Malls- I've Never Been So Scared Shopping

First of all, hope everyone had good holidays and is excited for the new year! I know I am, because come the new year, I shall be walking again! About time... Another 2 weeks to go! So as the Christmas season comes to a close, the stores are having major sales. Just the other day, I went into Hollister. I grabbed a pair of jeans and a tank top and these items were already in the sale area, plus everything in the store was 40% off, total cost of jeans and tank top: 11.43$. Did I really just get 50$ jeans for 5$, indeed. That just goes to show how overpriced things can be. Now you must be asking, "how does this relate to her and her broken leg?" Well, I will tell you.

Going to the mall normally ( with both functioning legs) is never very scary unless it is very crowded. Going to the mall, with a broken leg, on a scooter, with kids, strollers, ramps and too many people= very scary. I attempted to include a video of this madness, but for some reason could to get it from the phone to my computer with it working. Basically, it showed clusters of people, stopping in front of me as I scoot along, people stepping back into me, and a crowded mall. What part of this sounds fun again?

Here are just some of the stats from the day:

$ spent: 15

strollers that almost hit me: 7 ( and not the single ones, most of them doubles)

# of odd looks: too many

# of children I almost hit: 4

Also, some odd comments I overheard throughout the day:

"I've never seen that before!!" (5 year old)

"I wonder if she has one leg? Where did the other one go?"- ( 8 year old)

"Well, I wish I had one of those, do you have to be broken to get one?" (40 year old mother)

I've never been so scared shopping in my life, it felt like a dangerous sport, making my way through people, that awkward situation when you are walking towards someone and the game of "who moves to avoid getting hit", clearly it's not going to be me. It takes me longer to move than you, so how about you move since you have two functioning legs? There was also the situation of me coming down a ramp, and a mother was letting her child run along, no supervision, and they ran out in front of me. I try stopping and come within inches of this child, and the mom throws up her arms and give me a look like "WTF? How did you almost just hit my child??" Maybe you should have been controlling your child, instead of letting them run-a-muck.

Being 7 weeks into not walking, I've discovered that many places are not handicap accessible. This is not ok. There are sometimes I go into bathrooms and the so called "larger stall" can barely fit my knee scooter let alone and wheel chair. I was in a store, and they had 3 floors, but I had to find someone to unlock the elevator, now I'm thinking, what if no one can unlock this for me? I guess if they won't allow me into their lower level, they do not deserve my money.

On a last note, although I may have missed a week and a half of school, I got all A's for the semester. Good for me :)

Side note: The scooter makes a great bag carrier!

The Final Countdown! Plus a Winter Video!

Well, I'm onto my final and last cast! Although I should be in a walking boot but non-weight bearing, the doctor figured that because of the ice and snow, a cast would be best. I can't wait to finally get it off and walk! Only 2 and a half weeks left. As promised here are some pictures from the last visit, including the ones with the insane amount of dead skin on my foot. I never knew so much skin could collect in 6 weeks. Know that I know that it's there, I'm dying to get rid of it. It makes so much more sense based on how itchy my foot can get sometimes. Its gotten to the point where if I wake up with a ruler in my hand (to scratch) I am no longer confused. It will be weird once I'm able to walk, not grabbing crutched in the morning to get up.

Bincy taking off my candy cane cast.

6 weeks of dead skin, isn't that yummy?

The difference in my legs. crazy right?

The broken leg size.

Normal leg size, difference of about 3 inches or so.

BONUS TIME!

I stumbled upon this video, and it makes me kind of grateful that I'm unable to play in the snow. If you are curious what this video may entail, here is the link

Winter Video O' Fun

Bye Bye Candy Cane Cast!

