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Post-Thanksgiving Hodgepodge

Posted on November 30, 2016 by auburnchick

Well, we survived Thanksgiving around these parts.  It was the quietest one we’ve ever had…our first without any family around.  I was sick the entire day…the effects of my surgery doing their full-on-ugly thing.  The Mr. did his best to keep me going while even managing to get some of the house decorated.  Dare I say that he’s learning how to multi-task like a woman.

Anyhoo, it’s time for the Hodgepodge.  Link up with Joyce after you post your own answers on your blog.  Thanks for visiting!

1.  Give us three rhyming words that say something about your Thanksgiving holiday (or your most recent holiday gathering if you didn’t celebrate Thanksgiving). 

Puking
Napping
Surviving

Ok.  Those sort of rhymed.  They all ended in “ing.”  Ahem.

2.  When did you last say, ‘the more the merrier’? Did you mean it?

We are planning our son’s rehearsal dinner and have sort of given up on worrying too much about numbers.  Hubby has been generous that way, so yes, the more the merrier (and the more expensive).

3.  What’s one piece of advice you’d give someone who is your same age?

Don’t walk through a dark house.  Turn on the lights so you don’t break an ankle.  Broken limbs at this age are no fun.

4.  You’re ordering a veggie plate, what four veggies are on it?

As a vegan, I love veggie plates.  I’d order cauliflower, broccoli, carrot sticks, and celery, with hummus for dipping please.

5.  Shop til you drop! Did you? Have you ever? Will you between now and Christmas?

Back in the day, the Mr. and I shopped until we dropped.  I am not, however, one who really enjoys shopping.  I’ve done a bit of online shopping since Thanksgiving, and I am hoping that the Mr. will be agreeable enough to take me to the mall on Sunday so we can buy a second pair of wedding shoes (my original ones won’t do now that I’m sporting a cast) as well as a present for Super Sis.  I can’t do too much shopping because 1) I cannot drive anywhere until my ankle heals fully (another downside of breaking the right ankle…no driving) and 2) I have many other things to do between now and then, such as returning back to work and coming home to elevate my ankle.  So, the Mr. will do most of our shopping.  Sigh.

6.  What’s your favorite chair in your house, and why is it a favorite?

My blue recliner is my favorite, and dare I say only “real” chair in the house.  Because it reclines, I have a comfortable place to take a nap (lots of naps), read, or knit.  I’ve spent hours in this chair recently.  I am even sleeping in it right now until I feel secure enough to get back in bed…sans dogs for awhile.

7.  Share an early memory of faith, religion, or spirituality.

I mainly just remember spending my late childhood attending the small Baptist church in town…three times a week…twice on Sunday and once on Wednesday.  This church also hosted VBS each year.  What fun!  I imagine that all of the churches in the small towns near mine took turns hosting VBS.  Basically, we kids spent most of the summer attending each church’s programs.  I know that the time spent there began instilling in me a faith that now runs deeply.  I am grateful for the service of all who gave their time so that we kids could have fun and learn about God’s Word.

8.  My Random Thought

Today, I returned to my classroom after being out a week and a half (the week before Thanksgiving break and Monday and Tuesday of this week).  In fact, as you’re reading this, I’m probably shedding a tear or two as I greet my precious high schoolers.  Although I’d be okay with staying home and sleeping in, if we could afford for me to be a stay-at-home wife, this just isn’t my lot.  God is using me in my daily interactions with my students; I have seen the many blessings that have come from my time in the classroom.

I’ll be glad for the distractions that always accompany the management of over 80 students.  I’ll be happy to resume where we left off before our routine was interrupted.  They’ll be happy, I think, to have some consistency.

Going back will help the next three weeks go by quickly.  I am excited about a looming visit and the wedding of my already-married son and his wife (this will be the wedding for friends and family who couldn’t attend the very small ceremony a few months ago).  My Chicky will be here for over a week, so catching up with her will lift my spirits as well.

I humbly ask that you will be praying that my ankle will continue healing.  The break was so bad and is complicated by my doctor’s discovery of me having brittle bones.  I am incredibly eager to be back on my feet, no longer reliant on others for so much; patience has been hard for me.

Thank you all!

Filed under: empty nest | Tagged: , | 5 Comments »

Two Weeks Later…What I’ve Learned

Posted on November 28, 2016 by auburnchick

Today marks two weeks since I fell and broke three bones in my ankle in what is known as a trimalleolar fracture.

Today also marks one week since I had surgery to fix this fracture.  I am now sporting twelve pins (that we can count in the x-rays) and one plate in my ankle.  At this time, I don’t know if the pins will come out.  We think they might because there was a patient next to me during pre-op who was having his pins removed by the same surgeon who was doing my surgery, so it’s possible.

I’ve learned a lot during this time…time I’ve spent mostly off my feet.

I have learned that my husband is an angel in disguise.

No kidding.  He really is.

He has a grumpy exterior, but inside, he’s a mush-ball.  He gets upset when I cry.  Except for Saturday, when he told me to stop having a pity party, but it was GameDay Saturday, so I forgave him for that.

I stayed home today while the Mr. returned to work. he left me enough to eat and drink until he could return at lunch to feed me again.

I stayed home today while the Mr. returned to work. he left me enough to eat and drink until he could return at lunch to feed me again.

I have learned that though my faith is strong, it has some growing to do.

I haven’t questioned the “why” of this, but I have questioned the “how long” of it.  I don’t like the wait-and-see mentality, but that’s just how it is with this kind of injury.  It’s a longgggg wait-and-see.

Who has time for that?

Apparently, I do.

I’ve learned that the Lord shows up in a powerful way when I call on him, as I’ve had to do frequently but especially in the middle some of my darker moments…times that come unexpectedly but pack a solid punch to my psyche.

It is during these times when I have been thankful for my years of walking with God; His Word comes to my mind, and I recite verses to call Him close.  He’s there, I know, but He feels more present when I call.

