FIVE YEARS AGO TODAY, MY LIFE CHANGED FOREVER!

     It was March 20, 2013, when I walked into my foot doctor's office, and was
 taken out in a wheelchair! I had Charcot Foot...which was at least 10-12 broken bones
 in my foot. I spent my last 2 1/2 months of my teaching career in a wheelchair.  
(My 37 kiddos were soooo great to help me, and push me in the wheelchair!)  I was 
basically laid up for 5 months, and in a boot for 8 months. I retired from teaching 
after 33 years, and released from the Mount Timpanogos Temple after serving
 as an ordinance worker for 16 years. I was facing possibly many surgeries, 
and I thought my life was over! 
I retired on May 30. Everything worked out (since I missed the retirement deadline)
 even having health insurance from retirement until 2019...cuz I'm so young! 
 (Then I pay until Medicare, bleh!  But, thanks to the district, any teacher
who retires, that was hired before 1990, receives a 3% stipend x number 
of years taught!  HUZZAH!)

First class . . . 1980

First Faculty . . . 1980

Last class (plus entire 5th grade) . . . 2013
I stood at the last second.  See my boot?

Last Faculty . . . 2013
(Notice the quality of pictures changed in 33 years!)

I was called at the end of July 2013 to be in the Stake Relief Society Presidency. 
My Stake President set me apart, and blessed my that I would be healed! 
I never had surgery!

Summer was LONG!  My mom drove me every morning at 7:00 a.m. to the 
AF Rec Center to swim, and my BFF drove me home.  At the end of August, 
I was given the green light to drive! The next month, my doctor said I could go to BYU football and Jazz games!  And my life has been better ever since!!!
That's why I like to post  on Facebook where I am...because I was cooped up soooo long! 
I love the retired life!

It's still hard to start walking after I have sat a long time...but after about a dozen steps, 
it's all good. I wear shoes that have a lot of cushion to help with the support. I also 
wear braces everyday. I use my fancy cane when needed,
and I limp slightly.  I can live with that!

Loved my foot dr. Gary Ridge!  Also, Jill Roylance, and Elyse Hawks!
And, after Dr. Ridge retired, I have loved my new doctor, Daniel Patty!

Thanks to everyone who helped transport me everywhere in my non-driving days..Lori Chadwick, Don Beckstrand, Annalea Warwood, Ashley Kelly, Dixie Mitchell, Condita Washburn, Adonna Iverson , Heidi Park, Renae Reese, and anyone else I forgot! 
 Also, all my school friends, and especially my 5th grade kiddos! 

I've still have had foot problems now and then...partially torn achilles (had to speak
in a Sacrament Meeting sitting on the stand...but, the high councilman
was glad he didn't have to speak the entire time!), foot ulcers, and a broken toe.
But, I make it work!  

My original plan was to retire this year . . . 2018.  I would have had 38
years in, just like my mom!  Then, I would have had my 6 years of insurance
until Medicare.  As it is, I will have to pay for my own insurance after next year.

All of my friends are now gone from Alpine Elementary. 

But,  I see all my retired friends once a month for lunch...way more than I saw

them while still teaching!

It took me until about March of my first year out, that I could sleep in,

and not feel guilty!  I have never been soooo happy in my life!

Doing what I want, when I want. 

Being a "stay at home aunt" is the absolute best!!!
And I LOVE making an appointment, and not having to say,
"after 4:30 p.m.!"

My first trip to St. George by myself for 5 days
(Dixie roommate's son's wedding), after retirement,
I kept saying to myself, "I didn't have to make lesson plans!"

Besides Stake Relief Society presidency, I am on the
board of directors of 
Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.

This is when I announced to the Lone Peak High School
Student Council that they were the only high school
to win a national award!
2017

I am also the president in the state of Utah for
Alpha Delta Kappa, a sorority for outstanding women educators.
(Hahaha...I'm the only one looking at the camera, cuz it's my phone!)

