Wow! Summer 2023 was… interesting -

I have been trying to figure out how to lump all of the last several months into a proper post. It is time to rip the bandaid off and just say it: Summer 2023 was interesting. It was full of extreme highs and big lows. Let’s see, we had several surgeries, 2 trips to the lake, job loss, and a divorce.

Compartment Syndrome Surgeries

We found out in March that Reagan has compartment syndrome. She runs track, and this past winter her legs started hurting. A lot. For a while, she was being treated for shin splints. However, after nearly 3 months of physical therapy, she was not feeling any better. A few more tests were performed by her ortho, and it was decided that Reagan has compartment syndrome in both legs. Surgery was going to be necessary.

Side Note: This is how the doctor described it to us. Reagan’s muscles are like over-stuffed sausages. When she exercises, the blood circulation causes a lot of pressure and pain in the muscle casings. The doctor was going to make 2 separate 2″ incisions in the muscle casing to allow them to expand. Once the incisions are made, the doc expects Reagan’s muscles to “poof” out.

The surgeries needed to be done in the summer and would be about 6 weeks apart. She would be off it for 2 weeks (crutches in public, boot around the house), then PT.

Reagan’s first surgery was her first day of summer. It was a rough one. The surgery itself went great, her muscles popped out the way the doctor was expecting them to do. The recovery for this first one was rough. It was a solid week before she was up, moving around and feeling a little better.

The second surgery was perfect. Reagan recovered so much faster. As I type this, she is one-week post-op and walking around the house in her boot. She still has a few months of PT ahead of her, but life (and track) will be SO much better for her now!

A Week at Lake Watauga

If you know me, you know I LOVE boating. If I can be on a boat, count me in! The kids and I spent 4th of July week at the lake. What is an even bigger deal, for me, is that I actually took 2 entire days off while there! It was incredibly nice to fully unplug and play around with the kids.

We spent so much of that week on the boat. Remy prefers to drive – full throttle obviously. This works out, since the bigs like to just ride, bounce over the waves, and soak up the sun.

Remy loves anything outside. He had a blast fishing with Grandpa. They fished from the dock, and Remy talked him into fishing from the kayak.

And of course, while in NC/TN we had to swing by Ashe County for some jam, cheese and fudge. It’s a tradition and requirement. Since I am currently between jobs, the kids and I are going to play at the lake again before school starts. I can’t wait actually. There is something so peaceful about the lake and very little cell service.

Goodbyes in Summer of 2023

There was a week in July that I was not expecting. My divorce was finalized and I lost my job. All in a 7-day span. This was one of the craziest roller coasters ever.

I am still reeling a little from both.

The divorce was fast. The speed at which that happened still shocks me. We split in February. I asked for a divorce in March. It was filed in April, and signed by the judge in July. It still feels unreal. I know I have been tight-lipped about it, and I might stay that way.

The job was a big blow. Initially, it threw me into a panic tailspin. I mean, I am a single mom. The weight and fear of financially providing for my kids hit me like a truck. But I have been through MUCH worse in my life.

Well, now that all of that is out in the open… what should I do next?