My injury has forced me to slow down and pay attention to the things around me.  It’s a lesson I’ve needed to learn for a long time but have been too busy to make time for.

Oh, the irony of it.

I literally have to watch where I walk right now.  I have to choose my steps carefully.  In doing so, I’m noticing the smallest things.  It’s an awareness that I am seeing carried into other areas.  I find myself increasingly grateful for the littlest things.  It’s amazing how much I really see now that I’ve slowed down.

I’m learning the power that a bath and freshly washed hair can have on a person’s mental health.

The Mr. helped me wash my hair…with the detachable shower nozzle. We got through the experience without him wanting to strangle me with it. Go us!

 

I dried my hair all by myself, while sitting on the toilet lid!!! Go me!!

I dried my hair all by myself, while sitting on the toilet lid!!! Go me!!

I’ve learned that perspective is everything.  I’m trying really hard not to sweat the small stuff.  It doesn’t matter.  It really doesn’t.  Which is why I asked for (and received after asking for this for two days) a cup of Peppermint Hot Chocolate (with soy and without whipped cream).  It was my first in two years.  It didn’t blow up my daily goal in MyFitnessPal, although at over 300 calories, I will not be splurging often.

It tasted divine.

Perspective.

I’m learning that, just as new bruises are beginning to make their appearance, I’ll have unexpected bumps in the road, but God is gracious, and He will provide me with the means to overcome them.

Physically, this is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with.  Emotionally, it’s certainly challenging, but in a different way from other things I’ve experienced in my life.

I am a work in progress; this is part of the molding process.

It’s not always fun, and it’s certainly not always pretty (check out my greasy, pre-washed/eight-day-old hair)…

No comments about my team loyalty, please. We could do with a bit of an overhaul as well. Just sayin'.

No comments about my team loyalty, please. We could do with a bit of an overhaul as well. Just sayin’.

Still, I am #findingjoyinthejourney, hills, curves, and bumps included.

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: , , | 2 Comments »

Rhythms of Grace

Posted on November 27, 2016 by auburnchick

When I woke up this morning and began looking at my various social media feeds, I saw this…

It had been posted by the Proverbs 31 ministry.

I loved the accompanying verse:

Psalm 37:23-26New International Version (NIV)

23 The Lord makes firm the steps
    of the one who delights in him;
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,
    for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

25 I was young and now I am old,
    yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
    or their children begging bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely;
    their children will be a blessing.[a]

How these words spoke to my soul as I read them.

My pace has slowed to a crawl.

Literally.

You should have seen the Mr. last Monday as we made our way from the car in the parking lot to my surgeon’s office.  This was before my surgery (I got wheeled out afterward).

I took baby steps on my crutches.

I was terrified of hitting a crack in the sidewalk and falling.

He patiently escorted me, ready to catch me if I lost my balance.

I frequently apologized for going so slow.

He told me that he was glad I wasn’t going faster.

If you know me personally, you have seen me walk and heard me talk.

I do everything QUICKLY.

Even in my classroom.

I can be across the room faster than a student can turn his head.

My fitness watch / step counter loves me.

I’ve struggled with so many different aspects of my injury…physical pain, emotional distress, and frustration.

Slowing down has been a huge adjustment.

Yesterday, I had a pity party.  Actually the party moved after the Mr. wouldn’t indulge me.  I began texting back and forth with my friend, Barb.  She doesn’t do pity parties, let me tell you.  She gives you a minute (for me, she’s allowing two since I’m on crutches) before she tells you to pick yourself up and get on with business.

She listened, though, in the text-chat kind of way.

She told me, “You will have your life back – just a bump in the road.  Sometimes we need [to] get nudged from above to sit…”

This comes from a woman who doesn’t know how to sit.

She reminded me that this is another blessing in disguise.

It’s kind of hard to argue with God about being still when That’s. All. You. Can. Do.

The Bible verse that followed the illustration hit me too.

It is God who makes firm our steps.

He is the one who will determine when my ankle is strong again.

As a person who is used to being in control, this is difficult to come to terms with.

Beyond what I am doing…elevating my leg nearly 24/7…eating right…sleeping as much as I can…heeding all other directives given to me…I.  Can.  Do.  Nothing.

Nada.

To speed my healing along…to get back into my rush-rush life.

And so I am trying to deal with this with as much grace as I can.

I am thankful for this time, mind you, even as I fight my feelings of letting others down.

Just as God is directing my pace, so is He directing that of others.

It’s as if life is one long song, the rhythm of which changes according to the tempo of each stanza.

Although I am not currently dancing a fast jig, I will do so one day, once my healing is complete.

Just as the Mr. followed closely behind me on our way to the doctor’s office on Monday, God is standing in the gap, strong arms ready to steady me should I start to topple over, as I’m wont to do.

Until this current refrain of my lifesong is over, I remain focused on #findingjoyinthejourney.

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: , | Leave a comment »

A Better Day

Posted on November 26, 2016 by auburnchick

You know, I really hesitated before hitting the “Publish” button for yesterday’s post.

I wondered if the topic was a little TMI for public consumption.

While I don’t know what people were thinking when they read it, I did receive a number of texts and other messages encouraging me to 1) Keep taking my meds, so I could 2) Stay ahead of the pain, and 3) To consider taking a stool softener to help with my plumbing problem.

Thank you, all, for validating my choice of writing topics!  I felt a bit empowered and definitely supported!!

❤ ❤ ❤

Thank you, too, for your prayers.

Yesterday was a much better day for me.  I woke up at 6:15 for my medicine, and boy did I feel groggy.  The thing about me waking up early each day is that I haven’t been able to go back to sleep.

I called for the Mr. to escort me to the restroom.  We still aren’t at the point where I can be trusted to walk alone.  Thank goodness he was there.  I was very wobbly on my crutches, but I got there and back with his help.

After spending a couple more hours in my chair, waiting for the Mr. to get up, I watched TV and blogged.

