Things I've learned while in Confinement...

1. Nonskid on my good foot makes the scooter go faster.
2. I don't make left turns very well.
3. I cannot back up without running over my good foot.
4. The weather outside is beautiful when you cannot escape.
5. Riley sleeps alot.
6. I suspect I'm on to the secret of hoarding narcotic prescriptions.
7. Everything I WANT to do involves being outside on TWO feet.
8. Thank you for your visit.
9. I also enjoy the chats on the phone. It breaks up the silence.
10. Make a bigger stash of chocolate.
11. I'm not very good at rationing.
12. If I take time to brush my hair, dress in something besides sweats and add a little make-up -I will be home alone all day.
13. Crutches are NOT my friend.
14. WiFi and laptops are a necessity.
15. The inventor of the duct tape/hefty bag shower combination is a freakin' genius!
16. Leaves make no noise when they crash land.
17. There is an NCIS or Law and Order on at any given time.
18. There are a lot more places online to order food AND have it delivered than I originally believed.
19. Jimmy John's needs to expand their delivery circle one quarter mile otherwise I have to meet them in the LDS church parking lot outside of our neighborhood.
20. I still like cold pizza at the age of 50!
21. I'm off work, home by myself and there are STILL others who spend more time of Facebook than I do. Sad.
22. As soon as I go up the stairs I will remember something I wanted to do downstairs.
23. If I am going past, stop and use the bathroom otherwise I'll need to as soon as I sit down.
24. There IS a limit to the number of laps I can make in the house before going crazy.
25. If I plan to sleep in - do not need to set the alarm - my neighbor will be outdoors at 8am with his electric trimmer.

This little piggy went to the doctor...

As part of this 'year of changes' I began dieting and exercising. Eating smaller portions wasn't such a big deal. Making healthier choices was easier than I thought it would be.

Interval training on the treadmill, water aerobics and Zumba classes helped in shedding some weight.

At one point back in April I felt something 'pop' in my foot. I walked it off - got back on track and kept at the routine.

Ice packs on the tender spots seemed like enough. How bad could it be? It was like rolling the ankle but more on the top of my foot. Who runs to the doctor for a little ache or pain.

When I was at my annual physical we discussed the changes I've been making - I happily accepted the doctor's praise for my healthier choices. Since we were on the subject of 'aging' I asked if there was anything I could do to strengthen the ligaments or muscles in my foot and explained what happened. It was like opening Pandora's box... an x-ray to check for a stress fracture, an MRI to determine if it was tendinitis, and finally a foot specialist. Good grief.

I explained what led to my latest visit, the doctor decided I should have one more set of x-rays. He then told me I had injured a ligament in my foot. It's a common sports injury and often the result of a car accident. The lins franc ligament holds together the metatarsus and tarsus bones together.

I spent six weeks in a lovely walking boot. Ka-thunk, ka-thunk. It's a lovely addition to one's August wardrobe. (Read: HOT!) However it was unsuccessful at healing.

My choices were - 1) orthodics for six months to see if it heals on it's own, 2) 4-6 weeks in a non-weight bearing status on crutches; or 3) surgery. Each of the options led to surgery so I opted to skip all the waiting and just have the surgery. I wanted to move forward.

Last week I had ligament surgery. A nerve block to the back of my knee and an IV sedation. I woke 2 hours later with a heavy foot and a useless leg. It took over 24 hours to get any feeling back in my foot.

Imagine our household... Mike with his limited abilities because of his recovery from back surgery - Me with my booted leg.

Mike is a good sport about the chores - he hired a house cleaner!

I have three wires in my foot held in place by the beads. The pins run lengthwise with the first two bones and then one angled across the two bones and through the ligament. The pins will remain in place for six weeks.

Crutches are not my favorite means of transportation as I've determined this week... I'm a klutz. I'm somewhere between a size 5'11 and a 6'0. Mike 'fitted' them per the directions but no where did it mention the pain to the elbows and wrists or the gnarly bruises under my arm pits on the side of my breasts. (Obviously I'm not doing something right!

There should be a warning to wear a fitted shirt as an undergarment. If not for the injured party than certainly for those who have to watch... My shirt keeps riding up my chest revealing my stomach. The top of the crutches are constantly getting caught up in the sleeves of whatever I'm wearing. The under wire on my bra catches too.

On the other hand walking on crutches is a great calorie burner and my appetite is nil so perhaps I will be able to use this time to make better food choices.

Apparently the doctor agreed because when I left my follow up appointment last week I had a prescription for a new set of wheels.

A scooter! Tate calls it my 'doh-tart'.

Truthfully I would look much sweeter on a scooter like this...

But in reality this is much more realistic! Oh well...

It's a small sacrifice for two good feet. Meanwhile I have two weeks off work. Mike set up the office computer with a "foot up" area for me to sit and scan photos. I have plenty of reading material and some scrapbook projects.

I'm home alone this week while Mike visits the Texas gang. So far no drama. The weather is treating us to some gorgeous fall temperatures. I think it's time to figure out how to 'scoot' around the block with Riley. I need to be outside.

Riley is a bit leery of my wheels in the house and prefers his post on the stairwell landing.

More important - I can't wait to get back to my workout routine!

Great...

