so it occurred to me tonight, as i looked over my bank statements and credit card bill, that i will be using my credit card to live off of until grad school starts. once school starts, i will have the money i budgeted for living expenses from my loans. good news on that front also: all my loans got approved, so i'm done worrying about how this year is getting paid for. i always knew it was going to be all on loans, but because i am getting all federal money, there are lots of hoops to jump through. but yeah, without a steady, or large, paycheck coming in, i can't really afford anything. i quit my job at harris teeter, but i'm still waiting for one last check from them. and i'm really hoping that i get it before 2 outstanding bills are deposited and overdraw my account, again. credit cards are evil, but i have come to appreciate how expensive life is and that sometimes people can't do it without buying on credit. i'm not thrilled about it, but i have to pay my bills and buy groceries. i was talking to kara about this whole financial situation since we graduated, and a wonderful thought occurred to me. in three years, when i am done with graduate school and have a great job, i will actually get paid regularly! and most likely, fairly well too. the starting PT salary is usually upwards of 50K a year. i can't even imagine how much money that is. but simply the fact that i won't have to do my grocery shopping at the dollar store is great. (i'll probably still go to the dollar store, cuz its awesome)
so here's to being broke at christmas! and here's to being in debt up to my eyeballs!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Saturday, December 6, 2008
back from Mexico!
so i've been home from Mexico for a week now, and my life has been changed forever. i loved every minute of it and doing God's work. we went to Back2Back Ministries, which is run by a group of American missionaries who have been down there for about 14 years. the group i went with was amazing, really cohesive, and we worked together so well! we did a bunch of work with orphanages that B2B is linked with. we dug trenches, sealed roofs, poured concrete, served meals, and played with all the kids. i loved these kids! i wanted to bring them home with me! we were there over my birthday and on the actual day, the orphanage we were at did a special birthday surprise for me. all the kids got together and sang me a song for my birthday and then jumped on me to give me hugs. i'm really glad someone snapped a picture.
speaking of pictures, i took over 1000 while we were there. yes, you read that right- 1000. i narrowed it down to about 800 that i burned onto CD's for everyone in the group. i quickly became the group's unofficial photographer, and i got so many awesome shots. i put up 6 albums on facebook, so check them out.
i've just been hanging out this weekend, enjoying the wintery weather outside from inside! we have 3 books to read for PT school, so i've spent a lot of today curled up on the couch with a book. i love it. last night, i went to a DPT party and got to meet a bunch of people in my class and lots of students that are already in the program. it was fun and i got a lot of good advice about the program. i know i will regret saying this, but i've been really bored this past year, and i am ready to get started! the sooner i start, the sooner i can be done, and the sooner i can get a job and start to get out of debt. which is a plus. since i will be about 100K in the hole when i'm done, including my loans from undergrad. i'm ready to learn. i know i'm a dork.
i'm headed to church tonight because i don't want to wake up early tomorrow to go. and i don't have anything else to do tonight, so why not go to church?!!? i love my church. its amazing.
speaking of pictures, i took over 1000 while we were there. yes, you read that right- 1000. i narrowed it down to about 800 that i burned onto CD's for everyone in the group. i quickly became the group's unofficial photographer, and i got so many awesome shots. i put up 6 albums on facebook, so check them out.
i've just been hanging out this weekend, enjoying the wintery weather outside from inside! we have 3 books to read for PT school, so i've spent a lot of today curled up on the couch with a book. i love it. last night, i went to a DPT party and got to meet a bunch of people in my class and lots of students that are already in the program. it was fun and i got a lot of good advice about the program. i know i will regret saying this, but i've been really bored this past year, and i am ready to get started! the sooner i start, the sooner i can be done, and the sooner i can get a job and start to get out of debt. which is a plus. since i will be about 100K in the hole when i'm done, including my loans from undergrad. i'm ready to learn. i know i'm a dork.
i'm headed to church tonight because i don't want to wake up early tomorrow to go. and i don't have anything else to do tonight, so why not go to church?!!? i love my church. its amazing.
Monday, November 17, 2008
how He loves us
we sang a great song at church this weekend; i've heard it before, but i haven't been able to get it out of my head today. i really like some of the lyrics in it.
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
that is so powerful. He loves us with the power of a hurricane, and i am that one tree left in the wind, bending under His love, knowing that i won't break. i love the feeling that God is jealous for me, like i am the only one He wants. and i know that i am, because i was made in His eyes, so to Him, i am perfect. the metaphor of "if grace was an ocean, we'd all be sinking" is so descriptive of God's grace and mercy for us. with all the hate in this world, we are still forever sinking in the ocean of God's grace, no matter what.
not growing up in church, i never liked it. i wasn't a Christian until i came to college and met a group of Christian women. so i never 'got' how God loves us more than any of us can imagine. that He is bigger than anything we can imagine. in the bible it says that the universe fits in the span of His hand. and the universe is the biggest thing we on earth can fathom, and we will never see the edge of its limits. God is really big and we are really small. when i was a kid and looked up at the sky at night, i saw stars and planets, but thats as far as it went. now i look up in the sky and think of what is past the tiniest sliver of the universe that we live in, thinking what else God has made.
i don't know how i made it through 19 years of my life without knowing God. i was a different person then. now, i can say with all my heart that i am loved, loved more than anyone can put into words, by a God who is full of grace.
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
that is so powerful. He loves us with the power of a hurricane, and i am that one tree left in the wind, bending under His love, knowing that i won't break. i love the feeling that God is jealous for me, like i am the only one He wants. and i know that i am, because i was made in His eyes, so to Him, i am perfect. the metaphor of "if grace was an ocean, we'd all be sinking" is so descriptive of God's grace and mercy for us. with all the hate in this world, we are still forever sinking in the ocean of God's grace, no matter what.
not growing up in church, i never liked it. i wasn't a Christian until i came to college and met a group of Christian women. so i never 'got' how God loves us more than any of us can imagine. that He is bigger than anything we can imagine. in the bible it says that the universe fits in the span of His hand. and the universe is the biggest thing we on earth can fathom, and we will never see the edge of its limits. God is really big and we are really small. when i was a kid and looked up at the sky at night, i saw stars and planets, but thats as far as it went. now i look up in the sky and think of what is past the tiniest sliver of the universe that we live in, thinking what else God has made.
i don't know how i made it through 19 years of my life without knowing God. i was a different person then. now, i can say with all my heart that i am loved, loved more than anyone can put into words, by a God who is full of grace.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
just a slight change
so i decided to do something a little drastic, and here is the proof:
as soon as i get a camera of my own, i will get some better pictures taken. i took this one by myself with someone else's camera. i absolutely loooove my new haircut!! its been a little surprising for people, but i just love it to death! i think i might keep this style for a while, its definitely low maintenance.
as soon as i get a camera of my own, i will get some better pictures taken. i took this one by myself with someone else's camera. i absolutely loooove my new haircut!! its been a little surprising for people, but i just love it to death! i think i might keep this style for a while, its definitely low maintenance.
Monday, November 3, 2008
my only political statement
on the eve of this crazy, way to long drawn out, election, i am sick to death of talking about politics. its almost to the point that i don't care who wins. almost. for those of you who know me well, you will know that i am about as conservative as they come. or as chris says, i'm a "staunch republican." i will be proudly voting for john mccain tomorrow. and i think obama bin laden is a dangerous person, and a muslim. he is a very charismatic speaker who i think has brainwashed an entire generation of americans who are so desperate to get as far away from the current administration as possible. have i been pleased with the past 4 years of government? not entirely, but i would vote for bush over john kerry still today. i worked on the bush campaign 4 years ago, and learned so much about the process of electing a president. as much as i learned and even though it was a great opportunity, i will never do it again.
so, i am pretty sure that obama is going to win tomorrow. mccain has a slight chance, but i'm not holding my breath. even though i think obama is a really dangerous person to run the country, part of me is very curious to see what is going to happen. i honestly think that he isn't quite sure what he is going to do when he actually gets into office. its scary to think how socialist he is and his ties are all pretty questionable. i have no doubt he is a smart guy...but so was stalin.
i came across this document from someone writing from the perspective of a Christian 4 years from now, after an obama presidency. its interesting, and God willing none of it will ever come true.
i am also very glad that i work until 9:30 tomorrow night. that means that i won't be able to sit at home and watch the election converage. i am a believer that ALL election results should be held from the public until 8 am wednesday morning. we've been listening to this election crap for 2 years, another 8 hours won't kill us. i'm not a fan of american instant gratification disorder.
so.