Later, after he’d gone to the grocery store, I felt up to eating an apple.  It was huge and more than I’d eaten yesterday.  Let’s just say that it got my plumbing running!  I wanted to celebrate like a child learning how to potty train.  I actually asked the Mr. if I could have candy as a reward.  Ha!

Then, I decided to get a bath.

Let me tell you, a person takes a lot for granted until something happens.  The ability to take a shower, unaided, has become one of those things that I will appreciate from this point forward.  I have a shower chair from when Chicky had her first ACL surgery eons ago.  It’s been a lifesaver.  I also have a pull-out shower nozzle that has been worth every penny.

Being able to indulge in my Bath and Body Works shower gel made me feel pretty.  At least I wasn’t stinky any more! Putting on clean clothes also helped my mental health.

I napped for about an hour while the Mr. went out for a bit of Black Friday shopping.  Sleeping has been very healing for me.

When he returned, I spent the rest of the day watching football.  He fixed me a hearty lunch of crackers and soup, which stayed down.  Later, for dinner, he fixed his first real meal for me…

You should have seen the Mr.’s face.  He was so proud of himself!  He reads labels very carefully to ensure that everything is vegan-friendly.

He’s a keeper.

Here’s what my plate looked like…

Oh word, but I was full after that!

I did enjoy a bit of dessert later, though…the last piece of the Brownie Bottom Peanut Butter Cheesecake I’d made the week before…

Going down on my pain meds definitely helped me feel better, even if the pain that I felt did go up a bit throughout the day.  At this point, I was deciding between nausea and pain.  It was a tough choice.  I think I balanced it well, though.

The longer I go through this recovery process, the more I learn.

It’s not going to be easy.

There are going to be surprises along the way.

I am going to have to give myself some serious time to heal.

I don’t know why, but I thought I’d be able to pop up and run with it once I got a cast.

Yeah, that sound is the universe laughing at me…again.

And so as I learn these lessons, so will you, if you stick with me.  You never know when you’ll be able to share the information with someone later or when someone will have the same injury and will google to look for answers…and happen upon this here blog.

So I write…while I continue my never-ending version of Groundhog Day.

 

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: | 2 Comments »

When the Plumbing Stops Working

Posted on November 25, 2016 by auburnchick

I am, literally, sick of being off my feet.

Not just tired of it, but truly sick of it.

Yesterday was a bad day.  It was probably the second worst since I broke my ankle.

The day started off great.  My pain was completely under control, and I was feeling great!

I thought that I’d turned a corner.

That’s when the universe laughed.

One of the bad things about pain medication is that it can limit a person’s ability to do some personal business in the bathroom…as in the not-tinkling-kind-of-business.  The kind that takes care of the plumbing, if you know what I mean.

So what ultimately happened, we think, started with my visit to the emergency room the night of the 13th, is when I began getting pain medication, both in my IV and as a prescription.

I’ve taken a lot of pain meds, let me tell you.  Breaking three bones in your ankle is not something you can ignore.  The pain screams for intervention.

Then, with the nerve block I got during my surgery and the heavy pain medicine I’ve been on since then, my body has not adjusted to all of the new stuff being put into it.

In addition to pain medicine, I’ve been taking vitamin supplements to begin the process of improving my bone density.

All of that led to my inability to use the restroom.

It would be okay if it was just a day or two, but folks, we are talking about a week and a half.

For someone who never, ever has issues with this body function, this is a huge ordeal.

Everything caught up with me yesterday.

I tried to eat but became so nauseous that I couldn’t.

The nausea took over my day, along with my efforts to try to go.

I got sicker and sicker.

The hubby made me a smoothie. I’d recently come across the recipe.

Although it tasted delicious, I was only able to drink half of it, and it stuck in the middle of my stomach.

Y’all, it was bad.  I felt as though someone had put a fist in the middle of my stomach, right below my chest.

I knew I had to potty, but I wasn’t 100% sure I wasn’t going to puke either.

At one point, I spent a couple of hours in the bathroom determined to wait things out.

The dogs visited me a few times, bless their hearts.

It didn’t work.

I do not give up easily, but I had to throw in the towel eventually.

Meanwhile, the Mr. had started on a task that I’d been looking forward to for a couple of weeks…

This is the pre-lit tree we bought from Home Depot.

While I’d been in the bathroom, I’d heard him struggling to lift the different pieces and put them into place.

I’d heard him grumble about fixing the branches.  Everyone knows that’s the worst part of putting up an artificial tree.

When I emerged from the restroom, he began putting on the ornaments.

My heart, though.

We love doing this…remembering sweet times with our children.  We gave Rooster his ornaments this summer when his new missus was packing for their cross-country move to his first base, so our ornament selection has dwindled a little.

While the Mr. decorated, I dozed.  Being nauseous and dizzy just isn’t fun, y’all.

Then, he took a break to go potty himself, and that is when chaos ensued.

You know when you know you’re about to vomit?

For me, it begins with my stomach churning.

It goes into my cheeks squirting juice across my mouth.

Yeah.

Sounds like loads of fun, eh?

And I was stuck in my chair…broken leg elevated…the Mr. in his bathroom.

Sigh.

Perfect timing, as I’m wont to do.

The only thing I had close to me was a mesh trash basket.

Not ideal.

I YELLED for the Mr.

I told him in a rushed voice that I needed him ASAP…that I was about to throw up.

That poor man RAN out of the bathroom, fussing at me the whole time.

Where was the plastic barf bag he’d constructed for me while I’d been in the bathroom earlier?  He’d put three Publix bags together and had kept them close to me when i didn’t know which way I’d be taking care of business.

It was nowhere to be found.

Oh wait.  It was still in the bathroom.

I’ve never seen him run so fast, y’all.  He high-tailed it across the house, grabbed the bag, and rushed back to me just in time.

Up came the smoothie and the three bites of soup I’d had for lunch.

Into the bag, thank heavens.

In addition to bad timing, I’m also known for not hitting toilets when I puke.

I’m talented like that.

It was over quickly.  I didn’t have much food in me to get rid of.

