Depressed.

Yup, that's me.  I think.  I had PT today and was hoping to hear that I had accomplished amazing things.  But I haven't.  I am walking wrong.  My quads are still asleep.  I need to be doing leg raises.  I want to go cry.  

So I checked my right knee records.  I bent my left knee to 98º today, thirteen days after surgery.  My right knee I was able to bend to 103º sixteen days after surgery.  I'm not that far off.

I was able to flatten my right knee three weeks after surgery.  I was just a half an inch off of being flat today - two weeks after surgery.  

So why am I whining?  PT is hard work and I'm tired, so tired, so very very tired, but I WILL press on . . .   

Exceedingly. Abundantly. Above.

God has a sense of humor.  Of that, there is no doubt.  He also loves to bless us exceedingly, abundantly above all we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).  Read on:

Early this spring, Sam was trying to determine where he should work this summer - Sand Creek, sub for summer school, or the Minnesota Vikings Training Camp.  He opted for summer school because he was going to earn more there than anywhere else IF he worked just six days, with the possibility of two days at Sand Creek when Breck schools came out in late August. 

After he made that decision, I was scheduled for total knee replacement, the air conditioner went out in Micah's car and the air conditioner went out in Sam's truck.  And in two weeks of summer school, he had only worked one day, not six.

Tuesday morning, he got a call for one more sub job.  He was now up to three.  He did have three more days scheduled the last week of summer school.  But he was so bummed.  He knew with everything that had gone NOT as planned, he felt Vikings Training Camp was no longer an option, but a necessity for our financial health.

Tuesday evening, he sadly put his stuff together, got me settled with supper and prepared to go to the VTC training.  As he was walking out the door, the phone rang.  Being the wise and wonderful wife I am, I said ignore it, "Telemarketers."  Being the one who loves to answer the phone, he answered it. 

And God blessed him, "exceedingly, abundantly, and above", with the absolutely PERFECT summer school job for the last six days of summer school.  Sam is teaching math games and phy ed to kindergarten through fourth graders . . . and loving it!  He can used the same lesson plans EVERY day as he has different groups every day.  Yay, God! 

Neighbors and Friends

We have been blessed since my knee replacement by . . .

NEIGHBORS  Who but Neighbor Nancy would stop what she was doing outside when she saw Micah and I come home with a car load of groceries yesterday to help Micah carry them all in, then stay to chat while I iced my knee?

Jill-at-the-top-of-the-hill stopped by yesterday afternoon with her delicious chicken tortilla casserole!  Total gift because after PT and grocery shopping, I so did NOT have the energy to cook.  I wonder, though, why does hers taste so much better than mine?  I use her recipe!

and FRIENDS  Who but my friend Tara would bring lunch over for us (T & M) with FOUR pieces of dark chocolate because she knows I'm trying to not over-indulge while I can't work it off, and then eat a piece of MY chocolate?  

I love these guys! 

Lawn Ornaments

Micah asked me to come quick this morning.  The white squirrel was in our back yard, obviously posing as a lawn ornament!

The Hulk

 Opps!  Not this one!

Nope, this one!  Check out that lovely green color and those enlarged legs!  That's exactly what my knee replacement looks like today, only with some added purple to boot!

Thankful Thursday!

The illustrious "they" say that the hardest thing about having a total knee replacement is being able to sleep at night.  Very few people sleep on their back.  Unfortunately, that is the best way to sleep after a replacement.

I did sleep my first night at home, but I fear only because I didn't sleep more than forty-five minutes at a time in the hospital.  Collapsed may be a better word!

So, today, I am ever thankful that I actually slept last night - for two o three hours at a time!  To God be the glory!

PT Report

The first thing Mark asked me when I saw him this morning was, "Why are you still using the walker?"

"Ummm . . . because you told me to?"

The verdict is out.  I'm doing great.  The walker is gone.  The cane is my friend.  I can bend the knee with absolutely no problem to 90º.  Mark says it's really more like 105º, with my goal being 120-125º.

He gave me some more nasty exercises to do today (translation:  more painful) and said I was well on the road to recovery!  Now if you see me out there walking, I do have to do this funky "march".  He thought it would make the neighbors' laugh!  

To God be the glory!

The Dumpster . . .

. . . is gone!

Sam warned the kids last Wednesday, "We're getting a dumpster today so they can put the new roof on on Friday.  Watch where you park your cars."

Did they listen?

Absolutely not!

We got the call at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday as I was getting released from the hospital.  

"They dropped off the dumpster and now my car is stuck in the garage."

