Elbow Progress

Yes, more boring Elbow news but I thought u'd like to see the progress.

This was last week. They took out the stitches last Wednesday. (Yes, this is rather late but I've been working 10-12 hour days including over the weekend/holiday. And that's all I'm going to say about that.)
Oh yes, and I was going to write something about physical therapy. PT DOES stand for Physical Torture. And I was worried about pushing it too hard on my own.

HA!

What I've learned: If it hurts, good.

If it feels like they are trying to crush ur arm with a ton of bricks or stretch it to the next zip code, EVEN BETTER!

Second scariest sentence I've ever heard: "If you couldn't touch ur head we'd have more work to do". (First scariest sentence: "Take everything off and put on this hospital gown". Still having nightmares about that.) (This picture was taken in the morning. I have 45 degree only after massaging my elbow and really pushing it in the morning, although if I work it in the evenings sometimes I can get there.. like last night! I think I got closer to 55 degrees!)

I do have to admit that my regular therapist (who went to Europe on vacation for 2 weeks) is much more vigorous than the guys she asked to cover for her. She got me to 45 degrees right before she left, which I promptly lost. The first substitute (last Friday) barely even pushed on it and the second one (this week) was somewhere in the middle. I think I like him the best :-). No pain, no gain right? Or as Akiko says, "the best medicine is bitter".
I remember asking after they took the splint off if I can force it.

Oh yes, force it. In fact put weights in ur hand when u are stretching it out! (Ouch)

And here it is yesterday. I'd been slowly taking the steri strips off so when I asked the physical therapist Wednesday if that was OK, he took them all off.The correct response is... Wow, that is so small! I can barely see it. Or.. U need to wash, somebody drew a line down ur elbow.

PS. One of the drafters at work asked "Couldn't they have at least used a straight edge?"

A Couple of Pictures

So all my posts are about my dumb elbow, but as Jenny said, elbow trouble trumps car trouble. No, Jenny's the one that's had car trouble, not me (see her blog). I was just trying 2 help her remember to feel sorry for me.

Yup, I'm starting to come out of the Anger/Denial stage and more in the depressed stage/milking it even more stage.

Its taking quite alot of ice cream, TV watching, 2 puzzles, pizza, burger king, 3 books, and milking it at work so I can go home early to do all of the above.

So, here are some pictures (I'm trying to let my right arm feel useful so I'm letting it type but it pushed some random buttons together and my computer started talking to me. Being left handed has helped me when my right arm was incapacitated but now my left arm is having a hard time letting my right arm help).

This is my favorite.
This is the "YES" the doctor wrote on my arm while they were nerve blocking it before surgery. I had already initialed the doctors orders by where it said "right arm". They don't want any mistakes!

Here is the pretty cool bruise. Mom thinks its where they clamped my arm down to start sawing and screwing.

It looks even prettier today. When Arvid saw it he thought I was turning into the incredible hulk.

And this is the brace the Physical Therapist put on my arm to protect it while I'm out inspecting bridges. She said I didn't have to wear it at home and I'm taking her at her word.

I asked for yellow but all they had was blue. Notice I took off the stupid sock thing they put over my arm/wrist but left the "YES". Hello, its the elbow that has the stitches, nothing wrong with my arm, 'cept its pretty weak and my pinkie feels all strange as my funny bone nerve tries to figure out what to do with itself. I really have to stop my left arm from only letting my right arm think its helping. We gotta get this arm back into shape!

And the last picture, my table by my bed. I thought the spread of drugs was pretty funny.

Everything you need for recovery, ice packs, drugs, throwup thing, hospital bracelets, more drugs, book, water, and my phone.

Everybody at work asks me how I'm doing and I always say "Fine, with drugs :-)". I've been taking Tylenol but soon I'll be mixing it up with ibuprofen. Apparently in some small specialized study Vitamin A (Advil) was shown to retard spinal bone growth in smokers. So I'm trying to tone down my intake.

Yesterday I went to Walmart and picked up 2 huge bottles of Vitamin T and A. I can just imagine how I looked with my brace, bottles of drugs, and some Prylosec cuz all that will probably do in my stomach. All the starers were probably just admiring my bruise and hoping I'd turn into the Incredible Hulk before their eyes.

Wish me luck in Physical Therapy next week!

