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AAAH. Is that my other foot on the ground?

It’s hard to believe how much you can appreciate standing on two feet until you are denied one foot for 7 weeks. The other day, I removed my boot to sit in the shower. (yes, sit…). Somehow, subconsciously, I stood, and realized, “I AM STANDING!” It did not HURT either! I did put the boot back on after I showered, but it felt so good to feel my heel on the ground sans the tingle.

Fast forward to yesterday at the PT. It was my first visit before I “really” start ( in two weeks). He tested my ROM and gave me insight into how I may have injured my AT. First, my ROM was -10 flexing forward and 42 flexing down. (It should be 0 and 64 I think). Yes, that is great, he said, but also he had to check my other side. Flexing down, I was only at 56. He inferred that my AT is really tight and has been due to inadequate stretching and then overusing with tightness. The step I took downward when I injured it was the bane of my existence. This motion is a killer if you are not adequately stretched. One uses this motion to jump or push off if you will. I CAME DOWN on my foot in this position, and BOOM. Now, I just want to learn how to do things right. It seems as though this is how I always learn…through injury.

His massage of my edema-filled foot was crucial because he mentioned if it stays this way, it could harden and inhibit healing. BOY DID IT HELP!

He showed me how to stretch my foot, and told me to continue the alphabet. My foot MUST BE in the neutral position in the boot and my heel must hit the floor.

 

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Four Months and looking UP!

11.11 POUNDS. 23 inches

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March 22, 2013. A special day

It is the last day of school before SPRING BREAK! Not only is it Tater Tot’s 4-month birthday today;

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It is ALSO the 6th week since my surgery. I have bought some compression socks which were hard to find! They needed to cover my foot, and only a few places carried them. I had to go to Endurance Rehab, and they were not cheap! But at the point of PAIN, you’ll pay the moon for comfort. $45 later, I felt less swelling.

 

This week, I plan to really soak in each moment with Tatum, visiting family, mom, and friends! (Oh, and the Cotster). But as I wrap up this week, I am awestruck by how the book we are reading in English has me reeling with hope of influencing young minds. I read Fahrenheit 451 years ago, and thought it was about book burning, but now, it means so much more. I see a lifeless society, consumed with zero substance and complete nothingness. However, everyone is occupied and busy all of the time.
This somewhat reminds me of this (by unknown author)

The Devil was speaking to his angels. He continued, “This is what I want you to do. Distract them from Bible study, prayer, and meditation.” “How do we do that?” asked an angel. “Keep them busy with nonessentials. Invent unnumbered schemes to occupy their minds. Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, then borrow, borrow, borrow. Persuade wives to go to work for long hours and husbands to work six or seven days a week, ten hours a day, so they can afford their lifestyles. Keep them away from their children as much as possible. As the family becomes fragmented, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work.”

Satan added, “Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot concentrate on the Word for more than just a few minutes. Entice them to play the radio or CD wherever they go, to keep their TV, VCR, CDs, and PCs going constantly in their homes. Fill their coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Pound their minds with news

24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards, talk radio, and Top 40. Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, sweepstakes, mail order catalogs, and every kind of newsletter and promotional pamphlet offering free products, ‘essential’ services, and false hopes. In their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return angry, exhausted, and disquieted. Don’t let them stop to see nature and reflect on God’s wonders. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, concerts, and suggestive movies.

“And when they do meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in socializing, gossip, and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences and unsettled emotions. Let them be involved in good causes, but crowd their lives with so many ‘good causes’ that they do not have time for church activities. Soon they will be sacrificing their health and their family for the good of the cause.”

It was quite a convention in the end. The evil angels went eagerly to their assignments. Christians everywhere got busy, busy, busy and rushed here and there.

How successful has Satan’s scheme been? Look at your life, and the lives of your family and friends, and be the judge. Someone gave this anagram of busy: B—Burdened U—Under S—Satan’s Y—Yoke.

(God wants us to enjoy life, but He wants to be first (Matthew 6:33). He must be life to us (Colossians 3:1-4))

I have always been busy. But, my goal is never to be of “nonessential” things. I rarely watch TV. However, I rarely stop moving. ENTER: AT rupture! Many would say that I was being punished or I dug my own hole. Others, me included, have surmised that this has completely changed my perspective on life. No longer can I rush; No longer can I accomplish my mile long list. Things must wait, and I must say NO more than ever now.

What have I gained?  Well, in Fahrenheit 451, the character named Clarisse, enjoys picking dandelions. She drinks in the rain as she lays back her head. She has many one-to-one meaningful conversations about “meaningless (depending on what you consider meaningless)” things. She engages in LIFE; in PEOPLE; in PURPOSE. The rest of society? They “plug in” to their talking walls and don’t need to give anything back. They don’t even think and they don’t realize they don’t think because they have lost their capability to have any introspection. The “devil” has succeeded in taking their eyes off what matters: Relationships and finding purpose (and I would say that comes from having a personal relationship with our Father through Christ who gives us the ability to LOVE/LAUGH/CREATE..)

I guess being grateful today is what I am. I have not gained “the world” but have gained insight into what matters. BE INTENTIONAL with your time 🙂

 

 


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Pass the peas, please

Petite peas to be exact.

I got WAY to ambitious WAY to quickly. Monday, cast come off and boot came on. Made a phone call to have the scooter picked up and thought I could ditch my crutches. So, I walked on my foot (in the boot) all day Monday and Tuesday. By Tuesday afternoon, my ankle was in flaming pain.

