End of the line

So today, 8 weeks ago, on my birthday, I simply twisted my ankle the wrong way and buckled on the ice and down I went.... What have I learned in a short 8 weeks?  Let me attempt to but them into simple bullets since my family says I talk too much..or rather write too much..

• Lying in the couch isn't necessarily fun but I knew I got a new couch for some odd reason.  I am so glad I got one that's beyond comfortable,
• Don't let anyone tell you that the body parts don't talk to each other. When I broke my leg all other parts of my body began hurting...and it couldn't be that I am getting old..
• A cast, a boot, crutches and wheelchairs do get sympathy...and sympathy isn't always bad.
• Ones perspective does take on highlights when one has lots of time to think.
• Not simply is the perspective takes on new highlights, but with time on my hands I went through redecorating the whole house, new towels, walls tore down, lattice, in floor heat and chandeliers...all in my mind if course, but  when one has time on ones hands, dreaming does help pass the time.
• Reconnecting with friends is precious...and when they gave me rides we had some great moments
• The ones who came to my rescue were not the ones I thought that would be there, I will strive to be that person who blesses with what others need not what I want to give.
• Rolling walkers are awesome but there are chinks out of the wall...and it's not from the dogs or kids!
• Puzzles are so much fun....
• Care packages warm the heart like a roaring fire in the middle of winter...
• Being helpless makes one appreciate the little things in life..like walking,  driving, sitting cross legged, Kneeling, hopping, living...... 

So this is the end of my timeoutinaboot.... I am thankful that God allowed this and I am thankful that through 8 weeks of a challenge also gave me some insights into Gods heart that I might have missed.

I walk the line

i am walking a line however it's not always a straight line..but no boot...it's been almost eight weeks. I asked a dr friend last night about my time to heal and with a grin he said three more months...so i took him off my Christmas list for next year . I am happily at the YMCA in the handicapped locker room and doing machines the old people use. Today I am buying new tennis shoes, finishing cleaning the shop and maybe rake some more lawn. Being outside feels as if a prison sentence has been lifted. I still walk funny, I still hurt and it's awkward but it feels stronger the more I do.  People still cut me off, and the respect doesn't exist without the boot and crutches but it's the cross I will bear gladly. My perspective on how to treat people with a handicap has changed, the realization that even though I needed things done for me, what I needed was friendship and what I found is people were willing to do things but not stay to visit. I discovered the ones who stepped to help were not the ones I expected. So I will strive to be the unexpected blessing to others..... And in the midst of it I made a trip to Boston that totally blessed my heart far beyond what I thought; I was going to speak..God had me go to get refueled... I love my God....

Rise up and walk...no running...

I like my Dr again. He told me do not run.  Yesterday we got the news that I am 90% healed and now to begin getting the leg from its stiff, I don't want to bend angle. So I can begin walking around the house without a shoe. It's quite slow, hurts and the angle I put my foot down is. It normal. It it will come. I still must wear the boot when I go out.
The biggest thing is I can return to the YMCA. For those of you who don't work out, you don't have a clue, but I thrive on it and. Y body is used to it and being unable to do anything except left my 5 lb blue weights, has been hard.  I can only do the bike and swim but hey, it's a start.  And I will probably use the handicapped dressing room so I don't have to climb two flights of stairs but it's a start...
Driving is like a new freedom...I take the boot off, out a shoe on, drive, stop, take the shoe off and put the boot on and get out. It's a process and it talked time but the price of freedom is sweet. I still clunk around and a, really slow but I am moving. I feel like a toddler looks when they begin to walk... God has been very good through the whole ordeal. I feel better than I felt a week ago and God got me through the week along with answering prayers about Baihley getting a grad school admittance letter.

Leaving Boston with some incredible God moments in my heart...

