I'm still alive, and kickin', (not throwing)

Awful joke, I know, I can deal. Anyways, I'm about 3.75 weeks post-op, and almost drug-free (narcotics, not hard drugs, not that I ever had a hard-drug problem, anyways...) I am semi-independent but at the same time, baby-feeling. I can't, well shouldn't, drive, and I'm pushing myself way too much.

As for the actual surgery, it went well, I'm not so broken anymore, or so they say. I mean I could move my shoulder a whole lot more before my surgery than I can now, but recovery comes with time, and time needs patience, which is what I'm lacking anymore these days.

I have a doctors appointment on Thursday and should be almost off my medicine by then and starting rehab soon after, wanna talk about scary. I don't know which gets me more, the rehab or stopping my meds. I am dependent on these pills, because this shoulder pain doesn't seem to be taking it easy on me, but I'm finally down to just two pills a day, once AM and once PM. And if you know anything about me, and my pain management skills, that's a big BIG deal.

All of the hobbies I told you about before are being put on hold, but I've taken up eBaying, which I know, is not a verb. But anyways, my mom and the "Grove Girls" -the gang of "40-something's"- that live in my subdivision (The Grove, in case you're tired today and didn't get that) all got Miche purses, and recently decided they don't want them anymore, so I got hired as the you-aren't-going-to-school-so-you-probably-have-a lot-of-free-time girl to auctions everyone's stuff off on eBay, so I did. And it became an addiction. I think I'm going to have a store, and make this a multi-million dollar operation, but for now, I'm sticking to a couple hundred. But this has literally been my time waster/spender/user, whatever you want to call it. It may or may not be the best thing for my shoulder, but it's making me understand how to deal with people in a professional manner.

Speaking of, I started my job at Pizza Hut, and I'm on the road to being a Team Shift Leader, as far as that goes, things are looking up. The work is easy for me in my condition, the people are, well, interesting. And, overall, it's a good experience for me. I'm learning phone skills, and to be nice when people are yelling at me on the phone because they ordered 10 hours ago, and their food still isn't there. It's entertaining at best, and as far as minimum wage goes, I can deal.

Also, this summer will be the start of life in college for Bri Coleman. I'm going to Illinois State University, and as of now, my chosen major is Psychology. We'll see where that takes me. I will be a student worker in the advising office at Mennonite College of Nursing at ISU starting late summer through whenever they don't need me anymore, which is also a good shoulder saving job. God has blessed me when I wasn't sure I needed it. I was worried, but hadn't turned to Him with it yet.

As far as blessings go, things are looking up for me and my relationship with the Big Man upstairs. I am going to 'training' meetings for the Fuel House every Thursday morning (waaay too early - 7:30) and my Pneuma Group (bible study) on Wednesday, and they are keeping me encouraged. Not to mention, Fuel, obviously on Sunday. I am trying to maintain positive relationships and surroundings during this tough time, because recovery seems to be wayyy more physically and emotionally draining then I ever thought, or imagined. I know things will get better, pray for me please.

And hanging out, I'm down for it, as long as you're okay with my sling, I can do most anything! Love and miss everyone! Don't forget to text or call me: 309 826 4132
<3

Growing Pains

Since this whole shoulder thing has taken a turn for the worse (as most of you already know, I mean it's what sent me home lotsa months early from a country I loved), sleeping's definitely been put on this back burner, so after about two hours of tossing and turning, I decided to use this time to my advantage.

Update:

Today was my pre-op physical, that was a nice worthless drive to Champaign and back, I could have told them I was fine over the phone and drawn my own blood and sent it to them, but that's beside the point. It looks like the surgery is a go for Friday. Wish me luck.

Mom and Chris and everyone down the hill from me have taken ill. So they are quarantined in my house and I was kicked out in fear of become ill and passing it on to anyone in the Kelley house (my new residence) or getting sick myself and having to postpone my long-awaited surgery. So, I packed a few things and took the extra room in the house on the hill (Chris's parents's house for those of you who aren't following). It's cozy, but I still miss mom, I feel like I'm still in Germany since I'm not allowed to see her.

