I can walk!

This week marked 5 weeks since my surgery and I can now put 25%  weight on that foot.  I hadn't been to the doctor for three weeks because of my trip to Arkansas.  I was curious and had questions  for the follow up appointment.

The news was good and bad:
The GOOD- It was comforting to know that my recovery and healing is going well.  I have had so much swelling that I still cannot put on any shoes, which I was concerned about.   I found out that the swelling is normal and the peak time of swelling is actually now at weeks 4 and 5 because I am starting to put weight on my foot again.  I got just a little admonition to keep it elevated more, use more cold ice packs, and massage the foot more.  I was encouraged to find the biggest shoe that I could in order to start wearing it more. I guess it was just a matter of my mind, because yesterday I decided to start walking without crutches or my scooter (for short distances) and it is a WONDERFUL feeling to walk again (even if it is a limp). I can walk again!  Yay!
The BAD- They already started the paper work for my next surgery, October 25.  There were appointments to set, papers to sign, and just too much talk about what to expect with surgery #2. Again on the right foot, they said I have waited a bit too long causing the surgery to be more extensive than normal bunions.  He warned me that he may have to cut the bone in three places, but won't know until he gets it opened up.  Maybe it's not really such bad news.  I guess I feel like I'm still trying to just feel normal again and not ready to talk yet about going through it  all over again.

I know this may be a bit of overload info about my recovery- but it brings me back to the whole reason that I am here in the USA. I want to be a good patient, so the healing goes well.  If the next surgery goes as well as this one, I will be very happy!

If I had to pick any time of year to  enjoy Iowa- it would be now.  The leaves all around us are turning such beautiful colors and the weather is ideal to me. Not too cold, not too hot- just right!

I am so thankful for this quiet, cozy, little cabin and the simple life during this time.

I apologize- but not really

Time is rushing on and I haven't found much time for updates here.  We drove that 8 hour trip from Arkansas to Iowa on Monday.  Good-byes were not hard cuz  I can hardly wait for all our kids to come up in 3 weeks to celebrate Mike's 60th birthday.  They have never been to Iowa all at the same time- so I'm already thinking about what "Iowa-ish" things we can do together.

Our visit with them in Arkansas was such a great time.  I love my kids, my grand-kids, and my son-in-laws and anytime that we can be together.  I'm sorry for the overload on family photos, but was just looking through my files and found a few more that I have to share.  On Saturday before we left, C and S each had soccer games and they once again had the biggest cheering squad for them at their games.  Just look at all the cuteness bundled up in these photos:

Collin is looking so much older these days.  He turns 8 the day they arrive here in Iowa.

I hope he never gets too old for hugs for his Nina!

 Papa keeping Nathan entertained on the sidelines.

Nathan seems  to be enjoying his instruction from Papa about how to safely use a Swiss Army knife.

It was a sunny and hot morning, so the girls took turns putting water on each others backs to keep cool and gave each other "Thai massages". 

In the meantime, Collin tried so hard to score for his family cheering squad.  He had several really close ones, but no score at this game. 

After game photo.  They are such good friends and companions.

It's hard to get them all looking and Nathan thought the sun was just too bright!

Daddy bought giant pixie stiks for the in-between games treat. 

Love this progression of Nathan watching his older siblings and ....

... and his delight when they decide to share with him.

Meanwhile, Uncle Michael and Hayley were having their own kind of fun on the field.

I have not even tried to get a photo of all 13 of us together.  It's just too much work to be fun! Why do guys hate picture taking so much? When they are all in Iowa, I'd love to get a family photo.  If anyone can recommend a good and reasonable photographer, please let me know.  It will take some skill with our tribe- but we are up for the challenge.  Thanks for any suggestions!

Collin's Soccer

This week I got to see Collin play soccer at his game.  Being a bit older, the skill level at his game was bit higher than Summer's last week.

Mike drove down from Iowa and got in just in time for the game.  All the aunts and uncles were there, so it was pretty special to have  the whole family (13 of us) together.

The girls were so excited to see aunt Lori coming!

They were all happy to see their daddy-o again, too! 

Collin had a great cheering squad for him!

Go Collin Go!

He can be a serious and determined little guy while he is playing.

Summer and Aunt Bethany were matching! 

Discussing soccer strategy?  I don't think so! 

During his time out- he sat by me. Maybe I should have asked for his auto graph! 

 Love our Collin Michael Foltz!

10%

Thursday was a big day.  It was one month since the left foot surgery and now I get to put 10% of weight on my foot.  I'm still not sure how to measure that 10%- but I know my foot can now rest on the ground which is a good feeling. I'm not wearing the big boot anymore, but a smaller one.  My scooter is still my faithful companion.  It makes the hopping around so much easier and faster!

Being down here in Arkansas with all four girls has been a bit difficult because they and the grand-kids lead active lives and I'm limited on keeping up with all of them.  And yet, I am so thankful to get this time with them. We have enjoyed more intentional time with each of them.  We've tried to get time alone with each one and their spouses and catch up on their lives.  Being that they are all in a future time of transition and seeking God for decisions concerning work, we are so glad that we can be here with them to listen to their hearts and know how to more effectively pray for them  All four girls have hearts to serve God with their lives, and we are so thankful for the way we see them seeking Him to direct them in future decisions.

