Post-surgery

Ladies and Gentlemen, the screw has FINALLY left the building. For those who know, it has been quite the journey to get to this day.

My original surgeon who operated on my ankle {Dr. Reddy}, 5 years ago, left to practice in Laredo. So he was out of the question to re-operate.

I was then given a new surgeon at the same practice; Dr. Oronoz. He had scheduled my first surgery to get the screw removed in March, the week of SXSW.

Well, I guess he decided to go to a tropical location at the last minute and canceled my surgery {the day before} for a “family emergency” out of the country! Sounds like a family trip to me. I mean, c’mon, during Spring Break?! It all makes sense.

I then put it off because I started school this Fall. Long story short, I needed it out before the cold because that = BOOT season! Haha, I’m kidding. It bothered me and scared me when I worked out.

Yes, it protruded that much.

I called to schedule my surgery with Dr. Oronoz just to get transferred to a WHOLE NEW practice because that one closed down.

I’m telling y’all – I have THE worst luck ever.

Not only have I switched surgeons twice and now a third time, the whole flippin’ practice shut down!

But hey! The saying is true, “third time’s a charm!”

My new surgeon is, Dr. Newton Hasson and he did a fine job! Not to mention, when I first met him, he thought I was still in high school. Score!

Here’s the juicy part – Surgery Day:

It was scheduled for Thursday, October 9^th at 1pm. My Mom took me. We stopped to get crutches and then pit stopped at Target to buy some Halloween supplies. That definitely calmed my nerves.

{Note to self: shop before surgery}

I’m getting all checked in and they say to put the gown on, the booties and an awful lunch lady hair net. The nurse instructs that I can leave my underwear on. But uhm, I didn't wear any! So embarrassing. I had worn my Nike shorts that have them built in {y’all know which ones I’m talking about}. Don’t leave me hangin’…

So here I am, booties on, hair net on, IV in arm, and my gown on with no underwear underneath.

Only me.

The surgeon was running an hour behind {once again, my luck}. Mind you, I had been fasting since midnight. Shoot me. AND I was watching the Food Network with my Mom. Why I decided to torture myself?! I don’t know?

Finally, it’s my turn! EEK! Literally starting sweating because I was going to be awake. Yes, awake. In an OR!

My Mom leaves and the nurse takes me away on the gurney. WAH! Y’all, this OR was 55 degrees. So cold! And I have no clothes on. Sigh. The nurse was kind enough to get me blankets that felt like they just popped right out of the dryer.

I get hooked up, they’re prepping the table, rubbing stuff on my foot and I’m just staring at the clock, listening to my heart beat race on the monitor. Pretty sure I was on the verge of having a heart attack.

Dr. Hasson says, “Little pinch coming.” No, it was a huge pinch AKA a huge needle filled with lidocaine going in my ankle.

Next, my ankle goes numb and he starts to operate. All I can hear is my racing heart beat blaring in the OR.

I can seriously feel him tugging on the screw to remove it from my bone. He says, “It’s almost out!” Like I was birthing a child or something. And then, boom, he was done.

It doesn't end there, I could feel the needle and thread go through my skin as he sewed the incision. Yuck. They bandaged me up and I was off to recovery.

Left with my crutches because my foot was still numb and went straight to EAT! Nom.

I’m healing and getting better day by day. Once these stitches are out, it’s back to the gym and boot season.

CAN’T WAIT!

I’ll leave by saying how grateful I am for the most lovable baby boy ever. He asks me every chance he gets how my ankle is doing, if I’m okay, if I am in pain. Sweet like his Mama!

He’s going to make a great husband one day.

XO, B

Oh! I can’t forget – I kept the screw. Slade was the first to hold it. He said, “It’s like the one that goes in the wall.” Silly goose.

Oh! Oh! Don’t always trust “Waterproof Band-Aids”. I put a brand spanking new Band-Aid on before my first shower {because I cannot get my stitches wet} and it immediately came off. What in the world?! I never turned off the shower head so fast in my life. Stuck my foot out of the shower and it’s been baths ever since.

My luck.

Update

Well hello there and hello, twenty eight! Ah, I cannot believe I am two years away from thirty. Whoa, let’s not sadden this blog so soon, guys.

I have so much to tell you all – I’ll start with my baby.

Slade is LOVING school. Every day I pick him up he tells me something new he has learned. It is music to my ears. He’s become much more independent, smarter and growing, of course. His vocabulary has developed tremendously and he’s getting better and better at writing his name. I guess him going to school isn't so bad after all.

I still miss him. And he’s still my baby {that’ll never change}.

As for me – school is getting exciting! I’m finally to the studies that pertain to what I will be doing in my profession. Lots of memorization, but I have THE best memory in THE world.

Trust me.

My third class started last month so my plate is definitely full. Wish me luck up until December. EEK.

And, so, obviously I turned 28 on Thursday, October 2^nd! Talk about a blast in a glass! I felt like I turned 21, not 28. Ha. I cannot thank Shaunda and P enough for putting such a memorable night together for little ole me. And thank you to each and every one of you who came out and made the night that much more special. It meant the world to me.

I literally danced all. night. long! I didn't miss one song, one beat. And to be quite honest, that’s all I wanted; was to dance the night away. Mireya and I said it felt like we were at a Quincenera. If you were present, you know why.

And it didn't end there – my friend {correction; my best friend, cough cough, he knows that joke}, P and I went to ACL Festival this weekend, too! Y’all. I saw SAM SMITH! LIVE. Life made.

I even had the chance to take Slade to ACL on Saturday. If you have little ones and have passes, take them! So much to do. You might have a mini heart attack if their baby hands leave yours, but SO worth it.

Needless to say, one of the best birthdays I've had!

Okay, you know this wouldn't be my blog if I didn't get a tad bit sappy and leave you with some inspiration!

Here is goes…

Lately, I have been sitting back and watching. Letting life run its course. Living in the moment type of thing. You realize a lot this way.

What is a constant reminder to myself is that I am here, I am making a change. Not just for me, but for Slade too. I need to continue to hold on to what the future holds, not what is left behind me. It’s behind me for a reason.

But ONE thing that “keeps me in the past”, if you will, is family. You all know family is everything to me. When you spend that many years with someone, their family becomes yours. Now that is hard to let go of. I've said it once and I’ll say it again, at the end of the day, all you truly have is yourself and your family.

Last week God tested two family members – I won’t go into detail, but it was from both families. It hits home and it sucks that it takes hard times like that to remind us life is too short. Because the truth of it all, it is too short. We are given once and one time only.

Wouldn't you try every chance you got? Listen to every word spoken to you? Take into consideration the points being made?

I would.

It is indeed difficult to tell yourself to move forward, or give up, but when you witnessed what I have, you certainly don’t need any more clarification than that.

So that is where I am currently at. I feel I am in a good place and it keeps going up. I have my moments, don’t get me wrong, but nothing is ever going to be perfect. Remember, realize everyone has feelings. After the storm, comes sunshine. Sit back and ask yourself if the choices you are making will benefit you in the long run. And definitely, smile.

Constantly.

XO, B

p.s. I want to welcome my new baby cousin, Karter Danielle Green. You missed my birthday by one day, baby girl!