Bit Off More Than I Could Chew

Just over 7 weeks since the accident ~ I guess with the new teeth and all, I got a little optimistic and thought I'd go for the Porterhouse Steak instead of the ground beef! I realize I probably bit off more than I could chew yesterday, attempting to do 16.5 miles the first time back in the saddle. 8 miles really isn't that bad. Was I disappointed? Ya, at first I was. But this has been my encouragement ...

Philippians 4:11-13

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

... and for me, I'm learning that "everything" may sometimes mean doing "nothing", or "not quite so much" ...

This has definitely been a growing season for me.

Hi! This is Dusty ...

She's an '07 Cannondale Synapse Feminine 3. "Why did I name her Dusty," you ask? Since I hadn't been cleared to ride, she's been parked in my family room for the past week during which all I could do was DUST her! Hmmm ... perhaps I should have named her DUSTER ;-) Oh the torture.

I did get an unofficial clearance to ride from my occupational therapist today. She said I've doubled the strength on my right wrist, so that's a good thing. She was able to isolate some tenderness in what she thinks might be the TFCC area, which may or may not give me trouble during a ride. So she said see how I do, and if it bothers me, to definitely stop .. which I will.

So did I ride today? You betcha ~ an hour after I got home! I attempted to do the Lake Herman Loop (16.5 miles) No wrist pain, but I could only make it to Marshview Road (4 miles) before the muscles by my jaw started throbing, so I turned around and headed home for a total of 8 short miles :-( I was bummed. I remember the feeling (muscle spasms) after the wires were removed. I guess it'll be light rides on the trainer for me for a little while. Hey, at least I CAN still ride, huh?!

Grin And Bear It

I got my teeth! A single unit that appears to be 4 teeth. Though they are "false" teeth, they won't have the tendency to accidentally fall out since I have braces. They have brackets on them, just like my other teeth, and are secured by the wire from my braces.

My dentist, orthodontist, and their staff were wonderful in coordinating my extraction, dental impression, and delivery of the appliance so that I could have teeth as quickly as possible.

I was excited to have them put in. They look great; you can't even tell they're fake. But I got disappointed when I saw that there's still alot of work to do on the jaw - my bite's all off. My back teeth touch, but my front teeth don't, so i'm using rubber bands to hopefully guide it up some.

It was a bummer when the orthodontist said by Christmas we'll know if I need another surgery by how much the rubber bands were able to do, as the bones should be fully healed by then.

Today, however, my chiropractor said she can aid some in the proper alignment of the right side of my jaw, which is still a little off. So, thankfully, all my health providers are working together well for my best interest.

So it's been kind of a rough couple days ... but I'm doing better.

Spent the afternoon with my brother picking up and playing with his brand new, all carbon road bike. That was fun!

Oh, remind me to introduce you to DUSTY ... (next post) ...

"We Will Rebuild You"

It's been 6 weeks since the accident.
Had a tooth pulled yesterday (total of 4 lost).
Will get dental impressions made at Orthodontist on Tuesday.
Will have prosthetic teeth on Thursday! Yay!
Had phone consult with surgeon this morning.

HE CLEARED ME TO RIDE!
Yay, again!

However, Occupational Therapist is giving my wrist a couple more weeks. Boo.
(It's okay, since I'm waiting for the bike I ordered to come in. Yay!)

My surgeon is so funny. After going over my treatment plan again, he says, "Don't worry - WE WILL REBUILD YOU."

What am I ~ the bionic woman?!

Frustrated With The Price Of Gas?

Chew ... Or I Should Say "Gum" ... On This

So I was a little discouraged a few posts ago. Since then I've had a physical therapy appointment for my jaw and an occupational therapy appointment for my wrist. Today I have an orthodontic appointment. Tomorrow I have a dental appointment. Thursday I have a phone consult with my surgeon. And Friday, I have another physical therapy appointment as well as an appointment with my chiropractor. Follow up with occupational therapist in a couple weeks. Whew. Thank God I've gotten my energy back!

I've really been chewing (or since my lack of teeth, I should say "gumming") on something a friend said to me the other day ...

At my PT appointment, I was instructed to start some jaw exercises to increase the left, right, and forward mobility in my jaw. I commented that I wish my surgeon would have told me this earlier, as I've only been working on opening and closing my mouth, and I could have been working on those other exercises as well.

He then said, "Do you think maybe he didn't tell you for a reason?" And this is the part I've been chewing on, "You seem to be the type of person who has a hard time pacing themselves."

I thought, "Wow, he hasn't known me long, but he does know me." Because that is me ... I don't like doing things half-heartedly. I'm either all in, or not in at all. And once I've set my mind on a goal, I usually have an action plan to attack. But I never thought about pacing myself. Perhaps that's what got me in trouble on the day of the accident. And I think that's what got me discouraged a few posts ago ~ thinking about how much time would pass before I'd be able to complete what I set out to complete.

Well, it's been almost a week since the "pacing" statement, and it's done my heart and mind good to think on it and how it applies to my physical recovery and to my life in general.

It's been better. I'm no longer pushing myself towards something without regard to how it'll affect me physically. (I may have to postpone Tucson and do Tahoe instead. We'll see.) I'm learning to be more patient with myself. And I'm not as frustrated with the snail's pace of my healing.

What keeps me going, and what keeps my complaining to a minimum (yes, I do still complain to Andrew every now and then) are all the people on my honoree list, and all the individuals they represent who are enduring cancer. I most recently became aware of a friend's mother who could only complete 13 of 15 chemotherapy treatments because the inside of her mouth got so badly burned. MY doctors' appointments have served as reminders to pray for her, and those like her, going to their own, more serious, doctors' appointments.

There's an old, over-used quote I remember, "Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it."

GO TEAM !!

I went to Marin to support the team yesterday. It was so good to see everyone. It was a tough ride, I heard. These were the first ones to roll in from our group. (I forgot to take a picture of the whole team, sorry!) Coach Coop (head coach) at far left.




My friend Jun, who was riding with me when I crashed, wasn't sure whether he was going to participate. So glad he did. (He completed the Mt. Tam Century ~ a much harder route.)

"Your turn next," he said.




Dee Dee, my TNT mentor, and Kelly (pictured w/ me and Jun above) will be coaching for November's Tucson ride ... that's my goal.






The one who inspired me to ride, my friend Jean. She's training for her 2nd century ride! You go, girl!






Coach Coop said when I'm ready to get out there and join TNT again, the team will gather 'round me and protect me when I ride like the Discovery Team did for Lance! I can't wait for that day :-)

Congratulations, Team, for what you accomplished yesterday ... for yourselves and for those enduring cancer. See you on the road soon.

TTT
(Tina the Tougher, my TNT nickname)

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