Yes, I am a "glutton for punishment" and had my right knee replaced 2 1/2 months after the left one. Thank goodness I only have two legs! The date was August 5, 2010. It was the day after our 39th wedding anniversary and since we had a pre-surgery appointment on the 4th anyway, we made a celebration of the day! We checked into the Crystal Inn on 64th S in Salt Lake (around there, anyway) and then headed to the Macaroni Grill for our anniversary dinner celebration. My nephew, Brandon Johnson, is the manager there and we had not seen him for way too many years. We were hoping to get to visit with him as we had missed him our previous stop there. This time he was working and recognized us immediately! He is such a doll and took great care of us. He obviously wanted our anniversary to be special and very memorable (and perhaps he was feeling a little sorry for me, too!). But he sent a darling little waitress over who graced us with a beautiful Italian aria and then handed me a long stem of white gladiolas. Brandon visited with us off and on all evening as he was available and then, lastly, picked up the tab for our dinner which we in no way expected! We just love this young man and were so grateful to reconnect with him on our special day! He promised to bring his wife, Abby, to the hospital to visit and made good on that promise. We had not met Abby but were immediately drawn to her. We were so appreciative of the time it took them to come and visit!
Now I must backtrack to surgery day, Aug. 5th. This experience was a little different than in May. My anesthesiologist, Dr. Jennifer Layman, came into the pre-surgery waiting area and discussed my MS situation. She wanted to be sure she did not give me any more nerve block than absolutely necessary. I really appreciated her apparent knowledge of Multiple Sclerosis and her desire to do the very best job possible for me. I was still awake this time when wheeled into surgery and during the prep work. I was groggy but remember a very kind young man named Carlos who did everything he could to keep me calm including holding my hand. I wish I could find him to thank him because it really soothed me at the moment since I was "husbandless" at that point! (I did send a thank-you card and included a note to him, so I'm hoping someone found him and shared it with him.) I also remember being in the recovery room this time, which I did not in May. So obviously, I came out of the anesthesia much better this time! The spinal block wore off within 24 hours or so...much quicker than the 40 hours last time. That was just a little nerve-wracking (no pun intended!). I really love St. Mark's Hospital in Salt Lake. If you have to go to the hospital, that is the place to go. It runs like a well-oiled machine! The staff are 98% great and caring people and very good at what they do. Dr. Marc Mariani and his assistant, Portia Jones, of Salt Lake Orthopedic Clinic, once again did a great job on the knee replacement. I appreciate their expertise and care. I am particularly grateful for Heavenly Father's watchful care over me; for answered prayers and priesthood blessings and a husband who is worthy to use his priesthood in God's name for my benefit.
And speaking of great care, my husband has been amazing! I could not have asked for someone kinder or more patient. He did laundry, dishes, some cooking, and completely took over the yard and garden which I so much appreciated... this in addition to working full-time at his job and carrying on with his church duties. How did he accomplish it all? I certainly know that divine help is available when we need it and it was very evident in our lives this summer. Greg would constantly tell me to sit down and rest and enjoy this recuperating time and many mornings he would tell me to stay in bed and sleep a little longer. I didn't always obey, however, because I really was supposed to be up and using the knee and exercising it 3 times per day. I did notice that I was much more tired this time and was lacking the energy I had after the first surgery. I'm sure that is due to having major surgery twice in 2 1/2 months. I didn't realize how much that takes out of a person! I am so grateful they are both done and this is all in the past. I will be at least a year before the knees are completely healed and I have been somewhat of a worry-wart over them. But I do not take one bit of pain medication for them any more, even OTC's, so I know they are gradually healing. Greg is my strength and the one who buoys me up when I get discouraged with lack of energy and more discomfort than I would like to have. He keeps me in reality! I love my best friend! Thank you, honey, for all your love and care this summer! I couldn't have done it without you! I also appreciate my dear friends, Kathy Murray and Mary Cook, who did some cleaning for me and also brought delicious meals! One afternoon they came and brought Judy Armstrong and we had a movie afternoon in the den complete with popcorn, drink, and vegetables and dip. It was so much fun to be with them! I am so blessed with good friends. Several of my Relief Society sisters also brought delicious meals for about a week-and-a-half every other night. It was just perfect and relieved much stress off Greg for those first couple of weeks until I could do some cooking.
Most enjoyable were family visits! Julie and Stanton and kids came on August 15th (a Sunday afternoon) to visit and to celebrate Brigham's and Cannon's birthdays. I wasn't well enough to drive all the way to Logan and back so suggested that perhaps we could celebrate here. It worked out so perfect. My dear neighbor, Kathy Morgan, fixed pork barbecue with buns, potato salad, and chips. We did cucumbers and onions and tomatoes and then bought a darling cake in honor of the boys' August birthdays. The kids played in the yard all afternoon after dinner and gift opening. Greg and I were in our glory watching them climb the tree, play soccer, and every other outdoor game they could think of! Two such adorable little birthday boys! And we can't forget our precious little Chloe and Lily either! I was still pretty sore and miserable so didn't take any pictures. I knew Julie was taking them. I'll have to see if I can "borrow" them from her blog post! Anyway, thanks again, to the Allen family for the wonderful afternoon! Loved every minute of it! Thanks so much for making the effort! So glad Cannon loves his Lightening McQueen car and Brigham, his cowboy boots.
(I just tried to steal pics from Julie's blog and can't because they are Picasa collages! Darn! It's my fault for not getting my camera out! Sorry, Julie!)
Our Teichert clan also made a couple of visits. Sheri had send several bags of Hannah's clothing for the girls which they were thrilled beyond words about! We had an immediate fashion show with their Dad and Grandpa right in the middle of it! Afterwards, he weather was so beautiful that we could sit out on the patio and enjoy watching the kids play in the back yard. They really seem to love playing there for reasons I have not entirely ascertained! I know Morgan LOVES to climb our tree and Kaleb loves me to put a sprayer on the hose and he will entertain himself for hours! I'll post some cute pictures of them. The babies are constant entertainment! Regan, bless her heart, spent a long time organizing and cleaning the playroom downstairs. I can always count on that girl! Morgan worked for quite a while cleaning both upstairs bathrooms for me. She is so sweet...honestly, of all things to want to do at Grandma's! The last visit was after Regan's cross-country meet and we came home and had a little dinner here together and visited for awhile. Both visits were so appreciated and broke up the monotony of many long days! Thanks again for stopping and making us a part of your busy lives!
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| I could tell Dee had been waiting a very long time to do this! |
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| Jordy cleaning up the yard! Talk about ambitious! |
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| Playing a game with her girls! |
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| Such adorable little faces! |
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| "Paint, paint, Gamma! Pink!" |
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| Several pics now of trying on clothes sent from Hannah for the girls! |
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| Thanks, Hannah! |
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| Overwhelmed! |
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| Love this outfit! |
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| See what I mean about Kaleb? |
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| Painting the patio steps! |
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| Morgan in the tree! |
