One Year and Counting

Today, one year ago things changed.  In the rather mundane task of picking up a bar of commercial soap (I note that because few people realize the dangers of using soap that is not hand crafted), a bar  that had fallen on the shower floor, I destroyed a disc in my back.  One bar of soap and one year later.  

I'm still recovering, I think I may be recovering for the rest of my life.  I wouldn't be surprised, I'm still trying to lose the last 5 pounds of baby weight and my daughter is 22 now.  Things take time.  It can be hard to be patient though.

I must be honest, I am not exactly where I envisioned myself.  In 5 days it will be the anniversary of my 1st surgery and then a few weeks later my second surgery.  So, because lists are fun lets see what I can now do that I could not do a year ago....wheeee!

- I can sleep in my bed

- I can walk up and down stairs like a grown up

- I can walk without falling down

- I am not taking truckloads of pain medication (my liver thanks me)

- I can stand upright

- I can pretty much live my life

What I cannot do

- stand on my left tiptoes

- walk in heels

- stop whining about the injustice of it all 

- feel half my left stupid leg

- run... Ok I've never really run like a normal person, I've always cantered.  I can canter on my right lead, I cannot canter well on my left lead.  Ask a horse person what I'm talking about.

What I should be able to do but seem to be having problems

- be brave enough to ride again

- walk with less of a limp.  I have gotten accustomed to limping, I tried to walk with less of a limp, roll of my weird numb toes more and I can.  Limping has become a bad habit.

What have I learned?  Life is pretty unpredictable.  I have had some crazy falls from horses, I've been in car accidents, I've lived an active and not risk free life.  I got taken down by a bar of soap.  So, enjoy every minute.  Enjoy the small things.  And most importantly, buy safe hand crafted soap, I just happen to have some.