Birthday number two for my daughter's cat "Baby" and her sister "Mimi"
Great gathering of wonderful friends, family, pictionary and lots of laughs.
MUCH needed comic relief after a less than stellar week:
• Once the doc cleared me to go back to yoga, hit the bike and pool, I did all things in one day and ended up with a five ice pack night. Gotta respect the healing process!
• A very dear family member has been in the hospital for three weeks and they still haven't diagnosed her
• My in home physical therapist, who I really don't need anymore, turned out to be more interested in giving me psychological therapy than physical therapy and announced that "Jesus sent him to me" Hasta La Vista Baby to him
• I caught Kerry's cold and my physical energy has been low. Get me outta here so I can run!
Now that we've got that out of the way - who's up for a trip to Kauai? The past is gone, the present is here with all the downs that make us appreciate the ups, and the future...........we're going to Kauai! My dear running buddy asked me to be the "best man/woman" at his wedding in Kauai. Who am I to argue? Now, what am I going to wear?
As I sat on my deck this gorgeous Sunday afternoon, feeling the warm sun on my body, I was transported to another place, time and state of mind. No, Scottie didn't beam me up, but it felt like it!
I closed my eyes, listened to the surf, the laughter of kids playing, the seagulls and took a deep breath.
When I was an adolescent, my sister and my good friends (you know who you are) would take either the bus, Charlie's VW bug, or my first car that I purchased at the police auction for $200 cash and make our way to Miami Beach for the day.
While relaxing on Miami beach, here is a short list of the things that I DID NOT think about:
• Money (I had never even heard of a mutual fund)
• Skin cancer (I had my large bottle of "No Ad" suntan lotion in tow
• Caloric intake or vitamin supplements
• How I was going to make a car payment
• When I was going to ice my knee next
• When the next Lakers Game was
• Gas prices (they were 24 cents/gallon)
• What was for dinner that night (probably Kentucky Fried)
Here is a short list of the things that I DID think about:
• Tan lines
• Time to turn to get an even tan
• Collecting shells
• If we got to the beach early enough, could we make the first footprints in the sand?
• The sunrise (again - if we got to the beach early enough)
• The book I was reading (Probably "Be Here Now" by Ram Dass)
• Yoga (yes, I practiced in the bedroom even back then)
• My blow up raft for floating in the ocean, getting an even better tan
The first photo is from our deck in Laguna Beach, the second photo is my sister and I a couple years back in Miami Beach.
Today, I'm "all grown up" yeah right! with all the attendant thoughts that we think grownups need to be preoccupied with.
But in that moment today, closing my eyes, feeling the sun, hearing the surf, it made me realize, contentment - it really is only a thought away.
So I Cheered Up, And Sure Enough, Things Got Worse!
If you're looking for funny platitudes, this is the blog. My Dad (got rest his soul) was overflowing with wit, mirth and the wry sense of humour that he inherited from me.
Week five (but who's counting) of the osteochondral allograft.
If I hear one more person, as I'm out and about hobbling around on my crutches, tell me about how after their knee surgery, they walked out of the doctor's office and participated in a triathlon (my neighbor actually told me this, I'm not making this up) Or, that after her knee surgery, my other neighbor was back on her surfboard in six weeks............I'm going to strangle them.
Most folks have never even heard of an allograft, would not be thrilled with the idea of having a two inch portion of their bone sawed out of their knee (but happily replaced with living bone :) being instructed to non weight bear for 6-8 weeks, and good progress is considered that you can walk normally in four months.
Last night, Kerry slept on the sofa because he's got a cold and didn't want to keep me up all night with his coughing. I was up most of the night disturbing my bed mate, our black kitty Ruby, in pain, fetching ice packs.
The world turns very slowly these days. One day, I'm encouraged, the next, I'm reduced to considering that alcoholism might not be such a bad idea after all.
My "tell it like it is" daughter, Angela, had no sympathy for me this morning. When I told her the story she said "C'mon Mom, you know you'd be bragging to everybody the same thing if you were back on your surfboard in six weeks." Guilty as charged.
That does it. I'm going to put my surfboard on my living room floor today and get on it. That'll show 'em!
Yesterday Surfer Boy and I went for our first session of pool therapy. Luckily, I'm married to an avid surfer who also used to be a lifeguard!
We found this lovely facility, close to our home which features a heated to 80 degree, salt water pool.
I downloaded the required release forms, filled them out and off we went. We were greeted by the owner of this quaint establishment, a buoyant woman with closely cropped graying hair, a huge smile and two slobbering black labs at her heels. It seems that we caught her in the middle of lunch. She grabbed my release forms and said "Just leave the 5 bucks in the box on the picnic table and have a good time"!
I've been a surfer for several years and grew up in pools and the Atlantic ocean in Miami, so I thought this would be a piece of cake. Just get in and frolic around the pool. Fun! Well guys, it was a lot tougher than I expected. Water acts as a resistance against your body. Next time you get into a pool, concentrate (like I never did) on how much easier it is to walk on flat ground than it is in water. Kerry grabbed a couple of water noodles, wrapped them around his body and proclaimed that he was going to order a Pina Colada. I was left to do all my resistance training. Where was my Marco Polo game? Where was my Cabana Boy? Where was my Pina Colada? Waa-friggin-waa!