VOTE MCCAIN 08
communist=Stalin=socialist
socialist=Obama=communist
do the math.
so, i am pretty sure that obama is going to win tomorrow. mccain has a slight chance, but i'm not holding my breath. even though i think obama is a really dangerous person to run the country, part of me is very curious to see what is going to happen. i honestly think that he isn't quite sure what he is going to do when he actually gets into office. its scary to think how socialist he is and his ties are all pretty questionable. i have no doubt he is a smart guy...but so was stalin.
i came across this document from someone writing from the perspective of a Christian 4 years from now, after an obama presidency. its interesting, and God willing none of it will ever come true.
i am also very glad that i work until 9:30 tomorrow night. that means that i won't be able to sit at home and watch the election converage. i am a believer that ALL election results should be held from the public until 8 am wednesday morning. we've been listening to this election crap for 2 years, another 8 hours won't kill us. i'm not a fan of american instant gratification disorder.
so.
VOTE MCCAIN 08
communist=Stalin=socialist
socialist=Obama=communist
do the math.
Friday, October 31, 2008
road trip!!
tomorrow morning, at 7 am i may add, me, kara, my mom, and chris are driving to baltimore to see my brother. it started way back when i was talking to bobby about going to visit him; so i picked a weekend and blocked it off. no biggie. as time went on, the road trip party grew by 3 more people. so we are going to baltimore for the weekend. it will be the first weekend in a very long time that i won't be home. its weird to miss church and have to watch bob's sermon online. its weird not to work on sundays at the club. i love my rountines, and its always weird to interrupt that. i went up to visit him 3 years ago for fall break, and we got a great picture down by the harbor. 
since friday is halloween, we are dressing up and going somewhere that i'm not sure about yet. i just am not up on the plans we have. kara and i went to goodwill last night to find some sweet costumes. i found a silk chinese shirt thingy, that buttons up the front with a square collar and has an asian fabric design. i was like, score! then i found a pair of black silk pajama pants that has pink piping on the bottom. its adorable. i will be the cutest white chinese person in baltimore for halloween. and...added bonus, i now have a new pair of pajama pants! i'm just worried about being cold. so i packed my long underwear and hat and gloves. i think the highs are in 60 for the weekend.
on a totally different note, i've been watching sermons online from elevation church from their last series on love and sex. a great quote, "if my wife was a bowl of gravy, i would sop her up with a biscuit!" its really good so far, you should check it out.
since friday is halloween, we are dressing up and going somewhere that i'm not sure about yet. i just am not up on the plans we have. kara and i went to goodwill last night to find some sweet costumes. i found a silk chinese shirt thingy, that buttons up the front with a square collar and has an asian fabric design. i was like, score! then i found a pair of black silk pajama pants that has pink piping on the bottom. its adorable. i will be the cutest white chinese person in baltimore for halloween. and...added bonus, i now have a new pair of pajama pants! i'm just worried about being cold. so i packed my long underwear and hat and gloves. i think the highs are in 60 for the weekend.
on a totally different note, i've been watching sermons online from elevation church from their last series on love and sex. a great quote, "if my wife was a bowl of gravy, i would sop her up with a biscuit!" its really good so far, you should check it out.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
new topics
so i know i started this blog to update everyone about my ankle surgery back in january, but my ankle is perfectly fine. i haven't been in therapy for months and months, and i have absolutely no restrictions on physical activity, etc. so that's groovy.
but life has been good. i have three jobs, HT, alamance country club, and in an office at elon. so i stay busy. i am very involved in my church here in burlington, and recently, i got to go to atlanta for the catalyst conference. its a huge church leadership conference that over 12,000 leaders from all over the country go to. my friend jayson from elon actually works for catalyst and he got me a ticket last minute, because i wasn't going to be able to afford to go. PRAISE THE LORD that jayson got me a ticket, because it was the most amazing 2 days in my life!
what a great spiritual high! the worship was unbelieveable; steve fee and kristian stanfill and all the other worship leaders from north point community church lead worship.
there were great speakers, including franklin graham and a bunch of other popular pastors from around the country. william paul young is an author from oregon who has written a bestselling book called The Shack. after hearing him speak, i went to target and bought it. i read it in 4 hours. i work a 6 hour shift at the country club on sundays, so its a good time for me to get a lot of reading done. so i'm sitting in the fitness center at the club trying not to absolutely burst into tears. it is crazy how one man can get things so right about so many things. its a story about a man who loses someone very close to him and has a special interraction with God. it will truly change how you think about God. if you are struggling with your walk with God, or wondering why God allows bad things to happen to good people, this is such a wonderful, healing story about God's never-ending love for us. no matter what happens in our lives, no matter how dark the days might be, God is always with us and His love for us is so beyond our imagination. william paul young has personified God in such a way that will change your walk with God.
hearing all these insirational speakers made me curious about how i can listen to all of them through the wonders of technology. so i discovered something wonderful - podcasts! ohmygoodness, they are wonderful! well, all these churches around the country put their sermons on podcasts. so i came back from atlanta with a mission! i got on my itunes and found all these podcasts. i now am subscribed to 11 different podcasts and every week, it downloads the sermons from churches all over the country! technology is just so wonderful, and i know i'm really late in finding out about them, but better late than never!
this was the second time i got to go to atlanta for a church conference. i went to a conference called orange back in april; its a conference more for student ministry. i was working for the church in childrens ministry, so it was relevant that i go. these huge conferences that attract the next generation of church leaders are always held in the gwinnett center in duluth, which is probably about 30-40 miles north of actual atlanta. i have fallen in love with this part of the country! there is a huge, unbelievable church in alpharetta called north point, which was started 12 years ago by a group of forward thinking guys. well, now it has 3 campuses and ministers to over 20,000 people every weekend. this new Christian movement around the country is being headed by leaders in north atlanta. since april, i have had this overwhelming desire to move to duluth/alpharetta. i know its crazy, but i want to go to north point! i know its nuts to want to move just because of a church. but maybe God is calling me there for a church and for reasons unknown to me. in my second year of grad school, i get to do 3 clinical rotations. being the planner that i am, i will definitely be doing a rotation in north atlanta. it can be a test run for me moving there. i will go where God sends me, no matter what.
ok thats it for tonight, but here are some future topics:
}sewing projects
}mexico mission trip
}photography
but life has been good. i have three jobs, HT, alamance country club, and in an office at elon. so i stay busy. i am very involved in my church here in burlington, and recently, i got to go to atlanta for the catalyst conference. its a huge church leadership conference that over 12,000 leaders from all over the country go to. my friend jayson from elon actually works for catalyst and he got me a ticket last minute, because i wasn't going to be able to afford to go. PRAISE THE LORD that jayson got me a ticket, because it was the most amazing 2 days in my life!
what a great spiritual high! the worship was unbelieveable; steve fee and kristian stanfill and all the other worship leaders from north point community church lead worship.
there were great speakers, including franklin graham and a bunch of other popular pastors from around the country. william paul young is an author from oregon who has written a bestselling book called The Shack. after hearing him speak, i went to target and bought it. i read it in 4 hours. i work a 6 hour shift at the country club on sundays, so its a good time for me to get a lot of reading done. so i'm sitting in the fitness center at the club trying not to absolutely burst into tears. it is crazy how one man can get things so right about so many things. its a story about a man who loses someone very close to him and has a special interraction with God. it will truly change how you think about God. if you are struggling with your walk with God, or wondering why God allows bad things to happen to good people, this is such a wonderful, healing story about God's never-ending love for us. no matter what happens in our lives, no matter how dark the days might be, God is always with us and His love for us is so beyond our imagination. william paul young has personified God in such a way that will change your walk with God.hearing all these insirational speakers made me curious about how i can listen to all of them through the wonders of technology. so i discovered something wonderful - podcasts! ohmygoodness, they are wonderful! well, all these churches around the country put their sermons on podcasts. so i came back from atlanta with a mission! i got on my itunes and found all these podcasts. i now am subscribed to 11 different podcasts and every week, it downloads the sermons from churches all over the country! technology is just so wonderful, and i know i'm really late in finding out about them, but better late than never!
this was the second time i got to go to atlanta for a church conference. i went to a conference called orange back in april; its a conference more for student ministry. i was working for the church in childrens ministry, so it was relevant that i go. these huge conferences that attract the next generation of church leaders are always held in the gwinnett center in duluth, which is probably about 30-40 miles north of actual atlanta. i have fallen in love with this part of the country! there is a huge, unbelievable church in alpharetta called north point, which was started 12 years ago by a group of forward thinking guys. well, now it has 3 campuses and ministers to over 20,000 people every weekend. this new Christian movement around the country is being headed by leaders in north atlanta. since april, i have had this overwhelming desire to move to duluth/alpharetta. i know its crazy, but i want to go to north point! i know its nuts to want to move just because of a church. but maybe God is calling me there for a church and for reasons unknown to me. in my second year of grad school, i get to do 3 clinical rotations. being the planner that i am, i will definitely be doing a rotation in north atlanta. it can be a test run for me moving there. i will go where God sends me, no matter what.
ok thats it for tonight, but here are some future topics:
}sewing projects
}mexico mission trip
}photography
Monday, May 26, 2008
Graduation!
