I have been spending time with my Mom the last couple of weeks. She had knee replacement surgery and I took some time off of work to go and help with her recovery. I'm really happy and excited to have this time with my mom because I don't get to see her as often as I would love to. It's been great to be able to be with her and help her in a different way and get to spend time with her. I don't know how much she really enjoyed it. Being in pain and not being able to bend your knee if very frustrating, but she was a trooper! We went in early in the morning, and she did all the testing they needed then I helped her to get ready in her lovely hospital gown for the surgery. She did great during surgery! She was waking up and fully conscious as they brought her into the hospital room. The surgery took a little over 2 hours. The Dr (Dr. Nelson) told us that he was able to fix everything and even make it so she will walk straight again. We laughed and told him that maybe we REALLY won't be able to catch her now! Mom had a great attitude and gumption through the whole thing. She went in without any pre-conceived notions about how things would be and she just did things in her own Holly-Dolly way. Everyone in the hospital was impressed with how well she did after surgery and getting around. She did really great on her exercises and the physical therapist said that they were very happy and impressed with her progression while in the hospital. I helped get the house cleaned up and ready for when she came home and she was sure happy to be home. She was even able to manage getting into a bed to relax. She had her CPM machine and the ice machine on for the first couple of days almost constantly when she wasn't walking around and doing her therapy stuff. She had a great therapist that came to the house for the first couple of weeks, Susan Kingsbury. She was really great at helping mom figure out things that would help strengthen the muscles around and above the knee so she could get a better bend. She was able to lay the leg out flat with no issues, but working on the bend tended to be a little more tricky. She had twisted her knee a couple times getting in and out of bed, so she figured out a way to use her belt to allow her to move the leg over the edge of the bed without twisting it, and that helped A LOT. She just became more and more independent each day. She had some visitors come to see her as well. Aunt Michelle B and Misty came to see her. Aunt Michelle B also had her knee replacement done a couple weeks ago so she wanted to see how Mom was doing with everything. Grandma Jeppesen also came to see her and a few other people as well. She has been doing great ever since. Her post-op appointment with the Dr went really well and she is going to out-patient therapy now. She is walking all over the place and wearing her regular clothes now. Things are going well, and I'm impressed. Mom is such an example of how things can be if we have a good attitude and give it our all. Not wait for someone else to do the work or to pity you, but to use the people around you as your cheerleaders instead and know that you can do anything you set your mind to, no matter how easy or hard it may seem.
Matthew and I have also been trying to refinance the house. It has been a nightmare, and every time we think we are closing they ask for more stuff. Anything to do with housing stuff is REALLY stressful! It is really close I think though now. The appraisal came back at $205,000 is what the house is worth which is really great! We were going to take out a little cash to finish paying off all the debt that we have, but it seems the city won't let us do that. So, they are still getting us a little cash back and things seem to be going fine, for now. Hopefully they will tell us soon that we are closing on it. It has taken a bit of time but it is a milestone for us, and will save us the extra money necessary so that I can be a stay at home mom next year. Things are moving right along, and we are hoping to be debt free (except the house of course) by the end of the year. Finger's crossed!
Matthew and I have also been trying to get pregnant again. I was ok just having the 2 kids, but Heavenly Father keeps nagging at me that there is at least one more that needs to come to our home. I have been back on the meds to do that, I am now on Thyroid medication, and my hormones are out of whack and so my moods have been everywhere, but all in all, things have been happy. However, I was reminded this morning just how awful things can seem sometimes when trying to get pregnant and have another baby. I took a pregnancy test and it was negative. Although, I ovulated on day 25 of my cycle. Anyone that knows anything about this is aware that this is REALLY late in a woman's cycle to be ovulating. Needless to say it didn't work, and my Dr is now wanting me to try and get my cycles a little bit more regulated before trying again. You would think I would be used to this by now, but it still gets to me every time. I'm thinking if we don't get pregnant this month I am going to take a break and work on getting my physical health back in line. I have made some goals, and actually made a goal with my sister in law, Eve, that we will do Zumba 2 times a week! I am excited to have someone else that will do it with me. If I can do that and some dance exercises and some other small things on my list then I will feel like I am making progress. I know that means I need to watch what I eat, and I am working on a plan for that as well. That's a little harder for me, but I was able to make some amazing strides last year, so hopefully I can again, and with the right medications keeping my horomones in check maybe it will work. :) I didn't start out wanting another baby, but I think it will be a huge blessing, and now I really do want one. I need to get myself in the right shape for it. Although, I did just hear today that Matthew will get up to 4 weeks of paid time off when I have another baby! So, that is GREAT! We've never had that before and I think that will help us get through that first month of having a new baby in the house. Heavenly Father is mindful of us even if the timing for the actual baby isn't right for the moment.
So, sometimes, this is the way things go. There are things that are so frustrating, and there are things that feel so hopeless. And then there are things to get excited about and to work towards. I am getting ready to set new goals and renew myself again and be active. I am going to keep myself busy doing things that are worthwhile and reaching towards my ultimate goals. I hope that I am able to make it, and I know that with a great support system and a good attitude I can do it. :)
