Taking It One Step At A Time

First I want to welcome all the new followers! Feel free to chat with me if you want to and if you have a story you want to tell, feel free to submit it to my blog. For all my old followers; you guys…*pinches cheeks* are amazing for sticking with me for so long so I send all my love and appreciation. Also I extend the talking part to you guys too. we don’t have to talk about disabilities or other serious issues, you can ask other questions too like What I’m like or something random.

Which brings me to my next point. I’ve noticed this blog has been lacking because well a. writer’s block and b. there’s not much to write these days. With summer fast approaching (thank god) I thought it would be good  for a fresh start. I’ve thought of two:

The first would be like journal entries about life. My life, your life. Like what happy, sad, frustrating, and delightful moments you’ve guys are having. Because I really love learning about you guys. Plus I’m sure you guys can give each other encouragement.  I really haven’t thought into this fully yet (like maybe it would be a good subblog instead) so hit me up in my inbox if you like it.

The second idea would be medical. Like medical mondays where I write about a new disease or disability that I/someone finds. Hit me up if you like that idea or not.

Hope you guys like the ideas! To leave this post on a positive note from the mouth of Winston Churchill:

“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”

Stay Gold!

Two days ago I had come back from my college’s counseling office and sat in front of my laptop mind processing that puzzling question.

It was official. I am going to college in the fall of 2012. That thought almost wished I was back in high school. Almost.

Due to some “circumstances” (I don’t mind going into it, it’s just that it’s a long story that will make this post longer) I will be going to a community college then transferring rather than a four year university initially . Bummer on my end since I wanted to be on my own. Living with my new friends. Partying. Studying. The college kid’s dream. Not so much on my mom’s end since she doesn’t have to have a tear-jerking goodbye for another two years. You should have seen her when I started Kindergarten.

Fond memories aside, I soon discovered that college was alot more “complicated” than what Legally Blonde had taught me. First off there are no pets allowed for one thing (le sigh), I couldn’t just waltz into college and be like “I’m going to med school”, and there are over 130 programs of study at my school to choose from (which many overlap) which makes choosing a major, double major, major-minor, and for the really overachieving double major-minor alot more, well complicated.

Initially I wanted to do a Chemistry major with an asian/interdisciplinary studies minor for certain. Now I’m not so sure. First problem i’m having is that my college doesn’t have an asian studies…or asian anything for that matter. I mean a couple of asian courses here and there plus the only asian language course that will keep me on track to a 4 year graduation (Elementary-Advanced) is chinese. Chinese isn’t terrible per say, I even enjoyed taking it last year but I wanted to take Japanese, maybe Korean first. Realistically though I have to say chinese is a more useful (more common) language than Japanese or Korean. So should I suck it up and take Chinese? Or study Japanese/Korean on my own, with the  guidance from the language department? Would I even be able to complete it with even a minor in it when I transfer?

Second problem I’m having is my major. I never knew how complicated a major could get. I mean there’s so many variations to chemistry. Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering. It’s even worse for biology majors which would make more sense in pursuing since I want to go to med school. Then there’s the job prospects after. How about majoring in physics(engineering) ? but then I blew the AP exam soooo haha. I could always try again…What about having a joint major? My major with mathematics would look fabulous but would require more self-discipline at being extremely good at math because being “ok” isn’t going to cut it anymore. Starting mind explosion in 5…4…3…2..1..

Third lesson (rather than a problem) is that I need to put myself out there more. Let me be honest, although I’m a Pisces and have a personality type of ENFP, I’m not bursting in the social confidence department. With older adults, I’m an awkward turtle with a voice of a church mouse (can I get an amen?). Many adults have told me that it’s surprising to see how outgoing I am with peers and children when initially they thought I was the quiet kid. Being college, I have to learn to get over this as I have to plan out internships, study aboard, and jobs to let adults see I’m not a “quiet kid” but an “outgoing adult” 

The fourth problem is the transferring to a 4 year uni. I’ve already picked out 5 that I liked but some of them are big schools and my cerebral palsy might make going there a problem says my body. But on the flip side they have good programs whines my mind. See my problem?

If you have any comments, suggestions it would be amazing and thanks for reading!