College is coming up, doing lots of prep for that. I'm starting to look at the math Compass Practice Exams, which I'm not really looking forward to. I would like to point out to everyone that my last math class was first semester of my senior year, a little too far away for comfort...

I got box #1 from Germany, aka all my stuff that wouldn't fit to come home the same way it was sent there. And I received a lot of my German workbooks and language aids, which I have been studying as much as I have the desire to. I'm so scared to lose what I learned, and I also have the fear that the more I concentrate on German and figuring out grammar, the more issues I'm gonna have in English 101. But, it's a chance I'm going to and am willing to take. It would break my heart if I lost contact with my host family because I couldn't communicate with them, I miss them so much, and I am blessed beyond words to say that I have a family overseas that I know at any time would welcome me with open arms if I needed them.

I sold my DS and bought an Xbox, no particular reason,I just wanted to have something to do on the days Chris had class and I was at home, and at this point its something I can do after my surgery that doesn't require any range of motion.

Chris is mobile, and moving. He's on crutches, we were tempted to burn the walker and wheelchair, but they're rented. He can drive his car, and oh boy, was that a big deal (it's a stick). He can exercise to an extent, and be on a stationary bike with no resistance. He's got a soft beer-koozie kinda splint on his thumb and things are looking up for him. He's doing 25% weight on his foot and is pretty much walking, despite what we tell him to do... He's a 21 year old boy with a drive no one can stop. But I'm proud of him, he's staying positive which is crucial to his recovery. I've heard the story of his accident a good 89 times, everyone asks him what happened when we wheel or crutch into places, little do they know the story to come, and he'll tell anyone that'll listen. It's entertaining at best.

I'm learning to crotchet. Not that that's all that interesting, but it's a highlight for me these days. Cheryl (Chris's mom, not mine, I know, sweet, our moms have the same name... moving on) is teaching me to crotchet and I'm stoked. I plan to make a blanket, but from the way my simple chain, and single stitch are looking about now, I should stick to a pot holder.

I'm super bored out of my mind. I am getting frustrated with lack of independence, which I guess scares me because my independence really gets taken away after my surgery when I will rely on lots of people to do for and help me, not that that's a bad things, I just am not looking forward to it. As we all know, The Blue Bomber (aka my car) is still sitting in front of my house (P.S. - if you wanna buy it, call me), and I can't drive it. It's a stick, and I need a new car, because a manual will just do bad things for my shoulders. So that's a sense of being a big girl that I don't have, and like I've said before taking the bus from home isn't really an option. The only chance I have for getting a ride, doesn't give me the opportunity to sleep in, either I go with mom early in the morning to work, and take her car, or the bus to where ever, or I have Chris pick me up (assuming he moves back to his apartment soon - oh, by the way, he can do stairs again, and is in the basement back to his room and his parents got their room back). I'm not complaining, I'm lucky to have options, it's just tough.

I need a job, I need to start working, but this surgery is really limiting what I can and can't do, and not just for the rehab-phase, but in the long run. I will never be able to do lift more than 30 pounds easily, and I would say that rules out quite a few jobs, especially some "college-jobs". I'm not talking about on-campus work, I mean jobs kids usually have in college, for example, the famous one, and the one that I was planning on, serving. I wanted to serve at Flat Top because I thought with the plastic bowls and not-so-heavy things, it would be easy(ier) money. But with drinks being heavy, that won't work. So, money-maker 1, out of the question, as with being a CNA. I might be able to score a job a Pizza Hut, being the order-taker, for deliveries and carry-outs, because that requires answering the phone and typing on the computer. That I can even do during the time I'm in rehab, which would be nice. It's maybe not my dream job, but it would be a paycheck, and a schedule I could call my own. Take away my boredness, and maybe make some friends.

