Ski trip

Despite my injury we really did have a great ski trip. We were supposed to go with our friends Brett and Dana, but at the last minute Dana couldn’t go so it was me and the boys.  The flight out was great and we quickly got settled into our rooms at the Marriott Mountainside Lodge. Then off to get skis, lift tickets and a snack at the bottom of the mountain while we watched the skiers come down for the day.  

Day 1 and 2 of skiing were amazing.  I didn’t take many pictures because I kept thinking I would do that at the end of the week when the boys were more patient. The first two days they were chomping at the bit to get out on the slopes and did not want to stop for a photo op.  Never did it occur to me that I might not be present for days 3 and 4 on the slopes!  Oh well at least I got a few pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The biggest difference in my ski attire this trip was my helmet.  It is the first time I ever wore one, and I’m really glad I did.  I generally hate anything on my head b/c it gives me a headache, but the helmet didn’t bother me.  I haven’t skied in 4 years, and I bet 4 years ago less than half the skiers had on helmets.  This time I would say 90% were wearing helmets.  I will never again ski without one!  Not sure if I hit my head when I had my massive fall, but I know that is a lot better than knowing that I hit my head and feeling it the next day too.  Trust me the knee was enough!

Day 2 on the slopes:

Lots of powder!

   

Lots of trees!

 

A few wrong turns meant we ended up in some bowls and trees that we hadn’t planned on visiting but turned out really fun and so beautiful!

Sometime after this picture I took the spectacular fall.  We were on our last run of the day and were almost at the bottom of the mountain.  Matter of fact I could see the bottom and was so looking forward to getting into the hot tub with a cold drink.  I came around the slow signs with my skis perfectly together and thinking I was looking just like Lindsay Vaughn.  Unfortunately my fall was more similar to Lindsay’s than my skiing!  Brett saw it and said the look on my face said trouble.  Albi came over and immediately started examining my knee.  Ski patrol was there too.  I was determined not to go down the last 200ft on a ski patrol back board, and Albi was pretty confident my ACL was intact (he was right!).   I got my skis on and skied the rest of the way down.  Then I walked back to the hotel which was thankfully pretty close. 

The swelling wasn’t bad when we got to the room, so Albi let me get in the hot tub, but by the time we got back to the room and I showered, I couldn’t put any weight on my leg.  Albi examined me 100 times over the next few days.  He bought me a knee brace and crutches and borrowed a wheelchair from the hotel. 

I was insistent on us not going home, and the boys skiing without me.  I actually enjoyed the quiet time in the hotel room by myself.  I never get alone time, so it was nice to have a little of it.    I think the boys did a lot of tree runs without me and rarely if ever looked at the map.  They skied blindly and had a great time!  I was jealous but don’t know if I could have handled their spontaneity! My knee felt a lot better after two days of rest, and I really thought it would heal on its own.  I don’t think any of us ever contemplated a surgical fracture and it was probably good that we didn’t know that until we got home.

oops

I am going to have to work backwards for the next few posts.  I’m way behind due to vacation, work and a minor injury. Albi and I went skiing last week in Vail, CO and overall it was a wonderful vacation with one hiccup.  I fractured part of my tibia bone where the ACL connects to the tibia…oops!  

The past few days have been an emotional roller coaster.  We got home late Thursday night, and honestly my knee was feeling pretty good.  As long as I kept my brace on and used one crutch I was good.  Albi had already scheduled an MRI for Friday morning at AI, but I asked him if he still thought we needed to go.  I was concerned that the MRI was going to show no injury, and I would be embarrassed for making a big deal out of nothing.  Due to the swelling, Albi insisted and in hindsight he was right.  When Albi came out of the MRI reading room with the MRI tech he had a look on his face that I have only seen one other time – when I was delivering Mac after 32 hours of labor and Mac was not making the deliver process easy.  I laughed and asked if I could go home, but instead the tech said I needed x-rays and Albi just looked at me and said “this is not good.” 

Low and behold within the hour I was on a table in Roger Ostrander’s office discussing my surgery options.  Basically my ACL was intact (a good thing) but the bone it was attached to was no longer attached to my tibia (a bad thing).  Roger needed to go in and reattach that bone fragment to the main part of the bone.  Minimally invasive surgery but long recovery. Albi quickly gathered up all kinds of supplies from the PT department and we headed home to start my pre-surgery PT!

Albi made several comments about me not taking the surgery seriously, but I disagree.  I definitely didn’t know what I was getting into, but I knew it was serious.  No point in moping over it though.  That wasn’t going to change anything, so I kept a positive attitude and tried to get as much done as I could pre-surgery.

We gave the boys lots of talks about not getting near my knee and being helpful while mommy had a hurt leg.  Their first real test came on Sunday when I made Albi get out of the house b/c I wasn’t sure when he could leave me alone with the boys again for the next few weeks.  While I was cleaning up the kitchen from lunch, I told Mac to head to Copey’s room and get Copey’s paci and Bs, so we could put him down for a nap.  When I went in there a few minutes later I first found Mac getting Coe’s shoes off.  Then I watched as Mac got up in the rocking chair and got Copey to follow while telling Coe he was going to read him some books before nap.  I quietly took pictures with my phone from the door. When the boys noticed me, Mac asked if I could please get Coe in his lap and not next to him so he could hold him better!  It was the sweetest moment and warmed my heart.  I know the next few weeks will be hard on them and on Albi b/c I’m so useless and require so much help myself, but we will manage and hopefully all come out fairly unscathed! 

 

Mardi Gras parades

Yes, in Pensacola we dress up like crazy Indians several times a year and parade down the street.  Thankfully we aren’t the only ones dressed as Indians and we certainly aren’t the only ones in costume!  

Mac’s school has a Mardi Gras parade on Fat Tuesday every year.  We have never been since this is the first year Mac has gone to school 5 days a week.  I’m so glad we both got to participate this year!  First each class takes turns riding bikes around the gym as the other students and parents cheer and wave.  Then the parents walk around the gym throwing beads and moonpies to all the kids while the kids throw confetti back at the parents.  So fun!  Even Papou came for the festivities.

Loving my new instagram collage app!