SDS

Sudden Deceleration Syndrome has been a serious problem for me my entire life. I never got hurt falling, it has always been the stopping that left the scars, tears, concussions, dislocations and broken bones. I was born without the mechanism that says "you probably shouldn't try that" when other kids were backing off the ledge I alway stepped up, much to the chagrin of my body.
Now at 38 all of these sudden stops are starting to catch up with me. My wrists and shoulders ache chronically, but worst of all, my right knee is junk. It was about 16 years ago that I severed my posterior cruciate ligament, I fell asleep at the wheel of my pick up truck and came to an abrupt stop at the base of a cliff, on a dark, quiet, back road in Vermont. The dashboard of the truck hit me just below my knee tearing my PCL in two.
Unlike your anterior cruciate ligament the PCL does not need to be fixed, strong quadracept muscles can hold your leg in place, with just a bit of wiggle. That bit of wiggle ruined my meniscus cartilage and 3 years ago I had it fixed, the meniscus and PCL, it was a terrible experience. I slowly recovered and eventually got back to jogging. Jogging was not a good idea, after a year of jogging my meniscus began to tear again and eventually, like before the big operation, I found it hard to get through the day with out my knee swelling up.
Two months ago I went back and had my meniscus trimmed again, this time I walked out of the hospital the same day and with in six weeks was playing golf and chasing kids. I did not even need crutches, I used a cane for about three days and then dropped that. The arthroscopic surgery was simple and my knee felt better almost immediately.
I had one follow up visit with the surgeon about a month after the procedure. During this visit I asked him if and when it would be possible for me to start lumbering again. It was obvious by the look on his face that he had no idea what I was talking about so I explained, "Lumbering is one speed slower than jogging."
His response was not what I wanted to hear, "You only have thirty percent of the meniscus cartilage you were born with in your right knee and you should not waste it lumbering." "Go by a bike" was his advice.
Sudden Deceleration Syndrome has finally caught up with me and it makes me feel old.

Not So Bad

We survived, we camped and I dare say we had fun. The camp site was an island, we had canoes and fishing gear, the moms organized a treasure hunt and scavenger hunt, there was plenty of food and besides a lack of sleep everything went smooth.
There was a forecast of rain this weekend and when we pulled into the camp ground office that forecast came true. It was like God flushed the toilet, an unbelievable amount of water over a short period of time. While Heidi was checking in there was a flash of lighting, I got out of the truck and pulled a tarp from under the gigantic pile of camping gear and just as the first soft ball sized drop of rain hit the pavement I got our bedding and clothes covered. By the time I got back in the truck I was soaked to my underpants but a disaster was dodged.
We sat in the parking lot for twenty minutes hoping the deluge would subside and when it did we went looking for our site. When we found it, our camping mates were soaked, but our bedding and supplies were dry. We set up camp, the sun came out, and the kids had a great time, fishing canoing and camping.
Alls well that ends well.

We're Going Camping

We're going camping, I wish I could say that I am looking forward to it, well I could say that I was but the truth of the matter is that I am not.
I barely camp, I can get by camping because I went to military college and was forced to learn the basics. Thank goodness Heidi has done most of the work getting the family organized for this adventure because if it were up to me we would not be camping at all. The biggest obstacle is that Thomas is only two, he is one year bigger than when we went last year but he is still not big enough. His legs are to short for walking in the woods, hiking is not his thing. The boys can not wait to fish, I don't mind fishing, it is baiting the hook and then God forbid we catch a fish getting it off the hook that I am not fond of.
To top it off there is a very good chance that it will rain every night over the weekend, we are all going to be damp and I will try very hard not to be miserable.

Celtics

What fun, the Celtics are World Champions! Get the Bruins up to speed and Boston is the modern day Utopia for a sports fan. To be emotionally invested in every season is such a treat it is hard to explain. Go Red Sox!

Will it ever end?

Last week was Merry's recital marking the end of a year of ballet. To celebrate the extended family went out for Chinese food, towards the end of dinner Thomas crawled under the table for awhile and then moved to a vacant booth.

When Thomas returned he brought with him the odor of a healthy little boy who was feeling a bit thinner than when he excused himself. Dinner was over, the ride home was short, I made the command decision that he could sit in "it" until we got home. This was the wrong decision! The poop worked its way out the back of his pants, up his back and all over the back of his car seat. THIS DISCOVERY MADE ME THROW UP!

My throwing up not only made Thomas laugh, it got Mom's attention. She came to try to save the day. Emphasis on try, she got Thomas' diaper off and then he got away, poop up his back and down his legs. Upon his escape he headed straight for Dad, that's me, I was busy retching at what I had thought was a safe distance. The two year old was purposely taunting me with his poopy body, he had some on his hands and he was chasing me with his hands up making monster faces. It was working because I was running, screeching, and carrying on , while everyone else in the family laughed at my dismay. Mom laughed so hard she peed her pants.

Mom came to my rescue and chased Thomas into the house and into the downstairs shower. All that was left was the clean up and that wasn't pretty either, as I am sure you can imagine. Thomas is our third child and the only one still in diapers, diapers have been in my life for six years now and I find myself wondering if and when it will ever end. I hope the end of poopy diapers is near.