Challenges

Well today was a big day. Lets see....... first of all it was actually a beautiful day outside today. Seriously, high temps in the upper 50's and bright sunshine! Savannah moved a chair by the kitchen door on the deck, and I was able to sit outside and soak up a few welcome, warm, winter rays. The weather was short lived, and it is cold again tonight, with icy showers on the way. But it was so nice today! And I got outside!
You know, one of the great things about being injured, is that people feel sorry for you. Its pretty awesome. I happen to have a really amazing family. My mom and dad (who is still recovering from a broken foot.....his first injury also) sent me this lovely bouquet of fruit!! My dad thinks it is funny that I said I will be a 300lb alcoholic before I am well, and the note that accompanied this gift said, "Get well soon! And this won't put you on the fat farm!" I love my parents. That note made me laugh out loud. And the fruit was AMAZING! *And side note: pineapple has natural anti-inflammatory properties....so......Bo-NUS!*


My sisters have been amazing as well. from bringing me homemade soup, to listening to me drone on and on about my knee on the phone, to hauling my kids around. I could almost get used to people feeling sorry for me. It's pretty great.

In other news today. I am now sporting a lovely new hinged brace. To be more precise The Gladiator Brace. Oh it's a beauty. Big metal bars going up the sides, with hinges at the knee, and plenty of buckles and heavy duty velcro. How much do you think something like this costs? $200??
$500????
Wrong! Try One THOUSAND dollars. Yes. Thats right . A grand. How many shoes could one by with a thousand dollars??? Don't ask. I don't wanna talk about it. However, it DOES give my knee the support that it needs right now, so for the first time in a week, I have been able to put some weight on that leg. I am calling that progress right now. But it does beg the question: What shoes would you WEAR with this brace???? I think they should be expensive ones.


I had my MRI today. That is one coolio piece of technology. It photographs the muscles and ligaments using highly magnetic waves......or some kinda cool crap like that. All I know is an alert technition kept one of my metal crutches from being sucked backward and stuck to the machine! Which I thought would have been hilarious!!! The MRI itself was fine. Not a big deal at all. And they even let you listen to whatever kind of music you want to.

The other big event of the day was getting a shower and washing my hair! gross, right? I know. But it was an event. Simply because it was sooooo difficult to do and took soooooo much longer than usual. But I hung in there, kept stopping myself from making "old people" comparisons in my mind, and I got it done. All clean, with shiny, blow dried locks once again. That felt awesome.

But the biggest news of the day, is that my knee swelling is finally really going down. It has been almost a week, and this is what my leg looks like now. YAY! It looks like a leg again! Not completely normal, but not tree-stump-like, either. So that is encouraging. (Look at those crutches at the end of the bed......mocking me. *hmph*)



There was so much walking to do today getting to the MRI facility, etc. I am worn out, and not planning on getting up too much tomorrow. Trying to let all the swelling go down, so I can start using my leg muscles a bit, and maybe get some stability with my brace. If that happens, the first thing I will do is throw the crutches into the driveway, and back over them with the suburban. THEN we shall get on with the recovery!

Cheers!
Melissa