I tied things up neatly, and he took the bag to the outside garbage can.

Immediately, I felt better, and I was able to crutch myself over to the restroom.

I didn’t get sick any more after that, but my relief from the earlier puking session was short-lived.  It didn’t take long for me to get nauseous again.

I kept a new barf bag near me…even while Super Sis and I were texting one another.

My picture followed her lovely picture that showed off her wearing the Origami Owl necklace I’d bought her last year for her birthday (or maybe Christmas…I cannot remember because her birthday is a couple of weeks after Christmas).

Her picture was prettier.

I kept the barf bag close by while I watched LSU beat up Florida…

As soon as the game was over, the Mr. helped me to the restroom one more time, and I settled in for the night.

I’d been staying awake later at night, but this girl was so very tired from fighting nausea all day that I had to give in to my heavy eyelids.

The only time I woke up was to take my pain meds, which I will not allow myself to get off track from.

If I could ask for specific prayers that I could begin using the restroom normally again, that my attempt to transition down from two pain pills to one would not lead to a lot of extra pain, and that I’d be able to resume eating again.

I am still #findingjoyinthejourney despite my most recent hiccup.  God continues to be gracious to me, and I won’t allow this setback to set me off in anger.

I continue to be grateful as I watch blessings unfold from this unexpected life challenge.

God is so good.  He loves me.  He hears all prayers…even those that involve bathroom plumbing of the human kind.

😉

Filed under: Vegan | Tagged: , , | Leave a comment »

Thanksgiving 2016

Posted on November 24, 2016 by auburnchick

Happy Thanksgiving, y’all!

I selected the graphic above because it resembled the Mr. and me.

This is the first time we are spending Thanksgiving alone.

In all of our married lives.

We were going to host our family for Thanksgiving lunch, but when I broke my ankle on the 13th, our plans had to change.  I’m not exactly ready to cook yet.

We wouldn’t have had our kids at home.  Chicky drove back to her apartment after spending a couple of days with me during my surgery.  Rooster and his gal are all the way across the country celebrating their first Thanksgiving together as newlyweds.  The Mr.’s parents and our own siblings and their family (remember that they are married to each other) are in Bigger City, Florida, where I had my surgery, and driving back over was definitely out given my recovery process.

And so it is that we find ourselves alone at home.

Rather than focusing on the negatives, I am going to, once again, find things to be happy about.

  1. My Faith – God is my rock; He’s my stronghold.  He is strong…especially now that I am exceptionally weak.  I do not know what I would do if I couldn’t call on His name, both in praise and in desperation.

    From a recent First5 devotion

    From a recent First5 devotion

  2. My Husband – This man continues to impress me.  I’ve cried a super lot since I broke my ankle and for a number of different reasons…pain, frustration, and gratefulness.  I figured that he’d be super tired of all of this by now, but it seems as though he’s actually gotten energized with each day.  Maybe part of this is because the shock of it has worn off.  Maybe it’s that we’ve developed a new routine.  I don’t know.  What I do know is that he’s become even more thoughtful.  Learning that my bones are brittle has given him a mission…something he can do, as opposed to being able to essentially do nothing about my ankle being broken.  He has been researching how I can get more calcium into my diet, and he’s already gone out and bought specific food to help me fine tune my regimen.  The man even bought turnip greens, and he’s going to cook them today!  It’s incredible to watch him in action, and I can honestly say that I love him more today than even a week and a half ago.

    Rice cake with almond butter

    Rice cake with almond butter

  3. My Children – Chicky came home in time to sit with me before my surgery, and she took care of me the first night after my surgery.  She also drove me home the next day.  She has texted me every day that she hasn’t been with me just to see how I’m doing.  Rooster has called me every day since I got hurt.  He calls when he’s on his way home for lunch or when he’s finished work for the day.  His girl has texted me too, so I’m getting even more love.  These children of mine may not know how much their calls mean, but I try to tell them each time we talk how much I appreciate their thoughtfulness.  I’m often in tears after speaking with them because my heart feels as though it’s going to burst from all of the love I feel.
  4. The Rest of the Family – The Mr.’s parents opened up their home to me.  They allowed me to disrupt their quiet lives so that I would be close to my surgeon and the surgery center and so I would have a comfortable place to both prepare for and later begin my recovery from my surgery.  They’ve texted me every day that I’ve been home to check on how I’ve been doing.  They’ve prayed for me and asked for prayer for me at their church.  Super Sis made a pasta salad that was vegan-friendly, and I ate on that for dinner both nights I was at our in-laws’ house.  She also came over for a sister sleepover the night before my surgery.  She made sure that I made it to the bathroom without falling and even straightened my hair.  There is always a lot of laughter involved when we are together.
    Me...waiting in the bathroom...while Super Sis ran back home to get her straightener.

    Me…waiting in the bathroom…while Super Sis ran back home to get her straightener.

    Goofy faces with my seester

    Surgery hair is ready!

    Surgery hair is ready!

    Chicky and I stopped by to say goodbye before we headed home on Tuesday.  She’s a runner like me. ❤

  5. Friends – So many people have been praying for me since I broke my ankle.  Several have texted me every day; some have come by to bring meals, gift cards for meals, and even a book!  One prayed for me before she left.  You know what?  They haven’t forgotten about me either!  It would be easy to stop calling and texting now that I’ve had the surgery, but the contact has increased…just when I need it most.  Until 1am yesterday morning, the pain was out of control.  Knowing that I’m not alone…that I have people to lean on…has made this easier to bear.
  6. Fur Babies – They don’t understand what’s happened.  They only know that I’m not as accessible as I’ve been.  They want their mama back to normal so I can curl up with them in bed and snuggle with them again.
  7. Yarn – It takes my mind off of the world around me.  It allows me to create fun things to gift to friends.  It’s one of my escapes.

    Notice the name of the colorway? I bought this in San Antonio when I went to Rooster's Air Force graduation.