Being at work, and in the classroom all day, it did not lend itself to RICE -ing. It is not that easy to prop my leg up in the air while I’m with the kiddos. Also, I have to constantly monitor the class and “work the room.”

I found myself crawling into the nurse’s office to get little ice paks to put inside my boot. Oh, and not to mention high doses of Advil.

So, today, I am walking on the boot, but with crutches. I just don’t know WHAT IS NORMAL and what is not. I don’t want to damage my AT, but I don’t want to not use it either. With that said, yes, I am removing the boot often, and trying to rotate my foot, but my ROM is SOOOO limited and it feels like my scar will rip right open. Is this swelling good? Is there something I’m doing wrong? Should I be forcing the walking in my boot even though it hurts?

I have a call in to the Dr. to talk to him. In 4 days, I meet with the PT to see what home exercises I can do. In the meantime, pass those PEAS!

 

 

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Foot ALPHABET

The sound alone sent shivers up my spine!

Today, Sergio removed my cast!

“Don’t worry; it doesn’t cut skin.” Well, how does it know? Seriously!? My skin turned into leather, so how would it detect my humanity!?
So, upon much drama on my part, he patiently cut open the cast.

And what the heck? What is that!? Is that my leg underneath all that fuzz and scales?

And the muscle is WHERE exactly? Oh. Gone. Hmmmph.

Dr. Wasluski enters, and says it looks great. (what part looks great!? my nasty toes? my hairy leg? my scaly pale skin!?) Apparently, I’m healing well. The boot goes on for two weeks.

My directive: Take off the boot 1000 (yes he stressed 1000) times per day, and write the alphabet (cursive capital!) each time. Walk in the boot. Use the crutches as necessary.

He calmed my fears about re-rupture and perhaps tearing the other one. He mentioned that with tendons, one must use the bands to strengthen. They need to be continuously moving in that motion, and most come back to 150% after surgery and therapy. The key is working BOTH sides so it is equal in strength. Not that I’ll be running soon, but he did say to wait about 4 months. I prefer swimming anyway, so no worries there.

In one week, I return to his office and learn some home exercises from the PT. Then in one more week (so two weeks from today) I get to wear REAL SHOES!!!. Also, I start serious PT.

When I stood up (in the boot), my confidence left my body. I had to lean on Cheryl. Once I got to school, I was crutching around until I felt I could walk. Now, it’s about 8 hours later, and I’m in PAIN. I have removed my boot often to alphabetize, and to my chagrin, it’s not easy! However, I will not be beaten by this feeling! I shall overcome (but with caution of course). Swelling is inevitable. Again, it’s to be expected as he told me.

Cheryl recommended OLIVE OIL on the leg to lubricate and un-scale my skin. First thing? A shave! (but in the tub so I don’t slip and break my other one)

I think I will air-write this word with my foot:
P E D I C U R E!!!

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St. Patrick and Being USED

WHO WAS HE???

Born, 386 AD in Britain and died in 460 AD in Ireland, Patrick descended from a grandfather who was a priest and a father who was a deacon in the Roman church. At this time in history, Christianity had become part of the Roman culture.

According to Stanley Ward of crosswalk.com, Patrick was not only a theologian, but he loved people. He fought for their rights as an activist.

First, as a theologian, he was a bishop to the Irish. But it did not begin this way. At the young age of 16, he was kidnapped by pirates and taken to Ireland from his British homeland. He then spent six years as a shepherd since as a sold slave. He truly learned humility, as he knew nothing of the finer things he had in Britain. All he had was his time with God to pray without ceasing. During the evening at one point, he heard a voice tell him to head back to Britain, and after “walking to a seaport, he miraculously found passage away from Ireland, and eventually, back to Britain.” (Ward)

Sadly, he missed out on being educated, but this “weakness” became a strength. When he went back to Ireland, he did not have the polish or the refined skills to make him sound intellectual. However, his closeness with God and his honest prayers made him a beacon to the Irish, not his speaking skills. (He did train in the priesthood) Moreover, his love for nature, and seeing God in all of it was much of His appeal. Apparently, he used a three-leaf clover to illustrate the Trinity – “Father, Son, and Spirit are one God. Three persons in one.”” Simple, yet elegant.

As a lover of people and their rights, he supposedly was one of the first anti-slavery proponents. He wrote Letter to Coroticus to plead British Christian leaders for the safe return of slaves. Nothing came of this as many now saw him as an Irish man instead of Roman which weakened his influence in Britain.

In fact, he fought for women as he saw them as the backbone of society.

Thanks to Patrick, slavery ceased in Ireland. He fought with God’s love; not with fists or hate.

Be a St. Patrick now

Ward notes that modern St. Patricks, “1. Love God deeply and are able to discern His calling; 2. Are able to teach deep truths by illustrations from common experience; and 3. Demonstrate their faith through a genuine love for people, advocating the cause of those who cannot defend themselves; often this advocacy is motivated by personal experience.”

His life was filled with challenges, obstacles, pain and suffering. He mourned for the lost and the oppressed. He lacked the “accoutrements” of finer education and articulate speech. However, that is what made him so attractive and relatable.

Let’s be reminded that it doesn’t take perfection to be used and to make a difference. Broken vessels are what He wants: Broken yet not destroyed. Humbled yet not proud. Dependent on HIM; not on ourselves.