My name on a chair

So I was out to speak in Boston for a ladies retreat and even with the broken leg and getting a 12 hour bug, I ventured forth. Having a cast and a crutch does have its perks. They put you in a wheelchair, push you through the line at the airport, through the security, onto a blue machine that goes real fast and it's curb to the jet ay service.  When I got to board the plane first, it was special. I love holding up the line while I limp back and forth.  They changed my seat, moved my stuff, waited in me hand and foot and when I got off the plane there was a wheelchair waiting for me with my name on it.
Being here  in Boston with all the snow, has reminded me that there is winter.  It's slushy, messy and I watched cars parked in places I wasn't sure cars could park.
God has done wonderful things here and I have truly loved being here. I am now being spoiled as I get to see Rhode Island and today Maine with friends. Tomorrow it's the coast  as we work our way back to the airport and then home. In a few days I will get to go to the doctor and maybe be out of my boot....I may be a bit mournful and shed a tear...NOT... I will not be dancing but will be lighter on my feet..and if they tell me another week I will still be very thankful that at least I got through one trip being truly handicapped and loving the special treatment.

I'm walking the floor over you.

Nothing changes.  I am still treated like a second hand citizen in my home. Except now I can walk..I was told to walk and eventually lose the crutches. I kind of like Ethel...my crutch. But the dogs still don't move...I walk the floors and step over the dogs...and even rolling my little cart over the dogs ears didn't seem to matter...So I am walking the floor. And it actually feels weird not good. With the new boot which is larger and more bulkier than the other boot, I feel as if I have a large heel on the bottom of my right leg. I tried using it to run the pedal today when I played at the Nursing home..the boot doesn't move very well.  Of course the piano was out of tune and no amount of using a pedal will help that.  So I did get out today...to the assisted living home in Rochester.  It felt good but I told the story about 5 times.  I could have changed the story every time but there are some pretty sharp gals,,they would have tripped me up in my storytelling.  So other than my toe swelling and feeling odd, and  I kicked an ottoman, unintentionally of course, I am doing better than I thought. I did try to out some weight in my leg while I was changing this morning and I didn't fall over, and it didn't hurt too bad, and I didn't cry,  that was encouraging... Now we will see what a week of traveling and being up and about does. I speak in Boston this weekend at a ladies retreat. The irony of it all is I speak on Fruitful and faithful or fearful and frustrated. I guess God thought I needed a large object lesson...and I made plans to travel around the east coast and visit...won't be doing that either except at the mercy of some friends who can drag me around with the three extra days I booked the ticket for so I could enjoy Boston and Vermont. So God has someone he wants me to talk with or listen too. I will be excited to see which God had in mind.  In the meantime, I am still walking the floor and hopefully not over the dogs but simp,y around them.. Of course they couldn't consider moving,,,,nope..they are just dogs....

Walk..he told me to walk

 He's a pretty cool doctor; that's what I thought until he looked at Jim and said, "is she always like this?"  They cut the cast off and x rayed my ankle and it didn't morph into something else...it's still an ankle. I could see the break much more obvious,  must be a more expensive machine or something.  I could see the break in all three shots and I could see the bone growth,  well, I said I could see the bone growth because I really am getting tired of lying around .  However just because there is bone growth doesn't mean I am out of the woods. It means that with my traveling plans he doesn't want me in a cast in case I swell up and would have complications so I am equipped with a larger taller boot. I am also given directions to walk. He thinks that I can be walking without the crutches when I board the plane.  Hmmmm...so I am working my way around the house putting weight on my right leg. It's an awkward process since the boot is a bit odd and much higher than barefoot so I have to wear a shoe all the time... But it oddly feels good. The foot is still swollen and tonight is having some resistance and attitude issues but all in all it looks ok except for some discoloring and kind of hard and sore..ok it is more then kind of hard and sore, it is hard and sore.  It reminds me that when I focus on what is it and not what it will be it's discouraging.  I used to be able to run, jump, dance and I can't now.  I want to be able to ride the bike and run on the elliptical.  Soon I will but right now walking across the kitchen is my goal and I will not be discouraged ..I just need for today to walk across the floor.  So my goals are to fly to Boston and speak and enjoy the 108 inches of snow and spend time visiting with friends. My dream of driving all over the east coast won't happen...that was my idea when I booked the ticket.  Gods idea obviously is different and I will wait and see what he has in mind...me and Bertha will hobble our way and entertain everyone I am sure....

