Rubbing shoulders - or fins

Overheard from Jenna (referring to this meet)

Jenna diving in

"I totally swam against Missy Franklin last year... She passed me like, 5 times... But still."

I was there.  Jenna was amazing :) Jenna's 6:16.16 500 yd swim is much faster than mine.  Just sayin'

Back in the saddle/boots

Jenna did great with her surgery.  She is wearing a boot on her left foot to protect it while it heals.

This past Thursday while walking down the stairs, her other foot - the right one ... the one that had surgery on May 7 that required re-breaking a bone, taking off a tendon and stitching it to the bone and 6 more weeks in the wheelchair - had a terrible pain while walking down the stairs.  She describes it as a ripping feeling.  Her tendon and ankle area is very sore.

The doctor put her back in the boot.  Now she is sporting two boots - AGAIN.  Poor girl!

He will see her tomorrow.  He says it could be the tendon detaching from the bone ... or it could be scar tissue breaking up.  We hope it is the scar tissue.

Wildlife in our front yard

I heard wrestling/movement outside the office window on Saturday night around 10:45 p.m. It was too dark outside to see anything. Within moments, Julia pulled down the driveway and quickly came in. "Mom, do we have black bears?" "Yep - there have been sightings". I heard it. She saw it. It climbed up the side of our driveway to the neighbors. So fun living in Colorado!

This is what I imagine the bear doing during the day :)

Barf Brigade

Jaley is  hard at work with her friend, Kathleen. They are so cute! They stepped up to the plate when someone left a HUGE throw up mess in the men's bathroom at the pool while they were life guarding. It was funny to hear Jaley retell this story and how she felt like barfing while cleaning up. It made me think back on Chunk's confession in the movie Goonies. 


I Love Chunk. 


I Love Jaley and Kathleen.

Jenna surgery - July 23 - update

Jenna was super excited for the surgery yesterday.   She couldn't wait to be around the hospital staff (in fact, she filled out a form Sunday night online to volunteer at the hospital).   She also couldn't wait to get this part of the healing process over.

Dr Field told us that he was going to go in through the original incision sites and see what was going on since Jenna has a very large odd bump on the top of her foot towards the arch on the left foot.   We took pictures today before the surgery of that bump.

Dr Field said the mass could be a bone spur and if it was he would shave the bone while in there.   He also said it could be build up of scar tissue which means there might not be much we could do about the malformation.

Jenna was in surgery for just under an hour.   Dr Field said she did great and was slightly awake during a part of it and was quite entertaining.   He came out and brought me to a consulting room to tell me about the procedure.   He discovered that the screws were placed a little differently than what he envisioned in the xray.   The large mass was actually one of the screws working its way out.   That is the screw placement he wasn't aware/sure of.   He hopes that with the removal, the mass will be a lot less.   He also pointed out in the xray that is was difficult to tell a specific area on the foot (joint between big toe and the toe next to it - metatarsal 1 and 2 I believe).   Once the screw was removed he was able to see that the gap between the joints was a lot larger than he realized and than what is normal.   He wants to keep an eye on this and he says it might need to be monitored for years.   He said that the discomfort of her movement would most likely be because of this large gap and the screws.   He said that with the trauma, he is not surprised.   He was pleased with how the bones are lined up with the edge of of the joints.   He said that she will also be able to tell when storms come in :)   Who needs a meteorologist when we have Jenna's feet?

Jenna requested to keep the screws.   They are huge!   I was shocked. They look like screws I could have picked up at Home Depot for pennies rather than who knows what they charge at the hospital hardware store.  I should have picked some up from Home Depot and installed them myself and saved some money :)

She has to wear a boot for at least 10 days, maybe 2 weeks.   Dr Field said that Jenna will have throbbing in her foot for a couple of days.   He said this is because the bone has a void where the screw was and it is filling with blood (the holes) and will begin to fill with bone.

She's doing great.   I didn't see her for the rest of the day yesterday - only when I went down to give her pain medicine.  She is resting today.

Julia sings - A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief

Today we heard an angel sing.  Julia.

