It has been 6 weeks since David's operation. Throughout this time, David has kept off his feet as advised, minimizing extraneous activities and focusing on his rehabilitative process. We go to the physio once a week and the doctor every 2 weeks -- although each venture out of the apartment still feels like a big production, we've now mastered the art of carefully getting David into the taxi, arranging his leg over my knee so it's stabilized, both buckling in, and then getting out of the taxi. Yesterday, the doctor gave David the OK to put his right foot down, little by little, to begin re-strengthening it into walking shape -- after 6 weeks of non-use, it's very weak. He still has to use the brace and crutches, and it's still a gentle process (no bending, no incline, just some weight, a little bit at a time), but he's on a steady track and, as the doctor keeps reminding us, patience is required.
There have been a few upsides to being at home all time time. The upside: David is improving his Japanese language skills. Having time on his hands, he studies some Japanese every day, and also has taken to watching some Japanese cartoons in Japanese, with English subtitles. He has suddenly expanded his vocabulary and will launch into a word or phrase in everyday context, at once surprising and humoring me. I think he's a natural -- excellent pronunciation, and an instinctive grasp of the language. He also uses it in his own way, so his Japanese has a very distinct and charming personality. It's nice to be able to communicate, if only bit by bit, in another language.
Another plus is that I have learned to do the laundry. I know this seems like a stupid achievement -- but since meeting David, I have not done the laundry, as he is very particular about how clothes are laundered. I had, in fact, never even seen the laundry room in our building until David's surgery required that I take up the household chore. Although David had to write down the instructions for me initially, I am now an expert launderer (or so I feel), and am quite proud and liberated by my laundering evolution.
And an upside that also could also be a downside is that I cook everyday. Since going out isn't an option and delivery meals never seem the healthiest option, I have cooked dinner every single day for the last 6 weeks, with an exception of a work dinner I had to attend (sans David). Although we had a lunch of delivery pizza twice, otherwise we've existed on home-cooked meals only. This is my personal cooking-streak record. To keep this streak going and interesting, I've depended heavily on my cookbook collection (a chance to try out recipes I'd always wanted to try) as well as food blogs. I think I have expanded my repertoire quite a bit. The downside to my home-cooking expansion is that I have taken up making some comfort foods that I wouldn't normally eat, unless on an indulgent occasion at a restaurant -- cakes, other types of dessert, pasta, even fried rice. Although these food items seem innocent enough, we're not used to eating too much of them frequently, so I need to make sure I don't get too carried away cranking out dishes just because we crave them and can't eat out. (It'd be a shame to come out of this home-bound period chubbier.)
And so it goes. 6 weeks done, more to come, but we're getting through it with our wits and waist-lines still in tact, at least so far!
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