Busy Times

We have successfully survived Christmas's number 2, 3, 4 and yes 5, with a bonus dinner. #2 was Christmas Eve with the Freeman's. We all enjoyed a nice prime rib dinner before the kids (and us) tore into presents. The kids received lots of very cool things, the Bilbo seems to be one of the top gifts as the days pass. Kevin attempted the same trick that my sister did at the last party.


#3 was Santa's presents. We opted to spend the night in the boro as the weather wasn't looking good (and it was a late night). The next morning the kids were delighted to see that Santa managed to find them. Mason was thrilled that Santa brought him socks.


#4 was Christmas dinner with the Freeman side of the family. It was a long day of hanging out with multiple relatives that we don't get the chance to see all that often. Everyone looked and is doing well. Sophie (Anna's baby) was adorable and Colby LOVED being able to play with a baby. We managed to get a decent picture of all the kids being super cute.

After these 3 parties, we left the boro with a VERY full trunk. =)

#5 was the kids getting presents from us. It was a much smaller party with fewer presents. Mason received a Star Wars book from Colby that was very impressive. Neither were real impressed with their new PJ's, hopefully they'll appreciate them more later. =) As the Christmas season winds down, I hope that everyone had a good Christmas. Thank-you all for the wonderful presents. We love you all! Also, I want to put in a quick Congrats to the Marsman's- you know why!! =)

As for my knee, the colors continue to get more impressive. Tomorrow is my first follow up appt. Hopefully he'll have good things to share. I miss being able to walk like a normal person!! I'm also going a little stir crazy. I am getting around a lot better and can move around well without crutches as long as I'm wearing my brace. I accidently pulled the glue out of one of my incision sites, thank goodness I had some steri-strips around! I wonder what a normal person does?? (I'm told that a normal person wouldn't have pulled the glue out.) At any rate, the incision looks better then the others so I'm thinking about trying in on the other two small ones. =) The color really started to show up in the back. Currently the front is fading and the back continues to look prettier. I am amused that the bruising seems to have started with yellow and ended with bluish purple tones. I always thought it was the other way. My dad asked that I post some updated color shots...

Ooooh...

Pretty colors

Christmas Party #1

Today was Christmas party #1 with my side of the family at our place. Colby looked adorable in her new sweater.

Mason sported his "justice nipples". (Yeah, I don't know either.)

My sister won for best use of a new gift.


It turned out to be a lovely party with close family and PLENTY of gifts for everyone. Kevin put together our new rug this evening. Colby loved her new baby with stroller accessory. My knee was not happy with hosting a party. I do have updated knee pics though...

On a plus, I do think the size of the knee really makes my calf look smaller.
For comparison:

Alive

I made it thru alive and well. I don't have pictures of my "new" knee to show off as of yet. I'd like to keep the bandages on for a bit. My surgeon was running a couple of hours behind so things started late and then I didn't get out of the hospital till after 7p. I think because of the lateness, I felt kind of rushed out of there (or they gave me the option of spending the night). I was nauseous for quite some time. However, I seemed to have waken in good spirits today and am currently enjoying my coffee WITH creamer. Mmmmm.... so much better. I have a brace to wear when I'm walking around that goes pretty much the entire length of my leg. The most soreness I have is in the hamstring area where they stole part of my tendon. Otherwise, nothing my perocet can't handle. =)

For all those that want to visit, I have pictures that I can show off that the surgeon sent home with us. I'd post them, but that's more than I can manage from the couch.

A moment

As I sit here and try to drink in my two allowed cups of black coffee (argh!), i just want to take a moment to reflect on my knee. In a few hours, it will never be the same. Godspeed knee.

Child Labor

The Tree

Last week we bought a Christmas tree and soon followed with decorating. If you can tell, there are a lot of ornaments right around Mason/Colby height. It currently still lacks a star at the top as our star (passed down from my grandmother) broke a year or more ago and I can't seem to find a suitable replacement. It might another starless year. I did have the idea of maybe letting Mason make a tree topper. I feel this plan is best saved for a rainy, whiney day.

A couple days ago I also added a few presents and am amazed that they are still unharmed and not even asked about. It makes me wonder if the children are feeling well.

Success!!

Pee Pee on the Potty... Pee Pee on the Potty... Pee Pee on the potty!!!! (And some pooh, but I think that might have been hanging there before she sat down.)

For clarification, that's Colby. The rest of us also poohed and peed on the potty today, but it's just not as exciting when we do it.

Let me back up a little here. She's really starting to take an interest in the potty again this last week or so, with a much greater interest the last couple of days. (Of course this all happens right after I stock up on diapers.) I just kept thinking that if she'd just go once on it she'd put it together. We'll see what happens tomorrow as the pee pee on the potty was right before bed time. Also, yesterday she even had "baby" sit on it.


Update on the eye:
The next day

Today


As I reread thru this post I realize that I probably have too much time on my hands and too much time on the couch. I am happy to say that I am making some good progress and have even started some rehab stuff that I found online. (Yes, my ortho MD asked me to increase ROM in the knee, but didn't tell me how.)

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving day started with a little sleeping in as both kids had gone to bed late the previous night. (Doesn't always lead to sleeping in, but man are we excited when we get those extra 20 minutes!) Then it was a late breakfast followed by much cooking. Kevin made some wonderful chipotle sweet potatoes and the kids (and I) made two apple pear pies. Then lunch and naps. Too bad only one person actually napped. Thanksgiving dinner at the Freeman's was to start around 2 or 3, so around 5 we sat down to eat. It was a wonderful spread of turkey, ham and all things casseroled. Not to be the only ones eating the wonderful food, we dropped some off at the hospital for Jeff and Marie. Then, another late night for the kids, and another sleeping in AM. (Odd) Back to Ann Arbor for breakfast and window hanging. Then a brief visit home and off to Grand Rapids. The thought was that at least Colby would nap on the way there as it was already past her nap time. Yeah... no such luck. The next day was dinner with my family. Also very yummy. After dinner the kids ran around a bit outside, Colby took a late nap and dinner and off we left for home. Another late night for the kids, but they both had such a wonderful time playing with Caleb! They were all just constantly playing and running around together. It was kind of nice, they all just played and didn't require much adult interaction; well, aside from the occasional loud noise investigation.

On the way home, Mason slept.

And again Colby was wide awake the whole trip.

It didn't take long for the kids to adjust back to schedules. Thankfully they are still both sleeping in a bit. (Doesn't work as well on school days as we found out this AM.) Mason's first day back to school was a little rough as we forgot to put some shoes in his bag and he had to wear socks all day, which in turn lead to him having to sit out for gym class. Kevin also had an interesting day at work and lost a small fight with the ambulance door.

(Some of the identifying features have been carefully cut out in order to protect Kevin's HIPPA rights.)

It's official...

I have an acl tear and a possible meniscus tear as well. After much talk and a referral to another MD, the MD stated if you are an athlete, we'd do surgery, a couch potato and we'd just fit you for a brace and do physical therapy. I of course didn't want to officially admit to my couch potato status, so surgery is scheduled for Dec 18th. =) Ok, so there's more to it than that, but the other parts just aren't as funny.

As a side note, my ortho MD just stated an acl tear and didn't specify any further. I also had the MRI results sent to my primary MD office. They told me that the results showed a complete acl tear. I feel better about making the surgery decision.