching me to be a better person, every day.

Thanks also to all of you who have held me in your thoughts and prayers, sent me your good wishes and gifted me sweet comforts, delicious food and beautiful flowers along the way. You are the treasures of my life.

Special thanks to my mom, who provided so many delicious meals these last few weeks!

My blessings to you all!

With much love and a big hug,

Rhonda