I graduated!!
It really happened, as much as I tried to pretend it wasn't going to. I don't really have any desire to re-live the weekend, but even still, it was very special. Elon goes all out for graduation, its a very big deal. Its a 4 day event basically, with picnics, dances, receptions, and baccalaureate...finally graduation on Saturday morning. My whole family came: mom, dad, stepmom, brother, both grandmothers, uncle, 2 cousins, 1 cousin's boyfriend, and last but certainly not least, Jimmy. My roommate from last year, Jamie, also came back for the weekend. I was so excited to see her! Jimmy and I spent all last week in the NC mountains celebrating our graduations after his graduation from VT. When we came back to Elon from the mountains, we got to spend a lot of time together during the week of celebrations. So I am officially an alum and I don't like it so far. Its so emotional and I was not ready to say goodbye to all my friends and one of my roommates.
Here's a couple pictures from the weekend:
It really happened, as much as I tried to pretend it wasn't going to. I don't really have any desire to re-live the weekend, but even still, it was very special. Elon goes all out for graduation, its a very big deal. Its a 4 day event basically, with picnics, dances, receptions, and baccalaureate...finally graduation on Saturday morning. My whole family came: mom, dad, stepmom, brother, both grandmothers, uncle, 2 cousins, 1 cousin's boyfriend, and last but certainly not least, Jimmy. My roommate from last year, Jamie, also came back for the weekend. I was so excited to see her! Jimmy and I spent all last week in the NC mountains celebrating our graduations after his graduation from VT. When we came back to Elon from the mountains, we got to spend a lot of time together during the week of celebrations. So I am officially an alum and I don't like it so far. Its so emotional and I was not ready to say goodbye to all my friends and one of my roommates.
Here's a couple pictures from the weekend:
Thursday, April 24, 2008
I got in trouble
Because I'm a klutz and fell yesterday (in flip flops), everyone is not happy with me. Jimmy has always hated flip flops, and now he has yet another reason to do so. My PT Chris also gave me a lecture about my footwear today when I was at therapy. It was definitely sore and I couldn't move it as far as I have been able to. Well then I talked to my mom this afternoon and told her that I tripped. She was not happy one bit. And I know everybody is right and that I shouldn't be wearing flip flops in my condition, but I got a little ahead of myself. I have been doing so great and I haven't worn my brace for about 2 weeks.
So anyway, my mother was not happy with me. She made me a deal. The deal is that if I send her home with a bag of all my flip flops when she comes to visit next weekend, that she will get me an early graduation present of trekker shoes. I have seen them before and I have always liked them, so this is a great chance for me to transition into new shoes. So I will say goodbye to all my flip flops and not trip anymore!!
I am leaving on Sunday for Atlanta for the Orange Conference. A bunch of us from church are going; its a Christian leadership conference. One of the keynote speakers is Louie Giglio, and I am basically obsessed with him. I made a shirt that says "I 'heart' Louie." I am going to stalk him until I get a picture taken with him.
So anyway, my mother was not happy with me. She made me a deal. The deal is that if I send her home with a bag of all my flip flops when she comes to visit next weekend, that she will get me an early graduation present of trekker shoes. I have seen them before and I have always liked them, so this is a great chance for me to transition into new shoes. So I will say goodbye to all my flip flops and not trip anymore!!
I am leaving on Sunday for Atlanta for the Orange Conference. A bunch of us from church are going; its a Christian leadership conference. One of the keynote speakers is Louie Giglio, and I am basically obsessed with him. I made a shirt that says "I 'heart' Louie." I am going to stalk him until I get a picture taken with him.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Trip and Fall
Today, while I was walking on campus, I tripped and rolled my ankle a little bit. And it was because there was too many people around on that part of campus. Why were there so many people you ask? Because Bill Clinton graced Elon with his presence today. Now, for those of you who know me knows how much I despise the Clintons. Everything about them. So good ole' slick Willy being here today didn't impress me whatsoever. So I rolled my ankle a bit walking on the bricks, and now its sore. Chris is not going to be happy when I go to PT tomorrow. But he will make it feel better.
On a much more positive note, I get to see my old roommate Jamie on Friday!! We lived together last year and we are pretty much the exact same person. I miss her so much and I haven't seen her in a year! I can't wait to see her and convince her to move back to Elon.
On a much more positive note, I get to see my old roommate Jamie on Friday!! We lived together last year and we are pretty much the exact same person. I miss her so much and I haven't seen her in a year! I can't wait to see her and convince her to move back to Elon.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Liberation
So I haven't worn my boot or brace for the last two weeks! And my ankle hasn't felt better. My PT has been going so well, it always feels so good. Since I passed my 10 week mark, we have upgraded to all sorts of fun new things. I do balance things, I can stand on my surgery leg for a few seconds before having to grab onto something. My leg is getting stronger, I am now using muscles that I haven't had to use for the past year since I used to put all my weight on my right side. Last week, I was waking up almost every night with leg cramps, just from my muscles getting used to being used again. It feels stronger everyday and soon, I will be able to start walking in some of my cute shoes again! I think I will always lean towards flat shoes, but sometimes a girl just has to wear some cute heels. I am planning on wearing heels to graduation on May 24th, so thats my goal.
I spent the weekend in Winston Salem at my grandmothers house, and my mom came up too. We spent all day Saturday cleaning her windows. It was actually kind of fun! I went around the outside with a ladder while my mom stayed on the inside and we just circled the house! We should have re-thought the position, because the windows were caked in NC pollen, which I am super allergic to. I spent the rest of the weekend sniffling and sneezing. It was fun to spend the time with my family, we always have a good time together. We started planning my graduation party and what we are going to cook, its gonna be great! Its really starting to hit me that I am actually going to graduate for real. Just because I've been out of class since December, I haven't really felt like I was done. May 24th is coming quickly, and I'm really looking forward to having a bunch of friends and family here to celebrate with me! Jimmy graduates on May 10th, then its my turn on the 24th, so we are going to get to spend a bunch of time together in May. I am so in love with him, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him!!
I spent the weekend in Winston Salem at my grandmothers house, and my mom came up too. We spent all day Saturday cleaning her windows. It was actually kind of fun! I went around the outside with a ladder while my mom stayed on the inside and we just circled the house! We should have re-thought the position, because the windows were caked in NC pollen, which I am super allergic to. I spent the rest of the weekend sniffling and sneezing. It was fun to spend the time with my family, we always have a good time together. We started planning my graduation party and what we are going to cook, its gonna be great! Its really starting to hit me that I am actually going to graduate for real. Just because I've been out of class since December, I haven't really felt like I was done. May 24th is coming quickly, and I'm really looking forward to having a bunch of friends and family here to celebrate with me! Jimmy graduates on May 10th, then its my turn on the 24th, so we are going to get to spend a bunch of time together in May. I am so in love with him, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him!!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
You can't rush greatness
I am in Salisbury, Maryland right now at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research. Its the biggest conference for undergrads in the country to present research; there are about 2,800 students here! I presented this afternoon in one of the poster sessions, and stood by my poster for an hour and a half answering questions about my study. It was pretty fun. My ankle doesn't hurt too much, but my feet are pretty sore. I am going to wear much more comfortable shoes tomorrow, but I also don't have to dress up as much tomorrow as I did today. I drove up in a bus full of Elon students yesterday and we are staying in a nice hotel here in Salisbury. All the Elon students are going back to Elon on Saturday, but I am taking a train to Baltimore to see my brother in his show, Pippin. My mom and best friend from high school are driving up to see him, so they will just drop me off in Elon when they drive back on Sunday. I am psyched to see them!!