Anticipation

4 weeks ago I was planning a Bible study and anticipating things to do on my birthday. 4 weeks later I am planning a Bible study and anticipating videoing when they cut off my cast and see what my foot looks like.  Life is all about perceptive and how we handle the little things that change our plans. I absolutely love my horse time...I didn't realize how much that simple chore time comforted me and filled a hole in my heart. I knew that riding Charlie, or even sugar and BFG made me feel good must I didn't  about it as comforting, but to push all other reasons aside, it's comforting. Right now I do very little things that comfort me.  To comfort according to the dictionary one of the meanings is to alleviate ones pain, to soothe, console or aid in ones distress and to encourage and make ones hearts sing.  I am in the heart singing arena when I am with the horses...and right now I am not able to do that...yet...So, I sit and look out the window at the snow and dream of what I will do when I am released from my hobbles.  
4 weeks ago I had plans...in those 4 weeks several of those plans had to be let go. When things are totally out of your control, you let them go. When we think we can manipulate the conditions, we hold on and use all our options to change the facts. So if you wonder what one does all day when one can't do much... Bible study does take up a lot of my time,,but so do puzzles, coloring, writing letters, trying to get food for lunch, today I will dust and clean and that will be an all day interesting challenge between crutches and the scooter.  Even though it takes all day, there is some odd reward in seeing the clean floor even for a few minutes before the dogs run in and love me by sharing their wet footprints and plop on the floor.  I hobble, I scoot and I discover that I really am glad I had been working so I am fairly decent condition and I do miss the YMCA. I miss being sweaty and panting and sitting in the hot tub... Which reminds me that I haven't submersed myself in a tub for 4 weeks also. Taking a bath with a leg hanging out of the bathtub is quite the accomplishment...and 4 weeks ago I didn't even think about not taking a shower for 2 months.
So now, my anticipation is based on other things than a month ago.  My time in a boot has given me a unique look at life...slower.  I have achieved sitting most of the day and not going loopy.  I find contentment in three puzzle pieces together and coloring. But I am anticipating getting up and doing chores in the mud, that old cart hart coat and the smell of hay and duck poop.
And in the meantime, I love my new comfy couch in ways I had not anticipated...the old saying my friend Emma always said, "God is already there."  In other words we do things in life and God has plans for us that we had no clue he was working out for our good.... So just keep doing and God will provide the comfy couches you need to hang our for 8 weeks....

Coloring pages, dogs lying in my way and I may never come inside again.

So, I am getting bored... It only took 3 and a half weeks before I got totally bored. Not bad considering I was worried about getting bored the first day. I had two care packages sent me last week and so now I can color... I will be sending out the coloring pages to people and expect them to put them on their refrigerators.  After all, I get pictures from some of our riding kids and my young nieces and nephews and of course I keep them and put them up to display.
Because it's so cold out we are being nice to the dogs... We are always nice to the dogs but since it's really cold and the one dog is quite old, they get to lie and enjoy the warm fire. The big old dog, Sparky doesn't seem to understand that I am higher on the totem pole of hierarchy in this home. I am the oldest in this home... I guess it doesn't really matter. I have to try to walk over the dog lying on the floor, push my walker around his paws that sprawl all over the floor and of course he only chooses to lie right in the middle of where I would like to walk.  So  my challenge to life right now is weaving my way through the house, the lying dogs, the moving just enough to let me through but not enough to let me walk with a two foot path that I would dearly love!
And... I am getting bored; did I mention that? I am used to being outside. I am used to spending hours outside. I love being outside, did I mention I love being outside... Once I get a cast I can get around and it's safe, I will be outside. I think I will set up the hammock and sleep by the fire pit. I might need to sleep by the fire pit since it's probably going to still be cold but it could also be that I would have that three letter word, MUD. So in a walking cast and then stuck in the mud could be quite hysterical. So I am figuring out how I can be outside and just totally love every second... can you tell that I am the getting desperate to get outside?
What I have learned is that contentment is quite easy to say and a challenge to do.  When one does not have another option when one cannot do anything for oneself, one learns being content is a requirement to live and think each day.  Paul said that we must "LEARN" to be content... learning means it will take some knowledge, some work, some effort and perhaps a test or two. To learn in school it always involved homework. To learn in life, one finds broken legs as the homework that is essential but not enjoyable. So I am content coloring, doing puzzles, and cleaning cupboards... I am learning to be content doing puzzles, coloring and cleaning cupboards and I can't wait until I can go outside!!!

