Beautiful Summer Day in February

When it's 75 degrees outside for the first time in a few months, what else should a child do but go swimming?  Let me remind you at this point, it's FEBRUARY!

I won't say they stayed in long once they got in, but they got in there several times and just enjoyed the sun warming them up "between dips".  By the end of the day, Aunt Joyce & her friend, Debbie; Bob & Gena, Lily and her friend, were all enjoying the warm weather poolside!  Bonner said at one point "This is going to be the best summer ever!"  

Daddy-Daughter Dance at Oakview

Well, I feel like I am finally among the living.  I weaned off the Oxycodone 3 days after surgery, but it took the fog a few more days to finally lift.  Barrett has been my savior changing out the ice in the circulating bin and I am just trying to do what little PT I can do at home.

Oakview hosted it's 1st Annual Daddy-Daughter Dance on Friday and Bonner was so very excited to get to go with her dad!  Ian even got in a few hugs before she left for dinner and the dance!

From a PTA perspective, I hate that I wasn't there to held the girls with the event, but I am still very limited in my mobility and cannot be up for long before my knee is the size of a watermelon!

Email "1 Week Later"

Email to Family & Friends on 2/21/2018:

Well, to say it's been an interesting 6 days would be an understatement - considering the fact that memories from days 1-4 are hit and miss, I finally feel like I am getting back to being me!  My injury happened on January 10th so I was definitely ready for surgery over a month later ... and now 7 days later, I feel like I am on the road to recovery.  Here are some of my reflections: they are worth the price of admission so feel free to take them or leave them.

1) I am always amazed in times of strife who rises to the top - close friends, family, acquaintances.  I have been through alot of strife in the past 10 years and I am still awed by the power of a serving heart!

2) Physical Therapists are like lactation consultants - a totally different breed!  I think that their mothers withheld toys from them as children and just said "Dig deep.  You can fight through the pain."

3) I vaguely remember my surgeon calling me last Wednesday after the surgery to check on me - I have no recollection of what I said; just praying that he doesn't blush when I see him on Monday for my post-op visit!

4) I have decided at this point that the only way I will not go insane over the next few weeks is to tell myself that rehab is now my occupation ... seeing as how being a woman of leisurely tennis was an occupational hazard, I hope that seeing it as a job will help me to find some solace in my immobility.

5) Pooping is a big deal for so many of us ;-)  Thanks for all the honest feedback and for the tips.  Prayers were answered and I no longer feel like I am carrying a pumpkin around in my mid-section.

6) Don't ever take the ability to do laundry for granted.  First and foremost, God blessed us to live in the era of washers and dryers - no washboards or clotheslines here ... but even with the modern appliances, when you are "couch-bound", you long to do even the most mundane tasks!  Today, I will do laundry!

7) I miss going out to lunch.  Most of you know that I go out to lunch everyday - I have pondered saving the roughly $10/day - $50/week - $2500/year - and making ham sandwiches at home.  But I find utter joy in being able to visit with friends over a Roly Poly sandwich or a Taco Casa taco and this "setback" has only recommitted me to my going out to lunch - because at some point, I will be able to do it again!

8) I can't wait to know "Why me, God?"  Certainly not life or death, by any means; but I always wonder why God brings specific trials into our lives.  Some answers I might get this side of heaven; but, the true reveal of how my injury has worked for His kingdom will only come when I see Him face-to-face!

Specific Prayers:

1) That I am healing on the inside as well it seems I am healing on the outside.  Hopefully, this will be clear on Monday at my post-op appointment.  However, I guess he will take out my stitches on Monday and the idea of that keeps me up at night!

2) Our new routine includes Barrett taking the kids to school in the morning - this has totally shot his routine which is very hard for him ... but it's good for them to have this bonding time in the car ;-)

3) That I would do this new "job" well!

