I was officially walking without a boot by about June 22, getting my strength every day. We worked hard to get the house packed up with a scheduled move of July 1. I went back to work on June 29 and it was like “riding a bike” I hadn’t forgotten anything in that two months off work. Back into the swing of things and answering lots of questions from customers asking about the break, and was I glad to be back at work. Scott took July 1 and 2 off work so he could facilitate the movers and he and Noah did a LOT of moving on their own using our two vehicles. All this happening while i was at work. I would leave to go to work and come home with all the boxes in the house on the first day, and on the second day, everything was put away! Amazing. They really hustled and I am so proud of all their hard work. That weekend, July 4, Scott’s family came over for a day visit, bringing subway, drinks and cake to celebrate my mother in laws birthday. I really enjoyed showing off the house. It is a bit smaller in square footage than the water view house, however the space is organized in such a way that there is no wasted space, and the overall living area is much more efficient. I have two stories in this house. I’ll try to explain the layout.

The house is set midway on two acres, with a corn field on one side and a Bed and Breakfast on the other. It’s a traditional farm house, built in 1913. Two stories, full front porch and partial side porch that is now screened in. Downstairs is a grand stair case, a foyer, dining room with closed up fireplace, kitchen with wood stove that is out of order 😦 and closet that holds a stacking washer/dryer. Also off the kitchen is a full bath with sink, toilet and stand up shower. Kind of odd to have a bathroom right off the kitchen but it had to be modified as it IS an old house. Anyway, also downstairs is the family room or living room, and the screened in porch is off the living room. There is also a back porch and a back entrance into the house, which is what we primarily use as the driveway makes a complete U going around the back of the house. On the property is also a small shed and a separate garage. Upstairs are three bedrooms, a full bathroom with a tub/shower combo and another foyer or “landing” if you will, that is big enough for my desk and Bingo’s bed. Third story is a finished attic space. Finished in that it has a floor put down, but not insulated for anyone to actually want to hang out there.  On the property is a mulberry tree, fig tree, pecan tree and a few assorted bushes. I think Scott said we also have a crabapple tree. I would love it if we had some wild blackberries but as of yet it doesn’t seem like we do.

We had settled in quite nice and I was in a good routine of doing chores and hanging out with the boys before going off to work. On Saturdays I would commit two hours to house cleaning and actually enjoyed it! I had ordered and received a free fit bit through a program at work and was wearing it around the house and to work to track my steps each day. On July 31 I got home from work around 6:30, had dinner with the family then we all head outside as we are inclined to do, each working on a project or getting some fun exercise. I was walking laps around the yard. The guys had been gracious enough to mow a “path” for me to walk around and I was working on that, and had just completed my eighth lap when Scott turned to look at me, I looked at him and quickly lost my balance and fell over. Keep your eyes where you’re walking people! I was right next to the fig tree when this happened, there was a shallow divot (what’s with me and shallow divots?) and I stepped into it with my right foot and fell to the left. I had seen a little pile of branches, so when I heard the multiple cracks I was hopeful, oh so hopeful that it was the branches. I could tell however by the FEEL of my ankle, that it wasn’t the branches, it was my leg. Crying in pain but also crying in anger(why am I such a klutz?? how could this happen AGAIN??), Scott hollered for the boys to bring me the crutches (good thing to have around it seems) and he got me up and I went UP the five stairs using the crutches, into the house.  Scott had been mowing so while I lay on the couch just ANGRY that I’ve done this again so quickly, he got a quick shower. Back down the stairs and to the ER, where they quickly determine I had broken two bones in three places and would again, need to see Dr. Deafenbaugh on Monday. They splinted me up, drugged me up and sent me home to wait out the time until my appointment Monday. We saw Dr. Deafenbaugh right away that Monday and he said yes, I would in fact need surgery this time, and he could do it the very next day, or I could seek a specialist or get a second opinion. We knew of an ankle/foot specialist across the bay and asked that they schedule me with a consult with him. Well low and behold, consult made, a few more X-rays, a few more splints made up and now it’s a waiting game, waiting for the surgery to be scheduled. I finally had the surgery TWO FULL WEEKS after the initial break, hey, I was the one who wanted the specialist! What a difference I could feel right away. Just having the bones not floating around and the broken ends knocking into each other anymore was a HUGE relief. Now I am officially six weeks post op and on Tuesday I get the hard cast off for good (I had it removed once long enough to remove the 26 stitches) and then I’m into a “walking boot” or “air cast” for another six weeks. Boy am I ready! I think most of my pain now is actually from my cast pinching nerves in my toes. However I am certain that once I start walking on my foot, putting weight on it, I will start experiencing new pain and will have new challenges to overcome.

 Here you see the initial X-ray of the break. The fibula was  a LONG break, and the tibia was a short break.

  Here you see the post op X-ray. Two plates, one of them looking like a hook, and eleven screws.

 This is when they took the cast off at two weeks post op to remove the stitches. So glad he didn’t cut through my ICTHUS tattoo.

 Same stitch removing day, the outside of my foot. The red icky bit is from a fracture blister that had occurred before surgery. I had to have it de-roofed and bandaged up before they could confirm surgery wouldn’t be an issue.

I’m going to have some lovely scars to show you all soon! Once I get the walking boot, I’ll wear it all day every day for six weeks, taking it off to shower and I think to sleep. It will take me a week or so to get my balance and strength with the boot, based on my experience with the first break. We are already planning a Kings Dominion trip. We had bought the tickets MONTHS ago but had to keep canceling because of my break, Sam’s break (yeah, runs in the family) and then my second break. Now it seems, boot and all, we’ll finally get to go and the money won’t be wasted.

Prayers appreciated as I start walking in the boot and building up my strength. A big issue for me has been that the pain meds keep me awake, so I’m kind of a zombie most of the time because I either stay awake and not in as much pain, or try to sleep through the pain which is possible, but not fun at all.