Not Me! Monday--Stellan style

It's Not Me! Monday with a spin... this week, Not Me! Monday has been moved to the Cline's blog and is in honor of Stellan and the whole MckFamily. Five-month-old Stellan has been in the PICU for over a week now and desperately needs a miracle. Visit MckMama's blog to read updates about Stellan, and please pray!

This week, I have not been in one continuous prayer for Stellan... I don't think I've said "amen" yet.

I did not turn on my laptop before I went to bed, just to see if there was an update.

It was not me who spent almost an hour looking at Stellan's name gallery.

I was not disappointed today when one of my preschoolers was absent. We were going to take a picture for Stellan's name gallery and I wanted her to be included in the picture. I am not counting the hours until class on Wednesday when we can finally do it.

Today as I was telling my preschoolers about Stellan, I did not have tears forming in my eyes as I listened to them praying for him. The faith of children is so precious. Should teach us all a lesson. God STILL does miracles!

Wordless Wednesday

Not Me! Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

Because I was less than thrilled with last Monday's appointment at the therapist, I did not feel the need to call them and let them know I would have to get to my appointment on time for Wednesday, since I have to get to my preschool class. However, I did not wait until 8:00 p.m. to call because I knew the office would be closed and I wouldn't have to talk to anyone. I also did not write down notes for what I wanted to say, so I wouldn't ramble!

When I went to Wal-Mart for my first excursion without a wheelchair, I did not find the "enter" door blocked by a workman, which also prevented me from getting a cart. So, I for sure did not decide to try to walk about without a cart and get the things I needed. After carrying a pizza, rice, eyedroppers, and contact solution, I absolutely did not go through the checkout and carry my bags out to the entrance, only to put my bags in the cart and then haul them out to the car. Nope, I would never do anything so ridiculous as that--walk through the store without a cart and get one on the way out to the car.

This week I was not super excited when I was able to walk around the house in my socks! Yes, I did. My days of putting on heels after a shower are OVER!

As I was travelling home from church yesterday, I was not overcome with "stupid driver" comments as I followed a car with the left turn signal for several blocks. As the driver slowed, preparing for the turn, my thought were not confirmed as the car turned....right! Are you kidding me?

As I've said before, I love the webcam on my computer. Last night my sister and brother-in-law were here and we did not get on the webcam and "chat" with my sister in KC. It basically was a singspiration, starring Jess. Throughout this 90 minutes of hysterical fun, I did not find myself with tears running down my eyes from laughing so hard. And when Jess lip-lynced to Josh Groban singing the Star Spangled Banner, I though my insides would explode. Yes, it was hilarious!

11/52 Photo Challenge

For this week's photo challenge, I decided to cheat in a way. I was hoping to get some pictures of blue sky, but it's been cloudy for 2 weeks, so I'm using pictures from last summer in Alaska.

Hydrangeas

Blueberries from my blueberry fiasco... read the complete story here

Iceberg

LeConte Glacier

Spring Has Sprung...

March 20... yes, it's the first day of spring. Here in Minnesota, the first day of spring means 2 inches of wet, sloppy, sticky snow. The kind that's perfect for a snowman! As I taught preschool today, this was the view out the window.

If there's any positive to this, we know it won't be around for too much longer. Hopefully it will be gone by June!

Thankful Thursday

Things I'm thankful for this week...

Even thought it's been a long couple weeks, I actually took a few steps in my SOCKS this week. No heels! Yes, it was painful, but bearable. The days of wearing heels with a robe are coming to an end soon, I hope.

Tonight I stood outside for a few minutes, just looking at the intense blackness and the millions of stars brightening up the sky. And to think God knows how many there are. Baffles my mind.

Spring is officially here... tomorrow!

Only 20 days until Phantom of the Opera in Kansas City!!! Can't wait!

Not Me! Monday

It's time for Not Me! Monday. Check out MckMama's blog to see what she and everyone else have not done this week.

But first here's a few things I have not done this week.

