The month of February is not only Jordan's birthday month, it is also a month to celebrate LOVE. I get out my red and pink garland and trees, my sparkly hearts and my signs that say "love". I buy boxes of chocolates for the kids, and I try to plan a date night for me and Mike.
(I had to sneak in a picture from Jordan's 21st birthday!!!!)
BUT...this year my Valentine decided to change things up and start the month off with major knee surgery. So I spent the month of "love" serving my valentine...endlessly. And...I think only one of us experienced the "Florence Nightingale Effect" and it wasn't me;)
Mike has struggled with sports injuries for as long as I've known him. Actually, when I met him, he was recovering from a sprained ankle. He destroyed his shoulder playing volleyball. And, a few years ago, he retired from soccer because he would get injured just about every time he would play. It's also not unusual to get a call asking me to "get the ice packs ready" after Tuesday night basketball. But when this last injury happened, I knew it was more serious. Instead of "get the ice packs ready", it was "I'm going to need you to help me in from the car."
After that phone call, came months filled with doctor visits, x-rays, MRIs, and a LONG break from sports. Finally, Mike was faced with a decision...either surgery OR recover enough to walk normally, but never really play sports again. There was really no choice...he moved forward with the surgery.
We knew recovery would be long and difficult, but I wasn't really prepared for how much pain he would be in and how little he would be able to move around (duh, what did we think long and difficult meant?!). When they called from the hospital to tell me he was done with surgery (2hrs later than I expected, which absolutely freaked me out!!), they told me Mike was having a hard time managing the pain, so they had to give him a ton of meds. When I picked him up, he was in rough shape.
(Day 1)
The first week or so was really terrible. We managed to get him upstairs (not an easy task) and set up in our bed. Once he was upstairs, he wasn't' coming down for a while!! Our days were filled with bringing up and down ice bottles, bringing up and down water, food, meds, managing pain, and adjusting and struggling with his brace and bandages. We even had to buy a shower chair:/
(Much more comfortable set up upstairs...
I took up residence in Kya's room since Mike needed the entire bed!)
It was hard watching Mike in so much pain and struggle with not being able to do much. I had no problem helping him...but after about week 5 it started to get old haha. Luckily that is about when he started to get more independent!! Now he is 8 weeks post-op! He can walk (with a limp) and he isn't in pain (thank goodness). His knee still swells when he walks or stands for any amount of time, and its going to be a long road (9 months ish) back to playing sports. But, I think he's happy he got it done!!
(Callie loved how much time Mike spent in bed, haha....always someone to sleep on)
I am ready to have my husband back! I have missed having someone to help lift things, reach things, go to Home Depot, work in the yard with me, go to church with me...heck I'm just excited he can come downstairs for dinner and put his dishes away! I may not have enjoyed the "taking care" of him part, but it really has made me appreciate all Mike does for me and our family. Maybe I did experience a little of the "Florence Nightingale Effect" after all:)
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