"Really?  What do you want us to do about it?"  

Because, honestly, there was not a thing we could do about it . . . except laugh and loan them our cars which were parked on the street and/or at the hospital . . .

I got the report today.  They picked up the dumpster at 7:30 a.m. this morning and both cars were out of the garage by 10:00 a.m. . . .

 

The Roofers . . .

Compliments of a severe June 4 thunderstorm, we got a new roof put on the house yesterday.  The roofers came far too early in the morning for someone who had been up most of the night unable to sleep, and far too loud for anyone who had hoped to sleep in late!

However, when Micah brought me home from PT, they were taking a break.  Sweetest men ever!  They told me to be very careful.  There were nails everywhere.  I thanked them and told them no worries as I kept trudging up the driveway.  So one of the guys ran up to the house and moved the tarp holding our old roof out of my way so I could make it into the garage with my walker.  Loved it!  Loved them! 

Sam did, too, especially when they offered him one of their beers after work!  

PT Report

I had my first physical therapy appointment today (following my total knee replacement on Tuesday).  Mark gave me permission to use the cane in the house, but I'm still doing the walker outside.  He measured my ability to bend my knee, hoping for 80 degrees.  I gave him 90 degrees and he told me to be careful not to overdo it!  Once again, I'm ahead on the road to recovery!  To God be the glory!

Rubber Duckie on a Walk to Nowhere

My friend, Kim, stopped by this morning with a get-well card and a yellow lawn duck just after I finished my first ten minute walk to nowhere.  I had to put in three ten minute walks today.  Outside was a bit steamy, so I walked around the island and into our bedroom and around the island and into our bedroom and . . . about a minute a lap.  

For walk number two, Micah decided we needed to play "Find the Duckie".  Every time I walk into the bedroom, she hid the duck in the kitchen and I got to find it.

We were laughing so hard and having so much fun "finding the duckie"  that it really wasn't painful to walk! 

So we played it again for walk number three . . . 

Bionic!

Yup, that's me!  I had a total-knee replacement done on my left knee Tuesday morning, making both of my knees now cobalt chrome.  According to the surgeons, everything went well.  I was an easy in, an easy out.  I felt great, too.  I had made it totally clear that I was a puker and I wanted no pain meds and anesthesia light.  I was awake and eating in recovery.  I was awake and eating in my room.

Then 6:00 p.m. came along with the vomiting.  Then there was the 8:30 p.m. vomiting.  When the 6:00 a.m. vomiting started to rear it's ugly head, I was given a Zofran which actually worked!  I was able to keep down a bowl of cream of wheat and a grilled cheese sandwich and I was on my way home by 3:00 p.m.

My goal was to be Jesus with skin on.  Let me share what happened:

• My first nurse plans to take her two sons to Sand Creek to zip line;
• My in-take nurse graduated from Mankato State the same year I did;
• My third nurse positively remembered me from November;
• My first support staff was from Liberia and we had great coversations;
• My first PT called me a rock star;
• My fourth nurse was a Bethel graduate who grew up in Kenya and is going to encourage her college freshman daughter to look into Cru at the U;
• My second support staff has an autistic son.  She will be looking into the Alexander Center for assistance in how to best help him;
• My fifth nurse also had an autistic child, a daughter, who he wants to bring to Sand Creek to zip.  He's also a climber - frozen waterfalls is his specialty;
• My second PT was a friend from November and dismissed me immediately after I climbed the stairs;
• MY OT wasn't even going to come in, but I asked her to help me dress (it was her or my male nurse) so she reviewed protocol with me. 

Can you say, that in a very odd way, it was quite fun?!?

Coming up next?  PT tomorrow . . . 

Staff of the Month!

If you happen to be at the Y in August, and you go to the lobby to grab a cup of coffee, look at the signs just above the coffee pot and you'll see ME!  I got nominated for and selected as the Y's Staff of the Month!  I just find it hilarious that the month I'm being honored I won't be at the Y at all - compliments of knee surgery tomorrow!

Only at Sand Creek . . .

Yesterday was my last day at Sand Creek before knee replacement surgery tomorrow and what a day it was!

My first group was celebrating their daughter's birthday on the high ropes.  We had Dad, Mom, older sister, birthday girl and two of her friends.  Ethan and I just knew, because it was so beastly hot and humid, we had to be rescue ready!  Sure enough, I had picked someone else out, but it was birthday girl who went down with heat exhaustion!  Ethan rushed to her side, as much as you can rush on a ropes course.  I belayed her down.  She was fine after a bit, but then Dad wasn't looking so good.  Sadly, they were all going to six-zip afterward, but they chose to go home.   