We are starting to get ready to go to bed, so I am going to get in the huge king size bed here!!
We are starting to get ready to go to bed, so I am going to get in the huge king size bed here!!
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Blahhhh
My weekend in Gatlinburg resulted in two basic things. One, I have pretty much a zero tolerance to alcohol. Like we didn't already know that?! And two, I got the 24 hour stomach flu. Not fun. I spent most of Monday morning puking my guts out, until there was nothing left to throw up. Don't you just love dry-heaving?
I feel much better today, and I even ate some food today. I was at work most of the day too, so at least my mine wasn't on it. By tomorrow, I should be 100% back to normal. I am driving to Charlotte on Thursday for the weekend. I get to see my mom and I am really excited; her boyfriend just broke up with her 2 days after asking her to marry him. ASSHOLE. And I just miss my momma. Then the rest of the weekend, I am going to work for my dad.
I am going to bed!
I feel much better today, and I even ate some food today. I was at work most of the day too, so at least my mine wasn't on it. By tomorrow, I should be 100% back to normal. I am driving to Charlotte on Thursday for the weekend. I get to see my mom and I am really excited; her boyfriend just broke up with her 2 days after asking her to marry him. ASSHOLE. And I just miss my momma. Then the rest of the weekend, I am going to work for my dad.
I am going to bed!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
I'm still here!
In this post....updates, pictures, and other life anecdotes.
Hello everyone! So apparently I really suck at this blogging thing. I really need to stay up on it and actually write about my progress so people who read this will know.
So, I finally got pictures uploaded onto my computer, so I can post them on here.
This is my scar from the first time I went back to my doctor, 5 days post-op. As you can see, I have a very fat, discolored foot. And the scar is super pretty. I had zero movement in my foot and this was prior to my three weeks on crutches and all the fun that entailed.
This is my scar today. It looks way different, don't you think? At eight weeks post op, I think the scar still looks terrible. I see patients with surgery scars day in and day out, and I have never seen an 8 week scar so red and still puffy. Chris, my PT, says it looks fine, but I really don't like it.
Anyway, my therapy has been going very well. At first, it really was a whole new realm of pain, but now I actually look forward to it...until I get there and they start hurting me. Every time I go, i get Hi-Volt muscle stimulation (STEM) on my ankle. It pretty much feels amazing, best thing ever. I highly recommend it to anyone in therapy. It takes away any feeling of pain or discomfort and it makes my ankle much easier for Chris to work on. So far, the only things i have been doing at PT are some stretching by Chris, to loosen everything up. My whole ankle is sooooo tight, from not moving it much and the trauma of surgery, its just really tight all over. So he takes a good 10-15 minutes just to loosen up my whole foot. Then he does some stretches doing plantar flexion and dorsiflexion (pointing the toes and pulling the toes back up). It feels good to stretch it, but there is a clear limit as to how far my ankle will go. He does some stuff called joint mobilization, which is not very comfortable in any sense. They basically hold my ankle in two hands, one on my heel and one above the joint, and then pull in opposite directions. Not fun. Then just last week, i started doing some other stuff, without my boot on! Its such a weird feeling. I stand on both feet with them as close together as I can get them and balance my weight. Sounds easy right? No. I have to hold on. Just being able to hold up half my body weight is quite a task for my poor ankle. Then I do calf raises, which are extremely difficult right now, but I am working on them. Then i sit on a chair and Chris dumps a cup full of random crap on the floor in front of me, screws, golf tees, pen tops, bottle caps, tons of random shit. I have to pick all the stuff up with my toes and put them back in the cup. Super hard, especially since my foot is so stiff, it really makes me stretch my toes and stuff. I have my own special ankle ice pack at home, so I can ice whenever I want. Ice is my second favorite, right after STEM. I can fall asleep with both of them on my ankle any time of day!
Non-ankle related stuff...
Jimmy and I have gotten to see each other the past three weekends in a row! We have had so much fun together. I just got home this evening from his fraternity formal in TN. It was very fun and we did very collegiate things. Check out my facebook for updated pictures of fun life things.
And I still don't have a real job! It really sucks. I have been working part time at my church, but I don't know if that is going to turn into something full time. It is so frustrating that I can't find a job with a freakin college degree!!!
Hello everyone! So apparently I really suck at this blogging thing. I really need to stay up on it and actually write about my progress so people who read this will know.
So, I finally got pictures uploaded onto my computer, so I can post them on here.
This is my scar from the first time I went back to my doctor, 5 days post-op. As you can see, I have a very fat, discolored foot. And the scar is super pretty. I had zero movement in my foot and this was prior to my three weeks on crutches and all the fun that entailed.
This is my scar today. It looks way different, don't you think? At eight weeks post op, I think the scar still looks terrible. I see patients with surgery scars day in and day out, and I have never seen an 8 week scar so red and still puffy. Chris, my PT, says it looks fine, but I really don't like it.
Anyway, my therapy has been going very well. At first, it really was a whole new realm of pain, but now I actually look forward to it...until I get there and they start hurting me. Every time I go, i get Hi-Volt muscle stimulation (STEM) on my ankle. It pretty much feels amazing, best thing ever. I highly recommend it to anyone in therapy. It takes away any feeling of pain or discomfort and it makes my ankle much easier for Chris to work on. So far, the only things i have been doing at PT are some stretching by Chris, to loosen everything up. My whole ankle is sooooo tight, from not moving it much and the trauma of surgery, its just really tight all over. So he takes a good 10-15 minutes just to loosen up my whole foot. Then he does some stretches doing plantar flexion and dorsiflexion (pointing the toes and pulling the toes back up). It feels good to stretch it, but there is a clear limit as to how far my ankle will go. He does some stuff called joint mobilization, which is not very comfortable in any sense. They basically hold my ankle in two hands, one on my heel and one above the joint, and then pull in opposite directions. Not fun. Then just last week, i started doing some other stuff, without my boot on! Its such a weird feeling. I stand on both feet with them as close together as I can get them and balance my weight. Sounds easy right? No. I have to hold on. Just being able to hold up half my body weight is quite a task for my poor ankle. Then I do calf raises, which are extremely difficult right now, but I am working on them. Then i sit on a chair and Chris dumps a cup full of random crap on the floor in front of me, screws, golf tees, pen tops, bottle caps, tons of random shit. I have to pick all the stuff up with my toes and put them back in the cup. Super hard, especially since my foot is so stiff, it really makes me stretch my toes and stuff. I have my own special ankle ice pack at home, so I can ice whenever I want. Ice is my second favorite, right after STEM. I can fall asleep with both of them on my ankle any time of day!
Non-ankle related stuff...
Jimmy and I have gotten to see each other the past three weekends in a row! We have had so much fun together. I just got home this evening from his fraternity formal in TN. It was very fun and we did very collegiate things. Check out my facebook for updated pictures of fun life things.
And I still don't have a real job! It really sucks. I have been working part time at my church, but I don't know if that is going to turn into something full time. It is so frustrating that I can't find a job with a freakin college degree!!!
Friday, March 14, 2008
Physical Therapy
Well, I have started physical therapy on my ankle. I have been walking around in the ankle boot for about 3 weeks and got to start PT this week. I am doing therapy at the same place that I interned last semester, Stewart Physical Therapy. They are awesome, like family! So anyway, hopefully I am well on the way to getting this boot off and being able to walk like a normal human again soon!!
This is my PT Chris:
This picture is from Halloween, just for the record. He doesn't usually dress quite like this.
This is my PT Chris:
This picture is from Halloween, just for the record. He doesn't usually dress quite like this.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Update
Sorry its been such a long time since I have updated anything on this. I have been dealing with the oh-so-fun mental/emotional side effects of having major surgery, graduating college, and losing all stability and schedule in my life. Anxiety and depression sucks. I spent the weekend at home and I will just say that no matter how old you are, you are never too old too want to spend time with your parents. They really know how to make you feel better, even if you are 22 years old.
Anyway, I am feeling much more like myself these days. I have a job interview at Alamance Regional Medical Center in the morning, working in imaging and maternity. I really really need a job, for so many reasons. Like money. And to fill the hours in the day.
