24 & Walking

Graduation time I was barely walking. Every step was painful, every moment on my feet caused pain to radiate from my feet and up through my legs. During school and before I gained lots of weight and was no longer able to be the active person I wanted be at the age of 24.

Two months later, I’m walking. Not just walking but I got cleared to do exercises other than swimming last week. (There’s stipulations, but this is still super exciting!) There’s measurable improvement in my foot and every week they’re adding things to my physical therapy, they tend to be very painful, I get teased about bringing my squeeze ball to therapy because it keeps me from flailing about on the table. A new pair of shoes has also played a HUGE part in my recovery. It sounds so cheesy, but seriously people, these shoes changed my life. I plan to get a leather version for work– as soon as I’m working.

I’ve been doing a lot of photography, quite a bit of cooking for my family and with Kurt, and in the coming weeks I’ll be seeing family I haven’t spent time with in ages. I’ve missed two weddings and a baby out in the midwest and so much of my family in the Bay area.

I am so thankful for this time to rest, recover, and study– not to mention sort through all my stuff that I’ve held onto through the years. Next year will see another move to a new state, a new job, and a much smaller living space for quite some time.

 

Thanks for reading!

Simple things

I’ve rediscovered that it’s the simple things in life that can make such a big difference in life. I’m trying to make these trips to our park a daily habit with Belle. They’re good for both of us, time outside with Belle was suggested to me by the therapist.

Sunshine, fresh air, Belle cuteness– it’s a great positive thing for my mental health!

Here’s my favorite photo from today:

Happy Monday: The Needle Filled Edition

I’m not up for telling the whole long story tonight, mostly because I’m falling asleep sitting up from the exhaustion of the day.

I returned to the doctor after the NSAID pain patches failed to keep the pain under control when I was walking or wiggling my toes. I was willing to try anything today. Cortisone injection into the joint, full leg cast, toe amputation… I didn’t care. I just wanted relief. This is not the first or even second time I’ve sought treatment for this toe. I was already relieved when he came up with idea of the patches instead of vicodin and whatever.

People, the point I’m trying to make is, I’ve gotten more open to treatment options. Chiropractor and massage therapy already have worked wonders, so when the doctor asked if I’d be interested in trying Prolozone Therapy, I said sure. Vitamins and oxygen were injected into my foot, I was told there’d be some swelling that’d be expected and possibly even some discomfort as it was absorbed by the surrounding tissue. Whatever, fine, mild cramping for a cure of the pain I’ve been feeling? Sure! So… we did the injections! I have a follow up injection of Prolozone therapy in a week and then another set in two weeks.

I understand alternative therapies aren’t for everyone. That’s fine. But for me? I need relief and if this works? I’ll be so very happy!

Don’t look below if you don’t want to see pictures of my foot with a needle in it!

Numbing Agent before the injections

~

Foot prepped

akldfa

Injection part 1

Injection part 2

Between part one and two there was a repositioning. And then I couldn’t watch as he did the underside of my foot. I should know in a day or two if it’s working, and then another week I’ll go back if it helps. And people, if this helps, I will be thrilled beyond words. For now, I’m enjoying the sweet embrace of the warm compress.

The Sex Talk

I don’t really know what is the “right” way to educate about sex and STDs but I do know, something needs to change.

Danielle Corsetto of “Girls with Slingshots” did this comic which brought up a point about virginity: but also recently has brought up the fact that “clam to clam” can get you an STD/STI too.

It’s scary to me that middle school kids need to have the STD talk. It bothered me when I was in High School and was hearing that so and so’s little brother got busted in the bathroom having sex at school.

I didn’t grow up in a big city, so this isn’t something that “oh that happens in LA” kinda thing.

The Pregnancy Pact scandal? Have you seen 16 and Pregnant? It’s disturbing to me how many of the girls are as flippant about their babies as they would be say, a purse or a puppy. (I cringe watching the show and look at Belle, it worries me that she- a Papillon dog is treated better than the human babies on my screen.)

But that’s just what produces babies.

That  doesn’t talk about the STDs, the abortions, and the psychological complications that are coming from these young, often confused people being sexually active.

Use. Protection.

I cannot say this enough. Use protection, use common sense. You can catch something that will be with you the rest of your life and there is no “morning after pill” for that, those STDs can lay dormant for years, people can go on untested, or just be reckless.

Kids, teens, young adults, adults, and old people too need education about sex. About what is abuse, and why it’s ok to say stop. And that stop means STOP not “c’mon baby, do it for me.” (Consenting adults: if you decide to engage in some kind of sex play- have a safe word and set limits. Sometimes “banana” can mean STOP.)

Anal sex, same sex, oral sex… can all lead to STDs. This is where that common sense and protection thing comes in….

I feel like common sex education needs to find a place in today’s society.

#rantover

Protected: Why it’s Important to have a GOOD piercer.

