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Friday the 13th might mean something to some, for me it meant the scare of my life for a brief moment. The details are not necessary, I kind of need to get a thicker skin or maybe just trust or something. The trick played almost did me in for the day, but all was explained later. If I have confused you, sorry, but I am not going to say anymore on this subject.

The morning was spent in therapy. It seems I have used up all my therapy sessions allowed with my insurance. Now my therapist is going to have to try and get my more sessions. It is frustrating as I am not progressing as fast as I would like. I see the Doc next Friday and I wonder what he is going to say about my next step. I guess I am just kind of frustrated and really not sure what is going to happen to me. I have visions of not being able to do all the things I like to so now that the nicer weather is coming.

Have you ever had a person really surprise you by showing a side that you have never seen. It happened today and it just meant there was one more subject that we had in common. I can not even fully express how exciting that is to me.

This weekend is Prime Steel here in Grand Forks. I am not sure if we will be going, but I will be really surprised if we do NOT. John is putting in a rather long day today and so I am sure having a relaxing day tomorrow. Tessa says she is going to work on her room. Any takers on how that is going to go? Well, I hope you all have a great weekend. Till next time...

Therapy Update

I guess I have over done it at some point and so I have to regress and cut back on how much and how many machines I can use. I found it all kind of depressing. My therapist used an ultrasound machine to work on inflammation to try to help relieve the ache. I can not really say it did much good, maybe with time it will improve. I just fine it frustrating that I still need to NOT try to do everything I want and to take it easy. TIll next time...

I was kind of dreading today as John loves to tease and what better day than April Fool's day. He gets to work today and so I kind of feel sorry for his coworkers. I was asked yesterday if I was ok as I had not been writing much. I really do NOT know what to answer to that. I have had the best of intentions to put my thoughts down, but could NOT seem to find the energy to do it. I have just had the worst case of I do NOT care you could possibly have. I really do NOT know how to explain why I have felt like my heart has been tromped on. I guess I have been learning some lessons the hard way, but I am not likely to forget them anytime soon.

Yesterday I was able to see Juls for the first time in about 6 weeks. I was not expecting to walk out of my bathroom and have her sitting at my computer desk. All she could say was "Grandma O'Brien" go and get your shirt on. John took her phone and showed her how to use some of the features and then was kind enough to put on a banner for her. We are kind of curious how long it will take for her to get it off there. It was not anything bad, but apparently "sweet thing" was a bit too much for her. John has done this to many of his boys. If they leave their phones laying around they are prime targets for his 'tom foolery'.

I get to start going to Rehab to use their machines now 3 times a week. I will meet with the therapist once a week to check my progress. The one machine she wanted me to start using was put on hold as apparently my knee was NOT ready for that one. It takes me about an hour to get everything done that she wants me to do. Now if I could just focus on other parts of the body also and not just the legs.

Last night I asked John to paint my nails. He decided to flame them. He needs to a fine brush as trying to paint with a tooth pick does NOT work very well. I am putting a photo in to show you what they turned out like. It is time to be leaving for church soon. Till next time...

March 27, 2007

Hi-ho hi-ho, off to therapy I go! Isn't my life exciting? Till next time...

March 24, 2007

I am now crutch free and trying to get used to walking normal. I know that sounds rather strange, but apparently I do not step right and am now self conscious of how I walk. I was having panic moments yesterday that are really to hard to explain. It was just me thinking the worst and not letting time show me that maybe I am going to be ok. I have to go back to see the Doc in a month, I hope by then my knee is not still aching every time I take a step.

My therapist just shakes her head at me, and has the hardest time slowing me down. It is hard to change how I move all of the sudden. I am now being put on machines to try and get strenght back in that left leg. John is going to miss going with me to therapy. I will find it strange to not have him standing right beside me telling me to SLOW DOWN!

I have made promises that I would take it easy and NOT try to get my whole house clean in a day. (It would never happen anyways.) I was just so excited to get some of my bathroom cleaned after all this time. I guess I should close as today is errand day. It really is NOT my favorite thing to do and as family knows, Tessa does not make it easy.Till next time...

One month later and I am hoping today I can be done with the crutches. I am kind of excited about the possibility. I finished my puzzle last night to find out I am missing a puzzle piece. I am hoping it just fell or got caught somewhere because that will drive me crazy. This will be a short day for John with my appointments taking up most of the afternoon. I will try to write more later. Till next time...

