Things That Bite in the Night

 

Beautiful little Buttercup the calico kitty, sits patiently as she watches "mom" accomplish the morning task of washing dishes. She will stare at Marina and then eventually go off to do her own thing. She does come in during the day at times, especially at night, but during the morning hours, she stays busy keeping an eye on those tasks being performed in the kitchen. 

Dishes are almost finished, so her attention focuses elsewhere on the grounds. 

I was rolled into the shower Monday. This allowed me a chance to shower, which doesn't come often. It was not only needed, but I was grateful. While showering feels wonderful, the invitation to get into the tub is tugging at me. I love a nice warm bath on colder days but cannot have one due to the cast. 

Marina and I were relaxing and talking on Wednesday after she had finished her workout on the treadmill and cleaned the house. One of the final chores she wanted to accomplish was to take out the garbage. She returned and we began chatting over ordinary things in life, when suddenly she yelled, "What the hell?" As she yelled, she jumped into the air, slapping her arm.  Grabbing the edge of her collar, she stripped her shirt off quickly. 

At first, I wasn't sure what was happening. Then it dawned on me that she must have felt something crawling on her or biting or something along that creepy nightmare. Showing me a red mark on her arm, I realized she had been bitten or stung. We both began to look around the floor and the table to see where it might be. An identification of what had stung or bit her would be good to know what to watch for. After several minutes of looking, Marina spotted the bugger on the floor. She threw a glass on top of it to keep it from being able to escape somewhere else in the house. 

Using the Google Lens app, we found that this bug was a type of fruit fly. However, it said it does not sting or bite and the spot on my daughter's arm would indicate otherwise. In my opinion, the bug looked like an offshoot of a June bug or stink bug as I've heard them called. We have no idea but knew it bit her. The redness soon disappeared and all was well. 

Thursday, February 8, 2024

The doctor wanted to see me on Thursday, February 8, to take out the stitches, x-ray the leg and foot again, and put a new cast on. Clean and ready to go, we awoke at 6:00 AM to ready ourselves for the appointment. Marina put the wheelchair into the trunk of the car, and Dawn arrived to follow us there. I was excited and a bit worried all at the same time. What if there was an infection? What if it had not healed well? What if ... And there were plenty of the "what ifs" that come with times like these. 

With my family in tow, off we drove. The drive was especially nice since I had not been out of the house or off the property for a few weeks. So, what do I do the most? I take pictures of course!

All the way to Roseburg fog banks were rolling along the hills. That is something I love to see, as in my opinion, it's beautiful and also creepy at the same time. 

Once we arrived, the large group of us stepped from our cars and took over the left half of the orthopedics office in Roseburg. We were early, which was a good thing, as we were worried about arriving late. All was well. 

I was called back at my allotted time. A nurse came in, checked my leg, and removed my cast. The "cast" I have had since the accident on January 10th is a hard cast in the back and around each side of the leg, leaving the front soft, but covered. It was time to say goodbye to the clunky sidekick and get an upgrade. Once she took off the wrap and the cast, it was time to go see the X-ray tech in the other room. 

Climbing onto the table for X-rays was quite the adventure. My cast was off, so the leg was awkward without the weight I was used to. Transferring from the wheelchair to the table, my leg flipped forward a little too fast without the drudgery of that heavy cast and I had to grab the table while Terry and the X-ray tech both grabbed me. It was a bit too sudden. Note to self: Do not assume you are normal. And that "normal" dictates many forms of normal. Physical, mental, and emotional. It was a bit extra. Another fall is the last thing I need, especially now, after healing for about three weeks. I want to get this show on the road!

The X-ray tech snapped two pics and Terry wheeled me to the room. Marina and Terry had come into the room with me, leaving Dawn in the waiting room with Jess and Zyrah. Jess didn't feel like coming in with a two-year-old in tow, so Dawn chose to sit with her. As we all got comfortable again, the X-ray tech peeked into the room and asked if I could join him one more time. The doctor had asked for a photo in a different position to really see the bones in my foot. All layers of the layout. What can I say? No? 

Off Terry and I traveled, with the tech in front of us leading the way. He took another photo, but this time I didn't have to transfer onto the bed. I remained in the wheelchair while putting my foot on the table. One quick shot and off we went, back into our room. 

The foot was grossing me out to look at it, so I didn't take a gander until after the surgeon had walked in. Dr. K proceeded to flip open his laptop. He was showing us the X-rays while speaking about how good it was all looking. I glanced down and about threw up. Chills covered my body as I diverted my glance to the other side of the room. I looked at my daughter and my husband who were both leaning in to get a good look at all of it. Gross. 

While I do believe the technology of being able to piece bodies back together is amazing, I do not want to see it or know about it. This side of my ankle is now home to two screws, holding my bones together at the ankle. I fractured the ankle in three places, dislocated it, as well as moved the "plate" underneath the site completely out of whack. How I did it is still a complete mystery, but it is what it is. 

