CaringJoy

I have never fancied myself as a nurse/caregiver. I have always preferred taking care of the business side of illness rather than the nursing side. I liked typing out the medication list, making the appointments, and taking notes at the doctor's office. The day-to-day caregiving, was not what I believed I was very good at doing.
I am finding such joy in taking care of my sweet husband during his rehabilitation from knee surgery. One thing I have found is that whatever personality you have doing the good times is the same one you will have during difficult times. He is the perfect patient--does what he is supposed to do, cooperates, is not demanding and did a lot of things pre-surgery to make things easier for me. He labeled all of his cereal so that I would know what mixtures he wanted--I knew that he ate cereal every morning, but didn't know how he mixed it.
I have had to do grocery shopping (that's what he likes to do that) and found out that a former student works at my neighborhood Vons and has been there for four years. I didn't even know where to look for specific groceries because I hadn't shopped in so long, except for occasionally picking up one or two items. I have learned that he shops at at least 5 or 6 stores depending upon where the sales are. Milk at Walgreens, fruit at Henry's, sodas at Keils, Capri Suns at Food for Less, soup at Vons. What a day I had--but it was all joyful. I learned so many new things.
I have also learned a lot about where things are in the house. I have to get things for him, so now I know where he keeps everything in his office--I never went through his things before.
I have become an expert at "all things downstairs" because I have been spending a lot of time there. I think I have lost at least 5 pounds already from going up and down the stairs each day.
The most amazing part of all of this is the absolute joy I am feeling from taking care of him--I know that he would do the same for me. "Ain't love something?"