Surgery is scheduled for Monday, November 17th.
I will have outpatient surgery on the right foot. The doctor says it will take about a half-hour for the procedure. He will put a plate and pins into the side of my right foot. I will be off of it for at least a week. He will re-evaluate at the end of the week.
I hate being so immobile. We take a lot of things for granted. I can't even carry a cup of coffee to my favorite chair. It takes me a lot longer to get things done and there are many things I cannot do at all. I am tired all the time--guess that is my body trying to slow me down so it can heal.
But what I really, really hate, is that I cannot take care of my grandsons. I always enjoy my "alone" time with each of them. That isn't happening right now.
I have been trying to knit more, but that isn't even going as well as when I am healthy and alert. This too shall pass. In a few weeks I will be back to walking on both limbs. Hopefully my strength and stamina will also return.
My trials and tribulations are nothing compared to others who have to live with this kind of thing everyday of their lives. Mine is temporary and for that I am truly thankful. So, I will quit whining about it. At least I can still use my hands.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Out of My Control
It has been a while since my last blog post. Many things have happened. I have run into a block with my grandson's sweater vest and I just can't seem to get past it. The vest pattern itself was so easy to knit up, but the neck edging is causing a great disturbance in my life--I just can't seem to get it right and now I have frogged it so many times that I am afraid the neck edging will be too stretched. AGGGGHHHH! And I have another one started for my other grandson but I am afraid to move on. Helpppp!!!!!!!!!!
There are several other things that have rocked my world.
Part One:
We were preparing to go on vacation--a lovely trip to the island of St. Maarten with 2 of my daughters, one grandson, and my brother and sister-in-law. We had been planning this trip for months and were really looking forward to getting away. It was also going to be the first time my husband has ever traveled out of the country. Wouldn't you know, the day before we were to leave, they came to install the bay window in our living room and wanted to install the other windows and doors while we were gone. We had ordered them a couple of months earlier. I tried to talk them into waiting until we got back, but the danger was the weather was so nice right now and could change quickly where we live. So, they were to proceed with the project. Our twenty-two year old daughter would be staying at our house with the dog, so she would have to enlist the help of our son to get things ready for the workers.
Part two of this story:
While getting ready for the trip, I went to the basement to finish some laundry that I needed in order to finish packing--we were leaving the next day to drive to Chicago to meet everyone and catch the flight to St. Maarten. As I was bouncing down the steps, I thought I was at the bottom, but wasn't. I missed the last step and hit the floor. I knew that was not good. I sat there for a few minutes trying to let the pain subside. I then managed to get to the washing machine and switch out the loads, then hobbled back upstairs, took some IBProfin, put ice in a baggy, sat down, put my feet up with the ice bag on my left ankle. I called my daughter (she is a chiropractor) and she came and took me to her office. She x-rayed my left ankle and it was broken. So we went to the ER and checked in at 6 p.m. We finally saw a doctor a 8 p.m. who suggested I go to an orthopedic doctor as soon as possible. The ER doctor called the orthopedic doctor and pleaded my case. We managed to see the ortho doctor at 7:45 a.m. the next morning. He confirmed the broken ankle and said I would not have to have surgery and could go on the trip in one of those black boots with all the velcro. Then he looked at my right foot which was very swollen, bruised and hurt a lot. More x-rays and he came back and said it was also broken. He wanted to do surgery on it. I managed to talk him into waiting, put it in a surgical shoe, and walked out on crutches.
So--2 hours later we were in our van, driving to Chicago in order to fly out the next morning. I went on the trip with two broken limbs. It was not the trip I had envisioned and I didn't get to do as many things as I wanted to do. I did however have plenty of time to sit in the sunshine, read, and knit. I think I spent more time planning on what to take to knit than I did on what I was going to take to wear. I did not have to take any shoes on the trip so I had more room in my suitcase for knitting treasures.
I hope to go back to St. Maarten someday with two limbs that can walk normally. It would be fun to do the trip as a healthy, energetic person.
Part three of this story:
There is more to this story. The trip was not without hassle and adventure--unrelated to my physical state. So, watch here for the rest of the story.
We got home from the trip to a house with all new windows and doors and no window coverings. I am unable to do anything since I have two broken limbs and am not used to sitting and directing people. Waiting for others to move into action is very stressful for me. I am not good at it. I am the take-charge, get it done now person. I need to pray a lot--for patience.
There are several other things that have rocked my world.
Part One:
We were preparing to go on vacation--a lovely trip to the island of St. Maarten with 2 of my daughters, one grandson, and my brother and sister-in-law. We had been planning this trip for months and were really looking forward to getting away. It was also going to be the first time my husband has ever traveled out of the country. Wouldn't you know, the day before we were to leave, they came to install the bay window in our living room and wanted to install the other windows and doors while we were gone. We had ordered them a couple of months earlier. I tried to talk them into waiting until we got back, but the danger was the weather was so nice right now and could change quickly where we live. So, they were to proceed with the project. Our twenty-two year old daughter would be staying at our house with the dog, so she would have to enlist the help of our son to get things ready for the workers.
Part two of this story:
While getting ready for the trip, I went to the basement to finish some laundry that I needed in order to finish packing--we were leaving the next day to drive to Chicago to meet everyone and catch the flight to St. Maarten. As I was bouncing down the steps, I thought I was at the bottom, but wasn't. I missed the last step and hit the floor. I knew that was not good. I sat there for a few minutes trying to let the pain subside. I then managed to get to the washing machine and switch out the loads, then hobbled back upstairs, took some IBProfin, put ice in a baggy, sat down, put my feet up with the ice bag on my left ankle. I called my daughter (she is a chiropractor) and she came and took me to her office. She x-rayed my left ankle and it was broken. So we went to the ER and checked in at 6 p.m. We finally saw a doctor a 8 p.m. who suggested I go to an orthopedic doctor as soon as possible. The ER doctor called the orthopedic doctor and pleaded my case. We managed to see the ortho doctor at 7:45 a.m. the next morning. He confirmed the broken ankle and said I would not have to have surgery and could go on the trip in one of those black boots with all the velcro. Then he looked at my right foot which was very swollen, bruised and hurt a lot. More x-rays and he came back and said it was also broken. He wanted to do surgery on it. I managed to talk him into waiting, put it in a surgical shoe, and walked out on crutches.
So--2 hours later we were in our van, driving to Chicago in order to fly out the next morning. I went on the trip with two broken limbs. It was not the trip I had envisioned and I didn't get to do as many things as I wanted to do. I did however have plenty of time to sit in the sunshine, read, and knit. I think I spent more time planning on what to take to knit than I did on what I was going to take to wear. I did not have to take any shoes on the trip so I had more room in my suitcase for knitting treasures.
I hope to go back to St. Maarten someday with two limbs that can walk normally. It would be fun to do the trip as a healthy, energetic person.
Part three of this story:
There is more to this story. The trip was not without hassle and adventure--unrelated to my physical state. So, watch here for the rest of the story.
We got home from the trip to a house with all new windows and doors and no window coverings. I am unable to do anything since I have two broken limbs and am not used to sitting and directing people. Waiting for others to move into action is very stressful for me. I am not good at it. I am the take-charge, get it done now person. I need to pray a lot--for patience.
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