I need the week to rest from the weekend!

Monday morning I got up and watched some Downton Abbey. I decided after one episode to read. I downloaded about 15 books yesterday and am way too eager to read them! I'm like a starving child eating at a feast. 

I love reading. It allows me to take a break, if you will, from my life. I can be someone else. I can watch the decisions being made and not suffer the consequences too harshly. I can give up the control that I, for some reason, can't seem to let go of. It's freeing in a very satisfying way. I get very, very drawn into books. I can feel what the characters feel and laugh and cry at things in the story. I can just be. I love it. But I digress. 

After the book, I went to PT. We worked on balancing on my right leg. It is MUCH harder than I thought it would be. Kind of like standing on stilts... I can't use my ankle for balance, I have to learn to use my hip and knee. Sometime, stand on one foot and watch your ankle. It adjusts your balance for you. I, obviously, can't do that anymore. I have to use different muscles. 

I woke up on Tuesday and had an appointment with my leg girl. She adjusted some things and had me walk for her. She said that I have improved since she saw me walk last time. I am glad to hear it! 

I spent most of the rest of the day being in lockdown with the same girl I was a sub for a couple of weeks ago. So basically, I read and she worked. Again, SUPER happy!! 

After the school day, I headed back to PT. I did... Wait for it... STEPS!!! Yes! I stepped up, and down, and to the side. I also walked around the floor (200-something feet each time) in the opposite direction- so I can learn how to turn that way as well- TWICE. I think I pretty much ROCK at PT. Like if there was a prize, I would win it. Ok, I'm a little proud of myself... 

Dad and I stopped for well-deserved smoothies on the way home!! We tried a vegan cookie and it never made me so happy to have animal products in my food! It wasn't bad, but as someone who eats non-vegan cookies, it was not that good. 

When we got home, Mom made us dinner. We had Cajun chicken stuffed with cheese and spinach (http://cuckooking.blogspot.com/2010/08/cajun-chicken-with-pepper-jack-cheese.html?m=1) which was amazingly scrumptious!!! We watched the Rangers, read some more, and then went to bed.

And that's life...

 

Best. Weekend. Ever.

The movie Pitch Perfect was hilarious!! It is one I would absolutely watch again! Sister and I watched the movie then talked until we went to sleep. It was so nice and normal. I loved it!!

This was one of the best and most normal weekends of my life!! I think maybe things are just finally getting back to normal or I am adjusting to a new kind of normal. Either way, I am loving it!!

We got up on Saturday and went to a 5K at Rahr and Sons. We had to run by Party City first to get sombreros and mustaches. Ha! Basically, we paid $10 to run *cough*walk and ride*cough*, eat food, hear a live band, taste test, and tour the factory. Sister pushed me the WHOLE way which was amazing! We drank a beer, that I did not like, and ate at the Chile Pepper Grill food truck. It was really fun!! 4 friends were there with us and we got a little, ok a lottle, sunburned. Ha! We know better...

After the Beer Run we went back to the apartment and took one of the best naps I've had in a while!! Next, we played some Little Big Planet. I always have so much fun playing that with my seester!!

We left for dinner at Schlotzky's. We tried the new Muffalotza roast beef sandwich- which was really tasty! We also got an Original to split. You just can't beat the Original. Yum!!

After dinner, we went to a movie theater in Irving that that has like $1.50 movies that are out of theaters. We saw Identity Thief. It was not a let down! It was pretty funny.

We got a call that some friends wanted to go downtown for some drinks at Library. So we ran to Sister's apartment and freshened up. Then we headed out. We had SO much fun at Cinco de Drinko!! We laughed, met new friends, and I even sat IN the booth with everyone. A few randoms and all of my friends sat in my wheelchair. Hahaha! It was kind of hysterical!

We stopped by Whataburger on the way back to my house. Sister ended up staying at the house with me. I love my seester!!!

We missed church the next morning, but I did make it to Sundae Sunday for Youth. We watched Rise of the Guardians while we enjoyed some delicious sundaes.

When I got back home, we watched some Nikita and ate dinner. Mom made some cauliflower pancakes (http://agoodappetite.blogspot.com/2009/09/cheesy-cauliflower-pancakes.html?m=1) and tilapia. Yum yum!!

And that's my super jam packed awesomely fun life!!

Midweek

I basically spent all Wednesday and Thursday reading. It was great!! I just lounged around and read.

On Wednesday I did get my butt out of the house and to go to church. I drove my neighbor girl and I there and back. Independence here I come!!!

Friday I got up and watched some TV then went with Dad to an appointment- boring. Afterwards, Sister and I decided to take Mom and Dad to dinner. So we met Sister at Olive Garden and enjoyed an excellent meal and a GREAT waiter!! He gave me extra mints for answering a question right! Haha!! Go me.