And the best part of retirement, is being a 
"Stay At Home Aunt!"
It's great to be able to go to all of the school programs,
choir concerts, dance festivals, Christmas Sings,
graduations, of my great nieces and nephews! 
Having the "Grandma Pass" at Thanksgiving Point has
been soooo fun!!!

My great nieces and nephews (plus Heidi)

My nieces and nephews.  All born during my first decade of teaching!
Heidi  . . .  year 7, Chris  . . . year 1.  (He was 3 months old
when I started teaching), Katie . . . year 10, McKay . . . year 6,
Ashley . . . year 4, Camille . . . year 2.
These kids were the BEST helpers at school!!!
Putting up bulletin boards, checking papers, getting desks arranged,
moving things, etc.
(Of course, when I just had the girls, they were extremely motivated
to get the room ready quickly to start school, because I would
take them school clothes shopping in Park City!)

Nieces, nephews, and spouses with my mom.

All 32 members of my family!
(Good thing my only sibling decided to
multiply and replenish the earth!)

Retirement is almost too good to be true...knock on wood!

I almost don't even remember teaching...but when I do, it's all the

good memories!

Presenting . . .

All the different forms of transportation and

Footwear . . .

 Wheelchair

 Secretly cleaning out my room on Memorial Day.

Lots of help from the cute kiddos...Oakley, Jaycie, Addie, and Preston.

Also...Ashley, Laurel, Mike, Katie

Helping the day before were McKay, Lori, Cole, Haley, and Lily.

Don Beckstrand was a great help the last 2 days...bringing his truck,

taking me and stuff home, packing it downstairs, and getting the wheelchair home!

Crutches
(Officially the official day of retirement)

Store Scooter
Woooohoooo!  

Holy Cow!  This was fun!!!

The boot

Shayla's soccer game

Boot over pants

Camry and Katie's birthdays

 Cierra and I comparing boots at Jazz game.

(Look at the twinners in front of us!)

Hahahaha...this is a picture I took looking at my feet.

I'm pushing a cart at WalMart...first outing without my boot!
(Notice how the right shoe is cleaner?  That was my boot foot!)

 Meet my new shoes!

(Dr. Scholl's)

Soft Brace

I wore this soft brace everyday over my sock, before I got
my hard brace.  Now, I wear it on the left foot, for support.
(Partially torn Achilles tendon 2 years ago)

Hard Brace
I am now on my 2nd hard brace.
They cast my foot, then saw it off.  It exactly
fits my foot!!!
This really helps to stabilize my foot.

Cane
Fancy schmancy cane.
It helps soooo much in a big place,
like the temple, on trips, bad weather, etc.

Retirement is not the end . . . but just the beginning!

ALL HAIL RETIREMENT!!!

MY LIFE

My life has been hell since the beginning of summer!

I've had to have four injections in my knee.

Then, a trip to the ER and stitches in my thumb.

This has been my life since the middle of August!

I am being treated for an ulcer on the side of my right foot.

I went to the foot dr 2 days a week to be treated.

It was all cleared up, and I had a 3 week break in November.

During that time, I had something else to deal with,

that I won't go into.

Then, the ulcer came back!

I think my brace was rubbing on my foot!

Back to visiting the foot dr twice a week!

(I can't believe I wasn't invited to their 

office Christmas party!  I'm there almost as much

as they are!!!)

A CHRISTMAS CARD TO REMEMBER

My feet.

Terrible!

I was diagnosed with neuropathy in 2000.

It is a complication of diabetes.

My feet are numb.

But, I'm in terrible pain if I don't take

my Gabapentin on time!

I have to have my nails cut every 9 weeks

by the foot doctor.

I've had terrible blisters after trips, like NYC.

After the Rose Parade trip, 3 toes on my right foot had

blistered down to the tissue!

I spent 12 weeks at the foot doctor!

He was putting the foreskin from baby boy circumcisions

on the 3 toes.  It attaches and GROWS!

Then, the Charcot Foot diagnoses that led to my retirement.

The partially torn Achilles tendon was my birthday

present this year...BLEH!