With the season premiere of Dancing with the Stars, I did not watch the show that night, knowing I was going to vote for Melissa even before I saw her dance. Having made this decision, I for sure did not carry through and vote for her before I saw her dance. And I definitely did not sign in with 2 different accounts so I could give her more votes! That would be a waste of time, wouldn't it?

I brought my parents to the airport on Friday, and when I arrived home, I most certainly did not freak out when I saw a light on in the garage. I did not have thoughts going through my head like Who is hiding out in garage, waiting to get me? Should I even drive into the garage? What will I find if I go into the garage? After I drove into the garage very slowly, I did not find a shope light on the workbench, very close to a cardboard tube. Seeing this, I was not thinking What if that would have caught on fire? And upon further investigation, it was not me who realized that if the cardboard tube had caught on fire, the garage would have exploded because of the gas cans below the workbench. After the few short minutes when all of these thoughts transpired, I did not stay up until 2 a.m. to allow my mind to stop running away with crazy thoughts!

This afternoon, my school went on a bowling field trip. When we arrived at the bowling alley, I did not read a sign like this on the door...

OPEN

Monday 5:00-close

Tuesday 6:00-close

Wednesday 5:00-close

Thursday 5:00-close

Friday 4:00-close

Saturday 12:00-close

Sunday 12:00-close

I don't know about you, but I did not find this information helpful. At all! They are opened from the hours of 5:00, 6:00, etc. until they are closed? Wow, thank you for that very helpful information.

As I looked at my calendar on Sunday, I did not realize that I have 5 doctor appointments this week...all related to my leg injury.

I did not arrive at my physical therapy appointment this morning at 7:25, only to sit there for 35 minutes waiting to get started. The entire time, I was not thinking Why in the world did I wake up so early, just to sit in this chair. I could have slept in for another 35 minutes! And I was not inwardly upset when a lady who arrived 20 minutes after me got in for her therapy before I did. But it was probably that I was invisible and they couldn't see me, right? Otherwise, why would they take her in when I'd already been sitting there for 20 minutes? Yes, that must be the reason.

I did not just fall asleep watching TV, only to realize that I must get this posted in the next 14 minutes, while it's still Monday!

That's about all for now. Have a great week, and don't be worried about admitting what you have not done.

8/52 Photo Challenge

As I stated in a previous post, I didn't complete the photo challenge for week 8. Well, I have finally finished it. Today, I brought my parents to the Minneapolis airport to catch a flight to Alaska. After dropping them off at the curb (literally), I managed to hit rush hour in full force. It was slow driving for a while, and because of this, I managed to snap a couple pictures. Don't worry, Mom, I was driving about 5 miles an hour.

I know this was a Friday night at rush hour, but I just can't imagine doing this day in and day out. Fighting traffic. I think I'd have a ulcer before long.

I don't know how many times I've passed this road and I've always wanted to stop. Tonight I finally pulled over a got a picture. My little claim to fame!

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for...

• webcams (I got to see my niece and nephew--I mean sister and brother-in-law--tonight!
• my heating pad (feels great on a muscle that won't move because it's so tight)
• physical therapy being done for the week (I had a 90 minute workout today...painful!)
• weekends (tomorrow is Friday already!)
• anticipation of girl movie night Saturday ("Love Comes Softly" here we come!)

Not Me! Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

This is not going to be a Not Me! post filled with injury-related incidents. My activities this week have not been limited by the fact that I can't walk (very well, anyway). If you missed the complete story, read here.

I did not take a pain pill right before going to bed, only to read the instructions the following day... do not lie down for 30 minutes after taking this medication. OOPS!

This week, I was not known to hop out of the shower and put on a high heel... nope, not me! That would be an incredibly awful fashion statement.

I did not postpone trips to the bathroom because I knew my leg would hurt if I got up. I also did not calculate how long it would take me to get there.

A student at my school did not see my mom at church and say, "Did you know Miss Lutterman broke her intestine?" to which my mom replied, "No, it wasn't her intestine. It was a tendon."

