Almost ran today...week round up.

This week has been crazy.

I'm off duty today so I thought I would go have some breakfast and read. Right now I'm reading "America's Cheapest Family" to help me re-evaluate my finances and get on top of things. I really like it so far. I also noticed that I was reading it on my iPad that I pulled out of my Coach Purse.
Apparently this self intervention is way overdue.

In my defense, I paid cash for both and saved up for quite a while for the iPad.

Then I planned on running at the rec center here in Rock Springs. They have a track that is really soft and I though it would give me an idea of how my foot is feeling. Unfortunately I started reading and fell asleep. It was an epic nap! I needed it!

This week included 2 extra ICU shifts and 2 trips to the hangar for training and a partial rotor shift. I'm in Rock Springs now until Christmas Day and had to get all of Christmas done. I wanted to do a better blog post and a few other projects but my laptop decided to do this:

I have some corrupt files so hopefully when it's done with this scan it will be ready to party. It's taking forever so it looks like the party is delayed. This post is being written on my iPad and I really struggle typing on it.

Tomorrow should come a post that I've been tweaking for two weeks. It explains some struggles right now that have recently happened and have added to the stress of not running and working so much. Really the other way around.

Maybe I can sneak over to the recreation center in the next two days. I really need to give this foot a test drive!!! Christmas is only 3 days away! Happy Holidays!

Blog on......

Needle here, needle there

No, I'm not picking up illicit drug use.
I finally had my nerve study done, an EMG or electromyography.  There were lots of zaps and a few (too many) needle pokes.  The needles are really small but they go all the way to the muscle and stay while they test your muscles.  

Here is the machine. 

It was about 45 minutes and at times uncomfortable but not unbearable.  

Great news!  I do not have any nerve impingement!  I may have some nerve irritation and my peroneal (a word that is uncomfortably close to perinium) nerve is somewhat weak.  The weakness is in both legs so more then likely it's just me. My muscles don't show any signs of nerve weakness.  I don't have the full report but it is encouraging!   

Stay strong my friend!!

Came home and wrapped all the presents and am officially ready for Christmas!

Happy Holidays!!

Blog on......................

It really happened...

I was at work today and I asked a mechanic if they had any boxes.  He said, "ask Scooby (not his real name), he's the box guy".  Wow, a box guy.  If there wouldn't have been 8 other mechanics around I would have asked if that was all Scooby had to do.  They didn't even have very many boxes.  Guess it's just a part time job.  

Amazon box guy is a bully.

THEN,

I went to the hospital to do some stuff.  I was in full uniform and wearing my boots.  My foot didn't hurt at all and I thought I was rocking the walk.  FOUR people that I have worked with asked me what was wrong and why was I limping.  REALLY?  I know part of it was the boots or if I've been limping so long I need to relearn walking.  I appreciate the concerns and glad my foot isn't hurting so bad.  

Probably because I bought these Bad Ass shoe inserts!

I did some research and had never heard of these.  You can find some information about them at Yoursole.  I went to REI to buy another brand and this very nice informative sales lady had me try the ones they offered and when I mentioned my issue she told me about these and when I felt them they felt like they had a little more cushion on the heel and deeper heel cups.  

They are magic!   My heel loves them!

Unfortunately I didn't buy some for my flight boots.  They do make an insert that is for cold weather that I would love to have.  So I spent part of the day without them and that made my foot sad, but it didn't hurt.  That is very good.  

I have them on now.  Yes!  Love them.  

Did I mention that they are moldable?  I agree with the saleslady when I say that just wearing them around will mold them well enough for me.  But if I want to I can warm them up and mold them to my feet.  They are pricey at 45.00, but my custom inserts (that aggravate my heel) were 325.00.  Now I must save for the insulated inserts that are 55.00.  Boom.  Going to be worth it!

Do you use insole/inserts?

Blog on..................

Hot Stabbin

is what was overheard during my training on our new helicopter.  ::::giggle giggle, snicker, snicker:::::   You can't take me anywhere.  Apparently when you plug something into a helicopter it is a "stab in".  When it's a battery then it's a "hot stab in".  Ok....I'm pretty sure I'm just burying myself in a really big hole.

Just to remind everyone how awesome this bad boy looks, here is a lookie from when it stopped by on it's way for a few more modifications. 

Now it is sitting in the hangar getting worked over by a buncha hooligans!  I'm just kidding, although flight crews have quite the personality.  For what we do and see and how our job works there has to be a little craziness.  Today was the last day of training and then it will start transporting patients in a couple of weeks.  Boom!  yes!  My first shift with this bad boy will be the night of January 20th..or 21st.  I can't remember.  

Here's a little peek.

Look how awesome those seats are!

State of the art equipment for our awesome pilots.

A huge chunk of titanium holds the blades in place.

One of the pilots, Jeff.  He started about the same time I did and he has some nail biting war stories.  Every time he starts telling a story about his military experiences I am mesmerized.  In my head I'm thinking, "and then what!".  He's here teaching a few things about the ship. 

We have clam shell doors in the back and a stretcher for patient loading.  It's quite roomy.  

TADA!

We have two sets of lights.  One are for days and the bluish ones are for when it's night and we are wearing night vision goggles.  Yes, we get to wear them.  I'm not finished with my training on them and they make some people nauseated but I'm still excited.

Those latches on the floor on the left are for our stretcher/gurney to lock in.  This thing weighs 100 lbs but it's pretty manageable.  It's a minimum 2 person job, but with some guidance from my wheel person (thanks Carol!) I was actually able to get the stretcher in and locked WITH a medic on it.  There is hope for me yet!  

It was a great distraction to play at work for a few hours.  After that I actually finished all my Christmas shopping!  By the time I finished doing all that walking my foot was aching so bad!  I was trying not to limp, but I did a little and then my other hip gets a little tired.  ARRRGGG!  I did come home and ice and elevate it, so it felt better.  

Until my son called to tell me his car called it a day.

I had to meet AAA there to pick it up to tow it to our house.  There is something wrong with the transmission and maybe the CV joint.  I give up.  I thought we would be able to keep it going.  Now Daniel needs to figure out a way to get around.  I think he's tired of this car too.  

The worst thing was getting off the couch and leaving the soup I was simmering.  I made a sweet potato and bacon soup that had a can of coconut milk in it.  It was heaven!  

DOCTOR FOOT UPDATE:

This week I went to my internist for a follow up visit.  He's been my doctor about 10 years and knows me very well.  I love him, he's very knowledgeable and encourages prevention. 

Anyway, I was voicing my frustration with my foot and my podiatrist and my orthopedic surgeon.  He looked at it and really cleared things up for me.  He explained what nerve could be entrapped and if I don't get it fixed then it will cause permanent damage.  He tapped on the inside of my foot and although it didn't hurt, I could feel it.  Maybe it was just the way he explained it that made things so much clearer for me. I know I have a few things going on with my foot, but I feel so helpless without actively doing something with it.  Icing, elevation and massage doesn't feel like enough work.  

What it means to me is that I'm waiting to see what the nerve study test tells me.  If the nerve is entrapped I will not run and probably have to find a substitute for Florida.  If it's not entrapped, then with a new insert and continue taping I'm going to run very carefully and see how it feels.  I know the very best thing would be for me to stop running altogether and I will if it has nerve involvement, but I would be heartbroken to miss the Florida race.  I have my airline tickets (so I'm going if I race or not) and my mileage is pretty minimal.  (longest is 8 and then like 5 and 4 miles)    

SO, cross your fingers that the nerve test comes up negative and I can get some better ideas for healing once I get the results!  

In the meantime, Happy Holidays!!

(picture from my family party)

Blog on.............