Today after work, we went out shopping for groceries (she's been begging for me to take her for about a week). I told her I have enough trouble pushing a shopping cart through a crowded supermarket, much less pushing her in a wheelchair at the same time!
So I finally gave in. I was imagining her getting about halfway down the 2nd aisle, and getting winded and needing to go home -- or some other emergency. On top of that, I forgot to bring the (detachable) leg rests for the wheelchair -- and I figured she'd get tuckered out having to either hold up her legs, or scoot Flintstones' style through the store... But -- surprisingly (or maybe NOT surprisingly, based on everything else she's done) -- she made it through the whole store with no problems! (The only problem was, she loaded up the cart with so much stuff that we barely had room for it all at home.)
Back to the wheelchair part of the story. Normally I wheel her out the back door, down the ramps, then around front to the garage. And Maverick goes ballistic, thinking Mommy's going away for another three months... But today Steph was ready to try walking down the step to the garage. She did a great job (holding my hands for support)! All while Mavi lay unsuspecting on the back patio! So normally in the house, we have the leg rests off the wheelchair, and Steph just scoots around with foot power. So that's how the wheelchair was configured when I loaded it in the back of the SUV, not thinking. Turns out it was better without the leg rests. More room in the back for groceries, and it made the wheelchair more compact for getting around in the store.
So, not only was this Steph's first shopping trip in over five months -- she also wore her wedding ring for the first time in over five months!
Little steps of progress every day! Hallelujah!!
(P.S. -- She hadn't worn her rings because her fingers had been swollen...)