One Year Later

Well, time surely does fly as I've noticed over the past year. Today is the one year anniversary of my surgery. I remember waking up at 5:45 and going into surgery with my dad. In retrospect, the 10 weeks I spent in a cast seem like nothing compared to the other 42 weeks of the year. I've done so much this year and I haven't let my leg slow me down one bit. I worked at a summer camp for 10 weeks, went bowling- without crutches, finally started towards my photography degree, became a radio DJ, made several life changes, and I'm currently working on training for a 5k in May. I was told that I wouldn't even start running in till May of next year, but here I am, currently training at 1.2 miles anytime I run and working my way up every week or so. I've set a goal for myself and I don't look at what is behind me, only what is in front of me and I am determined to run this 5k. I remember the night I broke it just sitting in my bathroom thinking I would never be able to walk or run again and my life would be differently from that point on. I was right in a sense, that my life is very different now that it was a year ago, but for the better. I'm pretty much able to do just about anything with my leg now, I even got back on the wakeboard this summer and maybe eventually I'll get back on the snowboard. But for now, my goal is the 5k and running it successfully no matter the time because I'll go at my own pace, I just want to finish it.

It's also fun sharing my story with people and hearing their reaction to "I fell off a razor scooter" because typically the reaction involves some sort of comical response or a giggle. However, over the past year, I have met several people with the same surgery but different story. I look at their leg, notice a 7 inch scar on the outside of their leg and go "metal plates and screws too?" and they instantly know what I'm talking about. It's certainly a conversation starter and it's interesting because often times, these people I meet have just started walking again, and are looking to me for tips. I never thought that would actually happen, I was always seeking out the tips of others, and here parents of campers or peers are coming to me. It almost forms a bond in a weird way because you know what the other person has been through and it's not an easy journey.

I often times forget my scar is even there and forget when it happened and the other day it occurred to me that it was almost a year ago that I was riding to the hospital in an ambulance on 10 mg of Morphine. I can't wait to see what the future brings, I'm traveling to Atlanta this November and London this December so I can't wait to see how airport security treats me. That will be a story for another day I'm sure. But for now, the best I can do is keep on keepin' on and focus on what is in front of me and forget what's behind me.

These are just some photos from the past year and what I have done:

Started being a DJ on the air

Met a camel

Set a World Record

Got closer to my sisters

Met Greg Gillis, aka Girl Talk

Went bowling sans cast and crutches

The Final Stage, Finally! I'll always be bionic.

I went in for what is hopefully my last appointment with the leg doctor for the next 2 months. Earlier this week, he pulled out about 1/3 of the screw that connects my tibia and fibula because he was worried it would break (which it did). I got an x ray today only to find out that a decent amount of the screw is still in my bone, just chillin. The fibula now has a hole in it and me being curious was wondering if this hole is going to make my leg easier to break in the event of a tumble. However, I was reassured that it would not be and I could proceed to go about my activities. Hopefully next week I will get back to running. After 5 months, the whole broken leg process is finally over. I can finally go back to wearing two shoes. I often see a lot of people in walking boots or casts, and ofter them a word of advice because I know I would have wanted some when I was in a cast. It was definitely a learning experience overall, and although I wish I never have to experience it again, in a way I'm glad I did because it taught me several things and underneath it all there was a lesson: don't ride razor scooters.

I know there are other lessons, but that's the most obvious. If you have the means to pick up a razor scooter, I advise you not to. You'll be glad you didn't.

Side note: for any of you wising to invest in one, if you are over 110 lbs, don't buy it. Mistake #1. There is a reason little kids ride them.

Mmm fun! Stitches! I'm glad its not staples.

The 2/3 screw left in my leg. If you look closely, you can see the hole in the other bone.

A sideview of the hardware. Doesn't that look fun?

