Monday first day of classes

Well my first I am sorry for no updates over the weekend. Saturday night was a terrible night for me. I was up every hour with headache and a nausea feeling, which lasted into almost all of Sunday. That is one reason I did not update then as I spent most of the day resting, taking medication and rehabbing. As stated earlier the doctors warned me of this and it is true. Sunday night was a restful night and Monday was a much better day for me. Beth went out and bought me some new shoes to wear with my brace and after a bit of wiggling we got them to work. They make some specifically for the brace but they cost like $170 and I have a hard time spending that much. I am not sure why I felt so ill Saturday night as I didn't really do anything special to trigger it. Well Beth and I headed out for my first day of classes today. Let me tell you I was a bit nervous as I am teaching at the downtown campus [so Beth drives me because it is one block from her workplace] and I am new to the brace. It was not that easy getting around and all, one professor reminded me, "take your time, they cannot start without you." LOL! How right he is. Kate sent me some encouraging text messages which also helped me in my new role. The two classes went well and I am looking forward to my two classes tomorrow. I will say that back to back classes was a bit draining so I will be even more prepared tomorrow. At least I can come back to my office and hibernate for a bit. I will walk to Beth's office and then home from there. I shared with my students my interesting summer as most noticed my "cool" hair cut, I gotta get it trimmed and evened out. I told the students that normally I am all over the room when I lecture however with this new AFO brace I am a bit more limited in my abilities. It makes me desire all the more to get to a point where I can kick the brace off and not need it anymore.

Saturday September 5th

Well I got my new brace and it works pretty good. My shoes do not fit over it but we can get new ones, Beth has a plan all worked out. I am suppose to wear the brace for a few hours in the early day and a few in the later day increasing the time every day so I get use to it. Well after wearing it for awhile today I actually mowed my front lawn. I had Beth's permission to do so, of course the eagle eye sat on the front porch while I mowed. When I finished I felt so good being able to mow. I know is sounds weird, after having to mow a lawn for thirty some years to actually say it was rewarding to mow. It was one more accomplishment on my road of recovery. I feel so good seeing accomplishments in my walk. My family members tell me I am stubborn which if anyone reading this knew me in the days when I worked in the Union knows I had my moments and now it is paying off. I need to do my exercises more so now especially since my pt is cut back to two days a week. I am looking at next week with mixed emotions as I go to teach. I know it will be challenging, getting to class, meeting over 100 new students, lecturing and coordinating my teachings while attempting to get into a new routine of going downtown with Beth four days a week. I still look back at the lawn and smile with pride of accomplishment, it may sound silly but it means so much. Simple things sometimes in life have so much meaning and we or I miss them much too often. Thank you all so much.

September 3rd

I read the comments and want to thank you as they are so encouraging. So many people want to be nice and tell me how good I look. I mean really my hair displays more geographical regions than a map of the United States. LOL! I must get to my hair stylist and have her even it out as much as possible. My leg is getting stronger though and I work it as much as I can. I work it and sometimes the left foot sits and shakes due to working it. My therapist said it was not a bad thing so I keep going. I am so looking forward to my brace tomorrow and see how much more support it gives me and if the movable joint at the ankle makes a difference for me. There have been some hiccups in our lives but with His help we get through it all. Now as I go forward next week will bring yet another new stage to my life. The teaching, physical therapy, seeing clients and living life. What is a real Blessing in a way is that where I will teach is only one block from where Beth works so not being able to drive I can ride with her in the morning and most afternoons home. As it is said life is an adventure and next week begins a new adventure. Again thank you to those who pray, support and leave me encouraging comments.

September 2

I think Beth is right [don't tell her I said so] that I am doing too much. I realized when I got home tonight and went to take my night time medications that I failed to take my medications this morning. Not very smart on my part. Anyway, no pt today as they canceled on me and so I wait for Friday. I am so looking forward to the new brace because the two I wear now are very restrictive on my leg and compress it. When I took them off tonight the foot sits and has like little tremors. Had a lot of emotional situations today with clients and that took its toll on me too. It is nice to be home and I am looking forward to resting tomorrow. I have to do prep for upcoming activities but I can also get some rest.

September 1

Well it is hard to believe that my surgery was about six weeks ago. I was able to use my hedge trimmers today and trim three of my ten rose of charin bushes and my three lilac bushes. I had to work in twenty minute intervals because of the toll it took on me to do it. What was nice was the feeling of accomplishing some work outside. I think the cooler tempetures helped a little bit too. Bad news is they cancelled my pt appointment for tomorrow but the good news is when I go to my appointment on Friday they will have my brace ready. It will be nice to wear it for a few days before I begin teaching again. Beth thinks I am taking on too much with teaching and seeing clients while doing my pt. I am hoping to work my clients around the schedule. Teaching really seems to give me energy and purpose as I love to see people learn, grasp an idea and learn how to apply something they have learned. My hair is growing in but at different rates so you can imagine how I look. I have different levels in the same area so I need to see my hair stylest so she can fix me up. This way I look nice on my first day of school. I am trying to help as much as I can so I can try and get back to normal as close as possible. I just need to remind myself to go slow and take my time, not all at once. I am actually listening to myself.

Sunday August 30

Well today was fairly productive, closed the pool [which was never used] and put the battery to my Trans Am out [which was never used]. Has a common theme of not being used. I really hope I get to drive the car next year for enjoyment. Actually the oldest Tim came over and he with his future bride, Kristen, helped me close the pool up and pulled the battery out of the car. I am watching my limitations. What is really difficult is that as helpful as people were I can tell some are growing weary of assisting me. My problem is that I still cannot drive and need help in certain areas and those close to me are becoming frustrated at my asking. In someways this gives me a desire to improve myself and strength so I do not rely upon others. I am also experiencing these headaches which are a pain to work with as I do not want to take the vicodin though I may give in. I am not meaning to complain, as I am doing good and Blessed to be where I am. Again thank you all for your thoughts and concerns. Blessings.

Friday August 28th

This is a picture of me upon arrival home with little Bambi. Well today was yet another day of pt for me. For some this reporting pt a lot is in some ways boring but let me assure you that being an active participant in the pt is in no way boring. What they are doing now is having me do exercises that I can do at home on my own to strengthen the leg up. Next week I have pt for three days and then I cut down to two days a week pt as I begin teaching for the fall semester at college. Somewhere I hope to work in come clients there too. Today once again I had it reinforced to me that I need to be careful. I was draining the pool so I can close it, well actually I have some to help me close it. Anyway I forgot the pool was draining and after a lengthy period of time I remembered and in a hurried fashion went out to stop it draining. Well in my haste I lost balance and fell hitting my head and back against the wall. Another reminder to take it slow and not push myself. I am not the person I was two months ago, as Beth tells me. I hope to rest this weekend and do my exercises to strengthen as much as I can. Thank you all for the prayers and support as I am and will be on the mend for sometime.