A Terrible Take Off Lands in Paradise

 

Josh’s mother is faithful about taking family vacations about every other year. This year she had set her sights on Vail, Colorado! This would be a first for all of us. We had planned on going before we had even thought of full time travel. Now, it would work out perfectly to leave just before the family vacation and meet them there. When family would head home to Kansas, we could take our time leaving and drive on to California. It was a great half way point!

The trip began! The whole family ended up driving with us as a caravan. I asked to drive first in our car, just to get my shift over. I drove for the first three hours.

Out in the middle of nowhere Kansas, we pulled over at a rest area. Bathrooms, play and a change of drivers. As we played we all explored a creek behind the restrooms. Leah and I found a small flock of purple butterflies. There was a cute little bridge and some small trails.

Josh went running down a small trail along the stream. I followed. At a moments notice he took a leap and landed down in the riven.

He looked amazing! I wanted to try! But once I looked at the jump I was second guessing myself. With some encouragement from my sisters in law, Brianna (And one of my besties) I did it! Kind of…

I landed and screamed. I could not walk and almost fainted. The lower portion of my leg would shift under me. They carried me to the car and drove about an hour to the Hays, KS ER. It was not broken but something was definitely wrong. He told us to continue to Vail. Stay off of it. Just see a doctor once we would get to California. Nothing could be done until the swelling went down anyway.  I was given a brace and pain medication. Josh picked up some crutches. We left for Vail.

Hays, KS ER

We enjoyed Vail for a few days. Josh and the family would go out and explore. On one of their first outings Joshua came back and surprised me with a wheelchair! Apparently the awesome Village of Vail Information Center provides free stroller and wheelchair rental from 9-5 each day! I was so excited and felt so loved! I had gone out a little on crutches before but it was hard.  So I had planned to spend most of the time enjoying the beautiful view from our condo.  My mother in law, Michele had gotten us an awesome place! (The pics do no justice!)

A stroller we rented.

The view from our condo. Ski slopes on the mouton.

Surprise Mom!

One day Josh mentioned that there may be some good doctors in Vail. Due to all of the skiing the doctors must have seen an injury or two. That settled well with me so we looked into it. Apparently Vail, CO had a world renowned facility. So I called. The very nice secretary told me that it normally takes at least six weeks just to be seen by a doctor. She would see what she could do being I was only in town for a week.

Vail Valley Medical Center

When she called back she told me to come in at noon to see the doctor! At noon the doctor told me to come back at five for an MRI. They said they would call back with the results at 7:00 pm.  We said okay and did as we were told.  At seven they called back and told us I needed knee surgery.
It was a torn ACL and both of my meniscus. I could come in the next day at 10:00 am to have it done!  Wow, that all happened so fast!

As we entered Dr. Laprade’s office the halls, waiting rooms, offices, patient rooms…every inch of that place was covered by pro jerseys that have been signed by all kids of famous people.  They were all thanking Dr. Laprade and his team for preforming their surgeries and helping they return to their careers!  Basketball, soccer, hockey, skiing, ice skating, Olympic champions… you name it, it was there. The Howard Head Physical Therapy was outstanding as well and also covered in thank you jerseys, balls, pictures…  Thank you Rachael and Melissa and all of you there! Thank you Dr. Laprade and all of you!

The next few weeks were much harder! Josh’s family had to go back home to Kansas the day of my surgery. Josh moved us to a hotel right next to the hospital called Evergreen Lodge. The employees were great and they give a discount if you are a patient at the hospital. Eventually I was able to crutch myself back and forth to PT and the kids could watch from our window. This is when my WONDERFUL MOTHER (Karla) drove all the way to

Mom reading to kids

Alisabeth watching me crutch back 

Colorado just to help us.  Once she was there Josh could focus on helping me and taking me to physical therapy. Thank you Superman! My mom still would help me but we really needed her to  help with our girls. Our kids were 41/2, 2 and 11 months. She stayed with us as long as she could. I think it was about a week. Thank you mom! I would like to apologies and thank my who family for their kindness at that time. I know I was a grump!

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In exchange for her goodness she did get to see a few of the sighs. If you have to be stuck in a town due to an injury, we could not have planned it better! The book she is reading was written by a local authors Elyssa Pallai and Ken Nager. We were able to meet them at a book reading of the Eli and Mort’s Epic Adventures of Vail.  Vail as my favoret library ever! Josh also took her out to a neighboring town called Frisco.

They have great eating in Vail.

Dillon Reservoir, Frisco, Co

In the end I think we spent three weeks in Vail and i have stopped by once since then.  We would not mind living there some day. Even with a knee injury I had a fabulous time. But you should hear about all the adventures in Vail everyone else was having!