I had my post op visit today and they took that freakin cast off! My doctor was so pleased and says he trusts me, so he gave me a great big honkin walking boot instead of a walking cast! That means I can shower and actually wash my leg! Its pretty nasty, very hairy. You know you want that visual. I'm not going to shave my leg until my friend Lizzie sees it, because I think it might be some kind of record. I will put pictures up of my scar when I get around to uploading them to my computer. Be patient. Get it, I'm a patient, and I said be patient. Hahahaha.
Cross your fingers and say some prayers for me to get this job, because I actually really want it!!
Anyway, I am feeling much more like myself these days. I have a job interview at Alamance Regional Medical Center in the morning, working in imaging and maternity. I really really need a job, for so many reasons. Like money. And to fill the hours in the day.
I had my post op visit today and they took that freakin cast off! My doctor was so pleased and says he trusts me, so he gave me a great big honkin walking boot instead of a walking cast! That means I can shower and actually wash my leg! Its pretty nasty, very hairy. You know you want that visual. I'm not going to shave my leg until my friend Lizzie sees it, because I think it might be some kind of record. I will put pictures up of my scar when I get around to uploading them to my computer. Be patient. Get it, I'm a patient, and I said be patient. Hahahaha.
Cross your fingers and say some prayers for me to get this job, because I actually really want it!!
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Boy do I love this guy!!
I have had the best weekend spending time with my baby and his parents. I love his parents, they are the most wonderful people and take me in as their own child every time I am there. We relaxed and spent time time together.
I am going back to Elon in the morning, so take me places.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Steps in the right direction!
I took FOUR steps today!!! I had to hold on to something with both hands and it wasn't very pretty, but I did it! My doctor said that I could start putting some weight on it, but I'm not sure what the boundaries with that are. I was supposed to have my first real post-op on Tuesday, but I rescheduled since I was planning on going back to school before then. I still am, hence why I rescheduled it for after I get back from our conference in Birmingham. I figure since I was going to get the go ahead to start walking on Tuesday, I can practice a little bit. But I am not going to press my luck. I'll stick to my idiot cart.
I spent the day at work with my mom, its exactly what I needed! I just couldn't sit in an empty house all by myself for another day. For those of you who know me well, you know how those two things don't mix.
Jimmy is coming to visit this weekend and it couldn't come at a better time! I love him so much!
I spent the day at work with my mom, its exactly what I needed! I just couldn't sit in an empty house all by myself for another day. For those of you who know me well, you know how those two things don't mix.
Jimmy is coming to visit this weekend and it couldn't come at a better time! I love him so much!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Kinda tough day
I still haven't found my camera cord, so I can't put up any pictures. Booooo. And tonight when we went to Harris Teeter, I drove around one of those little idiot carts. We didn't bring a camera unfortunately. It was a good laugh, which I really needed today.
I had a little bit of a down day, I'm very ready to be able to take care of myself and not be helpless. It is frustrating, since I am normally so independent and don't really need people to do things for me. So, its depressing that I have to depend on other people. With my mom at work all day, I can't really do much. I'm pretty pathetic trying to make lunch, hobbling all over the kitchen. It was rather humorous.
I am coming back up to Elon on Sunday, so that will be nice to be able to see everyone and have people around. I will probably spend all day Monday on campus pretending that I can still go to class.
I had a little bit of a down day, I'm very ready to be able to take care of myself and not be helpless. It is frustrating, since I am normally so independent and don't really need people to do things for me. So, its depressing that I have to depend on other people. With my mom at work all day, I can't really do much. I'm pretty pathetic trying to make lunch, hobbling all over the kitchen. It was rather humorous.
I am coming back up to Elon on Sunday, so that will be nice to be able to see everyone and have people around. I will probably spend all day Monday on campus pretending that I can still go to class.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Update on the cripple
Greetings to all my loyal readers! I went back to my doctor today because they wanted to see me since I fell pretty badly on Sunday night. They want to stay on the side of safety and since I fell only 3 days after my surgery, I totally agreed with them. So I went in and they took off my psuedo-cast off and I saw the fat, bruised cankle that used to be my ankle. I took pictures, but I cannot find my cord to upload them to my computer! When I find it, I will post them, they are super cool. Anyway, with no damage from the fall and apparently good progress on swelling, my doctor decided to go ahead and cast me for a little more support and safety. I picked maroon for my color and I think I will take some yellow duct tape and make stripes for some Elon pride! My dad and I went to the health supply place and rented a roll-a-bout, and this one has a steering handlebar!! They have the new model, which is not the one that I had seen before. I will get pictures of it posted soon too. Its so much easier to get around than crutches and once I get used to it, I will be zipping around everywhere! My doctor made me pinky swear I wouldn't fall anymore, so I have to be really careful! Progress is being made!
These are our good family friends Al and Suzette with me at my high school graduation.
Suzette is a very close friend of mine, and when I am in Charlotte I always try and spend time with her. She has two kids, Christopher, age 8, and Ellie, age 5. They are ADORABLE! Even though we are not very close in age, Suzette and I just have an amazing connection. She is one of the most genuine people I have ever known and always thinks of others before herself. We have gotten to sepnd some time together in the past couple days since I have been around with nothing really to do, and I cherish every minute I get to spend with her. I am so blessed to have someone I look up to that I can always turn to, no matter what. Everyone should be so lucky.
Pictures tomorrow hopefully!!
These are our good family friends Al and Suzette with me at my high school graduation.
Suzette is a very close friend of mine, and when I am in Charlotte I always try and spend time with her. She has two kids, Christopher, age 8, and Ellie, age 5. They are ADORABLE! Even though we are not very close in age, Suzette and I just have an amazing connection. She is one of the most genuine people I have ever known and always thinks of others before herself. We have gotten to sepnd some time together in the past couple days since I have been around with nothing really to do, and I cherish every minute I get to spend with her. I am so blessed to have someone I look up to that I can always turn to, no matter what. Everyone should be so lucky.
Pictures tomorrow hopefully!!
Monday, February 4, 2008
My first day by myself
My mom had to go back to work today, so I have been at home by myself all day. I haven't fallen down yet. It takes sooo much energy to do the simplest things. Getting lunch was an interesting endeavor, sliding things on the floor, throwing them across the kitchen, carrying things in my mouth. Since I have to use my arms for crutches, I can't really carry anything. Hopefully that problem will go away tomorrow. I found a place in Charlotte that rents those roll-a-bout things, and my dad is going to go with me in the morning. I also called my doctor this morning to tell them about the fall and that I can still feel it bleeding. They want me to come in just to be careful; they are going to take the cast off to make sure I didn't do any really bad damage then re-dress it. That's at 3 tomorrow, so I am going to head over to my dad's house once my mom gets home. I am interested to see my incision when they take the dressing off, I will most definitely have my camera!
My cell phone works at my dads house, so give me a call tonight!
My cell phone works at my dads house, so give me a call tonight!
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Super Bowl
All I have to say is that I loved watching Tom Brady have his pretty little face sacked into the grass on the last drive of that game. Eli Manning is cute as a button, he looks about 15 years old. It was a good game and I was quite thrilled with the outcome.
On a not-so-good note, I fell pretty bad tonight right before the game started. I was getting up to go to the bathroom and I kinda of got caught up on my crutches and fell. It hurt like a bitch and I think I ripped some stitches out. And since I don't have the nerve blocks in anymore, I have full feeling in my ankle. I felt it start bleeding immediately and squishing all around in my cast - yucky yucky. I called my dad and told him what happened to make sure I didn't need to be rushed to the emergency room or anything. He assured me that I would be ok, but that I should call my surgeon in the morning, especially if I can still feel it bleeding. Its such a weird feeling to feel something inside a cast but can't see it or do anything about it. I am calling every medical supply place in Charlotte tomorrow to find a roll-a-bout to rent so I can get rid of these G-Damn hell sticks!
No more falling!!
On a not-so-good note, I fell pretty bad tonight right before the game started. I was getting up to go to the bathroom and I kinda of got caught up on my crutches and fell. It hurt like a bitch and I think I ripped some stitches out. And since I don't have the nerve blocks in anymore, I have full feeling in my ankle. I felt it start bleeding immediately and squishing all around in my cast - yucky yucky. I called my dad and told him what happened to make sure I didn't need to be rushed to the emergency room or anything. He assured me that I would be ok, but that I should call my surgeon in the morning, especially if I can still feel it bleeding. Its such a weird feeling to feel something inside a cast but can't see it or do anything about it. I am calling every medical supply place in Charlotte tomorrow to find a roll-a-bout to rent so I can get rid of these G-Damn hell sticks!
