Happy Easter!

In an effort to focus on the real Easter message, we had focused our family prayers, and FHE lessons, evening talks, and scripture study around the life of Christ during his final week. I waited until the day before Easter to buy the basket fillers and candy for the eggs...and had to skim through the last pickings of what was left at the store for Easter because of my procrastination! By 10 pm that night, Calvin came down with croup, Isaac was sick with a Stomach flu, and Zoey was starting a fever and complaining of an earache! Ahh! The last thing our sick kids needed was a bunch of candy! But, it happened anyway. Easter and the bunny and the baskets and the eggs all came whether we were ready for it or not, and whether we needed it or not!

Brian and I didn't get much sleep, so when the kids came hopping into our room to inform us it was EASTER, we asked them to wake us up in an hour! We're so lame! But we were sooo tired! I just have to laugh at our Easter pictures! All the ones I saw posted on Facebook were of other people's children and families cutely dressed in matching spring outfits with smiles. Ours was nothing like that! This is one of our best...Isaac is a gem!

 And of course I'm prompting them to "smile at the camera" and "look at me" with all the enthusiasm I can muster without sounding pissed...and ya....this is what I get. They just want to hunt eggs. What am I thinking?!? I think I'm convinced to forgo family pictures this year. I also think I hear Brian cheering in the background with that news!

Nonetheless, Easter would not be missed at our house, and the kids had an awesome egg hunt. **Spoiler alert** Jackson found out the Easter bunny is not real, and then Zoey found out, and then Eli...so it was kind of sad to see that magic gone. I'm hoping it'll last for a little while longer with Calvin and Isaac.

We had some non-member friends (Rachel and Josh Dees, contacts from Brian's work) and Uncle Brandon over for Easter Dinner. We had our traditional rack of lamb, wild rice salad, pita, hummus, and scalloped potatoes. We topped it off with strawberry shortcake. It was delicious. It was great company. It was great having it on Conference weekend to get a good dose of spirituality mixed in with the weekend!

Jackson and Zoey

 Jackson entered an art competition at school. He won first place and was sent on to region. He won first place in region and was sent on to the state competition. He won first in his category and age group at state too! Way to go Jackson!! He made a large Earth in space from melted crayon on canvas. It took him a month after school to complete it. Sometimes he wanted to give up, but we encouraged him to keep going, and now he's quite proud of his hard work.

Zoey started piano lessons!! We found a beautiful used piano on KSL. We promised her that if she memorized a song we'd take her out for ice cream. She's enjoying her lessons so far, now if only she won't quit like her mama did! Jackson i actually quite good at it too! He's not in lessons yet, but he has figured it out on his own! I'm quite impressed. I have been trying to re-teach myself and am so mad I gave it up! Yes, my mom was right....

Hip recovery, part 2

The first month was pretty rough. A lot of bed rest and little walking. Still taking anti-inflammatory meds and managing pain... I needed a ton of outside help!!I'm now 10 weeks post-op. It's nice to be out of the pajamas-all-day-no-mkaeup phase!

Month two was a bit better. I was able to get a round more on my own and gradually get around without too much additional help. I was using crutches at the beginning of the month and finally weening myself of crutches entirely by the end of the month. I was allowed to swim with my upper body (using a booey between my legs to prevent me from kicking) and I was reminded of how much I enjoy swimming. I felt like a fish in the water, my second home! I loved going to the pool for swims.  I really enjoy the rhythm of the strokes and the quietness under water and sound of my breath when I come up for air. It's kind of peaceful.

This was s beautiful sunrise I captured on the way home from one of my early morning swims. I think I've convinced myself to participate in a 3 mile open water swim race this summer at Deer Creek. It's about the only thing I can actively do right now and it sounds like a fun challenge. I've managed to kick out (well-- not literally kick out but swim) a mile in 30 minutes with just using my arms! The fun thing about the race is that each swimmer needs their own paddler on the side, so Brian get stop join me on the event! It'll be fun.

By 8 weeks I was off all anti-inflammatories!! Physical Therapy has been going well. I've been doing light yoga and some biking. I'm on target to start a run/walk program at 12 weeks. I'm excited for that. On the down side, I've had a decreased range of motion in my hip and I can't do as much as pre-surgery, but I've been working with a sports massage specialists to help bring back the mobility. I still have to manage good days and bad days. Sometimes my hip just decides not to keep up with me and I'll be in pain and out of commission for a couple days. I'm hoping that goes away. Brian must think I coordinate my hip pain with whenever it's "convenient" for me. Ha ha! No really, he's been pretty supportive and has taken on a lot of extra duties. I was just recently cleared to push a vacuum and I haven't had to do any grocery shopping since the surgery. Thanks hubby!!  

A month or two ago seems like a different Chelsea. I can't believe I had to endure all those days in bed! ugh. It was awful.  I'm glad I've gotten through the worst of it. But I am really looking forward to getting back to normal. I think I'm only 50% of the way there. And it will probably take the rest of the year to get me that other 50% back. It's a long slow recovery.