Stay Gold!!!!!!! :) 

You remember that question from when you were younger? You would probably wish for invisibility, flight, super strength, telepathy, to be able to breath underwater, etc. etc.

Even now I kind of wonder what would happen if I had that one talent I craved ever since I dived myself into my first Ipod. The talent I’m talking about is to sing and play the guitar.

There’s something memorizing when watching someone singing their heart out. Sweat pouring down their face. Their voice reaching beyond the stage, but the entire globe. Their lyrics branding themselves into my brain till I know every line by heart. The poems they write comes alive off the paper and flies so high and across time itself.

The musician sings for his/her love of music and for their fans. No one can say this is wrong or this sucks. Music is all about feeling. Feeling crumby? Feeling joyous? Write a song and you somehow relate to someone. It’s that powerful. Music has done so much for me over the years and get through all my troubles and blues.

Maybe in the next life I’ll be a vocal guitarist in a cool rock band but for now I’ll stick to singing in the shower!

Happy Monday! (or Tuesday depending on where you are). This post is going to all about using the bathroom during the hospital and at home. And yes I will be blushing writing about this. Let’s go! ;)

In the hospital:

It was such a time consuming event going to the bathroom. First I had to call the nurse to help me go to the bathroom which took about 30 seconds-2 minutes. Second, he/she had to unhook the machine to make it movable. Third, the nurse had to help me get out of bed and get my walker to get me going to the bathroom. Now the nurse, machine, and I had to walk over to the bathroom which took a little while since my legs were weak. And finally when we all got there, I had to sit down slowly and for comfort, grab a pillow to put behind me while I do my thing. All while holding in my #1 or if I’m lucky #2 (pee and poo in case anyone was wondering lol). So it took a very very long time to even get to the bathroom. Thus I learned to hold it in for long periods of time, which is a valuable lesson to learn! lol

Tip: When you have spinal fusion surgery make sure someone is close by in case of emergencies like if you need helping wiping and such (guilty). Also it helps to have a pillow behind you when you do go to the bathroom for comfort.

To minimize me going through such events, if I had to go pee, I would use like a canister to pee into (if you want to know what it looks like, i’ll have a picture later, it’s a little dark over here). Though sometimes being drugged up on morphine, my aiming wasn’t *ahem* precise, so there were a couple oops and my sister/mom had to hold the canister for me to let me go.Yup my sister and mom saw my wee wee. Highlight of my hospital stay. My sister still uses that against me when I hop out of the shower and she just waltz in and is like you have nothing I haven’t seen lol.

For girls, I don’t really know what they do, sorry but I think it’s like my “event”

Grooming wise was equally a hassle. I had to gothrough “the event” and make my way to the sink to either brush my teeth or shave. it helps ALOT if you have a chair to sit on if you get tired. So have someone bring you a chair to sit on in case.

Using the shower? ha yeah right. Your not allowed to take a shower till the incision heals and/or your next doctor visit (which is usually 2-3 weeks after your surgery). So to counter this, I had to use good old fashion wash cloth and soap. With my mom help of course!

At home:

It was alot easier to go to the bathroom (toilet). I went by myself with the walker one hop at a time for #2 and #1 if someone was home with me. If not, I had to use the canister. The rehab gave me a commode to go over the toliet seat (it looks like this:

Which helps because it has railings to hold on to but I didn’t really need it.

Grooming was a bit easier since I could lean on my sink but it’s still good to have someone near you. I didn’t start actually showering again for at least another 2 weeks (6 weeks total).

Tip: Depending on what kind of shower you have, you will need a shower chair for a while. This is because standing in the shower will be difficult while still healing. I kind of cheated and used the comode as my shower chair. HAVE SOMEONE NEAR YOU TILL YOU GET USED TO GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE SHOWER. there were a couple moments where I almost slipped if my mom didn’t catch me. Also it may help to get one of those movable shower heads to help shower parts you couldn’t have without.

OK that wraps that up! Feel free to ask any question, concerns, etc. and don’t forget to submit your own disabled, illness, scoliosis, etc. on this blog at http://evrthinginslomo.tumblr.com/submit

Stay Gold! :)