Leg Surgery, Part 2

Waking up at 5 in the morning on Monday wasn't exactly how I envisioned my spring break happening, but it was out of my control. I woke up, took out my various piercings, put on my glasses, sweatpants and heading out the door. We were the first people in the surgical center, a dream come true, except not. After about 30 minutes of the standard procedure of getting ready for surgery, the gown, the socks with the grips, and a sexy blue hair cap, I was almost ready. Except, I forgot my favorite part, the needles! Woo for IVs. This specific nurse decided that putting the IV in my hand would be a swell idea, boy was I wrong. First, she stuck a needle in my hand to numb it, which didn't really do much, and then she stabbed me with the IV needle, only to find out that my hand veins were not substantial for the IVs. I then proceeded to tell her how I had the IV in my wrist last time. Side note, IVs in wrist from now on. The doctor then came in and drew a nice purple arrow on my leg, the right one, just to make sure they operated on the correct leg, that was reassuring. How much would that suck if I came out of surgery with a bandage on my left leg and nothing on the right....

Now unlike last time, I don't really remember my trip to the operating room, but this time I did, since they gave me the drugs when I actually got to the room. Meanwhile, on my way there, all the people I passed were smiling at me, as if they knew something I didn't. I also was a bit urked by the musical choices they had in there, the song from the Titanic, and Another One Bites the Dust. I feel they shouldn't have such debbie downer music in there, it might give patients the wrong message. That room felt like an ice box, the nurse had to give me three warm blankets just to keep me warm. They then put the meds into my wrist, which proceeded to burn. I struggled to stay awake, but felt myself drifting, I battled but failed.

I woke up around 8 am to a nurse mildly shouting my name. I awoke from my mid morning siesta with the worst salty taste in my mouth and the inability to swallow. I was concerned. One nice thing about the post op room, they are always offering juice. They have such a large selection it's hard to pick just one. I went with fruit punch, a solid choice. I then got another walking shoe, which meant going back to my one shoe days, and was told I had to only walk with this until friday.

I then got home, ate my McDonalds egg mcmuffin (YUM :)) and proceeded to lay on the couch all day. Wait a minute, this seems familar.... just when I thought I was done with this..

So the whole purpose of this surgery was to remove a screw that went through my tibia and fibula, aka the two leg bones. The irony of the whole story is, I started surgery with 10 screws in my leg, came out with 9 1/2. How is this possible you may wonder? Apparently, the screw that they wanted to remove broke sometime between january and this monday. So, when the doctor first pulled out the screw, it was about the size of the ones attached to the metal plate. He thought he had unscrewed the wrong one, wouldn't that be special? But no it was the correct one, just half the size. Where is the other half? Chilling out in my tibia. There was no easy way to get it out apparently, so rather than battling and getting it out, it was better off to just leave it in there.

Here are some fun pictures from this surgery:

My sweet yellow foot and bandage

The cute new shoe

Half of the screw that they pulled out

Time Heals Everything

It's been a while since my last post, but I've been busy using BOTH of my legs!

I'm back to working out 5 days a week now and I've had people tell me they would have never known I had a broken leg. It's a good feeling to know how far I've come in the past few months.

I've gone from walking to not walking, to sort of walking to finally walking with two shoes. Today, I met a girl who also had a knee scooter just like me. I asked her what had happened, and she slipped on some ice. She had it easy though, she doesn't have to use the scooter in the winter with the snow. But I still felt her pain, and promised her it does get better. I'm proof.

The irony of my accident is also the fact that it has inspired my art now. In my design class, we got an assignment, pick a body part, and obviously I picked a leg, and had to carve it out of wood. Now being inspired by my accident, I decided to do the stages of my leg. The ideas were, a skeleton leg, the broken skeleton (after the accident), the newly robot leg, a healed up with scars one, and a normal leg. I decided to pick the robot leg because for about a month after my cast came off, my leg felt foreign, it did not feel like my leg. The idea of artificial is what I wanted to portray in this piece and that's what I think I got. The model of the wooden leg is how I felt for while and reflected that feeling.