Only 42 minutes...

Getting ready to go anywhere is a process unless of course it's out to do chores. If I am going out to work, I simply put a hat on, pull on a cart-hart, pull the big riding winter boots on and off I go. No one cares that I haven't brushed my teeth,  No one cares I am wearing pj's under the winter work-clothes. Now...with a broken leg, a large cast with a rubber boot so I don't slip, getting ready is a bit more of a challenge.
Church, however, or going out in public, needs just a bit of a different approach.  I usually attenpt to look a better- bathed, freshened and looking a bit more acceptable.   Bathing with a boot or a cast does present a bit more of a challenge.  So this morning I was determined to get a bath and get dressed before I scooted downstairs for the day. It only took me 42 minutes. I was thrilled and when Jim met me at the bottom of the stairs (he heard the clump, clump of my crutches on the stairs) he even said I looked good. Clean, hair done, good clothes on, earrings and make-up... and it only took 42 minutes. That is a-lot of time just to look good, or should I say look a bit improved from crawling out of bed.

So what does it take you 42 minutes to do?  In 42 minutes we could drive to Owatonna. In 42 minutes minutes I could make  really good supper, eat it and clean up the dishes... all from a rolling walker.  In 42 minutes we could go to Menard's, go through our list and maybe even check out providing the rest of Rochester isn't shopping at the same time.  In 42 minutes I could listen to the sermon again and take notes on what I missed.  In 42 minutes I could get possibly 5 pieces of my puzzle put together. In 42 minutes I can write a few letters and find a stamp and envelope and push myself to the washing machine where we always put mail before they get to the mail box.
In 42 minutes, I can talk to my kiddo in Singapore and find out what's happening in her world.  In 42 minutes I can eat several handfuls of my favorite treat; Dark Chocolate covered Acai from Costco.  So what can you do in 42 minutes?
Tomorrow, I probably won't worry quite as much if I look nice or simply acceptable since I probably won't leave the house so probably a 15 minute approach to getting ready will be more practical.

Forever in Blue Jeans

I have tried to keep my focus on this little incident that happened to me and left me slightly altered and definitely slowed... I have learned a lot of things and I today put back on the blue jeans.
I am trying not to be judgmental of clothing but I really love blue jeans; I could be forever in blue jeans.  However due to having a very large right leg, I have been in stretch pants, sweat pants and "Thank goodness for Savers and Goodwill pants" time of life.  Actually the spandex pants I did find at wal-mart really looks like dress pants so I have actually looked nice once or twice.
But after over 2 weeks of living in squishy pants I longed for jeans. Most of my jeans are more like what they call "skinny" jeans. I am far from skinny but the legs at the bottom are slim. Now in the ordinary  life the skinny jeans and cowboy boots. In my modified life, skinny jeans don't fit over the large blue cast. I went through the jean drawer today and pulled at the legs and found one that stretched a bit more..So little by little I pulled until I got the right leg of the jeans over the big blue hard fiberglass cast.  It looks a bit dorky but I was beyond happy. I am wearing jeans again.
The neighbor came over and picked me up and we went on an adventure to the nursing home. I always go the second Friday of the month and so armed with my Valentine book and songbooks, we went in and had a great time. Hobbling back home I have been sitting on the on the couch and enjoying the Apple TV watching the Hatfields and McCoys.
So looking back at the past couple weeks I have noticed a few things.
1, people get out of the way when they see crutches.  There is something about a crutch that moves people. People help you with your food, people open doors and people hug you when you are hurt. They also feel sorry for Jim...He is really doing fine, but people think it must be really hard for him to wait on me!!! I make him cookies so he's really doing fine.
2. If you need to use the motorized carts, Wal Marts are the fastest- Target hadn't gotten theirs charged and I could outwalk the cart with my crutches.  Fleet Farm you have to go through loops to get the cart!
3.  Pity doesn't get you very far but it does get you rides.
4.  After a while it gets really boring... it sounds like fun to lie around doing nothing but after awhile it's like watching the sun set... and it's cloudy out! It takes forever and you can't tell anything...

