Just 40 Days

Hayden Michelle Today I was blessed with another grandchild.  My daughter Justine gave birth to a second daughter.  My sister and I drove over an hour to meet 'Gracie' (the name they called the fetus) at the hospital.  We arrived 20 minutes after the birth and were able to go right in. There we learned the baby's name:  Hayden Michelle.  Steve and Justine chose to name their child after Justine's sister Haylee.  They did not share the name they had picked out with me until today.  I knew they had talked about it, but didn't know what they had decided.

I tried to be optimistic when I went to the doctors to remove my sutures and evaluate my healing process.  The wound looked good, and I able to use a removable boot so that I can shower.  I wanted to hear the words weight bearing...but did not.  Fortunately, Derrick had brought me to reality a few days back by stating "Mom, you're not going to walk this soon."  Although I did not want to believe him, a seed was planted. I further investigated how long it takes for a tendon to heal ... 8 weeks and up to 12 months for full function!  I'm still trying to be optimistic...a difficult task as I'm in more pain today than I've been in 10 days.  My ankle has swollen some since they removed the sutures.  I try to remind myself that it took a long time (55 years) to injure my tendon, what's a couple of months to repair it? Again I am learning empathy for those in pain.  I have a different understanding of independence.  I am grateful for my nine y...

As I ponder the day, March 17th, I'm reminded of the 'cousins' party my mom would throw.  I think she had three or four of them during the '80s.  She invited her sister Kate and her ten children to join her eight children for a night of family fun, food, and fellowship.  I remember playing a game of "Family Feud" where my mom read questions about our family and contestants needed to 'buzz' in by using a 'kazoo'.   Have you ever tried to play a kazoo while laughing?  It's not easy!  My mom was genius!

This morning, my friend Gwen, the librarian, said she bought me a gift: A bell for my scooter!  She is so thoughtful. I immediately found a way to install it.   I can't remember having so much fun!  The sound of it made heads turn, brought back memories to others and causes the talking during my classes to pause! Thank you Gwen!

Today was my first day back to work.  I must say it was hard to wake up at 5:30.  It was hard to go down the stairs on my butt. (I don't plan on doing that any more.)  It was hard to go through the day without good pain relief. But I survived and so did my students.  They loved my scooter and frankly so do I. I could not be at work without it! Alot of things happened during the four days of work I missed.  Problems were resolved in ways that perhaps I didn't agree with, but must learn to let them go. My goal was to make it until 2:00.  I made it until 1:30.  So 7-1:30 is not a bad first day.  Plus I lined up a parking Valet so I don't have to use the stairs!  The maintenance crew at work are the best!

Ouch! So this is my foot!  No wonder it hurts!  And gee, my foot really is flat!  The doctor said this looks great! Today was my first post-op visit.  Main event: change the dressing.  As the doctor was doing just that I shared some of my recovery stories with him.  He laughed and felt bad for Derrick. He suggested that had I put out the 'Help me' sign that I would've made national news!  I'm released for work as long as I'm on the scooter and remain non-weight bearing until the next visit in 2 weeks.  The worst news I received was - 2 more weeks until I get to take a REAL shower.

What is there to do when you are supposed to be lying around and resting?  Read a book, write a blog, binge watch House of Cards  on Netflix.  I must say - it did not disappoint!  (I won't spoil it for any of you.) I also watched a couple of movies, tried to catch on grading, and kept up with all of my emails.  I'm getting tired of lying around and am glad that Justine and Skylar came in for the weekend!

Who would have thought a little thing like a scooter would improve my spirits so much?   I am so excited to be able to ditch the crutches while on the first floor.  This will save my hands from work they are not used to doing. (My hands are throbbing.) This little red scooter allows me to be more independent.  I can get my own water or food or medication.  Thank you to whoever thought of this!

I didn't realize that recovery from surgery is related to how good of shape or health your body is in prior to your surgery.  I thought that I was in pretty good health.  What I've learned is that I was fooling myself.  I'm not as strong as I think. You see, I am using crutches.  That means my hands and arms are helping to move my body weight.  When I see the callouses on the meat of my hands and they hurt!  Also, my right leg is now doing the work of two and it is letting me know that it doesn't like the extra work. As I scoot myself up and down the 14 stairs in my house that lead me to the bathroom, my triceps are aching! So, I've decided that I need the knee scooter now - for home, not just for work as I thought.  I've also learned to take it slower and that ice is my friend.  So, I'll lie here on the couch, prop my foot up and rest.  (BTW - that would be following my doctor's order!)

I admit it, I'm a bad patient.  I had a meltdown today which has given me more empathy for caretakers than I had before. It's been a little over 24 hours since I returned home after my foot surgery. My original plan was to remain upstairs and rest. But yesterday around 5 p.m., I got bored of the upstairs and decided to go downstairs. No one was home and I was on the phone with my daughter.  I had no problems sitting on my butt and going down the stairs.  I didn't have to take the crutches with me as there was a second pair waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs.   It was a good move; I was happy.  I made it back upstairs with little or no problems although I didn't sleep very well. Fast forward to this morning:  My son Derrick is my caretaker.  He works mornings 5-10 and said he'd be home around 10:30.  He'd brought up a pain pill, a banana and a tangerine to sustain me until his return. Then it happened...I started getting anxious, I ...

Well, I had surgery this morning and got home a couple of hours ago.  My doctor said all went well.  It took longer than he thought because he really had to dig out that extra bone...apparently it had made itself quite comfy in my foot for the last 55 years.  He said the tendon was flatten and he had to roll it and anchor it to my foot. I thought I would sleep most of the day, but that is not the case.  I learned that I ice my knee, and not my foot.  Apparently that will cool the blood as it goes down to my foot.  Today is the first of 21 days of a non-weight bearing left foot.  Crutches are my friend...I will remain upstairs for the day.

I am nervous. Tomorrow morning I will have surgery on my left foot to remove an extra bone that I've had since birth and repair the damage it has done to my posterior tibia tendon. I'm not really sure why I'm nervous as I've had many surgeries throughout my life.  Perhaps I'm anxious to finally be pain free.  I've been complaining about foot pain my entire life.  My parents thought I was just hard on shoes and purchased "nurse's" shoes (orthopedic) for me while I was in elementary school.  This cost them more, but they lasted longer.  As I grew up, I knew that I had to purchase 'supportive' shoes.  My coaches would tell be to suck up the pain if I complained that my feet hurt. Through adulthood, I purchased new athletic shoes every 2-3 months. Given that I am NOT a distance runner, putting lots of miles on my shoes, this is extreme.  But I didn't know that.  I was raised to believe that I am hard on shoes...whatever that means.  O...