Friday, my Dad picked me up to take me to my parents' house for the weekend. I was pretty excited to be getting out of the house. Before we went there, Dad took me by headquarters. I was so excited to see everyone. I was embarrassed to be going there in a wheelchair, but it was amazing to sit in the bay with my co-workers and just hang out. It almost felt like normal again. I thoroughly enjoyed it. We made it back to Mom & Dad's, the ride was mostly uneventful, except when we got in the driveway. It was pretty bumpy, and from sitting in the wheelchair for so long and then hitting the bumps, I was really stiff and in a lot of pain by the time we got to the house. But I got back in to the wheelchair and in to the house. Two very good friends came by to hang out, and we had quite a few laughs. I slept pretty well that night, still in a recliner, but I didn't roll over and hurt myself or anything, so that's always a plus.
Saturday, I did a lot of wood burning, and had some other friends come by. It's always so great to see them. Have I ever mentioned that I have some of the best friends ever?? Most of the day was pretty uneventful, but at one point the pain was so bad that when I needed to take a smoke break, I had to use the wheelchair to get outside, because I couldn't even walk. Dad and I watched Halloween II (the Rob Zombie version) and it showed a girl in a leg cast running down stairs to escape Michael Myers. I call b.s. on that one, because I couldnt even go that fast out of a cast. I know now that broken bones in the lower extremities are entirely too painful to allow a rapid egress of that nature. So, another thing I can chalk up to being lost due to the accident: my naivety of believing that when injured, you can still get away from the Bad Guys. Yeah, it doesn't happen like that. I have enough of a hard time making it to the bathroom in time to avoid losing my bladder, much less running for my life from a bad guy. I guess I would have to play dead and hope they had the intelligence of bears.
Anyways, I digress... Back to Sunday. I came back to Mimi's. I was sad to leave Mom's, because I do love my parents to death. My little brother, Christopher, was such a good help to me. Mom kept moving my walker against the wall, out of my reach, and he would go get it for me and bring it to me. He was so sweet. I love that kid to death. He's a tough kid, but he was being so sweet. Once I got back to Mimi's, Rachael came over and brought two of her daughters over. They were so sweet and so adorable! Her oldest daughter sang a brilliant rendition of Ke$ha's "Tik Tok" for us and I was almost in tears from laughing. I loaded them down with candy, and they said I was their new favorite aunt. It made my day. I was sad to see them go. I wanted to keep them!! At least Rachael knows once I get recovered, she has a more than willing babysitter! Also, some things I ordered for two very dear friends' daughter came in finally. They're supposed to be coming up Wednesday to visit, and I can't wait to give them to her!
I guess that brings us up to today. I woke up around 7 a.m. to shooting pains in my hip, and a throbbing pain extending from the back of my thigh to the back of my calf. It was pure agony. I couldn't get comfortable, and no position allowed the pain to lighten up. My old partner, Joey (from when I was still on A Shift) came over at about 1030. It was great to see him. He was one of the first people on scene when we had the accident, and I thank God that he was there. It comforted me to see him there, and it comforted me even more this morning to see him here. We caught up on what we're missing, and just hung out. He bought me a pink and purple horn to attach to my walker. It's pretty awesome. I'm debating going to buy a basket now. People were talking about that and joking, but in all seriousness, I think it would be a good idea. It's hard to carry my Kindle, cigarettes, phone, etc. when I'm attempting to leave the house or even when I'm going in to a doctor's appointment and using the walker. I mean, both hands are occupied with holding on to the walker, so... I need more room. As much of a joke as I've made out of it, I'm really thinking I need one! Heather came over around 1130 or 12, and hung out. The three of us together had a great time! Then, the physical therapist showed up. (Insert dramatic background music here) She took me in to the back bedroom, which I assume she does so that the screams and moans of pain will be muffled to those in the main part of the house. The pain was so bad that I wasn't able to do as much as I could last Thursday when she was here. Then, I was able to do about 30 reps of each exercise, but today I was only able to do about 15. I was having severe pain in my hip, knee, and still along the back of my left leg. I don't know where the knee pain is coming from, since I've never had problems with my knees. I know I already have arthritis in my left ankle from breaking it twice, and somehow I have it in my neck as well. I had no idea about my neck until they ran the scans after the accident. Guess you learn something new every day. The therapist said the extra pain today must have been from the weather, because all of her patients were in more pain than usual today. I am truly hoping that the pain won't be this severe every time it rains. I don't think I could handle that. Once we finished with the lying down leg exercises, we went back to the living