So I am walking more and more all the time as long as I put 1/3 of my weight on my leg.  I guess what 1/3 of the weight is and with the two crutches and distributing it equally with two crutches and one bum leg.  Sleeping is interesting because the leg gets in the way.  It's like having a smurf on the end of your foot and when you turn off the tv the smurf is still with you.  So, smurf and I are going through the rest of the week and finding fun ways to make people laugh at my expense... I am sure God is giggling at some of the antics. And tonight, I plan to get on the 4 wheeler and go to the arena so I can check out a saddle for someone. For a few moments I can pretend I am "normal" again!

How much is a third?

I had a full day. In fact the day was so full that by 7 p.m. I was sleeping on the couch. I woke up at ten and went back to sleep and slept all night. Part of my full day was going back to the specialist. I am allowed to put a third of my weight on my foot.  How do you figure out how much you weight and then how do you figure out what a third of that is...on crutches?  So I have a solution...don't. However the doctor said that he needs me walking with a third of my weight on the leg because then when my next cast is a walking cast I will be ready to figure out my next percentage although he seemed to indicate  that I could walk on it. I think walking on it means actually walking on it like normal walking...forget this percentages of weight.
Also today I began scooting around on my walker. I can go faster than ever...well, maybe not faster than ever but faster than slow. I actually baked cupcakes, made homemade chocolate frosting, washed clothes and taught a ukulele lesson...oh and got my hair cut. So today was busier than most even with my limitations. My leg feels it..it is now up in the air on top of a pillow and eventually my toes will quit tingling. But, I did walk today so I am following the doctors orders...and I did determine what I think he means by a third of the weight. When I put my two crutches down I should have my broken leg going down at the same time. Three points supporting the weight of my body so I have distributed the weight in thirds. Not sure if that's right but it's my simple explanation of it.
I walked more tonight; went to the visitation of my dear friend Emma.  I met Emma after they came back from the mission field. We had gone shopping to send them presents for Christmas. Later that spring Emma found a lump and at age 32 was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer.  During the past 8 we have kept in touch ; they went to our cabin, she spoke at our ladies bible  study, she came and rode my horse,,,and then last year she called and told me the cancer was back and would we, Baihley and I, fill the gap in her  daughter life: Grace lived and breathed the desire to be a horse girl.  We took Grace into our lives about Christmas of last year and her horse a couple months later and for the past year have been hand in hand and heart to heart with Emma allowing her to watch Grace ride, show and win on her horse.  We have another daughter now...she has her own bedroom and she stays usually twice a week. It's amazing how God uses little things to fill gaps in all of us. We are no longer empty nesters and Grace has her horse time on the farm.  and I had the honor of loving and being a friend to a special child if God named Emma.

What does the word "handicap" really mean?

 My two dearest friends....

  I love these signs. but my question is...what does handicapped mean?   The dictionary definition indicates
a circumstance that makes progress or success difficult.
It is also a race or contest in which an articificual advantage is given or disadvantage is imposed on a conestant to equalize chances of winning. But, if I break up the words, handy and capped; handy means useful and helpful. Capped means to put a limit on something or to put a cover on so whats inside stays inside or what's outside stays outside. So if I transfer those wonderful thoughts into my situation, I hardly feel useful and helpful except if it's a seat and I am keeping it warm. And the word capped- I do have a limit as to what I can do. I can't even scoot with the scooter without hitting the walls. I used to think it was the dog or the kids marking up the corners... now I guess it's my driving.

So truly there is a cap on my being useful and helpful; it's like fully capped, screwed down tight and ain't moving. I have found that I can still do somethings with the same excitement and fervor that I did 2 weeks ago.
1. I can eat. There is no problem with my appetite. I can eat and 14 minutes later, maybe 13 minutes, I am hungry again. However, since I am not working out, I am watching what I eat and desperately lifting weights and doing crunches off the couch since I won't be going to the YMCA and  on my beloved bike and elliptical machine.
2.  I can still make a mess and lose the checkbook. One should have less places to lose things when one can't go anywhere but I still can lose the checkbook. I am so proud of the things in life that I can still do... and make a mess is such a thrill. When you can't get on the floor to clean up the mess, there is just something special about making the mess.  Maybe that's what toddlers feel as they throw food off their highchairs.
3.  I can still look out the window and see all sorts of things that need doing. I am very thankful for my vision however combine my vision with my imagination and I see not snow; nay nay. I see flower gardens, landscaping, buildings needing to be painted, horses needing to be ridden... and I sit in my lazy girl and just dream..
4.  Finally, I can still pray. No more excuses that I am too busy. No more excuses that I have other things to do. I DON'T. I have time to pray- I have a whole pile of Valentines lying on the coffee table waiting to be mailed. I will pray for them before they head for the mailbox  via Jim's feet.  I can read through the Psalms as a prayer to God.  I can pray whenever I think of it.. cuz I won't be doing anything else I am thinking of doing.  

