So it's been a really long time!

Yep, I should blog again! I think it's time! :)
So, since I'm so behind on my blogging, these next few blogs are going to help me catch up! Since the last blog, I've had knee surgery, sewed a bunch, started Jazzercise, and have been teaching kindergarten.

Today's topic: the knee surgery
I went in for surgery on June 24. The little surgical center was nice and the nurses and assistants all were sweet. However, with as nice as everyone was, I was completely freaked out. My concerns were:
1. They would give me too much anesthesia, leading me to never wake up again.
2. They would operate on the wrong knee.
3. My knee would not be any better after surgery.
4. The whole process would hurt really badly.
5. The pain in my knee was only my imagination, and my surgeon would find nothing wrong in there.

So, Sam took me to the surgical center that morning. We only had to wait a few minutes before they called me back to prep. In prep, the nurse started washing the wrong knee. I corrected her; then, she prepped the correct knee. This freaked me out. Then, the nice anesthesiologist came to visit, told me about the anesthesia (remember concern #1?). As he was telling me about this, I broke down! And, I don't mean little whimper crying. I mean like hyperventilation crying. So, he left and came back with liquid valium to put into my IV. After a few minutes with that stuff, I was dandy!
I don't remember how long surgery lasted. It was arthroscopic surgery, where a little camera is put inside the knee and two other incisions are where the tools go in to fix any problems. I do know that my doctor found torn cartilage hanging off the back of my kneecap. The cartilage was getting caught between my kneecap and my femur (you know, the top leg bone), which is why it had been hurting to walk or move my knee. Mr doctor cut off the hanging cartilage, smoothed the rest of the cartilage on the back of my kneecap, and drilled little holes in the back of my kneecap to help it heal more quickly. Apparently, it's rare for this type of cartilage issue to happen in someone under 45-50. Aren't I special? :)
Sam was my lifesaver for that week. There literally was nothing I could do without his help. Basically, it was like my entired left leg was totally useless. I couldn't walk, stand, sit, move, lie down, or anything without him supporting me physically. He is a patient person. There were times when my Vicodin and Mepergan didn't do the trick, and I would take out my pain and frustration on him for those first few days. He'd just smile and let it go. After about a week, I was hobbling around, using my physical therapy machine on my own (I had to use it 4-6 hours each day for three weeks), and was feeling more normal. My post-surgery checkups went well each time.
Now, my knee is feeling better. There are still times when it gets weak from being on it all day teaching. But, I've been walking, exercising (the Jazzercise post is coming soon!), and can feel my knee becoming a little more normal each day. I am so thankful for Sam (and good health insurance!), and my time off during summer time to allow me to have had the surgery. And, with my newly restored knee, we are looking forward to the Grizzlies 5K in December!