Dale is doing well. He has not taken any pain meds for the last 24 hours. He claims he is not in pain so I guess I'll let him stay off the meds. His leg is still swollen but the nurse said that is normal. Thanks again for all your prayers!
(He still won't let me post any detailed pictures so you won't get to see the "damage"...)
We hope you are having a great Thanksgiving! Ours is ok. Dale had a great night's sleep last night (he came upstairs to sleep in his own bed). His leg is swollen today but we figured that's because he started therapy yesterday. All-in-all we have SO MUCH to be thankful for!
the set-up...
we miss you Carsyn, Luke and Reagan!
a happy thanksgiving ribeye...
So I forgot to say why he is doing so much better this year. The arthritis was different in hip 2 - it was "peeling away" (again those are my words) -so the Dr. did not have to drill holes into the bone to stimulate scar cartilage (which is called micro fractures). Therefore the whole structure is more sound, less painful and the recovery time is quicker!
Dale saw the doctor this morning and he said that Dale can be 50% weight bearing right away! This is BIG news! Last year he was non-weight bearing for 8 weeks. ALSO, he goes back to the doctor on December 23rd and (if all goes well) he will transition to full weight bearing!!! WOWIE WOW WOW (if you have read Junie B. books- you understand!)!! This is an amazing answer to prayer! He is still, of course, in a LOT of pain but the prognosis is for a much quicker recovery. SO SO SO EXCITING!!! At this rate he may be running in next year's Chicago Marathon! :) Keep up your prayers!
This story began back in 1999 when Dale decided that running was his new passion. He started training and ran his first marathon in early 2000. I can still remember chasing him all over Myrtle Beach with Devan tagging along. This is fun, I thought. After that race you could see that marathoning was in his blood. He truly loved to run. It was a good way to detox from the day. In December 2005 I can remember sitting in our living room talking about our goals for the following year. Dale said, "I'm going to run 6 marathons in 06." I immediately said it was impossible and crazy. THEN he said he wanted to run Boston too. What?!? You have to qualify- a 3:10 for that matter. He had not been training for a few months. Plus what races would we go to/they have to be Boston qualifiers too. He was determined so we looked up tons of races and choose 6 that were far enough apart. So in 2006 he ran: the STL half, the Country Music Marathon, the Sunburst, the San Francisco Marathon, the Heart of America, the Lewis and Clark and the Chicago Marathon. He qualified for Boston In June at the Sunburst at a record 3:05:44- his VERY BEST time! To make a long story longer... he finished all the races for 2006 and began training for Boston (which was in April 07). One month before the race he had an injury. So bad that he could barely walk for a week. He stopped training. His doctor tried many different approaches but could not pin point what the problem was. He was told not to run Boston but NO ONE could talk him out of that! He ran it on the injury, in the middle of a Nor'easter and still ran a good race. He was SO EXCITED. When we got home he was referred to a specialist and bumped to the top of the list. We found out that he had a labral (sp??) tear and bunches of arthritis (that's not exactly how the Dr. put it but that's my way). He would have to have reconstructive surgery and most likely he would not run again. WOW- he never once believe that news though. He had the surgery in December 2007. As he was recovering he discovered pain in the other hip. In July 2008 we found out that hip 2 was also bad. More surgery. And DEFINITELY no more running. SO, today he had his left hip reconstructed (OSTEOPLASTY OF THE FEMORAL NECK AND HIP ARTHOSCOPY). It went well but the surgery was 4 hours instead of 2.5. There was a "significant" tear in the labrum and "significant" arthritis. They had to cut the muscle, "pop" the hip out, then cut away arthritis and reshaped his hip bone (my words not the Dr's). Of course then put him all back together. Not fun. We are so thankful for our very skilled surgeon. He is top in his field and thankfully our orthopedic doctor knew we needed the best. Now comes the hard part. It's a long and painful road of recovery. I think he is still banking on running again (*he hasn't run more than a mile since Boston!). I guess running never leaves your blood.....
before sporting sweet "Teds"...
after (on morphine)...