Wheelchairs do have their limits

so Baihley has a grad school interview next week, of which aunt Lori will go with her to Denver, so we went shopping for business dress clothes.  Of course being frugal, cheap or resourceful however you want to frame it, our first stop was the Goodwill store. They hide their wheelchair. We had to ask but they did keep Ethel and Lena (crutches ) at the front for me. Wheelchairs are nice. If you don't make the aisles wide enough, having a wheelchair isn't the answer. Famous footwear doesn't have wheelchairs but they did tell us we could go to kohls and steal...borrow one for a few minutes. I chose to sit on the padded benches.
Then because my feet were tingling and turning blue, we went to wal mart so I could get my foot up and we ate at subway. People tend to look at you funny when you have your leg waving high like a banner. I want to break out in the old chorus, " joy is a flag that flown from the castle of my heart ...lift it high in the sky." I sit in the electric cart, I want one of these at the farm, and with my leg on top of the basket, it's supposed to be higher than my heart ( I try) we begin on our shopping list. Baihley is along to be sure I don't hurt myself. No one is  along to protect the racks of clothes that a wheelchair won't fit through.  I didn't purposefully move them, but a few did change directions after meeting Ed the electric cart .  And people ask the question every time, what did you do? I am about to engage upon a story about fighting mountain lions in Tibet or crocodile wrestling in Australia but they just want to know...and I don't have a good story. I simply slipped on the ice. I was a clutz and we all are in life at sometime, and one of those time we are going to have an "oops" and then the story begins. My friend twisted her ankle and broke it, in  Her kitchen. At least I can put Jesus in the blame game in my story? I was coming home from Bible study....and I was carrying the Bible in my bag of computer and projector...there...it's all Gods fault. I feel so much better since he is going to have to heal me now and entertain me for the next 6 weeks...I feel so much better already.

Did you know?

Did you know.. it's possible to wear clothes that are what I would call "skuzzy" and live.  I don't consider myself a prima dona but I do usually dress with some kind of style or fashion. Well, that is simply thrown to the wind... and it's been windy here.
       I cut part of the leg off the sweats I so intelligently took to the Dr. when they put the cast on. It was 2 inches from coming over the cast and I will turn them into capri's eventually.  My friend gave me a pair of  button pants; the kind that basketball players wear and just rip off. Well they were so big that when I stood up they fell off. I don't really need to be insulting people's intelligence with that kind of image so they are laying on the couch upstairs waiting for another occasion.
Pajamas Pants; not exactly a fashion statement but they fit over the cast. However my options are slim. I have faded blue jean cool kind of pajamas pants and I have Mickey Mouse pajamas pants. I have Trinity University sweatpants that are my barn over my jean pants and have all sorts of interesting little stains from leather cleaner, oil from the clippers and though they have been washed many times they still do not "look clean".  Don't make a face; they are clean and don't smell!!!
              Yesterday my brother took my on a date with Anna and Baihley. What is worse than a husband that's a joker? A brother, daughter and niece.  I was given royal treatment and teased mercilessly but we all lived to tell about it. They love wheelchairs.. OK I am beginning to love wheelchairs. We also know where they are at the Mall now. I also discovered that when riding in a wheel chair those pushing suddenly become authorities on how fast, how slow, how quick one can turn and everyone gives the one riding in the wheelchair their "stuff".  So now I am not only an invalid but a storage locker.
        Today we will venture out looking for the rest of Baihley's clothes for her Grad school interview next week.  I can handle being out and about for about 2 hours and then I start to fade. I have discovered though it will be a great arm workout. I decided I would go to the Mall bathroom by myself in the wheelchair pushing through the food court. People do get out of your way when you approach them. I'm not sure if it was the fear in their eyes or they saw my sweat pants.  The Mall bathrooms are actually pretty wide aisles and I managed quite well. I was so proud of myself. I did not want to call my brother and ask for help... oh yes- I did forget I had left my phone in my purse and left it with him to watch. I would have been singing from the stall had I got into a pickle and maybe that lady I kept running into would have come and helped me just to give her "good Samaritan" points for the day.
        So I think I am acclimating to life with Bethel (my cast) I had an aunt Bethel and she was in a wheelchair the entire time I remember her so it's appropriate that I call my big leg Bethel. She was a neat lady from what I remember; going to her house and visiting and always had cookies.
So when you see me in pajamas pants and a sweatshirt, comments are tolerated but remember that I do have a crutch and I am not afraid to use it!

