Went to the mailbox about noon time

My wife thinks I should get a walker so I can do longer distances without worry that I might fall. I ordered a walker this morning from Amazon, and the walker will be delivered on Monday. I'll still visit my mailbox, but I will also be going longer distances to eventually go completely around the block two or three times. I will continue using my cane inside my house, so the walker will be for long walks. The walker has a storage bag, so I can put the mail in the bag while returning to the house. I need both my hands free to go up two steps to my front door

Went to the mailbox again

I walked to my mailbox again and got today's mail. I need to get a bag that hangs from my neck so both hands are free. Today, I handed the mail to my wife while I went up two steps to my front door. My wife, however, may not always be available. She was outside today to monitor what I was doing in case I fell.

I walked to my mailbox.

I walked to my mailbox and back. The mail box is on my property line, north of my driveway.

On Sunday I walked a greater distance. I went outside using the wrong door of the church building, and I walked (outside) around the church building to my car, which my wife was driving.

This week, I will go to my mailbox.  Next week I will go further. I am using my cane while I walk. I plan on walking next week to the first cable TV box that is south of my driveway

My plan is to do a long walk on Saturday, a medium walk on Wednesday, and rest walks on Monday and Tuesday. This leaves Thursday and Friday as rest days. Sunday, of course, is always a rest day since it is my Sabbath day.

Going to my mailbox is a rest walk. Going to the first cable box is a medium walk, and going the second cable box will be a long walk. It will take a week or two to put this plan into operation. I need to get used to the distance to the first and second cable boxes before my plan goes into operation.

Keeping my balance

Getting to the second floor is now quite easy, although I use the banisters to help me get to the next step. The banisters help me keep my balance while my leg muscles move my feet up or down to the next step. My arms pull me forward, using the banister to provide an object in front of me to pull against. Thus, the banisters serve two purposes: to help with my balance and to help me move forward.

I use a cane when I do walking during the day. I could walk without the cane, but the cane provides a third leg and helps me keep my balance. During the evening and night, while is is dark, I use the 1/2 walker, because it helps me keep my balance and is more steady since it has four legs. I get dizzy when it is dark.

I'm about ready to start walking outside. My first goal will be to walk to my mailbox and back.  I'll probably use my cane outside because I don't want to fall. 

Took a shower, a real shower!

My shower is on the second floor, and I took a real shower this morning, after navigating the 15 step to the second floor. After church, I went to the second floor and changed to different and easier to maintain clothes. I like to wear shorts that extend to just below my knees, because they are easier to put on and off than long pants.

Made it to the second floor

My living room is one step below the rest of the floors in the house, and I'm practicing  going down that step and then up that step. The problem I'm having is keeping my balance after I make the change in elevation.

However, I have good news to share. I made it up 15 steps to the second floor. I went inside my bedroom and bathroom and filled my pockets with bottles that I needed to use downstairs. I've been taking most of my daily pills but not quite all of the pills. I've been practicing on one step, but this was the first time I went up 15 steps to my second floor. I felt pretty good after I came down 15 steps to the main floor. The Physical Therapist, Gary, has been coming twice a week to do exercises that strengthen my leg and arm muscles, and his work is paying off.

No cancer in my bones

I mentioned in an earlier comment that I had a scan of my total body, and the scan showed no signs of cancer. This is good news!

Attended church

I attended church yesterday. It was nice to go to my ward again. The only steps involved were three  steps out of my house and one step in front of the ward building. I used the railing on my front porch to get out of the house.  The one step in front of the ward building was OK because I've been practicing doing steps, and I touched my car to keep my balance. Once inside the ward building I walked around OK because it was a level floor. I carried my cane in case I needed it.