I just wrote this entry and then lost it. I guess the rewrite just might be shorter as I loose patience with this. It has already been days since I tried to write and put my thoughts into words, it makes me want to scream when this happens. I have just returned for my visit to the Rehab for therapy. It is going well, even though they are always telling me to SLOW down. My therapist just shakes her head at me. I really do NOT mean to go to fast, it just seems that slow is TOOO slow. I am praying, crossing my fingers and hoping that on Friday I will get to say good bye to my constant companions the crutches. I am sure then I will have to be told that you can not do everything in a matter of days and to take it easy. I am just curious as to what my restrictions will be if any?


I spent the weekend doing this puzzles that I will show you with photos. It has the kind of colors that attract my eye and I love glitter. It glows in the dark, but it is hard to get a really decent photo of it. I think you will get an idea of it when you see the one photo. I know that John is really tired of doing the washing of the clothes and cooking. Tessa has a list of things that she wants me to make when I am able to take back over the kitchen duties. I would seem that they realize I do have a purpose after all. I hope all are doing well, till next time...

March 7, 2007

I had the pleasure of actually walking today. It was in this lovely therapy pool, but it really felt great! If any of you know me at all you know pools and swimsuits are NOT my favorite thing. I really decided to NOT think about what I looked like, and just enjoyed the experience. John was trying to take photos with his phone. I am pleased to say, THEY DID NOT TURN OUT!

He sits there and listens to everything so that when I do my exercises at home he can sit there and make sure I do them right. I am still being told to SLOW down when I walk with my crutches. I do NOT know why I am having such a hard time doing that? I always end of my therapy session with the cold compression machine. BRRRR!!!!! I guess otherwise it is going ok. I should only have about 2 weeks left on these crutches. I can hardly wait for that day. I am going to close for now. Till next time...

Show and Tell

John had the joy of taking me to see the Doc today. I was so glad to get out of the house for just a little bit. I had not been out since Friday. He was so sweet and salted the sidewalks for me. I was shown pictures that were taken during the operation. I, of course, had no idea what I was looking at. I did get him to describe to me what he had done to try and make scar tissue grow. He said he used this tool that is like an ice pick and he punched holes in the area that was without cushion. I guess where it bled and started to clot is where there should be scar tissue. If that failed, the partial knee repair is the next step. I had him show me what that was and it makes me think of retreading that part of the joint.

I get to start PT on Friday. John is going to be loosing so many hours having to run me here and there. I asked him if I was worth it. I got the LOOK and I think you know what I mean. I am trying to be patient, but I really do NOT like being on crutches. We went to lunch to my favorite place called Qdoba. I was trying to get in and this young man came and opened the door for me. He said, "I was on those for 3 months and I know how they suck!" I just had to smile as his kindness. You rarely see that these days and it was an unexpected pleasure.

I am not sure I should put a picture here of my knee. I will so that you can see what was done, Mom and Dad. I still have some pretty good bruising going on. Time will make that improve. Tessa is waiting on the sidelines for me to play a few games with me. The book fair is at our school and John is going to have to go with her as I am kind of out commission. I really do think it is ok for him to have to experience this at least once. Till next time...

Too much time

I will let these photos speak for themselves. I have finished these in 4 days. I think you will agree I have too much time on my hands. Till next time...

February 25, 2007

I did NOT think I was going to be able to sleep last night. I must have left my leg down to much working on that puzzle and so it was feeling tight and achy. I asked John this morning if I kept him up, the tone he used says that maybe I was no fun to sleep with. I am just glad that I did NOT almost fall like I did the first night.

I finished that puzzle and I know Tessa is going to want to start this other one. John went to pick her up and they asked if she could stay longer. John is out shoving the snow again and Allan was out with the snowblower early this morning. It looks like the forecast is for snow all week. I know that John has been taking photos and eventually I will have access to them to put here. Right now I am trying to not become impatient with the healing process. I do NOT like to be a burden and needing help. Till next time...

February 23, 2007

The day went so fast, at the hospital at 8am. I did not go back until almost 10am. I think the part that I dread the most is the iv stick. The nurse was having a hard time finding a vein and I was thinking "where is the anesthesiologist?" Once the versad is in the rest becomes a dream. I remember then getting me on the operation table and then I am in recovery. The nurse taking care of me turned out to be a neighbor on my block.

I was shocked when the Doc said that I would be on crutches for 3-4 weeks. I am NOT looking forward to being on them for that long. Tessa is very excited and wants to play with them. I told her I had better not need them and find them not where they are supposed to be. The rest of what the Doc said I am not even going to think about now. I will write more on that if it becomes a reality.

Tessa and John got to shop for a birthday gift. She gets to go to a sleep over tomorrow again. I guess John and I will have a nice quiet night tomorrow. I just hope that I can sleep ok. Till next time...