one week and one day into 7 weeks...

So yesterday was the outing to the Podiatrist. I began my day by teaching at Bible Study. I felt as if God has given me a few too many object lessons.  Romans 5 begins by talking  about the perseverence we will need in life as struggles come at our lives and then it goes to talk about being helpless.  I feel as though both could have been aimed at me. Jim took me and and brought me home: then we headed for the clinic. I liked the Dr. Although his news wasn't grrat it was not surprising. My break was 1 centimeter from needing surgery so I was thankful about that. The cast will keep  the leg and ankle from moving and give me a challenge.  It's a beautiful blue cast that is high and thick.  I was smart enough to take sweat pants but what I didn't think about was the width of the sweat pants. In our modern world and fashion I have all narrow like Yoga pants, sweats and even my sweat pants from Trinity from Addlea, are now big mouthed...or bell bottomed .  So eventually when I am tired of wearing these pants, I will probably have to cut the leg off a bit so I can get it off my leg. But an $8 pair of sweat pants are easier than $25 jeans,,especially jeans that I like.  I will be creating memories and survival lists for the next 8 weeks.  I do have a walking cast but they should redefine walking . it's a barely push pressure on your foot cast but you can pretend.  So the crutches and the walker will become my best friends.
My brother brought me a gift last night; an Apple TV. 8 have no clue what it does but I am watching the Canadian Finals Rodeo right now. How cool is that.  We don't have cable and there is nothing on television so I am thrilled. I am taking an online equine course, studying for some speaking engagements I have. I will even increase my napping and then have Jim bring up my weights so my body doesn't forget how to work out.
So my list of needs...I will begin making them and so many have offered to help out and do chores and step in. I have some high school girls who will come out and work horses and even though I desperately miss walking through the pasture, it will come again.  My survival list will be the following.
To keep the house in somewhat of a semblance of order. I will choose to ignore the underwear and that Jim keeps forgetting to pick up..I won't forget they are still lying there but ai will ignore them.
I will whittle down cooking supper from 25 minutes to 15. It should only take 3 times as much time to make it as it takes to eat it and last night we ate in 5 minutes... Of course we were starving also.
I will see myself toe warmers for my cast foot.   I will get send a card to someone also suffering each week.  Seems that Facebook reminds us we are all stuck in the fallen world... I will attempt to remember one family birthday. I will call a few more people and maybe take back up ranking phone calls.  idle time should be used to at least amuse others. And I will try one new recipe a week. Along with a few things I am trying not to do is eat all the chocolate in the house. Luckily I hide my chocolate up high and I can't climb anymore so I think its safe... Tonight I head for Bible study and they want me to play on the worship team..Hmmm... Should be about time for another adventure...

