Day 149

This morning my alarm went off and I turned it right off and went back to sleep. Ha! I was going to be good and go to work with Dad, but couldn't bring myself to vacate my bed. So I slept in and asked Mom to come get me after her peer review; which she did. I got ready and put on these jeans that I wore before the wreck, but apparently stretched out every time. It was really hard to get them on; like I was sweating when I was finished. Haha!

I sat in Mom's office and helped her with some work. Everyone that came by thought it was hilarious that she was making me work. Honestly, I'd rather be busy than bored. So I hung out while she worked.

Then, her friend (a woman I consider like a second mother to me) came by and was super surprised and excited to see me! I was happy to see her too!! We talked about our different journeys, life in general, and our faith. See why I love her?! Then, we went to dinner with her.

All three of us, plus the lady- so four, went to Red Lobster for dinner. It was soooooo delicious!! I had that new Parmesan ranch shrimp and the jalapeño mango shrimp. Yum yum!!! We enjoyed ourselves immensely.

When we got home, I got out all my stuff so that I could paint. I tried my hand at this one thing I saw somewhere *cough*Pinterest*cough*. I have been wanting to try painting and this one in particular for a while. Pics are below. I did LOTS of OT by sorting out the buttons and gluing them down. I think it turned out pretty good for my first attempt. It was kind of hard for me, though, because I'm slightly OCD... Ok. A lot OCD. Random doesn't happen for me, patterns do. Ha!

Next, I exercised and went to bed so that I can try to get up tomorrow!

And that's life...

Day 148

This morning I got up with the intention of going to church, but was running waaaaay behind. Plus, it was freezing!! Unfortunately, I couldn't get motivated to do anything... Ugh. I hate these kind of days.

So I spent a good while trying to get motivated. Nope. Unsuccessful. I started watching TV and working on some computer stuff; I finished the February calendar. Then, my friend stopped by to return something and chit chat. It was so great to see her!! I caught her up with everything that's happened so far and what the week holds. She's so special!! No one else knows... Haha!

On the way to youth, I was talking to Dad and telling him he has to help me make copies and that I had hoped I would have time to go to the bathroom. I told him my "pee time" went up to like 8 minutes when it used to be like 1.5 minutes. Then I told him that he had a "tee time" and I have a "pee time". Ha!! He seemed to think that was pretty hysterical and told me to write about it tonight (which is why I am).

Youth went fabulously tonight!! I think the lesson went very well. We talked about guilt. I'm trying out a new-to-me curriculum. I think the kids and I will really enjoy this one. Plus, this particular lesson was nice because I could easily relate to it and could easily relate it to the children. Just so we're clear, my "kids" are 7th to 12th graders, not actually children (although they occasionally act like it).

When Mom and Dad picked me up, we went to HEB to do some shopping. We just needed a few things. We lost Mom, or rather she ran off, within the first few minutes so Dad and I got what we needed. It was funny because we had to finagle how to carry everything since Mom had the basket. We made it, though.

We went home, ate delish grilled cheese (made on Mom's Christmas present from Dad, the Griddler), and someone else stopped by. We talked for a bit then she left. Mom helped me make a cake and we watched Walking Dead. Not too much later I went to bed.

And that's life...

Day 147

Mom: How are you taking this whole wound vac thing?
Me (sarcasm): As if it's not bad enough I'm in a wheelchair, I have no foot, I have a brace on one of my arms, and I wheel with one arm and one leg; now I have a machine that makes unfortunate sounds and a tube coming out of the top of my pants that looks like a catheter...
Mom: So not well?
Me: It's not so bad. Haha!!

This morning we got up at the crack of God awful early for a Saturday and met my ortho at the hospital. It took about 30 minutes to get the wound vac on and hooked up. He kept adding tape like it would make it better!! Crazy doctors and their handy dandy tape. We put it on so it could run up my leg and I can take them off tonight for bed. In all seriousness, I have the best doctor!!