    Notice the name of the colorway? I bought this in San Antonio when I went to Rooster’s Air Force graduation. My ball winder is broken. My swift is not, thank heavens. I hand-wound that skein of yarn. It took me awhile, but I did it the old fashioned way!

  8. Humor – Imagine how much of a dull place this world would be without humor.  My doctor displayed some humor when he put a smiley face on my big toe when he visited me in pre-op.  Ha!
    See the smiley face on my big toe?

    See the smiley face on my big toe?

    I received the following card from my daughter-in-law’s parents.  The cover is the inset picture.  Her dad’s clever blurb is the bigger picture.  It made me laugh out loud for real.


    I found a bit of humor in the Charity Miles announcement that appeared on my phone Tuesday morning…the day after my surgery…

    And then there was this…one of my bracelets that I got ready to cut off when I got home on Tuesday…

    The Mr. said that I should have been wearing this BEFORE I actually fell!

    The Mr. said that I should have been wearing this BEFORE I actually fell!

  9. Books – They take me away to other worlds.  I received this book from one of my favorite young adult writers, Allison van Diepen, on Tuesday.  She and I are friends on Twitter and Facebook.  She’s great about sending me pre-released copies of her new books.  I cannot wait to dig into this one!
  10. TV – I know, I know.  TV is bad.  I don’t have it on during the day, unless it’s a Saturday and there’s football on, but at night…that’s a different story.
    I vegged out to the Dancing With the Stars Finale (Monday night's show) when I got home on Tuesday.

    I vegged out to the Dancing With the Stars Finale (Monday night’s show) when I got home on Tuesday.

    Did you watch Survivor‘s show last night?  Oh my gosh!!  It was a double episode, and the second tribal council packed a punch, let me tell you!!

And so that’s my list.  It’s by no means all-inclusive.  I’ve left so many things out.  The point, though, was to think happy thoughts…to move beyond my temporal sadness to see the big big picture.

God has blessed me abundantly…far more than I could ever hope for and that which I would never ever deserve.

I pray that all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving as well!

Filed under: empty nest | Tagged: , | 1 Comment »

Thanksgiving Hodgepodge

Posted on November 23, 2016 by auburnchick

I have much to be thankful for this year.  I’ll save those thoughts for Question #8, though.  Thanks, Joyce, for taking time out from your unpacking and settling in to construct these fun questions!

1.  What’s something you might say runs in your family? 

What a timely question!  Chicky, the Mr., and I were just discussing this on Monday while we waited for me to be wheeled back for surgery.  I think I’ll stick with a positive thing we mentioned.  Ahem.

I think that a can-do attitude runs in our family.  We are very goal oriented.  All of us have a solid work ethic, and we work hard for the goals we set.

I’m very proud of my children…Chicky, a fine educator, and Rooster, a new Airman in the world’s finest Air Force.

The Mr.? He’s not too shabby himself.  He works in public service.  He’s a wonderful example of self-giving.

2.  I read here a list of ten things you should do before 2017 arrives (in less than six weeks!)…which tasks on the list might you do? What would you add to your own ‘before the year ends’ list?

visit your Dr. or dentist, deep clean your home, donate unwanted items to charity, look someone in the eye and tell them you love them, write an honest letter to yourself, clean up your inbox-desktop-photos, travel to a place you haven’t been, compliment a stranger, watch the sunrise, think ahead to your goals/plans for the new year

Gosh, but I think I’ve done almost all of these things.  My house could use a deep cleaning, but I am out of commission with my ankle surgery, so that’s probably not going to happen.  I might be able to do a bit here and there once I get a scooter, but even then, I’ll have to be careful.

3.  What’s something other generations (not your own) misunderstand about your generation?

This is a hard question for me to answer because I’m not sure that I know what misunderstandings other generations might have about my own.  I had to do some research.

I was born in 1970, so according to Careerplanner.com, I fall into the Generation X (Baby Bust) category.  I found this blog post that gave a lot of information about Generation X.

According to the blog, folks of my generation are “adrift, apathetic, and cynical.”  The site says, “Many Gen-Xers distrust authority and large institutions including corporations, religious institutions and the government.”

I can see this…especially given all of the recent election drama.

The site says that we are “educated, ethnically diverse, and individualistic, have a disdain for everything, authority, technologically astute and flexible, we have work-life balance, and we were the ‘Latchkey Generation’.”

I’m not sure how all of the above has led to misunderstanding.  When I mention my year of birth to my students or others who are slightly older, I think they have visions of hippies who led “experimental” adventures during their youth.  Ahem.  I did not for the record.

I think that they consider us old fogies, stuck in a rut, which is NOT the case.

I think that we are a generation that is embracing change because we remember the days of not having the internet…not being able to Google for directions…not being able to work from home via online businesses.

I don’t know if this really answers the question.  All I know is that every generation has the tendency to “misunderstand” because we don’t always try to get to know the people from other generations.  We make assumptions and leave little room for the exceptions.

4.  Sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy, cornbread dressing-which would you miss the most if it weren’t on the holiday dinner menu?

Definitely mashed potatoes.  Vegan style so I can eat them, of course.

Oh, and Coupon Queen (the Mr.’s mom) and her famous dressing.  I can’t eat it anymore because of a few of the ingredients in it, but it’s divine.  Especially with gravy and cranberry sauce on it.  Yum!

5.  What are you overthinking right now?

I am overthinking work right now.  My ankle injury has thrown a monkey wrench into my entire life.  Although I would LOVE to be a stay-at-home wife, finances won’t allow for that.  The next best thing is my job.  I love interacting with my students…most days.  I am finding myself missing them tremendously.  I feel as though we are behind because of the time I’ve had to take off, but the reality is that I do a great job when I’m with them, so they will be fine, no matter how much more time I need to take off for recovery.

6.  Your favorite slang word lately?

I like the phrase “doing the most” lately.  It seems to describe my life.  I am always doing the most, whether it’s with my lesson planning or with my ankle break, which was a doozy.  I need to ease my foot off the pedal a bit.  Doing the most isn’t always the best idea.

