Cousins

Last Sunday Mary invited everyone over for a brunch since Diane was in town.  I wasn't able to go because I wasn't up for it since it was only 2 days after I got out of the hospital.  Almost everyone was able to make it, plus a lot of the nieces and nephews that have kids brought them as well.  I saw a few pictures from the day and was bummed I missed seeing everyone but I thought I'd share this picture of the cousins.  

Then this picture they tried to get all the cousins with their spouses and kids.  There are still a few missing but the younger group is definitely growing.  

New Knee for Me

Last post said the countdown  was on and now my surgery has already come and gone.  It's four days after my surgery.  I now have my new knee.  

The surgery itself went well, at least that's what the doctor told Kev.  It was really just another surgery for him and only took about an hour.  The preparation took longer lol.  I got poked and prodded quite a bit before I went into the surgery.  The anesthesiologist had a really hard time getting my spinal block in.  She tried 3 times and then finally asked for the head of anesthesia to help her.  I remember it hurt at different times and I also remember  the nurse asking Kev if he was ok.  lol Alicia said he turned white as could be and had to sit down.  Me,  I just cried.  

Not the most flattering pictures, but it's all part of how my morning went.  My doctor came in and met Kev and Alicia.

And then I made him hold my hand while I told Alicia to take our picture.  I guess by now I am starting to feel pretty good.  Alicia said I started to tell everyone how I got a new haircut.  That I cut my hair last night and isn't it cute?  I got a new haircut.  I was laughing when she told me this cause I honestly could see myself doing this.  A lot of people say funny stuff when they have some good drugs in them. 

Once I got to my room, Alicia and Kev came and met me there.  

I was awake pretty much the rest of the day. I had to do some breathing treatments, some leg exercises, eat my liquid lunch and also get out of bed and go walk.  I couldn't believe they got me up just hours after my surgery and had me out in the hall doing a little stroll with a walker.  

Overall my surgery was a success.  Now the real work begins.  I have a lot of rehab to do.  In fact weeks and weeks of rehab.  But in the end it should all be worth it.  I'm looking forward to getting all the hard work in to get a much better joint then I had. 

Countdown is On

I am having my knee surgery in five days!!! I am counting the days for a couple reasons.  The main one is that I have been wanting to get this done for a while, like years, and it's not that I have been putting it off, but I finally got the approval of a doctor to do it.  Another reason is to just get it done and over with and then start working on getting it in shape.  I'm also really looking forward to not be hurting all the time especially after I do a lot of activity.  Now, it's only days away.  I have plans for the weekend to get everything ready.  A few weeks ago I got the bedroom downstairs set up.  I'll have to sleep in the bed down there cause I won't be able to climb the stairs to my bedroom upstairs plus our waterbed, yes we still have a waterbed, will be hard to get in and out of. I'll also get my own stuff in the bathroom down there instead of Kev having to figure out what I want or need.  Then I want to try and cook some food up so it will be a little easier for Kev to throw stuff together for himself or both of us depending on who wants what.  

I am anticipating being on a bending machine for a while when I first come home.  The doctor also said that they will have home health care come for the first two weeks to do physical therapy.  I will be spending a couple days in the hospital as well when I do have the surgery.  It's going to be a long, I'm sure painful, and hard working road to follow.  I'll be on leave from my job and so will Kev so if he doesn't get tired of me I'm sure he'll do a great job taking care of me.  If he does get tired of me, all he has to do is ignore that bell I plan on having next to my bed!!! 

After those first couple weeks I will have to go to PT 2-3 times per week. I'll be on crutches and not able to drive but all of that is only temporary.  Kev said to me tonight, "only two more days of work then you're off for two months.  It's not going to be worth all that pain, do you think?"  I kind of panicked for a few minutes. And was like...what,  do you think I shouldn't get it done?  Do you think I'm making a mistake?  I know it's been feeling pretty good lately but that's cause I'm hardly doing anything.  Should I do this or not???  And he said, I just mean it's going to be painful and it's harder then people think it is.  I know it's going to be painful and I know I'm going to have to work hard to get this to be better then it was before surgery and I know it's not going to be easy.  I've never thought I would get a new knee and be good to go in a couple weeks.  This is going to be a good 6 month process.  I think Kev has been reading up on it and realized all that goes on from surgery thru recovery and rehab.  It's not going to be like any of my other surgeries.  But it's ok, I'm ready and it's now just days away.

