Greg's Ankle Surgery

So some of you may know, Greg had ankle surgery today. He sprained his ankle last year and seems to continue to sprain it at least one a month (OK, so maybe not that often). He stopped ref'ing soccer and playing basketball at lunch because of it. We finally convinced him to see a specialist. After one delay because of the holidays and other family stuff, he finally had the surgery. They just basically went in and cleaned out the area and tightened the ligament. He's currently laying in bed snoring while I type this.

Here's my one annoyance. He was originally scheduled to have the surgery at 10:45 today. I moved all my meetings to the morning, so I could just take off work and take care of him in the afternoon. I had arranged for my mom to pick up the kids and bring them home and everything was planned and set. Then after I leave work yesterday, the surgery center calls him to tell him they need to move up the time to 6:30 am. What the heck? (that's a Liam saying he got from Dante) Now all my plans are foiled. What am I going to do? How are all four of us going to be able to be up and out of the house by 5:45? And what am I going to do with Liam until 8:00 when school starts? Can Greg just drive himself and then we'll get his truck later? I was freaking out, as I tend to do when plans don't go off as planned. Then I called my mom and as always (it's either her or Greg that figure something out to calm me down), she came up with the answer. Greg would drive himself over to my parent's house arriving at 6:10, then my Dad would drive him to the surgery center. I would take the kids to school at the regular time and go to work. I did have to take two extra hours of leave, but was able to attend all meetings I had set up. I actually had just finished my last meeting 15 minutes before they called me to come pick him up. Then after work, my mom picks up the kids and my dad drives Greg's truck to our house. My mom and dad leave in her car. The plan has worked so far. Still waiting for the kids and truck to arrive, but that won't be for another hour or so.

So after I get Greg home and situated. I run to Safeway to pick up his prescriptions and ice and twizzlers (a man recovering needs his twizzlers). I forget to put gas in the car. Come back home, get pills in Greg, get him more water, put ice in cooler. Head back out to pick up lunch. On the way stop for gas. Get food come home, we both eat. Set Greg up with a movie and an ice pack. Sit down at the computer. Go check on Greg and he's semi-conscious. Get him to bed. Download Christmas photos, update facebook & blog. OK now I'm done. I'm going to go sit in front of the TV and veg for a little bit before the kids get home.

Greg is fine by the way. He'll be on crutches for about three weeks. He'll be home alone tomorrow, so I hope I got enough movies and twizzlers to keep him occupied. (I'd take a picture of him sleeping right now or his wrapped up foot, but he'd not be happy with me, so use your imaginations. Instead I'll put a cute picture of he and Brianna blowing out his birthday candles)

Blah

So I'm in that after the holidays and have to work funk. I was doing so well not putting on any more weight during Christmas (OK I weighed myself on Christmas night, so technically the weight didn't have time to settle on), then I weighed myself again after New Year's (and after finishing all the chocolate that was in the stockings) and the results weren't so good. I only gained 4 pounds, but my goal was to not gain any. So at this point I've gained all the weight I lost before having Brianna (36 pounds - I still can't believe I ever lost 36 pounds, much less that I've gained it all back). The desire to have another baby was a huge motivator for me to lose weight. Now I don't want to have any more babies and I'm having a very hard time finding a motivator. So I've been a little depressed - coupled with the fact that we didn't get our annual Christmas vacation with Greg's family (I really look forward to recharging my batteries then).

But I keep getting really great news from friends and family, so things are looking up. And today I did it! I keep saying I'm going to, but today I did. I worked out at lunch. I was just going to do 20 minutes on the eliptical (yes, I'm very lucky that we have a gym in the building). But my dear friend, Ashley (and my second wife), used her power of persuasion to get me to do 30 minutes. Yes, I sweated. Then in her torturous way, she had me do 20 push-ups, 20 crunces on the ball, and I did two sets of planks counting to 30 each time (yes, I counted really, really fast).

So what was it that motivated me FINALLY to go down to the gym? Well, my back went out on Saturday and then again on Monday. I missed worked. I was actually lying in bed Monday morning debating whether to have Greg bring me one of Brianna's pull-ups before he left with the kids. That thought and the subsequent holding it for two hours before I could get out of bed finally made me realize I've gotten to the point where I have to start working out again - if only to be able to function like a normal human being.

I really wish I could become addicted to exercise like I am to chocolate. Ah good German/Swiss chocolate that melts in your mouth - I will not see you again . . . at least until Easter.

So my current goal is to do some sort of ab and/or back exercises, so I can avoid these back issues.

Oh and just so you know, both Liam and Brianna were very helpful and wanted to know if I needed Mr. Bump (a little frozen goo man) or a bandaid. Such sweet children when they aren't beating on each other.