FLORIDA for Thanksgiving

 So we probably shouldn't have gone to Florida.  I mean, the CDC was begging people not to travel.  But--a promise to help my sister is a promise.  I got on the schedule to be her post-chemo support months ago--before cases ticked up so high.  So we went.  We are going to quarantine and get COVID tested this week.  So far we seem healthy.  And it was an amazing trip.

We flew all day last Sunday--flying through the Detroit airport.  It is awesome!  This walkway was super fun.  Sadly we didn't find it until it was almost time to board.  So we did a little dancing to the music in the lights and then got on our next flight.  Flying with a mask was okay.  I am much more used to wearing one now.  I did take dramamine this time (non-drowsy) so I didn't get super nauseous. (Just a little.). I read the book I've been promising Ben I'd read after he left it on my pillow with a "Please Read" note months ago.  Kane Chronicles #1.  I didn't love it.  But I'm telling him all the things I did like.  (It's just not my genre.)   

We stayed in a great Airbnb that was only about 7 minutes from Rachel's house.  We had a pool that was perfect for the kids.  It was nice, new and clean.  So I was happy.  It had good wi-fi, so Derek and kids were happy.  

Libby took lots of pictures from the plane.  

Monday: Day 1 in Florida was a chill day.  My nephews Devin and Davy came to play at our Airbnb (which was great, btw), while the girls and I went and helped Rachel.  We did some great cleaning (I got to do the fridge--my favorite!)

Tuesday Day 2 was GATORLAND!  It was really fun, creepy, cool.  So many alligators! We brought Devin and Davy so Rachel could relax at home by herself.  

Ben riding an alligator (the jaws are taped shut, don't worry...)

Derek feeding animals in the petting zoo. 

Libby also feeding the goats.  

Even I fed the goats (yes, you might not recognize me in my hat & mask...)

Most of the crew

Feeding the young alligators fish from a pole.  It was so creepy cool awesome. 

Wednesday Day 3: The Beach! 

The beach is about an hour and a half away from Rachel's house.   We didn't end up getting there until late afternoon.  But it was still pretty awesome.  A little chilly for me (I didn't get in the water past my ankles).  But the kids and Derek and David had fun in the waves.  Rachel got to relax in a chair (for the most part) while everyone splashed around. 

We decided to recreate this image from CA in 2013: 

Pretty close, right?  (Although that's Emily on the end in the top pic, not Rachel--and we've added a few more kids!)

Day 4 was our Disney Day.  We decided to go on Thanksgiving, in hopes that the crowds would be thin.  (Disney is limiting to 35%, so it's already thin.) Rachel felt up for going, as long as she could stay in a wheelchair most of the time.  We couldn't get a reservation at the Magic Kingdom, but Animal Kingdom actually seemed like the one Derek would like the best.  And it was great!  Rachel can get a disability pass that is basically a "fast pass" type of thing.  So the kids got to ride several things with much less wait time.  The lines didn't seem so long since with social distancing, you were always moving.  

Libby and I recreated this image from 2015: 

Let me tell you, she's a bit heavier! 

Since I don't really do rides anymore without getting majorly motion sick (I did the Flight of Passage and was a little sorry for the rest of the day).  I got to hang out with these guys during the big rides.  We had a pretty good time.  Davy kept threatening to throw things away in the recycle bin that were garbage just to get a reaction out of me.  It was so funny.  

Everyone at the end of the day.  I was pooped! 

Friday: Our last day (yes, it went fast!) Run for Rachel donations, Decorating the Great Harvest, and Our Thanksgiving celebration:

In the morning I gave Rachel the Run for Rachel donations.  It totaled up to $4000.  It was amazing to see the generosity of so many people pulling for Rachel in her fight against cancer.  Then we went to decorate the tree at GH.  She was doing really well at 7 days out from chemo. She could stand and help with the decorating just fine. 

I was thankful I chose a house that we could host Thanksgiving. It worked out amazingly well! 