I know I haven't seen a lot of you since I've been home. Chris and I have been living in a bubble of sorts for the past 6ish weeks. But don't hesitate to call or text me, I miss everyone, and can't wait to catch up again. Chris can do virtually everything for himself now, and doesn't need me to help him anymore, if anything I need his help, so I'm available. We should have lunch or something, I'm missing a lot of restaurants I haven't been too in a while. Let's catch up♥ 309.826.4132

Herzliche Willkommen in Amerika

Wellll, as you do or definitely should know, I'm home! YAY. Well, kinda. I was stoked to get here, but since I've been home, not alot's changed... America didn't miss me like I thought. Don't get me wrong, my family and friends have been supportive and open-armed, but it's different than I'd expected I'd say.

My English: Totally getting better, and worse. Better, because I can speak it, but worse because I don't know how to spell for the life of me.

Life's different here for me. I've been taking care of Chris for the better of every business day with the exception of Fridays. This kid is a rock. He's pulling back from nothing, so fast. I'm amazed at his recovery and ability to pretty much do for himself in such short notice. It's great, I mean at this point, we're just taking turns, I take care of him, and he returns the favor here shortly, unfortunately. I just got the news today about the shoulder sitch. We had the doctor's appointment in Champaign this morning and doc gave the green light to operate. So that's a go, but I'm not stoked about the scar or rehab or any other thing that'll cause future pain, but I'll deal. I'll have my surgery in the better of two weeks, Friday, March 5th. (P.S. learning how to write dates and times right, is stressing me out). I have a couple of pre-op appointments in Champaign too, or near it, and alot of rules to follow. Nothing to worry about thought, the procedure is outpatient and by the weekend I should be sitting at him groaning in pain.

As far as jobs, school, etc., all I do is play nurse for Chris, which prior to today was a relatively full time job, but like I said, he's getting more and more self sufficient everyday. I'm technically not allowed to work because I don't really have too much use of my right side (hence, the shoulder issue) but, it's okay for right now, I'm living at home, well, sleeping at home, and mom's takin good care of me.

So, about future jobs, school, and etc., I will for sure be starting at ISU in the fall, we're about to pay the deposit and everything (college fees=♥). I will not be living in the dorms as a freshman, I will actually be living in the Fuel House: (www.fueleveryday.com) click around there for more info (others>fuel houses), which I'm so excited about. My goal for college initially was nursing, but that puts me as an undeclared major to start out, and that's something I'm not a fan of. So my plan: Declare Psychology as my major then do 1/3 things. 1. Go straight through and graduate and be a Psychologist. 2. Apply to the nursing school my sophomore year, second semester, see if I get in, and be a Psych Nurse, major in nursing, easily minor in pysch. OR... 3. Get crazy, and go through to med school and be a Psychiatrist, that prescribes medicine to patients, and that whole situation. We'll see, I mean it could happen that I get to school and decide the only Psyche I was to look at is my own. But for now, that's my plan. I need to have a plan so I don't go crazy.

The thing I obviously haven't planned for is this shoulder. I mean I knew it was dumb, but today I just realized how dumb. After this doctor's appointment I came to two conclusions, either I can: 1. Do all the things I want to do in life and hurt, lots. OR... 2. I can be a Careful Carla and limit myself a lot. And I know that sounds drastic, but I mean, that's my reality for now. I planned on becoming a CNA before nursing school, rollin in the big bucks and seeing if nursing was right for me, the problem: Nursing, and CNA's especially, can require a lot of heavy lifting. So Doc made all of those plans a definite No Go, which I can say I wasn't too excited about, but this may be a sign to me, that I need to relax, take on some non-heavy-lifting office job, and focus on school. Either way, I don't have a choice now. My next few months will be dedicated to getting better, with Chris, and learning how to do things again with my shoulder that'll be shortly out of commission.

America being all that it is, it's still no Germany. I miss so many people, and things. What I miss most:

• Meine Gastfamilie My Host Family. The are such great people, words cannot describe how lucky I was to come about such a great family, that literally took me in as their own. I will never forget them, and still stay in contact with them once or twice a week.
  