The first counselor in the bishopric came up to me before Sacrament Meeting and told me that if he could, he would have her sing this song over and over the entire Sacrament Meeting time.  I'd have to agree!

I was in heaven.  John cried (like a baby as he would describe himself).  I would have too, but I was trying to keep Kendall quiet.

It is long ... the arrangement is amazing - piano and violin and Julia

I recorded the audio ... so enjoy listening in this window while you surf the web in another one!

A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief

A poor wayfaring Man of grief

Hath often crossed me on my way,

Who sued so humbly for relief

That I could never answer nay.

I had not power to ask his name,

Whereto he went, or whence he came;

Yet there was something in his eye

That won my love; I knew not why.

Once, when my scanty meal was spread,

He entered; not a word he spake,

Just perishing for want of bread.

I gave him all; he blessed it, brake,

And ate, but gave me part again.

Mine was an angel’s portion then,

For while I fed with eager haste,

The crust was manna to my taste.

I spied him where a fountain burst

Clear from the rock; his strength was gone.

The heedless water mocked his thirst;

He heard it, saw it hurrying on.

I ran and raised the suff’rer up;

Thrice from the stream he drained my cup,

Dipped and returned it running o’er;

I drank and never thirsted more.

’Twas night; the floods were out; it blew

A winter hurricane aloof.

I heard his voice abroad and flew

To bid him welcome to my roof.

I warmed and clothed and cheered my guest

And laid him on my couch to rest;

Then made the earth my bed, and seemed

In Eden’s garden while I dreamed.

Stripped, wounded, beaten nigh to death,

I found him by the highway side.

I roused his pulse, brought back his breath,

Revived his spirit, and supplied

Wine, oil, refreshment—he was healed.

I had myself a wound concealed,

But from that hour forgot the smart,

And peace bound up my broken heart.

In pris’n I saw him next, condemned

To meet a traitor’s doom at morn.

The tide of lying tongues I stemmed,

And honored him ’mid shame and scorn.

My friendship’s utmost zeal to try,

He asked if I for him would die.

The flesh was weak; my blood ran chill,

But my free spirit cried, “I will!”

Then in a moment to my view

The stranger started from disguise.

The tokens in His hands I knew;

The Savior stood before mine eyes.

He spake, and my poor name He named,

“Of Me thou hast not been ashamed.

These deeds shall thy memorial be;

Fear not, thou didst them unto Me.” 

James Montgomery

One more - and hopefully the last

Jenna is scheduled to have surgery on Monday, July 23 to have the screws in her left foot removed.  Hopefully this will be the last surgery for the car accident.

She is looking forward to making more friends with the hospital staff.

I love her optimistic attitude.

Jenna 5' 8" ... and walking :)

It's been a long road for Jenna.  Nearly 3 months in the wheelchair.  Two surgeries with one more in the very near future.

In June she was able to start using crutches - but still non-weight bearing on her right foot until mid-June.

When she could finally use the crutches, she still preferred the wheelchair because she could do more and move around quickly.  She did enjoy standing up on one foot.  She forgot how tall she was.  5' 8"

She was finally given the OK to put weight on her right foot and walk in the boot.

Here are her first steps - caught on camera by Julia - ... and these are tears of joy.  Pure joy.



It's not over yet ... now we are doing Physical Therapy.  Her feet get tired, swollen and sore very quickly.  They have an odd shape to the top and sides with the surgeries and hardware.

This week is the first week back to work as a life guard.

This week is the first time she can finally get in the pool.  It took 2 months for her incision to completely heal from her second surgery.  Now it is safe for her to swim.  She tried a flip turn the other day.  Fail.  It hurt too much.  Hopefully the physical therapist can work some magic and help her get back into form so she can be competitive enough to qualify for state with her 500 free style.  It is her senior year.

She's still her happy bubbly self.  She has the PT staff, hospital staff and doctors/nurses constantly laughing.  They love her. She loves them.  She wants to be a nurse.  She'll be a great one - there's no doubt in my mind.

This has changed her - for good.  For the good.