Improvement over time

It was kind of a funky week, what with the holiday and our schedule, so I only had one PT appointment this week. Still, I'm responsible for doing a series of exercises - repeatedly - throughout the day on my own. I calculated it yesterday and if I can do 5 sets of each (each with multiple repetitions) - with icing time in between - and go for a daily walk of at least an hour (3 miles), then I'm spending a minimum of 5.5 hours a day on rehab. Whew! And that is why, one of the first things DaddyDude told me, was that I was lucky to have the time to rehab the knee, because I'd be able to do it quickly and well (but the graft still needs enough time to heal - there is still no way to return to soccer until July 1st or so, when it's supposed to be at 80-85% strength). After one full year, the graft is considered to be at full-strength. While I'm rehabbing and icing, though, I can watch TV, read, or be on the computer - or all of the above! I'm finally working my way through season 3 of True Blood.



The sutures came off yesterday, at 9-days post-op. It would look better without the marks from the Ace bandage wrap, but apparently I can't get rid of that til I can ditch the brace itself (hopefully by the end of this month). In the old days, people would be left with huge scars from ACL reconstruction. Arthroscopic surgery, however, has really reduced recovery time and scarring. A parent of Mika's soccer teammate was telling us how he had ACL surgery back in 1994... they had to open his knee up and he was in the hospital for a week, on a morphine drip. Yikes! So like I've said before - I'm pretty fortunate, all things considered. :)

Only another couple of days remain before the kids head back to school. They continue to enjoy a mellow weekend, complete with a trip to the Home Depot Kids clinic (built a savings shed)...

And giving some lovin' to the guinea pigs. It's amazing how different the guinea pigs act, by having a roommate and an awesomely big cage. They scamper and run around, enjoying the springboard action of the coroplast. It's amazing how much lighter they are, compared to most of the other guinea pigs we have had. It will be interesting to see if healthy fitness increases their longevity! Their habits will have to change a little, though, because by the end of the month, their bedding will be changed from wood shavings (very messy!) to fleece (machine-washable) - poor things, they won't be able to fish-tail or spin out anymore! What will they do? ;)