Turkey Day One

Sorry for how long it’s been since my last post…I was waiting to see how a few things would play out before I made a big deal of it by posting on here…but now it’s time for the update.

(I was hoping to get this post up before Thanksgiving…obviously that was not the case…..my bad)

The Knee
On Sunday, November 9th I was playing in my second official-week (we had a couple warm-up weeks) in the Delaware Sports Adult Dodgeball league (http://www.delawaresportsleague.com/DBall_HAC) that I joined at the HAC. It was the third game in the second match of the night. I was on the offense, running up to the line with a ball and was aiming to take out a player, but then out of my left eye I saw a player on the opposing team racing up to the center line with a ball in his hand intended just for me. I threw my ball (and missed!) and then jumped to dodge the ball that was coming right at me. I was successful with the jump and dodged the ball, but then when I landed my knee went out to the left instead of the normal hinge-like my movement. I heard a crunch and sort of softly collapsed (and then got nailed by a ball from another player, still got out ha!). After I fell, I tried to get up on my own but was unable to put any weight on it or bend/straighten it. My teammates helped me to the sidelines, and then to my car (it was my left leg, thankfully I was still able to drive). I called the nanny-fam on my way home and asked them to meet me in the garage with the crutches. The normal five minute drive took me closer to fifteen minutes to get home, every bump and turn seemed to cause more pain. I hobbled into the house and crashed on the chair. Nancy and Larry acted as my nurses; getting ice, pillows, pain medicine, etc. We then called their family friend who is an orthopedic doctor at a practice here in Delaware. He told me that I should go and get this checked out because of the symptoms I described and the crunch that I heard (so grateful for his care and expertise). He called his practice and got me in for an appointment to see his colleague at 8:30 the next morning.

The doctor diagnosed my left knee injury as a sprain but recommended I get an MRI because he thought it might be a meniscus tear. A week goes by and my knee starts to feel a little better (slowly healing, as I described it to my doctor) I could walk on it but was not able to bend or straighten it all the way, and any fast movement would cause sharp and intense pain. I went for the MRI Monday, and had to wait for the follow up doctor appointment on Thursday. In the time between the MRI and the follow up, I convinced myself that it was just a sprain and that my other symptoms were just me being a baby…..well I was wrong. I went back to the doc and learned that not only did I tear my meniscus (my lateral meniscus to be exact), I also tore my ACL and bruised my bone. SHIT! (excuse my language, I just wanted to share my exact reaction).

I still can’t believe that this happened, and it happened while playing dodgeball. Now what….well I start physical therapy next week. The therapy is intended to increase movement and strengthen the muscles surrounding my knee. I am supposed to have therapy three times a week until my next appointment on December 18th (right before I leave for my trip back home). The doctor and I will talk surgery plans then. The nanny-fam and I also have to sit down to find a time that works for me to be “out” for awhile. It’s purely annoying! Many updates to come I am sure.

The Car
Nanny mobile has been upgraded! The family and I went with a 2008 Dodge Caliber straight off the lot. It turned out to be a pretty great deal. Callie and I named the car Gloria, named after the hippo from Madagascar. First because she is silver like a hippo, and second because she has a big back end like Gloria. Check out the pictures: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2128416&l=2ea9b&id=73401166. They are at the end of the album.

Everything else is going good, actually pretty great. Amanda is here! She arrived on Saturday, November 22. We explored northern Delaware, went to Gettysburg, did a little Philadelphia mini-tour, went to Washington DC and are headed to NYC tomorrow & the Jets game on Sunday. Whoot! Pictures and stories coming soon.

Miss you all!

23 days to Wisconsin.