2013 Annual Note

Here's the recap of the year from our family.  Happy New Year to all!

2013 has been another crazy busy year as they all seem to be.  I imagine you all kept as active and involved as any of us did!

Tom continues working for Shell.  He’s back into a technology-forecasting role which he seems to enjoy.  The travelling part of the job, not so much, though most of it is now domestic rather than international.  He’s also been joining me at the gym a couple times a week.  And he took a road-trip with one of his brothers to visit his mom and then he and Harriett headed to Iowa for a few days – they both enjoyed their time together!

Maggie’s a junior this year.  In March she passed her driving test and drove herself to school about 20 minutes later.  I hadn’t thought I’d be so happy to have a kid driving!  During the summer she went on a college-tour with friends from school and returned with a better idea of what sorts of campuses she’s going to pursue.  She also went to a running camp for a week and, despite a season-ending injury this fall continues to enjoy both cross-country and track.  She also worked for the third summer as a camp counselor at the JCC summer camp. 

Abby completed her grammar school years and commenced at high school for 8^th grade this fall.  She was persuaded to join the cross-country team by her sister and found that she not only enjoys running but was also quickly improving – until she, too, had a season-ending injury (both girls were in PT at the same time/same place!).  She’s made many new friends and has also kept a few of her grammar school ones too.  Her high school adjustment as gone extremely well and I’m so pleased she’s enjoying it.  Abby spent three weeks this summer at an academic + fun camp at Southern Miss studying Anatomy/Physiology.  It was her first time away so long and she learned a lot of practical skills (laundry) as well.  I was thankful that I could go visit her each Sunday afternoon!

A couple months ago I realized that aside from visiting Abby at camp I haven’t left “home” this year!  I thoroughly enjoyed a week at home alone while everyone else was gone, however.  I suppose my biggest accomplishment this year is that I had my hip replaced in November.  I’m so thankful that my mom could come help for 4 weeks and that Dad was able to join us for Thanksgiving.  I’m also thankful for no complications and, so far, an extremely smooth recovery. 

We were home this year for Thanksgiving for the first time since we moved here and plan to travel to Texas after Christmas to spend some time with Tom’s family.  We all hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday and happy new year!

4 weeks in.....

What an amazing 4 weeks!  I continue to slowly ramp up activity and exercise and am thrilled with the progress.  Frustrated at times as well.  But I notice now that I often "forget" that I've had the surgery and automatically try to do something "normal" (but am often thwarted by an inability to move a certain way!).  Here's the bullet-point check list:

• I'm back at the gym on the days I don't have PT!  Riding the bike, doing strengthening exercises, and yesterday I added back in some of my "normal" upper-body moves
• I'm doing almost all my normal household activities.  I still don't quite trust myself to carry the laundry basket when it's full, so I drag it around with the handy ropes Tom attached.  
• I'm not walking quite as fast as I once did.  Working on it.  Mom also commented that my stride is a bit off.  Working on that as well.
• I have not been in any pain in the hip as I was before -- any discomfort has been with the incision (still healing) or just soreness around everything that was cut into.
• I've gone the past 2 days with absolutely NO CANE USE.  It's currently sitting in the back seat of my car "in case" I get tired and need it.
• My replacement was done from an anterior approach (front of my left hip).  It's a newer approach that provides a faster recovery and fewer long-term restrictions on movements.  My current restrictions are that I'm not to lift my leg too far behind me or point my toes outwards and lift to the side.  Unlike the more traditional side/posterior incisions I have no restrictions on bending forward to do things like put on my socks and tie my shoes.
• The incision itself is just under 5 inches long and healing well.  It's still sensitive so I continue to wear yoga pants on most days.  Any excuse to be comfortable!
• Compression tights need a fashion make-over -- they're widely available in white.  Sometimes "flesh".  Why not something cute?

In other news, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I figured out it's the first time I've hosted the holiday in the 9 years we've lived in this house.  Loved being home!  And I got to see the entire OSU/Michigan game (every other year we've been travelling that Saturday).  It wasn't a pretty game and I'm appalled at the fighting etc. but thankful for the win.  Mom and dad stayed through the game, leaving soon afterwards to begin their journey home.  Mom had been here for one day short of 4 weeks!  She's been absolutely great and I cannot thank her enough.

Now we're gearing up for the Christmas season.  The house is decorated, the shopping is somewhat started.  The girls both have their winter dances this coming weekend -- Abby's is Friday night and Maggie's is Saturday.  How'd they get so old?  Then one more week of school and then exams.  Time continues to rush by.

Hope you have time to slow down a bit and enjoy the joy of the season!