Well it's been one week since my knee surgery - which I survived. Or did I? Perhaps I am a ghost, going about my days like normal not knowing I'm a ghost ( a la the Sixth Sense....) I mean, I am pretty pale... But for arguments sake,we'll just assume I'm in the land of the living.
Overall, the surgery itself wasn't too bad. They give you a heaping dose of anesthesia, tell you to imagine yourself on a warm, sandy beach sipping on something with an umbrella in it, and then seconds later (or so it seems), you're back awake and the whole thing is over, tropical vacay included. Piece of cake!
Overall, the surgery itself wasn't too bad. They give you a heaping dose of anesthesia, tell you to imagine yourself on a warm, sandy beach sipping on something with an umbrella in it, and then seconds later (or so it seems), you're back awake and the whole thing is over, tropical vacay included. Piece of cake!
While the surgery may have been easy breezy, the recovery has not. Even though I really like and trust my orthopedic surgeon, he was not very up front with me about what all my recovery at home would entail. An hour or so before I went back for surgery, a technician came in to fit me for a CPM machine. For those who have no idea what I'm talking about, a CPM (continuous passive motion) machine is a gigantic, medieval-looking piece of machinery that you strap your leg to that bends and straightens your leg over and over, on repeat, all day long. This is to break up any scar tissue that could form and also to maintain range of motion of your knee. Sure... whatever, great... who doesn't love a consolation prize?
But then to add insult to injury, they tell me that for the next two weeks I will need to use it for 8 hours a day... yes EIGHT! Like a full time job eight hours a day- or actually more than that because normal 9-5 people don't work on the weekends. So a full time job, plus overtime with no pay, holidays, or benefits! Oh and go ahead and keep up your day job as a full time, stay at home mom, as well. No. Big. Deal.
But then to add insult to injury, they tell me that for the next two weeks I will need to use it for 8 hours a day... yes EIGHT! Like a full time job eight hours a day- or actually more than that because normal 9-5 people don't work on the weekends. So a full time job, plus overtime with no pay, holidays, or benefits! Oh and go ahead and keep up your day job as a full time, stay at home mom, as well. No. Big. Deal.
Well of course, I handled this news how I handle all shocking and overwhelming things these days... with tears (although I don't think there is anything left I could be shocked by at this point).
How would I possibly even conceive of being able to do this? I'm a mom. Moms don't have time to be sick, much less strap themselves to sliding metal contraptions all day long! But really, what choice do I have? The goal is to get back to normal as quickly as possible and if thats what it takes, then I guess I better act like a big girl and get on with it.
How would I possibly even conceive of being able to do this? I'm a mom. Moms don't have time to be sick, much less strap themselves to sliding metal contraptions all day long! But really, what choice do I have? The goal is to get back to normal as quickly as possible and if thats what it takes, then I guess I better act like a big girl and get on with it.
Hadley and I continuing playtime even in the presence of the "beast" - the loving moniker we gave my new sidekick.
Unable to do much on my own, we decided that it would be best if I headed down south to spend these next two weeks in Houston at my in-laws home where they have a spacious, more handicap-friendly, one story house. My mother in law (GiGi) is a math specialist at an elementary school but has been able to take off to help me get through the first several weeks of this nightmare. She even was able to borrow a wheelchair for me so that Hadley and I can cruise around the house (in style?).
I won't sugar coat anything. This has not been an easy time for me. In fact, I'd go as far as saying that this is the worst thing that has ever happened to me in my entire life, mainly because of Hadley. If my recovery only affected me this would be no biggie. Just a whole lotta me spending quality time with my CPM machine with a side of netflix + chill. Adding a baby into the mix (who I am still nursing, by the way....not to complicate matters at all), makes things exponentially more difficult.
Now that we are settled in H-town, Gigi has gone back to work (doing half days for now), so I've had to figure out how to take care of Miss Hadley in the mornings as a handicapped mommy.
Even still, with as many obstacles as I have encountered since my ski accident, things are still mostly the same. Everything just takes lots longer. We still start our day playing dress up with mommy's box of bracelets.
Now that we are settled in H-town, Gigi has gone back to work (doing half days for now), so I've had to figure out how to take care of Miss Hadley in the mornings as a handicapped mommy.
Even still, with as many obstacles as I have encountered since my ski accident, things are still mostly the same. Everything just takes lots longer. We still start our day playing dress up with mommy's box of bracelets.
Then we wheel ourselves around the house for breakfast, diaper changes, and playtime. It's not the most exciting of times for Hadley, I'm sure, but we are getting by. Luckily, she has a new friend to keep her entertained.
Once GiGi gets home from school though, I am pretty much tethered to my CPM machine for the rest of the day. If we didn't have her help I'm not sure how we would be surviving. She provides us with all of our meals, entertains Hadley, bathes her, takes her for walks, and most importantly supplies me with an endless supply of coffee, cookies, and wine! We are so very lucky that she has stepped up to help us out during this unimaginably difficult time.
On the bright side, I've almost finished week one of my at home physical therapy sentence. We've got one more week to go and then we'll head back to Dallas to meet with my doctor next Friday to see how my knee is healing.
All of this has been such a challenge, yet I really feel like having gone through this, I can do anything. I mean what can possibly be worse than fracturing your knee, having surgery, and having to maintain a full days worth of physical therapy all while caring for a baby who is still nursing and who is completely dependent on you? I'm sure there are plenty of worse things, but none that I personally have gone through.
I truly believe that if God leads you to it, he will bring you through it. And so despite it all, we will carry on and get through these next few weeks as best we can. Luckily, I have the best unprescribed medicine that helps me get by on even the worst of days.
On the bright side, I've almost finished week one of my at home physical therapy sentence. We've got one more week to go and then we'll head back to Dallas to meet with my doctor next Friday to see how my knee is healing.
All of this has been such a challenge, yet I really feel like having gone through this, I can do anything. I mean what can possibly be worse than fracturing your knee, having surgery, and having to maintain a full days worth of physical therapy all while caring for a baby who is still nursing and who is completely dependent on you? I'm sure there are plenty of worse things, but none that I personally have gone through.
I truly believe that if God leads you to it, he will bring you through it. And so despite it all, we will carry on and get through these next few weeks as best we can. Luckily, I have the best unprescribed medicine that helps me get by on even the worst of days.
And then there's wine too... lots and lots of wine!
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