Last Whine Until Two-O-One-Nine!

I grabbed my pool bag this morning, gave Sam a quick kiss and headed off to my surgeon appointment, fully planning to swim after my chiro appointment which followed my surgeon appointment.  

This is the knee that got the "no" - as in no swimming.  If you look at it closely, you'll see a little red scrape to the left of the scar, center of the picture.  

Saturday at work, I had picked up a deck chair.  One of the legs hit me beside the scar - hence the little red scrape.  It began to bleed and bleed and bleed.  We applied a bandaid and I didn't think twice about it.

Until the surgeon asked me this morning, "Did you cut yourself shaving?"  

"Um . . . no!  I was attacked by a deck chair."

You know, I could pick up a deck chair a million more times and I would never get a little cut like that again.  But it is that little cut that is keeping me out of the pool until Friday . . .  

And this is my last whine until 2019!  I've already whined to Sam and Matt and Micah and my chiropractor and now, my friend, to you!    

Just One Day Left . . .

When Micah and I arrived in Tyler, Texas in 2014 to work at Mercy Ships International Operations Center, we were met by Erin Kirk.  Erin has since left Mercy Ships and started "Girl Catch Fire".  Her newsletters are always worth a read, but this one, I feel, is definitely worth your time!  I will just be doing it with a Coke.  Enjoy!

Over the weekend I asked my clients to write a year-end brag! What's a year-end brag? It is a quiet reflection, best done sitting near your Christmas tree, with tea or a glass of wine, where you list in a notebook or journal of all the amazing things you did in 2018. You see, we humans are forgetful creatures: Not only do we need to remember and list all the amazing things God did (that's a separate list)...   But what about all the amazing things you did? Did you keep your family alive and fed all year? Did you crush some difficult project at work? Did you inspire a team of people to come up higher? Did you change your mind about yourself? Did you quit drinking? Quit smoking? Did you work two jobs and finish school? Did you forgive someone who hurt who - even without an apology? Did you humble yourself and ask for help? Did you stand up to something you knew was wrong? Did you take a deep breath and put new work into the world? Did you love people around you well, even when they didn't deserve it? Did you repent of something that's slowly killing you - turning around to walk the other way? You get the idea. These are all high-courage, high-yield moves that deserve celebration and a private brag session, and believe me, if you don't write it down you'll forget them. My clients do this daily, so their year end lists are super long and rich.   Here's why this matters:  Your world, your tv, your magazines, your boss, and (especially) your own mind tell you every day that you're not enough. Your brag list proves otherwise. When you're down, read it... When you need courage, read it... When you think you're not enough read it... Let it remind you that you've done big hard things before and you'll do them again.

Thankful Thursday!

Today I am ever so thankful I am NOT doing what I was supposed to be doing!  How's that for being cryptic?

I have been scheduled to teach the Water Safety Aid (WSA) class over Winter Break for ISD 196 since October.  Once I found out about my knee surgery, I let them know that while I could still teach, I couldn't get in the water.  Rather hard to teach swimming instructors how to be swimming instructors without getting wet, eh?

So Sabrina came up with a rather creative alternative.  I would be her assistant while helping the WSA class with their practice teachings - in the pool, but not in the water.  

So yesterday while I did data entry and other paper work for the WSI class (Water Safety Instructor), Sonja (who is teaching the WSA class) cleaned up vomit, dealt with a student having an anxiety attack on the deck and took care of the used tampon in the shower - all in less than thirty minutes while I typed away.

Today wasn't nearly as exciting, but I did get to enter information for the American Red Cross Aquatics Program - something I haven't done in years!  And oversee practice teachings for the WSA class.  Thankful to be the Winter Break "float" and not the WSA instructor - which means I also don't have to teach CPR tomorrow or First Aid on Friday.  It's a happy week!   

Overachiever!

In spite of six hours in the car this weekend, you'll be glad to know that this morning at PT I was able to bend my knee to a whopping 125 degrees  ALL BY MYSELF!  So ends PT . . .

No wonder . . .

At PT this morning, Laura asked me how I was doing.  I said, "Not so good!"  I went on to explain that we had driven to Iowa to see Dad and six plus hours in the car did a real number on my knee.  She said, "I'm surprised you went.  They usually don't advise travel until three months after surgery."  

Oh . . . no wonder the doctor did NOT look happy when I told him I had not seen my Dad in a year at his house in Iowa and I WAS going for Christmas.

Like Laura said, "Two steps forward, one step back."  I guess I won't be traveling for another two months . . .   

Christmas in Iowa!

Sam and I drove down to Dad's on Saturday for a Christmas celebration.  Let me take you there through pictures . . .

