Bragging Time

I think it's time for me to brag about Jon for a little bit. I know he works in construction and oversees all these things but it is so fun for me to actually see something he built. He is absolutely amazing!! I sure did marry a handy man. There is seriously nothing he can't do!

Waterfall that Jon built at a home above the Old Mill Golf Course.

Arbor that Jon built at our home while I had my surgery. I am in love with it!! Good job babe!

Surgery Update

I haven't wrote on the blog for awhile; but I think I have a good excuse. I had surgery on May 20th for my 2nd ACL repair, 4th knee surgery, and 9th surgery overall. What a blast!! The doctor had a little bit of trouble getting my screw out from the previous surgery to I have a larger incision than anticipated on the side of my knee to go along with the large vertical incision below my knee cap. Altogether I have about 5 stitching sites. I thought I would be getting along faster than I am; and am annoyed that after 2 weeks I am barely getting back to work when I only expected it to be a week; but what can you do? Jon has been great threwout everything. Always getting things for me and making sure than I am comfortable and happy. (doing cheeseburger runs and ice cream constantly throughout thee 2 weeks; hey whatever makes me happy right?) Sadly I have seen my ice cream diet shift to my tummy so I'm ready to start some physical therapy today and get things moving!! I saw my doctor last week and apparently my incision below my knee is getting a little infected and not healing properly but thats mostly because he went through the old scars so it's practically dead skin anyways and just taking a little more time to heal. My mom was a little nausiuos looking at it all purple and bubbly that I had to cover it while we were waiting for the doctors. I did play a little doctor last night and looked at it; Jon was still grossed out but it is looking much better! Here are some pictures.

<---Infected incision


This is my ice pack. It came with a small cooler that you fill with ice and water and plugs into the wall and circulates cold water all around my knee. Pretty cool and it came with the surgery! Maybe this is my punch card? 9 surgeries and you get a fancy ice pack for free?? ------->

Miracles Happen

This week started off as any other ordinary week. Really all my thoughts were on myself and my surgery next week. Yesterday I received a text from my mom that my Aunt DaleLene (who I am very close with) was in the ICU with a blood clot in her brain. Immediately my thoughts were turned to her instead of myself. How quickly things change. They operated on her last last night in hopes of removing the clot. I just got back from seeing her at the hospital and things changes drastically from when I saw her yesterday. Apparently her brain is now swelling so they are going to remove a part of her skull in hopes to help the swelling. Yesterday she was still talking and now I'm not even sure she knew I was there. Also this morning my mom told me that a girl in her ward (so my old ward) that I was friends with was just diognosed with Luekemia. Wow. What? Just got married in I believe december and now has to deal with that??

As I'm sitting here at work with my mind wandering. Why? Why does my Aunt have to go through this? Why does Britney have to go through this? Why was my cousins baby boy also diognosed with cancer?? Why do we have these trials? All the sudden the lesson gave in Relief Society on Sunday popped into my head. The whole lesson was about trails and why we have them. Talk about using these lessons throughout the week and our lives. A few ladies shared their stories about trials and it all came down to basically the same thing. God doesn't just give out trails just to give them out. He knows each and everyone one of us and the trials are here for a reason. It's interesting how when someone in your family is sick; how quick everyone is to help out and we grow so much closer. Since all this has just happened I don't know the outcome yet; but I do know that it is in Heavenly Fathers hands and these tough trails were given for a reason and no matter the outcome he loves each and everyone of us and never leaves our side.

All screwed up

When I got my first round of MRI's about 2 months ago I complained that my knee was killing; a very unusual thing for an MRI to hurt. I even asked my doctor "are MRI's supposed to hurt? Because well it did!" he just kinda brushed it off; thats weird but no big deal. Well surprise!! I know why! I have a metal screw in my knee that I totally forgot about! Apparently in all the ciaos of my last ACL surgery we forgot to remember the little detail that the doctor put a metal screw in my knee! Well hello; that would probably be why my knee was killing during the MRI! At least I know that I'm not just a complainer and there was a reason for me to actually be in pain. MRI's are full of intense magnetic waves so you are not allowed to wear any metal and especially have any metal in your body. Well OOPS!



I went to the doctors yesterday and he was very surprised with this screw in my knee and had to send pictures around to his Reps to try to figure out what kind of screw it is and what the tool is that he needs to get it out. That complicated things a little; but whats life without a little complications? I then had to go get a CT scan to make sure there was room enough to be able to remove my old ACL. OH yeah and I'm getting a cadavers ACL! Exciting no? It was that or have them take my hamstring from my left leg since my right hamstring was previously used. Surgery is scheduled for May 20th; all in all not as fast as I would like but what can you do? At least I wont be drugged up and on crutches for mine and Jon's anniversary! I was wondering how our dinner would go with me just being days out of surgery.... druling would be very attractive =)

Way not make it an even 8?

