Appointments and Recovery

So this summer there was a lot of this:

Doctor appointments, follow-ups, imaging, and physical therapy.  I decided to count how many appointments I had to take not only McKenzie to, but the rest of the kids too.  These appointments were not the fun things of summer like sports, friends, or parties, but the boring stuff like doctors, dentists, physicals, and all of the things McKenzie needed.  I counted 59 appointments.  What a lousy way to spend a summer. 

However, here's the positive results from all of those appointments, McKenzie is doing really well.  Her brace came off after about five weeks.  She was so relieved to have that removed for the last time.  When she first took it off, she was really nervous to move her neck.  She was guarding it and it took a lot of convincing to simply have her turn her head to look around.  We were able to start PT and he was able to give her to confidence she needed to start strengthening her neck.  In some ways having the brace on was a good reminder to keep her neck safe as it healed, so once it was removed she still had to be careful about what kind of movements she did.  She still couldn't risk any whiplash type movements so life was still pretty still, but that didn't stop her from going back to gymnastics almost immediately.

She was back at the gym the first week after the surgery.  It was only one day of conditioning for one hour, and then she had to sleep for two days to recover.  But the next week she went twice for one hour each, and only had to sleep one day afterward.  People were shocked to learn that she was so excited to get back to gymnastics so soon after her injury, but McKenzie never even questioned it and kept asking the doctors what more she could do.  PT has been a huge blessing.  After a couple of weeks of neck strengthening exercises, she started focusing on strengthening her right arm.  When she originally fell and broke her neck, the right side of her body went numb and she couldn't feel it for a few minutes.  While in the hospital it became apparent that there was some nerve damage to her right side and that the strength in her right arm was drastically reduced.  So for the last six weeks or so so has been really focusing on her arm exercises.  Aaron is the best PT for the job, as he has been a spinal injury therapist, gymnast, and elite athlete therapist.  He has given her the tools she needs to get back to full participation as quickly as possible.  McKenzie has taken her therapy seriously and does it every day at the gym.  The dedication this girl has shown to bring herself back has been inspiring.  There have definitely been hard days.  Days where she feels she isn't making any progress.  Days where she feels like she will never be able to tumble again. Days where she feels like she is simply getting farther behind her teammates.  But then there are days where she gets approval to do back tucks, kips, front tucks, and fly aways again and she is over the moon.  She still isn't back at full strength, so can't do any explosive tumbling with that arm yet.  But she is getting so close to being cleared to do her routines again and it is exciting. 

Broncos game

There are some real perks about working with Comfort Dental again, like suite seats to a Broncos game.  This is the way I like to roll!  Air conditioning, comfortable seats, catered snacks, room to move, a private bathroom, and a great view.  Jeremy scored tickets to the preseason game against the Cardinals.  Just being at the game spending time with Jeremy was so much fun. It was a bonus that the Broncos won, because a happy crow is a much more pleasant crowd. 

 

Weekend visit from Uncle Ryan

Ryan came out for a quick weekend visit.  It was so fun to have him here.  Our life is one of sports, school, and work, but the boys managed to squeeze in some fun while he was here.  We went up to Longmont to try tubing again.  This time it worked.  It was a perfect day for it and the four of us lazily floated the St. Vrain all morning.  However, our fun came to screeching halt after a crawdad crawled across Kelton's hand.  He and Daxton popped out of that water so fast, there was no going back after that!  Oh well, we had a soccer game to get to anyway :)

First Day of School

First day of school!

Daxton: Third grade with Mrs. Bishard.  He is so excited to be back with his friends.

Kelton: Fifth grade, last year at Meridian, with Ms. Espino.  She is a new teacher at this school so we are excited to get to know her.  He has all of his best friends in his class and is stoked to be the oldest kid in the school this year.  (Actually, there's a very good chance he probably is the oldest kid in the school. Weird.)

My Meridian boys:

McKenzie: Ninth grade. Freshman!  First year as a high schooler and she could not be more ready.  She has the hair, the nails, the outfit, the jewelry, the perfumes, everything she feels like she needs to thrive in high school.

Cambrie: Twelfth grade. Senior!  Last year before she takes off into the big world and starts living her own life.  This is absolutely wild to me.  Her classes are tailor made for her this year and her schedule is loaded with AP Calc, AP Physics, AP Chem and AP French.  She only wishes there was more time in her day so she could geek out with her math and science.

Class photo take the first day of freshman year.  Wow, that went fast.

My high schoolers.

And are you ready for some fun and games?  I was struck by how much my girls look alike, so McKenzie and I did a face swap on this photo.  Can you tell which girl is which?  It's wild. 

The night before the first day of school

School starts tomorrow!  I will have two boys at Meridian and two girls at Legacy.  They having been in the same school for six years, so it is fun having them back.  Since Cambrie has senior sunrise in the morning, I didn't know if I would get a first day of school picture with the two of them, so I made them stop by the school for a picture just in case.

Obviously one of the most difficult parts about starting a new school year, is deciding what to wear on the first day of school.  

Exhibit A: McKenzie sprawled all over her floor lamenting that she has nothing to wear.  

Exhibit B: Cambrie carefully selecting her outfit considering all of the practical implications of each outfit. 

Both girls fully aware that what they choose to wear will determine their identity for the rest of the school year. Love these girls!

New season, new chances

Last year soccer Kelton was beginning to lose his love of soccer.  This year, with all of our fingers crossed, we were hoping for a more positive season.  So far, it is looking very promising.  He has a new coach, which is a big deal.  He also has new boys on the team, which has been refreshing.  I don't know what kind of magic his coach is working, but Kelton actually enjoys going to practice.  He has been made one of the team captains since his knowledge of the game is better than most of his teammates, and it is really cool to see him in a leadership role.  

Daxton was in a similar situation.  The boys on his team last year were a little unruly, and Daxton just wanted to play the game.  This year is his first year on a competitive team and he is loving the structure and the higher skills of his new coach and teammates.  

I really hope that the boys continue to have fun this season.

Wicked

I have been in a funk, so Jeremy and I decided to go out and do something fun.  "Wicked" is in town and it was just what I needed.  I think this is my third time seeing the production, but seriously it never gets old.  Our seat were fabulous, right in the center down front.  The storytelling was wonderful and the actors were fabulous.  I loved having a simple date night with Jeremy.