7.  Write an acrostic for the word grateful.

God

Remains

Always,

Through

Every

Fall in my

Uncertain

Life

Y’all, this was hard to write!!!!!

8.  My Random Thought

Something I did not write about in yesterday’s post (the one in which I discussed my surgery…not in gory details, mind you) was the panic attack I’d had the night before.

I’ve had a few panic attacks over the years.  Usually, they’ve occurred right before I needed to go somewhere unfamiliar.  I have a few mental issues…separation anxiety at times…that led to those.

I woke up around 3:30am yesterday and was in full-fledged panic mode.  Super Sis was sleeping on the couch across from me, but I wasn’t present enough in my mind to call out for her.

All I knew was that I suddenly felt very claustrophobic.  I felt as though my cast was closing in on me.  All I wanted was for someone to cut it off and do it right then.  And never put another one on me again (which will be done as part of the recovery process).

I did not know what to do.

I grabbed my phone and opened up my First5 app.  It’s wonderful.  It’s free and has daily devotions and weekend wrap-up videos that you can watch.

It’s amazing.

So, despite the fact that I was bleary-eyed and could hardly see a thing, I began reading.

I managed to read about halfway down…the first thing being the highlighted Bible verse from that day’s reading.

Y’all, when I finally stopped reading, I felt the greatest sense of peace envelope my heart.

The fear was gone.  Satan’s hold on me disappeared.

I set my phone down and was finally able to sleep.

God has been speaking to me very loudly lately.  He’s had to in order to offset the effects of the pain I’ve been in and the medication I’ve been on.

It seems as though every devotion I’ve read has been written with me in mind.

Look at what I read yesterday morning when I opened the app (click on it to see a bigger version).

How wonderful is that?

I am fatigued.

God is my strength…especially now with a bum ankle.

Because of that, I am #findingjoyinthejourney (my new hashtag).

Filed under: Christian, This-n-That | Tagged: | 6 Comments »

Bionic Ankle

Posted on November 22, 2016 by auburnchick

It’s 6:12 am, Eastern time, that is, as I begin writing this post.  An hour later than home, but I’m not at home.  I’m two hours away, nestled on my in-laws’ couch. right leg elevated.

The deed…it has been done.

I arrived at the surgical center yesterday afternoon for my 2pm check-in time.

That, by no way, meant surgical time, mind you.  They were all about filling out more paperwork…signing my life away to the procedure I was about to have…paying my portion of the bill that the insurance didn’t cover.  Let’s just take a moment to praise insurance, though.  I know a lot of people bemoan it, but I have good insurance, so I cannot complain.

I had to do the pee-in-a-cup thing, because all women within the childbearing age span get to have this fun experience…just in case.  For the record, I’m not.  Thank goodness.  😉

Then, I was whisked away to a hospital bed to begin preparing for surgery.

I loved my English-accent speaking nurse.  She was so gentle, listened to my fears about needles, and gently got my IV ready.  She assured me that I’d be given medicine for post-surgery nausea, which I have a tendency to suffer from.

The Mr. got brought back to me, and we did some waiting.

A lot of it, actually.

Chicky arrived about an hour after we got there, and she did some waiting with us.

I hadn’t seen her since January; her presence made me so happy.  I love this girl so much, but our lives don’t often intersect with her being a super teacher down south and, in general, living life on her own.

The anesthesiologist came by for a chat. Can we all say a Praise the Lord for this profession?  I think that all who enter are screened for great personalities.  I’ve never met one I didn’t like.  He was kind and funny.  And uber professional.  He knew his stuff…knew about my procedure…and set my fears at rest.

We discussed my having a nerve block that would last about 24 hours after surgery.  I couldn’t sign that paperwork fast enough, let me tell you.  I am brave about some things; pain is not one of those things.

He left, and we waited.

And waited.

Periodically, there would be people who would visit my “room…” nurses who would ask me to repeat my name, birth date, and which procedure / which leg I was having work done on.  I wanted to say, “the one with the cast,” but I was being nice.  Ahem.

Chicky left to get her and the Mr. some food…and to visit her Grandmama and utilize her washing machine.  Priorities, folks!

While she was gone, my surgeon came by.  This man though.  He had been so frustrated with me at my first visit for clawing myself to the point where we had to delay surgery that I was a little scared.

I didn’t ask him the questions I mentioned in yesterday’s post.

I’ll ask those questions when I got back for my first post-op visit on the 1st.

He did write on my right toes, though.  I believe I saw him make a smiley face on my big toe.

He was all smiles himself as he described the procedure.  His bedside manner was on point and soothed my heart.  He promised to be back as soon as he did one short procedure for another patient.  The man was busy!

Meanwhile, we waited a little bit more.

I was so very tired.

And scared.

I’m not going to lie, but I grew more scared the longer we waited.

The Mr. did his best to calm me down.  He didn’t want my heart rate to go too fast and delay surgery.

He spoke words of encouragement…words I desperately needed to hear.

He offered me my phone, which he NEVER does, to distract me.  I was too tired to do much besides read a few text messages and Facebook posts.  I quickly handed it back to him.

His main job during surgery was going to be keeping our friends and family updated.

Finally, they began to wheel me back to pre-op.  The Mr. gave me a hug before I left.  I wanted him to stay with me.  That man had been the center of my world this past week…my rock.

Off I went, though, to a room that was divided into sections…each dedicated to its own surgery.

I had heart monitors attached to my chest, some sort of thing put on my leg to check impulses (I never once felt it), and other cords fastened every which way.

I even had an oxygen tube stuck under my nose.  Things were getting very real.  Very fast.

Heck, I felt like I was going to be on one of those hospital drama shows you see on TV.

Ha!

The nurse placed my right leg on a high table in preparation for the anesthesiologist.  He was going to do the nerve block before surgery.

I got really, really scared.

He’d told me that he would be giving me three shots and an extra one in my big toe to ensure that all of my nerves would be given the pain-free juice I’d need.

I.

Hate.

Needles.

And pain.

