The Big Event

The big event of the summer is finally here, I am officially braceless. I didn't think it would ever happen, but I still rotated my ankle during every kid's report, put on my makeup balancing on one leg, and pushed and pulled during every newscast, and I am overjoyed to say it finally paid off. My doctor even released me yesterday with the ability to jog on the treadmill with no brace. Can you believe it? Jog-no brace. I tore home to put on my running shorts (shorts, I could actually wear shorts) and walked into the gym. Amazingly, there was nobody staring or critiquing my fashion. Can life get any better? I guess so, because today I got to choose from any of my shoes, not just my fatty brace shoes, and I could wear anything I wanted. ( I know, I said I was over the fashion thing, but I must admit I have seen way too many episodes of What Not to Wear to know they will get you at your worst moment.) My students clapped and cheered my success this morning, and my foot is feeling great. Yeah!!!!! And so sadly, this concludes the last of my endless posts about my foot. I'm sure it has been fascinating reading, I know it was all I could think about. No worries though, I still have one more surgery to go. (Don't get too excited though, I am not going to write about it, well, unless it is as fascinating as this last experience.)

Fashion

Okay, it's true in the fifth and sixth grade I tight rolled my pants, sported two different colored socks on each foot, and ratted my bangs to enormous heights. However, I had thought my extreme fashion days were over, but apparently thanks to my brace they are not.
One Sunday after church, I ran to a dinner wearing a long gray skirt and black shoes. I thought that this would help camouflage that fabulous brace of mine. It seemed to blend nicely. I guess it blended a little too nicely. I walked into the dinner and a friend said, "Oh, how is your foot?" I smiled and kicked up my leg."It's doing well, I just have the brace now." That's when she said, "Oh my goodness, I didn't even know you were wearing a brace. I just thought you were wearing a boot and a shoe." I would like to add here that she was serious. I'm mean it, she thought I was wearing a dress boot and shoe. Which leads me to ask, how many people do you know who wear one boot and a shoe to a dinner? Is that a new style? And further more, do I look like the type of person who would wear a boot and a shoe out in public or for that matter at home? The rest of the night I was paranoid that everyone was looking at my boot and shoe combo. And so, after that I nixed the blending and tried to make it obvious that I was wearing a brace. Which looked like a big, black brace and a stretched out brown shoe with every fashion ensemble. I just can't seem to win. Therefore, I've decided to just wear what I wear, and if it helps give people a little enjoyment talking about my new fashion statement, then that is the small part of joy I will give to others.

The Art of Walking

It all began with that itchy, hard cast, then I moved to this summery boot (I lovingly call it ten pounder), and as of yesterday I became the proud walker of this sleek, little brace. It's true my days of all night reading, t.v. marathons, and plopping down in exhaustion are coming to an end, and I can't contain my excitement.
I must say however, I am grateful to my crutches for giving me bulging arm muscles, (Can't you see them?) a fabulous handicap sticker, ( it has propelled me to coolest teacher of the school status) and the opportunity to ride in a hip and stylish grocery racer ( those neon, orange flags really whip down the aisles.) Mainly, crutches have made me grateful for not needing them now.
Last week at my doctor's appointment, I was extremely disappointed with my failure to remember how to walk, and then with the pain involved. ( I had a little separation anxiety from my crutches.) My doctor therefore prescribed a couple more days of crutches and putting pressure on my foot. Monday, I began my first day of walking by myself. It was pretty amazing, Yesterday, I went in expecting to get out of the boot in another week or two. However, my doctor had me walk without the boot. ( I was scared out of my wits. ) Then he asked me if I still had my brace. (This brace and I go way back.) When I replied, "Yes." He told me I could wear it. Stunned, I actually started to clap and cheer. The patients in the other rooms could think what they wanted, I could not contain emotion to news like that. Then he gave me more good news, no brace to sleep in. I can not tell you how much happiness this caused my heart. You see the first three weeks in my cast I spent reading until 4 am, then the last two weeks in my boot I have spent ripping open seven Velcro tighteners every couple of hours to let my leg breathe and then strapping them back up and repeating. Last night, heaven.
Today I began my limpy, doo wop walking. I realize with no muscles in my leg, it is a bit dreadful to do and a bit dreadful to watch. ( I think people are afraid I'm going to tip over. ) However, it is me walking by myself, and I know that with each step my walking ability is increasing. (Speed walkers of the world watch out.)

The Truth about Life on Crutches

It's been almost two weeks since my surgery and here are some of the lessons, strategies, and truths I've learned about life on crutches:

1-Whatever you do, don't break the toe on your other foot a few days before surgery. It will hurt like crazy, and make hobbling and hopping around extremely hard and hurtful.

2- Take medicine when it feels like they are still drilling into your ankle. Stop taking medicine when it feels like they are drilling on your head.

3- When you can't take the claustrophobia and itching of your cast any longer, do not lash out on your broken toe wrapping. While it may be liberating, it will hurt like nobody's business.

4- A good way to deal with insomnia is to read. However, a bad thing to read is murder mysteries.

5- Do not stare at people on crutches, they may fall from all of the attention.

