Summer of No Fun

Yep, two shoes. One on each foot.

Just started today…so a little wobbly, but yikes it feels good.

Slept last night without my boot or a cast for the first time in 14 weeks. Oh my god.

Was cleared at Monday’s post-op with Dr. H to start wearing two shoes (at home at first), to ditch the boot for sleeping (yay) and to swim (with waterproof bandages over the scar…little bit at the heel end still scabbing over). He feels the tendon is where it should be after 14 weeks, and the scar is good for 6 weeks. So I feel like I have finally reached the beginning of the end of this journey. I know there is still a long road ahead, but I am glad to have turned a corner…new scenery at least. Don’t see Dr. H for another month. Will miss our visits, but nice to know I can go out in the world without him! (And I am sure he won’t miss me and my incredible wound-that-wouldn’t-heal!)

LOVE the new PT clinic I am going to. Two times this week, and already see progress. Mostly the same types of exercises that Kaiser was recommending I perform at home, but much more variety and better assistance. Just an example: one exercise that targets the calf muscle had been shown to me at Kaiser, so I had been doing it at home for two weeks…without ever engaging the calf muscle! When I was shown how to do it properly at Active Care, the entire experience changed…the AT engaged (I could tell because I felt like throwing up) and it was very clear how to do it the right way. I am a true believer now, if there was ever any doubt (there wasn’t). Also, Kaiser recommended I begin standing on tiptoes (what is that called?)…two feet together, the day after being cleared to come out of the boot. Active Care recommends waiting until the calf is a little stronger…so definitely some differences in the two PT protocols.

So onward in two shoes…but one hitch. The new PT also recommended that I use two shoes with crutches for a while, to avoid more stress on my good AT, which has been bothering me since I started walking a lot in the boot w/o crutches. Just hate using the crutches at home…same old same old, can’t carry anything, move around slowly, kitchen stuff is a bitch. But the shoes, the shoes. Love feeling a little normal for a change.

Mr. C returned the knee walker yesterday…little D was so sad. He wanted one last ride. He is already waxing poetic about all the good times he had on it. Remember that…mama?