You know how you're not supposed to say something is going good

Well yeah my hip pain last night and now (4:30 in the morning) is so crazy that you look up amputation.... Knowing all along you won't do it but hoping you could just so it'd stop hurting.

I went and got acupuncture and it didn't help at all. Usually it does but this time even during the treatment it hurt and I couldn't breathe through it. 

One step forward 2 steps back? 

The littlest things

Today I got up and walked to the bathroom without holding onto the walls.

Yesterday I say at the kitchen table to have my hot water and lemon.

I haven't filled the pain med prescription.

Those are 3 things that are pretty good:-)

Yes I'm limping through the day, and at night need all the ice and heat. (And last night my back was killing me umm that's new) but there are steps and I'm taking them!! And I'm so very grateful for them!

2 for 2

I had PT twice this week. Both times I left in more pain than when I went in 😳 so there's been just about no walking because of that. 

My fabulous therapist said I need to call my surgeon and get whatever meds it is I can take while on the meds for the blood clot. There's no point in being in pain... Blah blah blah! She also thinks 2 crutches is a good idea (still not happening)

I could only manage light stretches and the absolute minimum number of bridges, clams and we did add in leg lifts so I guess there's that to be proud of?!?

Ohh and finally my blood is 2.6 so I can stop giving myself shots in the stomach here's to hoping that the swelling will go down!

Poor poodle wants to know why we aren't going out...

The journey right?

Well 3 hip surgeries in 18 months leave me learning to walk again. I've spent 10 months of the last year and a half on crutches and 3 more months with a cane... This last surgery I decided I would go from crutches to walking no cane no single crutch just walk. Oh and I decided when on my own too! Monday was the day 😍 

I haven't had PT thanks to a blood clot and low blood levels. So I've been trying this on my own. Monday I did short walks of 3 houses down and back 3 times spread throughout the day. Tuesday I got cocky and walked a half mile and the way back was seeing stars. Wednesday I was non-weight bearing and stayed in the house on crutches. Today I started again walking small amounts and I'll continue that way. For now this blog is going to be my record of recovery so I can see how far I've come. Because in the day to day I don't see it but long term it's there!

Life in a nutshell

4 years and 1 year

It's my birthday! And I'm kind of reflective today.

4 years ago today I was living at the house I grew up in. It's about 2 miles away from where I live now. That's not a big distance but it's light years at the same time. Let me explain...

I lived at the end of a small dead end road. Now I live on a cut through street. I lived in a good sized house. Now I live in a small home. I lived in front of conservation land. Now I live near a lake. 

The lake, the cut through, the small house... It's all done something to me. I spend more time outside. I walk that lake almost every day, being in a small house we leave the wooden door open almost all the time so I see all the runners and walkers cutting through and it just goads me to get out and enjoy a day. 

How can you not want to see that view every single day??

Now a year ago I was 14 days post-op (#2) and still on crutches and pretty freaking miserable. This morning the poodle and I were out at 5:30 to walk our lake; WITH the extra wooded path he loves so much! It really has become the little things that mean so much to me :-)

Yes I know this isn't heeling but those pictures always suck!

And now I'm going to go enjoy my day- wake up my husband and figure out what we are going to do!

What are your long weekend plans? 

Days of spring

I have been taking the poodle for my 10,000 steps lately (hello fitbit addict) and for our 3rd walk of the day yesterday the husband came. Well to the poodle that meant it's swim time. And swim he did. In a lake that was frozen 6 days ago on a 52 degree day... BUT he was happy (and I believe crazy)

The question I get asked

More than any other...

"What are you going to do when the poodle dies?" (He's only 5 people don't ask)

I have 2 replies 

"He's never going to die"

Or

"The poodle and I go together" 

I have survived a lot of death in my life but his? I'm not so sure... He is my faithful constant companion. I can't imagine a world without him. I have legit anxiety when he and I are separated for a day when he has a grooming appointment. Our trip to Italy was shorter than planned because I can't be without the poodle. 

We've been going to a lot of therapy jobs lately and I see the joy he brings to other people and I'm so proud to call him mine. He really is my baby! 

Apparently after a long quiet time all I can do is gush about the dog 😜 typical! I'll be back sooner and I'll tell you how I quit pt and built new storage for the house ACTUAL fun stuff!

(I call this dog as my co-pilot)

What have you been up to??

A little class and a little trash

A repost of my current Facebook status:

As I kick what was easily the most difficult year of my life to the curb. I'm actually not thinking as much about 8 months on crutches, 2 surgeries and a ridiculous 14 funerals. 

Instead I'm thankful that I had 14 people I loved share their lives with me, I'm sorry they're gone but certain they know I loved them with all I had.

