Curse of a Broken Knee

Three years ago, at Ryan's sister's wedding, I broke my knee. Two years ago I actually found out it was broken for the first time. July 2011 I finally started the process to get it fixed. Because the knee was broken and nothing was done, it healed on its own and healed wrong. Not only did it heal wrong, but in the last three years, my alignment has become so off on my left leg that it needed to be fixed before anything could be done to fix the actual broken part. I met with the orthopedic doctor on my birthday for the first time. He took one look at my x-ray and said, "well, this is difficult." I felt awesome - not. We talked about a few options, full knee replacement, half knee replacement, some other experimental surgery, or nothing at all. The doctor wasn't convinced that there was a right answer so he wanted to pass my case around to other colleagues. I was fine with that; the more the merrier! Ended up realizing that the alignment was off so much that in order for any of the options to work we have to get me re-aligned. I asked the doctor how we do that and he said, "well, I go in a cut a wedge out of your femur and then plate it with a titanium plate." Sounds fun - you know you are jealous. Anyway, Ryan and I talked it over and we both decided that we are tired of my limitations with pain and discomfort with my knee that let's just do it. The doctor also wanted to go in arthroscopic and check out the meniscus and such. Well, surgery was scheduled for July 5th at 6:30 am...here goes nothing!
Surgery and recovery was about three hours and then they kept me overnight at the hospital for pain control. My meniscus ended up being torn so the doctor repaired that and also took out a lot of arthritic tissue. No surprise that I would have that; eight years of rheumatoid arthritis will give you that! Oh, the doctor did say that my knees are like most 80 year old knees...good to know! I was at home and on crutches for 4-8 weeks; depending on how the bone healed. I will tell you right now that crutches are hard, not only physically, but mentally as well. My girls and Ryan were big helpers and Megan, bless her, she was the best nurse I could have ever asked for. Not many 8 year old girls will stay inside their first two weeks of summer vacation and wait on their mom hand and foot, but my eight year old did and didn't complain hardly at all. Love her! I am still in physical therapy but things are progressing. The next surgery will be when the pain in the actual break of the knee starts up again. Doctor doesn't want to do anything yet.(Picture me doing a happy dance):)
I am glad I did the surgery to get things fixed. I am glad I am done with crutches. I am glad that I can see progress in physical therapy. I am glad I can carry things when I walk again. I am glad that I have a fabulous family that supported me through this trial.

Self portrait in hospital - I had to send it to my mom whose was out of the country visiting Brandon.

Beautiful flowers that former co-workers sent.

Home from hospital.
With the brace
Bandages came off on day 9
After I showered and scrubbed as much as I could
Inside of my thigh...jealous much?!

Manti Pageant

Ryan and I both had been to the Mormon Miracle Pageant when we were younger and have always thought that the girls would like it. We decided that this year we would make a weekend out of it. We booked a hotel room in Fairview, UT and headed to Manti that night. We went to the pageant and then the next day woke up and took the rhino out for some riding in Fairview. It was a great weekend and the girls loved the play.

Dance Competition

Megan started dance again in January and we found out that this studio has every class compete in at least one competition. I wasn't sure how I felt about that, but it really ended up being no big deal. The competition was organized fairly well and we were told what time her class had to be there; we got there and she was completely done within an hour - it was pretty smooth. We chose to not stay for the awards because we knew they wouldn't start until at least 10:00 pm and Megan wanted to go to her cousins house for a birthday party. The next day at Church she found out her class took first place! I felt bad she missed the awards, but only one girl ended up being there for the awards. Her dance teacher made a big deal out if at class. Megan did so good - she really steals the show! The director of the studio told me that she tries really hard to watch the entire class, but she was always drawn to Megan to watch her. Makes her mama happy :). Megan tries really hard to get things just right and at times is a little mechanical, but she is making progress.

Volume Please!

Morgan has fine hair and one morning I thought I would try out the Velcro curlers to see if we could add some volume. She was so funny with the curlers in I had to take pictures.

Lotsa Tots

In mid-April Morgan started going to a daycare full time. We were fortunate enough to have family watch up until now, but this was the right time to move her. She was not happy when I left and yes, I shed tears too. Megan did the same thing and I know they get over it, but it is still hard. Megan stopped crying in the mornings after a couple of weeks, Morgan on the other hand is just barely starting to have mornings where she doesn't scream; it is the end of August now. :) The director of the daycare sent me a picture of her on her first day to let me know she was having fun, made me smile. And when she does cry in the morning, she has finished by the time I get to my car -silly girl. She has moved to the 4 year old class and now she tells everyone she is 8 because her sister is big and I go to the big kid class. She is a character! One fabulous thing that has happened since her going to daycare - Morgan is now potty-trained!!!

Grandpa Keith's Birthday

The girls and I took a trip to St. George back in February and it just so happened to land on the weekend of my Dad's birthday. Ryan stayed back home to go snowmobiling. We love our trips to St. George to visit Grandma and Grandpa Morgan as well as Aunt Allie and cousins. My Dad loves banana cream pie, so that was his choice for a cake.