Motorcycle and My Knee Become Enemies

I've been wanting to learn to ride a motorcycle for a few years now. I've dreamed about riding my own motorcycle behind Chris and taking trips together. We bought me one last year and Chris just hasn't had the time to rebuild mine yet, because he was busy all winter getting his finished since we planned to sell his this Summer.

So Chris got his bike finished the last week in June. It was absolutely beautiful!

And then this crazy women got a hold of his bike and it hasn't been the same.


On Friday, July 7th I had this grand idea that it was about time I tried Chris' bike since mine wasn't going to be rideable (is that a word?) until next Summer. We had talked about me riding his bike quite a few times, but I had just never jumped on the chance.

We headed over to a parking lot and Chris gave me the basics of riding his motorcycle. I shifted a few times from neutral to first. He explained how the clutch and break, etc. worked.

I glided through the parking a lot a few times.

Everything was going smoothly..........

And then it's all a blur............I fell off the bike (I think I accidentally popped the clutch). The bike flew across the parking lot and I landed on the cement, heard my knee pop, and all I can remember is grabbing my knee and screaming in pain.

So this has been the last four weeks of my Summer.

We headed home after the crash and I tried to keep myself from hyperventilating. IT HURT SO BAD!!!!!!!!!!!! I took some Tylenol and began icing my knee hoping to minimize the swelling. After Chris got the girls to bed, I told him that I knew something more serious had happened to my knee than just spraining it. So our wonderful friend Jake Hobbs came to the rescue and came to our house to be with our girls while we headed off to the emergency room.

A tetanus shot, multiple x-rays, scrubbing of all my abrasions on my knees and elbow, draining fluid from my knee with a needle, and five hours later we were out of the emergency room.

The following Monday I met with my orthopedic doctor, Dr. Gardiner where he informed me I had a torn ACL which would require surgery. Last week I had a follow up appointment. My knee is still swollen and hurts like crazy on the side of my knee so he also thinks I tore my meniscus. Oh Goody!!!

I have surgery in a few days (August 9th) and am a bit anxious but excited. I'm excited because I will finally be able to begin the recovery process. The last four weeks have just been spent getting my knee a bit better and less swollen so I will have (hopefully) a faster recover after surgery.

I couldn't have gotten through these last few weeks without family and friends.....but that's for the next post!

Fudgesicles Anyone?

How to Ruin your Dinner

Chris came home from work the other night with a huge stick of cotton candy. Chris's work is sponsoring Born Free III and plan to have cotton candy for all who stop by. This is a motorcycle trip that Chris takes with his buddies (more to come in a follow up post). Anywho...........He decided to bring some home for the girls who have never had cotton candy before.

Ashley was a bit reluctant at first, but then she said to Chris,
"Daddy, Scooby-Doo eats the cotton candy monster in his movie so I'll try it."

Well Ashley, if Scooby-Doo is willing to eat a cotton candy monster,
you for sure can eat it off of a stick!

Rylee will eat anything, and I mean anything, so she dove right into it.



After Ashley finished her treat, she asked if I would fix her training wheels.
I guess I didn't get them on right the first time.

While I fixed Ashley's bike, Chris sanded some motorcycle parts.
(Picture taken by Ashley)


Then we headed out for a walk around the block.
(another picture taken by Ashley)






Another great Spring night spent together with the people I love.

Saturdays in the Spring

My kids FINALLY got to enjoy the octopus sprinkler that Grandma got them in March.
It has been cold or rainy all of April and May.

Rylee woke up from her nap, headed outside
and got right in the water with her clothes on.

As I write this post on Tuesday morning, it's been rainy
off and on since Saturday night. When will Mr. Octopus come out again?!?!
Where is Summer?!?!

Ashley's New Sandbox

Ashley has wanted a sandbox for quite awhile now. We have been working on getting our side yard completed with steps, grass, sandbox, etc. It has taken us the last few Springs and Summers to finally get to a point where I believe we will get it finished this year. Chris has finished the steps/patio, and now the sandbox. Now we just need to lay the sod, and we will be done! Yeah!

Ashley was playing in her sandbox, but kept telling me how bright it was outside. She said she needed her sunglasses. She's a funny girl with a sassy personality!