Shoes, Stitches and Shrimp ....

We are going to head to Chicago early afternoon tomorrow (Thursday), instead of stopping in central Illinois to stay with family. The "snow situation" sounds okay for Chicago, but you never know. I think it only snows when we have an appointment.

Pray for okay weather, and that the stitches look ready or healed (i.e. can be removed). Obviously we don't want to take them out before it is fully healed. You never know for sure, but we want keep them in longer than usual. Friday will be 2 1/2 weeks since we "restitched." I have the Chicago orthopod an update yesterday and she said that I made her day with the news. I think we are on the right track. We'd be really good if we could get more movement in the toes and get into a normal shoe. The shoe situation is definately more challenging in the winter months. I am intending to ask her about blood circulation as well; my foot looks purplish more than it should.

I realized today that I'm not going to make our "student goal" at work this year. I am out of student visit dates between now and the end of May. I have 7,500 students scheduled and 9,000 was the goal. It is a bit of a bummer, but numbers are not everything. I keep telling myself that we've operated four times since last spring, so my marketing and driving abilities were limited. Everyone will get over it and life will go on successfully.

This Friday (Feb. 1) is the one year mark from my first and biggest surgery in Chicago. Last year this time, we were meeting with the Chicago orthopod and going over all the details of what would happen at the hospital. I had shrimp and a pina-colada the night before surgery & hoped I didn't get sick the following day! I clearly remember her telling me that I had an "A+ operating team." She was right. Still thankful for her realationship, willingness to e-mail, taking extra time with us at appointments, and for her perseverance. I've thought about going to med school lately .... it is something that I've considered in the past. A female ortho surgeon in St. Louis would be a first.

Hoping for clear direction on the stitches .... will update the blog after we get home.
Jenny