Snow and Ornaments

So DC is having a winter storm! It started snowing last night (Friday) at about 8pm and is still supposed to snow until 5am on Sunday. I know we have had at least 2 feet so far. This Florida girl has never seen anything like it! It is absolutely beautiful and so very peaceful. I took advantage of the time to finish up my ornaments for an ornament party on Sunday. I made about 20 total. I made reindeer out of three clothespins (without the metal on them). A three year old could make this so I don't feel crafty or special in any way but this gimp girl crutched around Michaels for an hour with Josh trying to find a good craft and they were all so expensive...well, I had to make at least 17 ornaments so that is why it was so expensive! So, I called my mom and she told me I could make these reindeer. I painted them a tannish color and then slapped on the glue, wiggly eyes, nose, and bushy white tail and then tied the reins and added a bell. :-) Hopefully the ornament party doesn't get snowed out! Here are a few pics of the snow and my lovely ornament. :-) Enjoy the holidays!

And surgery number 10 here we come...

I thought I would let my fellow bloggers know that I am coming up on my 10th and hopefully final surgery (due to the knife/foot injury). I think most everyone knows the story but I'll try and recap quickly. In April 2007 I dropped a paring knife on my foot. I thought my foot was okay because I was not in pain and my cut was very small. However, after a week I noticed I could not move my great toe. I went to a podiatrist and he said my tendon was lacerated. So, I had an outpatient repair surgery (1st surgery). After being home for about a week I was still in excruciating pain and my pain meds were not working at all . Come to find out I was in pain because I had an infection from the surgery. I had to have an emergency in-patient surgery to get all of the infection out (called a debridement). My infection still worsened though. After having 5 surgeries at one hospital and with my podiatrist, he said it appeared I still had infection and he did not know what else to do so he referred me to Georgetown University Hospital. I had my 7th surgery at Georgetown in which they found that my infection had gotten so bad that my tendon was no good and the infection was heading to my bones. From that point, I had my 8th surgery (another debridement) and then finally my 9th surgery, a 9 hour reconstructive skin-flap and tendon transfer surgery. The doctors at Georgetown were so wonderful. To be sure my new tendon in my foot was protected, they packed in extra tissue, which they had hoped would go down completely (although they did say it may not). So, here we are. My tissue in my foot has in fact gone down quite a bit since my surgery in June 2007, but it has not gone down enough. I still can't fit into a lot of shoes/boots. This 10th surgery will be lyposuction/tissue readjustment. I told my doctor to feel free to stick the needle in my tummy, thighs, and under my arms too. :-)

My surgery is Thursday, December 10 at 8am at Georgetown. This is the same doctor that did my reconstructive surgery and he is one of few microsurgeons in the United States. It is supposed to be a very simple surgery and as of now I will go home later on that same day. I am not nervous yet, but I know when I get there I will remember everything I experienced two years ago which is very emotional for me. If you think of it, please say a prayer that I will feel at ease , my surgery will go smoothly and I will have good results. :-)