The Finished Product

I'm walking almost back to normal now. I'm still not running, but I am swimming once a week. I never thought I would recover so quickly and be able to get back in my workout routine but I managed to make great progress in a short amount of time. I never thought I would be where I am today, but for all of you who are out there reading this, and are broken, I promise it does get better

Just When I Thought It Was Over..

So yesterday, I was sitting in my lecture class and I get a text from my room mate saying, "I've rejoined the cast club" Now I'm thinking walking boot because we were walking boot buddies for a while, even though she never wore hers like she should have... My reply, "a legit cast?" and sadly, it was. Now this is unfortunate for many reasons, one I just got better, and know exactly what she's going through, second, I just brought home my Cast cozy to keep the exposed toes warm, and the shower bags home. So what do we do when it's bath time? Get the garbage bag and duct tape. Nothing more rewarding than wrapping your suitemate's leg in a plastic garbage bag and putting duct tape on it. But in all fairness, she cut me out of my jeans when I broke my leg so it evens out in the end. It's a weird feeling knowing I was just there, but it almost feels like so long ago, even though just this weekend I was in a walking boot. Now, I'm wearing two shoes! It's a small world and a weird chain of events, but that's what makes life interesting.

Peace Out Walking Boot

Today was the first day that I have walked in two shoes since November 8th. It was the weirdest feeling I've had in a long time. It almost felt as though I've never broken anything and I'm back to normal. It's weird, because I've been dealing with a broken leg for so long, I'm now very in-tune to people who are broken as well. I see people on the streets and a walking boot and instantly notice them before any of the other people. I had a conversation with a girl in the bathroom a week or two ago, and she was on crutches and a leg brace. I said to her how glad I was that I didn't have to walk in the snow in crutches. I also drove for the first time since October this weekend, it was like I drove just yesterday. I didn't forget how or anything, just took more caution when using the gas pedal.

Today, it took people a few minutes to realize I was actually wearing two shoes. It was weird for me too, all of the right ones are so much cleaner than the left one. One thing I have noticed however, is the way strangers treat me with two shoes vs. a boot, cast, wheelchair etc., they don't move out of the way when the sidewalk gets narrow, pushing me onto unstable ground. They give me funny looks when I get off the elevators (I haven't mastered stairs yet) and they treat me as though I'm back to normal, which gets me thinking, does it take a broken leg or limb to get people of humanity to sympathize and actually care about strangers? I was used to the general niceness of people getting out of the way, but now, well no one really gives a darn.

Walking, there is still a bit of pain, and I can almost feel the popping of the screw or two when I walk. I will need surgery again over spring break to take out one of the screws... I just love surgery so much.. But hopefully once this is all said and done, I won't need anymore for a long long time.

So, to conclude, I'm glad that you all read and hope you enjoyed my blog, and now that my leg is healed for the most part, my journey will never be done because the road to recovery is long, but thank you for reading and following my little bump in the road. I'm glad I could entertain and keep you in the loop with my life. As for now, I'm just going to keep moving forward.

Long Time No See

Sorry for not posting in several days, I've been busy getting back into the swing of school. Ive been walking for almost two weeks now, and things have been up and down throughout those two weeks. Coming back to campus for the first time in 5 weeks was certainly odd, but was a much needed return. It was so weird actually seeing my foot and the weirdest thing for me, wearing normal fitting pants! I didn't have to worry about riding the struggle bus and making them fit over the cast. Another moment that I had yesterday was carrying my own laundry basket, I had gone so long pulling it on my scooter, that mid walking to the washer, I said to my suite mate how weird it was to be carrying it. Now, I already established that winter was not the best of all months to break a leg, and it still isn't. I may not be on crutches or a wheel chair or a knee scooter, but there is one thing that is still making my traveling difficult: slush. It's unavoidable no matter where I go. Just yesterday I was walking and and while I walked up, a decent amount of water splashed onto, of course, the walking boot, not the normal close toed boot I was wearing.