As the Christmas season is finally upon us, it was time to bid farewell to my lovely candy cane cast. It was only two days before I got the cast off that people signed it (sorry to all of those who did, I'm no longer in possession of it anymore) and now it is gone. It was a very festive piece to have for 4 weeks but I'm glad I've moved on to better things. Now, due to the icy conditions out, my doctor decided to put me into another cast! Carolina Blue he called it; I figured since Christmas was going to be over, and it was just going to be winter, blue would be fitting. And of course, I had to match my toes with my new cast, so they are now a sparkly shade of blue! Now when they cut of the cast that I had for about 4 weeks, I was in for a great shock. I've never seen so much dead skin in my life. There was literally a line of skin that was current and fresh (my toes that I could clean) and my tan summer skin. It had the sensation of when you have glue stuck to your hand, although you can move your hand, the glue doesn't really move with it, it goes on its own. That's what was going on with the bottom of my foot. X-rays were taken, and everything is looking good! The bone is actually growing back together between the break. Good news! Instead of being in a cast for 10 weeks, I'll be walking out of the doctor's office at 9 weeks! I was fairly excited to hear that. And although going into another cast when I wasn't supposed to wasn't what I wanted to do, I knew it would be worth it. Plus I get to be more festive for winter that way. Once I get the pictures from the appointment from my dad, I will be sure to post them, that way you have an idea of what 4 weeks of dead skin looks like. Only one word I have for that, Yum..

What happens when camp friends get ahold of my cast.

The new and final cast!

Second Week on Break, What will it bring?

After having being home for a week, the days seem to blend together. Any time I'm telling someone what I did the previous day, I can hardly remember if that happened yesterday or two days ago. This past week, I made an assortment of baked goods ie cookies, a homemade cheesecake and frosted cupcakes. Those are just several things to occupy my time while at home. Last week wasn't really a social week because many of my friends were not home from school just yet. Lucky me, had no finals so I got to come home for a week. However, I did manage to go out to lunch with my friend Andrea and we decorated her christmas tree; while a tad difficult, it is still manageable to do so. I also went to my sister's synchronized swimming show, which I once did for the past four years of my life. It was weird to actually watch the show vs be in it.

This upcoming week looks promising with activities, from going out to lunch with friends, going to get my nails done, and even going to the doctor! No more candy cane cast as of Wednesday! Hopefully it will be a ace bandage of sort so I can actually wash my foot. I don't know if any of you have ever had a broken leg or arm in winter, but let me tell you, the skin gets very very dry. With dryness, comes itchiness. FYI bendable rulers work wonders to itch inside a cast. Although, at the current moment, mine seems to be missing. The other night, my leg was so itchy that I slept with the ruler in my cast. I woke up and was like "Why is this here? Oh yeah..."

Christmas is this week and you certainly wouldn't know we are in a recession by walking into any mall. I went into the mall yesterday and it was just a mad house. With all those people, many strange looks at my knee scooter did follow. I don't know what is so odd about it, but then again I've gotten more odd looks back at home in one day than I did while I was back at school. Maybe it's a North Shore thing..

You know you've experienced a certain level of bordeom when you do the following:

1. Start copying recipes into a cook book.

2. Log on to Skype and pray that someone is online, no matter who it is.

3. Clean your room.. even with a cast that is possible.

4. Play a combination of Snake and Bubble Spinner for at least an hour of the day.

5. Organize the clothes in my your suitecase, even though you are not leaving for another 4 weeks.

If you have any suggestions about how to combat this awful winter epidemic, post your ideas. Please. I beg you.

Also, enjoy some fun pictures from my week!

I walked into Walmart and saw this arrangement of Scooters.

I cringed. I was also fairly jealous of the Hello Kitty Scooter.

The blanket I made from the previous post with the movie Santa Claus in the background.

The cupcakes that I frosted, yet wasn't allowed to eat.

My first home-made cheese cake I made for my father's birthday.

My painted Tinkerbell, courtesy of my cousin Stephanie.

Day 1 of Winter Break, Time to Get Crafty

So it is officially the half way point in my non-weight bearing days. yippie skippy... Still another 5 to go. Basically that puts me 3 days before I go back for second semester. What a wonderful way to spend break right? Well, I've decided to do little things to keep myself busy. I did all sorts of things today that Google did not recommend to me like last time ( How to use a cast iron skillet?? in related topics). For all of those who may read this blog and have a similar situation, thinking to yourself, "it's winter, there is snow, I'm broken, wtf do I do now?" That was one of my many thoughts going into the winter season. However, my ideas are not only for those who are broken, if you find yourself home for winter break, and say to yourself, "winter blizzard outside, wtf do i do?" Have no fear my friend, I've got ideas for you too. Here are just a few of the many ideas to come for this long 5 week winter season. To assist in the search, hopefully this will pop up onto Google and actually help those in a cast find activities, not those in a cast wishing to use a cast iron skillet or things to do while waiting for my Twilight Dvd.