This will probably be my last update, as the next chapter reveals itself.  I will see the surgeon for post-op on Monday morning and, hopefully, get a new brace that will allow me more mobility - the current one keeps my leg in a fairly straight position so it's no fun at all.  Hopefully, I will also know about the timeframe for driving, etc.  Thank you again for all of your support - the meals have been a true blessing and I cannot wait to get in your car in the coming days - I might be in tears on the way home from PT, but having a loving friend next to me, will make all the pain better!

Thank you for your love and your support!

Love,

Jennifer

Email "Post-Op Days 3 & 4"

Email to Family & Friends 2/19/2018:

Good Monday morning,

First of all, I hope that most of you are still asleep ... no idea what I was thinking making a PT appointment first thing on a holiday.  But either way, I am up - wouldn't quite describe my current state as "bright-eyed & bushy-tailed", but I am upright and functioning to the best I can.  The weekend had some highs and lows - the transition to only Tylenol is going ok; but the pain is definitely kicking in worse at times.  I keep trying to remind myself that it's going to be a marathon - definitely not a sprint.

Some people have asked me what specifically they can pray for so here are a few of things:

1) that I can continue to humble myself enough to ask for help with little things - the frustration I have at times with not being able to reach something, cook something, do something is strong (I am sure you all find that very hard to believe)

2) that our family can all transition this week into somewhat of a new normal

3) that I can poop ... many of you know that this is already a problem for me and I know, it's TMI, but after anesthesia, your bowels can take a hit and I am praying that mine will jumpstart soon.

Barrett is doing a great job of taking care of me and I'm super excited to see the kids today when they get home.  Thanks again for the texts, calls, and meals!  I'm off to PT at 9 a.m. so if any of you read this in the next 90 minutes, say a prayer that both the trainer and I are without black eyes ;-)

XOXO,

Jennifer

Surgery is Over

Well, I "prehabbed" for several weeks before surgery to improve my range of motion and my flexibility.  Surgery was Wednesday, the 14th, and I did pretty good.  I must admit that the first few days were a total blur, but thankfully, I have a few pictures to remind me of it!

Before surgery ...

And after ...

The day after surgery, you have to go to Physical Therapy for them to check your dressings and to try and get some movement in your knee.  I was in "la la land" when I got there with my big jug of water ... Thankfully, my sutures looked pretty good.  He got my knee bending some and all I can say is "Thank goodness for pain meds!"

Email "Day 2 Post-Op"

Email to Friends & Family on 2/16/2018:

Good Friday evening .... just a quick email to let you know that I am hanging in there.  We were definitely on a better schedule last night so that was helpful - I got some good sleep. But I guess I was exhausted because I have slept most of the day today - feel like the pain meds are taking over my mind and all of my faculties.  Needless to say, Barrett went out to get some Tylenol and I will start that transition tomorrow. Thanks again for all of the support and checking in on me!  So very thankful for each of you and hoping that you have a wonderful weekend!

XOXO,

Jennifer

Email "Day 1 Post-Op"

Email to Friends & Family on 2/15/2018:

Thank you again for all the texts and calls yesterday & today.  Your prayers last night worked as I was able to finally get ahead of the excruciating pain - just in time to see Shaun White, the snowboarder who actually has the same heart defect as Ian - win the Gold Medal!  I made it up the stairs last night to my bed, too, which was nice.  I was not looking forward to sleeping on the couch!

We were up every 3 hours to either take medicine or add ice to the machine so that wasn't much fun; but thankful for both! I was really groggy this morning and after taking more pain meds went back to sleep for a long morning nap.

After lunch, it was my first outing to Physical Therapy and man, oh man, that was pretty grueling!  But the knee incisions look good (see attached) so that was good news.  He taught me how to use the crutches so I'm hobbling around on those at this point.  & he gave me permission to wrap my leg in saran wrap and take a shower so I have just finished completing that task.  You that know me well know that showering is not my favorite past time and this only confirmed it more.

I am getting ready to load back up on pain meds and head off to la la land; just wanted to reach out and give everyone an update!  2 pictures attached - me sitting at PT so you can see the giant contraption my leg is wrapped up in and the other a look at what is under that giant contraption.

XOXO,

Jennifer