I never blogged about this while I was teaching,

but I have since my retirement.

Well, on Sunday, December 20, I noticed that

my big left toe was gray!

Thank goodness I had an appointment to

check my Achilles the next day!!!

Heidi and Katie, my personal nurses, saw the picture. 

 Both said it was infected.

I had my foot x-rayed.

Surprise, surprise...it was broken!

I have no idea how it happened...because I can't feel it!

He also took my nail off.

Didn't need a shot...cuz I can't feel it!

I decided to make this little Christmas card

to send to the nieces and nephews

(except Camille, who is 8 months pregnant)

It's to the tune

Deck The Halls

I decided to post this, cuz no one

reads my blog except me,

so no one can be grossed out!

MEET MY NEW BRACE

I HAVE A NEW BRACE FOR MY ANKLE.

FIRST, THEY MADE A CAST OF MY FOOT.

THEN, AFTER IT SET, THEY SAWED THE CAST OFF.

THE CAST WAS THEN SENT TO THE

"ARIZONA BRACE COMPANY."

THE BRACE GIVES ME WAAAAY MORE SUPPORT,

AND THEREFORE, MORE PEACE OF MIND.

NOTICE HOW THE ANKLE ON THE BRACE POKES OUT A LITTLE BIT.

YUP.  FITS ME.  THAT'S WHERE THE ANKLE IS ALWAYS SWOLLEN.

2 YEARS AGO TODAY . . . MY LIFE CHANGED FOREVER

     It was March 20, 2013, when I walked into my foot doctor's office, and was taken out in a wheelchair! I had Charcot Foot...which was at least 10-12 broken bones in my foot. I spent my last 2 1/2 months of my teaching career in a wheelchair. I was basically laid up for 5 months, and in a boot for 8 months. I retired from teaching after 33 years, and released from serving in the Mount Timpanogos Temple after serving 16 years. I was facing possibly many surgeries, and I thought my life was over! I retired on May 30. Everything worked out (since I missed the deadline) even having insurance after my 6 years of insurance ended...cuz I'm so young!

I was called at the end of July to be in the Stake Relief Society Presidency. My Stake President set me apart, and blessed my that I would be healed! I never had surgery!
Summer was LONG! But, at the end of August, I was given the green light to drive! The next month, my doctor said I could go to BYU football and Jazz games! And my life has been better ever since! That's why I like to post where I am...because I was cooped up soooo long! I love the retired life!

It's still hard to start walking after I have sat a long time...but after about a dozen steps, it's all good. I wear shoes that have a lot of cushion to help with the support. I also wear a brace everyday. I use my fancy cane when getting up in the middle of the night, and I limp slightly. I can live with that!
Love my foot dr. Gary Ridge, and Jill Ridge Roylance, and Elyse Hawks!
Thanks to everyone who helped transport me everywhere in my non-driving days..Lori Willis Chadwick, Don Beckstrand, Annalea Warwood, Ashley Mitchell Kelly, Dixie Howard Mitchell, Condita Washburn, Adonna Iverson , Heidi Dokos Park, Renae Allen Reese, and anyone else I forgot! Also, all my school friends, and especially my 5th grade kiddos! 

I feel that this was all a tender mercy from my Heavenly Father!  Teaching was getting to be soooo hard!  I loved teaching, but it was everything else.  My teammates were not being very nice to me...always getting down on me because my test scores were low.  It was hard when I received parent requests for the kiddos who were low, and the hard boys.  My teammates kept telling me I was a bad teacher, because my scores were low.  I even had 2 boys go for 9 week stints at the "behavior unit."

I don't know what my Core test scores were my last year, but

my Direct Writing Assessment scores were through the roof!!!

The entire grade level is emailed to the teachers, so I could compare

how all the kiddos did.

Six of my kiddos received a perfect score of 30!!!

No kids from any other class received a 30!!!  You have to receive

a score of 18 to pass.  My lowest score was 22!!!  The majority were in the

high 20's!!!  But, did my teammates acknowledge this?  Are you kidding???

