Found in Fishers

He went for the gold and got it!

Congratulations to Mark! He and his band friends went to the Indiana State Music Association competition today at Westfield High School and brought home two gold medals. Numerous Hamilton Southeastern High School band members arrived in Westfield for competition. They represented solo and ensemble competitions.

Mark decided to compete in two areas. The first was a sextet of brass players. The second group Mark played trumpet with was what is called a brass choir. There were 16 members in this choir. They chose to play level 1 music, the most difficult. They also took a gold. Mark said the judge sat back after the performance and just said "Wow." This gold award and level of difficulty means they will be going to the district competition representing Hamilton Southeastern. What a great day for Mark and his friends. I am really proud of him. This was the first year he went to the state competition. He felt the confidence to perform in competition, a strength I think grew out of marching band.

This is Mark's 6th year playing trumpet. And, I was the one who thought he would never stick it out in middle school. What a great place for him to shine in high school and really connect in such a large high school after relocating.

Mark...YOU ROCK!

Winter Blues

Why is it that this time of the year people get crabby! People at work, people at home. People just get pretty darn crabby. I think I am crabby too. I was sitting at my computer tonight reading through my e-mails and suddenly got crabby. Why? Because my bed is not made. Is that a reason to be crabby?

I cannot seem to explain it, but I like my bed made everyday. I never made my bed as a kid, but I want my bed made now. I don't mind making it myself each day but when I leave for work there is a big lump still snoring in my bed. I like going to bed at night and pulling down nice and even sheets and blankets. I find it refreshing that my covers are where they are suppose to be. But, help! My bed has not been made all week. John does not think a bed needs to be made since we'll be back in it again at night. When I make it, he calls me an over achiever.

There are bigger fish to fry in this world but I cannot help but be crabby about my bed not being made. Now... what about you! Was your bed made today! Are my expectations too high?

Slowly but surely

I have been able to get around a bit more this week and weekend. My feet are "barking" though. And strangely my toes remain swollen whether I am up or down. Nothing else, just my toes. I have yet to get use to the fact that the toes on my left foot can no longer wiggle or move on their own and that they will never bend at the joints again either. It is a really strange sensation when I walk on the carpeting bare foot.
Unfortunately too, once the bandages cames off each toe, they are not as pretty as I was hoping. They are actually a bit ugly. But even worse are these ugly black shoes I am wearing right now. These are my first shoes since surgery. I was to find an athletic pair of shoes that are a size bigger and wider. I found these black ones in hope that they would not stick out so much with my work clothes but I do feel like a mechanic. And...John makes fun of them! It is a good thing I have these new shoes now that it is so cold outside.
I have a doctor's appointment this week to check on my progress. I hope I get a good report card. I want to drive up north and right now it would be too hard on my feet to be the driver for 3 hours.

Cruel and unusual punishment

While my feet are healing, you would think that people would be compassionate for me during my fragile state. I should be waited on. I should not have to clean house or make dinner. But, reality has set in and it is time to get back to normal. But, getting back to normal does not mean having to climb a ladder.

My cruel and mean sister came over during New Year's weekend. During her visit, Pat, Sarah and Liam brought with them that lame yellow chicken that goes back and forth on I65 to find a hiding place in our homes. It all started with yellow hair but now that she has become a traveler and companion, the chicken has taken her place.
I have this garden shelf in my master bedroom. It is about 9 feet from the floor to the bottom of the shelf and was recently decorated with the help of Sarah. After a trip to Hobby Lobby and gathering some goodies from the basement it turned out really nice and added to the vaulted ceilings in the room. Sarah was kind enough at the time to go up and down the ladder with my stuff since I was recovering from my broken toe in September.
Then the sneak brought in the chicken. While I was distracted with something else and knowing that I could not get around very quickly. She was cruel and hid the chicken up on the garden shelf.
On the very day they left I went upstairs to lay across the bed and called my mom to wish her a happy new year. While laying there I noticed that goofy chicken. Yup, there he was and he is and continues to be too high for me to do anything about it. Juan has been under the weather with the flu and I cannot possible climb a ladder and risk my foot bending while walking up the steps.How mean is that! Obviously she is not concerned about my emotional health when I have to look at this chicken staring at me each night.

A Matched Pair

I made it through an entire week of work! Happy New Year for me. I was happy about that but I was also not required to do too much walking. And now that the bandages are off my feet, I can actually bend them a bit when I walked making me look less and less like a duck.

The next step is transitioning to my athletic shoes. I bought them a size larger and in men's so that I would have a larger toe box as my feet adjust to the shoes and due to some swelling that I still have. I tried them on a couple times but the stitches are a bit sensitive. My right toes are still somewhat numb making them feel like pins and needles. So for now, I must keep on my surgical shoes. Besides John is making fun of my black athletic shoes. I did not want a white pair or they would glow at work with my dark pants. Instead of feeling empathy toward me he is laughing at me. I know I have big feet but blame my Dad, jeeze I cannot help it.

