SO proud of myself

[Sheena]

last wednesday i played badminton for the first time since my op!!!!!!!!
before i was told my op date etc, i kept asking when i would be allowed to play sports again, in specific badminton. first i was told a year, then it was about 9months, then it was for a badminton season (6months), and then at my last check-up i was told it would be after the three month mark!!!!!
im so proud of myself!! i feel almost normal because the whole time i was playing i wasnt feeling at all uncomfortable or anything!!

[KRIS ATKINSON]

Congratulations, Sheena! My daughter had surgery July 18, 2005 and is still on restrictions for amusement parks, technically. We went with our girl scout troop to Winterfest a Carowinds amusement park last Friday, to see shows and walk around while the others did the rides and the ice skating. Ended up we went on some mild rides as well. She and I competed on a Scooby-Doo ride where you shoot electronic stuff and earn points. It was less jerky riding than riding in my car! I beat her and she agreed that my 50 years of experience earned the priveldge with experience to win over her 15 years of experience. I guess I hit more targets than she did! She also rode a few rides that went up in the air and sort of flew around. She didn't do the fast or jerky looking rides, so I assume we sort of followed doctor's orders! Oh, we rode the gentle merry-go-round, too. I had more trouble on that than she did, as I had to heft my leg over the horse to get on and off. She, on the other hand, controls her body really well after wearing a brace for 2 years and then surgery. Her leg bent and was over her horse in no time! I noticed thankfully that she lowered herself carefully, instead of jumping down. One of the girl scouts asked her why she couldn't ice skate for a year. She answered honestly and bluntly: If I fall, I could end up in the hospital getting surgery done again! That said it all, I didn't have to "baby" her after all. Was scary this morning though as we had rain yesterday all day and it froze on my porch railing this morning. I was scared she would fall on a slick of ice, but her day escorted her to the van and we made sure she got in the school fine. The ice should melt today. I'm not thankful that here in the south, the schools tend to close at a moment's notice. Unfortunately, they didn't delay school today, though. Thankfully my husband drove her in today as I was afraid I'd hit an ice spot. I'm ready for the hot chocolates, lattes, and videos guys!! Be careful on that winter stuff outside all you post-surgery people like my daughter! Enjoy the indoors with me!!! Kris

[Sheena]

hey thanks for replying me!!
yeah i know, im going to have to be really careful this winter, especially with the ice and snow....
good thing im more of an indoor person like you!!! i dont really go outside unless im bribed with shopping or unless im playing sports. my kind of thing is staying indoors curled up in front of the tv or in my room reading a good book and listening to loud music!!!!
is your daughter 15? i forgot,.,.... memory loss!! she had it in July, thats good if she didnt miss alot of school. i missed the whole first week and a half from school, and because i have started sixth form, and im doing new subjects it was really hard for me.
how is your daughter going?
is there anything she still cant do, or can she pretty much do anything?

sheena xxxxxxx

[nikyergen]

Sheena, I am so glad that you have been released to do some things you want. My 17 year old daughter, like Kris' hasn't been released to do her favorite sport yet. She is a junior in high school and loves basketball. SHe is even thinking about not playing next year because she missed this year. I am going to talk to her coach about it and see if he can't encourage her to practice, but not play after the holidays. I am hoping she won't give up her favorite sport. I really like watching her play ball. She won't even watch her middle sister play in a game now. I am sure it hurts her to watch and not be able to play. It would just about kill me for the doctor to tell me I couldn't ride my horses. That is my way of relaxing. Especially when we have snow like we do now. It's fun to get the colts worked and then take them out for a ride in the snow. You seem like an ambitious young lady, how do I keep her encouraged in basketball. I am sure it is difficult to sit out a year, especially when the doctor originally felt she would be able to play this year. She has healed so incredibly well, he just didn't want to take any chances because she plays a post position.

Kris, I agree - wheres the hot cocoa, lattes, mochas, and videos? We have 8-10 inches of snow right now and are awaiting another storm in the next couple of days. It really makes feeding and watering the sheep, cows, and horses and royal pain in my bottom side. Our kids don't know what a delay or school closure is. We actually have to have blizzard (zero visability) before our buses don't run. The only time our school has been closed down was when the heat system had a problem and the water froze.

You all have a nice and wonderful day. Enjoy any kind of weather that God provides us and be safe.

