Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Update


It has been almost a month since I had my knee surgery and I just wanted to update everyone on how things were going.


Remember Week 1.

"DON'T MOVE ME!"

I knew that it was going to be a long road ahead.





Week 2.

"GET ME OUT OF THIS CHAIR AND GET ME OUT OF THIS HOUSE!"

Up and around but still on crutches. At this point I was ready to start physical
therapy and was waiting to see my doctor. I was ready for just about anything that would get me out of that chair and sitting inside all day.





Week 3.

"CAN I START RUNNING YET?!"

I had started physical therapy and was down to just 1 crutch. At this point I was ready to burn the things!



Week 4.

"I'M READY TO GO!"

NO CRUTCHES and I am getting my leg strength back. This is how I practice balance and building strength...."up with the bad, down with the good". Believe me, it's harder then you think!


Now that I can get around better I went ahead and booked my flight back to Jackson for 30th of this month! I can't wait. I'm ready to get back to work and back with my roomates. I will continue therapy on my own at that point.


--------------------------------------------


Meanwhile, back in Jackson.....

Rach and Megan made sure to include me on New Year's Eve. This is them wishing me a Happy New Year Georgia time. Love them!

..................................................................................................................

Tori and Rach's Teton National Park snowshoeing adventure...

Rach's snow angel....

Tori's snow angel....

Tori took off her snowshoes to see just how deep it really was.....knee deep!

-----------------------------------------------------------

I can't wait to get back to my girls!

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

So, turns out I'm not a great skier......oops!

Sorry it has been a while since I've updated everyone on things, but here goes....
So, I am back in Georgia for now. I had a little spill while skiing and, of course, ended up tearing my ACL and Meniscus in my left knee. I always go big! I had to fly back to Georgia for surgery and some rehabilitation. I'm hoping to head back before the end of Jan and continue life in Jackson, but for now here's what you missed...


This is Casey and I at the top of the Gondola. This was taken probably an hour before I was carried down the mountain on a sled by ski patrol. Just so you know, I never, ever want to ride behind one of those things again and as if that wasn't bad enough, the guy from patrol wasn't even cute...bummer!
Back to Casey, I was skiing with her and her fiance Dick. I'm not sure how far we'd gone before I fell but I did get some great views and REALLY enjoyed the skiing. It was such a beautiful day! As for the fall, I think that I hit some ice where another run was intersecting what I was on and it twisted my ski. So, for all of you that think I can't ski and probably just lost all control and snowballed down the mountain, I'll have you know I felt the pop in my knee before I even hit the ground. All that other stuff happened after that.

I spent the rest of that beautiful day in the emergency clinic on the mountain then at home cringing every time I moved trying to tell myself and my roomates that it wasn't all that bad.
But as soon as I woke up the next day I knew that I was going home and had to make the dreaded call to mom and dad who were just getting used to no kids. :( With the help of work and friends I made it home 4 days later without having to rob a bank.
Those last 4 days........

We had planned to cut down our own Christmas tree but because of my little "incident" we weren't able to go. I was so bummed. I've never had a real Christmas tree before much less gone and cut one down from a national forest (don't worry, you go get a permit and they tell you where to go) and was really looking forward to the whole process. But, with the help of a good friend Dave, Tori cut one down and surprised us with it. It was perfect!
So, here we are decorating the tree with ornaments that Tori's grandparents sent. EXCITING!!!!
Rach got to put on the star!
Us with our tree!!!! :)

TA DA! Our Charlie Brown Christmas Tree!

Other than decorating our tree, this is what I did......


Layed there! Rach played mom and took care of me while Tori worked. I was pretty useless. Who knew that just about everything on your body is attached to your knee. She was amazing though and so patient! Thanks Rach!!! I couldn't have done anything without you and I mean anything!

Yep, I'm going home. :(

This is Megan, Tori, me, and Rach on my last night in town. We, along with several other JHRL employees, were invited to dine at an Italian restaurant close to where we work. It was great! I love our job and the perks that go along with it. They just kept bringing us dishes to sample. Mmmmm, mmmmm, good!

--------------------------------------------------

Back at home....

Having done this knee thing once before I knew that I would be sitting on my rear-end an awful lot, so I decided to make the best of it. Home work out videos! If I can't ski down on my feet, I'll use my arms!

------------------------------------------------------------

As for Christmas.....

I ended up spending the holidays with family after all. Too bad all of my presents weren't able to join me. My awesome family mailed my presents to me before my injury and of course they arrived the day after I left. Don't worry, they are sitting under our tree waiting on me to get back. My roomates are leaving everything up until I get back then we are having Christmas...again....oh yeah! I cannot wait.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Surgery Time!


Waiting with my papa to get called back.



Hmmmm, I don't remember this one but it looks like they finished.....watch out Miss America, I'm in town. Yikes!



Back at home. This was where I stayed for the next 3 days. I HATE SITTING!!! I did pick up a liking for some Guitar Hero thanks to my friend Cathy. I'll never be as good as her but it helped pass the time. ha ha ha

---------------------------------------------

It's been 5 days since surgery and already I am a doing a million times better! I'm still on crutches though. I'll be on those a little longer. I meet with the doctor in 2 days to find out when I start physical therapy, where I go from here, and to receive my lecture for wanting to return to Jackson so soon. They haven't given me a recovery time but having done this before I know that it will take some time. I'll pretty much be out of commission for the season. As for traveling, I plan on heading back before the end of the month to start working again and live in the place I am still paying for. That is my goal but ultimately my decision will be based on whether or not I can walk, there's lots of ice out there and, well, we all know my luck.

Now that I can get around a little better I'll get back to updating everyone. Thanks for all of the warm thoughts and sweet cards. I hope that everyone had a Merry Christmas and great start to 2008!!!! Love you all!