The Reveal

Tonight is the reveal, the reveal of the right foot. I was finally able to take off the bandage.
I still have some numb feelings in my toes and the stitches still burn a bit, but it feels really good to get the bandage off my foot. I am also glad I can shower tomorrow without my hazmat boots.
The next task is for me to get rid of the blue velcro surgical boots. For now they have been the only way I could walk. I am suppose to start getting into my larger size athletic shoe now so that I can start moving back into my regular shoe. I might give it a try in the morning because at night my feet are kinda sore.
Besides taking off my bandage, I also took off quite a bit of my hair tonight. After the days in recovery at home and the rainy weather, I was sick of my limp hair. Now it is short. This morning I could have put it in a pony tail, ok a small one but a pony tail. Tonight it is only about two inches in length in the back. I just needed a new look.

Happy New Year...Get back to work!

Back to work full time today. It is a good thing that most of the work I have this week can be done from my desk. I am not very good at walking distances yet and walk a lot like a duck. This is partially because my feet are somewhat sore and because I have a surgical boot on each foot.
But I guess I should mark this as progress because I am not stuck on a chair. I even went to see a movie on Sunday.
My left foot feels kinda strange. The toes are no longer connected with tendons so they "flap" if I move my foot quickly and I am unable to move them. I do not do much of that as the toes are still tender. Each toe has a stiff, waterproof wrapping that is to remain on them for 3 more weeks. After I shower, I have to blow dry the wrappings. But, you can see how much the shape of the foot has already changed! My toes are actually going straight. I guess that is what happens when a bone is removed from each toe and the tendons get disconnected for good.
The right foot is still fully wrapped in a bandage. That bandage has to stay on for another week, but I am able to take it off myself. I did peak at the stitches on the top of my foot when they changed it last week. The pain is minimal on that foot, but my toes are really bothering me. I still do not have full feeling in my toes. The doctor thinks it is from the internal swelling. But imagine when your foot or hand "falls asleep". That is how my toes feel most of the time. The sock bothers them. My covers in bed bother them the most. I will take a photo once the bandage is removed but I am really hoping for the numb sensation to be gone by then.

Fishers Hot Rod

Saturday was my first real day out! I decided to do some grocery shopping. With my New Year's Resolution to eat healthy, I needed to stock up on some healthy choices. Mark and I went to Sam's Club. I decided to choose Sam's Club because I knew I could get a mobile cart to get around.

Ok, that was fun. I rode the cart around the store with Mark behind me pushing the cart. We were able to taste the variety of healthy foods they were sampling as well as get all our needed groceries. I found that many people are really quite rude to people in the mobile carts. They would cut in front of me, make me wait to get by when it was my turn, etc. I did not want a special privilege because I was in the cart but some people were not very courteous.
It was kinda fun to ride in the cart but I am ready to walk on my own. I just know that is not possible yet. And that was confirmed today.
After a successful trip to Sam's Club, I came home and had lunch. Mark and I then went to Meijer to get some of the smaller things. When we arrived, all 10 of their carts were being used. Figuring I had little to buy I decided to just walk and get it. BIG mistake. I was aching all night long. It is just too early to do walking. The doctor told me my feet would let me know what I could tolerate. No walking distances yet. Darn!

Not for the fainted-hearted

Today was the day to go to the doctor and have my feet checked. Lots of good news! When I arrived the nurse took a series of x-rays and announced to me that they were taking the stitches out of my left toes and my right foot, as well as all of the pins. (NOTE: The photo on the right is small on purpose. If you are brave, click on it to see a full view of the pins.) I brought my camera knowing I would have a bandage change and wanted to share with you my foot. I'm glad I didn't know the pins were coming out when the appointment was scheduled or I would have been anxious. The nurse took out the stitches, a bit tender here and there, but overall they came out fine. I just was a bit sick to my stomach thinking about them. When the doctor came in he took a tool and was getting ready to pull out the pins. However, he first announced that he was hoping I could tolerate them being pulled out without numbing medication. I agreed to try. He then informed me that some people have to be put to sleep if they cannot tolerate the procedure. Again, I said let's try.

After he pulled the first pin out, I was surprised. I felt some pressure but no pain. I was still grossed out by the thought, but all 4 pins came out with no problem. He then wrapped each toe with a special stiff tape and they are to remain that way for 3 weeks. I can get them wet as long as I blow dry my foot. He wrapped the right foot with a new bandage. Green again. After the wrapping he praised me for taking good care of my feet and obviously following his directions to stay down for 3 weeks straight. I told him it was tough, but I was determined to follow his directions. The good news: Everything has healed so nicely that I do not need the Herman Munster boots! No black plastic walking casts. Only my surgical shoes right now, and then athletic shoes next week...just a bigger than I normally wear. Yippie! I went to work for a few hours just to start getting in the swing of things for full time work January 7. I'm glad this journey is almost over.