Postoperative day two - morning update from Sierra

As Ellen says, "Dear Blog Friends". . .
It is Wednesday morning - a cool, gray but beautiful morning in San Francisco. I arrived a little after 6:30 to be with mom and the residents were examining and talking with her. She was wide awake and in good spirits when I walked in and told me that she had almost texted me in the middle of the night to share her good news- she can move her leg a teeny, tiny bit! While this may not sound like much, this is major progress and, while she still has quite a ways to go, this initial step in the right direction (truly no pun intended) is very exciting. She was able to move her leg a few inches back and forth and can passively move it up and down. Her pain is still present, particularly with active flexing or extending of the leg, but much more under control with her current medication regimen. Honestly, seeing her simply shift positions in the bed on her own was awesome. These small movements are things that most of us don't even consciously think about or realize that we are taking for granted. It is truly a blessing to be able to move our muscles and power our bodies through the world.
Today a physical therapist will see her; she is anxious to get a little more mobility and maybe to even sit up with her legs over the side of the bed. We'll all be pulling for her (while also gently encouraging her to take it slow and listen to her body).
Thank you for all the notes here and in email. It has really brightened Ellen's spirits to hear from folks. In her room here, she has a few vases of beautiful rhododendrons that Danny brought in from their beautiful gardens, some orchids and a bunch of photos of family surrounding her. The sun shines in for much of the day most days such that the room is filled with light. While no one ever wants to be a patient in the hospital, it is fitting that Ellen's room would be filled with beauty and brightness.
I know she is very much looking forward to improving enough to go home and she is hopeful that this will happen somewhat soon; I think it will still be a few more days here at the least . Once at home, she will still be needing help for a few weeks especially during the days while Danny is at work. Even as her mobility improves here little by little, she has a long recovery ahead and she is on strict orders to be mostly on bedrest for 3-4 weeks, to not bend, squat, lift, not walk much, etc. . . meaning no cooking, dishes, gardening, exercising, lifting up her grandbaby, etc. We will keep you all posted as to when she'll be heading home. I'll be trying to coordinate a calendar of folks who have time to come hang out in the house for part of a day here or there in the coming weeks, to be available to lend a hand if she needs it and to simply be an able-bodied presence while she rests and recovers.
We'll continue to update you on things here. Hope that you all have a wonderful day wherever you are. Mom is sleeping now. . . Here's hoping that her pain remains well controlled, that she continues to rest a lot, to eat well and that she regains her strength and mobility little by little. Taking things one day at a time; that's all any of us can really do.

Sierra