Guess who I got to meet today?! I went up to see my old PT and her beautiful baby girl! She is perfect, of course. Lucky me for being at the hospital at the right time. I also got to meet her and her husband's whole family. They are the cutest little family!! It was kind of funny because she was in the bed and I was not. I felt like I should have started boot camp and have her do 20 sit-to-stands. Haha!

After that, one of my BFFs came to get me. We went and got a birthday gift for a one year old, which was an adventure! It kept raining and people were just crazy. First we tried Walmart, but scratched that and went to Target and got the perfect gift gift. Next, we ate lunch at Chili's. It was apparently the most ghetto Chili's because the service was spotty and all the wait staff were standing around talking. They have a new mac-n-cheese, though, that is scrumptious!!! I'm kind of a mac-n-cheese connoisseur. It was up there; I'd definitely recommend it. The waitress asked me if she could have the chair next to me and my friend said, "Sure, she brought her own." The waitress looked sooooo confused!! Ha! We had a grand ol' time!!

Then, we went to the one year old's birthday party. The theme was Chicka Chicka Boom Boom- like the book. They had the cutest stuff!! Getting in the house was scary because someone took me backwards (my second least favorite way to ride in a wheelchair) and tipped me backward to get me over the threshold (my least favorite way to ride in a wheelchair). I'm not a little girl and don't really trust people not to drop me. Ha! Anyways, it was fine, we all lived through it. Leaving was not nearly as scary as coming in was. My friend's husband rapped the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom book. He was fantastic! It was a great party!!

When we got home, we ate, watched TV, watched Walking Dead, and went to bed!

And that's my wonderful life!!

Day 146

Today I went to school with Daddy. I finished my book while I was there. Ha! I also helped him do some stuff in and around the classroom. I did quite a bit of watching his class while he did whatever it was he was doing. Some of these kids crack me up!

While at school, my ortho contacted me. I'm going in tomorrow to get a wound vac put on... I'm so flippin' excited. NOT! I don't want a wound vac!! My ortho knows how I feel about all of this. I almost feel bad for him because he's doing all he can for me. Plus, he puts up with me. Haha!

I am really struggling with this setback. My sister told me I'm taking two steps forward and ons step back, but I'm still making progress. She is right, but it's so hard to see that right now... Why couldn't I have just healed normally? I'm so upset with myself for not healing. I feel like my body let me down. I just want to move past all of this, but apparently that's not meant to be yet.

My old PT texted me today that they're going to induce her tonight!!!! I'm so excited to meet her baby girl! I can't wait!! One of the positives of so much hospital time was making new friends.

When Mom finally got home, we ate, watched TV, and went to bed.

And that's life...

Day 145

Today I had lunch with a dear friend from college. We ate sushi and I took lots of pics. Ha! I remembered this time. We spent about 3 hours catching up. It was really nice. She came ALL the way to my house to get me and take me to lunch. I also got in and out of her car just fine, so I guess I'm getting better with that. Anyways, it was a wonderful lunch date!

After I got home, my ortho called me like he told me he would. He talked to my plastics doctor and they have decided I will get a wound vac until it is time for the skin graft. Now on the phone I took this like a champ, but when I hung up I started crying... You think I'd be used to bad news by now, but I guess not. This means I will have yet another surgery (number 22). Ugh. Also, I don't know how having a wound vac will impact everything... Like teaching and being in public. I'm really not that happy about this. Why can't I just heal normally and fast? Wouldn't that be better? I know it would be for me. However, he said I can probably have the procedure outpatient, which is good. I'm still healing the first graft and am not real happy about giving more skin for a second one. Maybe the wound vac will perform a miracle and I won't have to so the skin graft thing... Who knows?

Dad came and got me for PT after work. It was reevaluation day. I stood for 7 minutes and 20 seconds!!! Woot! She also watched me sit on the ball (I'm better at standing apparently...) and do some other balance things. I'm pretty sure this PT is going to love me soon enough! I think she's pretty fantastic; not my old PT, but a fair second.