No more falling!!
My mother is taking advantage of the narcotics
Last night, I was straight up pissed off and so ready to pull my catheters out. Since I could use the vicodin as an excuse for erratic behavior, I thought I would express my creative side. You know, its the side of me that I never bring out. :) The oh-so-stylish purse that my mom found was getting annoying because every time I needed to get out of bed, I had to remember to put it around my neck. I just kept getting out of bed and pulling them onto the floor. There really are no words to describe what I came up with. A picture is worth a thousand words.
I thought I made pretty good use of my bra by stuffing the IV bags in it. My mom was cracking up and grabbed the camera...and there was nothing I could do about it.
Today, I slept until about 11:30. I did stay up until about 2 last night watching Ace of Cakes on the Food Network. I want them to make my wedding cake. Its a really awesome show, check it out if you ever get the chance. And I can't be completely sure, but when my 9 am alarm went off to take my next pain pills, I think I just shut the alarm off and didn't take the meds. Which is a good thing, because that means I didn't have any pain. The drug bags were empty, so after some breakfast, it was time to pull the suckers out! The worst part was pulling off all the tape on my legs. Once that was off, I just pulled the catheters out, I couldn't even feel them. After a bath and washed hair, I felt like a whole new person.
Mom and I are going to stay here tonight and watch the super bowl while we work on some stuff. We made homemade hummus last night, and she picked up a pizza from the store, so we're going to stay low key. I really don't care much about pro football, but I hate Tom Brady; he went to Michigan and he's a punk ass bitch.
As you can tell, I am having trouble posting pictures. I'll get it.
Today, I slept until about 11:30. I did stay up until about 2 last night watching Ace of Cakes on the Food Network. I want them to make my wedding cake. Its a really awesome show, check it out if you ever get the chance. And I can't be completely sure, but when my 9 am alarm went off to take my next pain pills, I think I just shut the alarm off and didn't take the meds. Which is a good thing, because that means I didn't have any pain. The drug bags were empty, so after some breakfast, it was time to pull the suckers out! The worst part was pulling off all the tape on my legs. Once that was off, I just pulled the catheters out, I couldn't even feel them. After a bath and washed hair, I felt like a whole new person.
Mom and I are going to stay here tonight and watch the super bowl while we work on some stuff. We made homemade hummus last night, and she picked up a pizza from the store, so we're going to stay low key. I really don't care much about pro football, but I hate Tom Brady; he went to Michigan and he's a punk ass bitch.
As you can tell, I am having trouble posting pictures. I'll get it.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Maybe the narcs are starting to get to me...
The bane of my existence today has been these G-Damn catheters. (yeah, I abbreviate that, I'm cool). Since the first day after surgery was so miserable with the catheters leaking, we just took a bunch of tape and stuck them to my leg to make sure the shitty little things didn't come out again. That's right, I'm angry about all this shit hanging out of my leg!
Well they still leak, but this kind of leak is an okay kind, and its not preventing the meds from going in. We figured out today where they leak and why none of the tape was still stuck to my leg this morning. Every time I move my leg, the popliteal catheter leaks, so I have been keeping a washcloth behind my knee so that all the liquid wouldn't drip down my cast and piss me off more. Basically, I want to rip the suckers out!
I get to take the catheters out when the drug bags are empty. I am hoping for that to be tomorrow, like I said before. I never thought they would deflate, but they definitely don't look like boobies anymore. Maybe really saggy boobies.
When I get up and around on my crutches (hell sticks), I wear them in this really stylish purse my mom found in the back of her closet. I think she bought it before I was born. Now I know why I am a total pack rat - its genetic! I sling it around my neck and hobble around the house, its a pretty pathetic existence.
Going to the bathroom is quite a task, maneuvering in with the hell sticks, I have muscles I can name, but never knew I had. My hands, arms, and armpits are killing me. I am going to look into this wonderful contraption that I saw while doing my internship this past semester.
That's not me though. HEHEHEHE.
While she had the camera out, mom took a couple more pictures. Overall, today has been a good day and I am in a good mood.
Peek A Boo!!
Well they still leak, but this kind of leak is an okay kind, and its not preventing the meds from going in. We figured out today where they leak and why none of the tape was still stuck to my leg this morning. Every time I move my leg, the popliteal catheter leaks, so I have been keeping a washcloth behind my knee so that all the liquid wouldn't drip down my cast and piss me off more. Basically, I want to rip the suckers out!
I get to take the catheters out when the drug bags are empty. I am hoping for that to be tomorrow, like I said before. I never thought they would deflate, but they definitely don't look like boobies anymore. Maybe really saggy boobies.
When I get up and around on my crutches (hell sticks), I wear them in this really stylish purse my mom found in the back of her closet. I think she bought it before I was born. Now I know why I am a total pack rat - its genetic! I sling it around my neck and hobble around the house, its a pretty pathetic existence.
Going to the bathroom is quite a task, maneuvering in with the hell sticks, I have muscles I can name, but never knew I had. My hands, arms, and armpits are killing me. I am going to look into this wonderful contraption that I saw while doing my internship this past semester.
That's not me though. HEHEHEHE.
While she had the camera out, mom took a couple more pictures. Overall, today has been a good day and I am in a good mood.
My 'Jimmy-Bear'...Jimmy made it for me in LA
this summer when I came to visit. He's our love-child.
this summer when I came to visit. He's our love-child.
Peek A Boo!!
Day Two, Worlds Better
Goooood Morning! They say that the first day following surgery is the worst, and boy isn't that the truth. I got a full 8 or 9 hours of sleep last night and pretty much no pain. I have definitely gotten on a good schedule for taking the vicodin. I set my cell phone to go off every four hours to remind me. I've been doing some hip exercises to keep my legs from getting stiff. With all the sitting, to be completely honest, my ass hurts a lot!
Since I interned with a physical therapist last semester and saw patients with my exact surgery, I know some tricks of the trade. My doctor didn't tell me to do any kind of exercises at home, but I'm very smart. So a couple times a day, I get up and I do hip and knee exercises to stretch out. It feels really good.
Tomorrow I get to pull my catheters out and take all the damn tape off my leg. Once I do that, I am going to try and figure out how to bathe. I can't get my cast thing wet, so I have a feeling its going to be interesting.
I hope everyone has a great Saturday!
Since I interned with a physical therapist last semester and saw patients with my exact surgery, I know some tricks of the trade. My doctor didn't tell me to do any kind of exercises at home, but I'm very smart. So a couple times a day, I get up and I do hip and knee exercises to stretch out. It feels really good.
Tomorrow I get to pull my catheters out and take all the damn tape off my leg. Once I do that, I am going to try and figure out how to bathe. I can't get my cast thing wet, so I have a feeling its going to be interesting.
I hope everyone has a great Saturday!
Bored?
If its 2 am and you're awake like I am, I highly recommend this:
http://www.addictinggames.com/filler.html
Greatest game on the planet, and as the title suggests, strongly addictive. Just thought I would give you one more thing to do while doing "homework" in the library.
http://www.addictinggames.com/filler.html
Greatest game on the planet, and as the title suggests, strongly addictive. Just thought I would give you one more thing to do while doing "homework" in the library.
Friday, February 1, 2008
The Day After
I wish I could say that the rest of the day was better than this morning. About 2 or 3 hours after my catheter leaked the first time, it started leaking again, much worse this time. And I know the medicine in the boob-bags works because as soon as it started leaking again, pain started shooting up my leg. My mom and I started calling numbers that the hospital gave us if I had a problem with the catheter system. Long, and painful, story short, I finally got in touch with the anesthesiologist on call and he told me there was basically nothing he could do about it except to start taking more vicodin. I was so frustrated by the pain and the incompetence of some of the people I spoke to on the phone, I was in tears with pain shooting up my leg. Not fun whatsoever.
The next thing that happened was weird. I got up to go to the bathroom, which is exhausting in of itself, and changing positions made the catheter stop leaking. Within minutes, the pain stops and I can't feel a thing. We figured out that letting my leg hang down a little bit lets gravity help out the nerve block, giving me instant relief. I was thrilled that I finally couldn't feel my toes again! My mom helped set me up so that my leg was kind of hanging off the bed, resting on a stool that was lower than the bed. I passed out for about 3 or 4 hours and woke up still pain free. Praise Jesus!
