I went to sacrament meeting today.  It was the first time since the surgery and it felt good to be back, both to take the sacrament and to be in the fellowship of the saints.  The speakers were very good too.  Brother Pendley spoke and a new member of the ward, Brother Sherman, both spoke on being followers of the Savior.   I did pretty well but by the time the meeting was about to close I knew I had hit my limit so I came home and put my leg up.  Seems so crazy that is he I felt but I suppose it's pretty normal.

It just goes to show that new habits are hard to make...I've been trying to write here daily but I'm sure not always remembering and yesterday was evidence of that!  Rich went to his training appointment but I'd had a rough night so I just stayed home instead.  Then he spent the rest of the afternoon with Julio, Wiley, and Alex preparing for their Young Men/Young Women "Date With the Book of Mormon" activity.  It went well, at least he seemed very pleased.

Early this morning, at 3 a.m., I received texts from Wanda and Hannah that Hannah and Phil were headed to the hospital as Hannah was in labor.  I was pretty relieved as I have been concerned that the baby would be too big to deliver if he didn't come soon, and since she wasn't due until the 18th, I was very happy that she had gone into labor on her own.  However, our family sat on pins and needles waiting for news, which finally came about 1:40 this afternoon.  Hannah had Winston at 1:15.  He weighed 10 lbs. 11 oz. and was 21 1/2" long.  Phil texted me some photos so I will again try to figure out how to post them here tomorrow when I can utilize the desktop.

Also, Emmett had his second swim meet this morning.  He swam in four races, placing 1st in one, second in two, and third in one.  Considering he has only been in one previous meet and he is only five years old he has really done well!  We're very proud of him!  Again, Cherstin texted me some photos and so I'll work on that tomorrow...I'll probably need her help to figure out how!

This evening most of the steri strips have come off my leg and so I took them all off.  I used some vitamin e oil, mederma, and Shea butter to massage my leg.  I'm hoping to break down some of the scar tissue and improve the lymphodema.   Now I'm icing it.  I'm tired and feeling a little "antsy" so I'm taking my meds and heading to bed.

I was pleased this morning at physical therapy to get to 111 degrees range if motion.  I hadn't thought that there would be any improvement over Tuesday, especially since I had not had therapy yesterday, but I guess it just goes to show how unpredictable this progress is.  Poor Rich, since I'm not cleared to drive yet, brings me to therapy and then sits in the car and waits for me.  I'm really grateful for his support.  He's made sure I have the commode riser, shower chair, walker, and the ice machine...but he has also made sure I have the ability to get my leg up for hours at a time and never complains about me needing more ice or helping me get into a better, more comfortable position.  What a blessing he is!

Cherstin has confirmed that Dan is definitely leaving...sometime around the 19th.  I'm so sorry for them all.  They are going to bless Lorenzo this Sunday just to be certain that it happens in case Dan's date of departure changes.  I'm bummed that I won't be there.  I don't see any way I could manage it yet but my heart is certainly with them.  They had been hoping to have Joey and Carlie there but even that doesn't work out.  Cherstin is pretty positive about it right now...and she is busy trying to nail down things to do and even hoping that perhaps she'll be able to break up the summer with visits from and to family.  I hope that works out.

Wanda sent an email to the family about Hyrum's evaluation and progress.  If I can figure out how, I will post that email here, but I'll probably have to amend this tomorrow because I have no idea how to do it on the iPad.  Lol

Well, I'm heading to bed...Rich has an early training appointment tomorrow morning and I want to go with him to utilize the nustep...but I'll have to see how the night goes too.

I spent some time this morning working on a piece of music that I love, Oh How Lovely Was The Morning.  I decided that I would try to memorize it!  Lol. I have been anxious about Alzheimer's for a while and think I need to expand my memory.  However, true to my experience in primary and seminary, memorizing is a challenge.  I think I managed 8 bars!  Lol. Tomorrow I'll probably be starting all over again!

Rich and I went over to the gym this afternoon.  He walked on the treadmill for 15 minutes and rode the bike for an additional 15 minutes.  I used the nustep for a mile in 20 minutes at level 4.  I don't know how wise that was but I'm really desirous to get my strength and stamina back.

Wanda called today.  They had their appointment with the neuro psychologist for Hyrum.  There seemed to be a lot of good news and some levels of concern but all in all, they're hopeful.  He told her that on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the worst, full-blown autism, Hyrum would probably be a 2 1/2.  He also acknowledged that much of what he saw may well be a result of the abnormality in the EEG brain wave patterns and encouraged Wanda to go through all the lengths to get the answers they need with the further tests through the neurologist.   In the meantime, they are also pursuing all avenues in therapy to overcome the patterns and difficulties he has.

Cherstin and Dan also got rough news today.  It looks like Dan will be deploying at the end of the month for the summer and early fall.  I am so sad for them. I guess it isn't final yet, but pretty much a done deal.  More info will be coming probably in the next few days.  I'm just hoping there will be a reversal in this plan.

Joey and Carlie and the kids had packers today.  It will be just a few days before they are headed out west.  I'm feeling pretty bummed about that!

And, today I celebrate the birth of my daughter.  I know that Hannah and Carlie are not my biological kids but they may as well be!  Hannah is the love of Philip's life and the precious mother of Orion, William, Oliver, and Winston...and our daughter.  Happy birthday Hannah!  We are so glad your parents had you so that we can have you!!! Lol.