'til later,
Nikki

[KRIS ATKINSON]

Sheena, actually I am more of an outdoor person, or used to be! At 50, with the weight I need to lose (I weigh over 200 now, bad me), athletics are more difficult. I love to snow-ski, scuba, camp, hike, read, play games, scrapbook, and many things. As of last February when the doctor told us how Erica's spine was continueing to curve aggressively in spite of her very seriously wearing a brace 23 hours a day, I have become a spine surgery nut! I constantly look for ways to "live" post-surgery for her. Our family re-organized all our lives for the year to help accomodate her needs. We went white-water rafting and kayaking in May, so she would be free from injury plenty of time before surgery, and we have avoided making plans for driving distances or "family activities" that she could not participate in. The boys do sports with their friends/organizations, but I avoid things I know she can't do for the year. That is why my mindset this winter is on indoor activities. Normally, I would push my kids out the door and then chase after them with a snowball in my own hand! My daughter has the "usual" restrictions that probably most doctors hand out post-surgery, for 8 months, supposedly: no swimming, skiing, contact sports, basketball, running, jumping, anything that might make her fall. Her doctor recently told us he will allow her to play air-hockey and swim and play basketball and kick the soccer ball against the wall, in January, but not any team sports. I didn't tell him how aggressive her brothers can be, so I guess I just have to handle that part myself. At least, he seems to be shortening the 8 month rule somewhat in her case. Kris

[Sheena]

hey nikki, thanks for replying to me.
with me, i had decided that although i wasnt allowed to play badminton i still wanted to go and chat to all of my friends there. the club on saturday mornings for two hours had become my place where i could do anything and play badminton and get all my anger out of my system. at the club there are many people who i dont see outside of it, and so going there, even just to say 'hi' meant alot to me. my brother still went to the club, and it did hurt me a bit beause i didnt want to see him play at first, but then i became so determined to get back to normal i just snapped out of it. i know how your daughter is feeling. its different for everyone, but i think you should encourage her and her friends to talk about it and maybe they can encourage her to at least watch a match or go to a practise session and watch if not watch her sister play. it might help her alot because she will feel that shes not missing out. thats how i found it with badminton. every week they were all learing new things and it was a bit depressing for me because while they were all learning new strategies and shots, i wasnt allowed. i talked to my coaches and they said that it was ok for me to stick around and watch.
hope that was some kind of help for you!
you have blizzards at the moment?? we have ice outside and as it is im absolutely freezing!!!!
hope your ok

sheena xxxxxxxxx

[Sheena]

wow kris, i wish i was a more outdoor-sey type person. i cant tand running around and doing things like that. well it really depends on the weather. if its too hot or too cold then no way!!!
your daughter was and still is restricted from swimming? thats odd because i was told i could swim, along with walking and playing tennis..and i had my operation in august....thats strange. obviously ive been walking, i havent had the chance to play tennis yet, but i could never really play it anyway so it doent bother me that much, and i havent been swimming for about 12years.
i think that its great that you have planned lots of nice indoor things for you and your daughter to do, im sure it will help her lots.
its probably a good thing that you didnt tell her doctor how aggressive your sons are because he would have prevented her rom doing more things and that would have proberly upset her. i didnt tell my doctor how aggressive my school is and i am ok. my school is really big and has about 1500pupils, and havent ben knocked at all!!
hope you are ok and look forward to hearing more of your replies!!
sheena xxxxx

[KRIS ATKINSON]

Actually, Erica can swim, depending who you ask. Also, how she swims is important. No aggressive swimming. For me, when I have to drive her to an indoor pool, it is easier to avoid it altogether than worry about her stretching her arms too far or kicking and harming her spine, than to wait until later. If she had it her way, she would have a swim party, and I see that as hard to control. She can shoot baskets in our driveway if she doesn't run or lift off her feet as she shoots. Since all sports have to be done carefully and she doesn't really want to be as careful as I'd like, I steer clear of sports. We have cold weather, but no snow, just some icy spots. It is a low of around 30 now, in the early morning. We have low taxes so very few snow plows to clear the roads, unlike the northern states in the USA. Very few days we could use the expensive plows, so why pay more taxes for just a few days each year? Enjoy your winter weather, all you northern hemisphere people! Now is a time to envy the Australians and New Zealanders on this forum, and whoever else is from the southern hemisphere. Take care all, Kris

[Sheena]

hey kris.
hope you are ok.
about your daughter, i would then perhaps suggest to her that if she wants to play basketball in a more aggressive and competitive way, then she may do herself more damage and end up going ten steps backwards instead of forward.
i have been told how important the recovery stage is so many times that i know it off by heart (my parents were the same when i said constantly about playing badminton again). i think you just need to stress to her that it is important. she probably knows it anyway! if it was me, id be happy just playing it a bit. my consultant told me that i could return to playing badminton, but i wouldnt be able to play as well as i was before the operation, and im happy with that. i played at school in PE last wednesday and i still managed to beat my friend Leanne! and this afternoon i will be playing again.
does she play basketball in a club or at school?
hope you are well
sheena xxxx
by the way does your daughter visit this forum?