It has been one week since my pain left my joints.  I have finished my cleanse and am now following a strict diet that does not include any inflammation-causing ingredients…mostly consuming fruits, veggies, lean meats, and drinking tons of water.  I still walk with a limp, tire easily, get cramps and twinges of discomfort, and have swelling that has not gone away entirely.  I am feeling a little more hopeful, though.

The other day I stood up and my hip caught, causing shooting pain all the way to my head.  I doubled over on the bed and wept ferociously.  All the terror of an impending lifetime of crippling pain overwhelmed me and I just broke down.  My poor fiance witnessed my hysteria, tried to console me, and quite heroicly never said another word about it once I was all better.  Such a gentleman.  I have to accept that it will not be all smooth sailing.  I am sure my road to recovery will be arduous and fraught with setbacks, as all roads to recovery seem to be.  Why would I expect it to be otherwise?  But I can’t give up at each obstacle or I’ll never get to the good stuff.

Yesterday, my daughter left me in charge of my granddaughter in the car while she shopped.  She thought we should drive around the parking lot in the air conditioning so I wouldn’t have to walk and we could stay cool in the Texas heat.  Instead, we went on an adventure…something I never would have done a week ago.  Charlotte and I created a pram out of one of the smaller carts and explored the jungle that is HEB’s outdoor garden center.  We touched each and every flower, bush, and plant that looked safe.  We wheeled under hanging plants and looked at them from below.  We weaved in and out of potted trees and stood underneath giant fans that made the shaded area quite comfortable, despite the 95 degree Texas heat.

We got thirsty and enjoyed refreshments next to a beautiful large-leafed plant that looked very exotic.  Charlotte stared at it the entire time she drank her bottle.  For the first time in a very long time, I did something that involved walking, entertained my grandbaby successfully, and spent time outside in a nature-like setting.  This was big for me.  The warmth, good bottle, and spirit of adventure took their toll and left us both quite spent, but it was good fun.  Charlotte is a good recovery partner.  She does not judge my need for breaks, does not hurry me along, goes right along with my crazy ideas, and takes naps.  My kind of girl.