We had a busy weekend. Friday we let the kids lead the way. Saturday morning we slept in, went to Barnes and Noble and napped. Grandma and Grandpa Swank came over in the afternoon and Dale and I went out to finish up our Christmas shopping. It was BUSY out there. At 6:00 we met Craig and Sarah for a little Dos Primos (new location same delicious food) and then went go karting. My competitive spirit came out- according to Dale, Sarah and Craig they beat me BUT if they recall correctly I was ONE LAP AHEAD when they finished..... We had such a great time- no matter who won! Today we went to church, then Dale and the kids worked outside- there was leaves to rake, gutters to clean and Christmas lights to put up. We relaxed this evening and Dale did a little bowling- so he doesn't loose his edge. Tomorrow is the big day. We have to be at the hospital at 9:00. The surgery will be about 45 minutes later. If you think of it pray for Dale. Day 1 is morphine filled but then they take it away and the "fun" begins....
I'll post pictures tomorrow.
Last night we took the kids out. They got to choose so we went to McDonalds for dinner. They wanted to use the gift certificates grandma and grandpa gave them (mostly because they can choose what they eat- ICE CREAM!!) Then we headed to the Magic House. When we arrived the sign said "FREE". Apparently every third Friday night a company sponsors the evening and it is free to all. I think that's a FANTASTIC idea but if you are a member you can choose to come on a less CROWDED night (note to self). Anyway- we had a nice time but only could handle 1 hour of the chaos....
she's thinking, GET AWAY!!!...
Reagan LOVES fishing but we had to wait and wait for a pole...
Carsyn worked hard at balancing on here....
At bedtime tonight I asked Reagan: "what was you favorite thing about today?"
She replied: "Grayson."
Later she said her prayers: "Dear Jesus please be with Grayson and his mommy. Help them to have fun together tomorrow because you know he doesn't have 3K. And I pray that he will come to church. Amen."
She always makes me smile (well, almost always).....
We had such a great weekend- we all enjoyed spending time with the Beachy family. Here are highlights from today...
reagan and thomas were buddies all weekend...
luke and grandpa...
all the cousins with grandpa and grandma...
reagan reading "miffy"
luke got gum in his stocking...
carsyn got a grow-a-tortise...
reagan eating pop rocks for the first time...
guitar hero...
piggies in a blanket...
Because Dale is having surgery on November 24th we decided to do Christmas with the Beachy's early. Here is our Saturday celebration (more to come tomorrow)...
setting up the village...
beachy men tasting the meat...
carsyn and thomas...
reagan got a baa-baa baby elmo- which she has wanted FOREVER! she is jumping and screaming....
yum!
trevor helping carsyn assemble her new legos...
I spent a relaxing 5 days in Atlanta with my best friend Jennifer. We shopped, relaxed, shopped, ate, shopped and watched tv. Oh, did I mentioned we shopped?!? It was SO MUCH FUN. Lots of memories but not too many I can post. So i'll leave you with this recommendation: all moms should take a vacation with friends...
Reagan came home from school today and said: "I am going to set up a polling place in my room. All of my animals are 18 and can vote. Except Raggedy Ann- she is only 6." She set up 2 stations: one for "Arack" Obama and one for John McCain. We have not yet tallied the results. However the "heffalumps" were quite vocal while in line. I think we know how they will vote!
We will let you know.....
Kurt is once again collecting new and gently used coats for families who are in need. Operation Food Search will be distributing them in the St. Louis area. Now thru November 9th you can drop off a coat at any of the 200+ locations! Visit kurtwarner.org for more info....... (see THIS is one more reason to love k.w!)
Last night Erin dangled Rams tickets in front of me. It didn't take long to say YES because 1. I am a Rams fan (although VERY unhappy these days) and 2. the Cardinals are in town (which we ALL know what that means- Kurt Warner!). Even greater than my love for the Rams is my love for Kurt Warner. I know, I know-weird. BUT do you remember what Kurt Warner did for the Rams and for STL???? Do you remember ALL of the organizations he supported here (AND still does by the way)?? It broke my heart when the Rams got rid of him. It was the beginning of our downfall. I still love the Rams but "this much" less since that day- and from now on. So I went today for Kurt- and I was seceretly glad the Cardinals won- stick that in your pie hole Mr. Zygmunt!
sigh.....
the "game"....
notice the #13 jersey...
Kurt (#13)
we missed you....
After the game we had a soccer party. It was so much fun!
silly girls- notice C is not among them...
pizza time...
BLUE BIRDS!!!
C getting her medal...
part of the team...
bat-girl showed up- henry is not amused...
rockin' out...
I love to watch Carsyn play soccer. She is gives it 100% the entire time!!!
a rare moment of silliness...
this is one tall second grader...