Not a word!  Oh, well!!!

Alpine Elementary still receives a "B" for their grade.  "B" when I was there,

"B" since I've been gone.  (Lowest grade in the Lone Peak Cluster)

I was also working on school stuff for HOURS!!!  I usually worked on school stuff 

until 11 or 12.  I used to get up at 4:30 to be swimming at the Rec Center by 5.

My last 2 or 3 years, I still got up at 4:30, but instead of swimming, I worked, and would

arrive at school by 7:30.  

I still loved the teaching, and had some great kiddos my last few years.

I miss the association with them on a daily basis, but not the other.

I see all my retired friends once a month for lunch...way more than I saw

them while still teaching!

Blood pressure and blood sugar are waaaay down!

It took me until about March of my first year out, that I can sleep in,

and not feel guilty!  I have never been soooo happy in my life!

Doing what I want, when I want.  Living in a gorgeous condo.

Being with nieces and nephews and their kids...etc.
And I LOVE making an appointment, and not having to say,
"after 4:30!"

It's almost too good to be true...knock on wood!

I almost don't even remember teaching...but when I do, it's all the

good memories!

Presenting . . .

All the different forms of transportation and

Footwear . . .

 Wheelchair

 Secretly cleaning out my room on Memorial Day.

Lots of help from the cute kiddos...Oakley, Jaycie, Addie, and Preston.

Also...Ashley, Laurel, Mike, Katie

Helping the day before were McKay, Lori, Cole, Haley, and Lily.

Don was a great help the last 2 days...bringing his truck,

taking me and stuff home, and packing it downstairs!

Crutches
(Officially the official day of retirement)

Store Scooter
Woooohoooo!  

Holy Cow!  This was fun!!!

The boot

Shayla's soccer game

Boot over pants

Camry and Katie's birthdays

 Cierra and I comparing boots.

(Look at the twinners in front of us!)

Hahahaha...this is a picture I took looking at my feet.

I'm pushing a cart at WalMart...first outing without my boot!
(Notice how the right shoe is cleaner?  That was my boot foot!)

 Meet my new shoes!

(Dr. Scholl's)

I wear this brace everyday over my sock, and before
I put my shoe on.

Fancy schmancy cane...so helpful in middle of night.

Next up?  Kidney stones.
(Issues since 2001)

ONE OF MY SADDEST DAYS EVER!

THIS IS DR. GARY RIDGE. 

 HE IS "FOOT DOCTOR TO THE STARS!"

WELL, MY MOM AND I.

I HAVE BEEN GOING TO HIM SINCE 2000.

MY MOM, ABOUT 25 YEARS.

I HAVE GONE TO HIM EVERY 9 WEEKS FOR 14 YEARS.

HE IS THE ONE THAT DIAGNOSED ME WITH DIABETES

BY LOOKING AT A SORE ON MY FOOT.

I HAD SURGERY IN 2007 ON MY TENDONS.

WHEN HE CAME TO SEE ME BEFORE THE SURGERY, HE

SAID HE HAD PRAYED FOR ME, AND HIM!

BOY, CAN HE MAKE A STRAIGHT SCAR!!!

 I HAD BLISTERS FROM NYC.

HE'S GIVEN MY SHOTS IN MY TOES, THAT YOU CAN'T FEEL!
MY NEUROPATHY DIAGNOSIS WAS ALSO HARD, BUT
HE HAS REALLY HELPED ME WITH IT!!!

WHEN MY TOES ON MY RIGHT FOOT BLISTERED DOWN

TO THE TISSUE FROM THE ROSE PARADE TRIP, I HAD

TO GO IN ONCE A WEEK FOR SKIN GRAFTS FOR 14 WEEKS!

(TAKEN FROM BABY BOY'S FORESKIN AFTER CIRCUMCISION.)

AND THEN OF COURSE, THE CHARCOT FOOT!

WHEN YOUR DOCTOR HAS TEARS RUNNING DOWN HIS CHEEKS

AS HE TELLS YOU ABOUT THE DIAGNOSIS, YOU KNOW HE

REALLY LOVES AND CARES ABOUT HIS PATIENTS!