So, things to do while in a cast or stuck inside entry #1:

1. Wrap Christmas presents. Although this can be difficult on one leg, I made it work. So can you. It's a good way to kill about an hour and a half or so depending on gift size, skill level of wrapping, and ability to not stick tape to itself etc.

2. Go with a family member to pick up a sibling from school. It gets you out of the house, even if it's just in the car. Plus, you get a confused sibling saying to themselves, why are you in the car?

3. Make cookies. Who doesn't love cookies? Now either you can get all homemade and fancy or you can get the lovely ones that are pre-made and pre-cut. Although they won't be made with love, they will taste just fine.

4. Make a fleece blanket. It's chilly outside these days (currently feeling like -5 fyi) and a nice blanket= a warm happy monica. So either trek out to Jo Anns or wherever you want to get your fabric that suites your fancy, and pick some fleece out. Now, after today's experience, I would highly recommend not getting the fuzzy fleece that sheds every time you touch it or cut it.

Although, the cleaning of the fuzz does kill a great deal of time, if it also doesn't kill the vaccum along the way. This activity I would highly recommend while watching a classic movie youknow the words to (Casper, Home Alone etc.) that way you are pretty much listening and know what's going on.

More ideas to come. If you think of any or want to have me try something, either leave a nice comment or hit me up on Facebook.

I'm Not Alone! Even Famous People Have Scooters!

So, my friend Amy, who we have bonded over our broken legs together emailed me this picture. It is of Serena Williams and she had foot surgery twice I believe recently, just like you said Dad, and it is of her, with a decorated cast and drum roll... a knee scooter! It looks rather similar to the one I have. I'm cruising around just like a celebrity, although she probably doesn't have to deal with snow in California. I love how she has a broken leg and still manages to look her best, Me, I've been chilling out in leggings, sweatpants and the occasional flare jean. I may have to take her style tip and add some gems or something to my cast. Some of my friends recommended that I should decorate my scooter. That I feel would just add more looks to the ones I already get. All the people that look at me with the odd look of judgment, this is for you, would you judge Serena Williams the same way as you judge me when you pass me? It's not like it's the most odd thing you've ever seen, especially being on a college campus, I've seen weirder. This is nothing. I don't judge people when they walk, I'm just walking with an additional 4 limbs.

A Sled Would Have Been Much Easier....

Those are just a few fun pictures of the snow that covered Champaign-Urbana this weekend.

This week has been rather different, there is snow covering the entire campus, and when I say the entire campus, I mean everything. It started heavily snowing friday night into saturday. Man was it difficult to get through the inch or so of snow. I'm pretty sure that having someone pull me in a sled would have been more effective. The worst part was not even that, it was waking up the next morning to go out, and realizing the unplowed streets, unplowed sidewalks and about 8 or so inches of snow. It took me about twice as long to go a block and a half that it usually does. I figured after that hike, it would be a very good idea to keep myself in my room for the day. Then, Sam and I decided to trek to Pizza Hut. Evaluating the sidewalk situation, we decided to take the non- fully iced side. Good call. After we finished, we decided to go to an a-capella concert. Going back towards the quad, the other side of the sidewalkWell this would have been fine and dandy had there not been so much snow, but because nothing was plowed, a walk to the quad took about 30 minutes and caused a very tired Monica. The walk back wasn't as bad because going back because I had remembered where the bumps and chunks of ice were. That wasn't even the worst of it. Sunday, the sun came out, melting some of the snow, however because it was only out for a brief amount of time, it was just long enough to melt the ice, only for it to freeze back over. I keep nagging on the art building, but truly, it is not the most handi-acessable building in the campus. The ramp, dry is difficult enough to get up. The ramp, iced and wet, nearly impossible. I used the combination of railings and lifting up the knee scooter. That's not to safe for someone with an already broken leg. I can't describe how many times I've either slipped or lost my balance almost breaking my leg. My poor friend Mariel fell and got a concussion. That's never good.

First semester is coming to a close. I'm actually on top of all my work and it feels great after being behind for a while after the 9 days of school missed. Being home for 5 weeks is going to be interesting on figuring out stuff to do. If anyone other that Google has an idea of what to do while in a cast (see a previous blog for the reference), let me know.