Our last group of the day was a group of conservative Muslim women.  We put Hillsong on the speakers and welcomed them to the course.  Let me just say, you can NOT tell what size of a harness to use when someone has a burka on.   Even better was stuffing a burka into a harness and getting the harness properly tightened!  Add to that - helmets and hijabs really don't mix!  Since none of our male staff were allowed to touch the women, Anna and I got to do all the work!  And since I was on platform one, I was tightening and stuffing and making things fit!

But you know what, they had so much fun on the zip line!  And you haven't seen it until you have seen someone zip with a flowing burka and hijab!  Our hope is that we were light in the darkness . . .    

Only at Sand Creek . . .

Even though it was hot and sticky and the mosquitoes were out in force, we had hour after hour of wonderful people at Sand Creek today!  I can not tell you how much we laughed and just enjoyed being together!  It was almost a perfect day except . . . 

. . . For a staffing issue.  One staff made a mistake and another staff was blamed.  It made it hard.  Bless the wronged staff who was trying hard to be unoffended.

Only at Sand Creek . . .

Without naming names, we knew the group we were having today was going to be challenging.  Their philosophy is not quite ours.  At Sand Creek, we strive to provide "challenge by choice".  You do not have to do anything you do not want to do.  Today's group, in the past, has been much more shame based - "you're a failure if you don't try".  

Fortunately, I was put on the zip line.  I didn't see what the high ropes people saw.  I had a great day!  

Unfortunately, not everyone did!

Fortunately, I left when the group left and I beat the rain home!

Thankful Thursday!

Today I am thankful for twenty-two years of knowing our children's birth mother.  She had discovered that our children's birth father had gotten married this summer.  Out of kindness with no ulterior motive, she sent her congrats via Facebook.  Instead of a "thank you", she was accused of some pretty raunchy things as well as being unfriended.  Totally unnecessary and uncalled for as well as untrue.  Fortunately, I am in her court and I stand by her side.  I am thankful that in her time of distress, I can be there for her.  

Only at Sand Creek . . .

As i got ready for work today, I put on my staff t-shirt and make-up because my team build today was with Cargill.  In my mind, a group of adults.

Imagine my surprise when I arrived at work only to discover that the person who set up the team build for her church's YOUTH GROUP worked at Cargill.  Yup!  I had seventeen high school students from Sherburn, Minnesota - and what a fun group they were!

Unfortunately, it was almost a comedy of errors!  They had all filled out their waivers for TOMORROW, not TODAY.  Not sure where they were going tomorrow, but they all had to fill out a waiver for Sand Creek, text it to their parents, have them sign it and return it to us - because they were all under 18!

Just as we were finishing waivers, the rain hit.  We decided that since were were up on top anyway, we would change up our order and zip first.  All I can say, is they were a great group - and quite flexible!    

The Amazing Things You Learn at Sand Creek . . .

I was told that Preparation H was the solution to itchy mosquito bites at work this past weekend.  

After working in the yard yesterday, I had more than a few bites and I had Preparation H.

All I can say is "Satisfactory".  Not outstanding or amazing, but it did make a difference!

Hannah

As the Ainsworth family leaves Africa to move to Wales, read George's final post on "Ainsworths in Africa."  It's delightful and beautiful!

I want to introduce you to a friend of mine. This little nugget (below, left) is Hannah. A common name for us perhaps, but seemingly out of place amongst the Amadous, Mamadous and Djenabous of the Africa Mercy wards while it docked in Guinea.

Hannah and her mother, Annie, traveled on the road for six days from Liberia when they heard that Mercy Ships was docked in the neighboring country. Hannah contracted Noma when she was a few months old – a progressive and often gangrenous bacterial infection often caused by malnutrition, poor oral hygiene or unsafe drinking water. This infection, whilst completely treatable and preventable with antibiotics, eats its way through tissue leaving irreversible damage if left to its own devices. One quick search on Google images reveals the devastation it can cause. Fortunately, Hannah’s case was treated before too long. But damage had already been done, leaving her without most of her nose.

Whilst the hospital in Guinea was able to treat the Noma to stop it spreading – they could do little that Annie could afford when it came to fixing the damage already caused.

Then Mercy Ships came along – not just to fill in the gap and answer an immediate need, but to train local surgeons to operate on the ‘Hannahs’ of their own country.

