Knee Surgery

When I was in high school I had my knee cap dislocate a few times during Soccer Seasons.  It would always slide out, but then jerk right back in.  As time went on it stopped happening.  fast forward 18 years later.  This last summer I was climbing down a little step stool at Lisa's and my right knee cap came sliding out and stayed out. Lisa helped me pop it back into place. It hurt so bad I cant even begin to explain.  I got a brace and started strengthening it.  About a month or 2 later It slide out again.  I was getting really scared to do anything because I was afraid it would dislocate again.  I had Dean set up an apt to see a knee D. and then cancelled it.  Come Thanksgiving time we were up at the Monson's side and My knee slide out while I was turning my body.  Dean wasn't around but Shaylee was and she has been with me when it has happened before.  I cried out a little bit for help, but cant talk because of the pain.  Shaylee yelled out that I had dislocated my knee and needed help.  (Shaylee isn't any help in these matters.  She is so grossed out by it and gets paralyzed with fear to help).  By the time I had family near by I was able to pop it back into place.  That one threw me for a loop.  It was my left knee that time and I was just walking.  After this incident I had Dean call for another apt and this time I kept it, but I couldn't be seen until the end of December.  For the most part of last year I had a brace on one of my knees and was ready to see what we could do to fix this.  I went to Dr. Clark we ordered some x rays and MRI, and came to the conclusion that my ligaments were stretched holding my patella in place and my knee would just keep getting dislocated unless i wore a brace the rest of my life or I had surgery and put in a knew cadaver tendon.  Knowing how painful it is to keep having my knee dislocate and to wear a brace 24/7 I opted for the surgery.  He scheduled it for Jan 31st.  He wanted to do 1 knee at a time so we started with the left knee which he said was stretched the most.  The surgery was fast and went well.  Dr. Clark mentioned to Dean that while he was looking and moving the knee it just slide out and dislocated during surgery, so glad that I did it.  Got home Friday afternoon. They put in a nerve block to help with the pain, and the anesthesia I was a little out of it tell that night.  Still felt relatively okay, but wasn't hungry or anything.  Saturday woke up and was able to get up and brush my teeth and wash my face, and then sat around the rest of the day.  I started to feel a lot of pain come afternoon time.  getting up to go to the bathroom was really painful, and Landon decided to get sick on us that day.  We had Basketball that night so Dean took the girls and Preston was supposed to help me with the boys and dinner.  Well Landon threw up all over me and himself and Preston is MIA, Brecken is yelling I'm yelling and Brecken Is looking everywhere for Preston.  He finally come downstairs probably a good minute after it happened.  I call Dean and he heads home.  Preston does get Landon in the bathroom and then proceeds to gag while cleaning up the throw up.  Sunday morning I'm in a lot of pain and Landon still isn't better.  My Nerve block is killing my leg every time I stand up and my incisions are painful as well.  Dean has to help me to the bathroom every time and I pass out from the pain and throw up as well.  I just couldn't get it under control on Sunday.  Sunday night into Monday morning I have a break through with the nerve block and can finally get up to use the bathroom without passing out.  Monday I still don't remember a lot but It was another painful day.  Tuesday was my birthday..also my nerve block ran out so I was also excited to get that pulled out to see if that would help with the pressure I was feeling up around that area.  I tried going to Preston's home game, and made it about 15 minutes late with the help of dean and the girls.  After that we came home and I was in a bunch of pain and spent.  Wednesday felt a little better and moved around a little more.  Thursday was my breakthrough day where I finally felt like getting up and walking around with the crutches.  I over did it and ended up in bed that night swollen and in pain.  Friday was a great day with more walking and moving.  Saturday I felt great and even went around the block with the crutches with Dean.  I still like to keep it elevated when I sit, because it hurts my leg to keep it straight and down.  All the blood rushes to my leg and feet and throbs.  Over all I am feeling better. I haven't been able to drive which is a big deal with 5 kids, but should be able to this next week.  I need to keep my brace on for a few more weeks in straight leg, and then I can move it to bend but keep it on for another few weeks.  We are looking around 6.    Doing good.  Even took some steps without crutches today and haven't been doing any Ibuprofen  only at night before bed.  So glad to be through the hard part...Not sure when I will do my other knee, but I might just wait awhile while I try to forget how hard and painful it was.

Addison's a Teenager.