room, where Joey and Heather enjoyed laughing at me. I asked the therapist if her real name was Beezlebub, and when she laughed, I said, "No, of course not... (dropped my voice and dragged out the syllables here) They call you Leeegggiiooonn!" I was only kidding... Partially. I got to move from the low level green resistance band to the medium strength blue resistance band for my arm exercises. The therapist said that next time (Wednesday), I'll be moving on to black, which is a higher level of resistance. Heather did my arm work outs with me, and I can honestly say, it was the first time I've ever laughed during physical therapy. It helped to have someone doing it with me, and making me laugh. Then I had to do some standing exercises, which were horrible. I had to stand and raise my left knee to hip level, and it was definitely not easy. I was gritting my teeth through the pain, but I wanted to tap out. I tried to keep reminding myself of my mantra, "No pain, no gain". Then I had to hold my back straight and my left leg straight and kick it out behind me. Again, agony ensued. Next, I had to move it out to the side while keeping it straight. I was glad Heather and Joey were there, because if they hadn't been there, I'd have most likely been crying. By the time I finished, I was definitely hurting. Joey left after that, and Heather and I hung out for a bit more before she had to go. I knew Mimi was going to take Ian (my 7 year old uncle) trick or treating with Christopher and Katlin in Cameron, so I opted to go with them so I wouldn't just be sitting on the couch here doing nothing. Brandon came by before we left, and it was a great surprise. He's hilarious. But we had to leave not too long after he got here. I had Mimi drop me off to hang out with a very, very dear friend, whom I call L Geezy, while they did that. He looked quite shocked to see me sitting there with my good leg crossed over the bad one, and even more so when I was able to cross my bad leg over my good one. It hurt, but I could do it. That's what matters. Everyone says I'm recovering way more quickly than they imagined I would be, but in all reality, I have good days and bad days. Some days, I can do more with less pain. Others, I do less with more pain. It was nice to hang out, and discuss important issues such as a book he's inspiring me to write (an EMS thriller; so far I'm having some decent ideas!), safety concerns, etc. It's always an enthralling conversation with him, even when it's trivial matters. I thought this friend was awesome before, even though we'd only worked together once, but since this accident, he's been outstanding moral support. I can honestly say that he's my best friend. I can talk to him about all the nitty gritty details of my nightmares and depression, and he finds a way to push me. I wouldn't trade his support for the world. I hope one day I can find a way to show him how much I appreciate him.
Overall, while I didn't get to attend Skinful in Charleston, and I didn't get to go out and do anything, not even help take my brother, sister, and uncle trick or treating, I still enjoyed my day. It's great to have so many friends who care about cheering me up when I'm down, trying to make sure I still get to enjoy things, and can share my joy in little milestones on the road to recovery. I'm in much better spirits since I've started my woodburning, and I'll be working on glass etching in the next few days. It's so rewarding to hold something beautiful in your hands and be able to think and know, "I did this." I finally made a Facebook page for my "business", where I'll be making custom gifts. It's called Gifts From the Heart by Kay.
It's hard to believe it's already been 3 weeks since the accident. Exactly 21 days. To think of how easy it could have gone a different way, with me not existing for the last 21 days, really is a slap in the face. It's teaching me to not take things for granted, and to appreciate every little thing. I also have gotten in to the mindset that I need to enjoy life. I've always been the type to keep my eyes so focused on the future, that I tend to miss life that's going on around me now. Several people have said that maybe this was God's way of telling me to slow down and enjoy life for once. Maybe they're right. Either way, I'm planning on enjoying and living life to the fullest, even though right now I can't do all I would like to. One day, I'll be able to do the things I want, but for right now, doing my crafts and working on my relationships with friends and family is rewarding enough. I realize what's truly important to me. And that makes a major difference in my attitude towards this. I am going to get better one day. I refuse to consider any other possibility. I may have a few setbacks here and there, but one day, it will get better. Like the quote says, "Optimism is essential to achievement. It is the foundation of courage and progress."
Tomorrow is another doctor's appointment. I'll be visiting my orthopedic surgeon. Hopefully the staples will be removed. I feel as though they should have been removed quite a bit ago. All 48 of them. I'm also hoping that the pain will subside some once they are out. They started to itch a few days ago, and they're driving me insane. Let's hope the appointment goes well!
Have a good night, Constant Reader, and I hope this Halloween night was most enjoyable for you.
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