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

Protected: Baby Steps & body mods

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

Current Skin Care Product Reviews

This all started when I begged for help in this blog: Help this girl find something that’ll work. I had responses I never anticipated including  Jan Voss (@Jan3005) who sent me samples of Arbonne. (A fantastic product, just out of my budget right now.)

I’ve had to find skin care products that I can afford and find in stores near me. I’m not satisfied with the makeup selection I’ve found. I’m currently using Covergirl products and the little bit of Bare Minerals I have left. (I lost all my makeup and all my brushes late last year, haven’t been able to afford or justify the $80ish it would cost to replace the brushes and makeup I lost.) So here’s the Covergirl stuff: Currently I have Covergirl: and It does an ok job, especially now that my skin has smoothed out.

I really love the “Wave™” by Neutrogena.

Picture from the Neutrogena website

My first one went away with the rest of my makeup, but I recently got the Wave™ Duo and I really like it, I have two kinds of pads, the ones that come with the initial purchase plus a pack of the “Gentle Exfoliating Pads.” My skin is noticeably smoother though I don’t use the exfoliating pads every day to prevent dryness.

Side veiw

It’s cute, it’s travel friendly for me because the pads don’t have the potential to leak like regular cleansers. (I would suggest you remove the batteries before packing it in your luggage!) Now, it is loud, and I’m sure not for everyone. But I really enjoy the Wave™. The biggest thing is to make sure the pad covers the disc, otherwise your face could get scratched!

I also got a cleanser that says it can be used as a mask or cleanser! The tingling was a bit much for me at first but heck I’ll try anything for blackheads.

And lastly, finally found my sensitive skin friendly moisturizer. This one didn’t have sun screen in it, boo, but I’ll have to find some other way to deal with this…however, I am happy to report my skin hasn’t reacted to the lotion.

I really would love to get a new “starter set” with BareEscentuals (Bare Minerals),but that’s $60! I love the ease of mixing colors because my skin goes from very white to tan during the year. I’ve had no problems with the products or the brushes– huge for my skin. The only thing I don’t know is if I need to go light or fairly light.

(All products are copyright etc of the respective companies.)

Delayed Final review of the Arbonne products samples

They were fantastic!

My skin never broke out, never got too itchy, and the smoothness was incredible! I can’t say I saw a decrease in my blackheads but I did notice that during the week I used the products my random pimple breakouts didnt happen and the pimple I had when I started went away faster than normal.

The only con for me was the price, I just can’t spend as much as the Arbonne products cost right now though in the future they are definitely in my top picks of skin products!

Click to read my first review of Arbonne.

Eye-Bleach

If you missed it (which if you’re reading this blog it’s doubtful you’ve missed the tweets or facebook comments) I got a drain cleaning scrub in my eye today at work. It contained all kinds of fun chemicals- like bleach.

Let’s cover the basics:

It burns, I went to the doctor, I have an eyepatch, it ITCHES, and yes-I’m now one eyed and piratey like my dog.

Did I cover the fact it itches??

It. itches.

I need a cone like Belle had to wear when she had her eye surgeries and stitches. It’s why I”m wearing the hard patch over my eye- so I don’t rub it! (Adult fail, I know.)

So, I”m cleared to work but driving has become more difficult. In fact typing this is a bit of an adventure. I have medications, primarily for pain and swelling (because it was cleaning solution it’s “not likely to become infected” …. geee thaaaaanks.) They didnt find any scratches on my cornea but the exam was a bit difficult because the numbing drops hadn’t kicked in all the way and I wasn’t able to keep my eye open.

My coworkers and boss were very nice about it all, I have work in the morning and a follow up appointment at the doctor’s office. Thank you all for your sweet and funny remarks. They’ve really helped! Belle has been adorably sympathetic though! (And wiggly and licky and cuddly.)

Barista-ing it’s rougher than it looks!

Ribs of Hope.

I mentioned I had news, here it is:

I drove 3hrs Tuesday to see the chiropractor who’s been helping me with my spine… With several ribs fully dislocated from my sternum.

They got the ribs back in but I still *hurt* . I had a theory that they were being continuously pulled out of place by muscles which typically means a week of true bedrest and enough meds that I would be stoned out of my mind for that week.

The massage therapist was there and after I explained what had happened (I almost cried when she touched my shoulder) she asked if I wanted to try massage.

It worked. People, that was the most painful 30 min of my life (she focused on the rib area especially the intercostal muscles-and she is STRONG) but it worked. Turns out the initial injury to the ribs was years ago and the muscles between the ribs had never recovered from the damage and that’s why I was having the 24/7 discomfort and pain.

This is thrilling to me, for the first time in almost twenty years (I’m only 22) I have hope that I may live without pain. I have many old injuries that I didn’t allow to heal properly and have always led to there being a dull roar of pain. Today, 3 days after the massage I only have a dull muscle ache, like a fading bruise. and to me- that’s amazing.