Next, Sister took me to Target. We were going to hang out with friends, but decided to stay at her apartment and watch Pitch Perfect. I'm spending the night with her tonight and I'm so super excited!!

I'll tell you all about my night tomorrow!

And that's life...

Great start to my week!

Monday I subbed again and read another book!! Yay! I <3 reading, kids. Like for real, for real.

After school I went to PT. I rocked it, of course! We worked on my walk and picking my knees up. I still really love walking!! Ha!

After PT, my friend came and got me and we hung out with another friend. These girls got me through college and I'm proud to call them BFFs!! We talked and laughed and I felt the most normal (and giggly) than I have in a long while. I just love and adore my friends. I don't know how I got so lucky, but somehow I did. I love their bluntness, snarky comments, and compassion. They are awesome!!

We ended up ordering Chinese food and watching Easy A. Amazing! We joked about the movie and got home entirely too late. I love girls night!! It was like a night out of a movie, except more awesome and more hilarious!

Tuesday morning I got up to go with Mom for a meeting. While she was inside, I took a nap in the car. I was tired from girls night. Haha! It was a glorious nap!!

After that, we went to a doctor's appointment for me. I was supposed to get an exam, but she let me off the hook because of all the trauma I've been through. Yay! She prescribed the medicine I needed and we went home and took a nap. Yeah. We were tired today.

After our nap, we went to Mama Mia's before my dietician appointment. She told me I was doing well and we talked about "post-procedure" diet dos and don'ts. It was enlightening.

After my brief meeting, I met my leg guy so he could buff the top of my leg. When I sit in the car and lean my leg against the door, the prosthesis and door rub a hole in my pants. Since jeans and pants are such a commodity for me, I can't have this. So he buffed the edges and smoothed it down. It's awesomer (that's a word) than it was before, now!

After a TON of traffic, I barely made it to PT. We worked on strength and a little bit of walking. She made me walk out of the building when I left so she could see how I went!! Yes! I did very well.

When we got home, Mom made us some meatball sliders (http://www.delish.com/_mobile/recipefinder/meatball-parmigiana-sliders-recipe-mslo0511). They were sooooo yummy!! The best part is, they were easy to make, too. That's my kind of meal!!

Now I'm off to bed because I am SO tired!!

And that's life...

Friday-Sunday

I spent another exciting day in lockdown. So far I've read 3 books. I'll call that productive!

After my 8 hour read-a-thon, Mom and I went home and made dinner. Dad grilled us some hamburgers and we made some quinoa, kale, and chickpea salad (http://blog.naturebox.com/post/46506488385/quinoa-kale-chickpea-salad). It was actually pretty good, but could've used a little more seasoning.

We decided to go see a movie after that. We went to see The Croods. It was actually really good! I liked the message and thought it was super cute!! One of my BFFs went to the same movie and I saw her and her friend after the movie. Ha! Small world.

On Saturday I got up and ready to go to my cousin's birthday party, but we kind of missed it. We were running late, which is not a surprise, really. My grandma and a family friend did come and talk to me while we sat outside the party. Haha!

Mom and I did a little shopping and she got me ice cream! Yum!! After the errands, We went home and I left to go see my seester.

We hung out and played Little Big Planet. It reminded me of old days and made me feel pretty amazingly normal. I loved it!! She rearranged so I could more easily get around her apartment. After we played, we saw Pain and Gain while we ate and drank. It was funny, until it got really serious. I'm not sure I liked it. It's also based on a true story which is scary and kind of sad in an ironic way. Ha! Afterwards I got a cool ranch taco- my first one. When I first tried the nacho cheese taco, I said they should make a cool ranch one; just like the commercial!! Ha! It was very tasty!

On Sunday we all got up and went to church. It was a good sermon and some people returned that haven't been in a while. It was so nice to see them!!

After church, we went to Spring Creek for lunch. It was soooooo scrumptious! I love BBQ!! We headed home and I got ready for Youth. A friend came to get me because Mom's car was in the shop and Dad was golfing.

We had a great time at Youth!! We talked about friendship and I used Mean Girls for examples. Ha! It was awesome!! We also played a few games. The kids played duck-duck-goose and I thought it was too boring, so I had them quack and flap their "wings" while they were being chased. It was amazing!!! Don't worry, I recorded it. Hilarity.

When I got home, Mom and I made dinner. We had some spinach and artichoke grilled cheese (http://joythebaker.com/2013/04/spinach-and-artichoke-grilled-cheese-sandwich/) and a salad (http://www.ivillage.com/white-house-salad-biggest-loser/3-r-319466). Delish!! I really liked them both! We watched some Nikita while we ate, then I went to bed.

No major insightfulness tonight, sorry. I'm just working through everything day by day. The kitchen is small and reminds me that I'm not 100%. I love to cook and bake and can't really do it so well right now. I'll get there, I know, but the waiting sucks.

And that's life...

