Knee Surgery

So on New Years Eve last year, I hurt my knee wakeskiing.
I never ended up having surgery for my ACL and my knee did really well for a while.
I was really active this summer and fall.
During a flag football game, I forgot to put my brace on.
I ran a play and stepped on my knee so wrong. It hurt so bad.
This was just before Thanksgiving break, so I was happy to have the time to let it heal.
During Thanksgiving break I tried to go on a run and I normally have no problem running 3 miles non-stop, but I had to keep stopping cause of my knee. It was so annoying.
It felt better though the next week.
I had a flag football game after break.
I played and I made a cut while running with the ball. It KILLED.
I played the rest of the game and could sort of run on it, but it was painful.
We went to dinner with a friend after and when I tried to get up from the table I couldn't even put weight on my leg.
It was a different injury than I had had.

The next morning I was in tons of pain. Connor's (Christina's fiance's) grandad was an orthopedic surgeon.
I went to his house that evening and he looked at it and he thought I tore my meniscus.
He also worked with my orthopedic surgeon and scheduled an MRI for me.
I got my MRI Friday morning.
Saturday morning Dr. Schow, (my orthopedic surgeon who I went to at the beginning of the year and was kind enough to take time on his day off to call) called and said he looked at the MRI and that I had a torn meniscus and my ACL was still torn.

I went to his office on Monday, and we scheduled surgery for Wednesday (because I could barely bare weight on it). They were going to go in and fix my meniscus and my ACL.

On Wednesday, Alex and I went to the surgery center at 11am. I was really nervous cause this was my first surgery! They prepped me and got me all ready. At 12:30 they took me to the operating room. I went in the operating room and I remember talking to the anesthesiologist (I get really chatty when I'm nervous). I remember him asking me to tell him a story and I said I couldn't think of one, and that was it!

I woke up and Cheryl and Joyce were there. Alex had to leave to take a test in class. Apparently I am a crazy coming out of surgery. They got some good videos of me. I talked about the most random things after!

I don't even remember it, it's the craziest thing. I remember waking up and getting a sip of diet coke and seeing Cheryl recording me.
All yesterday my knee was numb so it didn't hurt too bad.
Today it has been killing and last night I barely got any sleep. Thank goodness for good pain medicine to help with the pain.

I'm also so thankful for my husband who has been super helpful even though school has not been easy on him. I'm thankful for my mother-in-law who came to help me out and for Cheryl helping out too and getting me a nice fountain diet coke. I'm thankful for my sister for bring me dinner (she brought pizza and that was exactly what I was craving). I'm thankful for my sister Ana for stopping by and bring me some treats. I'm thankful for my friend Aubrey who brought me flowers and ice cream and made me laugh when she came over. And I'm so thankful my mom will be coming tomorrow to help take care of me and help me with Christina's shower!

Thank goodness for good people in my life who have made this easier on me. Even my students have been so awesome for me since I got hurt. My doctor has been awesome and has gotten it fixed so fast so I can start the recovery.
  

 So glad that I can move on my way to having a good healthy knee again!

November

The first weekend in November, Jessika went through the temple. It was such an awesome experience to be a part of. Christina was her escort. We love Jessika like a sister and we are so excited for her mission.

Cami's "Naughty or Nice" shower was at Spark. 

It was a really successful fun night!

The next weekend was Cami's wedding.

I love this girl.

She has such a fun, bubbly, beautiful personality. 

Rhet is one lucky man.

Alex really loves his little sister, too.

It was a gorgoeus wedding.

Joyce is the ultimate party planner.

They turned an airport hanger into a gorgeous reception.

It was perfect for Cam!

The next night was their open house in Toquerville and the Olsens did a great job.

It was a little chilly, but just reason to cuddle up!

For Thanksgiving we got to go to Florida!

We went fishing A LOT!

We fished at the beach, Alex and the boys fished in the ocean, but we found out the best place to fish was actually in my parents neighborhood.

Near the country club, there is a dock where you can canoe in the brackish water.

We fished off that dock and it was where we caught the most fish!

It was awesome weather.

And we got to see Grandma and Grandpa Chatfield, as well as Mabbie and John while we were there.

We loved November!

October

October was a fun month! It consisted of Alex going to school and me working.

Mom got to come out so we could look at venues for Christina's wedding.

We have been so lucky that we have got to see mom EVERY month! 

I have loved it.

It's made living so far away not seem unbearable.

Also, Christina's best friend Adrienne was here with her cute little baby Will.

I played both flag football and soccer for intramurals.

Both teams were two of the most fun teams I have been on.

I played both flag football and soccer for intramurals.

Both teams were two of the most fun teams I have been on.

I loved all the girls.

I had fall break from school, and Cheryl and Joyce went to New York.

While they were gone I watched the babies!

One day we were in Parowan so Alex and Jared could work on the houseboat trailer.

We went to St. George to an inflatable place and McDonalds after.

We had a way fun day!

I watched them the rest of that weekend.
Alex and Jared played some flag football, and Jared ended up breaking his finger so bad he had to get pins in it.

Poor guy.

We had lots of fall ball for lacrosse and scrimmaged Lehi and American Fork.

So proud of my girls. 90% of them are new, and there has already been so much improvement.

We through Cami a bridal fiesta!

It was a blast.

Jessika got her mission call!

Paris, France, leaving February 2nd.

So happy for her.

Halloween night we went with Cheryl and Jared and the babies as a herd of cattle.

Cheryl made the most awesome Halloween dinner.

She made spider deviled eggs, pumpkin breadbowl for chili, and spooooky punch!

October was a really fun month!

Fall Weekend

This weekend started feeling like Fall!

 Friday night started off with some big news.

