Huh? What Did You Say?

G&I saw Dr. Watson for the 3 month checkup last Thursday. He said we are on the right path, some healing going on, and it will take a while. I knew that, but with the warm weather and all, I've gotten kind of antsy to get out there and do "stuff". Whatever that is, I don't know, but I do know that I want to do it.

I asked Dr. Watson about the boot? He said I could wein myself off it, as I felt comfortable. Now, here's what I heard: Ditch the boot, live long & prosper. BIG MISTAKE! That afternoon, I took the boot off, put on some loafers, and we went to the mall for several hours. After that, G&I went to Forest Park in St. Louis, where she could run 6 miles, and I could ride for about 30 miles. At the 14 mile mark, my leg freaked out in pain! OUCH! Off the bike, sit in the car & wait for G. I should have listened to Dr. Watson, kept the boot on, and I bet this would've never happened. Oh well. Dr. Watson will be pleased that I have cleaned the wax out of my ears, and can now hear him a little more clearly next time.

On our way out of St. Louis, we stopped at...........Turtle Playground!

They have these HUGE turtle statues, and since I have been nicknamed "The Turtle", I felt it was appropriate to stop and say hello to my brother turtles. This guy's name is Theodore.

This is Terry & Tracy. They were really nice.

Mental Doughnuts

Have been busy with work & all. Managed to get outdoors last Sunday for a ride. One hour & fifteen minutes total. What a refreshing feeling, as I have not ridden outdoors since September 6th, 2006. It was great to get out, clear my head & ride. Wow how I miss that! Cant wait for all of this to come to an end, hopefully a few more months!

My racing/training buddies from Vision Quest (VQ) Coaching services keep bugging me to ride with them, so I did this am. The Badger, Stan-O, Michaelson & The Young One all met at VQ HQ in Bloomington. They did their workout, while I tagged along, flailing near the back of the pack, staying out of the wind. When it was near over, they wanted one last effort, so they elected me to play "rabbit" for them. I would go out in front of them about 30 seconds, and they would do an all out effort, to "bridge" up to me. I took off up the road, but what they didn't realize was that "The Turtle" had just a few pieces of lettuce left in his shell. I jammed it, and 2 miles later, they were still chasing. One for The Turtle, Zero for The Chasers!

We then turned around, into the head wind, and Stan-O directs me to play rabbit again. So, I took off, then looked in my shell, and The Turtle was empty. The Badger caught me within 30 seconds or so, and the the whole group pounced on me like an elephant on an ant. Oh well, got my head cleared, and my pipes thoroughly cleaned out. We'll see if I can walk later today.

Here's Stan-O, Michaelson, The Turtle & The Badger after the ride! Pretty well smoked.

Had a REALLY cool opportunity last weekend, compliments of my beautiful wife, G. I had dinner with Floyd Landis, the winner of the 2006 Tour De France! Floyd was in town for a fundraiser, and a local guy sponsored a private dinner with Floyd. There was about 20 of us, and we had a great time! Just sitting around, shooting the breeze with the guy who won the Tour De France!

Rob, Floyd, Myself & Stan-O, chillin after dinner!

Got legs? Here's the x-ray from pre-surgery in November of 06, (on the left) compared with the post surgery 2-month checkup. I see Dr. Watson next Thursday for the 3-month checkup, and I think we are going to see more of the same, healing wise. I believe time is on my side this go around. Riding, healing, having fun? Those are the kind-of mental doughnuts I need! Keep them coming!

This One's for Rob!!

Update Soon! Have been busy! Keep Checking In!

Peeps Rule!

Holy Double "BLOB" Entries Batman!!!

Two BLOB posts, in ONE DAY! That's ridiculous!

But, no sooner than I post my BLOB (below), that Dr. Watson sends me over the x-rays from our visit from 1.5 weeks ago. Pretty nice of him to do that for me.

Front view. You can see the fibula is still missing a really nice "chunk" as they say in the medical field, but it is arching over to do some crazy connection somewhere in the middle.

Side view. Still fractured, although it is filling in nicely. On the x-ray screen at SLU, you can blow it up and see the little bone "stuff" going across to the other side, trying to form a union.

I go back in about 3 weeks for another update.

I went to yoga on Monday, with the Yoga Nazi, and actually felt pretty decent the following day. So I decided to ride indoors for two days, and will ride again tonight. Hopefully do an indoor ride with my racing buddies tomorrow am, and swim on Sunday w/ Dr. Reid & The Badger.

Got Bone?

I do!

Saw Dr. Watson for the 2-month follow up 1.5 weeks ago, and we still have good news. The tibia is "growing", seems to be on course, maybe 2-4 months to go. I have been wearing the air-cast, and still using the cane to ambulate, but have ditched the cane while at home, for short trips throughout the house. I think it's pretty cool that Dr. Watson is "almost" as pleased with the healing process as I am. He had a smile on his face when viewing the x-rays & consulting, the same way I do when I see a remodeling project I help design for a client, near completion.

It's been just about 2.5 years since this! I wish I could say that I miss those days, but I don't. Actually, I cannot see the day when I can walk, run, climb stairs etc. without pain, the cane and all of that jazz, but I know it's there. Time is on my side, I think. I can't wait for the moment that I can tell the Dr.'s & medical professionals that I hope I NEVER see them again, professionally that is.

Kristie, a friend of ours in Atlanta was chatting w/ G the other day, about her dog, Rome. G asked for a picture, and Kristie agreed. I think the conversation went like this: "Rome, Steve wants a picture of you for his BLOB" Rome replied: " Great, if he wants a picture, I'll give him one"

Here's Rome, sticking his tongue out at me!