• Nutella und Honig Nutella and Honey. Now for most of you out there are saying, OH, We have Nutella and Honey here! Everything's okay... And if you're saying that, you Obviously haven't been to Germany.
  
• Brötchen. Oh man, and thank God I miss this delicacy, because if it was here, I would be far too wide, with no chance of getting better.
• Meine "Besties" My Besties. I miss all my friends so much, and I can't wait to visit, or vice versa, if only I had a jet, or international flights were on a huge blowout price right now.
• U-Bahn, und Laufen irgendwo The Subway, and walking places. This is definately something I took for granted while I was there. Most people say, ohhh, we can walk here, that's fine, America's "green" and blah blah blah. Have any of you tried walking down Veteran's parkway to get somewhere...? Let's test it, start at the turn from College to Veterans, and I'll meet you at Starbucks - across from Jumer's- because I guarantee wherever you were planning on going, you've already got on your phone and called your BFF to get you there. It's just not the same environment, I easily stepped right back into this society taken over by automobiles and gas and getting places quickly, but from where I live, to be fair to myself, I can't walk, I'd die. There's no side walks east of that light from Ireland Grove and Towanda Barnes. Sad, but true.
• Unsere Wasserkocher Our water-cooker. This thing boils water in like 1 minute. I love it, and the tea was SO good because of it. I'm getting one ASAP.
  

So all in all, America's not that bad. I'm getting used to things how they usedta be, but I really miss Europe and can't wait to go back.

I'll keep you posted after surgery, I'm sure all I can do then is type and text :] (P.S. New Number: 309.826.4132)

a Happy Time and a Sad Time.

Soooooo, as some of you may know, I am coming home. The date is not yet final, but I am going to be in America in the next week or so. I'm happy to see everyone I've missed for so long, but sad that I'm gonna have a whole other group of people to miss now.

My birthday was also last week. Thanks for all the birthday wishes and gifts you all sent, that was really sweet. I initially planned a birthday party for Saturday because my birthday was on a Monday, and it just seemed like a good time. Then within the week, we decided to call YFU about an early return date, and they said it would be soon, so we very quickly (two days) turned my birthday party into a 'happy birthday, sorry you're leaving party'. The turn out was pretty good for such short notice. I mean because my shoulder is killing me, I'm not in school a lot, so I was surprised so many people still came, and didn't hate me for missing school.







Ohhh, the party. So, there was maybe 20 people there. The party started at 19 uhr (7 o'clock) and ended at 7! Seven o'clock in the morning is when the last loud loud people left my house, it was great. The only thing that wasn't so good, is that mom and Julia were upstairs trying to sleep, and I can't imagine there's anyway they were able to get that done... Auf jeden fall, the party was a alot of fun and everyone had a good time. It was a good going away party I would say, especially for being planned in 48 hours.

My life has actually been sadly uneventful because of my shoulder, I spend a lot of time at home, doing sudoku puzzles and drinking tea. So there's not a lot to update, I'm doing a lot of last minute, last-things-I-wanted-to-have-before-I-came-home shopping. Trying to stay in some sort of budget, since I am NOT going to be able to get all this stuff home the same way I got it here... This should be fun. I miss all of you, and I'll see you soon.♥

Update: Frohes Neues, Winter Wonderland

Alrrright, so, dear everyone who's been keeping track, sorry I suck at updating this blog. I think this happens to everyone with a blog-statistic from another exchange student- but trotzdem, Happy New Year (Frohes Neues Jahr) and Merry Christmas...

So, what's happened since last time? Well, the Countdown to Chris is now alot bigger than it was. aka, he's came and gone, sorry you missed him. It was arguably the best two weeks I've had in Germany. I've missed him so much. We went to Bayern and Nürnberg and saw the most beautiful winter scene I've ever seen outside of a Bob Ross painting. It was gorgeous. For cold weather, I loved it. The first day in Nürnberg, it was super cold and I got sick, so that made for a not-so-fun next few days, I was really stuffy and the weather wasn't doing anything for me. But we still had fun. We stayed in a Ferienwohnung, which is normally something like an apartment that you can rent for the time that you're on vacation, but for us, we had a house that on the top top floor was like a flat, with two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a living room area, and Chris and I had a separate hotel like suite. The house atmosphere was really nice.