Brad got us some beautiful and delicious pies.  So so yummy. 

I cooked a turkey and made potatoes, gravy, stuffing (from a box, yuck) and brussels.

My only regret is that we did this on the last day and didn't get to eat the leftovers.

Yes, that is a butter shaped like a turkey.  And my disposable table settings.  It was pretty lovely for being plastic.  

The pies also came with paintable cookies.  

Closeup of the butter.  

I guess I didn't take pics of any more of the food.  Ha!  I also didn't take a pic of the Great Harvest tree we put up.  But trust me, it's cute.

Our flight home was uneventful.  I got on the wi-fi and worked like crazy so I could be ready to start back at school tomorrow.  Being gone as a teacher is always a bit tough.  But I am so glad we went.  The weather was amazing, the company was awesome.  And getting a break from the monotony that has been life since March was amazing.  Hopefully we won't pay for it with COVID.  That vaccine is coming!  

Hip update

 Well, finally, after 5 years (actually close to 7 since my initial injury) I saw a doctor who I think figured things out.  Just to update you if you haven't followed my hip injury--

One day I woke up and it hurt in a new and strange, deep way.  (January 2014)

I tried PT.  Immediately.

So much pain.

I tried rest.

I tried more PT.

Finally got an MRI which detected a labral tear.

Saw a surgeon who said he could fix me up.

Had the surgery (August 2015).

After the surgery the surgeon informed me that he repaired the tear and "shaved down my femur head."

Lost all range of motion in my hip.

Got some of it back with PT.  But have had pain anytime I loaded my hip.

Pain if I criss cross.  Pain if I sit for any length of time.  Pain if I stand for any length of time.  Pain walking, pain running.

I gave up teaching.  Then tried teaching through the pain.  But the bad link in the chain caused a shoulder injury.

So now I am down to mostly walking and occasionally running.  I can't lift.  

I have lots of headaches due to neck and shoulder tension--likely partly caused by the dysfunctional hip.

After another unsuccessful PT series (including deep pelvic floor work--ouch).  The PT said--there is still something wrong in there!  

Another MRI, a cortizone shot.  Nothing helps.

A new PT this summer recommended a new doctor.

Finally.  Someone who knew what to look for.  And the news isn't good.  

He looked at my hip under ultrasound while in motion.  And it's clear.  The "shaved femur head" included removing cartilage that can't be replace.  If I bend my knee beyond about 45 degrees I am bone on bone in my hip socket.  And I have a partially torn glute medius.  (Which I am guessing was probably the main problem from the beginning--I may not have even needed the labral tear surgery).

I can give up on returning to squatting BP style.  Likely no Bodystep.  I need a hip replacement.  But that's not really an option until 65.  

Turns out this surgery procedure is just a bad procedure.  My new doctor sees lots of patients who are in pain like I am after the surgery I had.  

What a bummer! 

But I finally have an answer about why the MRIs look fine when I am laying still, but if I bend my leg it shows the bone on bone problem.

I am going to try a PRP injection.  It should (fingers crossed) help the glute med heal and reduce the inflammation in my hip socket.  Goal 1--pain free.  Then I'll see what I can do to start working out.  My doctor works with the Seattle Storm and he wants me to work with their trainer.  Should be fun!

Now if we could only figure out why my body isn't using food for fuel!  My metabolic doctor is on her 4th attempt to get that happening.  Autonomic hypoglycemia sucks.  Dang.  I'm a mess! 

But I have a lot to be thankful for.  Despite my pain, I can still walk.  Some people who have had this bad surgery are worse off than I am! 

Run for Rachel Seattle

 When Rachel was diagnosed with cancer, my cousin Shelley (who has lost a few friends to breast cancer) reached out and suggested a fundraiser.  So this was really her idea.  And it was brilliant.  It has been so amazing to see the pictures and posts of people running for my sister.  Next week I get to take her a big check!  We will see how big.  The total is already higher than I could have hoped.  We had fun on our walk.  It was the day after I got big hip news (I guess I should make a separate post about that...). So we all walked.  