I'm excited for friends who've had babies this year and I can't wait to see what they become. 

But mostly I am thinking how truly blessed I am that I have friends and family who have stuck beside me this year. 

*A sister who took me to Italy (on crutches and had to carry my bags)

*Family who did their very best to make me comfortable

*Friends who brought me to every appointment and surgery known to man

*More friends who sent me text after text with inspiration and cheer and love and compassion 

*A husband who let me whine when I deserved it and reminded me it wasn't all bad when I'd complained enough.

and

*A poodle who caught my every tear in his brown coat with all the love in the world 

Tonight I'll celebrate the end of this year but more so I'll look forward to 2015 because I know it's going to bring great things for us all! 

And the cake I bought for tonight:

Wishing you the best that 2015 has to offer!

In case you were wondering

I chose the tangerine uggs! 

Christmas this year is hard... All of this year is hard! I dropped the Disney half marathon for January - even walking 13 miles at this point isn't a possibility for me. Not really sure it will be again. And I'm trying very hard not to be a bitter bitch about it. Christmas is 2 days away and I'm just looking forward to it being over!

What are you up to?

Seriously I can't make decisions

I went out looking for winter boots. I found some uggs at a great price at an awesome new consignment shop. I came up with 2 that I liked and that fit... BUT I couldn't decide between the two! So what did I do? Took a pic sent it to some friends and left with neither! 

Any opinion? 

On another note I had my approximately ten millionth MRI this morning. And I saw my ortho yesterday and he asked about my mood - I'm thinking that means that I'm becoming pretty obvious that I'm unhappy. 

I made some fun Christmas crafts recently... 

And of course the poodle has celebrated the holiday...

What is your week like???

4 things about me

I have a goal for the rest of the year (short term here aye?) but I'd like to post once a week... And here's a little push

I found this on katywidrick.com and decided to play! 

Four names that people call me (other than my real name)

Joy-Joy (quite a few friends call me this)

JL (one of my oldest friends)

Happy-Happy (my sister as a play on happy happy joy joy)

Hun (J calls me this sometimes)

Four jobs I’ve had

Bartender 

Host

Customer Service

Returns Specialist

Four movies I’ve watched more than once

ET

50 First Dates

LILO and Stitch

My wedding video

Four books I’d recommend

Seventeen; forgotten and homeless

Any of the elm creek quilters

Any of the father Tim 

Shel Silverstein where the sidewalk ends 

Four places I’ve lived

Wilmington - how about about one? unless I say Wilmington house that burned down Wilmington house built in same spot Wilmington house a mile away...

Four places I’ve visited

Italy

Jamaica

Costa Rica

Disney world

Four places I’d rather be right now

I'm in bed with the poodle and J there's no place else is rather be...

Four things I don’t eat

Cheese

Meat

Eggs

Peas

Four of my favorite foods

Slushies

Watermelon

Peaches

Harry & David pears

Four TV shows I watch

Biggest Loser

Shark Tank

Big Bang Theory

Project Runway

Four things I’m looking forward to this year

Disney

It not being 2014 - I have HATED this year

Hopefully being out of pain

Hugging the poodle

Four things I’m always saying

I hate my stupid hip

Yup I'll see you then (confirming dr appointments and pt)

Who's the most handsome poodle in the whole wide world? 

Love you to the moon

And here's a poodle pic because what's the point?

Seriously he kills me with cuteness!

Play along answer one or more :-)

Italy - Michelangelo square

From Wikipedia:

 Piazzale Michelangelo (Michelangelo Square) is a famous square with a magnificent panoramic view ofFlorence, Italy, and is a popular tourist destination

Even the street lamps are pretty

I loved the mountains

So many churches

Duomo

Again Duomo because its just too pretty and big for 1 shot

The wall of the city

A bronze copy of the David

I can certainly see why this is a huge tourist spot can you?

Day 4 in Italy

Greve in chianti a stop on our winery tours 

Making grapes to wine

Tester barrel

Day 3 in Italy

Duomo

So grand there just aren't even words

I couldn't have taken more pictures of buildings if I tried!

Florence is my italian soul's home

Day 2 in Italy

The hubs told me to swim in fountains?

Why is this country so gorgeous?

Cutest diet coke ever!

Botticelli - no words!

Night stroll by the church!

Day 1 in Italy

We arrived around noon after very boring flights (hallelujah)

Florence is stunning 

Learn myself

I'm obsessed! With those stupid little tests you see on Facebook... But this one was amazing! 3 minutes of questions and it described me to a T

If you google learn myself you can go to the website and do it. Let me know how yours comes out!