Achilles journey nov 24

 feeling positive today.  New Skechers arrived...tried them on....still a bit tight to get sock on but I put them on and was able to stand

Had physio and he made me walk, with the walker, but with the shoes on and I was able to do it.  Did 5 minutes on the bike at physio.wow seemed like forever lol.

Showed me how to do seated heel,lifts in shoes, and I was able to do it without Assistance.   Need to try to wean off boot..he suggested 1 hour out of boot day 1 and 2 the next and so on

Small small steps, but it seems like a lot of progress to me with 3 physio sessions.

Achilles journey nov 19th

 Well it will be 8 weeks tomorrow since I injured my tendon,  

Saw ortho on nov 9th and he said he didn’t feel a gap and I had a bit of movement on Thompson test...removed 1 wedge with last wedge to come out nov 16th....then can come out of boot week after

Physio started on Tuesday and another session today Thursday.  Had me stand on foot on Tuesday wow scary.  Therapist seems very knowledgeable and patient.   Finally got the sock off after 5 weeks and soaked it in Epsom salts...yuk what came off that foot. 

Have exercise program to do daily at home.  In some pain tonight, but to be expected after this period of time.

Last wedge came out on Tuesday but still using the walker.  Doing my best to weight bear more. Had a bit of a meltdown last night...just getting tired and frustrated...been such an emotional ride.

This weekend he said to try putting shoe on and stand and shift side to side...he said to expect 2-3 months more before regain normal living.  🙏

So the tiny tree went up today, as I’m not able to put up the big tree this year.  I feel so bad that I’m not able to do this, as I know how much my mom loves to see the tree.  She was pleased to at least see something and neighbour called to say the tree looked nice from outside.

Make the best of this..i need to accept this mantra.

Achilles Journey Nov 8th

 at 6 weeks 2 days post injury

Am walking with walker and putting more weight on it

See Ortho tomorrow and am very nervous.  Am I progressing as I should

Achilles journey oct 28th

 have been “walking” fairly well in a protected weight bearing setting with the walker.

Remove boot 2-3 times per day to air it out and doing very gentle range of motion exercises.

Took a fall today trying g to catch mom from falling...she has fallen twice in two days.  Yesterday in bathroom, today in bedroom...moved commode there so she could be safer...nope...as I’m yelling behind her to wait for me to get there, her wheel gets tangled in the edge of the blanket and down she goes, and me along with her trying to catch her. 

I am so frustrated and worried that she will break something. She just won’t listen...wants no one in bathroom with her and won’t wait for me to go help.  I told her this needs to stop now.

Have ordered another grab bar for bathroom..I hope we both make it through this 

Achilles journey Oct 21st

 Survived week 1 of walking boot...Got clarification from surgeon that protected weight bearing means full weight using crutches or walker.

Having some pain in arch as lack of support in boot has aggravated my plantar fasciitis 

Had a small fall last night overreaching to couch without walker...hit knee and wrist but very lightly..my poor mom witnessed this.

Boot gets more and more uncomfortable..I wonder if I am tightening too much due to fear.

Trying to do rom a few times a day...feels so good to get it out of boot

Emotionally very taxing experience 

Achilles journey Oct 17th

 So the boot has been on non stop since Tuesday.  Have been doing protected weight bearing with a walker

I had been viewing YouTube videos along with the protocol sheet that the Orthopedic had given me and all seemed to indicate you need to get out of boot a few times a day and do range of motion exercises.   The assistant however, who was very rushed and stressed the day I went, and jammed by foot in so hard I screamed in excruciating pain, told me to pretty much leave boot on at all times otherwise I would have the same pain every time.  He also said you’re NWB but I said no, the dr said Partial weight bearing.

I tried calling Friday ok but they were closed for the weekend, so I could ask about ROM EXERCISES. Was planning on trying again Monday.

today, Saturday, we were driven by our caregiver to go get our flu shots in our gp’s parking lot.  When he came to me, he asked how I was doing, looked at the boot and said..you do know you cant keep that on at all times, take it off during the day periodically and do some rom exercises or your foot will seize up.

Came home and took off boot and did a few rom exercises ...put boot back on no issues, maybe tightened it a bit too much .