Dad wanted to drive us through town so we could see all the changes in Lake Park.  We caught the moon rising over Silver Lake . . . 

 

Then it was off to Godfather's in Spirit Lake for pizza . . .

 

Finally, we drove through town once more to see the Christmas lights, stopping first at church where Dad and Dick made this nativity scene . . .

 

My sister and her hub came down up on Sunday and we had a lovely lunch together.  It was during the Vikings game, while sitting next to Ray, that he whacked me on the "new knee" because the Vikings had done something right.  He was miserable, I wasn't so bad . . .    

"We'll round up!"

And that round up put me at 120 degrees (from 119.5 degrees)!  I made it!  The ultimate goal!  And then Laura went and bent my knee to 123 degrees.  Looks like I'm down to one day of therapy left.  Praising God! 

Great RIver Water Park!

As Matt and I were carpooling to work at the Y on Tuesday night, I asked him where exactly in St. Paul he was now working.  He told me the Great River Water Park, located inside Oxford Community Center.  It is Saint Paul's premier indoor aquatics facility, offering swimming lessons, water aerobics, lap swim, party packages and more.  And to think my son is the assistant manager of aquatics!  Almost makes me wish I could swim again!

 

Thankful Thursday!

A few weeks ago, Heidi was over for supper.  We started talking about the old hymns we used to sing.  As par for my course, I started dissing them, saying I was glad we only sang hymns once or twice a year in church.  

But in reality, as I've been thinking about it, it is those very hymns that my very theology is based on.  Hymns and Mom.  Mom singing hymns while she baked.  Mom singing hymns while she folded laundry.  Mom singing hymns in the car.  Mom singing hymns with Tennessee Ernie Ford.   Mom singing hymns.

My truth is this:

• "A mighty fortress is my God, a bulwark never failing";
• "O God, my help in ages past, my hope for years to come";
• "Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father";
• "Standing, standing, standing on the promises of God my Savior"; 
• "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face";
• "I love to tell the story, 'twill be my theme in glory"; 
• "I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today";  
• "Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey"; 
• "Jesus, Saviour, pilot me, over life's tempestuous sea";
• "Stand up, stand for Jesus, ye soldier of the cross, lift high His royal banner";
• "Count your blessings, name them one by one; count your blessings see what God hath done";

 and my ultimate favorite, 

"What a friend we have in Jesus, 

all our sins and griefs to bear!  

What a privilege to carry everything to God in Prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit, 

O what needless pain we bear,

all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!"

So today, I am thankful for Mom and for her singing these old hymns that helped me become who I am today!  

Now, just for your listening pleasure . . .

Last Staff Inservice of the Year!

Check out the blue and purple hair - with Noah just wishing he had hair!

What do you do with twenty-five hula hoops and twelve staff?

  Well, we laughed alot!

118.

Fist bump.  Woo hoo!  I hit 118 degrees all by myself on the knee bend scale today, heading toward that goal of 120 degrees!  Time to have a party!

 

Caught.

Sam had a 7 a.m. dental appointment this morning following a late night last night.  

"Don't worry," I said with a yawn.  "I'll walk the dog in the morning."  

Unfortunately, I woke up with my new knee being rather stiff, so I took some time to stretch it out.  Then I put in a load of laundry.  Finally, I walked the dog.  I didn't bother to check the time.  Nor did I bother to "get dressed".

Neighbor Nancy was the one who caught me on her way to work.  "At first I thought you wearing a red dress, but I then I realized you were wearing your pajama's!"

Friends, I was dressed like a preschooler - and not the princess one!  I had on my red penguin pajama's, blue leggings, bright green Santa socks, a forest green coat, a bright blue hat and beige mittens!  Definitely, an outfit meant to walk the dog only in the dark!  Next time, I really do need to check the time! 

Patient Stories

This post is reblogged from Kathy Shearon's blog, "A Journey of 10,000 Miles - Be More Heart."  It's a lovely recap of some of the patients seen aboard the good ship so far this fall . . . 

Every patient that comes to the ship has a story.  The nature of being in the lab is that I don’t get to personally meet every single patient that comes for a surgery.  I see their samples but don’t get to always get to know them personally.  We have a wonderful communications team that does a beautiful job of capturing and recording our patient stories.  Here are a few of our patients that have come to the ship in Guinea and started their journey towards hope and healing.

Salematu

It all started with a tooth infection. Unable to access adequate medical care, 26-year-old Salematu’s infection grew into a facial tumor that she couldn’t fix. She dropped out of nursing school and spent the next two years at home, not wanting the world to see her: “I shouldn’t look like this.” The arrival of the Africa Mercy in Guinea was the answer to Salematu’s biggest dream: being healthy enough to return to school and become a nurse.  Below are photos showing Salematu’s journey and also her excitement and joy at her future!