Those of you who know me pretty well know that I am a total lightweight and need very little booze to put me in a really good mood! Along with alcohol, I am very sensitive to strong drugs. The vicodin hits me so fast and I start to glaze over in about 15 minutes. One of the pharmacological effects of narcotics is that is causes histamine release in the body. Those of you with a science or medical background know what histamine is, and that it causes allergic symptoms. I itch ALL over! So the pain finally goes away and my whole body starts itching like crazy. If its not one thing, its another.
Watching The Italian Job and hoping for a restful night.
The next thing that happened was weird. I got up to go to the bathroom, which is exhausting in of itself, and changing positions made the catheter stop leaking. Within minutes, the pain stops and I can't feel a thing. We figured out that letting my leg hang down a little bit lets gravity help out the nerve block, giving me instant relief. I was thrilled that I finally couldn't feel my toes again! My mom helped set me up so that my leg was kind of hanging off the bed, resting on a stool that was lower than the bed. I passed out for about 3 or 4 hours and woke up still pain free. Praise Jesus!
Those of you who know me pretty well know that I am a total lightweight and need very little booze to put me in a really good mood! Along with alcohol, I am very sensitive to strong drugs. The vicodin hits me so fast and I start to glaze over in about 15 minutes. One of the pharmacological effects of narcotics is that is causes histamine release in the body. Those of you with a science or medical background know what histamine is, and that it causes allergic symptoms. I itch ALL over! So the pain finally goes away and my whole body starts itching like crazy. If its not one thing, its another.
Watching The Italian Job and hoping for a restful night.
Interesting Morning
Well, my some what calm night turned into a not-so-fun morning. Around 6 this morning, I woke up with a lot of pain in my lateral ankle, so I popped a hydrocodone (gooood stuff), which knocks me on my ass really fast. By the time I woke up again around 9:30 I was still pretty uncomfortable. As I sit up for the blueberry bagel my mom fixed for me, I notice that the back of my pants on my hurt leg is soaking wet. Remember, the catheters that go into my leg travel down the back of my leg to go in behind my knee. So, I put two and two together and realize that my nerve block catheter is leaking, meaning the meds are not going into my leg, causing the excruciating pain this morning. I was not very happy:
So we quickly call the hospital and talk to the anesthesiologist and he talks me through fixing my catheter. Thank God, because I sure ain't ready for loads or narcotics. I want one more day of being lucid.
Here are pictures of my catheters, one on the back and one on the front.
Sorry if it grosses you out, but its really not a big deal. Wait until my cast comes off and I start posting pictures of my incisions!
Thanks for all the comments and emails. They really make my day! When I come out of my stupor and see how many people love me, it really means a lot.
Hopefully today will be less eventful than this morning. I'll post later.
So we quickly call the hospital and talk to the anesthesiologist and he talks me through fixing my catheter. Thank God, because I sure ain't ready for loads or narcotics. I want one more day of being lucid.
Here are pictures of my catheters, one on the back and one on the front.Sorry if it grosses you out, but its really not a big deal. Wait until my cast comes off and I start posting pictures of my incisions!
Thanks for all the comments and emails. They really make my day! When I come out of my stupor and see how many people love me, it really means a lot.
Hopefully today will be less eventful than this morning. I'll post later.
Wide Awake
Here it is, 3 am and I am wide awake. I went to bed around 10:30 0r 11 and crashed, went right to sleep. Around 2:30, I woke up and just have no desire to go back to sleep. I figured I would turn on the TV and mess around online until I got tired again. I still have no pain at all, so at least I am not waking up because of pain.
Last night, meaning like 5 hours ago, my parents told me some of the things I did and said yesterday following surgery in the recovery room. There are so many things that I have zero recollection of. I was in 2 recovery rooms yesterday, the first one, where they wake you up, they usually don't let family members in. But since my dad is kind of a big deal and knows all the nurses in recovery, they let both my parents come back to see me. As they walk in, I look at my mom and say "you look so pretty Momma." (She had come straight from work and she's pretty hot.) I then turn to my dad and say "you look pretty too Daddy." Needless to say, everyone was pretty entertained. Apparently, I also told everyone that I was going to have macaroni and cheese for dinner. Like they care.
So then, they moved me into the second recovery room and somehow I moved from a bed to a big rolly chair. Again, no idea how I made that transition. So once I got into the second room, I was a little bit more awake, or so I thought. They help you get up and go to the restroom, but I passed out again sitting on the potty. Nice, huh? They get me back in my chair and I decide that I really need to talk to talk to my boyfriend and let him know that I was alright. My mom hands me her phone and amazingly, I dial the number from memory! I talked to him for about 2 minutes and have absolutely no memory of doing any of that either. When I talked to him again tonight, I was fully lucid and he told me that I was slurring all my words and that I was eating macaroni and cheese. Can you tell that I was really looking forward to my mom's homemade mac and cheese? This is just one of the many reasons I am so in love with my boy, he will listen to me even when I have no clue that I am talking to him. Apparently I also told my mother all about NCUR, the conference that I am going to in April. I think its hilarious that I remember none of anything I just talked about.
Thank God my brother has a wack-ass sleep schedule, because here it is, like 3:30 in the morning and we are talking online. Thank you college. He had shoulder surgery about 2 weeks ago, so both of us are crippled. He can walk and I can raise both my arms above my head. I guess we are even.
I'm going to attempt to get back to sleep now. Sweet dreams....
Last night, meaning like 5 hours ago, my parents told me some of the things I did and said yesterday following surgery in the recovery room. There are so many things that I have zero recollection of. I was in 2 recovery rooms yesterday, the first one, where they wake you up, they usually don't let family members in. But since my dad is kind of a big deal and knows all the nurses in recovery, they let both my parents come back to see me. As they walk in, I look at my mom and say "you look so pretty Momma." (She had come straight from work and she's pretty hot.) I then turn to my dad and say "you look pretty too Daddy." Needless to say, everyone was pretty entertained. Apparently, I also told everyone that I was going to have macaroni and cheese for dinner. Like they care.
So then, they moved me into the second recovery room and somehow I moved from a bed to a big rolly chair. Again, no idea how I made that transition. So once I got into the second room, I was a little bit more awake, or so I thought. They help you get up and go to the restroom, but I passed out again sitting on the potty. Nice, huh? They get me back in my chair and I decide that I really need to talk to talk to my boyfriend and let him know that I was alright. My mom hands me her phone and amazingly, I dial the number from memory! I talked to him for about 2 minutes and have absolutely no memory of doing any of that either. When I talked to him again tonight, I was fully lucid and he told me that I was slurring all my words and that I was eating macaroni and cheese. Can you tell that I was really looking forward to my mom's homemade mac and cheese? This is just one of the many reasons I am so in love with my boy, he will listen to me even when I have no clue that I am talking to him. Apparently I also told my mother all about NCUR, the conference that I am going to in April. I think its hilarious that I remember none of anything I just talked about.
Thank God my brother has a wack-ass sleep schedule, because here it is, like 3:30 in the morning and we are talking online. Thank you college. He had shoulder surgery about 2 weeks ago, so both of us are crippled. He can walk and I can raise both my arms above my head. I guess we are even.
I'm going to attempt to get back to sleep now. Sweet dreams....
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Beginning the road to recovery
Well, I survived! I am back at home on the couch relaxing with my ankle up on pillows. My mom is playing nurse, and right now she is making me homemade macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets.
