Aaron's Birthday

Aaron turned 15.  Jon bought him a new 308 rifle.  Jon thought he should have his own gun to hunt with.  Aaron also got Drivers' Ed for his birthday!  He took the classes during Fall Break before his birthday, so I was able to take him to the DMV on his birthday and get his Permit (I forgot to get a picture at the DMV).  Aaron's 2 friends, Joe and Ian, came over to celebrate.  We all went to see Ender's Game!  Ian liked the movie so much, he bought the e-book for his Kindle on the way home from the show.  Joe and Ian spent the night.  Jordan Vaughan (Nate's friend) took Aaron to a gun show the next morning and bought him a fishing pole.  Then they came back to the house, used Nate's forge, and made Aaron a Hunting Knife.  

Happy Birthday, Kid.

Surgery and PT

In the 2nd Rugby Match of her Senior Year, Elizabeth tore her ACL.  The surgeon, Dr. Albright, said she would need surgery.  Sad. They can't Repair ACL's.  They have to Reconstruct them using something else, a cadaver, your own tendon, your own hamstring...  Dr. Albright said that he would prefer using Elizabeth's own tendon that goes from the knee to the quad.  It's pretty thick, so they use 1/3 of the thickness and about 5 inches.  He said the tendon heals completely on its own and it has the lowest failure rate.  She should be able to play Rugby in College next Fall.

On October 17th, we went to the Children's hospital for surgery.  She was home by 4:00 that afternoon.  Dr. Albright said all went well.  

Now she has physical therapy once a week for at least 20 sessions with Dr. Nathan.  And follow up visits with Dr. Albright every so often for the first year.  And she has to wear a brace for at least 3 months.

Aaron also has physical therapy with Dr. Nathan.  Nathan and Dr. Albright said that Aaron has grown faster than the tissues in his knees can keep up with and he uses his thighs too much.  All causing his knee bones to grind bone on bone.  Nathan is teaching Aaron how to use his butt more.   If he can learn to use his butt more than his thighs, it will put less stress on his knees.  If not, he will have arthritis in them when he's in his mid-twenties.  

Dr. Nathan is awesome.