HE ALSO WROTE THE WONDERFUL LETTER FOR ME,

LEADING TO MY RETIREMENT!!!

DR. RIDGE IS 68.  HE SAID HE HAS MISSED EVERYTHING

IN HIS KIDS AND GRANDKIDS LIVES BECAUSE OF

WORK AND CHURCH CALLINGS.

HE WAS A BISHOP, COUNSELOR IN STAKE PRESIDENCY

AND STAKE PRESIDENT.

THEY WANT TO SERVE A MISSION, BUT FOR NOW,

HE'S JUST HAPPY TO BE A 

"STAY AT HOME GRANDPA!"

 

 DR. RIDGE LOVES GOLF AND LOVES BYU.

WHAT MORE FITTING GIFT FOR HIM THAN

BYU GOLFBALLS?!

1 YEAR

FOOT UPDATE...1 YEAR
It was March 20, 2013, when I walked into my foot doctor's office, and was taken out in a wheelchair! I had Charcot Foot...which was at least 10-12 broken bones in my foot. I spent my last 2 1/2 months of my teaching career in a wheelchair. I was basically laid up for 5 months, and in a boot for 8 months. I retired from teaching after 33 years, and released from serving in the Mount Timpanogos Temple after serving 16 years. I was facing possibly many surgeries, and I thought my life was over! I retired on May 30. Everything worked out (since I missed the retirement deadline) even having insurance after my 6 years of insurance ended...cuz I'm so young!
I was called at the end of July to be in the Stake Relief Society Presidency. My Stake President set me apart, and blessed my that I would be healed! I never had surgery!
Summer was LONG! But, at the end of August, I was given the green light to drive! The next month, my doctor said I could go to BYU football and Jazz games! And my life has been better ever since! That's why I like to post where I am...because I was cooped up soooo long! I love the retired life! For about 3 months, I had to make sure to wear my boot at big places...BYU Football, Jazz games, temple.
It's hard to start walking after I have sat a long time...but after about a dozen steps, it's all good. I wear shoes that have a lot of cushion to help with the support. I also wear a brace everyday. I use my fancy cane when getting up in the middle of the night, and I limp slightly. I can live with that!
Love my foot dr. Gary Ridge, and Jill Ridge Roylance, and Elyse Hawks!
Thanks to everyone who helped transport me everywhere in my non-driving days..Lori Willis Chadwick, Don Beckstrand, Annalea Warwood, Ashley Mitchell Kelly, Dixie Howard Mitchell, Condita Washburn, Adonna Iverson , Heidi Dokos Park, Renae Allen Reese, and anyone else I forgot! Also, all my school friends, and especially my 5th grade kiddos!
See you at the Retirement Open House on May 5 for me, Don Beckstrand, and Diane Walter!

Presenting . . .
All the different forms of transportation and
Footwear . . .

 Wheelchair

 Secretly cleaning out my room on Memorial Day.

Lots of help from the cute kiddos...Oakley, Jaycie, Addie, and Preston.

Also...Ashley, Laurel, Mike, Katie

Helping the day before were McKay, Lori, Cole, Haley, and Lily.

Don was a great help the last 2 days...bringing his truck,

taking me and stuff home, and packing it downstairs!

Crutches
(Officially the official day of retirement)

Store Scooter
Woooohoooo!  

Holy Cow!  This was fun!!!

The boot

Shayla's soccer game

Boot over pants

Camry and Katie's birthdays

 Cierra and I comparing boots.

(Look at the twinners in front of us!)

Hahahaha...this is a picture I took looking at my feet.

I'm pushing a cart at WalMart...first outing without my boot!
(Notice how the right shoe is cleaner?  That was my boot foot!)

 Meet my new shoes!

(Dr. Scholl's)

I wear this brace everyday over my sock, and before
I put my shoe on.

Fancy schmancy cane...especially for standing for over

an hour in January to get my picture taken with the

Jazz boys!