I an uncovering my foot more often now and have the big revealing to follow.  Don't get too grossed out! It is still swollen a lot and gets purple-ish if it is not elevated.

My next goal is to get shoes to fit on the foot again.  Haven't found any yet! Sorry to cause any nausea for some of you today! Healing is taking place!

Summer's Soccer

Enjoying my time here with my daughters, even with my continued limited  mobility.  Last night was a fun shish-ka-bob dinner with everyone including the Seiler family.  Charades is becoming a new favorite.

My plan was to just sit and read books and play games with the grand-kids- but I'm realizing they are bit too active for that and I look forward again to being able to move faster and be a bit more helpful again someday.  A surgery like this definitely makes me thankful for the two  good feet I took for granted.

It was a treat to get to go to one of Summer's soccer games this week.

She is actually a good little player for 6 years old!

She hustles and works hard and really loves to score most of all!  Duh!

Her daddy is one of  her coaches!

Coach Jon does a good job and enjoys it a lot too! 

What little girl is not proud to have her daddy be her coach?

She did find her turn at being goalie a little more boring.

I love the freedom as a 6 year old goalie that she has to just sit down and rest until the ball gets back on her half of the field and then jump right back up to defend her goal.

For the Foltz family, soccer is a family ordeal.  Nathan sat still for a minute or so of the game.

Most of the time he was on the move, wanting to get involved with the ball, too.

 

...or play with Aunt Lori's keys!

I am so proud of  Summer and happy for all the lessons  that she is  learning about team work, trying her hardest, winning and losing, etc. while playing soccer this year. 

And I know it meant a lot for her to have me there, by the frequent glances over my way to make sure I was watching her!  Yay for cheer-leader grandparents!

The Flamingo

This is exactly how I have felt these past three weeks.  Always standing on one foot!  In one more week, (four weeks after surgery) I get to start putting 10% of my weight on my foot.  I'm not quite sure how this 10% thing will work, but I know that I am really looking forward to that promotion in my recovery!

Jen had to get back to work so on Wednesday she loaded this ole Mama into the back seat of her car and drove us 8 hours down to Arkansas so I could recover with my family until Mike gets back.

 
It is so nice to have all four girls living in Fayetteville together so that I can go to one destination and visit all of them. 

Since everyone else is at work during the day, I'm staying with Marisa.  I'm definitely not much help to her, but at least I can read books, and play 'sit still' games with my grand kids.

They all are pretty fascinated by this interesting new Grandma.  At first I was a bit scary, but now Nathan LOVES my scooter.

In fact, they all think it is really cool and want a turn on it.  

Even the crutches are interesting and everyone wants a try with them. I have lots of little helpers here, and everyone is taking real good care of Nina.  I love the compassion, empathy and tenderness that children have towards someone disabled like me.

 

Daughter #5

After a big day out on Sunday, Jen and I took it easy yesterday by looking through a lot of the old photos and scrapbooks that I've found recently.  This is one of the favorites that she found of Mike and I about the time of our engagement.

My outing for today was to watch our Thai foster baby- (who has grown up so much) play in her ninth grade volleyball game.

Wish I could have gotten some shots of her in action because she is really good and is a starter on her team.

Our baby Katy is definitely growing up and becoming an amazing young woman that I am so proud of.  Seems not that long ago, that she was a sweet 5 month old in our home.

Sista's love-- between daughter #4 and daughter #5.  We love you Katy-Bug!

Today is Jen's last day in Iowa, too many things we'd like to do with limited mobility for this  one footed lady!  Another gorgeous day, too!  Feeling blessed!

Auction-ing with Jen!

Mike is in Canada this week, and Jennifer drove 8 hours up from Arkansas to be with me while he is gone.  I survived the first two days alone, but was so thankful to see her face when she arrived. It is so great to have this one on one time with her. We are spending time here at the cabin looking through the old treasures that I've been sorting through lately.  Jen is a big fan of old vintage stuff, so it is especially fun to witness her excitement of all this old stuff.

Yesterday after church, we decided to  check out the antique auction where my dad sold his stuff when moving off the farm.  Jen found some great buys, including these milk glass dishes. 

We were total amateurs when it came to the whole bidding thing at the auction, but it was so fun for us.  We both felt overwhelmed at how quick we had to make the decision of how high to go with the bidding-- but the longer we were there, we got better and figured it out.  This pot will always be a fun memory because it was the first thing we bid on.  It got to a price where we stopped bidding to quit, and then the auctioneer stopped everything to tell us it was ours.  We didn't want it and were confused- but got it anyway.  Guess you had to be there to experience the humor in that purchase.

 

This anthropoligie-ish lamp was Jen's favorite "find" of the day for $2.

 

Another great deal!

It is so interesting to look at all these old fashioned things and think about the history and  stories behind each of them for us.

Jen and I have two more days of reminiscing and enjoying Iowa together, and then she will drive me down to Arkansas so that she can get back to work.  We had so much fun at this auction, that we may even check out another one tomorrow.