Anniversary Fun

We had an eventful Anniversary....with the grand babies.  Alicia picked up Annaliese and Santanah around 1:00 and brought them over to the house.  It was so fun hanging out with them.  We went swimming and played in "their" room and just had an all around good time.  Kev got a BBQ pizza for us plus a peanut butter cup pie for our 16 years of wedded bliss....lol 

It was funny cause we were sitting there and I got this weird text from my brother in law so this was the conversation that followed 

Funny right?  I read it out loud to Kev and Alicia as we sat and played with the girls and just laughed.  Thrones of passion....haha 

Anyway, a fun day, once we both got home from work.  Here's some pics:

I've had this horse since the kids were little and Annaliese can ride it great and she usually yells "yee haw" while she does.  

Santanah is so close to walking.  She can get up by herself and walk all along the couch and chairs and she'll walk with you but will not let go of that last finger she's holding on to. It will definitely be before her first birthday. (Aug 26th)

Alicia made these cute collage pics and then posted them on Facebook. 

Best Guy Ever

Kev has always been one of the kids with his games and pranks and his all around jokester attitude.  He is always trying to cause trouble or stir the pot and alot of times people don't know when he's telling the truth or not. 

But with all that fun comes so much love.  He is a really big romantic as well and I love that about him.  He never fails to remember the little things as well as all the important things. Tomorrow is our 16th Wedding Anniversary and today he sent me a text that said "Happy almost Anniversary".   So sweet.

3 Day Weekend

I'm loving  that there's an extra day off this week.  We even got to go in at 6:00 and then at noon said we could go home if we had 6 hours in.  And of all days we were getting pizza for our dept. Terri &  Deb went to pick up the pizza and found  out we could leave but everyone said they wanted to stay and eat.  It was fun.  It doesn't happen too often that we all eat together but I'm all about the getting together and making everyone happy, ok making me happy.  Cause I believe happy employees are more productive employees.  

It was definitely a nice start to a long weekend. And even staying after out six hours we still got to go home early and had yummy pizza.

Left work and ran to the Dr 's cause I had to drop off some paperwork for FMLA.  I have one more appt on Tuesday  and hopefully will get all my clearance papers done. After that, surgery will stay as scheduled if everything is approved.   After my appt Tuesday morning I will tell people at work,  only my boss Deb and Terri know right now.  I will be out for 6-8-10 weeks.  Not sure yet.  Kev is also going  to take time off to be here with me,  it will be here before I know it. 

Spent the 4th here at home.  The girls were supposed to come over and we were really looking forward to taking them in the pool, but they couldn't make it.  Disappointing but oh well.  Kev and I just hung out and swam for a few hours we read, played music and relaxed on some floating rafts.  It was really nice.  Tomorrow Kev has to work but we have a party to go to so the fun will continue,  Kev wants to have a BBQ & swim party before my surgery cause I won't be able to swim for a while so that may get thrown together in the next two weeks,  Sunday we will most likely do some more relaxing in the pool.  Love 3 day weekends!!

The Girls

Annaliese and Santanah are getting so big.  I think every time we see them something new is going on with them.  Here's some recent pictures of the two of them.  

Annaliese is talking a lot more and loves coming over to see her Nana and Papa. And Santanah is crawling and pulling herself up on everything.  It won't be long til she's walking.  It's so fun being grandparents, we just love it!!!

Amazing Landscaper

I know I posted about this bush in the past and it has not been trimmed since that post.  So here it is once again needing to be trimmed.

I told Kev last night that I was going to trim that bush cause it blocks that downstairs window and when I have my surgery I will have to stay in that room and I'll want some light in there.  So I went out and started cutting.  I cut and cut and cut.  All the trimmings filled the back of the truck.  It's crazy what this bush looks like once it's all trimmed up.  It's actually a tree!!!

Knee Update

Since I haven't posted in a while I also haven't said anything about the new knee I am getting!!!! Yes it's true I am getting a knee replacement.  My regular doctor has just kept putting me off and finally he sent me to another orthopedic to see what he would say.  And he said that he believes that you shouldn't have to put up with pain and discomfort etc so get a replacement and if in 15-20 years it becomes bad you do it again.  Not that it would be easy by any means but why not live an active life the way I want now? Haven't I been saying that for years?  Anyways,  I was so happy to hear it.  Plus as I've known for a long time he said I am bone on bone so I am a very good candidate for replacement.

I am been busy the last few weeks since my appointment with him trying to get all the tests and clearances I need to have the surgery done.  I've run into a few snags here and there which has been frustrating but it seems to all be coming together.  I am scheduled for surgery for July 23rd.  I'll be in the hospital a couple days and then home to have some heavy duty rehab.  For the first couple weeks they come to the house 2-3 times per week and then after that I'll have to see what the Dr wants me to do and when.  It's going to be a lot of hard work but I'm actually looking forward to it cause the outcome will be awesome.  But maybe check how much I'm looking forward to it on July 24th.  LOL

How Does This Happen?

