Last night was our third ASL class and I am loving it!  During class time we practice signing small dialogues and the teacher and a deaf co-trainer correct us and help us get the signing right, but also explain to us what’s going on with perception from a deaf person’s perspective, which can be quite different than what a hearing person would expect.  I find it very interesting and also helpful.  One of the dialogues we were working on in this class was answering the question “Why are you learning sign language?”  I know that most people are in the class to support me and be able to communicate with me no matter what happens down the road, but watching each person individually sign that they were learning ASL because they have a hard of hearing friend/sister-in-christ/mother/wife/mother-in-law/future mother-in-law (all me, btw!)…it made me tear up.  It really touched me.  Benita, the deaf co-trainer, also told me that she wants to work with me in particular to help me learn signing well and make sure I’m doing okay with it.  I really appreciate the support of Benita and Debbie (the instructor).  They each bring new elements to helping me on this journey and I feel blessed to know them and have their knowledge at my disposal as well as their support.  We have a lot of new vocabulary to learn each week for homework, then practice using it in class.  I’m looking forward to adding this week’s vocabulary to my repertoire and am amazed at how much we have learned in such a short period of time.

Tomorrow is my first physical therapy session for my knee.  Overall it is feeling pretty good.  I’m able to walk on it fairly normally and with relatively little pain.  It does still feel unstable (like it’s going to “go”) from time to time, but not as often as before.  It tires pretty quickly.  Walking long distances (probably not considered long by someone with good knees!) and walking on uneven ground are still difficult, but I’m handling stairs fairly well.   I just have to be careful.  I do think that whatever exercises they give me to do in physical therapy to strengthen my knee and the supporting area will definitely help.

Regarding prednisone, I feel like my side effects are fairly minimal!  That’s definitely an answer to prayer.  I do have the “moon face” they talk about and am clearly carrying quite a bit of fluid in my system.  I also am noticing that it takes longer for cuts and things to heal, but I feel pretty well and am grateful for that.

Thanks to all who are checking in on me!  I appreciate your continued interest, and your love and concern!