The end of the week, July 8th and 9th brought a family reunion of my parents' kids, grandkids and great grandkids. Friday we were out at Hyrum dam for some boating, fun on the beach and then dinner. Saturday was a giant slip-n-slide (100 feet long). James and Rebecca loved their time at the beach and even had a trip on the tube behind the boat. The slip-n-slide was another story. Neither of them really liked it this year. It was probably since when it began was about their nap time.
Sunday the 10th James and Becca had a little fun riding their bikes on the grass. During all this time I had been talking with doctors about my knee which has been acting up. After an MRI it was decided that I needed surgery to repair some damage to cartilage. On July 20th, I went in for surgery. When I woke up I was told I now had some plastic buttons in my knee and would need a new knee in 10 years. Not the best thing to wake up to but at least I woke up!
I had hoped there was only damage in one spot which could be repaired with live tissue. The recovery is longer but it allows for longer life of the knee. It turns out there was damage in two spots which created the need for the plastic buttons. The silver lining about this is the recovery is much shorter. It still hurts when James and/or Becca decide daddy needs a hug and his bad knee happens to be just the right height.
The doctors were great and the physical therapists haven't been nearly as sadistic as I remember them being. At least the ones outside the hospital. The ones in the hospital had me up and using a walker to get around the unit within hours of my surgery. Later that night I got up and did a lap around the entire floor since I was feeling pretty good. I was released the afternoon of the 21st and then tried to stay in bed for a few days. On the 22nd I signed off on the design for Karen's headstone which should be in place in 2-3 months.
Gratefully the 25th was the observed Pioneer Day so I didn't have to work. On Sunday I may have overdone it a little by walking two blocks each way to church. I was actually tempted to work on Monday but after Sunday's walk I decided to exercise a little caution. Tuesday I headed into work but had a physical therapy appointment at 7:30 AM first. Thursday I had my second physical therapy session at 7:30 AM with a full day of work after. Saturday afternoon I tried using a cane for the first time and have decided to bag the walker. It's too slow and doesn't let me got up and down stairs easily.
Today was church and, yes, I did walk the two blocks each way. What can I say, I'm a glutton for punishment. Tonight I was able to help put the kids to bed for the first time in over a week and a half. It was nice to sing them songs, tuck them into their beds, and give them a kiss and hug good night. Tonight I can sleep in my own bed instead of on a hide-a-bed!
Braden
