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