Because I could not walk, I did not go to Wal-Mart with my mom have her escort me through the store in a wheelchair. It wasn't me who hoped I wouldn't see anyone I knew as we were shopping. (As it turns out, I only saw one person I knew.) Normally, I would not have gone under those circumstances, but I had to buy birthday presents. After all, an auntie can't show up at a party for her nieces and nephew without presents, right?

Since I'm only allowed 1-3 hours of walking or standing per day, I did not take my life into my hands and allow students with no driving skills to push me in the wheelchair. I was not pushed into the wall more than once.

We did not successfully pull off a surprise birthday party for my sister Becky on her "29th" birthday.

I am not totally excited for Dancing with the Stars tonight, especially since my sister Erin told me Melissa from The Bachelor would be on the show!

Hopefully I'll have a week filled with activities other than injury-related stories, but I'm afraid that will be my life for a while. Physical therapy starts tomorrow... YIKES!

9/52 Photo Challenge

The topic for this week's photo challenge is objects that tell something about you.

I love to play piano, just wish I had more time for it.

I collect teddy bears.

Not sure about the #1, but I am a teacher.

I like to sew and do crafts.

I am a Minnesota girl.

I love to read.

"Mylo" is one of my closest companions.

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for some things that I probably have never been thankful for in my life....

Based on things that have happened this week (read here), today I am thankful for:

• the fact that I don't need surgery.
• friends who offered me my first wheelchair ride (I might still have been walking back to my car)
• two days off to help me rest
• high heels... wearing them is the only way I can walk/hobble/shuffle right now.
• wheelchairs... at school, it makes trips to the bathroom much quicker
• students who are willing (although at times too eager) to push me in the wheelchair
• the weekend... which I coming tomorrow. (I have been thankful for that in the past.)

Anatomy 101

As you may know after reading my Not Me! post this morning, I injured my leg yesterday while walking at church. I ended the post saying I was counting the hours until I went to the orthopedic clinic to see what really happened. Well, I'm back and I have a diagnosis, so I thought I'd give you an update. And since I didn't get to teach today, I thought I'd use you as my students to tell you what I've learned. No really, it will be fun! :)

At my appointment, it was determined that I didn't injure my Achilles tendon and I don't have fluid on my knee (a good thing). I didn't need x-rays because they wouldn't show anything, and I don't need surgery.

In medical terms, I tore my plantaris tendon and medial gastrocnemius muscle in the calf of my left leg. What in the world is the plantaris tendon and medial gastrocnemius muscle? you wonder. I'm so glad you asked! Allow me to present you with your Anatomy 101 lesson for the day. This information is borrowed from a website, which I have become quite familiar with...

The plantaris muscle is a pencil-sized structure tapering down to a fine tendon which runs beneath the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to attach to the Achilles tendon or to the medial side of the tubercle of the calcaneus. The function of the muscle is of little importance and, with rupture of either the muscle or the tendon, the transient disability is due only to the pain of the torn fibers or swelling from the hemorrhage. Clinical differentiation from complete rupture of the Achilles tendon is sometimes difficult to make. The greater the initial pain and swelling, the longer one can expect the disability to last.

Now, allow me to explain in terms that "normal" people understand. I even found a picture! And a picture is worth a thousand words, as they say. Anyway, this tendon really doesn't have much of a purpose, although it is involved in locking the knee, I guess. The doctor said it's one of those body parts that we don't really need (like appendix). Even 7%-10% of people don't have one. I kinda wish I didn't! But then I wouldn't have learned this part of anatomy, so I guess it's okay. He explained what happened this way... While walking, as I put my heel down, it may have been off balance because I was walking up an incline, and the force of it caused my tendon to snap. It's like a rubber band was stretched to the max and someone cut it with a scissors. The intense, instant pain was from the tendon hitting the other muscles (rubber band hitting your finger). It's funny, because that's exactly how I explained it to my parents. Maybe I should be a doctor??? No, I don't think so.

Because the tendon/muscle tore, I have internal bleeding which may show up in a bruise in 7-10 days. He said don't be surprised if it goes to your ankle. I kind of hope it does. Battle wounds, I guess you'd call them. Wouldn't that make a cool picture? At least I'd have something to show for it all!