Aside from all the tough times on the scooter through the ice, it is rather comical to watch other in my dorm or friends figure out how to use or ride the scooter. They love to ride it and roll down the hill from the cafeteria almost into the wall (Devashish and Dustin). I'm still getting funny ironic looks from people that say to me, "Didn't you fall off a scooter?" Well I suppose as the phrase goes, "Get back on the horse."
It was a little sad this weekend knowing I couldn't play in the snow and watching everyone outside. Have fun for me :)

Lastly, this shout out is for Jeremy because he wanted to be mentioned in my blog. Here you go Jer-Bear.

Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better cont'd

Here is just some images to describe what I said in my previous post. Although I may be broken, I can still do every day things, sometimes just in a different way.

I can still draw.

I can make Hanukkah cakes!

I can do my laundry.

Fun stuff huh? Did all of those things in one day. I felt pretty accomplished.

Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better

Independence, it's something that we take for granted every day. You may think that making breakfast or putting on pants is a no- brainer in every day life. Now, take all of that easiness, and subtract a leg. Not so easy any more is it? As I've had to get more and more creative with the every day things, the achievements come in three parts: the idea, the execution, and the result. It's taken a lot of guess and check methods to achieve certain things such as opening doors. Most of us use our hands right? Well when I was in a wheel chair, my crutches added as my additional set of hands and legs, so I learned how to open most doors with crutches, except those doors that are so heavy, cough cough art building, I havent mastered those few ones yet. This knee scooter is amazing, it has made me more independent and less dependent on other people. While I still need to put skis on it or all terrain tires or something, it has made travel much easier. In the words of Ferris Bueller, " If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up, it is so choice."

Although this has been a rather negative event in my life, I am making lemonade out of lemons. Although I have to get craft most times  ie putting cups in the band of my pants or even using a rubber band to drag my laundry to the washer, I'm determined to do any simple task my own way. Now walking 5 blocks in the rain home can be kind of a self esteem killer, but the flip side of the situation- I made it home, wet, but I made it home. A few weeks, my dad told me there was a lesson or a moral to this whole situation. At the time, I didn't really see what that could possibly be, nor did I think I ever would. I was so caught up with the fact that my life had hit a 3 month speed bump. Now, almost 4 weeks after surgery, I think I have finally figured out what it is, "keep moving forward". Although I may be unable to walk and get around like I want to, in order to keep getting better, I have to keep my chin up and embrace the little accomplishments that I face each day. Dad- If you see this, I know you think I never listen to your advice, but sometimes I do and I sit and ponder it.

Moral of the story, keep on keepin' on. Never take what you have for granted because one day, you too could hit a speed bump. You always have to think, there is always someone who has it worse than you do, and sometimes you may say, "How could things be worse?"Well my friend, you could be dead... Nobody wants that.

Snow... Well This Should Be Interesting..

Happy December 1st all! What a way to start out the season with snow on the first day. Now well snow can be very exciting, I have an added element to be aware of, this cast wedged onto my leg. With the latest addition of my leg scooter, things are going to get slippery. Walking home in the rain was super special the other day. Thankfully I had a plastic Walgreen's bag in my backpack, otherwise things would have gotten rather soggy rather quickly. I made it home rather damp, but the leg was dry. Now with snow, there shall be ice. I've already experienced fish-tailing with the scooter. I didn't even know that was possible. I will say one thing, the campus needs to take better care of sidewalks and ramps. Going into the art building this morning, the normal path with stairs had salt and what not, the long path to the hidden ramp- nada. The steep ram is bad when dry, when covered with snow, even scarier. I was just worried I was going to slide all the way back down after getting up. Thankfully that wasn't the case.

Going back to a previous post, thanks to all the people who continually help me. I don't know where you all have been hiding out, but thanks for helping. I guess someone just needs to break a body part to get some help and find all the nice people. Although, I will say it is indeed a great conversation starter. I can't tell you how many times I've told the scooter story, and then I get a funny look (since I'm on a scooter again) and go 'yes, I know it's ironic'. But it's always interesting to re-see people that have helped me and they ask how I'm doing. It's comforting to know there are some people in society that care.

For everyone's personal enjoyment, here is a Winter Accidents video that probably ended a decent amount of people in a cast of some sort.

Funny Winter Accidents