Joint Replacement #3

My mom had her hip replaced last Thursday.  Her first hip was done many years ago (10-15 we think, although no one seems to remember exactly when), one of her knees about four years ago, and now her second hip.  I tell her she's going to be a bionic woman soon.  

I don't think she expected it to be worse this time around, but she is significantly older and it really took a lot out of her.  I took the kids to the hospital Friday and Saturday, and last night I went by myself.   I sat and read to her, and helped her to roll over, and gave her my fleece so she could take her arms out from under the blankets and not be cold.  It's strange, taking care of her in such a physical way.  

I think of how physical a mother's relationship is with a baby.  The hours of nursing, the constant diapering, the bathing.  How even by Lee's age there is less and less touching, and by the pre-teen years things have settled into a hug in the morning and a kiss at night.  Then there are years apart, until you become like me and my mom, giving each other a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek at the beginning and end of each visit.