Replacements and Repairs

It has been a long time since I have posted anything (several weeks). Once you hear what is going on, it will become obvious as to why the delay. It has to do with replacements and repairs.
I am actually sitting in a hospital room on the 7th floor of Kaiser's L.A. Hospital center (where, amazingly, I have found an wireless connection!). It is the day after Joanie's hip replacement surgery and she is talking on her cell phone to the folks at her school. Isn't modern technology amazing? Yesterday, after a 2-3 hour surgical process, Joanie received a new metal hip and metal joint. The surgeon, Dr. Merek, is a great surgeon both by reputation and by manner, and he considers Joan to be his star patient. He is very pleased with the placement of the new hip (he said, after looking at the x-rays, "Why can't all my patients x-rays look that good!") and expects her to go home on Friday (the operation was Tuesday). She has already been out of bed and walked (albeit only halfway across the room and back) and will increase her length each time they get her up (about 2-3 times per day). We have rearranged the apartment so that there is a bed on the ground floor. She will not be able to use steps for several weeks. And, yes, we do have a bathroom on the ground floor!
Over the course of the last several months, the deterioration of Joanie's hip was significant. Walking with the aid of a cane, unable to get in and out of the car without significant struggle (the last week or so she has been using a rope to aid her in picking up her foot and putting it in or out of the car - she could not do that on her own), sitting or laying down were both painful, and the agony of moving your foot the wrong way and receiving a shot of pain - all these and more made it obvious to anyone that she had to do something to repair her damaged, arthritic hip. Through it all she has been an incredible trooper - never missing a day of school or church or any of her small group meetings. It has been amazing to watch her go through the pain and never complain. I have loved this woman for more than three decades and continue to fall in love with her over and over again. She never ceases to amaze me with her strength and determination.
To all of you who have sent flowers, shared prayers, visited us, called to check up, or just loved my wife and me during this situation - thanks. And God Bless you all.