Things Don't Always Go As Planned...

You would think that would be my mantra... In my life, it seems that this happens more than not.

I had routine (or so I thought) knee surgery in May to help to correct and old injury that had left my knee full of arthritis... according to my Orthopedist, I have the knee of a 60 year old.... perfect.

So, I have the surgery and am home the same afternoon. All is well... my Doc is happy with his work. I am in moderate pain, but nothing I didn't expect... I was sent home with some good drugs.
Day 3 after my surgery I didn't feel well all day. Nothing I could really put my finger on... I just felt off. More tired, and kid of disoriented. David got invited to a friends house to spend the night, and I decided to go along for the ride to take him to his friends thinking I might feel better if I got out of the house for a bit. It was kind of humid out, and I felt like I couldn't get enough air, which didn't help how I had been feeling all day. I remember sitting in the back eat with my leg propped up on a pillow... I went to say something to Dave and it didn't come out right... I remember thinking it was the narcotics and just decided to stay quiet.

I went to be early thinking a good nights sleep would help. I was sleeping in Caroline's bed and Dave was in our room. I woke up a couple of hours later feeling like my chest was being crushed. I called for Dave who helped me get up.... once I was sitting I felt a little better, but decided I must be getting pneumonia and after going back and forth on what to do, we decided to head to the ER at 11:30pm.

Once we got the ER, things went crazy. I knew I was in trouble when we got there... I was sweating profusely, and couldn't get my breath.. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. They took me in right away and were very concerned... my O2 levels were only in the low 80s and my heart rate was 175... I was sent to x-ray to get a picture of my lungs and was told that I did NOT have pneumonia and that they wanted a CT scan of my lungs... when the results of that came back, I was diagnosed as having pulmonary embolism and an ambulance was called to take me to the hospital! This was just nuts! The Dr. was telling me that I was lucky to even be alive... that a lot of times, people die immediately and don't even know what hit them!

I spent a few days in the hospital while they dissolved the remaining clot in my leg which is where the blood clot originated from and the clots in my lungs slowly dissolved and I didn't need oxygen any more. I was sent home on blood thinners that I now have to take for 6 months... not fun... blood draws at least once a week, lots of dietary restrictions etc... but I guess it could be worse!!

Pretty scary to think I could have died from this.... I'm young and healthy..... things like this only happen to other people... It's been a real wake up call for me to live each day to its fullest and to not take things for granted.

The knee is healed nicely... I'm still going to physical therapy, but it getting stronger and i pain free.

I think this post catches everyone up on the last few months and explains why I haven't posted in so long!!!

Have a good day everyone!!!

Something To Think About....

"At the end of the day, faith is a funny thing. It turns up when you don't really expect it. It's like one day you realize that the fairy tale might be slightly different than you dreamed. The castle, well, it may not be a castle. And it's not so important that it's happy ever after, just that it's happy right now."

Caroline's First Horse Show....

She has been working all summer for this...
She came in 3rd and 5th in the 2 classes she competed in today.... not bad at all for the first time out...

I am so proud!!