Feeling the Love

I have the most amazing family and friends. I consider myself extremely lucky.

Within three days of hurting my knee, my mother-in-law dropped everything and came to take care of me and the kids. She stayed for an entire two weeks and cleaned, cooked, played with the kids, drove us places and saved the day! We couldn't have done it without you Grandma!!!! And a big thanks to Grandpa for letting us steal Grandma for that long. I know he missed her.

Not only did I have help from my mother-in-law, but my friends have come to the rescue. I have spent the last two weeks at home with the girls trying to accomplish everything that a mother does for three small girls but doing it all on crutches, while trying to spend most of the day with my leg up (stinkin' doctors orders). My friends have stepped in an brought meals, cleaned my house, did the dishes, made beds, helped with laundry, and picked me up for church. I'm tearing up as I type this because I wouldn't have gotten through this without their help as well.

The ward has been incredible. Meals have come in every day this week. My visiting teacher called me as soon as she knew I was hurt to ask what she could do. Members in the ward help watch my kids during Sacrament Meeting and help me load them in and out of the car on Sundays. I've had sisters ask if they can take me places or pick up groceries. I am so grateful for this second family that we are a part of.

I have at least another month or two of recovery after surgery, so I know I'll have another thank you post to my mom who is coming to save the day after my surgery as well as a big thank you to my sweetheart who has taken on all of the things I normally do for our family, and has done them without complaint.

Here are a few pictures taken over the last few weeks.

Swimming lessons. (I already had them signed up before I got hurt)
Didn't get any pictures at the pool since I was on crutches and didn't want to worry about carrying a camera too.

Priceless. She LOVED swimming lessons so I'm not sure why she is pouting. And she got her hair chopped off while Grandma was here.

One weekend we took a drive to Provo Falls.

Celebrated Pioneer Day with a few more sparklers. This time Madison wasn't as scared.

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!