 

 

 

 

Ibrahima

Imagine not being able to walk – or even stand up straight. Already injured in a fire, 24-year-old Ibrahima’s scars began to contract, and immovably bend his knees, and this became his reality. No longer able to work or take care of himself, he had to rely on his older brother to carry him everywhere. But when he heard of a surgery ship sailing to Guinea, he felt something that had long been absent: hope.

On the Plastics ward Ibrahima worked really hard to regain his sense of independence one step at a time.   Using the aid of a walker, his mobility increased a little more each and every day.  The physical therapy part of his healing was the most difficult but he has many people to encourage him and cheer him on!

“I feel taller already. I was always sitting and seeing the world from a lower level … Now I’m even taller than my big brother!”

Samory 

When Samory first experienced the pain in his tooth four years ago, he never thought it would turn into a tumor that he couldn’t afford to do anything about: “The worst part was that I knew it was only going to get worse and grow bigger. When I thought of my future, I was scared”

But the 25 year old that arrived at the Africa Mercy for surgery was filled with a hope that things wouldn’t always be this way: “I am so happy to be here. It’s amazing to think that years’ worth of pain will be taken away in just one day!”

Gamai

When little Gamai was a baby, a tragic accident involving a pot of boiling water resulted in burn contractures over her hands and arms.  Now at 5 years old, her limited mobility is all she has ever known.  Despite torments and mockery over the past few years, her brave mother has brought her to my ship home where she under went surgery a few months ago to regain the use of her limbs.  The surgery was the easy part.  Gamai has had lots of physical therapy to help her build up the muscles and regain her lost mobility.  Her mixture of sweetness and spunk has stolen the hearts of everyone on the wards!

Aicha

Last and certainly not least is one of our ortho kids.  This has been the theme of the hospital the last few weeks.  We are in our final week of surgeries but these kiddos will stick around with follow-up and physio (aka physical therapy) for months yet.  I can’t say I am complaining because they sure are cute!  And it is fun to watch them adapt to their casts and run up and down the hallways!  At 6 years old her bones started bowing outward due to not having enough of the essential nutrients during her development.  Since this condition will only get worse while she grows, I am thankful that she was able to have a surgery on the ship!  Our age cutoff for these types of surgeries is around 15 years due to the fusion of the growth plate.  Once the plate fuses the recovery process for the patient gets much longer and the outcomes not as promising.  Aicha has just started her journey, but she will get there one casted step at a time.

How High Can You Go?

When you "limbo", the question is "How low can you go?"

When you get a total knee replacement, the question is "How high can you go?"

Today, I've got the answer.  My PT's are pushing me toward a knee bend of 120 degrees.  They think I could potentially make 125-130 degrees because I am so far ahead of the curve.  HOWEVER, anything higher than that is overkill and could pop my knee out of the bionic socket and do far more damage than good.  Think:  total knee replacement x2.  No thanks!

Today's numbers:

• On my own, I was able to straighten my leg to a ZERO!  Which is perfect!  The ultimate magic number!  If I can do all zero's next week, I win!  Not sure what, but I win!
• On my own, I bent my knee to 109 degrees. The PT was pushing for 110, but I did improve six degrees in forty-eight hours.  We were happy.
• She managed to bend my knee to 115 degrees.  It was painful, but successful! 

I would say an over-all happy day!  Party on!

Approved.

We have neighbors who are BIG walkers and I called on those neighbors yesterday.

"My PT says I can start walking the dog again if she doesn't pull on her leash.  She wants someone to walk with me the first time in case Annie is bad and I have to quit walking her.  Are you free this afternoon?"

Sure enough, at 3:45 p.m., Bob and Chris came by to walk with Annie and I around the block.  We ran into neighbors, Tom and Nancy, as we got back to our house.  

"How'd she do?"

"I'd say she was moderate."

"Oh, I'd give her a moderate high."

"Well, on a good day, I walk 120 clicks.  We were doing around 115."

"Yeah, she did better than I thought she would."

Friends, they were NOT talking about Annie - they were talking about me!  I guess I passed the muster - and Annie did, too!  So we walked a total of two miles today - that would be two walks of one mile each!

Thankful Thursday!

It's most definitely a "Thankful Thursday" when your daughter comes home from her 7:30 a.m. final and begins vacuuming the downstairs - without being asked!  And then vacuums the upstairs, too!

It's also a quite "Thankful Thursday" when number one son cleans the bathroom floors with only one prompt - while his girlfriend is visiting, too!

