Putting your best foot forward

Hi again! Remember me, I'm the momma who seems to run out of minutes at the end of every day before having time to write a new update but as my amazing boss likes to say you either have excuses or results so here I sit refusing to get up until this update has been written. It does help though that I'm on bedrest and can't really get up, but more on that later......
Zackary has been doing great, I mean truly amazing! His pain level is a little higher each day but that is because he continues to push himself so hard each day, he even has a work out routine he does on non-PT days that puts my workouts to shame!
Just shortly after the last blog we had another set of x-rays be taken and shipped off to Baltimore for the doctor to read just 2 short weeks later (HA). I think I'm starting to see a pattern here. Anyways, I received the email that stated 'Zackary is now healed medially, anteriorly and posteriorly.  He has a little more to go laterally but that has improved greatly as well.' After reading to the therapist he informed me this was fantastic news! Yeah, you'd think I'd be use to medical lingo by now but not quite. For those on the same page as me it means the bone is healed 75% around the rod (front and sides) and only needs a little more growing on the back side of the bone. Why they couldn't have just said that is beyond me. The next part of the email was my favorite though and didn't need any interpretation. 'He can now be weight bearing as tolerated.' SAY WHAT?! It was so nonchalantly added in there like this wasn't the news we had been waiting for since March 24th! Weight bearing, walking on his own, no walker, no crutches no nothing! We were so excited! Zackary's first response was 'so I can throw my crutches away and just start walking?' Not quite, you haven't walked in 7 months it's not going to be that easy. Johnathan's first response 'So I can tackle him now?' NO! Luckily the last line of the email said 'Still no sports, running or jumping.' They must have known they were talking to a house full of boys. LOL
The days and weeks to follow since that news have not always been sunshine. There were tears when he came to the quick realization this wasn't going to be as easy as he thought. The therapist asked him to balance only on his left leg, this is something he couldn't even really do prior to surgery. He couldn't even hold it for 1 second with the goal being a 30 second hold by the end of the year. I'm proud to say he's up to about 2-5 seconds depending on the day and he's moved on to single leg presses as well! He truly is the strongest kid I know on so many levels. He has started on only using one crutch when he's at home and taking 1-2 steps between couches or bathroom with no assistanace and is working on losing the limp and teaching himself that he no longer has to walk on his toe, a habit he's done since birth.
Since the last time we connected we also had Halloween, one of our family's favorite holidays. I had been dreading it for awhile not wanting Zackary to feel left out. I cried as I made a post the neighborhood website. It was hard having to ask everyone to park their cars with enough room for a wheelchair to make it through and teared up every time we passed a house with stairs that I knew he wasn't going to make it to. Well one day my sister and I came up with a great idea to incorporate his wheelchair into the costume and made it a whole family affair! And of course, though there were times his cousin had to bring him back candy from houses he couldn't reach, we still had enough candy to feed a whole town by the time we were done! It was a great night with lots of laughter and sugar. So may I introduce to you the X-MEN, Miller style!

Magneto, Rogue, Cyclopes, Beast, Storm and Professor X 

   

Halloween came and went, we finally figured out a great schedule with PT, work and school and finished up Johnathans football season with them going 6-1 and we are anticipating a state championship win from the Varsity team that went 8-0. Needless to say things were going smooth. I didn't think that was ever going to happen. Then came November 6th. Our lovely family walk turned into a hot mess real quick. While sitting on the curb waiting for his command to cross the street Dakota, our 110 lb lab, wagged his tail excited to catch up to dad and brother who had already crossed the street. Right as I gave the command to go my foot went down on his leash lying on the ground. I knew it was too late and did my best to fall as safely as possible knowing his leash was wrapped around the leg I just had surgery on less then 2 years ago and I wanted to keep all that hardware in tact. Well, I did manage to save that ankle with just a bit of rope burn but came down twisting and with all my weight onto my right ankle. Snap, numbness and screaming is what filled the next few seconds. Instantly I knew it was broken (a talent I mastered over the years). The ER confirmed my break and was put in a splint and had a doctors appointment the next day. After the doctor explained this as a very strange break and something the assistant had never seen before (what can I say, I'm talented!)

They had me scheduled for surgery by the end of the week and have filled this week with 4 doctors appointments in addition to Zackary's PT appointments. The healing process has been so much more difficult and painful even though this was a much less invasive surgery then last time. We are still trying to clear up a few issues but overall the procedure was a success. I've been on mostly bed rest for over a week and a half now and we have double the amount of medical equipment!
Luckily we've had a lot of help with family to drive to and from appointments, bring us food, pick up and drop off Johnathan and every once and awhile get a dish washed here and there while Adam continues to work and Johnny goes to school. I've been told this has a quick recovery as well so I should be walking in about 4 weeks from the surgery date. Also, I'm only in a boot not a cast so I'm happy about that! This means I'll be on crutches for Thanksgiving and will hopefully be walking by Christmas. Our family motto was always 'we'll be back to normal by Christmas' but I never had us being this far from normal at this point!
Well, with xrays for both of us in about 2-3 weeks there should be an update about that point. If anything I promise to update prior to Christmas because we know how much you guys support us with your prayers and thoughts and you deserve to be as updated as possible. Have I told you lately how much we love you all and thank you for your support?! Well we do! With that said, it's time to get back to healing!

Until next time~
Momma Miller