Midweek

I spent all day Wednesday subbing in lockdown. It was just me and 1 student. She was good all day, but I was exhausted by the end of it. I mostly read and redirected the whole day. Pretty awesome!

After subbing, Dad came and got me for PT. I didn't walk as much because I was sore- over 500 feet after almost 9 months of NO walking is a LOT!! Totally worth it. I did some standing exercises and the arm bike. I did walk a little, but not as much as Tuesday. It was great! They kept talking about my gait (how I walk) and that I have to learn this, that, and the other. I kept reminding them that this was, in fact, day two. Haha!

I fell asleep on the way home which is new to me (because of my anxiety in a car). When we got home, we watched the Rangers and I went to bed early.

I repeated pretty much the same day on Thursday. I was, again, the sub for lockdown. I read another book and redirected. My book was fabulous!!!

After school, Mom and I got water and stopped by home. Then, we went to Sams!!! We needed to pick up some "bulk". I rolled myself the whole time and was quite tired by the time we left.

Not too tired to eat at Mexican Inn with Mom, though. I ordered one of the yummiest brisket burritos I've had!! It was amazing! We went home and went to bed after that.

Dad told me that he was amazed and saddened that I was adapting so well to using my wheelchair with seeming ease. He's glad I'm adapting, but sad that I have to. I have to agree. I used to look down and wonder how was I ever going to adapt and learn how to put on a prosthetic leg EVERY DAY and to walk. But it just happens. I adapt. That's the only option I give myself. I don't allow too much self pity. Occasionally I feel it creeping in, and sometimes I even give into it. Most of the time, I forcefully push it down and remind myself how far I've come and how awesome (not self-congratulatory) I am- or so people say. I also remind myself that it could have been WAY worse and it wasn't.

In the hospital, Mom and Dad used to say how thankful they were I was alive. I always shook this off because the thought, "There are worse things than dying," always came to mind. I thought it might have even been better to not have suffered and not seen my parents suffer for me. Keep in mind, please, that I am in NO way suicidal. It was just always a fleeting thought. The good news is, I no longer feel that way. I feel strong. I feel confident. I feel like my life is finally going where it's supposed to. I feel happy. Who knew that such a tragedy could produce such joy in my life? I guess there really is sunshine after the rain. Thank God for my rainy days so I can enjoy and appreciate the sunshine!!!

Thank you again for reading, praying, thinking, loving, believing, and pushing me. It means everything to me.

And that's life...

Monday- walking- and Tuesday- more walking!!!

Monday I went to see my ortho and... HE CLEARED ME TO WALK!!! Woohoo!! It's been so long, but it's fantastic! My wound is amazingly awesomely miraculously healed! I'm so impressed. I even get to shower with my leg IN THE SHOWER now!!!

I think I needed to hear him say I'm good to go before I could actually trust myself and my weight on this leg. Now that I have it, I'm golden!! Weird how our brains can control everything else about us...

After the doctor, we drove alllllllll the waaaaaaaay out to McKinney to see my leg girl. Wow, she is out there!! Haha! She adjusted my socket by shaving down the back a bit and realigning some of it. Also, it turns out Stumpy McGee has shrunk so much that I need a 5-ply sock. Oops. I wasn't using any which could be why my leg felt weird to wear and a little uncomfortable. It's all good, now, though!!! I took a few steps for her and was amazed that I could do it.

We stopped for some "famous" sno cones on the way home!! Delish! I got Tiger's blood and cream.

We went home and stopped at JoAnn's for duct tape (for Texas Ranger, my walker) and Papa Murphy's for dinner (to take home). When we got home, I walked around the living room a bit for Dad; that was the Facebook video most of you saw. That's right. I walked. In my living room. Yeah!!

I got up on Tuesday so my leg girl (same one) could bring me my new foot. I now have a split-toe (for flip flops) foot. I'm so excited!! She switched it out, made some adjustments, and watched me walk some more. We talked a bit, then she left.

I decided to watch some TV, and then made a sandwich. After that, I took a nap. I was exhausted for some reason...

When I got up, I got ready for PT. dad came and got me and we were off! I walked around the PT gym about 4 times. I apparently kind of throw my leg out and around instead of bending my knee to take steps. I have to relearn how to do everything. I have to practice using "high knees" when I walk. I think I was kind of a lazy walker before; I have to learn to NOT do that now.

When we got home, we read until Mom got home. Then, Mom and I made dinner- Philly cheesesteak stuffed bell peppers and white asparagus. I have to admit that the white asparagus is a bit bitter, but we wanted to try it. The peppers were SO good!! They were also fairly easy to make (recipe here: http://www.quickneasyrecipes.net/philly-cheesesteak-stuffed-bell-peppers/). Yum yum!!

We ended our evening by watching the Rangers and reading.

And that's my awesome, kick butt, amazing life!!