Fall Shoes . . . .

I am doing okay . . . actually my p/therapist said today that he thought my foot is doing the best he has seen in the past 3 years! Maybe I am doing better than I think. At least everything is staying flat (toes), and I am able to get into most shoes . . . above are my new fashionable, fall shoes. I need to still work on walking faster …. I really notice it when I am walking with someone else.

I did talk with my regular dermatologist today on the phone and asked her how we can get the redness to fade more on the skin spots, even if they don’t totally go away. She said that I need to continue with more antibiotic, so we are back to that. I have a follow-up w/her sometime in the next two weeks – date is on my calendar at work. There is a tiny, minuscule, itty-bitty chance that the steroid cream that I am using may be helping … don’t get excited yet, but the spots might be fading a little.

My mom sent me the funniest Internet link today to a group of five anesthesiologists in Minnesota and they sing together. They did a song together called, “Waking Up Is Hard To Do” – it is a stitch (pardon the pun)! I always struggle with waking up after surgery, so this was rather appropriate in my case. It is hilarious!

http://nottotallyrad.blogspot.com/2009/11/waking-up-is-hard-to-do.html

Hope the anesthesiologists singing is your laugh for the week!

je

Good week . . .

This week has been a good week, which means no new, earth shattering medical news! The only appt. I had was pt on Tuesday, which was fantastic. No major decisions had to be made this week. I’ve tried hard to not dwell on the skin situation this week and have enjoyed taking a mental break from it. My Chicago surgeon used to always tell say, “Give yourself a break!” It doesn’t come natural for me, but sometimes you have to make yourself step back and relax. Emotionally it has been great to have a week with less stress.

There is one skin cream (that I had in my stash) that I thought worked for me years ago, so I dug it out this week and have been using it on my right leg at night. I’ve also read recent articles about the healing properties in honey … honey is messy though, so I’ve not tried it during the work week!

My walking, stamina, and foot flexibility are definitely much better than it was 6-8 weeks ago. Today I did a lot of walking/movement at work and know that I could not have done that at the beginning of September. It is good to feel like we’ve made progress in some area. I think it has also helped to have had the same pt therapist for the past four years . . . he knows my foot inside and out. We both still get excited about the mini-milestones of progress. The four toes are still laying flat …. baby toe is up a little, but I can live w/it. Still sleeping well & am actually back to yawning, which didn’t happen for a long time.

I’ll have to take a picture of my new shoes this weekend and post it …. they are fun, fall shoes! No kids at JA tomorrow (Fri.), so it will be nice to end the week with more office time.

Thanks for checking in and for continuing to pray!

Blood work was okay . . .

I did get the results of the extensive blood work back and everything was negative ..... good news that there are no major diseases or conditions, but bad news in that it still doesn't help us solve why the skin stuff is happening. I am exhausted with going to appointments, co-pays, pharmacy lines, etc., so I'm going to step back for the next two weeks and will then see where we are at. I need a break from it all & trying to juggle everything around work. Nothing related to the skin is getting any worse, but not better either - pretty much stagnant.

I am going to continue w/pt, but am hoping to taper off ..... it is helping & the pain issue does seem to be almost totally gone. On Wednesday, I walked four miles at work. I may propose once a week for pt over the next 2-3 weeks.

This afternoon I did return to my family dr. for stronger medication for bronchitis . . . hopefully the new antibiotic kicks in this weekend. I've been a strong two weeks of feeling lousy. I am going to attempt to have a low key weekend with not a lot happening . . . heading to bed early, as I am in need of some extra rest.

It will all work out. If I think about how far we've come, all of the present issues seem pretty small in significance. Thanks for your continued prayers, encouragement and caring heart.

Wishing you a happy fall weekend!
Jenny

Not a lot new . . .

Sorry for the lack of updates … there just hasn’t been much new to report. I’ve been fighting a cold/cough for the past week, which has been rough. It came on the day before my first day with students, so the timing was not the greatest. This morning I was in the middle of talking to 125 kiddos and had to stop and let someone else finish … coughing spell.

I walked 2 miles yesterday afternoon at a park, so that was big for my little foot! Had pt today and it went okay. I could not stand on one leg today to save my life, but I think it is because I had walked over 5,000 steps before I got to pt today! I am finally back to normal with sleeping.

I may have a follow-up dermo. appt. on Thursday of this week – depends if the blood work is back by then. No real change with the skin … my foot looks like it has been through a war w/all the itching, scabs & blood.

Will update more toward the end of the week, as I know more …. Thanks for checking in and for your continued prayers!

je