A Step In The Right Direction...

Wow, I guess y'all are legitimate stalkers like me!! (refer to my previous post if you don't get this reference) It's pretty amazing that over 100 people read my very first blog post within the first 12 hours of it being posted on the Facebook.  Several people have reached out with sweet messages of positive vibes and encouragement...I am really quite touched.  The motivations behind my blog were not get sympathy (or god forbid, pity) but I must say, all the well wishes....man....thanks.

Just be careful with the offers for help....I may send a crying, hungry, grumpy baby to your house....and the hubby isn't as cute as he looks when he is grumpy.

I jest, I jest.  (He is.)

Anyways, moving on to more important subjects...

Me. (Duh.)

 As I mentioned in my previous post, I am scheduled to have surgery on December 3rd.  Specifically, I am having an ankle fusion.  This procedure is designed to eliminate the continuous pain caused by arthritis, bone spurs, and trauma to the bones/joints that never healed from the previous surgery.  It will also restrict and/or eliminate movement from my right foot.  Some people may interpret the limitation or elimination of movement in the foot as a negative or downside to the procedure, but in actuality, it isn't.  Over the years, I have almost completely lost the ability to move my right foot.  Right now, it is set at an angle and I can't move or flex it. Because of the angle, my leg and knee is hyper-extended with every step I take, causing obvious concern of future injuries to my body.

During the surgery, the doctor will go in and remove all the arthritis, cartilage, and bone spurs from my ankle and foot. He will also remove the screws that have lived in my foot for the last 12 years.  Then, he will use some sticky stuff to "glue" the bones together and use more screws to secure the bones in place.  At this point, the bones are supposed to grow together, similar to what happens when you break a bone.  The ankle will be set at a normal resting position, so when it heals, I should be able to take a step without limping or hyper-extending my leg. So, although the movement is limited, the outcome should be easier than what I have been experiencing in recent history. And, because the arthritis and bone spurs will be removed, the pain should be gone.

In theory.

I have been warned that the forementioned is the "best case scenario." If everything goes perfectly, I should be pain free and limp-less.

However, it is possible that my ankle refuses to fuse together, and "Operation Peg Leg" as I have come to call it, is back on the table.  (Actually, my darling husband coined that term, while we were still in the doctor's office receiving information on my options. That man has tact. Mmhmm. )

I am making a conscious decision to think positive and ignore the worst case scenario(s).

That being said, even with the best case scenario....I am still having moments of absolute panic.

Panic of not being mobile with a toddler, two cats, and a golden retriever in the house.

Panic of falling down the stairs.

Panic of having my house clean and laundry done in the next 21 days.

Panic of decorating the house for Christmas in the next 21 days.

Panic of Christmas shopping for EVERYONE in the next 21 days.

Panic of traveling to Spartanburg to see my in-laws, North Carolina to see my grandfather, and Florida  to see my parents...all for Thanksgiving week which is RIGHT before my surgery. (Relax, both Kathys [mom and mother-in-law]...we want to come home!)

There is so much to do and so little time.
 
And seriously...do you know how hard it is to shop for Harper? She has EVERYTHING.  Apparently, for her first Christmas and her first birthday, I (and the grandparents) felt like all the stores would self implode and there would never be an opportunity to buy another present.  We have a fully stocked Pottery Barn / ToysRUs shop in her playroom. SOOOO... I would love some ideas from my fellow Moms out there in the same situation. I will shamelessly admit that I intend to re-gift some presents that she received last Christmas that were not as age appropriate at the time than I realized. Judge away.

Until next time, my fellow nosy peers....