Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year, and welcome to 2007! My dog, Sam started celebrating a little early, as her bedtime is 10pm.

I took this, just as G walked in the door this am from a 4 mile run. Not the greatest picture in the world, but tomorrow will be a new year, and a whole new set of memories.

When I think of the new year, I am pretty excited. I have faith in healing after the last round of surgery, but most of all I am thankful for the things I have in life. I have a wonderful wife & best friend, who I could not imagine going through life without, I have a great family and family-in-laws, I have supportive friends & training mates from all over who have never turned their back on me, and have been there whenever we needed them, I have a great business partner & friend in several businesses that we own together, I have trusting, hard working employees, Sam & Darbie are good doggies (most of the time), I am glad to be alive, as the alternative is probably not that wonderful!

Happy New Year to all, and I hope that your 2007 is as good as mine is going to be!

Here is the mallard duck & turtle that I bid on at a local fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters Charity event. They are made by the "Little's" in the program, out of bowling pins. BBBS has been an organization that G&I have been following, and attending their fundraisers through a friend of ours, who is on their board. I applied to become a "BIG" to a local youth, as there is over 400 in the tri-county area alone who are on the waiting list. Mainly a "BIG" is someone to hang out with, and provide some leadership in their lives. I can't wait!

Getting There!

Took last week off of work, kind of. Got off the pain meds towards the end of the week, so I could drive. Probably not the best idea in the world, but I did it anyway. Have been resting, sleeping, and staying elevated to the best I can. What that really means is laying around, watching daytime TV, crutching around every now & then etc.

G has taken excellent care of me, making sure that I stay off my feet, and don't do anything crazy. I don't want to do anything to jeopardize the recovery here, so I am listening to Dr. Watson's orders, to a T.

Got to take a "full shower" last night, which means no cast-bag on my left leg. The leg had not been bathed in 12 days, so the odor was a little overwhelming, even after the shower. Full shower also meant a clean shave, around the stitches, over the valley's and through the woods. I felt 100% better after that.

Here's the leg. I think it looks pretty good. The swelling has not been too bad, and the major pain I have is where Dr. Watson broke the fibula.

Here's where Dr. Watson went through the shamrock tattoo, to break the fibula. He skillfully carved through the tattoo, then "stitched" it up with super-glue, to not leave a scar. Pretty thoughtful of him I would say!

Here's the side shot. A little swollen right below the knee cap, where Dr. Watson installed the BMP OP-1 grafting material, where the fracture is.

After some more rest, elevating etc. I should be ready to bear weight on the left leg around mid-January. I remember the last time I went weight bearing, in Dr. Maxey's office, I fell flat on my face.

I forgot that I hadn't walked in about 9 months, and couldn't remember what to do! Sounds stupid, but I actually could not remember how to walk. Plus, I was a little gun shy, so I crutched out of there, and took the next week re-learning how to walk through physical therapy.

Long Road Traveled?

Back in the saddle, so to speak. I have some pics about the journey, and due to limited time, very few words, sorry!

Here I lay, in pre-op, waiting for the knife to drop. Haven't eaten or drank anything for 12+ hours, and am anxious & tired.

My pre-op nurse was a hoot. She had a comeback for almost ALL of my little smart comments that I made. I believe she has ran across guy's like me before. The anaesthesiologist came in to give me the "happy juice" and then I was whisked into surgery.

Out of surgery, all went as planned, and in the room with one of the world's largest soft-casts around my left leg. Of course, I brought the dinosaur pillow to the hospital with me. How else was it going to feel "like home"

Mike & Lori sent me some beautiful Lillie's to the hospital. We brought them home, and are in the library where my temporary bedroom is. They are blooming, and look really nice.

A couple of the resident doctors came in to check on me Saturday afternoon. All is well was their diagnosis.

Here's Dr. Watson & myself, just before getting discharged Sunday afternoon. He was performing more surgeries that day & making sure I was taken care of. He said all went well, and has full confidence in the procedure!

Back at home, ready for G to cut the soft cast off.

Cast Away! I could not wait to see what was under there. Dr. Watson explained that to break the fibula, he had to "carve" around the shamrock tattoo with surgical precision. Then, to not leave a scar on the tattoo, he super glued it back together! How's that for a world renowned ortho-surgeon!

Almost there!

Viola! Cast is off. Time for some cleanup, then a pressure sock, the boot sock, and the air-cast.

I have been resting at home, getting off the pain meds, sleeping more than 1/2 of the day. My Mom came down Monday through Wednesday to help out, which was good, as I had double doses of homemade soup & noodles, chicken breasts, salads & good company.

G has been taking excellent care of me, as she always has. Nothing seems to break her stride when it comes to stuff like this. My friends have stopped by to visit, which is great, as I have been staring at the same 4-walls all week, watching daytime TV, and limping around on the crutches!


Not too shabby huh? At least you can tell I have a kneecap, calf & foot. Last time it was so swollen, it looked like one big thigh!

Prayer

Please say a brief prayer Friday morning for Gina & I. We hope the fourth surgery on this leg is the charm

On a Lighter Note

A dear friend of mine, Rebecca and her partner run a small e-business, doing what they love: Sewing, Quilting and making really fine products, all by hand. The name of the company is Sandman Quilts, http://www.sandmanquilts.com/ and the quality of the items they make cannot be purchased in any store. We have purchased some items from them, for baby gifts etc. I "commissioned" Rebecca a while back to make me a dinosaur quilt, as it is a work of art. The silly side of me has always loved dinosaurs, and I have collected Manhattan Toy Company velour dinosaurs for about 20 years. I have all of them, except one, which I got outbid on e-bay a couple of years ago, as it went for about $450.00. Little steep for a stuffed animal, although I have paid almost as much as that for a really rare one.

So Rebecca shipped me the final product a little bit ago, and it's pretty awesome!

Here's one of my favorite books that my Mom got me for Christmas a year ago or so.

G snapped these while I was catching some zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz's this am. We were out last night with my business partner and his wife, for our "annual stockholder meeting". We got into bed around 1 am, or about 3.5 hours past our regular bed time!

I figured I would throw up a "lighter" Blob posting for once. We are off to St. Louis this Thursday for surgery, hopefully be back late Sunday after I am released. Then back to the same ole, same ole. It's been a while since I have done this, so G&I are going through all of the stuff I'll need. I have to say goodbye to the second floor and the basement at home, as I wont be seeing them for some time. I will be living in the library, as I did for about 9 months post accident.

Thought of the day" Your only young once, and you're never old twice!