Will walk for Rachel & donuts--the kids' motto

First and only time in pink? 

There was a little running! 

Libby couldn't find her shoes--so she wore slides.  

This is not what I designed, but this is the bandana I got.  So we went with it. Cape style! 

I had planned to run with my running partner before the walk...but alas.  So she ran and met me right before we walked!  I haven't been a very good or consistent running partner, but I'm going to miss our runs.  Maybe I'll get back to it??

A "THIS IS NOT A PROJECT" Project

 The curtains in our bedroom have been a mess.  It was a nice curtain rod with the strings that open and close them--but they had long ago stopped functioning well.  And, in a moment of insanity last weekend, I started taking down the dusty glamorous valance and the curtain rods.  Of course the brackets and screws had been painted over--and they were a standard screwdriver (not Phillips) so it was brutal getting them out.  My sis-in-law Keri is visiting and had to help me finish.  Anyway, I tried to insist that it wasn't a project, it was just putting up new curtain rods.  But in this house, just about everything becomes a project.

(Since this wasn't a project I didn't take any before pictures sadly...but here is the valance in the room before we bought the house.  Yes, the same dusty one.)

Here is me thinking I could paint match like a boss.  

Nope.  What a mess.  $25 in samples (2 separate trips) and I wasn't close enough.  

  Finally I had a breakthrough.  I realized that this is painted wallpaper!  I could just find a hidden spot and rip off the wallpaper and take in for an official color match!  So don't look behind our bed.  Instead, admire the view.  I bought a set of curtain rods that is supposed to be two--and they are duct taped together in the middle.  Classy.  But you can't tell--just open carefully.  

TADA!  (Derek helped me screw in the curtain rods so I wouldn't get a migraine from the drilling.)  I think when I have to ask him to help that definitely elevates to project status! 

This week--oh yeah, projects this week too.  But other people putting in lights in the ballroom!  Hooray!  

Halloween--Norton Pandemic Style

 So we always knew that the family theme costume would come to an end.  And this year--why not add that to the general feeling that everything is changing and nothing will ever be the same?

We discussed the family theme up until the pandemic (and yes, we started talking about it long before March).  Then, by the time we knew we wouldn't have several events to wear costumes to...Libby started talking about matching with a friend.  And I said--go for it.  That means I don't have to even dress up!

Libby's friend almost didn't get to come for Halloween after-all--which caused much weeping and wailing.  And in the end, they didn't even wear the matching costume theme they had planned.  But they ended up together and had a blast. 

Then Maren decided to throw a Halloween extravaganza for our "immunity community." It was super fun!  I especially loved that my "cake walk" style booth became a dance party!  I kept the party going for the dancers for over 1/2 hour with just the music I have on my phone from my old Bodypump, running and aqua aerobics playlists.  I would love to DJ a good party again! 

The costumes ended up pretty fun--and Derek and I did pull out some oldie but goodie costumes.  Maren's party was amazing!  The "haunted experience" was just scary enough (I skipped it--but then went back through when I knew no one was going to jump out and scare me--yes--I'm that big a wimp!). The kids loved it.  It was a new Halloween experience, and I think we did a pretty good job of making lemonade with a lemon kind of Halloween (thanks to Maren). 

Thank goodness for the Shorewood Booster Auction a few years ago we had these delightful outfits!  Of course I wore a coat for the whole time--so except for this picture, it was covered up.  

A princess (instead of an angel) and a devil (instead of a princess). Not sure what the miscom was at the last minute, but they had fun. 

Ben and Jed had a great time being mummy zombies together

Fortune teller Alayne

Believe it or not--this is Maren! 

Sarah chose to be a Vampire.  She got a new dress for the part that she can actually wear when after Halloween.  It was over her budget, so she paid part from her allowance she wanted it so much. 

Rory with Sarah--I thought they were going to twin too..but in the end I think they aren't twinning. I was rushing to get pics and didn't notice.