Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Bringing in the Big Guns

I needed help and bad...  So I brought in the big guns...



The last couple nights, Emily has been fighting getting ready for bed at night.  When we go to put her in her PJ's, she kicks, she screams, she wiggles, she does her best to get as far away from me as possible.  Last night was no exception.

Sunday evening Emily did the same thing and we were able to wrestle her into her PJ's, while we both broke a sweat.  Last night, Steve was working late so I was on my own.  I scooped my littlest angel up to head to her room for bedtime.  She started screaming, kicking, crying, and downright protesting going to bed. 

I did my best.  I was patient with her, telling her that I would hold her until she was ready to calm down and get dressed.  While I sat there, getting kicked and on the verge of losing my hearing from the screaming, I was able to think through a reasonable plan.  I came up with the idea to call in the big guns.

"Abby, Abby, can you come here please and help Mommy?".  Abby was in the living room watching her wind down TV for the evening.  If there is one person in the house who can get Emily to do what we want her to, it's Abby.  Abby, my very helpful, sweet, compassionate child.  She will do whatever she can (most times) to help her sister stop crying.

Abby walked into the room and I asked her if she could help me get Emily's PJ's on her.  As soon as Abby started helping, Emily immediately went from crying and screaming, to holding her foot out for Abby to put her PJ bottom's on and laughing.  It was a very sweet moment.  A very special sister moment.  'Mommy' could not satisfy Emily, but Abby could, her big sister, the one she wants to be with at all times.  The one she admires and loves dancing with.

Abby is a very special big sister, and on days like yesterday, both Emily and I are very lucky to have her in our lives.  We are actually very lucky to have her in our lives every day,  Thank you big guns!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

A Lady Who Lunches

Surgery, smurgery, I am a lady who lunches...

Today was a very leisurely day; a nap, lunch with a friend and dinner with my husband (in a restaurant, no kids).  While at lunch today (Sushi Ran in Sausalito, amazing food, great quality fish and a bit trendy, I like it!) I thought that I could get used to being a lady who lunches.  That thought lasted about 5 seconds. 

I cannot be that person, my mind is always going, I am always thinking about what I should be doing next and trying to come up with ideas for a home based business (in addition to my already more than full time job).  When I do more, I'm happiest, especially when it's the things I want to do. 

I typically eat lunch while at my desk or on the run, moving from one thing to another.  I don't have time for leisurely lunches very often.  When accompanied by a good friend, they are even better!  I'll leave those lunches as a special treat for now, but I'm glad I have them every once in a while!

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Surgery Canceled - A Blessing in Disguise

My surgery today was canceled for a variety of reasons.  I won't bore you with the details. 

When I found out it wasn't going to happen I called UCSF Sports medicine to see if they were back on track to do a new cartilage growth/transplant procedure.  They go in, take cartilage cells out of your knee, grow it in a controlled environment for 6-8 weeks (if you know cartilage, it's very difficult to do), then they sew it back in.  I received a promising email from the research coordinator.  My fingers are crossed. 

In the mean time, I'm still going to take a week off work.  I'm capped out on my vacation accrual anyway, so might as well. 

Today, I applied for and received my California Resellers license.  More on this in the coming weeks. 

I also went to Ikea to get my home office for my new business a little better outfitted.  Why I think I can tackle furniture at Ikea solo is beyond me.  I have this misconception; since the furniture is on the cheap, it shouldn't be heavy.  Well, I wrestled that 80 lb box and it's sitting in the back of my car right now.  I'll let Steve unload it later today.

Tomorrow, I'm hopefully spending the day with a friend.  Then Friday I'm off to a local bead show, to partake in wholesale pricing with my fancy new resellers license in hand and also take a few classes.  I am very excited about this!  I'm also going to spend some precious one on one time with my precious girls!  Maybe I'll take Abby to see Cars and Emily to the park.

I'm giddy with excitement about my time off.  

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Third Time is a Charm - I Hope

March 2002 - I tore my ACL while skiing at Homewood in the Tahoe area.  I had ACL reconstruction surgery in May of that year.  The recovery was painful and long and horrible.

August 2006 - While playing tennis, I heard a pop in the same knee referenced above, could barely walk, it swelled up like a balloon.  I had surgery to clean up scar tissue that dislodged itself and also had something called a lateral release (whatever that is).  This recovery wasn't anything like the ACL recovery.  It was much easier and I only had a few days of unbearable pain.

Next Wednesday - Third times a charm, right?  Microfracture surgery to replace missing cartilage on the same knee.  I'm not excited at all.  And it wasn't until this past week that I finally got my arms around what was going to happen, even though this has been scheduled for a couple months. 

I did not have kids during the first two surgeries above.  This time I have an 18 month old and an almost 4 year old.  I'll be on crutches for 8 weeks.  8 WEEKS!!!! 

During the last visit to my Dr., he also told me there were only going to be a few things I couldn't do ever again.  Basketball (fine, I'm short anyway), soccer (fine again, I gave that up when I was 12 and running (WHAT THE HELL!).  Running is the only thing I really like to do for exercise.  I have always held out hope that I could run again one day after my ACL surgery.  I tried a few times, but it was painful.  To be told, once and for all, no more running EVER, sucks! 

And then someone from work tells me to be careful of blood clots after knee surgery, many people die because of it.  Yikes, really.  Next time don't tell me these things! 

Hopefully by Wednesday I can improve my attitude about all of this.  I need to go in with a positive mind set and look at the bright side.