Florin went skiing everyday that we were in Bayern, Chris and I tried snow-shoeing. I say tried because, although he may disagree, I was sick, and the whole experience for me was miserable. We got halfway up the hill and I quit, not planned, but going up where people have a hard time breathing anyways and being stuffy wasn't my game. So we went for a walk somewhere else with dad and Julia, while mom took care of gramma who's about to turn 90 in February.




The Christmas holiday was awesome. I got alot of warm socks from my American and German families, that was wonderful. I am SO much warmer :]. Oh, and P.S. thanks for any of you that sent me greeting/Christmas cards. That was so awesome to get mail! I actually had my host family beat as far as receiving Christmas cards, and thanks to those of you who sent a special one for them, that was sweet... and alot of work for me to translate :] On the note of Christmas, thanks again to everyone that participated in my Christmas video from Chris, that was the best Christmas present he, and any of you could have given. It was a nice reminder of everyone at home that I've been away from for six months now.

This also marks the half-a-year point for me, which is an accomplishment in itself. Comparing myself to who and how I was when I got here, I've learned and grown a lot from this experience, and I can definitely say this time was not wasted. I have a wonderful family here, and some pretty cool friends, and another place to call home, and I feel really lucky for that.

While Chris was here, he bonded with the whole family. That made his vacation here, that much nicer. He left me quite a few times to go hangout with dad, and ride bikes, as expected. He played games with the family, like we always do, and tried to school Florin in Wii MarioKart, but it so didn't happen. My family misses him almost as much as I do. Florin says he has a new brother in America. I thought that was cool. Chris also got to meet all the "extended" family, aka dad's siblings and niece and nephews. We played a game like Bad Santa, and Chris and I totally won a Sandwich Maker, which he took back to America with him, and it's waiting for me :].

Schulter Update: I would like a new shoulder for my birthday. If anyone finds one, that would be great; I would start looking on eBay. My shoulder is getting in the way of me having fun quite a bit, I never really thought it would actually get any worse. But don't worry your little hearts, I'm not dying, nothing some Tylenol can't fix, more than anything it's just annoying. It could end up being the reason I would come home early, but I'm just not so sure yet. We're going to see an Orthopedic doctor here sometime this week or so, auf jeden Fall, before my birthday. Speaking of birthday, I'm getting excited to plan my party. Doin' it up German-Style for the big 1-9. I feel like a gramma. Everyone in my class is like, wow, you're old. Thanks guys. That's helpful.

Silvestre. New Years was a blast. A very bittersweet day, because Chris went home early that morning. There were some tears until the party here, and everyone tried their best to cheer me up. We had about a good 60-70 people in our house! And I promise you, we live in no kind of palace. In the basement, we had the "teen party", with Florin and a bunch of kids from my class. It was lots of fun. There were fireworks in the streets at midnight. That was crazy. And when I say in the streets in mean like right outside of our house, like, things that are illegal in Illinois for sure. Boom Boom fireworks, not just sparklers. It was awesome, and cold.

The thing that's still killing me about this breathtaking cold weather, and I mean breathtaking in the worst way possible, its just cold, is that I never really know what temperature it is. For example, in the morning before I go to school mom tells me, oh Bri, it's -5 degrees, maybe you should put on warmer shoes. And I freak out. NEGATIVE FIVE?! Then I'm like, wait, noooo, it's like 20 something. I'm alright. This is the difference between America and the rest of the world. Literally. And if you having caught on, I'm talking about the difference between Celsius and Fahrenheit, and for those of you that are like, "OHHH, I get it now," you need to be more cultured.

So December has been, Chillen in the Alps, Celebrating Christmas (get it? Chris-tmas, cause Chris was here, oh I'm funny) with my boyfriend and family, and starting the new year with the biggest celebration I've seen here. Not bad. I miss you all so so much, and I'll be home soon. ♥