10 week follow up

Yesterday, I had my 10 week follow up with my Orthopedist. I was super excited to go, thinking this would be my last visit. Well, I was wrong. After I got some x-rays done, I went into a room, waiting for the PA and the Doctor. They came in and had a puzzled look on their faces. They told me that for some reason, my bone hasn't fully healed. According to the doctor, normally, it would take 8 weeks for a bone to heal and considering my age and health, there was no reason why the bone shouldn't heal.


Initially, I was quite disappointed and visibly upset to hear about the results of the x-rays. This lasted only for a brief moment because I realized that I serve a great God. It's amazing how God prepares you for every situation in your life. The morning of my appointment, I was watching Marilyn Hickey while getting ready. She was talking about the healing power of God and His word. She talked about a woman who was completely healed from having 26 tumors on her body!

I was reminded of this when I was at the doctor's office. I claimed that God is my healer and He is going to make my bone grow. His word says that and He never lies. I thank God for loving me enough to prepare me and give me strength for every situation in life. His mercies are new every morning.

I'm Pooped!

I left home at 9:35 a.m. for my Physical Therapy appointment and got back home at 11:45 a.m.! Boy, they really work you! My foot is super sore but I feel like I got a lot accomplished.

My therapist's name is Beth and she's super sweet. Beth had me do several different different exercises. These included exercises on the stationary bike, a mini trampoline, a body gym, a heel wedge, and my least favorite, the balance trainer. The balance trainer is a round board you stand on and move your ankle without rotating the actual board, or your hips. Of course, as with all things involving balance, this was challenging for me.

Beth kept going...Priya, don't move your hips. I looked at her and went, Beth, I am Indian...I can't do anything without moving my hips! The best part of the PT session is the 5 minute foot massage at the end. I felt bad for Beth though. My foot isn't a pretty sight right now. Not to totally gross you out, but I have blisters and a couple of open wounds from my boot rubbing on my ankle. Told you...totally gross. Hopefully, this will disappear soon.

Anyway, when I came back home, my body just wanted to crash...but not my mind. I am ready to take on the day! I am going to hang out with my friends Jenny, Joseph and their daughter Isabel. They will be here soon and I can't wait!

Swollen ankle

I temporarily have a cankle! Right now, both my ankles (and feet) look so different. My left ankle is considerably bigger than my right one. It's very odd looking I tell ya. I would post a picture but I want you to hold onto the dinner you just had. Be grateful and just consider yourselves spared.

I've exercised my ankle, put ice on it, and kept it elevated but it still looks the same. I'm not going to lose hope though. I'm praying that it goes back to it's original shape and size.

Which gets me to thinking...I wonder if I can fit into my pointy red heels..hmm. (Just kidding, Mom!)

Life Lessons

A week from today, I should be off my boot and onto a brace. I cannot tell you how excited I am! A week ago, I honestly didn't know if I can get off my crutches. I just kept praying, asking God to give me strength for each new day. You know what? He did give me strength and I can do things this week that I couldn't do last week. I can do today what I couldn't yesterday.

I have been reading the book of Joshua and I kept telling myself that the same God who parted the Red Sea and the Jordan River is the same God whom I serve. If He can do that, surely He can heal my ankle. All He requires is that I trust Him, have faith and start acting on what His word says.

A few weeks ago, I was reading about and listening to Joni Eareckson Tada. In 1967, Joni had a terrible diving accident which left her permanently paralyzed, unable to use her hands and legs. However, she didn't let that stop her from living her life the way that God intended for her. She persevered, despite the difficult challenges she faced. Now, she has written more than 30 books and founded Joni and Friends, a ministry which helps families with disabilities. How inspirational!

When I read about people like Joni, I realize that the things I face are n-o-t-h-i-n-g compared to all that she has gone through. I may lose sight of this now and then but it's always good to keep things in perspective.

Right now, my ankle and foot are still weak because they have not gotten much use. They feel lifeless. However, even though it feels weird to walk and hurts to walk, I have to keep pressing through. The more I walk, the stronger my ankle and foot will become. Isn't that exactly how our walk with the Lord is? This is a lesson I am having to learn and re-learn in life. I am so glad that God is patient with me. Despite all my shortcomings, He loves me enough to never give up on me.

My new found inspiration

We just got back from our Tuesday night Bible study, which is held at our friends Mike and Geraldine's place. They are our wonderful British friends and we have loads of fun together.

We haven't met the entire summer and I sure have missed everyone. One of our friends just had a baby girl and we got to meet her for the first time today. She is 2 weeks old and she's darling! Absolutely perfect! She's this teensyweensy and it was so great to hold her, until she started crying of course.

When the night ended, Geraldine reminded me that I need to get better soon so we can go to the Indian grocery store and start cooking together. Well Geraldine, that is all the inspiration I needed! You will be proud to know that I just walked up a whole flight of stairs (22 to be exact) to get home. This is the first my friend...in six weeks!

Could you do me a favor? Can you please remind me about this each time you see me? Please? Better yet, feel free to call, e-mail or text me....daily.