Even more thankful, is returning home from your haircut to discover said daughter cleaned the kitchen floor! 

Excellent job, my children! 

Just another great day at PT . . .

I find it amazing the perverse pleasure my PT's take in making me stronger:

"That hurt's, you know?"

"Good.  Keep doing it for thirty seconds.  Work toward a minute."

And the encouragement is overwhelming:

"I'm walking up the lower five stairs at my (split-level entry) house."

"Good.  Start doing them all.  Next time, we'll work on walking down them."

Not to mention the challenges they offer:

"I'm trying to walk a mile a day."

"Good.  Start working toward two.  And if the dog doesn't pull, add her to the mix."

Sadly, I still have 1 cm to go on the flat extension of my leg.  I bent it on my own today to 105 degrees.  I was hoping for more.  Guess I better go work out . . . 

 

11.5 Hours

Yesterday was Micah's first day at the Apple Valley Applebee's.  She started work at 1 p.m. and DID NOT get done until 11:30 p.m.  Somewhere around 11 p.m. the general manager (who had come on around 5 p.m.) asked her how she was doing.  She told him honestly, "I haven't eaten since 12 p.m., I'm nauseous, and I'm exhausted."  He bought her dinner.  And she still said she enjoyed her day!

103 Degrees!

While that might sound like someone has a pretty high fever, that's not it at all!  Nope, that's the number of degrees I was able to bend my new right knee today - up from 80 degrees on Tuesday!  Can we say, "Party on!"?  Not only that, the PT was able to get it to bend (with only minimal pain) to 113 degrees!  Our goal:  120 degrees!  

Unfortunately, or maybe wisely, I was cautioned to take it slow, give my muscles a chance to rest and heal . . . But don't they know - I, for one, am ready to go!

Thankful Thursday!

It is quite the "Thankful Thursday!"  when that brand new knee is able to clean EVERYTHING in the bathroom except for the floor - and truthfully, I didn't try very hard to do it!   I'd hate to have the fam think I was feeling good!

It's also a very "Thankful Thursday!" when you have vacuum cleaner on each level and can run them WITHOUT the cane!  The stairs didn't get done, but that is so NOT my problem!

And truthfully, I don't know who was more thankful, Sam or I, that Micah, on her hands and knees, mopped the kitchen and dining room floor! 

So today I am thankful that once again our house is clean . . . 

Ahead of the Curve!

It was most definitely a most excellent day for me!  I met with my surgeon at 2:20 p.m. and got the bandages off, the staples out and the steri-strips on.  No more ship showers for me - I can take real ones starting tomorrow!  Which is a good thing because my leg smells!  I got all my questions answered:

1. Yes, you can drive again.  Start slow and in the neighborhood.
2. No, you can not swim until after your next appointment.
3. Yes, continue taking an aspirin a day until your next appointment.
4. No, long travels are not what you want to be doing right now.
5. Yes, you are definitely doing great!  You are far ahead of the curve!

Next stop, PT.  It was an echo - a most lovely echo!  "You are way ahead of most people who have this done.  Definitely ahead of the curve!  Absolutely amazing!  What can you do to work out?  I have no idea. No one's ever asked me that before!"

Challenged!

I'm not sure "challenged" is the best word - "encouraged" may be a better choice.  But I was (pick your word) twice yesterday regarding my mother-in-law to find and remember the good things and to be thankful for them.  As I started to think and remember, there were definitely good things:

1. She loved to decorate her home and was quite good at it in spite of the orange shag carpet.
2. She loved to give gifts.  For a while at Christmas, all of her "girls" (daughters and daughter-in-laws) received a gift from her and they were uniquely fun, from pewter lapel pins to pencil sharpeners!
3. She remembered birthdays.  Don't ask me how - seven children, all married, thirty-one grandchildren and thirty-one great-grand children!
4. Just like my mom, she loved birds.  I've encouraged Sam, if it's okay with his family, to use the memorial money he's received to buy something "bird-ie" in her honor.  We have a blue bird bath in Mom's honor and it's a fun memory of her, especially as we watch the birds enjoying their baths. 
5. She liked to "present" (think "verb").  She had beautiful dishes she enjoyed using so that her table always looked lovely.   I, personally, could eat out of the kettle because it would be one less dish I'd have to wash!

So in her honor today, I would like to tell you my favorite "mother-in-law story".  It's not for the faint of heart!  We were there, but not in the kitchen, when it happened!  She had found a mouse running on the counter (farm house!).  She knocked it into the kitchen sink - the garbage disposal side, somehow got it into the garbage disposal and TURNED IT ON!  Then she realized what she'd done!  The mortified look on her face was well worth it!