Addison's 13th Birthday

Addison turned 13 this Year.  She asked if she could invite a couple friends to Sweet Rolled Taco's and then hang out at the Mall with them for a couple hours.  I think they all had a great time, and I know Addison loved it.  We did that Friday after school, and then Addison's Birthday was the next day Saturday.  We had to wake up early to get her to basketball games.  She had a couple hours in between  games we went shopping with a friend from the team, and hang out getting smoothies tell the next game.  We won both games, and ended up with Grandpa and Grandma coming to watch.  We then took her out to lunch with Grandpa and Grandma for her birthday lunch.  We then headed home and she invited her friend Haley over to hang out and watch a movie.  We sure do love this spunky, loving, fun daughter and our excited she is in our family.  She still gives us hugs and isn't embarrassed by her parents yet.  She is very helpful with her younger brothers, and loves tending them and all the neighbors that ask.  She is always looking for ways to make money whether it is babysitting, or setting up a cotton candy stand.  She usually spends some of it on Junk Food.  She loves it all.  Her favorite is Talkies.  She could live on those things. She still loves Soccer and Basketball and plays on club teams for both.  She is doing great in school so far and has been able to pull out a 4.0...even with honors Math, and Chinese.  We love you Addison, and our Proud of the young women you are becoming.

Pickle ball weather

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon and we were all done with Basketball games.  We thought we would head up to some pickle ball courts to play and let the little boys play at the park right next to it. Preston had friends over, Shaylee didn't want to come and so we had Addison, Brecken and Landon with us.  The two little boys love to play pickle ball, and they don't really want to go play at the park they want to be right in with the rest of us playing.  So not a lot of pickle ball was played, but Landon and Brecken sure had a great time hitting the ball back and forth when they could.  Addison of course just wanted to ride her hover board the whole time.  Over all we had a blast and the weather was perfect.  After pickle ball we went to Walmart to find some shoes we could talk Landon into wearing.  That kid has so many issues with clothes, socks, shoes, and his car seat all being too TIGHT!!  Hope he grows out of it soon, because everyday is a struggle.

Preston got asked to Preference

 Preston turned 16 Dec 30th.  He was asked to Preference in January.  It's a girls choice dance. The dance is February 22.  He got asked by a cute girl named Meg Carter.  He was asked after we had all went to bed.  We heard a pound on our door, and Deangot up to check it out.  I then heard Dean yell for Preston to head outside.  He found this waiting for him.  He had to go through the Glow worms (gummy worms with fake candles making the glow) to look for clues to her name.  He had heard she might ask him so he already had a clue, but we put the three letters together just to make sure we had the right person.  I'm excited for him.  I feel like it was just yesterday I was going to my school dances. cant believe it's been 20 years.

A little DYI

Aunt Stephanie had about a half pallet of brick left over from her new apartment, so I decided to tackle my fireplace area.  I always felt the rock was to dark, and I hate that my painter did brown behind the shelves.  So it was Martian Luther Kind weekend so we thought we could get it done while Dean was home and with the help of Stephanie and Dad.  Demo went fairly fast.  We had it down and cleaned in a hour or two.  We then went to basketball games that rest of the day and picked up supplies we would need to get started.  The next morning we put up our cement board and prepped for the brick.  Next we started chalk lines and laying and cutting brick.  We actually had all that done in less than a day.  The next day we grouted all the lines in and finished off the brick fireplace.  With Steph's help we finished the paint on the book shelves, got some new decor and we finished the the fireplace wall and shelving unite.  

New Years Eve/ New Years Day!

 We spent New Years at our house this year. It was pretty low key. We invited my mom and dad over to eat and hang out.  We had so much food.  Chick fa la, Jimmy Johns, Dips, chips, veggie trays, all the things.  The older kids headed to friends houses to hang out, so it ended up being Dean and I with Landon and Brecken at the end of the night. We watched some football played some card games, and ate dessert.  I went to sleep around 11:00, we put the boys to bed around 9:30.  Such excitement at our house. ;)! The next day we watched some movies took down some Christmas lights, and went bowling.

The BIG 16!!

 Wow, I cant believe Preston turned 16.  Time goes by so fast.  He is on the high school basketball team so when it came to find time to get his driving test done he had to take the 6:00 a.m. driving session.  He didn't mind though and it was only for a week.  He passed, and then did all his online test he had to do so come December 30th...we were at the Driver's License division as soon as it opened.  He got a bunch of car stuff for his birthday and has been out cleaning it since he got his license.  He also got Jazz tickets to a Laker's game in March he is excited about.  He is a great son, and tries his best at everything he does.  He is a smart/great student..although this 10th grade year is gibing him a run for his money.  He said it is his hardest year yet.  He didn't take the easy way out and took some classes to further his education faster toward his career.  He did Chemistry, Sports medicine, Honors classes, and Spanish 3.  He has had to work more than ever on his grades, but seems to find time between being on the golf team, and basketball teams.  He loves all sports and did so awesome this fall in golf.  He found a love for it.  He loves blizzards, and eating out, being with his friends and watching Jazz games.  We sure do love him.