How frightening when you are provided with Mis information.  Ortho seems ok..a bit rushed, but his helper shouldn’t be there

Will try to ramp up rom daily exercises

Achilles Journey

 oct 15th

Started partial weight bearing with a standard walker today...a bit tentative and fearful of putting weight on it but hope to improve every day, and stop using knee scooter

Spoke with family doctor and has advised he wants me off work completely...He doesn’t agree with the non surgical route I’m on.

Ordered and received a leg elevation pillow...seems a bit more comfortable than stack of mish mash pillows I was using before 

Achilles oct 13th

 Cast was removed today and put into a boot..positioning in the boot resulted in excruciating pain.  Will be painful for the next few days

Doctor indicated total tear but no displacement so should heal well

Boot is to stay on at all times, including at night, or I will experience same pain when putting it back on.  I can do protected weight bearing with crutches/walker 

See him again in 4 weeks to have a wedge removed from boot

I am uncomfortable, frustrated and frightened 

Achilles Tear

2020 has been the most unusual year...the year of COVID, the year of quarantine. ON SEPTEMBER 25th,I fell off a stool in the backyard, which i admittedly should not have stood on. Stool toppled and i fell...didnt thunk i hurt myself as i didnt feel anything until i stood up...toes felt numb but no pain. after 4 hours in emergency, was semt home with splint, crutches and appointment with ortho in 2 days....torn achilles. ortho put on hard cast..no weight at all.. couldnt manage crutches so bought a knee scooter to get around....its niw been 2 weeks and cast comes off tomorrow hopefully...to be replaced with a boot for 4 or6 weeks. feeling very frustrated and realize how much we take for granted on a daily basis. so thankful for family and friends and co workerswho have brought food, done laundry, cleaned house. Not thankful for loss of control of household.

2009 Wrap Up

As the end of 2009 has come & gone, I wanted to record some thoughts about the major events of year, more so for myself, so I can look back upon this and remember.

My childhood home, sat "vacant" for a number of years, OK 3 1/2. It would be visited on a regular basis by my mother, and checked on every day by me. I know that I should have dealt with this years ago, but I had an attachment to this house and I couldn't bear to part with it. I even planned to retire there some day, as it was a small bungalow, in the perfect location: bus stop directly across the street; bank, church, pharmacy and grocery stores less than a block away. Life sometimes gives us a kick in the ass, and forces us to make a decision.

Over the summer, I had planted a garden there and it flourished, as it has always had magical soil. We harvested quite a bit of tomatoes, but one evening I had left about a bushel-full on the vines to ripen one more day. When I went the next day, the gate was open, and all the ripe tomatoes were gone...stolen.

Following the tomato incident, our front lawn became the dumping grounds for a large neighbourhood dog...we never really knew for sure who it was, but had a few suspicions.

Finally, on October 2nd, when I went to check on the house at lunchtime, I found the door open. Someone had broken in, smashing the rear bedroom window. Fortunately, this was the extent of the damage done, and the items stolen were minimal: a few bottles of alcohol-Courvoisier and Sambuca; some loonies & twonies; and a few pieces of costume jewellery. We, of course, felt violated, and decided that we had to do something.

Renting it out was not an option, as this would carry its own set of burdens, that we/I didn't want to take on. We decided to put it up for sale. It was listed on October 15th, a deal was struck on November 6th, and the house sold on December 7th.

It was physically and emotionally exhausting to empty that house, and sort & pack everything up. Fortunately, I had the help of a few good friends....forget the family, they were MIA, unless we called them and offered to give them something from the house.

My basement now is full of boxes and tote bins...I haven't gotten around to organizing the goods that were moved over. My goal is to do this over the winter, and have a garage sale in the spring.

I am still mourning the loss of the house, and find it traumatic to drive by it. I had to go there to pick something up, and the new owner invited me in to see the changes he had made. The changes were lovely and updated the living room, but I wished I hadn't gone it....it took me a few days to get over the pain.

My dreams are full of being in the house.

While my mind knows the decision was right, I hope that it won't be too long, before I am accustomed to it.

So now, my mother's "roommate" status has been made official, along with my status as "chief caregiver, cook and bottlewasher"

We'll take one day at a time, and hope that 2010 is healthy, happy and prosperous for all.