Did I mention that?

Y’all are not going to believe this, but I slept through the entire thing!

I kid you not.

The fatigue of not sleeping well the night before and a long day of anticipation had worn me out.

Maybe they put a little something something in my IV too.  Who knows.  I’d signed away my life, so it’s possible.

I woke up as the nurse was removing my oxygen tube.  My leg was off the table and completely numb.

Praise Jesus!

I was then wheeled into the operating room.

One operating room.

With lots of big lights.

I remember looking up and wondering about the pattern of the individual light bulbs in each light.

Yeah.  I had some happy drugs, I think.

I was introduced to someone who was prepping a surgical table.  I don’t remember his name.  He turned and waved.

I was moved from the bed I was wheeled in on to a surgery table.  I had to help move my body over.  That was interesting.

Then, I laid back as some sort of mask was held over my nose and mouth…not tight…just enough to breath into.

I thought that I’d never fall asleep.

Ha!

Out I went like a light.

I slowly came to in a recovery room, a different nurse at my side.

My throat hurt so badly.  She told me that they’d put a tube down my throat during surgery.

Thank heavens I was out for that.  I don’t think I would have liked that.

She gave me red Gatorade to sip on and began helping me get dressed.

I’m glad I had taken my leopard print Victoria Secret bra with me.  One must always be fashionable…even when having surgery.  You never know who’s going to see your underclothes.

The Mr. was brought back to see me.  I think he was smiling.  Chicky was there too.  Most of my heart  was there in that room.  I know the others were with me in spirit.

While the nurse was out of the room gathering paperwork, the Mr. told me that the doctor has spoken to him after the surgery.  He’d said that it had gone well, but that he’d discovered that my bones are very brittle.  He’d had some difficulty getting the pins inserted because of this.

As you know, I’ve been a vegan since 2016.  I don’t eat any animal products, which means I have to find creative ways to get protein and calcium.

Apparently, I’ve done a terrible job of this.  I will not be moving away from my vegan lifestyle.  It suits my tummy and other innards well.  What I will be doing, and what the Mr. has already begun doing, is researching how to put more calcium into my body organically.  I don’t do supplements.  My stomach cannot handle them, and I know the body doesn’t process them well.  I will probably have to up my caloric intake.  That’s another issue I need to deal with.

The doctor told the Mr. that my ankle injury was an accident waiting to happen.  As such, I know that I need to make changes quickly so I don’t incur another such injury.  I do not want to be an old lady who has to have hip replacement surgery.

When the nurse returned, she gave me a lot of detailed instructions.  I love that she looked right at me and spoke to me.  She was just so amazing.  The Mr. and Chicky listened on closely.  They knew I’d remember exactly 10% of it.

One cool thing was that she recognized me from the Mr.’s parents’ church.  How weird is that?  We attended it twenty years ago when we lived here and have been back yearly for Christmas Eve services.  My in-laws are very, very active in the church.  I’ve been on more than one prayer chain of late.

God is so wonderful when He makes connections like that.

She gave me lots of paperwork.  Among them were copies of my x-rays.

Y’all, they look like pictures from Frankenstein’s surgery.

There are many, many pins inside of my little leg.

Many.

There’s a plate in there somewhere.  I’m going to have the doctor show me where during my next visit.  It’s on the inside of my leg, but I don’t know where to find it on the x-ray.

Regardless, it was an intense repair, and it’s going to require much healing.  God is the GREAT physician, so I’m not worried.

Finally, it was time to leave.  She wheeled me out.  I had been the last surgery of the day.  It was both dark and cold.  I shivered like crazy.

Fortunately, the car was warm, and the Mr. gently navigated us back to his parents’ house.

What a loving reception I got.  These people have cared for me through so much…so many times when I have been unlovable.  I am so grateful for their unconditional love…something I never had growing up and something that’s been hard to accept all of these years.

The Mr. left fairly quickly.  He’d been driving back and forth to care not only for me but for our fur babies back home.  I hated that he was driving so late, but that’s what love does. ❤

Meanwhile, the in-laws gave us instructions on how to use their remote controls and how to turn off the light switches.  It can get complicated, y’all, I kid you not.  Then, they headed to bed.   They were slap worn out from the long day as well.

Meanwhile, Chicky had been assigned babysitting duties. She was to be my night nurse, relegated to the long couch.

She was wonderful.

I got hungry, so she found some crackers for me.

That was only the start.  She then fixed me a can of soup and got me a glass of orange juice.  Strange combo, I know, but when you’ve been through what I have this past week, you don’t question such requests.

Then, after a couple of trips to the potty, we were set to go.

We watched a bit of TV…an episode of Timeless, which I’ll have to rewatch when I get home because I had a hard time focusing on it…before turning out the light.

I slept pretty good and mainly woke up for my pain meds.  By 5:30, though, I’d had enough.  I had to sit up and catch up on my social media.

I needed to blog before the words were forgotten in the haze of pain and medicine.

I’m starting to feel the effects of the nerve block wearing off.

That’s a good and a bad thing.  The good is that I’ll be able to feel my toes again, which will make me feel less claustrophobic.

The bad is…well…the pain.

You might remember that I don’t like pain.

I am already feeling it on the inside of my ankle…the part I obliterated.  It’s the side that now houses a plate.  I feel as though I have a bionic ankle now.  Ha!

So, I’m asking you to continue praying, if you will.

This pain is going to be no joke.

It’s going to require that I pull up my big girl pants and deal, the best I can.

My goal is to return to work on Monday.  I don’t know how, but I am determined.

I’d like to see the pain reduced a bit before I go in.

I’ll probably be in a wheelchair.  Crutches and me…we are slowly getting to be friends.  I’ll be renting a scooter as soon as the doctor gives me the green light.  That’s when the fun will begin.

Please pray for the Mr.  He stresses.  A lot.  About everything.

He’s a good man.  He’s typical, though, and has a need to see things fixed.

He hates to see people in pain…especially those he loves.

This injury has reminded us both of so much.

