The Best Husband Ever!

Jason is the best husband ever! I know many of you women think that your husband is in fact the proud owner of that title, and admittedly my opinion on this subject is quite skewed, but I can’t imagine a better husband than Jason. Even if you don’t agree that Jason is the best, you can’t deny that he is pretty fabulous.

Due to my foot surgery, these last couple of months poor Jason has been forced to be my nurse and maid. He has taken on these roles rather happily for the most part, except for the occasional complaint about how much he really hates cooking.

The first few days after my surgery he rarely left my side. Although his behavior concerning me sometimes bordered on paranoia, his anxiety over my wellbeing was very sweet.

In the weeks that followed I was on crutches and practically useless. Jason made the meals, kept the house clean, did the laundry and grocery shopping, and ran countless errands for me. However, not only did he do all those household tasks, he also carried me in and out of the tub and shower, and helped me wash my hair and change my clothes…like I said, I was pretty useless. I don’t know what I would have done without that boy’s help. I guess I would have been really dirty and hungry by now.

My lunch plate: Jason has put one out for me everyday since my surgery.
My lunch plate: Jason has put one out for me everyday I've worked since my surgery. The note tells me what is in the fridge for my lunch.

Although I have thanked him many times for all that he has done recently, no amount of thanks seems adequate. So I decided that publicly embarrassing him with this post should help even the score.

Thanks Bubba! Thanks for reading Alice in Wonderland to me until 5:30 AM in a futile attempt to help me sleep. Thanks for waking up to make me snacks in the middle of the night so I could take my pain pills. Thanks for the endless servings of ramen noodles you made me and the rides up the canyon at 2:30 in the morning to quell my claustrophobia. You truly are the best husband ever, even if I’m the only one who knows!

Shoes and Surgery: the Grand Quandary

I love shoes! I love buying new shoes. I love having excesses of shoes. My closets are practically exploding with shoes. One can never have too many shoes! Did I mention I love shoes?

Since I am a shoe enthusiast it has been difficult to go from my normally huge shoe selection to the meager options I have currently due to the status of my left foot.

Oh the sweet memories!
Oh the sweet memories!

Since my Peroneal tendon repair surgery I have gone through several footwear phases; they have each required a different type of shoe. For any of you that are going to be getting a similar surgery, especially you ladies, here’s what I recommend in way of shoes for each phase of your foot’s recovery.

My Reef Sandals
My Reef Sandals: Phase One

Phase One, cast phase: After my surgery I had to wear a cast for two weeks. I was in bed for the greater part of those two weeks so I didn’t do a whole lot of shoe wearing. When I did wear a shoe, I wore a snug fitting flip-flop and that worked very well, but you could definitely wear other types of flat-soled shoes with your cast. Things to consider when choosing shoes for this phase: wear something comfortable, you’ll be in enough pain as it is. Also, you won’t be very coordinated, unless you are a crutching prodigy, so don’t wear anything loose fitting or prone to make you fall flat on your face-you’ll do enough of that without any assistance.

My Phase Two Assortment
My Phase Two Assortment

Phase Two, non-weight bearing in the boot: After I traded in my cast for a boot I still couldn’t put any weight on my foot for two more weeks. I was much more mobile those two weeks than I was the first two, so I was wearing a shoe much more often. I wore shoes that were as flat and comfortable as possible. They, once again, needed to be snug too so I didn’t fall out of them as I crutched gracelessly along. Since I was already back at work at this point, I needed some flat shoes that were work appropriate also.

I found several cute pairs on Zappos.com. I would highly recommend this site. They have literally thousands of shoes and their customer service is fantastic. They also offer free return shipping, which is great in case the shoes you ordered don’t fit.

