Foot Update

I know y'all have been dying to get an update on the progress of my foot, so here it is :) I have officially been wearing regular shoes to work, and and the weekends...yay for me!!! It's not as bad as it used to be, but it's still not 100%. The thing that hurts me the most is my pinky toe. The scar really isn't healed all the way like my other scares. I got a total of 4 incisions, one on the side of my foot, one on my 4th toe, one on my pinky toe, and one under my pinky toe (that one is to fix my tendon) I still wear tape on my toes because first it pulls my pinky toe straight, since it wasn't before (it was kinda curled under), and when I wear regular shoes, the tape acts as a barrier from my shoe to my scar, so it's not as painful. Granted there are time at work when I'm sitting at my desk and I have one shoe off, but hey, at least its not that stupid ugly surgical shoe thingy :) So here are some pics. This first one is a side view so you can see where they did everything.


This next one is just of the incision on the side of my foot, hasn't it healed nicely? And how about that tape job?!? I did it all by myself :)


This last one is of just my toes. You can't even tell that I had been cut open on my 4th toe...at least I think so :) I have to admit that my pinky has a long way to go, but hopefully it will get there soon.


The only scar that I don't have a pic of is the one under my pinky. First, I just can't get a pic of it, and second, if I did take a pic of it, you couldn't even tell that I was cut open there. Which is a very good thing by me :)

I have to say that I really, really miss wearing high heel shoes. I just love how they look, they make me look taller, and I also love the noise that they make on tile or concrete. So right now I'm stuck wearing flat shoes, but at least I got a cute pair at Target, and they were on sale. Because why would I ever pay full price for a pair of shoes that I will only be wearing for a short period of time :)

First Injury

Well I knew it would come sometime or another, Ciara got her first 'real' injury from gymnastics...she hyper extended her knee and twisted her foot. Her little foot is swollen, and she really can't straighten her knee. She was on the beam and when she was dismounting, something went wrong and her leg got stuck on the beam while she came down and that's when it happened. She tried her best to finish the rest of her practice, but she just couldn't. After the beam she went to practice the vault, but she couldn't run that fast. I feel so bad for her. She was already scared a little of the beam because one time when she was doing a handstand on the beam, she lost her grip and fell face first onto the beam. Ever since then she has rushed through her routine, and because of that, she's been sloppy on it. I really hope that this doesn't make her more scared. She has a recital coming up at the end of April and another one in June. Sure she has gotten bumps and bruises before, but nothing that would make her coach, or herself, sit out the rest of practice. She has it wrapped up and she ices it when it really starts to bother her.
I guess one thing good happened from this, when we went to Walgreen's to get an ace bandage, Alli saw a new candy that she just had to have. That new candy is coconut M&M's. Let me tell you this, they are SO good! If you like chocolate and coconuts, you really need to try them! I just can't get enough of them :)

Parent/Teacher Conference

Well, once again it's that dreaded time of the year. It's Parent/Teacher Conference time. Every single time I hear the same thing over and over for Ciara. Ciara needs to work on not talking so much, Ciara is a social butterfly and doesn't know when to stop talking. Granted that's like the only thing that is a very big problem. So once again as I was walking to her classroom, I was for sure that I was going to hear those exact same words, but boy was I wrong! Ciara got the highest scores she can get, and she has learned to stop talking and focus better! At least at school anyways :) Ciara has always been a good reader. I had her reading when she was 4 years old. So I really wasn't surprised when her teacher told me that she's above reading level, I was surprised at what reading speed and level is is on though! She's at a 6th grade speed and level! That's a ginormous leap! See for yourselves:

She is also on a 5th grade level for math:

Ciara also had the privilege of taking the IOWA test this year. I remember those days. Here are her overall scores:

The grey in the middle (if you can see it) is the Nation's average score. Granted she is average in some parts, but she is above average too!
I am so super proud of my little Ciara!

Allison's conference usually goes something like this: Allison has a mind of her own. If she doesn't want to do something, there's no way of making her do it. Yeah tell me about it! That's been the story of my life for the past 5 years. Allison now does what her teacher asks her to do, and she has become a good little friend. Her teacher told me that there was a new little girl, and she was having the hardest time adjusting to her new class. Allison would go over to her, hold her hand and told her that everything was going to be OK, and that she would be her friend. How cute is that?!? I have to admit that I kinda slacked with Allison. I didn't have her reading until she was 5. So going into kindergarten she was only ready a little bit. Now she is at a 1st grade reading level! The school really doesn't do that many tests in kindergarten, so I don't have a lot of pics on how well she's improving. But here is her reading improvement:


I forgot to mention that the solid bold black line is where the school would like the kids to be at. For both Ciara and Alli.
I am so very proud of both my girls, they are so very smart! I hope that this is the start of a new parent teacher conference trend. :)

It's Been Awhile

Wow, I can't believe that it's already been over a month since I blogged! Time sure flies by fast! So I'm going to give you guys a little update :)

Since my foot surgery, my foot really hasn't stopped hurting, but it is getting better. I had my stitches removed 2 weeks after surgery, which is kinda weird since usually they only leave them in for a week. I have to say that I didn't like getting my stitches out one bit! It hurt super bad and I tried my hardest not to cry....my eyes got super watery, but not one tear dropped out. That is until I got to the safety of my car. The top part of my foot is still super tender and it still swells up, and only my pinky toe hurts, other than that things are going good. I tried to wear 'regular' shoes last week, but that didn't work in my favor. I went home on my lunch break to get my 'special' shoe. I tried again on Sunday, but once again I couldn't handle it.....oh well at least I'm trying right?!?

