Flowers From A Dear Friend

Wordless Wednesday: Progress

There has been progress made in this household.  We received a letter on March 31 that we were NVC In and NVC Out.  Our information is headed to the Embassy in Seoul where the visa interview will take place.  Today, we also received our class certificate indicating that we completed the required hours of lessons for the state, so we meet the requirements to adopt.  We are making real progress on the US side.  Of course, we still have not heard about the EP and Korea.  So, we shall see...

The big news:  the girls have made a recovery.  It got so bad on Sunday that we rushed Trojan to the vet, who decided it was best to keep her overnight.  Baby Girl, how should I put this delicately, is not a fan of the vet.  Let's just say that she likes to barricades herself in the carrier as soon as the car stops and she gets a big sniff of the place.  But even she was too weak to put up too much of a fight.  (Trojan and Mattie have been fighting a nasty bug, which has really kept Mike busy between the three of us.)  Happily, we picked up Trojan on Monday afternoon and she howled with delight the whole way home. Either that or she was telling us how ticked off she was at us for leaving her.  That's really a judgement call and I'm going to go with she was REALLY happy to be home :)

And there has been progress with me as well.  I continue to be able to walk and have my first officially physical therapy session later this afternoon.  I was actually riding a bike by day three.  I captured the above photo of Mike and Little Miss Mattie on their return from walking in the park.  For now, he becomes their official dog walker.  Did I mention that my girls love to take walks, even when mildly sick?  

Last Adoption Class

Today, we headed to our last adoption class.  The focus of this class was on our transition to having an international child.  The class was very enjoyable and we had a good group of parents who kept the class lively.  Several couples had already been through the process and offered their advice.  We both realize that there will be a transitional period with a new child.  After this week, I have no doubt that we can meet this challenge.

I also feel amazingly very well.  Started my physical therapy and even got on the exercise bike.  The pups on the other hand have been (for lack of a better word) a mess.  When we arrived home, Trojan was a sick puppy and it didn't take Mattie long to follow suit.  Poor Mike spent last night in triage tending to me and the pups.  So, it's been a little rough in this house hold.

But as Winston Churchill so elegantly said "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."  So, which are we, optimist or pessimist?  I'll answer with a Fight On!  And yes, our child is going to be a big time USC homer.  Is it wrong to teach the fight song before the alphabet?  Now there is a question to ask during one of those adoption classes.

Long Delay at Airport

And what is a trip without at least one delay.  Unfortunately for us, our flight was delayed for over 7 hours due to weather in Florida.  So, with little else to do, we waited, and waited, and waited.  Finally, Mike found an outlook so that I could plug my ice machine in---sweet relief.  

Vanderbilt University

On Tuesday afternoon (prior to my surgery), we walked around Vanderbilt University.  Very pretty campus.  We walked as much as possible knowing that it might be a little while before I could get such a walk in.  Notice that their Eastern Redbuds are already in full bloom.  

In Good Hands

I knew that I was in good hands with my doctor selection when I saw these pictures.  Turns out, a bunch of the hometown Flyers have also been patients of Dr. Byrd.  Thursday morning, we actually saw an NHL hockey player who had surgery the same day as me.  We both were scheduled for our first physical therapy session.  

Nashville

It's been an up and down kind of week.  I headed down with Mike to Tennessee for surgery on my torn right hip labrum.  Nervous and scared, would be an understatement.  On Tuesday, I met with Dr. Byrd (one of the top hip specialist in the world).  He thought that I had a torn labrum and possibly a bone issue that was causing the tear.  So, off we went for a CT scan to look at my hip structure.  When we arrived back in his office, his nurse mentioned that I might be a micro-fracture candidate (which was really not good news).  So, I spent the next couple of hours in sheer panic (that's hard to hear when you are active).  Luckily, I have a tremendous support system in Mike, my brother and both sets of parents.  They talked me down from the ledge (thank you to all).  So, the decision was made to continue with surgery.  

The next morning we woke early for surgery.  I was still nervous, but at the same time calm.  To be honest, the next thing I knew I woke up.  And, to excellent news.  No bone issue.  Just a torn labrum and he was able to save a good portion of it.  The day after surgery I felt incredible.  A little stiff yes, but no more pain and I was actually able to walk (although I am supposed to be on crutches for a week).  The diagnosis is very good.  In 2 to 3 months, I should be completely back to normal.  And the doctor said that this in no way will impact our trip to Korea, if as planned we get our travel call in May or later.

I will say that I could not have done this without the unconditional love and support of my husband and family.  Mike continues to show me that he will be an amazing father.  His heart is golden.  And, I have a super family who supports and empowers me.  To all of you, a heart felt thank you.