Bionic Melanie

An update from the MOM:
Melanie's surgery was a success, however, it took much longer than planned somewhere around 4 or more hours. Melanie does not do well with anesthetic, and so ended up spending an extra day in the hospital. This picture is just before we left the hospital. The others were too pitiful.Maybe this will give an idea of why she still has some pain! You could build a bridge with that much steel! There are two plates on either side of the large bone, the nerve has been moved to the front, and one long plate on the smaller bone on the lower arm.

Emily said that if someone rushes her she can protect herself with her elbow. Dad has asked if she was feeling drawn to any magnets. She will think these are funny in a few more days.

Direct quote from Melanie: "I want to thank everyone for their prayers and good wishes."

Gardening

Do u ever cultivate plants in ur garden that u think are weeds that are easy to thin (cuz who cares if ur killing them? They're weeds!) just so it looks like u have a garden until ur sister comes 2 take care of u when u broke ur arm and tells u they're sunflowers?

No?

Oh.

Me neither.

(I Like Yellow)

Update:
Things u can't do one handed:
1. Wash ur good arm
2. Put on socks
3. Participate in the Ward Choirs rendition of "The Silent Monks Hallelujah Chorus" routine at the ward talent show (Holly Steed did a great job as understudy)
4. Drive and talk on the phone (Not that I ever did that b4 of course)
5. Get ready 4 work in an hour (although cuz ur in denial u still plan a half hour and r subsequently very late)
6. Remember its Mothers Day

Things u CAN do one handed:
1. Cut a tomato
2. Get a new calling of YW Secretary (kinda sad I won't b teaching anymore, although I'm sure the YW are happy)
3. Order food from Winder Farm since u were at work all day Saturday
4. Put in contacts
5. Get out of coming into work on Sunday so u can go 2 Mitchel Bunn's blessing
6. Milk it 4 all its worth and get lots of birthday wishes, presents, and chocolate. Thanks in advance :-)(Thanks Jamie! I need 2 get a frame)

Update

It takes way 2 long 2 type one handed so this is gonna b way short.


1. Today is my birthday.

2. My surgery is on the 14th (don't ask me why it takes them 2 weeks 2 schedule surgery) and my mother will b here.

3. Presents and chocolate will make me feel MUCH better.

4. I'm at work keeping my hand up (the picture is back lit but that's the best Akiko could do) and will b here for as much as I can stand (they gave the bridge I was going 2 QA/QC to someone else and I'm kinda disappointed but its so big I'll probably get a couple sheets later).


5. Things I learned u cant/shouldn't do one-handed (good thing I'm left handed):
a. Cut hair
b. Crotchet
c. Put caps on tight
d. Crotchet
e. Put hair in a pony tail
f. Crotchet
g. Type


6. Things u can do one handed:
a. drive
b. everything else not listed above


7. Presents, chocolate, balloons, promises u INTEND 2 keep help a person going 2 get surgery... especially right after her birthday.

8. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

One Fine Day on the Way to Work...

Things don't always go as planned.

On the way to work Saturday Melanie crashed. She rode to the hospital in style and the firemen took her bike home. Bethanie asked if they were single but Melanie said she forgot to ask for that important info.

This is Melanie in the hospital:


This is Melanie on drugs:

Her elbow took the brunt of the fall and is broken in a couple of pieces (this picture just shows one of the breaks).

Melissa came to the hospital to take pictures and to hold her hand (the non broken one)

I came (Emily) to Vegas to take pictures and use frozen vegies judiciously

Melanie said she is actually not too sore (other then the way broken elbow) today, which is good.

She is keeping up her spirits and is able to keep food down now (thanks VT's for the food).

And her fingers are very swollen and somewhat purple. Her face no longer matches her pillow which is good.

She is way stressed about work since there is so much to do. At least it was her right arm so she can still do stuff. She's going to need surgery so keep her in your thoughts and prayers. I (emily) am so greatful that it wasn't worse cause broken heads are harder to mend.

Windy Day

When it is so windy that signs get blown around and eventually stuck in the tree outside ur office, Don't leave ur windows open after ur lunchtime nap or u'll get this:

A seat full of dirt and leaves.

My whole car is gritty. YUCK.

PS. Happy Birthday Dad!

PPS. Send good thoughts Emily's way as she had her eyes re-lazered a few days ago... um.. was it a week ago? Wow time flies. I've been thinking of her by eating the frozen veggie burgers she left in my freezer last time she visited me. She's such a good sister!