Snow Fun

This is us on our honeymoon, September 1975, chaperoning the BYU Cougar Band.  Not exactly what we had planned!

But we still found time to have fun the winter of '76. We went snowshoeing up Provo Canyon, with Wayne Rodearmel and a friend, where we discovered that snowshoeing is harder than it looks and that pulling off the road on a back road is probably not a good idea if you don't know where the road ends and the ditch begins. However, if you are going to do that, do it with a Volkswagen Beetle--4 guys (2 cross country skiers who happened by) can pick one up.  Probably should have turned it around though, it was a long way back in reverse!

 

Blog Reboot (no pun intended)

 So apparently I needed to be tied to a broken ankle to get my act together.  I have decided that perhaps a better use of this blog would be to share the photos and genealogy stories that I have collected as a student at BYU.  I graduated in 2018 and after 3 classes, I do have quite a bit to share.  The plan is to share something every week on Sunday afternoon, so we will see how I do.

Please share this blog with other family members you think might be interested. 

I thought I would start with a family photo from our wedding day.  From left to right: Lloyd and Martha Ligon, Steve and Sheryl Ligon, Shirley and Robert Polander.  And a reception shot with some younger siblings featured to the left--Tim and Diana.

Ellie and Wakefield Field Hockey Fall 2009

Final Foot Thoughts

 Well, almost a year after the break, I feel like I am pretty much back to normal, just the light swelling in the ankle at the end of the day.  I can still walk everyone else into the ground and my flexibility in my toes is almost up to the other foot (still working on that.)  But I don't think I would be there if it wasn't for the Lord's blessing and my "talent" for stubborn determination.
At the end of three months of casts and boots (they finally put me in a boot mid-September), I started driving.  That proved to be a form of therapy all its own.  Good thing, as it took 4 weeks to get into physical therapy assessment--mid-October.  They started me the next week.
After 6 weeks of twice weekly therapy, I decided that enough was enough.  Physical therapy at Bethesda Naval Hospital is definitely driven by "need".  I admit my problem was not as big as some, I am not a war injury, but rather than drive 45 minutes to do my exercises by myself, I figured I could stay home and save the time and gas. 
The final straw was the last day I went.  I had arrived, waited to "see" the therapist.  Waited 25 minutes, asked if there was a problem, oh, I was there?  (yes, I had checked in), was sent back and told to start my warm-up, finished, started my exercises (therapist not around), was on 2nd of 6 different rotations and looking for the equipment when the fire alarm went off.  Grabbed my stuff as I walked out (good decision to keep it by me) and finally located my therapist for the day in the crowd outside.  You don't have to wait, she informed me, these can take a while. 
But I hadn't even finished. 
Oh, we'll work on it next time. (But it was my last official appointment before the next review). 
Hmm.  45 minute drive, 25 minute wait, 10 minutes of work.
My last appointment was a review with the person who decided what the next step would be.  Did my walk in bare feet, balance, etc.  and made a strong argument for working on my own.  He was amenable, but asked me to email him in a month and let him know how I felt it was going and if I needed to do more.
About 2 months later this is what I sent:
Dr. E...,

You asked me to email you at the beginning of the year about how I feel
about my ankle recovery.  I wasn't sure at the time so I have waited a
little.  I feel that I am doing fine.  I still have some nervousness about
the stairs where I broke my ankle, but find that I have no problems using
other stairs and sometimes I even find I go down those stairs without a
problem in the mornings. 
I also have a little weakness, but it is only noticeable when I swim, (in
that I find it is tired before my other ankle) so I will keep working to
build it up.  I understand that the swelling can take up to two years to
finally completely go away, and I have some small swelling that becomes
visible as the day progresses-especially if I walk a lot.  However, I can
walk as far as I could before, so I am not concerned about that either.  The
tendon opposite the break is only mildly tender to the touch now, so I am
seeing progress on all fronts.
Unless something I have told you would be an issue from your perspective, I
don't see any need to come back in.
Thank you for your help.

This was his reply:

I love e-mails like this!  It sounds like you are doing wonderfully.  Keep
working it but as always listen to what your body is telling you (i.e. pain
means stop).  I will discharge you officially from physical therapy.  Of
course, if you need us again in the future, simply have your physician place
a consult in the system. 

E..., DPT

Sounds good to me!

The Next Step

So now I can walk.  I was actually walking on my boot for a week or so before I got permission two weeks ago.  I have been driving for the last week.  My first physical therapy appointment is not until November, but the general advice seems to be try to walk as normal as possible and rest when it hurts or swells.  My foot is pretty strong, but it does get sore with a lot of driving or walking.  Mom helped me find a cane at the thrift store, which I cut down to size and use to ease my foot when it hurts.  I try to move the foot and ankle whenever I sit and increase the flexibility.  I have the walking boot to fall back on when it starts to hurt or if I know its a long day on my feet.
I may also have that weather gauge you always hear about.  It has been achy during the latest storms.
Stairs are a little scary, I imagine I will be nervous on those for a while.  I don't want to lose what I have gained in the upper body, so I am working out some now.  Of course, walking our "huskador", Angel, is also good strength training.
At the same time, I am taking 3 online college courses, Art 102, New Testament (2nd half) and Student Development 100.  The last is a rather general course I have to complete to formally accepted to the BYU General Studies program.  Being a fellow student may help Ellie who is feeling the effects of being in a real school with no 'do overs'.  She is also getting used to P.E. that is also a competitive team.  I thought it would be better to have practice during school and games afterwards, but it takes up a great deal more time than we first realized.  Still, she loves field hockey and isn't sure what she wants to be in for the next trimester.
Steve is supportive of it all and is finding it easier now that I can pick Ellie up from the bus stop.  His day had been rather tight, since is was almost exactly an 8 hour day with drop off and pick up.  He and Ellie have done better on communicating as well on these morning drives.