Day 5

For the first time, in a long time, I actually went into the handicap bathroom stall...as a handicapped person. It made my day however what I discovered is that handicap people can't open the door to get inot the bathroom. It has a super hard hinge to push  and of course you can turn and back into it with your behind, but on crutches with a slightly slippery floor  is a bit of a challenge.  So, getting into the  bathroom was a mission but getting out was more. You have to pull to get out. No behind pushing will work. I forgot to bring my phone with me so I could not call for help. I figured I could knock or yell but pulled  a few times and it came open enough for me to get by body and crutches into the open area and then put my crutches through and off we went,,,
Church was fairly simple but not standing during praise time was different. And as I sat there I realized that halfway through the sermon I had moved through all the comfortable positions on a padded church chair and my leg up in the air on the chair in front of me.  If squirming during church indicate guilt or perhaps conviction, then I was guilty and convicted.
Going out to eat at the buffet...good idea, bad plan. I have to depend on others to get my food.. Others want to eat. I sat and waited but I did get some good ideas as they all brought back their plates.  Eventually we just whistled for the kids and they would get us refills on pop at least. After all, what good is being an adult if you don't get to tell people what to do.
So, I have been gifted with the use of a wheeled walked with a place to sit. I can zoom around the house much easier. I have threatened to use toilet plungers for rowers but no one will get them for me.  Ice is my best friend and now the ankle is turning into a rainbow with yellows, blues and slightly dark brown colors all over my ankle and going up my leg.  I love variety but would prefer skin tones.
Sleeping is a bit of a challenge especially when the cat decides it really likes the multitude of pillows I had on the bed.  The couch is the preferred place...the wonderful comfortable couch  I didn't realize I would be using as a convalescent couch.
Tomorrow I will find something to do...maybe. I am already tired of TV and may have to start playing yatzee, putting puzzles together or coming up with more ideas for remodeling the house .  Just kidding bout the remodeling... So more creativity will surely come forth from my endeavor to be mobile in my immobile world so stay tuned....

day 4

I have learned all things are possible with Christ...not all things are possible with crutches. I have learned that... crutches can
1.  Flush the toilet quite easily
2.  Push the button on the elevator and impress strangers.
3. Make a racket when things they fall down the stairs.
4.  Can be an irritant to people..any people.
5.  Are not quiet in the middle of the night.
6. If you lose the thingee on the bottom you are a guaranteed accident waiting to happen...again.
7. They seem to scream HELP and you don't have to ask for much....

Day 3

I woke up hungry...I am used to working out three days a week and so am a bit concerned about sitting still for so long and still eating like I want to. So today, I scooted, then hobbled around the kitchen and made myself an egg, turkey bacon, feta cheese scramble with kiwi. Don't be too impressed: we are out if Cheerios and have tons of eggs so I used what I had the most of.

This is 

my Boot. I am sure I will name him in the  near future. Ethel and  Lena, the crutches, I still had from my knee surgery and what a comfort they are. Except I forgot they hurt your underarms. Is that what underarmor is for? Protection from crutches?  I feel good except for the pain in my ankle. Will go see the specialist next Tuesday so it will be a week after the break and the swelling will have gone down. Right now it's working its way down my ankle and should be out my toes by Sunday. Till then, I am watching Judge Judy and getting lots of ideas from Pintrest about what I can do when I can move at will...

day 2

They said it would hurt more on day 2.  Unfortunately they were right, I have ditched the freezer packs for peas.  The pillows that came with the couch that I thought were useless: nay nay. They are perfect for getting the leg in the air.  He left me alone and I didn't harm myself. I can go to the bathroom and back and snuggle up all alone.

Oops Happy Birthday to me

What a wonderful birthday....cards, gifts, ladies bible study, driving home and falling on ice as I unloaded the car.. So now we are in time out.  I have a boot, an office chair on wheels and my crutches. I will be sharing my walk through the next 6 weeks more to amuse you and keep myself entertained but also if you ever are in my circumstances you may find some of my creativity handy...

Day 1... Don't wear fashion boots in the winter. Look like a farmer and you probably won't fall.  You will look like a farmer but looking like a bun on the couch isn't that appealing either.
Look around at what  is handy.  Rolling office chairs are almost better than wheelchairs. 
Whatever you do, always have a bathroom on the first floor. I may never go upstairs again..oh that's right...to take a shower or bath I have to go up or down stairs which means if I go up, then I must also come down. We do have 150 gallon tanks from the horses pasture for their water. I could go back to an old fashion Saturday night tub in the kitchen. Hmmmmmm
All those things you were going to do on a rainy day? Well, it's raining..literally and physically so guess I won't be going back outside so I have begun my list of things to accomplish in the next 6 weeks from a lazy boy.