lace and a brace

Today I planned to go crazy and re-learn as much Italian as possible. Yeah, haven’t even touched the book yet.

I did, however, attempt the DIY lace mason jar. Uhm, it did not turn out like that picture at all. I think there were several factors including the fact that I am incredibly craft-challenged (even before the brace).

Unfortunately there a lot of pictures from this angle because I can't really get on the ground so much.

Came out pretty janky.

That is one of the Gatorade towels that the team's trainer brought out to keep me warm while I was lying on the ice. Yep, thanks for the free towels!

Luckily I've got like 10 more jars, lots of spray paint and plenty of lace so maybe I'll get it perfected. If anyone has suggestions on how to get the lace to stay on and lay flat, feel free to shoot them out there!

Other than that, I've figured out how to get on my knees and up without bending my back, which I don't know if I'm supposed to be doing. If my physical therapist sister is reading this, she's probably already dialing my number to chew me out. I'm waiting to hear back from my doctor as to when I need to schedule my post-op appointment but I hope it's fairly soon. I have like a billion questions to ask him about what is okay to do right now and if it isn't okay, when it will be.

Another accomplishment: I'm now able to get my brace off by myself. Next step is attempting to get it on by myself. Considering how difficult it was for my mom to put it on the first time, I'm not expecting to be able to do it anytime soon. Obviously I need to start trying as often as possible to get it down.

Alright, I guess I'll go open that Italian book now. Enjoy your evenings!

back to school

Today has been a pretty heavy homework day. I’m getting a little worried about school and because I have yet to hear from one of my professors, I’m concerned that I may need to drop another class. I can still pick up some slack with two intercession courses in December but man, I would love to not worry about school for like a month.

Sitting up in this position for a few hours has already got me searching the web for those chair-shaped pillow things!

After I get this homework done, my mom will be carting me off to the good old Guthrie Wal-Mart. I’m sure to see a few people I know and the brace will probably be kindling for conversation so this could very likely be the longest Wal-Mart run of my life!

The only accident-specific items on my shopping list today are the aforementioned pillow and something easy and comfortable to sleep in. I don’t know that Guthrie’s Wal-Mart is the best place to locate the latter but you would not believe how big a pain it is to change clothes with this brace so I am that desperate. Luckily, I have noticed that my mobility is getting much better and I am infinitely less sore than a few days ago. Yesterday I endured a full day of riding in the car, getting my eyebrows waxed, selling my A&M ticket and picking up some things from my apartment in Norman all with only one dose of pain meds. Started getting a little sore there at the end but I was pretty proud of myself.

Besides the pillow, sleepwear and some toiletries, I’ve decided to pick up some materials to create this DIY lace mason jar that I saw a while back on Pinterest. Aside from homework and television, I don’t have a huge amount to do right now. Actually taking the time to make some of the things I’ve pinned seems like a great time killer. It’s heinously windy outside today so I am going to wait until tomorrow to attempt the mason jar and we’ll have to see how that one turns out.

For now, I’m off to attempt to teach myself Italian. …yeah. Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Flowers and Support

 Just some flowers that I got while at the hospital. Another reminder of how lucky and supported I am!

I got my new iPhone 4s this morning so I'll be posting a lot of pictures. This camera is probably better than any digital camera I've ever had!
And that personal assistant thing is pretty killer. Totally worth it.

T12 to L1 to L2

I’m sitting in the recliner in my mom’s living room watching television marathons on a Monday afternoon waiting for her to make my lunch. Luckily I’m a huge Top Chef fan because I just dropped my remote on the floor and there is no way in hell that I’m getting up to get it. 

Though I may seem like a total loser, I’m actually not; I swear. On the morning of Tuesday, October 25, 2011, I received a vertebral fusion surgery of my T12 to my L2 vertebra. So here I am in all my back-braced glory, reliving Top Chef Season 6 and becoming even hungrier. (Hurry up, mom! :))

I’m a student at the University of Oklahoma studying public relations and if this were a normal Monday, I would just now be scurrying around making sure I get to campus on time for my first class. I would have already run a few miles as well as done a leg and lower ab workout at the Huston Huffman Center followed by some last minute Italian homework. I would have devoted this evening to catching up on my Desperate Housewives and my PR Research readings. And I would absolutely be taking the use of my fully functioning back for granted.

In early October, I began a marketing internship with OKC’s hockey team. Nothing too strenuous was involved; I’ve just been learning the ropes of the sports industry and helping in whatever way I could. Before the game on Saturday October 22, we were learning how to do the on-ice slingshot promotion that we would be executing during the first intermission. Needless to say, a human slingshot across the ice just seemed fun so I gladly volunteered. As you can probably imagine, this did not turn out well. I went too fast, did a 180, and slammed my back straight into the wall. 

I’ll save you all the gruesome details about my hair freezing to the ice and the intense fear and pain and just skip to the part where a CT scan revealed to my family and I that I had burst-fractured my L1 vertebra. We were told a back brace was a must and surgery was a most likely. After some x-rays, the surgery also became a must and a soon as possible. 

So from Saturday to Tuesday, I lay on my back and learned how to eat, drink, and brush my teeth without dribbling all over myself. Tuesday was anesthesia-ridden and sleepy but I was glad to get the surgery done and be on my way to recovery. On Wednesday, I worked with both a physical and occupational therapist. I stood up and immediately got a little dizzy and nauseous, so I sat back down. Then I stood again and took a few steps and sat up in a chair. Later I walked with a walker to the nurses’ station then back to my room on my own. I sat up in that chair for at least 4 hours. It doesn’t sound like a lot and it was frustrating to only be able to do that but at the same time I was incredibly thankful. By Thursday I was able to walk completely on my own and I was finally discharged on Saturday.

I’m now staying with my mom until I can completely function on my own. I’ve had to drop one class and instead of graduating from OU in May, I’ll have to return next fall. I have to put a hold on all my running for the time being and my ridiculous struggle with messed up eating is taking a hit. On the other hand, I’ve got a much needed break from my stressful semester and I’ll have another student football season. I’ll eventually be able to run again and this will get me to keep my eating in check. I have so much to be thankful for, it’s pretty ridiculous. 

So I guess this was the motivation I needed to start a blog. I’ll be writing about what it’s like to recover from a spinal surgery and chronicling all the things I’m able to accomplish. In the long run, I hope to start writing about running again as well as the vast amount of other activities I’m going to take up just because I’ll have the ability to. My overall goal is to eventually have a post about surfing lessons in Hawaii. :)

So feel free to stay tuned and see what comes of this!

(Oh, and sorry about the ridiculous name but it had to happen.)