Physical therapy is going rather smoothly, making progress each time, today I had an ultrasound of my leg, which I was confused by, but it was a heat ultra sound, to loosen the insane amount of scar tissue I apparently have. Hopefully I will graduate to walking normally soon. But in the mean time, the bus system is definitely coming in handy.

A Day of Firsts and Lasts

Yesterday came and went, but it was not just an ordinary day. Yesterday, I got the final cast off and was able to feel my leg for the first time in weeks, and actually feet water on my leg. Tuesday night felt like the day before one goes to Disney World, I couldn't sleep and was anticipating the next day at 11. That morning, would be the last time I would have to sit in the shower until I will be about 80 or so, it was the last time I would have to scratch my leg with a ruler, and stand on one foot while brushing my teeth. It also would be the last time I would have something sawed off me (hopefully). The amount of dead skin on my leg was obscene. Once the news of me not being able to walk right away came my way, I was a little let down, but at the same time, I was glad to just feel my leg. I went to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory, and ironically I saw someone else with a knee scooter. I got rather excited to know I wasn't the only one. Once I got home, the bath tub and I had a lovely date. After an hour of soaking, washing, scrubbing, not all the skin came off but it was just amazing to have my leg feel water. The leg that came out of the bath tub was definitely not the leg that went in. Last night, I had the best sleep I've had in over 3 months. It was awesome, and to wake up and seeing my own leg was a great feeling. Although I can't fully walk just yet, the skill will come back slowly but surely. I was surprised when I heard that I only needed a month of physical therapy. I thought that because it was a bad break and I needed surgery, I would need much much more. So the phase of being broken has ended, and the road to recovery has begun.

9 weeks of dead skin. yummy.

My x-ray Standing!!

The Week I've Been Waiting For

It is here, week number nine. It officially has been 9 weeks since surgery and I couldn't be more thrilled to know that as of Wednesday, I will be walking for the first time in over 9 and a half weeks. I almost don't remember what it's like to walk; the thought of standing on two legs vs. one while brushing my teeth seems crazy. I have made it to the end, what seemed like forever of a 9 weeks, is over and I'm going to say that I definitely won't miss wearing a cast. While it has been a good conversation starter, I'm ready to be a fully functioning member of society.

I want to give a shout out to all the people who have so graciously helped me throughout these past few weeks and I could not begin to thank you enough. Im not going to list specifically, but you all know who you are. The ones who came and picked me up and drove me places, the ones who took me to dinner or included me in their plans to get me out of the house, and the ones who did every little thing for me because I couldn't. I will not forget what you have done, and if you ever need help down the road, feel free to ask me. I'll help you out..

Here just a few of the things that I've done in the past few weeks:

I've worked on a painting where Chi-town met Van Gogh.

I've made three- cheese stuffed shells from scratch and homemade garlic bread.

I worked on a 14 hour painting for my cousin and her husband.

I have even gone bowling!

The countdown begins: 47 hours, 22 minutes.

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

The Adventures of Monica on a Knee Scooter

Recently, I have acquired a Rollabout Knee Scooter instead of a wheel chair and crutches. Let me tell you, it is so much easier to do just about anything. I feel more mobile than I have in weeks and it's great! I'm actually able to open doors all on my own, minus the few heavy ones in the art building ( Even with a knee scooter, the art building ramp is still death). The funny looks I've been getting is ridiculous, everyone looks at me like I have about 5 heads. Maybe these people just aren't used to it,  or maybe they are jealous, but I'm sure its the first one.

One of the downsides of this Knee Scooter is I don't bring my crutches with, thus when I have to go into tiny places, I must hop on my good leg. That's always fun to watch, it's amusement for those who have to put up with me (sam).

It's kind of ironic that I'm now in a scooter, since that would be the mode of travel that caused this accident. Hopefully this scooter having four wheel instead of two might be a little bit better for Monica the second time around.

Now some of you may ask, what exactly does a knee scooter look like?
Click on this video to find out, unfortunately mine  isn't the sweet colors that they have in the video.
Knee Scooter!