Hole in one

Monday night I went golfing for the first time this year. My first shot went into the water. By the second hole, I got into a groove and shot par or 1 over on each hole. On hole 7, 120 yards, I took my shot, and heard the ball hit the pin and disappear. My group insisted that it had gone in as we didn't see it bounce anywhere. I thought it was too good to be true.. When I got to the hole, there it was. I'm thrilled...a once in a lifetime experience..

M.I.A

That's M.I.A, as in Missing In Action, as opposed to mia, or my, in italian. Not much time to attend to "me, myself and I" things lately.

This includes blogging, which is so far down the list. However, I realized that the last post referenced the impending arrival of my new goddaughter, and that she is just about 6 months old.

Here's a picture of her:


Still waiting for godson number 2...you know who you are!! LOL

Godmother

So I'm going to be a godmother again. My godson is having a baby girl in October, well his wife is actually, and they asked me to be the baby's godmother. I was very touched.

I'm also waiting for the arrival of my other godchild...probably a godson, but I'm not quite sure on the arrival date.

I feel very special and honoured to be asked.

MeMe

Just cause I was tagged, and haven't updated in a long time:


1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
I was named after my paternal grandmother. My mother then added my middle name so I'd have 2/3 of the Holy Family covered.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
February 17th, 2008.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING
No, it's become more of a scribble, thanks to the excessive amount of things I have to sign at work.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE LUNCH MEAT?
Prosciutto

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
No

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Probably not. I wouldn't have the self confidence to stick around until my guard came down.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Even when I'm asleep. Heh! Heh!

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE TONSILS
No. They were removed when I was 5

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
No, because I heard it's very bad for your back

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE CEREAL?
Just Right

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM Off?
Only for running shoes. Any other shoe with laces, NO

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Yes

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ICE CREAM?
Black Cherry Chocolate Chunk

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Face

15. RED OR PINK?
Red

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVOURITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
Nothing I'd care to talk about here

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST
My father, and my godchildren who've grown up and I don't see them so much anymore.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?
Whatever

19. WHAT COLOUR PANTS AND SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Chocolate Brown pants, and a brown, beige and white shirt.

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Ricotta Ball soup...the italian version of matzoh balls.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Beautiful Silence

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Magenta

23. FAVOURITE SMELLS?
Lavender

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Julie

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
I think she's alright. A bit shy. ;) LOLOLOL!

26. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Ski Jumping, as I'd love to try it.

27. HAIR COLOUR ?
Medium Copper Brown (that's what's on the box) lol

28. EYE COLOUR?
Brown.

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Maybe once a year... I don't like them

30. Your favorite food?
Italian at home. Thai when I go out

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Both, depends on my mood. Scary movies only at home, as I can get up and leave or change the channel or fast forward if it gets too scary

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Satin Rouge... A belly dance movie

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer

35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Both

36. FAVOURITE DESSERT?
Creme Brulee

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
No one, as I'm not tagging

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND ?
Julie, because she already did it

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
My budget book that I just finished, and now must prepare a presentation for. Don't get to read much, except when I'm on vacation.

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
An ergonomic cushion

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T. V. LAST NIGHT?
Deal or No Deal

42. FAVOURITE SOUND
Depends--Chico singing sometimes; silence sometimes

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Both

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Italy

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Pretty good with numbers. Pretty perceptive.

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
St. Catharines ON

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
Whomever does it

Update

So I haven't been on so much lately...been busy with life, and when I do have the time, I find I spend it on facebook.

Funny thing is, I get more hits now than when I updated regularly. LOL! What's up with that?

Not much new...this is the busiest time of year for me at work, as I set the budget, Dan's favourite thing--taxes.

We are now on Chico 3. Our canary Chico 1 died in October, Chico 2 who was supposedly a male, laid eggs last week, and a mutual decision was made to trade HER in--mom wanted a male canary, as only the males sing strongly, and the breeder who had given her to us, was in need of a hen. Chico 3 was delivered on Tuesday, and happily he can sing.

Anyways, hope all is well!