After PT we ate dinner with one of my BFFs. I split food with Dad because I was still kind of full from lunch. It was delicious and we spent 2 and a half hours talking about all sorts of stuff. I really have missed my friends... Anyways, I gave her her Christmas present and I really think she liked it. Ha! I had Daddy take a few pics of us- they're below.

Dad and I came home and hung out with Mom. He changed the dressing on my leg, I read, and went to bed.

And that's life...

Day 144

Today I got up, got ready, and got to the doctor (Mom was my adult today). It was raining, and I might have had 12 tiny heart attacks on the way... We did arrive safely there and home, though. There was a 7-11 that was apparently built while I was in the hospital (pic below). I find this very interesting because it was just land when I went in. Back to the appointment... My ortho said my leg doesn't look infected or anything (thank God!!!), but doesn't look like he wants it to. So, he referred me back to my plastic surgeon. However, my plastics guy can't see me until January 30th, and I REFUSE to wait that long for him. I will ask for a different referral if that is his earliest date after my ortho talks to him tomorrow. I'm trying not to flip out about the plastics doctor because I don't know what he will say... We'll see how that goes. He also said I can try a week off of my blood pressure medicine (which I am on because of my heart rate after the accident).

I'm trying to stay positive. I don't know the future (obviously) and can't play the "what if" game. He may take another skin graft (hopefully NOT) or he may do something completely different. I have no idea and no way of knowing. So I will try to "Let go and let God" as much as my human-self can. Ugh. Being a control freak is TOUGH!! Haha! I'm worried about how this is going to affect my prosthetic schedule...

After the ortho, we ran some errands and ate at an Egyptian restaurant for lunch!! I've never had Egyptian food, and was super excited to go. It is very similar to Mediterranean, which we discovered is because Egypt is on the Mediterranean Sea. I had shawarma and Mom had some macarona (pics below), we both got a salad. Both were delish!!! I also got some baklava for me, and brought some to Dad.

One of the errands we ran today was to buy cake balls and take them to my friend's office. She was so super surprised!! Ha! I used my "real/adult" name at the desk, so she didn't know it was me. I also saw other people I knew (you know who you are!) and met a lot of faces I knew the names of. I got to see and talk to the bishop! I'm so fancy. Haha! Apparently I'm notorious (in a good way). I never expected that from all of this... Anyways, it was a lovely and humbling experience to surprise my friend (who I didn't get pics with AGAIN) and meet all of those people I've heard of, but never met.

When we got home, I wasted time by reading until it was time for Wednesday Night Out. This is the first time I've been to a Wednesday night in a while. It is a little different than Sunday nights. I have some trusty teachers (one was my teacher and one was close in age to my youth group) that run the class like pros. It was so cool to see them in action. We talked a little bit after class about how it went and what we can do to make it better. I'm excited about going next week, too!

And that's life...

Day 143

This morning my alarm went off... And I turned it off and fell back to sleep. Haha! Dad came and got me during his conference, though. I don't want to be home too much, because I'm lazy when I'm home by myself. I helped Daddy and also helped the ladies in the front office by folding report cards (OT!!!). I talked to Dad'd principal about my amputation (she is an amputee also) and actually feel much better about my own. After school, we rushed home to change and get Ranger, my walker (get it?).

I had PT today. Since I had some concerns about my stitch line, I had my PT look at it. I have decided to go see my ortho tomorrow anyway. We practiced standing, sitting on the ball, and she gave me new shoulder exercises and stretches. Can you believe it's already been 4 weeks?! I am going to get re-evaluated on Thursday! That's crazy!!

Next we went to Michael's. I had a gift card from Christmas and wanted some crafty supplies. Turns out there are a lot of things I want to paint. Ha! Pinterest... What can I do? So now I am going to try painting this weekend.

When we got home, I made dinner. Me!! I did it! Ok, Dad helped... But mostly it was me! I feel so accomplished!!! I made grilled cheese (with peppered turkey). I tried to start small. Speaking of small... While cooking, I was reminded how small our kitchen is. Haha!

Next, we watched some Chopped, I showered, and went to bed.

And that's life...