The countdown to the wedding he's commenced:

Christmas

Merry Christmas!  Well this year was my first year away from my family, and it was a bit weird.  It sure didn't feel like Christmas.  I am used to opening our stockings, waking up my parents (yes, we still do this) and open presents together in the living room, then eat our body weight in home made cinnamon rolls.  So this year- in an attempt to recreate my childhood, we did stockings, presents and cinnamon rolls- which were delicious.  We had fun spoiling Lucy, who was confused and way less interested than we were in all the presents we got her.  But, she still scored some good loot and was very excited to destroy some stuffed, squeaky toys.

We had dinner with Lily and Samir.  I made Christmas ham (my Christmas bonus at work) and it was nice to spend time with them.  I got to Skype with my family back in Colorado, who were having a very white Christmas. Lucky!! The next day Mark's friend Paul got a suite at the Trailblazers game, so we got to spend the game with our good friends.  It was a good game, though Mark made me get a wheelchair after the game.  It was pretty embarrassing, but probably a good idea.

Yes, that's my gimp leg up on the railing.

We also got to spend time with Mark's brother and his family.  We went to the zoo yesterday and it was AWESOME.  I got myself a motorized scooter and I cruised all over the place.  We got to see Lily, the new baby elephant, and my favorite- the giraffes!  They are so cool!!  It was, however, FREEZING.  It was 37 degrees and started snowing.  We were definitely cold, but it was worth it.

Laundry hampers and car doors

I have learned 5 things since becoming immobile and I would like to share them with you:

1. Electric carts at the grocery store are no longer embarrassing, they are AWESOME.
2. People give you dirty looks when you park in handicapped spots... until it takes you 28 minutes to move your seat back, grab your crutches, maneuver them out the door, contort your entire body to carefully rotate your leg over the car door arm rest and out the door without your pants falling down,  finally get out of the car, adjust all clothing, brace, purse, crutches, wobble 4 feet, close the car door, and finally crutch away.  Yeah, by then most people know you probably deserve the handicap spot.
3. Lucy doesn't care that it takes me 8 x as long to get to the door to let her out.  She still likes to beg to go out, then when I finally get there, she goes back to the living room and lies down. jerk.
4. Office chair with rollers + hardwood floors = best thing ever.
5. The laundry hamper also doubles as foot rest in the shower. Who knew?

Some day I'll look back at all this and laugh.  Oh heck, I'm laughing now.

Merry Christmas?

Well, it's December 17th, only a week-ish away from Christmas and I can't believe it.  So much has been going on and I can't say I'm in the holiday spirit.  Between my leg, having to cancel our family trip to Las Vegas and all the sad news, I'm in serious need of some Christmas cheer.

Thankfully, my Mom and Mark were able to put up our Christmas tree and decorate it.   I did throw one ornament onto the tree from the couch, so I count that as helping.  It's pretty beautiful. I also got our Christmas cards finished and sent out.  These were ordered before knee-mageddon, so the irony of Mark carrying me in the bottom picture is purely coincidental.

 I'll definitely miss being with my family for Christmas, but I am thankful my Mom was able to spend 8 days out here with me (even if they weren't exactly fun).  I am also glad I can spend Christmas here with Mark and Lucy and who knows, maybe it will snow!!  Ok, probably not, but a girl can hope. 

I'm gonna go blast Christmas music, now.

Oh, crap

So a couple weeks ago, I had a biometric screening done for my health benefits.  I found out I had above average numbers in my BMI, cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure.  I was pretty stoked, and I went home an bragged to Mark about how I was healthy and the word "invincible" may have been thrown out, too.  Well, I must have jinxed myself because my body decided it was not at all invincible.

2 days after my knee injury, I started feeling pain and pressure in my calf so I scheduled an appointment with my PCP the next day.  So, she looked at it and ordered an MRI and an ultrasound.  So, I crutch my way into the radiology office, and proceed to get rubbed with goo by a lovely Asian woman named June.  So, June comes back in with the phone and hands it to me.  it's my doctor. "Well, Kelly  they found a blood clot in your leg, which explains to pain." Shit.  Not what I wanted to hear.  Blood clot was mentioned, but never thought I would get one- I'm invincible, remember? 

So, fast forward an hour, and I'm resting awkwardly in my hospital bed, sharing a room with an 88 year old woman who is clearly having issues with her bowels.  One MRI, a shot in the stomach, another ultrasound and a very horrible night in the hospital later I find out I tore my ACL.  They can't give me any anticoagulants for my blood clot until after my surgery, so i have to deal with that pain until later.  Thank goodness it's small and it shouldn't move.  It's still scary to think it's down there, lurking around in my leg.

So, my Mom came in to help and I am so glad she did.  Mark can't handle this gimp by himself, and just having her around has been so great.  I don't care how old you are, having your Mom around always makes you feel better.  Plus she's an amazing cook and dog walker.  Lucy is not amused I can't get up.  She's so confused.

Immobility

I think  it's safe to say that anyone who knows me knows that I'm not a graceful human being.  I play sports, I wear sneakers more that any other shoe, I fall down a lot, and I always have at least one bruise showing at all times.  Part of this life, and part of playing soccer- more specifically- comes with accepting the risk that you could, perhaps, get injured.  Quite seriously.  I have broken 2 bones, sprained multiples ankles, pulled muscles and had my fair share of elbows to the face.  It just comes with the territory.  But on Saturday, I was reminded how easy it really is to get hurt.  After taking said elbow to the eye (you should see the shiner on my face) I decided that that injury wasn't quite sufficient enough.  You see, I hadn't cried in quite some time and I guess fate and some girl on the other team joined forces to make sure that I would by the end of the game.  So, of course I did.  I jumped, I landed, I felt things in my knew move in directions they were not meant to move, I went down and I cried. Boy did I cry. Fast forward 2 days, a trip to Urgent Care, 3 x-rays, 1 set of crutches, half a bottle of Advil, 15 ice packs, 3 Ace bandages, a fiance's injured back from carrying me, and some good old fashioned whining and you have a very frustrated lady who can't get off the couch.  Now, I've broken my leg before, so I'm not stranger to immobility, but I was also 15.  I didn't have a job to go to, a dog to let out, a car to drive, and had a mom who would put up with my whining.  Now, I have job to go to, a dog to let out, and fortunately, a fiance who puts up with my whining, but who also has a job to go to, and a dog to let out.  I also have a trip to Vegas in 19 days and am praying to God I can walk by then.  If not, I will be renting a Hovaround.

Find the kneecap!

Now we have resorted to me laying on my back, leg up in the air, and Mark dragging me across the hardwood just so I can go pee. Usually my pants end up half way off by the time I make it to the bathroom, so that's convenient.  One less step.

I am so very thankful I have Mark here to take care of me.  I have no idea what I'd do if he wasn't there to carry me off the field or drag me across the floor.