For all the Canadians, that don't get to see the real Superbowl commercials, here's the 10 best. BTW Not Ashley makes an appearance with Alice Cooper and Richard Simmons in one of them...watch for me. I look just like I do in my profile pic

A Christmas Gift

Tomorrow night, I've been invited to attend another high school "re-union." It's the third one this year, with the last one occurring a mere three weeks ago. (Missed that one though). Regardless, one of our friends now lives in South Carolina, and will be in town for Christmas, so another friend has organized a get together.

The latter friend, let's call her Donna, because that's her name, and I used to walk home from high school together. Our route passed through the downtown area. One day, Donna and I were throwing around her mitts, and I accidentally threw one of the mitts onto the awning of a local store. The mitts were white rabbit fur, if you can imagine. We went into the store, to ask if we could borrow a broom, and the lady yelled at us: "NO...You will bend the aluminum." We leave the store, and Donna takes her last remaining glove and throws it up on the awning as well. I felt horrible about it.

Fast forward, oh about 20 plus years, to last summer's reunion and Donna tells the story, in much more detail than I knew. Donna came from a large family, and had bugged and bugged her mother to get her a pair of these mitts, which wouldn't have been cheap. She finally does, and I throw one up on the awning.

Part 2 of the story, is that she talks mom into buying her another pair. Donna and another friend Debbie, visit the local arena. Debbie hides one of Donna's gloves. Thinking that her glove is lost, Donna throws away her last remaining glove (see a pattern here?). Debbie shows up with the hidden glove, and of course, they couldn't find the one that had been tossed.

I decided I would replace the mitts from so long ago. I wasn't able to find white rabbit fur mitts, as I guess that they are no longer politically correct. The closest I could find were a pair of white wool mittens. They are all wrapped up in a gift bag, and will be presented to Donna tomorrow night, with a little note apologizing for the long delay in replacing them.

I think it will be very funny...will let you know how they go over.

A Christmas Show

Saw this Christmas show last night at the Casino....it was truly wonderful!

Frivolous Nonsense

Ever wondered what happens when Hallmark writers are having a bad day........




My tire was thumping.
I thought it was flat

When I looked at the tire...

I noticed your cat.

Sorry!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Heard your wife left you,
How upset you must be.

But don't fret about it...

She moved in with me.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Looking back over the years

that we've been together,

I can't help but wonder...

"What the hell was I thinking?"



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Congratulations on your wedding day!

Too bad no one likes your husband.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How could two people as beautiful as you

Have such an ugly baby?



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've always wanted to have
someone to hold,

someone to love.

After having met you ..

I've changed my mind.



-------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------

I must admit, you brought Religion into my life.

I never believed in Hell until I met you.



//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

As the days go by, I think of how lucky I am...

That you're not here to ruin it for me.



####################################################

Congratulations on your promotion.
Before you go...

Would you like to take this knife out of my back?

You'll probably need it again.



********************************************************************************

Happy Birthday, Uncle Dad!

(Available only in Tennessee, Kentucky & West Virginia)



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy birthday! You look great for your age.

Almost Lifelike!



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When we were together,
you always said you'd die for me.

Now that we've broken up,

I think it's time you kept your promise.



////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

We have been friends for a very long time ..

let's say we stop?



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I'm so miserable without you

it's almost like you're here.



=====================================================

Congratulations on your new bundle of joy.

Did you ever find out who the father was?



%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Your friends and I wanted to do

something special for your birthday.

So we're having you put to sleep.



)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

So your daughter's a hooker,
and it spoiled your day.

Look at the bright side,

it's really good pay

For J & J

For J & J the Boobsie Twins

Here's a mother & daughter that have been banned from Disneyland for life. Yep those are their real boobs:

Chico Update

Chico was put to sleep yesterday. We buried him in the backyard, underneath the wishing well.

A new little bird was also delivered yesterday to cheer Mom up...not my decision, but it appears it was the right decision for her, as it has helped ease her sadness.

New little bird has also been named Chico, after a brief try at JoJo. Everyone kept calling him Chico, so it was decided to stick with the name. Why not? I had three cats as a child, (not at the same time), and they were all called Clementine. Originality and creativity are not my strong points. LOL!

The jury is still out on new little Chico, as his chirping is a bit hoarse, and he has yet to sing. The breeder told us he is 90% sure that the bird is a male, which is important, because only the males sing. He is becoming adjusted to his new surroundings, so we'll have to wait and see.