I’m not even going to begin to properly explain the process of her surgery for fear of getting it completely wrong. But here is what my limited brain took from a conversation with the surgeon: they essentially take a piece of her scalp and move it around to attach it to her nose. They LEAVE it attached for a number of weeks (leaving a tube like piece of flesh hanging from the head to the nose) in order for it to properly bond and start growing itself… she then went in for a second surgery where the cut the ‘excess’ tubing and popped it back into place on her scalp, leaving behind a newly grown nose.

Crazy, right?!

This google diagram helped me to know I wasn’t dreaming when having that conversation and that this procedure is actually a real thing.

Following the surgery, Hannah was her usual bundle of energy on the wards! As her wounds healed and her little button nose got cuter by the day, I relished the chance to visit her daily outside of my normal commitments under Communications.

Hannah was just Hannah. I had no marketing agenda, I didn’t care if her mother said things that I couldn’t quote, and I wasn’t too fussed if I was never able to get a photograph of them as a ‘souvenir’ – I was just their friend and they were mine.

When I realised just how much I needed this, it confirmed that it was the right time to leave my role as writer for Mercy Ships. I never wanted the people I followed to be just work. I never wanted to have conversations only because I wanted them to say something ‘golden’. Everyone has a beautiful story to tell, even if it’s not marketable.

So for now, I’ll leave those creative choices up to the next people as I return home to the whatever lays ahead…

Grateful to have met a ‘Hannah’.

Only at Sand Creek - on a Saturday!

My Sand Creek Saturday highlight had to be Ethan, who had just finished his freshman year at North.  I was talking with him at the high ropes course.  To make conversation, I asked him who his teachers had been.  When he named his biology teacher, I said, "Worst teacher ever!"  He was amazed I knew that, but then I explained I had North kids.  When he told me his economics teacher, we said in unison, "The crazy cat lady!"

After he completed the course, we were talking with his dad.  I think Ethan was elated that I gave his dad the same opinion of some of as teachers as Ethan had, following it up with we had had very few "bad" teachers at North, but those two were definitely among the worst!

It was another busy day at Sand Creek, but always a good one - and yesterday even came with tips!  We've been on a "tip drought" . . . so staff were once again excited!

Only at Sand Creek - on a Friday!

I agreed to work Friday because it was going to be a short day - 12:30-4:30 p.m.  Our last group was on the high ropes at 3:15.  When they were done, we were done.  

While doing our 2:00 zip, I realized that I needed to take all of the carabiners on platform two with me as we wouldn't need them for the rest of the day.  Just to be sure, I double-checked with "Checkfront".  It said we were definitely done after the high ropes.  

I can not make this up.  In the time it took me to finish sending two people from platform two and myself, plus eight people from platform three, we had like eight people sign up for a 4:30 zip.  

In less than thirty minutes!  So all the carabiners had to be returned and we did NOT get off work early!  Fortunately, it was a great day!  

Only at Sand Creek - on the 4th of July . . .

. . .Can you tell jokes on platform two while waiting for two late arrivals!  Did I mention bad jokes? 

Fortunately, this was a great group and they went with the flow!

. . .Can you celebrate with homemade chocolate cake with homemade butter cream icing!  Thank you, Micah! 

Each star had our name on it and since Ethan was going to take the rest of the cake home, he chose not to cut his name, but to slice up Scott and I.  I ate "go" and Scott had "tt".  I'm not sure, but Ethan and Duane must of eaten "Mar" and "Sco".

. . . Can you actually have a "bee in your bonnet"!  I was launching the above pictured group when I felt a sting under my helmet.  Sure enough, it was a bee!  Fortunately, I did not have a reaction.  But even if I had, Scott just got his paramedic license and I would have been in good hands!

Happy Fourth - just a day late!
 

The Mammogram.

I love the days when it all falls into place!  I had a mammogram scheduled for 10:45 a.m. this morning.  I arrived around 10:30 a.m. more or less - most likely after - because they always ask you to arrive at least fifteen minutes early to fill out paperwork.  I walked out the door at 10:48 a.m.  Loved the timing!  Glad to be done for another year!

Fireflies

Micah called me into our bedroom last night.  

"Mom, come see the fireflies!"

We spent quality time watching them light up our lives . . .

The Competition.

My niece, Joy, and I are having a little friendly competition.  She is due in mid-July with little one number four.  I'm having a brand new knee number two.  

Our competition?  Who will be out of the hospital first!  

Our plans?  To console each other during upcoming sleepless nights! 

Enjoy this pic of Joy and her family.