I have no idea how the days go by and I don't do any posting. Then when I sit down to do a post I get lost on where to begin because I've missed posting anything that's happened.  But oh well...here it is the end of June and I still am not sure where to begin.

How about with another run?  It was a night run in Scottsdale, a 5k.  There was a group of us that did the run and Kev even came to cheer us all on as we passed him on the side of the road.  

Look how fast I'm going!!! At least it looks like I am just flying. 

I'll admit once again...it was fun.  Maybe not so much fun running but a fun time with friends. 

So I've made a post...finally!!  I had to start somewhere.  I think I'll add one more event to this post.  

The Run for the Girls

Meredith had organized a 5k run to raise money for her 3day account.  She mapped it out in my neighborhood and a handful of people came out in support of a great cause. 

I actually didn't run.  I rode my bike through the course and talked to people along the way.  It was a great time.  

Before the run I had a little accident on my bike when I was putting up some cute signs for everyone to read along the way.  At one point I was standing up on my bike and accidentally hit the front break.  It threw me over the front handle bars with a hard landing on the sidewalk. Ouch!!!! Hit my head, scraped my arm and hand, banged up my leg, I was just a mess.  

But then it got worse.  I bruised horribly.  It hurt for a while, but looked a lot worse. 

This is my one leg.  I also had a bruise like this on my stomach.  It was just crazy.  The bruises are finally gone,  but the main thing is that the event was a success!! Meredith raised some money and people had enjoyed the run.  

Diamondbacks 5k

Crazy I know....someone who doesn't like to run is participating in organized runs.  But I have to admit, the whole atmosphere makes them fun as well as the fact that I do them with Alicia and some friends.  Everyone is at different levels but it doesn't matter, the main thing for me is just doing it.  

Kev came to the run today and rode his bike around the course and kept track of everyone.  It was cool to see him at different spots.  

After the run we were allowed to do a lap on the inside of Chase Field which was also cool.  

Next week we are doing another 5k which is a night run in down town Scottsdale.  

That's me!!! Pretty funny huh? 

Grandpa's Girls

Annaliese loves her Papa.  She loves her Nana too but Kev makes her laugh and she tries to do whatever he does.  

And then there's Santanah, she doesn't know what to think of him.  

She doesn't really cry when she sees him, but she was having a rough day.  

They are both getting so big and I do know if we had moved  we would have missed them both so much.

Huge Disappointment

I never made a post about us moving and I guess there was a reason for it.   I am a big believer in everything happens for a reason, so we are trying to keep that in the back of our minds.

Kev has been saying for years how he has wanted to move, he is so sick of carrying mail in hell....I mean the heat.  And around December he started to check into really seeing where we could go, should we go etc.  Then in January I finally said, if we're going to do this you need to do it cause you keep talking about it and I need to know if we are or we aren't.  So we made plans to start with going to Flagstaff and posting a letter to see if anyone would be interested in trading with him.  (trading is better then transferring because you still keep your status as a full time employee and are guaranteed 40 hours per week)  We checked out the Postal Record to see what we had to do to get something posted in the national magazine.  It seemed like we were finally starting to make a plan.  Then Kev goes into work 2 days later and sees a sign on the bulletin board (a board he never checks) and there is a letter on there from a guy from Flag who wants to transfer with someone from the east valley.  WHAT???  Hello.....this is meant to be.  So he called the guy he talked to him and they were in agreement that this is what they were going to do and both were going to get the ball rolling.   Now Kev doesn't call and tell me this.   I am literally talking to Janet about what we are going to do, how we are going to come up to Flag in a couple weeks and post a letter, etc etc and I walk in the house and on the counter is this letter that Kev found on the bulletin board.  I start freaking out.  Jan and I are like OMG OMG this is meant to be.  So weird.

Well Kev was at Applebee's so I go pick him up and he get's in the truck and says....We're moving baby.  It's a done deal!!!!  He said he didn't tell me cause he wanted me to be surprised.  He said, you were surprised when you saw the paper right?  Anyway, he goes on and on how he's already talked to the guy a few times that day and how excited he is and how awesome it's going to be to live up in Flag and be out of hell....I mean the heat.   So this is how the next few days went, he was excited and asking me if I was sure I wanted to do this and what we would do etc. The guy said he had little kids and wanted to know if we could wait til the end of the school year so Kev agreed to that so we were figuring around June 1st we would be living up in Flagstaff.   He sat down and wrote a letter to each Postmaster requesting the transfer and asking for approval.  He got a phone call from the Postmaster in Flag within a couple of days and he said he was looking forward to meeting him and that everything was approved on his end.  

