Where did summer go?

Summer has flown right by and the pace of our adventures picked up towards the end. I have been bad at updating you all, but I will catch you up.

The knee is fully healed and chomping at the bit to hit the slopes. No rafting or white water adventures for me this summer, but Justin hit is hard in his canoe. He guided a few times, but has enjoyed going out with friends mostly.

We helped our friends Kathy and Conor paint their new home a few months ago and made a pilgrimage to the Bershires with Sam, Andy and Glen to see Michael Franti! It was an amazing show. Sam and Andy also hosted what I hope can be an annual Bigelow station bash to celebrate getting hitched. I think next year Justin and I will host one later on to celebrate Kate and Dave's wedding.

Not much has changed at work. Justin is considering a nuring program and I continue building my skills and knowledges to sit for my Certified Hand Therpist Exam in two years. (I have to wait until I have been an OT for 5 years to sit for it).

We hope all is well on your end of the world. Best to all! S&J

Family, Friends, Fun and Franti

Family Fun and Franti

The weekend before last we traved to Gloucester to return the boys home after a few days of fun in the Western Mountains of ME. We schooled them in the ways of Extreme Bocce, hanging on the porch and showed them the secret swimming hole. After a night in Gloucester we traveled to Western MA to Glen's place in the Berkshire's to see Michael Franti in concert at the Green River Festival. We packed a lot of fun into three days, but it was worth it!

Sprummer...

summer 09

Sprummer has been fun, but low key. It was full of knee rehad for me and breaking in a white water canoe for Justin. My knee is not 100% and won't be ready for agressive activity for a few months, but I am pleased with the progress and so is my rehab team. Justin has had tons of fun in his new white water canoe and has really taken to it. He has also be guiding too which I know he is equally excited about since he didn't get on the river last year because of school. At the end of the month he will move from working in Farmington to working in Livemore. He has mixed feelings, but is ready for the change. There has been mention that he will use the "low call volume time" to continue his education even more...oh jeeze!

Our friends/neighbors Sam and Andy are currently in Barbados getting hitched. We were suppose to go, but were not able because of the financial blow of my injury. We did however participate in the pre-wedding fun and will be ready to party at the reception right here in Bigelow Station!

The weather had been up and down. A few weeks ago we got down to the 30's at night. Our flower and veggies are planted and we are ready for summer to come full force. Our next adventures will be to a wedding in Western Mass next weekend and the 4th of July at Milea's beach house I presume. Be well...Jut and S~

Recovery

It has been one week since my ACL reconstruction and things are coming along really well. I almost have full motion back. My goal for the end of this week is to get full extension and I am at -4 (this means my knee has a 4 degree bend in it and it needs to be at 0). My other goal for the first week was to get up to 90 degrees in flexion on my CPM (a machine that bends and straightens my leg) and I was at 110 4 days after my surgery! I am being stubborn and not really wearing my brace at home a lot, and I am only using one crutch. I hope all this progress keeps up...

Reggae '09

OMG what a Reggae this year. Kate came from Telluride and surprised us with Little Dave. SO COOL!!! It made the whole weekend. Conor and Kathy came up and made it all complete (minus Big Dave of course). We spent the weekend eating, drinking and reuniting. It felt good to have family back for a short while and we can only hope next time it is for longer ;)

We are all the more safer...

Farva is now a Paramedic! He nailed his written test on the first go around and all he has to do is send in the official paperwork to the state to get his license. There has already been some celebrating, but I am sure we will turn up the juice when Kate and Chaos get here from Colorado on Thursday!!!!

Alta-tude Adjustment

So we couldn't afford our usual mega trip out West this year, but Sara snuck way to see Collen in SLC for a long weekend. A major knee injury put a dampor on skiing full force, but I did dominate the beginner and intermediate areas. Alta has a cool deal where you can ski the beginner area for free after 3pm (take note Sugarloaf) so I was able to test the bum leg before rippin' all day Sunday (Do NOT tell my PT or Ortho doc). Had a great time chillin' with Coll, Jarrod, and Smarion. The airline lost my luggage on the way home, but I am getting use to that. I also got use to getting searced at the airports since I kept setting off the metal detector with my knee brace. It was a great trip for SURE!

Paramedic...almost

So Justin passed his last two Paramedic practical exams on Friday. Now he just has the written to do and he will be officially done. The practicals were a huge weight because of the pressure involved. Having another professional breathing down your neck critiquing you is never fun. The written will be somewhat less stressful. Once that is over I am sure he/we will be ready for a new challenge.

Knee Injury...yet again

So I had a nice three day weekend finally planned and we got about a foot and a half of snow. I WAS PUMPED. On my third or fourth run on Saturday I caught an edge in a duff of powder and took a head over heals tumble. I hyperextended my knee and got a ride to the hospital by my personal EMT (soon to be Paramedic). My director at work (my personal PT) thinks I sprained my ACL and my knee cap is out of positon. I have been constantly icing and doing some strengthening to get things back to normal. It almost looks normal too. I WILL BE BACK ON SKIS!

Marc takes on Maine

Justin and I brought his nephew Marc back to Maine with us after the holiday. They had a great time skiing/riding and just plain hanging out. He got a good tast of our lifestyle and I don't think he hated it. Uncle Jut was a great host and was happy to have family in Maine for a little while.

A Hurlburt Christmas!

We traveled to Gloucester to spend the holiday with Justin's family and all their friends. We had fun and played with baby Emily lots. Justin made out well getting a white water canoe for Christmas. And no there was no ring under the tree for me. We hope you all had a safe and joyus holiday.