Alexis and Adam

It's official! Mike and I will be great-grandparents to Miss Ava Grace around Valentine's Day. Today her parents, Mike's oldest grandson Adam and his wife Alexis,
learned they were to be parents to a beautiful baby girl.
We are thrilled!
Congratulations Adam and Alexis!
We love you all!

Ink

I've been debating a new tattoo on my wrist. A simple physical reminder... 'Calm' or 'Peace' - because "Ignore the constant drama created by some extended family members as no one can control their stupidity or bad manners" is just too long!

Why I Love the Fall Season...

I love cooler temperatures and rainy days. I love splashing in puddles, even if no one is looking!

I love lazy afternoons in warm sweatpants and socks, cozying up with my favorite 3 year old.

I love the colors in soft, warm quilt. I love how they take the chill from our soul and bring a smile to our heart.

I love the art work of Mother Nature. Her multi colored trees treat us to a color extravaganza before falling to the ground.

I love to rake leaves! I love the rustle and crunch. In no time at all, you get a pile big enough to jump and toss the leaves into the air.

I love the harvest. The corn cribs full and ready for winter. Brings back memories of my home state.

I love pumpkins... and gourds... and squash in warm, toasty colors.

I love the textures of fields, no longer blowing in a pattern in the wind but now layers of future food and warmth for the animals, stored in rolls and blocks.

I love the vineyards. I love the grapes. I love the colors. Ok so really I love the wine.

I love that the season brings us this magnificent fruit. I love the smell of a bushel of apples. I love the colors. So many treats in our future. Homebaked pies, apple struedel, apple crisp, caramel apples, apple cider.

I love the season that brings us temperatures calling us to stay inside and make homemade bread. The therapy of kneading. The soothing smell of yeast rising. What could be better than the smell of fresh baked bread? The first warm slice with fresh butter melting into the crevices.

I love the season that brings out our crock pots and stock pots and fills them with homemade soup. My comfort food.

I love football and getting to enjoy a Vandal football game with my Vandal students. I love the fact that my Vandal flag is proudly displayed on the front of our home - in the heart of Bronco territory.

I love this season. I HEART the PACK! There is no other NFL football team owned by the people. Starting their season with Training Camp, meeting the local children, riding their bikes in tandem to the practice field. They love their fans. The fans love their players. The Lambeau Leap! It started with Robert Brooks. Such a heart. I love the Pack (Did I say that already?!)

I love the Fall season.

T.M.I!

Late in the afternoon I had a patient arrive from Grandview - a small farming community about an hour east of Boise. She’s a sweet, quiet Hispanic woman – early 40’s. We were talking about the Mobile coming to Grandview. She didn't want to wait until we returned to her home town as she’s very nervous because her doctor showed her something and she’s naturally concerned.

One of our requests is no lotion or deodorant as the aluminum can throw off the mammogram radiology. Our patient nervously giggled and proudly told me she remembered not to have lotion or underwear on… then she stopped, covered her mouth and said – oh no – I mean deodorant.

Gave us both quite a chuckle!

Dad's Weekend

Dad's weekend at University of Idaho. I thought I might sneak in a weekend 'home alone' but was told by Krieg 1) Mom's come up for Dad's weekend to make sure Dad stays out of trouble and 2) it's just a day after Erin's birthday and I really should make the trip...

I did. It was great fun.

We left after work Friday night. Upon our arrival we headed downtown to The Alley and enjoyed a fun bluegrass band.

Previous visits we were entertained by 'Elaine' and the Cowboy. This visit we were not disappointed by the locals as 'LBD and cowboy boots' jumped, skipped, bobbed and shimmied her way around the dance floor. I tested out the durability of my booted foot and danced (read hobbled) on the floor with our daughter too. Figured I couldn't look any worse.

No trip to Moscow, on the weekend, is complete without a Saturday visit to Farmer's Market. The food selections and fresh coffee make me a happy camper - and there are always good deals on fresh fruits and veggies.

Of course we had to check out the Latah County Fair. Erin had a fellow gardening friend who entered pickled cucumbers - scratch that - A pickled cucumber. It wasn't too hard to find Bob's jar of pickle.

We opted for a later arrival and met up with Krieg as the tailgating was winding down before the game. We had supplemental beverages in our bags for the game.

The Vandal vs UNLV football game was in the Kibbie Dome. We started out with Krieg in the student section. It was loud and the energy vibrated. Everyone stood for the National Anthem and never sat down. I knew there was no way Mike would last standing for the duration of the game nor did I want to stand so we wandered around the end of the building to the other side of the field. We ended up sitting next to lacrosse parents/friends. The temperature was 15 degrees cooler, the noise level tolerable and we could SIT! Dang we are getting old!

The game was televised on ESPNU. Krieg and buddies were on TV several times as we got updates from Matthew, watching the game at home in Boise. Vandal beat UNLV soundly 30-7.

The game was in the evening and we'd skipped dinner so headed back downtown after the game to Mingles for a sandwich. By the time our food arrived we were ready for 'to go' boxes to escape the post-game crowds who'd finally caught up with us.

Two late nights - I saw hours of the morning I've only worked during grave yard shifts in recent years - and lots of running with Erin was great fun. Mike enjoyed his Vandal Dad's Weekend and I thoroughly enjoyed the quality time with my kids!