A screw is in me forever. How sick is that?

Well, today is my first full day on earth with a 3cm screw inside of my foot. 

Surgery went really well and I only have one stitch. So far I believe I am supposed to keep  the bandages on for the first few days. My whole right foot and calf are still orange from the iodine or whatever they used to sanitize. I really liked my doctor, Gregory Grabowski. He is young and had a really great sense of humor, so that was nice. Coming out of anesthesia was totally strange, I couldn't open my eyes because they just felt so tired, but I was crying (which I guess is usual) and my jaw was rattling like crazy. Shortly that stopped and I still found it impossible to open my eyes. I drifted in and out of sleep for a good hour and then they moved me back to my room where Brian was able to come visit me. We stayed another hour and a half and Wendy drove us home. 

Brian has been wonderful in taking care of me. Once we got home he went to a Thai place close by and got me curry noodle soup, my new favorite Thai obsession. 

Dani is coming to town today! I am so excited to see her. I believe there is also a Cougar game here in Seattle today, so I am hoping some friends will call if they are in town. 

I am totally bed ridden for the next few days, and will be on crutches for at least a month. Then the boot for another month past that. I am hoping by November 2nd, my birthday, I will be able to dance, a little. 

I hardly wear high heels to begin with even thought I absolutely love them- I have 3 beautiful pair but I am excited to be able to have an excuse to buy some really nice, supportive and stylish flats. My flat feet and new screw cannot handle the flimsy pathetic excuse for shoes I have been throwing on them in the past. Now, if only I could afford some beautiful shoes. 

Alright, I am starting to feel tired. Love you all very much. Thank you for your kind words and your support. 

Love Natalie 

Brace free smile!

Last week when Brian and I spent one night in Pullman before going camping. My dear friend Dani met me at Rico's for several drinks. We had a wonderful time. Thank you so much Dani for coming and spending the evening with me. It was really great. And although this photo is a little small, look at those beautiful pearly whites that are brace free!  Just hours before this photo was taken I had my braces removed! A month early I might add! Back on July 1st I had my last orthodontist check up where they told me that I was ready to have my braces taken off, i was so excited until they informed me that I would have to wait over two months for an appointment to open up. I was sad that it wasnt going to happen right away and I begged the woman at the front desk to call me first if anybody cancelled. She said "sure!" but I was thinking "yeah right, like anyone would cancel their braces removal appointment" but sure enough just an hour after getting home from the ER last week, my orthodontist office called and said someone indeed did cancel. I was SO excited and was able to have them taken off moments before Brian and I were fleeing to the airport for our week long vacation at the lake. I wore those thing for 17months and 7 days! And thank goodness they are off. Its difficult to see but I now wear two clear retainers similar to those used in Invisalign. I wear mine 24/7 for the next 6 months except when eating. After that they said I will only need to wear them at night. They are really comfortable and not too much of a hassle. 

Yay for a brace free smile! 

Surgery, what?

After a wonderful week of camping at Priest Lake Idaho, Brian and I are so happy to be home again. We missed Lady terribly.  We have noticed over the last couple months how slow and tired she has become. I guess city life  and her old age are getting to her. 

Yesterday I had an appointment with the podiatrist and after several x-rays and an examination I was told that I do indeed need surgery to insure my broken foot has a successful recovery. Ahhh, gross. Needless to say I am totally beside myself. I truly thought I could get through life without breaking a bone or needing surgery of any kind. And now I am experiencing both horrors at once. This really hasn't been my summer. Basically the surgery will consist of a screw being drilled between the fracture in my 5th metatarsal to pull it together. I guess a very strong ligament is attached to the smaller piece of bone and it will continue to pull on it and possibly not heal correctly unless they provide it with some extra support.  I also have been feeling some pain in my ankle so today I have an MRI to check out the ligaments to see if there were any tears. If they do find a tear they will also go in a fix this at the time of surgery. This means I will have a screw placed in my foot for good. oh my goodness. I really hate the idea of a foreign object being placed, rather DRILLED into my body, but I guess it could be worse. I could live in a place or time where surgery was out of the question and crutches aren't available. So I guess I should be feeling lucky that I live in such a place that such modern medical advances can heal me. And only like 4 blocks away from my apartment, which is great. 

I made the mistake of trying to 'walk' home from the doctors office yesterday. I wanted to buy some milk at the grocery store just between the doc office and my place, because I needed it for coffee. Within one block I knew I had made a mistake. Although it was not too hot outside the sweat started dripping from all the pores in my body. The energy it takes to use crutches, like extended arms, they remind me of an ape - but I am not anywhere as graceful as an ape.  I made it to the store and bought the smallest milk I could find. The extra weight of the small milk made my last 2 blocks miserable. I desperately wanted help, but my phone was dead so I couldn't call Brian. The only person who offered some help was some crazy man. As much as I appreciated his offer, I refused. Moments after he walked away I regretted not taking him up on his offer. Eventually I crutches home. I actually made it. 

I haven't left the house since. 

I need food and lots of people to tend to me. The smallest chores are now impossible without over exerting myself. 

So just an update. I have another appointment today for an MRI, next Wednesday I have an appointment with the surgeon and then I will plan my surgery accordingly. 

One last thing, I found this quote by Marilyn Monroe that I like

"I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together. "

I broke my first bone. Hopefully my last. 

Last night after enjoying an art opening and some wine with my friend Drew, I fell down a steep hill and broke my foot. Granted I was a little tipsy at the time, it wasn't until my early morning trip to the ER did I discover how badly I had hurt myself. 

I feel silly and dumb. I have to wear this giant black boot and crutches. 

The only part that really stinks is how slow I move. And the fact that Brian and I are flying to Pullman tomorrow for a week long vacation in northern Idaho. Camping is going to be wonderful with a broken foot. oh well. At least I am guaranteed a tan, because its starting to sound like I will be sitting on the beach a bunch.  The last time my dad was in town he bought me two books at the book store that I have been anxious to delve into. 

Anyway I thought this x-ray was pretty cool. I broke my 5th Metatarsal. Basically the bone connected to my little toe but closer to my ankle. The pen on the right is pointing in the direction of the break. OUCH! Today I made an appointment to meet with a podiatrist next week. Then I will know more about this kind of break and how long it is going to take to heal. 

Hope you all have a wonderful week. See you next week with an update. 

Summer happenings....

A couple of weekends ago I flew to Missoula Montana to see my close friend Kyla get hitched! 

 

I had a wonderful time! Congratulations Kyla and Joel! 

Cutting the Cake!  

Kyla had her dad and her step-dad walk her down the aisle 

Rings!