I went to physical therapy again today.  I must be progressing as new exercises were added to my routine.  I added calf raises, hamstring or leg curls, step ups both laterally and straight.  I think they'll be adding the bike soon and so I want to head to the gym for the next few days and try out the nustep.  And I managed to get to 109 degrees range of motion.  When I came home I did a little bit of Internet research to determine what the typical range of motion progress is likely.  I learned that many get to about where I am and that is the extent of their progress.  I was surprised by that.  Obviously that would probably be a range they can easily get to, and I'm not there yet.  I really have to work to get that number and it is very painful.  However, I would like to believe that I'll have a much better outcome if I keep working on it and can keep the swelling down...something in the 130 range would suit me just fine! Lol. I don't have therapy until Thursday but I will try and do things tomorrow that will strengthen and free up my leg tomorrow.  I'm fully aware that my weight hinders me but I was pleased to be down an additional 3 pounds this week.  I would like to be down an additional 20-30 pounds before my next surgery.  It can only help.  Also, this is my last week on Coumadin! Yea!!!

This evening I fixed a bite of dinner and Rich and I relaxed by watching "So You Think You Can Dance" and reruns of O'Reilly, Hannity, and Greta.  I also enjoyed a phone call from Hannah with news that they're not inducing her but will be doing additional tests next week to determine how big Winston is...they're hoping he's smaller than 12 pounds!  Also heard from Joey - they are in the midst of all the final move stuff and will be shooting to be down here next weekend on their way to California.  It's going to be hard to have them so far away...we've sure enjoyed having them this close!

Sunday I decided to stay home from church for one additional week.  After my dr. Appointment on Thursday is seemed wise as I had noticed that the swelling has been really responding to having my leg high and on ice.  I had thought about going for just Sacrament Meeting but knew that Rich would have to bring me home and that gets a little dicey with his priesthood obligations.  So I just spent the day with it up...although I did fix a salad for dinner.

On Monday I went to physical therapy and was able to get to 106 degrees of range of motion.  They also took out the staples, all 64 of them, and put on steri-strips.  They will stay on until they come off and then I can swim, bathe, etc.  I can hardly wait!

Rich picked up Wiley to come mow the lawns and then got a pizza and watched some tv with him.  I watched Ice Castles (a chick flick) that was on tv and just kept my leg up.

I am feeling more and more hopeful that this is going to improve.  I notice that most of the people I know who have had this done say that the first 6 weeks are the hardest.  I would bet that if they were queried they would say that really it is the first 3 weeks.

Maybe tomorrow Rich and I will take in a movie.  We have wanted to see the new Star Trek movie and of course it has been out since my surgery...I think I may be able to manage it, but I'll see...keeping my leg down for any length of time really does make it swell.

On Thursday I went into meet with the orthopedic surgeon.  I was hoping that I would have the staples pulled but it was not to be.  The swelling in my knee, thigh and upper leg is great enough that the skin is popping and taking out the staples may put the incision in jeopardy too.  So, my goal for the weekend is to keep my knee higher than my heart, keep it iced, and compress where possible to get the swelling down as much as possible.  If I am successful the staples may be able to come out on Monday.

They took x-rays and everything looks very good with the implant.  I was surprised at how long the stems are that are drilled and hammered into the femur and tibia...they are probably about 6-7 inches long.  They provide the greatest stability for me and eventually the bone will graft around them.

Because if the swelling it was determined that I ought to probably reconsider the other knee and instead of having it done in a couple of weeks, have it done in August.  There is a general consensus that you have about three months to get the greatest range of motion back into the joint...it is just a rule of thumb and of course there is some variation in that prognosis...but in general, it is what most likely happens.  Anyway, because of the extreme swelling, my progress is being hampered.  It is felt that I need to take these few months and do everything I can to maximize my progress before I do the other knee.  Honestly, that is fine with me.  It is only now that I am beginning to feel the other knee.  The pain has been great enough in the operated leg that I've not even recognized any pain with the other one.  Needless to say, I have cancelled the surgery until August.  As Felicia gets closer to due and knows more about their job situation and living arrangements I will finalize the date.

On Friday I went to physical therapy.  I was somewhat disappointed as I had reached 104 degrees on Wednesday and had hoped there would be improvement...but there wasn't...but I didn't regress either.

Later that afternoon we drove into Knoxville.  Rich had a physical therapy appointment too and then we went to Costco for some fresh fruit and veggies.  I walked the entire store.  I found my knee getting stiff and so I went and sat down while Rich checked us out but I was amazed that I could actually walk the store.  As luck would have it, in the cooler I met the dr I saw the day before.  She looked at me and then said that as glad as she was that I was walking I needed to get right home and get my knee up and on ice.  I told her I would.

Also, Thursday and Friday were busy days in that we finally had the food replaced.  Rich has been worried about it and getting quotes.  The bishop's construction team calming competitively and we went with them. It wasn't something we wanted to do, but something that needed to be done.

Last night Cherstin and Dan spent the evening hours in a storm shelter at their church.  Two weeks ago an E5 tornado hit Moore,just south of them, 24 people lost their lives in it and the destruction was immense.  There were multiple tornados last night and 9 people lost their lives in them.  Luckily our loved ones there were safe.  It was Hyrum and Levi's birthdays.  Hyrum won't remember how his 2nd birthday was spent!

We received news today that Brianand Lauriehad their little guy early this morning.  Things are ok. I haven't talked with anyone...just read Facebook...but I'll call tomorrow.

Today we have just spent the day with me keeping my leg elevated and iced.  I have toyed with the idea of heading to church for at least sacrament meeting but when my leg is downfor any length of time it swells.  I guess I will stay home one more week and see if I can get this swelling down.