A Little Update

Seems like its been ages since I've written on this blog.  Well, I guess it has been ages!  Time seems to fly by lately.
My hips doing good.   No major complaints.  Things are still healing but I'm 96% back to all normal activities.  The screws can get a little annoying at times but nothing I can't handle. 
No major injuries for the past several months.  Still in PT for cervical instability.   POTS has probably been giving more trouble than anything else.  But that's life!
For the past two weeks I've been working on opening up a studio and gift shop in town.  It been a lot of fun.  It feels good to work hard at something and get lots accomplished.  POTS has pocked its head in the door more than once during these weeks but its all about adapting and making the most of what you CAN do.  Setting up a shop has been a good experience.  Its been good to just step out and take a risk.  Learning new business terminology (ugh!), and what its like to have a lot on your plate!  I'm loving every moment of it and wouldn't want to do anything else right now!

Will post more about my business adventures and pics later!!

Photography Blog!

alana fuller photography

Focus

Almost Six Weeks Later................

PT is going very well and I'm pretty much 95-100% off my crutches!!! What a relief.....not sure if my shoulders could have handled it for much longer!  The past week, while walking without crutches, my leg is so weak that I tend to walk like Festus (which happens to be my new nickname :P)!  My therapist said most of my left leg movement is horizontal causing a lot of truck rotation which in turn is bothering my back, neck, shoulders, ect.  I've started to walk more normal now since my leg is getting stronger and I think I can tell a difference in discomfort.  The other week I went for my four week post-op check-up and had x-rays done.  Apparently I don't have two screws....I've got four.  So far everything is healing nicely and I'm happy with it!

Four Weeks Later

I can't believe is only been four weeks since I had surgery and I ditched a crutch last week. Besides separating a joint in my left foot and pumping a tube of air into my blood stream, recovery has gone well!!!!  My foot healed up quickly (Thank-goodness)  and the air thing......well lets just say I'm not likely to forget to prime the tube again.  Recovery has gone drastically different than expected.  With changes to the surgical techniques I had no hip restriction from the beginning.  Meaning weight as tolerated ect,  Every day brings new surprises with what I can do.  I'm just having trouble slowing down!  I had no intention on having my other hip done anytime soon but now that I know how things go, I'm putting that on the plate as a possibility next year.  We'll see what happens.

Nothing to Fear

LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup, and have made my lot secure.   Psalms 16:5

My New Hip!!!

Having a PAO was a big decision but so far I'm happy I made it! Now on to recovery:)

Ramblings

One bum shoulder (right) and with the fact that I'm right handed I figured I'd sit down and begin the art of mastering such tedious matters left handed!  Hip surgery is approaching and as I prepare for that I'm also busy with pre-op appointments, commissions ect. ect. ect.....

I had to donate over 500ml of blood for this surgery coming up.  With all honesty, I'm just starting to feel a little better from it and its been a week.   Losing all that blood really didn't help POTS;)

one of many paintings I've been working on!

LOVE it !!!!!

Love, LOVE this song!!!!

"We need to live by faith not by sight" Derick Rabelo 

 WOW Films is coming out with a movie, called Beyond Sight, about Derick Rabelo who is a truly inspiring blind surfer!!

New Blog!!

Hey everyone!!  I just set up a site for my art and photography business. Feel free to check it out!! :-)

The Studio: Alana's Art and Photography

Good Ol' Summertime

My summer has been a busy one, but I can't complain too much.  I'd rather have things to do than nothing at all! It was only about three weeks ago that I really started reacting to the heat.  I'm so thankful for feeling a wee bit better this summer:D

Earlier in the week, I went on a trip.  It was lots of fun but sitting in the car for 10hours and then the trip to PT wasn't all that great on my SI joint and hip.  My SI came out of place the other night.  I was able to get it back in but during PT the next day it came out again.  My plan for this week is lots of time in the gym and no long car trips.  With POTS really giving me a hard time the past week I'll probably remain horizontal when I can't be vertical :)

I have to say that I have found my new all time favorite smoothie! A friend introduced me to green smoothies.  The sound 'green' smoothies made me.......lets just say it got me interested :) She really liked them and with that said, I was willing to try it.   Not because she was my best friend, more like I trusted her taste buds better than say....my brothers :D

It doesn't look all that green because I put blueberries in it.

You can put pretty much anything you want in it. Today I used bananas, spinach, avocado, blueberries and frozen orange juice.  Next time I'm going to put our homemade Greek yogurt in it!!  You pretty much put anything vegetable and fruity in it and walla!! Since I don't eat vegetables for breakfast this is a good way to have something full of protein and vegetables and still call it breakfast.  It even a good snack and also makes a good lunch :)

A few pictures from a rodeo earlier this month.