~Good Question~

If you read last nights comments I was asked an interesting

question and quite honestly I didn't really think about it till

I read it. The question was ' I am curious to know if and

how your stumps have changed since your amputations'

Which is an excellent one..since its made me stop and take

real notice today and think about how they have changed. I

SEE .In size of course, with up and down weight gain..and with

no real good exercise like walking they are extremely soft and

pliable..I do exercise them just about every morning before I get

out of bed, I will lay and lift and rotate in a circular motion, around

and around, then up and down, I do this quite a few times.. I think

it really helps..Some days I don't and I notice in my hips especially

that I need this extra movement other than just one of transferring,

which really is more arm and hand than with my stumps. but I have

noticed thinking today that there are really 2 things that I FEEL have

changed..and for the better...

Since the amputations I have felt my legs and feet as being

there. I can move my toes, swing my invisible legs..I can point

my toes downward as if standing tiptoe.. I notice tho that the

length..I FEEL from knee to the bottom Of my foot is shorter now

than I remember it feeling last year. Now, to me it feels from knee

to foot only maybe half what it was as a whole leg and most times

there is a pressure I FEEL is pushing up on the bottom of my foot

to push it upwards..Like having my foot in the stirrup of a horse, Ive

never been on one but I think that would be a good example..they

hang free but in that. A lot of times they feel twisted in odd directions,

each going in different ways..which is most confusing.. I sit and

feel that and think "how would I even know which way I was

walking with feet like that".. :-) Id be going in 2 directions at once

the way they felt.. :-)

I noticed today that when I woke up..both invisible legs felt

as though they were very light and hardly there..and straight

out as they would have been if they had been there.. Most

times even though I am laying flat my invisible legs still FEEL

like they are down at an angle, like hanging over an edge,

but going thru the bed really..:-) I have had so much going on

that when I thought of it today I notice..the phantoms are

different..I don't remember the last day I had some really BAD

ones..the ice pick stabs in the heel..those HURT...They have

been achy and my right one still has a tendency to sleep.. But

now that I am really concentrating on just HOW they feel..Yes,

they have changed..and I have to say..feel better than they

have since I had them taken... Im glad.. I wonder why it took a

question for me to really pay attention that "Lois,, do you notice

any difference in how your stumps feel?" Probly its been a

slow gradual process..its 6 years last month I lost my left..and

next month will be 7 for my right... They have changed and I

will say improved..They still bother me I noticed a few times

today when I had to keep moving to find a good way to sit..I

think that may be in my hips...I think they are affected too.
Yes, they have changed...

Was a super cold day only in the high 20's..Every time the door

opened I could feel the cold come rushing in..Getting plastic on

that porch, the glass is already in the door, that will make a big

difference too I think.. Today was the free box of food from the

CAA and it sure comes in handy. I don't buy juice because they

give us 2 huge cans, and veggies, staples.. This month they

gave us an extra one, every 3 months they do that..Every little

bit helps and keeps me stocked so I don't ever have to worry.

I have food here and yet I can sit here at this desk, my stomach

can be growling im starved, and I don't know what I want..not

one thing sounds good.. I think tho what I base a lot of what I eat

on is just how hard is it going to be to fix it..and how LONG is

is going to take.. that is the major deciding factor sometimes,

specially if Im tired.. Today I got up at 4:45, wide awake..Im

tired this time of day, that's why I try to eat early lunch about

noon at least..then at night I only want something light..as I have

more energy to prepare it.. I just sound so totally lazy.. :-) but

Im not really.. If I have to go thru major stuff to make something

special I will..if its something I havent had in ages.. like stuffed

peppers..or cabbage rolls.. be really hard here..but if push comes

to shove..and I HAD to have some..I could do it.. just take a

long time..but it would be worth it too...Penny went and got the

food for me special today, she is feeling better but she said her

granddaughter is sick as well.. I hope Penny isnt contagious.. I

sure dont want what she had.. Id have to just sleep in the bath

room I would hate that :-) so fingers crossed she wasnt.. :-)

Time for a snack...and some TV I hope..then its lights out for this

GORGEOUS WEEBLE.. I hope in that order "nitey nite" :-) oh..

good question..jeeezzz you made me havta THINK!!! :-D ouch!

Y'all have a good one now, Y'hear? Love ya, and THANKS ! :-)

Always, Lois ****

God Bless you, is my prayer today,

I'm so honored to call you "friend";

I pray the Lord will keep you safe,

Until I write again.....