Now this is what I called my "Frankenstein" foot. This beauty now consists of a metal plate running up the leg, with 10 screws fit securely into my bone. Nice, huh? Yeah, I was impressed. I couldn't look. All of this is done by the foot slipping in the mud patch outside. Stupid mud. 

Fell on the 10th of February. Surgery on the 17th and here we are at this point in the process. Next up on the agenda is wearing a new cast for at least another four weeks, a new X-ray, then putting it into a cast with a heel if all looks well enough. The heel is not for putting all of my weight on it again though. No, that is going to take another four or five weeks. Then we go back in and have a walking boot put on. With weeks of therapy, I just might be able to get back into walking again. Cannot wait!

Blessings? Oh, yes there are! There always are, even in your most horrible times. I am in a perfectly good mindset and with all my faculties in order. I can just still find many blessings. My family has been there for me all the way. Even while missing my home in Roseburg, the family has helped me get through it by keeping my mind occupied. My husband has come to see me every weekend and any chance he can. 

Not only do I have all my family behind me, but I have had the best healthcare. My daughters are taking excellent care of me, and the nurses, doctors, and therapists are all pitching in to ensure I have a great chance to heal and gain my strength back to live my life normally again. It's all good. I am blessed. My foot is doing well. It could have been much, much worse. I had no real pain to speak of. That is a blessing. 

And, I now am the proud owner of a purple cast, to match my purple bling on my wheelchair! At least we are having fun with all of the things we have to do to get this foot back again. I have my family to thank for that too. 

Marina saw the purple cast and immediately jumped on her phone to order some metallic writing pens to have what my husband calls a "cast reveal" party. This will be fun! People will party. We will draw and write. There will be fun had by all. There will be pictures. It will be a hoot. Everybody's doing it. We know we want to be popular. 😉😊😏

Anyway, Dr. K said everything looks good. The nurse came back in and offered a variety of cast colors I could choose from. We knew immediately it had to be purple to match. She wrapped me up and sent me out of the office with an appointment to see the doctor in another month. Wee haw! Oh, the fun we will have. 

Terry drove Mallory and me to a burrito restaurant, while Dawn and Marina headed out toward home. They wanted to see Wildlife Safari, but by the time we finished, it was late. We grabbed some burritos and drove into the Stewart Park grounds. We sat in the car and ate to avoid having to get out and transfer to a wheelchair. Each time I transfer, it adds to the risk of a fall. That is, as my hubby says, "No bueno." So we avoid that at all costs. 

After the lunch we got, we headed home. Terry wanted to smoke a cigar before we hit the road and Mallory was going to bring my fur baby, Togo, out to me. I was desperate to see him again! He walked out, came directly to me, and leaned on my legs. Oh, my sweet puppy! It felt so good to hold him again, to snuggle with him, and look into those gorgeous blue eyes! 

Mallory and I played with him a bit and of course, the big ham sprawled out on the grassy area we have in the driveway to receive a nice belly rub. His favorite. 

My beautiful boy, God how I have missed him. We couldn't bring Kit outside because he is solely an indoor kitty, but I saw him looking out the window. I miss his nose kisses! My Jasper is doing well and I will be able to cuddle with him again soon too. I shed a few tears seeing my babies. I really do miss my life and my babies. Without disregarding the family and all they have done to help me, I really want to come home. Once again, my family caught on to my cry for wanting that to come true. 

Terry and Mallory drove me home, with a new cast and another scenario to think about. The family immediately jumped into action to make my wish come true. Marina contacted a company in Roseburg that provides home health services and asked how to make that dream happen for me. She will come out on Monday and sign me up for services in Roseburg. We have begun the process of exiting out of services here and believe it or not, I will be moving home on Friday of next week! The 16th of February will be the big day. 

We arrived in Lowell, at the beautiful home on top of the hill. The scenery made me know that even though I may be heading home in a week, I knew I would miss all of this as well. Terry, Mallory, and I sat outside while Terry smoked, overlooking the wooded acreage that is Wolf Tree Ranch. As with every time we have the chance to admire it all, we spoke of how absolutely gorgeous it all is. 

The three of us also discussed Mallory coming up to see us again this coming Saturday, which is tomorrow. She will ride up with Terry and all is looking grand. But as is usual in this environment, the wildlife began to roam through the ranch, blessing us with their mealtime grazing. 

The sun set on Wolf Tree. All the deer had traveled into the woods to nest for the night. Terry and Mallory had to bid us adieu to head home before it was too late. I hugged them both and felt their love in return. It was a good day. 

While falling asleep last night, I had a smile on my face. Not only had I been able to reduce the pain by having the old cast removed that was pulling at the stitches and rubbing my ankle, but I also had the love of my incredible family members to help me through all of this reconstruction of my ankle and leg, the pain, and all the processes to assist me in regaining my health. Wow, the blessings just flow in, don't they? 

Until our next post, we hope you all have an abundance of blessings in your lives. Hugs to you all! You are beautiful!