If any of you really know me; then you know I am accident prone. Who knows if its really my body that is falling apart; or its because of sports that my body is falling apart. Either way; it definitely has had its fair share of injuries. Needless to say I have one more to add to the group.

On Thursday last week we had an inter-company softball game which I was one of 3 girls to play. I have this rep at my work that I am amazing at all sports (thanks to Steph for telling everyone) so I had quite a rep to live up to. The game was going great. I scored 2 or 3 maybe 4 times and doing my thing. Then the last play of the night I hit the ball and knew it was going to be close. The soccer player in me all I was thinking was I'm not going to make it; so silly me I slid into first base. Yes first base. (and no I didn't make it) Now all you can just laugh at me because I've got it doctor after doctor "why did you slide into 1st?!" all I can say in my defense is... I knew I wasn't going to make it and just thought of the only thing us soccer players know how to do. Slide. Well there is a difference between soccer sliding and softball sliding because I didn't account for the base standing on top of the dirt. My right foot hit flat on the base and in turn instantly stopped my motion with the pressure residing on my knee. Snap Crackle and Pop. Yes for people who have not seriously injured yourself, those really are the sounds you hear. I knew in an instance; I've felt this kind of pain before and its nothing that I wanted to go through again. Please don't be the ACL.

Friday I made an appointment with my regular doctor to have my knee checked out. With my vacation plans for Mexico in a week and it taking 2 weeks to get into my Orthopedic doctor I thought might as well have someone look at it and have them tell me some good news so I can go to Mexico with comfort. Well those doctors words were ones I was fearing. "I can't feel your ACL or MCL." Sweet. I knew I knew what the outcome was; but I was not hoping to hear it. He asked who my Orthopedic Surgen was and that I should get in to get an MRI before my Mexico trip to confirm. I called my the Ortho and explained I was going on vacation next week and my unlucky situation. I went in that day for an MRI where they greeted me and said what did you do this time. Sad when an MRI place knows you. Today I dropped the film off to the doctor and shortly received a phone call.

"Is this BreAnn?"
"Yes"
"BreAnn... it's Dr. Winterton. I don't have alot of time as I am going into surgery... but we have bad news. You've retorn your ACL. How soon can I see you"

Ouch. I knew it was coming yet the words just hit me. I am all to familiar with this surgery and the long process of rehab and am not looking forward to it one bit. My last knee surgery, piece of cake. Off the crutches in 2 days and back to normal in a week. ACL is another story. 6 months and I can run again. One year and I can play soccer again. Not something I am looking forward to at all.

Maybe this is a blessing in disguise. They always are right? When I booked this trip to Mexico the only worry we had was the drug wars at the borders. Far far from where we'd be staying so we were not worried that much. Then this flu epidemic which seems to get worse by the hour. Still we were on the fence.. oh it'll be okay. Now the ACL. No water activities just sun bathing is the doctors orders. Maybe this is just the last push we needed to stay away from Mexico. However something that didn't require 6 months rehab and hundreds of dollars of doctors bills would have been nice. But I suppose I'll take whatever I get. And I'm getting a new ACL and an even 8 surgeries for my records.

Need some ice for that BURN!?

Today at lunch I decided that I would go tanning so that when I go to Mexico I'll already have a little tan so I won't have to worry too much about sun screen and what not. Good idea? I thought so. I ended up going to this tanning place right around the corner from my work and the lady put me in this "awesome bed. No one ever burns in it and its 10% healthier for you skin then the other ones. Plus it is our special this month so its half off." Thinking I had a good deal I went on my way. Yeah pretty sure I know why its half off. I am burnt like a marshmellow! Could not believe it, looked in the mirror and I was all blotchy; had the awesome goggle lines and was dying from the hottness of the burns. It would have been okay if I didn't have to go back to work. What a disaster! I scrummaged through my purse looking for a miracle and found a tube of concealer. I began to color my face in hopes of looking somewhat normal and headed back to work. Of course my office has to be one that everyone always goes through and I find myself hiding everytime someone walks in. Not practicle, but what else can you do.

Here's to trying not to get burned in Mexico.

The Office

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfbjpXio0NI

T.I. (a rapper) in an interview with CNN when our Monitoring Center calls him on his device.
Too funny!