Treatment: I have a 9/16 inch lift I have to put under the insole of my shoe. As you read earlier, I have been known to walk around with a robe and high heeled shoe. That is because I can't put my foot flat and put any weight on it, so walking "normal" is out of the question for 6 weeks. After trying this lift, I realized it's not high enough, so I have to go get another one today. Hopefully that will help, although I'm sure the fashion statement I was making with my pajamas and heels would be magazine-worthy! I would have fit into the 50s well! Heels in the kitchen. I am restricted in walking/standing 1-3 hours a day, and knowing how long it takes me to get from one place to another, that's not too long. No climbing ladders (bummer), bending, stooping, squating, crouching, crawling, or kneeling. So pretty much I can sit.

I start physical therapy next week, 2 or 3 times a week for a month. Should be interesting. I am going to attempt to do preschool tomorrow, with the help of a wheeled desk chair. Hopefully the kids will be patient with me.

So there you have it, your anatomy lesson for the day. Your homework assignment??? Don't tear your plantaris tendon or gastrognemius muscle. It really hurts! THE FINAL EXAM IS A KILLER!

Not Me! Monday

This blog carnival was created by MckMama. Head on over to her blog to join in on the fun and read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week!

This week I definitely did not take off 2 days from school so I could go to a ladies craft retreat for 3 days. And at this retreat that I did not go to, I for sure would not have been the one to stay up until 3:00 a.m. to finish 3 quilts (which were Christmas presents from 2007).

It definitely was not me who was planning to stay at church for 12 hours on Sunday, first for church, then worship team practice, then planning for preschool. It could not have been me who, while walking (only walking, people!), heard a terrible ripping/tearing/snapping sound and realized I can't walk. Nope, I did not have knife-stabbing pain searing through my left calf, causing me not to be able to walk. And I for sure did not almost faint from the pain. Since all of this did not happen to me, I'm wondering why I'm sitting here in the recliner at 11:11 a.m. on a Monday, with the pain in my leg almost more than I can bear. It must be a bad dream or something.

Yesterday I did not have my first wheelchair ride.

It for sure wasn't me who crawled around the house when needing to get to the bathroom. And I did not realize that I would probably lose a crawing contest with my nephews. How do they do it? Hurts the knees like crazy!

After a few agonizing minutes in the shower this morning, I absolutely for sure did not put on a 2 inch heeled shoe, because I can't stand flat on my left foot. I was not limping around the house in a bathrobe and one heeled shoe. How's that for a fashion statement?

I did not contemplate the Bible verse that says something to the effect that if your leg offends you, cut it off. Hmmmmmm.... what kind of knife would I use for that?

Well, that's about all for this Monday. I am not counting the hours till I go to the orthopedic clinic to see what in the world is wrong with my leg. I'll keep you posted. (I just realized that is kind of a pun... and I'm not even on painkillers-yet!)

8/52 Photo Challenge

Well, I must admit that I didn't get this week's photo challenge completed. From Thursday through Saturday, I was at a ladies craft retreat and didn't get the time to take pictures. I was actually going to do it last night, but I was so tired, and it was starting to get dark also.

Right now, my challenge is walking, because while at church this afternoon, I tore/ripped/snapped something in the back of my calf and now I can't walk. I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure I've never heard anything like that before... the tearing/ripping/snapping. I actually heard it. Yes, my trying to walk is probably a funny sight, but the pain is overwhelming, to the point that I almost fainted at church. Thankfully I remembered something from my first aid class years ago. I sat down in the pew and put my head down as low as I could. After numbing my leg with ice (thanks Joel!), I got my first ever wheelchair ride (thanks Tiffani and Christina!) and gathered my stuff from school and headed home, where I've been sitting for the past 6 hours. So... I hope you'll forgive me if I take pictures later in the week and post them as last week's photo challenge. :)

I'm still puzzled about next week's challenge... objects that tell something about you. Should be interesting.