We did go to Flag the weekend we were going to go anyway and talked to Janet about moving in with her and living up there and all that.  It was all coming together.  We started to tell people we were moving.  I told my job that I would be leaving at the end of May.  Our plans were to have Alicia move in the house and get a roommate and then we could decide at a later date if we wanted to sell the house or keep it.  Plus if we came down to visit we would have a place to stay.  

Kev finally got a visit from the Mesa Postmaster.  She came to see him in person and told him his trade was approved.  She said she just needed the date that they would be swapping.  We wanted a date as well.  Kev had been talking to the guy here and there, but still no specific date.  Our plan was till about June 1st.

About a month later, he gets another visit from the Postmaster and she proceeds to tell Kev that there's a problem.  That the guy from Flag has accidents on his record.   He tells her, it's not his problem and that she already approved his trade.  He doesn't hesitate to call the guy and tell him off.  WTF....you didn't tell me you had accidents.  What's the deal?  And on top of that I need a date, my wife is quitting her job, my daughter is giving up her lease when are we doing this?  He finally pins him down to a date in June.  Yea!!!! We have a date, the plans are still coming together.

NOT!!! The dreaded phone call happened.  Mesa has decided they do not want the guy from Flag.  Really????  you approve the trade before checking into his records?  You personally say it's approved and then decide you've changed your mind?  

Yes, really.   It fell through.  We aren't moving.   Kev tells me this and I right away am like, ok we'll fight it, we'll find someone else, we'll go somewhere else.  And Kev said no it's over, we're not going.  And that was the end of the subject.  He said I'm so pissed I don't even want to talk about it.  And we didn't.  I called Jan right away and she said give him a couple days, maybe he'll want to once he cools down.   So I waited and we talked about it and he still said it's over.  Here's the thing, yes he could try to find someone else or could fight it, but it would still take about 3 months and that means he works through the summer and that was the whole purpose of this whole thing.  He was trying to get out of hell....I mean the heat.  So other then the kids, we didn't tell anyone.  He still couldn't tell people or talk about it cause he was so disappointed.  Finally he did, and I did.  I told work I would stay on.  Alicia is staying in her apartment.  Janet is not getting roommates.  And Kev has another year of hell ahead of him.

Everything happens for a reason.

Year Anniversary

I can't believe it's been a year since we were going through all of the stuff with Alicia and Bee.  It's still so sad to think how he died at such a young age and that Alicia had to deal with all of that at her age.  I really felt like she struggled so much when it  happened and I just ached to know she was hurting so bad.  I would ask her how she was doing and she'd say fine, and I'd say are you getting any sleep and she'd say no.  But she never wanted to talk about how she was feeling or anything about Bee and the hospital or his death.  Nothing.  And I never pushed it.  I knew as well as others do, you don't push Alicia.   As the year went on all I did was pray she was coping and actually doing ok.  She really seemed to be.  She started going to the gym and losing weight, she was staying busy but we still never talked.  I guess I figured she would when and if she needed to.

And here it is the year anniversary and once again I didn't know how to talk to her.  I asked Kev what do I?
I don't want her to think I don't realize it's been a year, I don't want her to think I have forgotten about him, I don't want to upset her.....what do I do?   I started the day off with texting her to see how she was and how her day was going.  She said she was ok, she didn't sleep the night before but was ok.  It was a sad day for her because people were texting her to let her know they were thinking about her.  I told her that people just want you to know they love you and are sad for you as well.  I am pretty sure she actually did like the acknowledgement that people remembered, but still it did make her sad.

I still wasn't sure what to do so I thought I would just pick up some flowers and go put them in her apartment so she would have something waiting for her when she got home.  Her friends Laura and Megan text me to say they too weren't sure what to do so they left her a present for when she got home as well.  I stopped after work to get flowers and of course as I got out of the car at her apartment she pulled up.  So much for her having a surprise when she walked in.  She asked me what I was doing there and I told her I just wanted  to let her know I was thinking of her and loved her.  We stopped right in the middle of the sidewalk and hugged.  I honestly wanted to burst out in tears, but surprisingly didn't.  When she opened the door she saw Laura & Megan's present.

