The Culprit...

So, here is a photo of the culprit. The culprit is a simple, cheap pair of pleather cowboy boots. 

That was all it took. Well, that and a wonderfully polished tile floor at school. I got up off my chair, took a side-step with my left leg then took an outside-turning step around my desk with my right foot. That's when the heel of the boot went sliding at an awkward angle away from my body. I caught my self and regained my self-esteem (there wasn't another soul in the room so no one saw me). I had felt the POP but tried very hard to ignore it. The "loose" feel of my knee was nauseating. I knew. Period. 

When I got home, I again took a turning step in the wrong direction and the knee gave out beneath me. I hit the floor and have the bruises to prove it. 

The brief history of my legs and Orthomemphis goes like this...

2001-torn meniscus on left knee trying to wake board (thanks Sue and Carmen) and got it scoped with Dr. Krahn,

2002-blew out my ACL on left knee playing basketball with 7th/8th grade boys (thanks Carmen) and had full ACL reconstruction from my patella tendon with Dr. Krahn, 

2003-ended up with a cyclops lesion (knot of scar tissue) on my left ACL reconstruction that required a scope to remove with Dr. Krahn,

2004-took a break (no pun), 

2005-ran a marathon in Alaska,

2006-ran a marathon in Chicago with a torn meniscus and got it scoped with Dr. Deneka after that, 

2009-had an accessory navicular removed from my right foot by Dr. Davidson (OMG, in a cast for 2.5 months killed me. Worst surgery ever!), 

2011-wore cowboy boots to school on a random Friday and blew out my ACL. 

As I told Rachel (Dr. Deneka's nurse assistant. Yes, we're on a first name basis.) I have a Krahn knee and a Deneka knee. So, I have an MRI scheduled for Monday night on my Deneka knee to be sure it is my ACL. He and I both know it is...but we need visual proof from the inside. The result of that MRI will be discussed on the following Monday. I am positive it will be another ACL reconstruction. Dr. Deneka is rather positive too. I could tell by the apologetic look on his face as he told me what he suspected.

Coincidentally, I got a text message from a long time friend last weekend asking "Are we too old to wear cowboy boots?" Obviously, I am!

Playing Games

Here are a few of Madi's new favorite things to do...

...knocking over blocks with Bubbie...

...chasing cats and pulling tails...

...pushing her wagon...

...riding in her wagon...

...shopping on the internet...

...dressing up like a princess...

...coloring with markers...

...and she's done.

Ear Tubes and Adenoids

On Monday, April 4, 2011, Madeline had tubes put in her ears and her adenoids removed. The poor baby has had an ear infection in at least one ear every month since September 2010. We are really hoping this helps. Her surgery was at Le Bonheur East Surgery Center. We had such a great experience. The staff there was spectacular. Dr. Touliatos was great. We were so pleased. 

Richard even ran into an old high school friend.

 

So, we get there and wait a little while, then they take us back and change her into this little scrub top and they put a name tag on her back. That's when it all started becoming real to me that this was about to happen. Then they weigh her and take her blood pressure with the cutest little BP cuff. Madi was so intrigued by the machines.

She got to play for a little while with the toys in the awesome waiting room. 

Then they walked us into this tunnel of toys and she got to pick out a toy (daddy picked her out a white monkey). We didn't know what to expect and soon realized that this was the point where they take her away from us. :*(  It was helpful that we had run into Richard's classmate and were laughing and talking with her. I really believe this made Madi think things were okay and it didn't bother her so bad to leave with this strange person. But when she walked out of that tunnel with my baby in her arms, I about lost it. 

Madi was a champ, though. She didn't shed a tear that we saw. Daddy and I sat in the waiting room, fidgeting until they called us back. Dr. Touliatos said everything went perfectly. I don't remember anything else he said because all I could think about was seeing my girl. When we finally got to see her she was in a little steel baby bed and was still asleep from the anesthesia. She had an IV in her hand and it was all bandaged up. 

The nurse sat me down in a rocking chair and put Madi in my lap. That poor baby was conked out! 

She didn't cry as she started to come out of the anesthesia. She really did well. She had some water and after about an hour in recovery we dressed her and were able to leave. 

Once we got home, we all took a nap. Mommy and Daddy were exhausted from the stress and Madi was sleeping off the drugs. She slept on and off all day. 

All in all it was a great experience. She did very well, the nurses and doctors were fabulous and we are hoping to see much improvement in her health...not to mention less visits to the pediatrician. 

Hello World!

Here we are. The Martin's have joined the blogger-net. I am going to spend some time editing the site before I jump into any big posts. See ya soon!