My Favorite Phase Three Shoes
My Favorite Phase Three Shoes

Phase Three, weight bearing in the boot: This was a very uncomfortable phase. Not surprisingly, it hurts to start walking again. But walking in the boot hurts more than just your injured foot. Because the boot has an odd curved heel, it’s very hard to match it up with an appropriate shoe. Therefore, due to the uneven elevation of your feet, you end up throwing out your back and hips when you walk. I recommend shoes with some sort of heel or platform for this phase. But don’t expect to find any with a heel height that will match your boot exactly, I discovered that that was an impossibility. You can get relatively close though, keeping the aches at a minimum. A small, one to two inch, heel or platform seemed to work best. You men, I’m afraid, are definitely at a disadvantage during this phase. There aren’t too many manly looking shoes that come with one or two inch heels.

Phase Four: the Impossible Shoe Phase
Phase Four: the Impossible Shoe Phase

Phase Four, walking with a lace-up brace: I am currently in this phase. This phase is also particularly challenging as far as shoe selection goes, but unlike the last phase, it’s not heel size that’s the problem, it’s finding shoes that accommodate you bulky brace. Sneakers and tennis shoes definitely work, however, there is no way I’m going to wear sneakers every day for the next two months. Not only am I a girly-girl, I am a working girl, and wearing sneakers with a skirt isn’t exactly the kind of fashion statement I want to make.

I went shoe shopping last week to try to remedy this situation. I can’t tell you how depressing it was to try on one adorable shoe after another, only to find that none of them fit with the brace. Finally, after trying on at least a dozen pairs, I found one style of Sketchers that worked. I bought both the colors the store had in this style. Thankfully they are dressy enough to wear with skirts but casual enough to wear with pants.

So there you have it, my shoe dilemma. My recommendation: do some major shoe shopping and get the shoes you will need after your surgery, before your surgery. Break them in so they are nice and comfy. You don’t want your good foot hurting too when your bad one is already hurting plenty.

While I am on the subject of footwear I should also add my two-cents about socks.

For your injured foot I would recommend chenille socks while you are wearing the boot and then when you graduate to the brace, I would suggest socks that are thin but still comfortable. I’ve found that if I wear a sock that is the same color as my brace, the sock’s not noticeable when I’m wearing a shoe that exposes the top of my foot, such as my new Sketchers.

Good luck all my surgical friends. May you find some functional and fantastic shoes! Remember, just because you can barely walk doesn’t mean your feet have to look unfashionable!

Thriving Ivory

Tonight Jason and I went to the Thriving Ivory concert at the Murray Theater, hosted by the radio station 101.9 The End. I had never heard of Thriving Ivory until a month or so ago when 101.9 started playing one of their songs, Angels on the Moon. I liked the song, so when 101.9 announced that they were bringing the band to Salt Lake City to do a concert and that the tickets were only $5, I was in. Apparently a lot of other people were in too because the show sold out.

The Concert

You never know what to expect when you see a band live for the first time, sometimes they can be a bit of a disappointment, but Thriving Ivory definitely put on a good show. They had a fresh energy that bands often lose as their fan base grows. The intimate setting was spectacular. Although I had to shuffle around a bit to get an unobstructed view, when I finally did, it was worth the effort. The audience was captivated and enthusiastic. My injured ankle forced me to tone down my concert antics a degree or two, however, I still managed to hop, bounce, clap, and scream. It was fabulous!

The Signing
The Signing

Apparently, this was the largest show that Thriving Ivory has done, so it had special significance for them. The concert was also filmed for a video, so if you see me on MTV someday cheering like crazy-don’t be too surprised.

Me with the Drummer, Paul

Afterward, the band stuck around to sign CD’s and shirts. The line moved extremely slowly because the band members were courteous and friendly; they took the time to talk to each fan. When it was my turn to get my swag signed I was glad I waited. I got unsolicited hugs from the drummer, Paul. It was awesome! I also got pictures with the lead singer, Clayton, and the keyboardist, Scott. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera so we had to take pictures with Jason’s iphone-I was so bummed!

Me with Clayton
Me with the Lead Singer, Clayton

I look forward to seeing Thriving Ivory thrive. It was great to see a band that is young enough to still appreciate its fans! It was an amazing concert!