A big thank-you to Fran for the wonderful box I received yesterday. I'm so sorry to not be able to post until now. Fran sent a wonderful box of plants that I just got in the ground tonight. She sent: Coreopsis Sunray Sedum Goldstar Dianthus Firewitch Agastache Honey Bee Blue Also a wonderful assortment of seeds that I will be sowing this summer And some great teas. Thank you so much Fran. I do appreciate them all. It was a real welcome to work outside tonight. I have had a very hard day which is yet another turn on this roller coaster ride I have been on with this job situation over the past two and a half months. First I was losing my job then I was keeping it then I was losing it and then had info last week that led me to think I might be keeping it. But today it turned out to be a no. I will have something next year they have assured me but I really wanted to stay where I am at my home school that DS attends and I have been for the last three years. It doesn't look like that's going to happen and it is all very depressing to me. I know there are worse things and this may somehow work out for the best but it's hard to see it that way right now. I was so upset earlier that I forgot to take DS to his practice with his new team. DH thinks I am being a big baby and he's probably right but....I can't help it. So anyway, that's what's been holding me up lately in addition to job interviews. I hope you have received your box, Deb. I will still get these prize boxes out as soon as I can. -T

Thanks Ladies! Am rushed for time but wanted to say that DH has ordered the cast cover that Outsideplaying and Cat Mom suggested. It should get here on Friday. Thank you for that one, Ladies!! Have made and frozen 4 dinners so far: Shepherd's Pie, Spaghetti and my homemade meatballs, Meatball Stroganoff and (today) my homemade Chicken Noodle Soup. Thanks to Joanie for reminding me to think about comfort foods. I made my own personal comfort food: my homemade Chicken Noodle Soup this afternoon! Thanks to Jshore's suggestion, I'm making sure that everything is pre-cut into small pieces as I won't be able to cut things for at least the first week. I had NOT even thought of that before she suggested it! I have my list (thanks to you all) of things to do and to buy in the next 4 days and am checking them off one by one. I feel so, so much more prepared because of you all. I am usually a super-organized person, but have found that in stressful times like this, I do need a little help from my friends. Thank you for that! I'm off to go iron 3 or 4 shirts for DH. By Sunday, I'll have a at least a week's worth ironed and ready for him. Lynn

roselvr, I wonder if your DD has patellar subluxation? My kneecap "popped" to the outside and the knee would give out to the inside. Mine's a combination of repeated twisting injuries, general abuse :-) and a mild congenital defect (the "notch" the kneecap sits in is too shallow) and it, too, looked fine on imaging but it did not function properly under strain. I had arthroscopic surgery in 1990 on the right knee to deepen that notch a tad, adjust some ligaments and build what would eventually become a "collar" of scar tissue to keep my kneecap in place - I can feel that but can't see it. (Just the three eensy little scars from the arthroscopy, which after all this time are just little puckers in the skin. Instead of general anesthesia I had a spinal block and sedation and was happily stoned to the gills for two days afterward! LOL) I'm sure the technology has improved drastically since then, but that knee has never gone kerflooey on me again. Has your daughter had any physical therapy to stabilize the muscles that work the knee? It really can help a great deal, and it's totally non-invasive so it's an excellent place to start. Women are particularly prone to unstable knees simply because of our skeletal anatomy. I was able to avoid surgery on the left knee with physical therapy (the right knee was far worse off, which is why it got the knife and I chose to be much more conservative with the left) at the same time I was having extensive therapy on the right knee (long story). Even after 15 years I find myself doing some of the isometric exercises when waiting at stoplights, out of sheer habit!

Sorry I'm so late in getting back with responses to all of you. I sincerely appreciate the time you've taken to write and help me get past my fears. And each of you have touched on different aspects of the surgery/recovery process and shared valuable information and experiences. I need to have both knees done as they are both "bone on bone", but actually do not hurt all of the time. That makes it easier for me to question if I'm doing the right thing. I used to enjoy walking as a form of exercise, but now have trouble with any distance walking. I do water aerobics instead. I can not shop on concrete floors for more than 30 minutes. I find myself not doing things I used to if it involves much walking and that feels very limiting. I did get a RX for "pre-hab" PT to get in shape for surgery knowing it was in my future. I did that for several months last summer and have continued with the exercises at home. I've also been doing water aerobics for the same reason. I'm slowly getting prepared. Fori: I'm hearing a lot of comments about people wishing they would have done it sooner. I hope I feel that way! Rita: I hear you-that's why I'm not waiting. Gscience: Your sister sounds like she really turned it around! Hhireno: What the bff's boyfriend is now doing is really encouraging! Aok: Your MIL gives me hope! Jmc & 3katz: I hope I'm one of those wishing I had done it sooner! Iowa: Hoping for results like your dad and not your aunt!! Cawaps: Yes, the risks are one of my fears. I always think I will be the one that is the exception and things will go wrong. And my doctor does a spinal block and I've never had one. Cooper: That is why I'm going thru with it now, rather than waiting. Mojomom: Your DH gives me hope! Maire_Cate: I wish I had the nerve to have both done at the same time and could get it all over with at once. I don't. I do use a pad now for gardening and also one inside for any kneeling purposes. Glad to hear you can still garden. I may need to purchase a garden cart. Westsider: I do hope your pain has lessened and things are looking up. Anglo: I am hoping the pre-hab will pay off. Faron & Maire: I've heard great things about the ice machine and have already purchased one and it is the Breg! Southern Vesta: I think I, too, have gone thru the grief stages. I haven't had other surgeries affect me like this. Kathy Yata: Sounds like you've come a long way and your trike sounds interesting. Thanks, Liz