2 to Grow With : December 2020: Family Pictures and Gracie Knee Surge

We embraced extended family pictures this year! It was time for the Martin's as we have not had updated pics is 5 plus years and for the Whitmer's we wanted to do some fun snow pics. My crew was over them by the end buy they turned out great and they were so patient!

The Martin Grands

The entire family together

Favorite pic of the grands all together with Grammy and Papa

Sisters!

Maggie looks so cute in her glasses!

Whitmer Grands annual picture for my Grandma Sutton.

Whitmer family!

These two!

Hallmark movie look a like!

The grands!

Gracie had a pretty major knee surgery in December (the 17th). She was able to wrap up school for the semester two days early and use Christmas break to recover. It was a more intense surgery and recovery than we expected. The cause of the surgery was not a sports injury, although swimming and strength training had caused further damage when her knee cap would dislocate. Initially several years ago they expected she would outgrow it and with PT that would help. When that was not working the MRI showed her knee cap did not fit into a knee socket (her socket was flat) so her knee cap would float like a marble and not only dislocate early, but began to grow dislocated. The surgery shaved 2 inches off a bone, put in a cadaver bone (she flipped out initially over this), a 2 big screws, 2 little screws and a wire as well as tightened up her muscles/ ligaments to hold the knee cap center. She would be in the mobilizer unable to bend her knee (except in PT) for 6- 8 weeks and then more PT after for strength. She has done so well but we have learned is really mean when she is coming off of anesthesia and on her pain meds!

out of surgery. It took her awhile to come out of the anesthesia to be able to come home.

a brief moment of a semi smile a few days post surgery

The smile did not last long.

Each day was better!

She was not able to (or comfortable) going forward on her crutches, so she learned how to go backwards. That was a safety issue of course but we were glad she was up and moving! When she went to PT they had never seen anyone go backwards and quickly spent the first session teaching her how to use her crutches correctly. The first day of PT wore her out!

They all slept in the family room for about a week... Gracie, Maggie and Bella.

First shower thanks to sweet friends who were able to get us a shower seat. Gracie was not able to stand and had to have her brace off which made for a challenge to shower without a seat. She felt so much better after.

Even put a little make up on. She looks so happy here! Each day her smile was stronger!

We did a chartered bus tour of Christmas lights with the Mulvaney and Potts families. Gracie did well but was so tired!

Her puppy and her Eeyore!

We were so blessed by so many friends checking in on her, sending her treats, and helping whoever they could. It made the weeks of recovery manageable. These were delivered the day after surgery and were so yummy!

And of course someone knew she has a deep love for coffee!!

While Gracie was recovering the rest of us were enjoying some downtime as well. We spent lots of time snuggled and watching TV which is not a consistent occurrence on a regular basis at our house. COVID did help the timing of the surgery as she did not feel like she missed out on much and we all stayed close to home.

Sister was a trooper and so helpful. She wanted to help more than Gracie wanted help. She crawled up in bed with me one morning and went back to sleep! It was nice to have some days off to spend home all together.

COVID work Christmas party!

We are so blessed to have two wonderful nanny's this year. They pick the girls up from School and get them to Crossfit or help with homework. And often pick up treats! (Chick Fil A fries are a favorite)