Christina got engaged to Connor!!

So exciting.

We love Connor and we are so excited for Christina.

Check out that bling!

After Alex and I were sneaky taking pictures and stayed to take pictures with them Alex and I headed back to Provo for the game. 

On Saturday, in between conferences on Saturday we went with Cheryl and Jared and the babies to the Red Barn in Santaquin.
They had a pumpkin patch, a big slide, a maze, and a tractor ride.
It definitely felt like fall! 

3rd Anniversary

Last week on the 14th we celebrated our 3rd year anniversary.

Unfortunately we were apart on that day.
Alex had to work and I was in Provo cause I had to take my mom to the airport and then had a new teacher orientation at 8am the next day.

But I had a little secret up my sleeve! Alex thought for sure we wouldn't see each other so I drove to Parowan that day. I got there and hooked up the jet ski. I wanted to surprise him at work but I was running behind so his mom called and asked him to go to walmart to pick up something for her. I went to Walmart and while he was walking around I surprised him! He had no idea that I was in Cedar and he was so shocked. I was super proud of myself because I am terrible at surprises. We went to Subway and got a sandwich to take to the lake with us! We went to Quail Lake and jet skiied and played around. After we went and got a snow cone.

It was such a fun way to celebrate with Alex. I wanted to take him to do one of the things we enjoy most which is being together at the lake.

I can't believe it has been three years. It was the best decision I have ever made to this day. I am so thrilled to spend eternity with Alex. We have some amazing adventures together these past 3 years and I can't wait to see what the future has in store for us!

I love you Alex!
xoxo

The job search is hard. 

But still pushing through and hoping for an interview soon.

Alex is working hard at work and on the houseboat.

Can't wait for our Lake Powell days!

I have been the biggest blogging slacker in the world!

We were crazy busy this semester, which added to my lack of blogging.

But I am back with an update!

I finished my student teaching a couple of weeks ago.

I absolutely enjoyed my experience of student teaching.

It confirmed to me that I picked an excellent career for me.

It just feels like exactly what I need to do, but now I'm searching for a job.

Keep your eyes peeled for health/p.e. teaching jobs!

Alex finished off the semester strong.

We both got to graduate together last weekend!

Our families came and celebrated with us.

That weekend we celebrated my mom's birthday as well.

We had a surprise party for her.

She said that we were either planning a surprise birthday party for her or my dad was having an affair.

Luckily it was the first situation instead of the second!

Lots of my mom's friends now live in Utah so it was nice to see some old friends.

 

Other things happening:

Alex accepted a job in Cedar City for the summer. 

Normally he drives truck for his dad in the summer but this is a civil engineering opportunity.

He's excited to start it.

It was a little unexpected but it was a good blessing!

So this summer we will be spending our time between Provo and Cedar City.

I'm still coaching lacrosse. 

Can I tell you how much I love this job?

I can't get over how lucky I am to coach such an amazing group of ladies.

They brighten my day every single day.

We have 2 games left.

It's crazy that at such a young age I have been doing my dream job.

We are just living life and enjoying our time together.

We got new road bikes for graduation so we will be biking all summer!

We are so excited for our summer and can't wait for the exciting opportunities ahead.

But for right now, we are soaking up our free time!a

 

Birthday Week 4

This past week was my birthday week!

This was the 4th birthday week that Alex and I had together.

Here's a breakdown about the week.

Thursday morning I got in my car and found a card with a sub zero gift card in it.

My favorite!

That night we went to a Jazz game. 

We started in the nosebleeds but moved down into the lower bowl.

It went into over time and the Jazz won! 

It was a great game.

Friday morning, I woke up and Alex had got me some sweet tooth fairy cupcakes!

They have been delicious.

That night Alex had a flag football and I went and watched.

After the football game I headed to Menchies frozen yogurt with my lacrosse team.

We were working on a team building weekend that weekend.

When I got home my friend Gillian came over and brought in sweet baby Mia.

She's such a sweet little baby!

She's now 3 weeks old.

On Saturday Alex had to leave to drive in the middle of the night, but I woke up to all my favorites!

Popcorn, tickets to a movie, diet coke, twix and laffy taffy's!

That afternoon I hung out with Cheryl.

When Alex got home on Saturday, we noticed that strange things happened!

There was a rainbow in his closet with a pot of gold at the end.
And our milk was green!

We hung around on Sunday and then my lacrosse girls came over for Sunday dinner.

It was really great.

Alex wrote me a love letter that night.

Monday I spent at school, but when I came home, I read that Alex had been accepted into Grad School!

We are so happy.

And I read the acceptance letter in my new lounger!

Alex called it my luxurious Lake Powell lounger!

Perfect for Lake Powell

Tuesday Alex came home with some flowers and a balloon for me!

Wednesday I went to school!

I wore the crown my mom got me in the summer.

My mentor teacher is so awesome. 

She bought me balloons and put them on the chair up front.

She also bought me lunch.

My fourth period students sang me Happy Birthday

and the office gave me a twix bar!

I couldn't imagine a better place to spend my birthday.

After school, Alex met me near the interstate and we headed up to Weber for a lacrosse game.

He gave me my birthday present. 

I got a shopping spree and shellac nails gift card!

Can't wait to use them.

 

My sweet lacrosse girls brought me a poster, and a sweet card.

One of my former players put a cute note on instagram as well.

Unfortunately we couldn't pull out a win.

We ended the day by going to Sub Zero with Jessika, Cami, Christina, and Connor.

It was a great day.

Alex spoiled me like crazy.

I had tons of family say Happy Birthday.

I got to talk to both my Mom and my Dad.

I have a feeling year 22 is going to be amazing.