6- Where there is a will, there is a way. It may require scooting, crawling, and pulling, but it is possible.

7- Never, ever bring 26 sixth grader's final book projects home to correct. No matter what you thought, you are definitely not going to want to correct them.

8-You may think you are cruising with speed on your crutches until you notice old people passing you by. Remember what your mother always said,"Don't compare yourself with others."

9-"Up with the good, and down with the bad." It's not just a good motto for life, but it sure helps going up and down stairs.

10- It is okay to ask for help, it is okay to receive help, it is okay to need help. (This is one I have to keep repeating to myself.)

11- Patience isn't just for other people, patience is needed for ourselves.

12- Bless my family and friends, without them I would not be surviving.

The next surgery should be in July. Then I will have a better post: The Truth about Life in a Boot and on Crutches.

The Children

The truth is on Monday the kids were stinkers. and even though today was Jump Like a Frog Day, I just couldn't take it and there was no leap frog. And so, I decided I needed to remember why I love the dears so much. Therefore, I've decided to share my favorite lines and moments as of late. Enjoy!

(After learning I lived in an apartment) Oh, I didn't know you were poor, you wear such beautiful clothes.

(After learning that I am going to Africa) Don't do it Miss R, my cousin went to the same place you are talking about and they came up to him, pinched him and said, "You look good enough to eat." And they meant it Miss R, because they are starving, don't go, they will eat you.

(After a lesson on probability) Miss R thanks for teaching us how to gamble, can we bring you to Vegas?

(One dreary, cold winter morning) Miss R can I give you a hug, because Lindsey says you're not a morning person.

(During a game show moment) Wait, we had China but then you said we couldn't have a continent?

(During geography after the question, "What is the line of latitude at zero degrees?") Ecuador!

(On another cold, dreary day.) Miss R I brought my robe to wear today, because I'm not feeling well, and it makes me feel better. (Nothing warms your heart more than a sixth grader in a purple, woolly bathrobe)

(This is one of my favorite heart warmers) Miss R I made you a Mother's Day present, and I know you're not my mom, but at school I feel like you are. Happy Mother's Day!

Miss R a closed mind is a good thing, because an open mind is like open and so it gets out and gets bigger. Uh. . . wait, never mind.

Favorite grammar mistakes from country power points they made:

East meats West

Religion: Some are proteins

Bucharest: It is horrible and smells like guts.

Favorite phrase taped to a child's tote tray : Candy, it is a miracle!

Favorite thing they write on the board: Grammer Edit

I could go on and on with the funny ones, and then forever about all of their brilliant lines. It all comes down to the fact that they are adorable, and since tomorrow is "Chicken Dance Day" you can bet it is going to be great. (And I'm really not making up these holidays, I got them from a holiday website, and if I had the energy and thought process I would somehow have it link to the word website and then you could look at it, but that would require some figuring out, and like I said, it wasn't a leap frog day.)

The Good News and the Bad News

It is official, my brother and I are headed off to Africa. We are going in September for three weeks to volunteer in a village in Tanzania. I really feel grateful that I will be able to teach children there for a short time. I know this will be a great experience of learning and gratitude. That is the good news, the bad news is that after the falling, the aching, and the spraining, I am finally going in for surgery in two weeks. I have come to face the reality of a summer filled with casts, crutches, and three flights of stairs. I have also promised to be optimistic, knowing that in July I will go in for surgery on my other foot. (It's the darn ligaments, they need to be tightened.) However, I really will be grateful for these surgeries, because my doctor said that after them I will be able to run again. And while I may not be running in Africa, I will be jumping for joy! (Cheesy, I know, but appropriate to my feelings)

Cutting a Rug

It is true, I was cutting a rug with the senior citizens at their dance last weekend. It may be kind of hard to imagine my dancing ability and senior citizens, but pretty much we were awesome. My grandma is 91 and when she invited my brother and I down to the dance, I knew I would be getting a good work out in. If you know my grandma you know she is a whirlwind of energy. If you've never been to a senior citizen dance I would highly recommend it. (It really and truly was fun. The people there actually can dance, it was kind of fun to do more than just the old side to side shuffle.) There was even a high school kid who told me he comes every week just to learn to dance better, and I must admit he can dance a mean two step.
The dance started at 8:00 p.m. and as we walked in we were met by this 76 year old woman, who wanted to dance with my brother right away. My grandma put her right in her place, and let her know that he came to the dance with us and would first be dancing with us. Poor kid, he can't help he's a lady killer. We soon got into the groove as the band began to play, " There's a tear in my beer." ( A great oldie that we were all still humming the next day.) The band was really getting into it, and everyone was a twirling and a whirling. I learned some new moves with the two step and waltz and then "ding" 9:00 o'clock hit and everyone stopped and went to the back to sit, visit, and eat snacks. It was then I knew this was my kind of dance. After snacks we danced till 10:00 and then everyone grabbed their coats and headed for the door. (This is also my kind of short, sweet activity.)
The whole weekend was delightful, especially since I have the heart of a small town girl and being back in a small town dancing with good old folks, eating at the soda fountain/variety store, visiting with family, and driving around in the country all bring joy to my small town heart.