Nothing really hasn't been going on with the girls besides the usual. They are both doing super well in gymnastics, in fact they have a recital thing at the end of April, so pics will soon follow. Ciara rushes through her beam routine because a couple weeks ago she fell so now shes scared. Shes been doing better, she just needs to get over the fear of falling. Ciara is in the top of her class for her spelling and reading! I am so very super proud of her! She still is quite a talker and will talk your ear off if you let her :)

Allison has been sick off and on for awhile now. Today I stayed home from work because she wasn't feeling that well. Her fever is down and she's not complaining that much anymore that her tummy hurts. So I guess that's a good thing. She just moved up a reading level at school and she is super proud of herself, as she should be. She has a SAG movie casting to go to later this month. If she gets the part, she will die in the movie, and believe it or not, she is super excited for it.

I officially moved to my new position in the collections department at work, Monday was my first day all by myself. I really like working up there, but its kinda weird having my own office, and being on the 'professional' level. I shared an office with someone for the past 3-4 years....I really can't remember, it's been that long, but it was fun :)
Its going to take me awhile to get used to being by myself, but I work with a lot of great people up there, and I can always still talk to my people in my old department.

Surgery

Well on Tuesday, I had surgery on my foot so it wouldn't hurt anymore. I didn't think that it would hurt as bad as it does. I thought that I would at least be able to walk a little bit by day 3, but I am oh so very wrong! My foot feels like its been split open and everything is exposed on the outside of my foot. I can't put any weight on it at all and I don't have crutches so I've been crawling around my house if I need something, but most of my time is spent on the couch watching TV and taking my meds. Yesterday was the worst day ever! By the middle of the day I was in so much pain and my meds weren't working I was in tears. I tried calling my doctor but all I got was voicemail, I called my dad crying like a baby and he made some calls and got my doctor to call back. My doctor called in different meds and as of right now they are working :)
So I have some pics of my new little friends, but I have to say that I HATE them and they HURT :( So this one is of the top of my hand were they tried to put the IV in, and I guess that my veins didn't want anything in them so they hid and they blew my vein.


When they couldn't put the IV in the top of my hand, they tried it on the inside of my wrist. I didn't know that they could put one in there, but they did and this is what happened:


So now my left hand hurts super bad because of these bruises. And just to let you know, they are worse in person :(

Here is what my left foot looks like now:


The left side of my body is in horrible pain :( I just hope that it gets better soon. So I thought that I would just be out of work until this coming Monday, but I was wrong. I can't go back to work until I get the stitches out which is Thursday afternoon. I am getting so bored just staying at home, I feel completely useless. But in a way its kinda good because I can't walk at all. Anyways wish me luck that I can start to walk again very soon :)

Braces

So yesterday was a very big and exciting day for Ciara because she finally got her expander taken out and got her temporary braces!! Just look at her new beautiful smile!



If you can't tell, her braces are pink and turquoise :)
She was so happy that she had to show everybody! But all that excitement was short lived, by the end of the night she was crying because her teeth hurt :(
I felt so bad for her, but there is nothing much I could do. She really didn't eat at all yesterday, and last night she only got a few hours of sleep. I've been telling her that it might hurt right now, but in the long run she will be glad that she had it done fairly early. I really hope she starts feeling better soon, and eating too. I don't think she can last that long without eating since she is already so small :)

Differences

So I have been thinking a lot lately about how my girls are so different from each other. Even though they share the same bedroom and family, they are WAY different. So I'm going to share with you guys.
Differences:
Ciara:Likes T-Swift and Top 40 music. HATES Justin Beaver (see previous post to get this if you don't already)
Allison: LOVES Justin Beaver, and alternative/punk music. Tolerates T-Swift because Ciara always has her playing on her ipod

Ciara: Loves to sing and write her own songs
Allison: Really doesn't like to sing

Ciara: Wants to be a Pop Star when she grows up
Allison: Wants to be a movie star when she grows up (already has 1 movie under her belt)

Ciara: Only wants/gives affection when she wants it
Allison: Always wants affection. She likes to be touchy feely (kinda gets on my nerves sometimes)

Ciara: Drama Queen
Allison: Will put up with anything until she gets mad at you, then watch out

Ciara: Goes with the flow
Allison: It's her way or the highway

Ciara: Follower
Allison: Bossy

Ciara: A natural at gymnastics
Allison: Goes to gymnastics just to play

Ciara: Small for her age (there is only a 4 pound difference between Ciara and Allison)
Allison: Average for her age

Ciara: Loves to go to church
Allison: Hates to go to church

Ciara: Loves to go on photo shoots with me :)
Allison: Only will do photo shoots if she gets paid :(

Similarities:
They both love the colors pink and purple

They both love to color

They both have blonde hair (I'm stretching on this one)

They both love to have their hair done

They are both girly girls

Love the same movies

Always has the other's back :)

Act like they are older than what they really are

They LOVE shoes

Even though my girls are completely different, I love them both oh so much!