The events of the day were pretty fun and interesting, and that's because I am a big dork and get thrills out of medical stuff. When I got the hospital early this morning, they got me all checked in and then this really sweet lady got me changed into those oh-so-stylish hospital gowns and talked with me for a while until my nurse came in. My nurse's name was Jenny and she started my IV and ran my blood panels. I asked her if I could start my own IV, but she wouldn't let me...bummer man. I have done it before, just not with an IV tube attached to it; in physiology, we got to use butterfly needles to get a blood sample. I so could have done it. So I got hooked up and then I just had to wait. They let my dad come back and sit with me and we watched Fox News for a while until the anesthesiologist came to meet with me. Of course, its someone my dad knows, so they talked for a while about the new children's hospital. For my surgery and for 3 days after, I have a nerve block in my leg so I don't have feeling. There are 2 catheters in my leg, one right behind my knee and one below and to the right of my knee in the front. I have to wear these little IV bags around my neck with pouches of drugs in them. Hahaha, that sentence sounds funny- bags with drugs in them. But, seriously, I can't feel my entire leg. So I don't have to take any strong pain meds for a couple days and I'm not totally out of it. Ok, back on track....when the anesthesiologist came in to give me these nerve blocks, he had this really cool ultrasound machine that he was going to use to find my nerves in my legs and they would show up on the screen. Of course, I am amazed at this kind of technology. Then he tells me that he is going to give me some sedative in my IV so he could put the nerve blocks in. I didn't think I really needed to calm down, I was so chill the entire time and I really wanted to see. Needles and all that stuff doesn't bother me whatsoever, which is why I am completely cool with watching. Well like 5 seconds after he puts in this sedative, I was unconscious. The next thing I know, they are trying to wake me up in recovery. I was really pissed that I didn't get to see what happened.
Here I am at home all crippled on the couch.
These are the IV balls that are hooked to my catheters in my leg. When I take them out of the really nifty bags hanging around my neck, I think they look like boobs. Hence the pose. :)
In recovery, I started talking to everyone and telling them about the most random crap ever. I was super thirsty and my eyes were really dry. This really sweet nurse who looked like Cameron Diaz gave me some crushed ice - the good kind, in little balls. They let my parents come back to see me and a nurse was talking to me, none of which I remember. I wanted so badly to remember what happened in th hospital today, but modern medicine sure prevented that from happening!!
My mom brought me home and I was so hungry, so she gave me crackers and cheese and a blueberry bagel. It was delicious. I passed out for about 3 hours and slept off the rest of the drugs. I woke up and had my dinner, macaroni and cheese...I've been waiting so long for her mac and cheese. I can totally take phone calls and everything, but my cell phone doesn't work out in the sticks where I live. Call my house phone, 704-843-7806. Tomorrow, my mom is staying home with me and I will just be hanging out and watching movies, TV, and working on that list that I started in my last post.
I love emails, calls, IMs, and visitors!
aattorri@elon.edu
AIM- andr1125
home # 704-843-7806
The events of the day were pretty fun and interesting, and that's because I am a big dork and get thrills out of medical stuff. When I got the hospital early this morning, they got me all checked in and then this really sweet lady got me changed into those oh-so-stylish hospital gowns and talked with me for a while until my nurse came in. My nurse's name was Jenny and she started my IV and ran my blood panels. I asked her if I could start my own IV, but she wouldn't let me...bummer man. I have done it before, just not with an IV tube attached to it; in physiology, we got to use butterfly needles to get a blood sample. I so could have done it. So I got hooked up and then I just had to wait. They let my dad come back and sit with me and we watched Fox News for a while until the anesthesiologist came to meet with me. Of course, its someone my dad knows, so they talked for a while about the new children's hospital. For my surgery and for 3 days after, I have a nerve block in my leg so I don't have feeling. There are 2 catheters in my leg, one right behind my knee and one below and to the right of my knee in the front. I have to wear these little IV bags around my neck with pouches of drugs in them. Hahaha, that sentence sounds funny- bags with drugs in them. But, seriously, I can't feel my entire leg. So I don't have to take any strong pain meds for a couple days and I'm not totally out of it. Ok, back on track....when the anesthesiologist came in to give me these nerve blocks, he had this really cool ultrasound machine that he was going to use to find my nerves in my legs and they would show up on the screen. Of course, I am amazed at this kind of technology. Then he tells me that he is going to give me some sedative in my IV so he could put the nerve blocks in. I didn't think I really needed to calm down, I was so chill the entire time and I really wanted to see. Needles and all that stuff doesn't bother me whatsoever, which is why I am completely cool with watching. Well like 5 seconds after he puts in this sedative, I was unconscious. The next thing I know, they are trying to wake me up in recovery. I was really pissed that I didn't get to see what happened.
Here I am at home all crippled on the couch.
These are the IV balls that are hooked to my catheters in my leg. When I take them out of the really nifty bags hanging around my neck, I think they look like boobs. Hence the pose. :)
In recovery, I started talking to everyone and telling them about the most random crap ever. I was super thirsty and my eyes were really dry. This really sweet nurse who looked like Cameron Diaz gave me some crushed ice - the good kind, in little balls. They let my parents come back to see me and a nurse was talking to me, none of which I remember. I wanted so badly to remember what happened in th hospital today, but modern medicine sure prevented that from happening!!
My mom brought me home and I was so hungry, so she gave me crackers and cheese and a blueberry bagel. It was delicious. I passed out for about 3 hours and slept off the rest of the drugs. I woke up and had my dinner, macaroni and cheese...I've been waiting so long for her mac and cheese. I can totally take phone calls and everything, but my cell phone doesn't work out in the sticks where I live. Call my house phone, 704-843-7806. Tomorrow, my mom is staying home with me and I will just be hanging out and watching movies, TV, and working on that list that I started in my last post.
I love emails, calls, IMs, and visitors!
aattorri@elon.edu
AIM- andr1125
home # 704-843-7806
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
One more night
Well, in about 12 hours, I will be at the hospital getting ready to have surgery. My surgery isn't until 9:15, but I still have to be there really early. And I'm glad its first thing in the morning, because I don't know how much sleep I am going to get tonight and will be very ready to go back to sleep. It's perfect timing too, my ankle was absolutely killing me today, just walking around a little bit. I know its going to be a long road to recovery, but I am in it for the long haul!
I got to spend most of the afternoon with an old friend today, and it was so nice to have girl time. We got sandwiches at Brueggers, which I remembered how much I loved it, and then went to pick up her adorable kids from school. I miss my friends in Charlotte, especially one who I have known for so long and knows me so well.
My dad and I decided to cook a great dinner for tonight. We are making potstickers and lettuce wraps, all homemade! It's going to be delicious, and as soon as my stepmom gets home from work, we are going to dig in!
I should be home by 2 or 3 tomorrow afternoon, and hopefully I will be up to phone calls, IMs, and posting online.
I got to spend most of the afternoon with an old friend today, and it was so nice to have girl time. We got sandwiches at Brueggers, which I remembered how much I loved it, and then went to pick up her adorable kids from school. I miss my friends in Charlotte, especially one who I have known for so long and knows me so well.
My dad and I decided to cook a great dinner for tonight. We are making potstickers and lettuce wraps, all homemade! It's going to be delicious, and as soon as my stepmom gets home from work, we are going to dig in!
I should be home by 2 or 3 tomorrow afternoon, and hopefully I will be up to phone calls, IMs, and posting online.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Still Standing
Hello to my faithful friends who are going to keep up with my progress following my ankle surgery. I will be having a left ankle reconstruction on Thursday morning as most of you know. During my recovery, I will be looking for lots to keep me occupied, which is why I decided to start writing a blog.
Anyway, I have to be at the hospital at 7 am on Thursday, so it will be an early morning. I am going to go home to my mom's house since there aren't any steps to go into her house. I have never had major orthopedic surgery, so I am not exactly sure what to expect, but I know that it will make my ankle start feeling a lot better! I am hoping that my surgeon will take some pictures of the surgery and give them to me on a CD so that I can post them here. I have always wanted to see the inside of myself!
And so I can actually write down things that I am planning on accomplishing while being unable to walk, here's my list:
1. search and apply for grad school scholarships
2. make ACS bracelets for my mom's clinic
3. read all the books that Kara sends me
4. watch every movie I own
5. job search for after I can walk again
6. eat macaroni and cheese
Anyway, I have to be at the hospital at 7 am on Thursday, so it will be an early morning. I am going to go home to my mom's house since there aren't any steps to go into her house. I have never had major orthopedic surgery, so I am not exactly sure what to expect, but I know that it will make my ankle start feeling a lot better! I am hoping that my surgeon will take some pictures of the surgery and give them to me on a CD so that I can post them here. I have always wanted to see the inside of myself!
And so I can actually write down things that I am planning on accomplishing while being unable to walk, here's my list:
1. search and apply for grad school scholarships
2. make ACS bracelets for my mom's clinic
3. read all the books that Kara sends me
4. watch every movie I own
5. job search for after I can walk again
6. eat macaroni and cheese
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