Doctor's appointment

Yesterday, I had my 6 week follow up appointment with my orthopedist. We got there at 3:40 pm and left at 5:30 pm...not too bad. I met a few cool people, in the elevator and in the waiting room. You must understand that I have missed being around people. My day consists of reading, spending dangerous amounts of time on my computer, working, walking to the bathroom, walking to the living room, walking back to the bathroom and being on the phone. So, when I see people, I get a tad bit excited.

Here we were sitting in the waiting room and I look at my husband and say...look honey, there are people everywhere...how exciting! He goes, Priya, we don't even know any of them. I go, yes honey, but they are HUMAN BEINGS like me! This one older gentleman struck up a conversation with me telling me how he once broke his ankle "when an 800 pound heifer decided to dance and step on me"....his words, not mine. Haha...man, I love people!

After 20 minutes, the nurse called us in and took us to a room. I removed my boot and had x-rays done. Then, the PA walks in and tells me my x-rays look great, and even though they can still see the fracture line, my leg is healing just fine. She then told me that I may need physical therapy. I was hesitant to believe her because the last 2 times, she gave me the exact opposite diagnosis of the doctor's.

This time however, she was right on the money! The doc came in and checked out my ankle...not exactly a pretty sight. He asked me if I started to put a little weight on it. I said yes, I have. Then my sweet husband goes, "no doctor, she still just hops on one foot." I looked at him like, seriously, I did not just hear you say that. He sat there, grinning ear to ear.

Anyway, the doc told me that I can be off my crutches in 1 week, off my boot in 2 weeks and onto a brace the 3rd week. Yay! Then, we checked out and I got fitted for a brace that I can wear under my tennis shoes.

Now, I just have to learn to wean myself off the crutches. The other thing is, I need to learn to walk heel to toe in my boot, without the crutches. This is challenging because since I was a kid, I've been walking toe to heel. The boot is angled in such a way that if I were to walk toe to heel, I will end up flat on my face.

This is where giving up control and trusting in the Lord comes in. I have to put one foot in front of the other (literally) and trust that the Lord will help me.


p.s. I said I was going to do a post on Costco but that will just have to wait for another day.

Another perk of having a broken ankle

I have a wonderful little brother, Prakash. Well, he's not so little anymore...he's 25. To me, he will always be my baby brother. He is every parent's dream. He is every sister's dream. He's what my parents call "the easy kid".

Prakash has wanted a Sony Vaio laptop for some time but he couldn't justify spending that much money.

Well little brother, I've got some good news for you. Now, you can live vicariously through me because my husband just got me one! My very own beautiful dove white Sony Vaio laptop. Here, take a peek.

http://www.itechnews.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/Sony-VAIO-CR-Notebook.jpg

If you want your own, I know a perfect little way you can get one (of course, I don't recommend it)...and it won't cost you a penny. ;)

What happens when you break your ankle?

Why, you start a blog!

About 3 weeks ago, I fell and fractured my left ankle. Since then, I've been unable to walk on that leg. Translation: LOTS of free time in a La-Z-Boy, with your computer.

Last year, my husband broke his clavicle playing basketball. Now see, if you're going to break a bone, you better have a cool story like that to tell...but I don't. Here are some stories I conjured up in my head to tell folks when they asked:

1.) I was wearing 5 inch stilettos and was on a hot date with my husband when I tripped.
2.) I broke my ankle ice skating at the Galleria.
3.) I broke my leg taking Salsa dancing lessons.
4.) I took my dog walking; he saw a squirrel and darted after it, when I lost control and fell.

I have other scenarios mulling in my head but I will spare you. The problem with the first 3 stories is, for those of you who truly know me, these won’t fly. Scenario #4 is impossible because I don’t even have a dog but so wish I did (more on that another day).

When I told my friend Mica that I fractured my ankle, the first thing she said was, “your clumsiness finally caught up with you!”. Many of my friends were not totally shocked…in fact, some of them said, “I’m surprised this is your first broken bone”.

Ok, so here's the true version. my husband and I were going out for dinner on a Friday night. Our friends Jared & Carrie had been telling us about this wonderful Persian restaurant so we thought we’d give it a shot. Seeing that this place was packed, my husband dropped me off in front so I can get a table, while he looked for parking. As I was walking in, wearing my BORN shoes (yes, I said BORN), my right leg slightly slipped out of the shoe. To catch myself from falling, I put my left leg in front of it (note to self: if you’re going to fall, don’t try to prevent it). My left leg turned inward and I felt a few “cracks”.

So, here I was, in front of this restaurant, on the floor, thinking Lord, right now would be a great time for you to come back. My husband saw me and said “you probably just sprained your ankle”…oh my sweet, sweet husband. I gave him this look like “I KNOW what a sprain is and trust me, this is NOT a sprain”. He helped me in the car and took me to the ER, bless his heart, I love him so much.

The nurse at the ER took one look at my ankle and said, “honey, I don’t need an x-ray to tell you that is broken”. They put a splint on me and sent me home.

The following day, I received this text msg. from my friend Grace: “I am wearing Born shoes. I should watch where I walk”. Haha Grace. Very funny.

p.s. If anyone wears an 8 ½ size shoe and would like a “barely worn” pair of Born shoes, please let me know.