When we were done, we headed over to visit our dear friend, Kevin. Kevin used to be my next door neighbor. He's in his forties and has been a surfer all his life. Six years ago, he dove head first into the ocean, hit the sandbar and instantly became a quadriplegic. Kevin is one of the most inspiring people I know. The doctors told him he'd never walk again. Through hard work, great attitude and determination, Kevin can stand for almost a minute, he can walk with a walker and is determined to walk again.
I walked into his living room, where he sat in his wheelchair, arms working his "arm bicycle" and told him that pool workout was not as easy as I thought it would be. His comment: "You're not gettin' any sympathy here"! (Kevin also has a New York"tell it like it is") personality. We went on, as we always do, to have a great visit with lots of stories and good laughs.
Next time you feel like things are getting a bit tough, remember: Life really is a Beach. Now where's that Pina Colada?
Well, Kobe Bryant didn't exactly go to Bikram Yoga class this morning. But my donor and I went, four weeks post op. What an amazingly exciting day this has been for me!!!!!!!
Whenever I think about the knee graft donor, I always envision this young, vibrant, athletic person. Someone who can run, jump, stretch, you know, the next Kobe Bryant.
One of my dear, lovely, talented blogger buddies, Ulyana who is also a Bikram Yoga enthusiast, had an allograft six months ago on her ankle. When I read her posts right after surgery, that she was back in that 105 degree, 90 minute, kick butt yoga studio, on crutches, I was amazed, amused and incredulous. Studdette of the Year!
After four weeks of not being able to sweat with these wimpy PT exercises I'm doing, I just couldn't take it anymore. I can only put 50% max weight on the left leg, but heck, I've still got 100% on my right leg. (Yes, I'm 'all right' now) Kerry and I went to the studio, set up my crutches and walker in the back of the room and it was a-friggin-mazing how great it felt. Ah, to be able to sweat, get my heart rate up, and feel the endorphins surging through my system again.
The class was crowded, as it usually is on Saturday. One of the students had dragged her reluctant twelve year old daughter into class. The young girl kept sitting down on her mat cuz she just couldn't take the heat. Youth really is wasted on the young. It made me realize how much of our motivation in life is mental. Her twelve year old body is in perfect shape, will do anything she asks it to do, and mine? I'm very proud to say that I didn't sit down once. Motivated am I!
Okay guys, we need to come up with a name for my donor. The name Kobe Bryant is already taken. Interestingly, Kobe Bryant and I share the exact same birthday; August 23rd, twenty years apart to the day. All star athletes were born on August 23rd! Ha!
Yesterday was a really big day; my first follow up with Dr. Bugbee. Week four since the allograft.
We started out by heading to the Living Water Rejuvenation Center in Carlsbad for my colonic. Not being able to work up a sweat these days, my body is more than ever craving a detox. Get that crazy anesthesia out of me!
I made the decision on my own this week to get out of the walker and transfer to crutches. What an amazing feeling of freedom.
After the colonic, my body was light, happy and full of energy. When we got to Scripps Clinic in La Jolla to see the Doc, I was so pumped up, eager to get the thumbs up on my progress. Kerry was laughing at me in the waiting room as all the other patients were sitting around in their knee braces, wheelchairs, or canes, most of them with a forlorn look on their faces. I was Ms. Energy, pacing back and forth on my crutches, swinging my leg up in the air, smiling, getting my game face on before I saw the Doc.
I am thrilled to report that he says everything looks great, it's healing well, and that I can start adding some stationary biking, pool workouts and even Bikram Yoga! I can also put up to 50% weight on the left leg while walking with crutches. He said the words that were magic to my ears "You're doing even better than I expected you would" I think that's because I was such a cry baby in the hospital. Guilty as charged, the entire hospital staff at Green Hospital got to see a grown woman cry. Several times. It did get me some extra desserts, though :)
Dr. Bugbee handed me the Op report before we left with the disclaimer: "Wait until you get home to read this"
This morning I got up the nerve to scan the report. There are many mentions of the term "sawing" "Nuff said. The part I was most interested in was what they found when they opened up my knee. Dr. Bugbee in medical, technical speak said it was "Pretty Messed Up" It turns out that the defect was 5 cm. x 2.5 cm. in size. 5 cm. translates into 2 inches. I can't believe I was walking around like that for so long. I did the right thing!
Today, biking and tomorrow Bikram Yoga! And 'aint the prettiest incision you've ever seen? I think it is!
I remember reading a study several years back that went something like this: Researchers recorded the voices of a control group of men. They counted every time the men used the words Me, Myself or I in a sentence. The study concluded that the men who used those words most often had the highest incidence of heart attacks.
Last night, I received devastating news about the health of a very close family member. My first impulse was to jump up, get in my car and make the three hour drive to the hospital bed in which she lays. Tears of frustration leaped to my eyes as I'm not even cleared to drive yet.
I have a new impetus to heal my body and get strong. My family, friends, and community need me.
When I was an ultra marathon runner I always had this confidence: "If there's ever an emergency, I can always run 50 miles.
Not so today, but I can do other things. I can pray, I can phone call, I can support those around me, I can egads, cook. And don't forget, I can FaceBook!
It's not all about Me, Myself and I, folks. Our loved ones need us.