We need each other desperately, especially now that our kids are grown and living their own lives elsewhere.

He’s usually been the sick one of the two of us.  I’ve been the caretaker.

Oftentimes, not a great one; frustration and impatience are my enemies.

Not so after this.

Though the Mr. has gotten frustrated, he’s balanced it with attention to detail.  That man has come home from the grocery store only to hear me vocalize a desire for orange juice, which I must have dreamed about while napping while he was gone, and then he has left again to pick up a gallon.

Just because he wanted me happy.

He’s a gem, and he’s all mine, ladies.

I might be willing to rent him out for a small fee, though.  We have a rehearsal dinner to pay for and medical bills to recoup from.

Ha!

Seriously, though, I am still finding #joyinthejourney through the ups and downs I’ve encountered since my fall on the 13th.

God allowed this to happen to me.  Though I cannot fully understand all of the why’s of it, I continue to trust Him.

Please pray as I continue down the road of recovery.  I know it’s going to be very difficult at times, but God prepared me through my year of fitness gains, my return to Him in my Proverbs 31 Online Bible Studies, and my strengthened relationship with my husband.

I.

Am.

Blessed.

Filed under: Christian, fitness, This-n-That, Vegan | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Going Under the Knife

Posted on November 21, 2016 by auburnchick

Today is THE day!

It is surgery day!

Yay!

Strange response, eh?

Well, if you’d been in the pain that I’ve been in since last Sunday night, you’d be happy too!

A friend asked me if I was nervous.

I said no but then modified my response to say that while I’m not looking forward to the pain that will follow surgery, I am ready to get it over with so that I can begin my recovery in earnest.

It’s strange to be the one on the operating table.  In the past, it’s always been Chicky.

In the past, it’s been me who’s sat in the waiting room for hours, praying and keeping others apprised of the procedure.

Now, others will be waiting for me.

Showtime is 2pm, a little later than I’d prefer, but a time that’s in God’s hands.

Instead of waking up to a cast, I believe, if I heard correctly, I’ll be wearing some sort of adjustable wrap.

I envision something similar to what Chicky had on…velcro straps to hold the padding and brace in place.

Before I’m put under, I have a few questions for the doctor…

The first one is the most important, in my opinion.

Will I be able to run again?

I know I’m not training for the Olympics.  I recognize that I’m no spring chicken.

I have, however, come a long way in my fitness level from where I was at this time last year.

Super Sis and I recently talked about my 8.5 mile run from last week, and she wanted to know how I’d done it.

I told her that I’d just told my legs to keep going, and they had.

I’d told myself to trust my legs and let them do the work because they were strong enough, and they had.

I’ll admit that I’m nervous about asking the doctor this question.  I’m not sure that I want to know the answer.

He’s a no-nonsense guy.  The man don’t play, as my students would say.

Regardless, I am Auburnchick.  I’m fearless.  I ask all the dumb questions.

Ha!

I sure would appreciate continued prayers for the surgeon’s hands as they rebuild my ankle, for a smooth transition out of the surgery (getting put under has made me sick in the past), and for as little pain as possible afterward.

Also, could you pray for the Mr.  He’s under an enormous amount of pressure trying to balance my care, the planning of Rooster’s rehearsal dinner, and doing his regular not-at-home job.

Please pray for his safety as he travels back and forth from Podunk, USA, to get me to my surgery and then back home to care for our fur babies and eventually back to pick me up and take me home.  I’ll be staying with his parents for a day or two to give me an extra day of recovery before I travel in the back of our car on country roads.  Go ahead and say car sickness and ouchies from bumps and curves.

Thanks, all!!

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Nine Years Ago

Posted on November 20, 2016 by auburnchick

Nine years ago, today, I began my blogging journey.

You can read that first post here.

Chicky was playing in a soccer tournament in San Diego.  That was a fun trip, even if I was in the middle of my return back to college and had two big papers to write during our trip.

During these nine years of blogging, I’ve published almost 2,300 posts!

I’ve been a pretty regular blogger except for the last year or two.

I have a couple of blog friends who have been with me from the get-go.  Rebecca was the first blogger I connected with, and we’ve been friends from the beginning.

I’ve been friends with Mary for awhile as well, and we actually got to meet a few years ago.  We are hoping to get together when she comes to Podunk, USA during Christmas!

My blog is the place where I chronicled my children’s growing up years.  So many of those years were spent on the road…visiting one soccer field after another.

Over the years, we’ve had a few pets pass away, and we’ve acquired other furry friends.

It’s hard to believe that empty nesting wasn’t even something on my radar when I began blogging.  Now, it’s my station in life.  In fact, we’ll have an “official” celebration in a month when Rooster and N say “I Do” for the second time…only this time extended family and friends will be present.

Over the years, my blog has detailed joys and tears, separations and reunions.

You know.  Life.

I’ve shared traveling adventures (Alaska, the Caribbean, Disney, and Universal) and shopping forays (hello knitting stores in Las Vegas).

And who can forget my recent stories about fitness and vegan baking?

I feel as though this blog is one of my children.

I’ve nurtured it and, in the craziness of life, not paid as much attention to it as I should have.

Maybe it’s more like a fine wine that’s just getting better as it ages.

Yes, I think I like this analogy much better.

heehee

Gosh, y’all, but I’m almost getting emotional as I reminisce.

As shy as I am in-person, I don’t mind sharing things here.

Although I’m nervous about being rejected by “real” people, I don’t have that fear here.

I tell things like they are, hopefully in a way that others find entertaining.

I’m real, not rich monetarily, and…well…just me.

If you ever meet me IRL after reading my blog, I think you’ll find that to be true.

If you’re still reading my blog after all these years, I offer my sincerest thank you for sticking it out.

If you’re new, then I welcome you with open arms and hope you’ll settle in for awhile.

I’m like the weather in Florida.  If you don’t like something, chances are high that I’ll give you something totally different the next day.

Cheers to a great nine years, and here’s to a fantastic 10th!

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