They said it was a bag of sunshine on an otherwise yucky day.  The whole bag was filled with things that were yellow.  Cutest thing ever, and she loved opening it.  Everything inside was wrapped in yellow tissue paper.  A Butterfinger, Lays Potato Chips, Yellow Sun Glasses and so much more.  We sat on the couch for a while and I asked her if she was going to go to the cemetery and she said she had already gone cause she had to teach that night.  Then she proceeded to tell me she had gone during the night when she couldn't sleep.   I told her she shouldn't do that, but she said it was the only time she could go and she was awake anyway so she did.  I understood.

I think it was a tough couple of days for her as well as the whole year, but  she is so amazing and so strong it's unbelievable.

Same Knee Same Issues

If you know me, you know I have knee issues.  I've been having them since high school.  Had my first knee draining when I was a senior in high school, and stuff has been going on since.  It's always bothering me, always hurting, always swollen, it's just always having issues.  Actually they both are not great, but one (the left one) is definitely worse then the other.  I have asked on more then one occasion to get a knee replacement but my Dr always says no, I'm too young and they supposedly only last about 10 years.  But to me I think it would be great to not have to put up with it for 10 years, and then get another new one.  I mean that makes sense to me, doesn't it make sense to you?  Yeah but not the Dr.  I told him years ago, that I was getting a new knee before my husband retired and we didn't have the good insurance we have now.  Well, Kev is really on his way out the door.  He has two years or even a little less to do, so now is my time to get this taken care of.  

I've been trying to reach the Dr to make an appointment to talk about this and get it checked out.  It is so hard to reach him and then it usually takes weeks, or even months to get in to see him.  In my mind, I am trying to get the ball rolling in case it actually does take that long.  Since I haven't been able to reach him I decided to drive by and just talk to them.   I went in to make the appointment and the girl gave me a couple days next week to choose from and in my mind I was thinking....Awesome no month long wait.  Then while I was standing there, I said could he see me today?  And the girl said well if you want to wait maybe 45 minutes he could.  Wait 45 minutes????  I have waited in the waiting room up to 2 hours to see this doctor and that's with an appointment.  Hell Yeah I'll wait only 45 minutes!!!!

It's my turn and he comes in and says, why are you here?  Really you're having problems again?  So I explain how it always hurts, blah blah blah.  Plus this appointment is just in time cause somehow Tuesday I did something and my knee has been hurting worse since.  In fact at the gym last night I couldn't do the boot camp class cause with all the running and impact it was just killing me.  Anyway, so we talk about a few different options but it really comes down to the fact that he wants a better look at what all is in there which means I have to go have an MRI done.  For today and to get me through for a while he gave me a cortisone shot.  Have you ever had a cortisone shot?  They hurt like a bitch, but usually within a day or two I can feel a difference so it's worth the pain for a little while.  

So that's where I am at for now until I get the MRI done, which I will do within the next week.  After that he will decide if we are going replacement or some other way.  He did try to throw out the whole knee replacement idea with the usual it only lasts 10 years etc etc and I said but I can't handle it like this for another 10 years.  So we compromised and said we'd talk about it once he sees the MRI.  

And if you're wondering why I would be doing some jogging and the runs I have done these last couple of months if my knee hurts you need to understand it hurts no matter what I do.  Sometimes it is just worse then others.  I'm sure, like I have said before that my weight is a contributor too but I haven't always been this heavy and still had knee problems. And at this point I am working to get that down so I do know that will help a little, but I'm sure only a little.  Hopefully I'll have some good news with good results soon.   

Kiss Me I'm Irish Run

Another run in the books.  It's pretty funny when I tell people about the runs I've been doing.  I say they are fun but I really don't like to run, I'm a good walker. LOL  But I'm trying to lose weight and I think this is a way that will help me to stay on track and drop some lbs.  At bootcamp when we run laps I have been able to run more of them then I use to.  In fact one of the girls in class said to me two weeks ago, "remember when you could only walk, you're doing awesome." It really made me feel good cause I'm trying to improve and that class as well as the pump class which I take before bootcamp totally kick my ass.

But I did another run....an 8K.  It was fun, there was a whole group of us.  

I kind of feel like I struggled a little bit but overall did pretty good I think.  

After the run there was free beer at one of the bars where the run was, so we hung out there for a little while.  I don't drink beer but you know, it's a great prop for photos.  

My friend Terri with a couple of other girls that we work with.  

After celebrating with some green beer we headed over to Dick & Kerry's who don't live too far from the run and had an awesome breakfast.  I had text Dick the day before and asked him what was around there where we could get something to eat when we finished running and he said "come here".  So Meredith, Dave, Terri, Deb, Alicia and I went and just loved all they made.  I think it's our tradition with these runs now.  We  go do them, then go eat.  It's a tradition I like!!!