Reluctant Nurse

My husband,Tom, had total right knee replacement two weeks ago ..... AND ..... that means I became responsible for all the yardwork, housework, and care of our swimming pool.  I have taken all of it in stride, but the nursing has been challenging.  The patient has been so sweet and appreciative, but seriously he needs help with everything!  Well maybe not "everything" but close.  He has a device to keep the knee moving and his PT and Dr. want him to be on that at least 6 hours a day.  I wanted to set it up in one of the guest rooms where he could watch TV and get a change of scenery from the Master, well that is what I told him, but I really wanted to set it up where I wouldn't be having to pick it up and do full set up every 3 to four hours.  He wouldn't go for it, so I dutifully and with a smidge of resentment lift it onto the bed in our Master Bedroom where he spends all his nights and 90% of his waking hours.  Some friends loaned us an icing machine that keeps me from having to keep ice packs going, but it does require filling the small ice chest with ice 3-4 times a day.

My reluctance to Nurse is the fact that I know I am not very good when it comes to sympathy .... my mantra is "suck it up buttercup"!  LOL  How would YOU like to have me as your Nurse?  Nurse Ratchet.  LOL  God has been so faithful to me and I have been incredibly healthy so I know I need to count my blessings and let God's love flow through my service and the ability to serve.
(Matt 20:28)  That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage.”  He commanded us to serve as He served so with the human side of me being reluctant, the spiritual side is full speed ahead.

It has surprised me how much satisfaction I have gotten from caring for the flower beds and vegetable garden.  I have always loved gardening because it reminds me so much of my Mom.  Tom and I have always shared the responsibility but I counted on him to do the hard things or the things I didn't want to do.  Now, I am in total control and have surprised myself by how much I can do ..... I still hate it when I run into a worm when I am digging  AND yes I know they are good for the soil, just not for my soul.  This is the first year I have touched the vegetable garden, that has always been Tom's garden, but I love it and am so excited every time I bring in a tomato or pepper.  The cucumbers, squash, onions, and watermelon are doing splendid.  I did learn that squash needs pollinators (a/k/a bees) to produce, otherwise you have beautiful vines and flowers that simply fall off when they wilt.  Soooooo I have become the pollinator,  I simply touch each stamen with the tip of my finger.  I don't know why we don't have bees this year except everyone has sprayed heavily for mosquitoes because we have had a wet spring.  Evidently what kills the mosquitoes also kills the bees, which upsets the balance of nature.  God had such a beautiful design for nature and "we" "me" keep trying to "fix it"!

By the way, the girl never showed up that was supposed to help me, keeping my drinks refreshed and fanning me while I worked ...... she and the bees are AWOL.  LOL