The Knee Report

Yesterday we made our way to Park City to meet with Dr. Tom Rosenberg (an orthopedic doc). He is great. He is probably nearing retirement and only works one day a week so we have been waiting for this appointment for a couple of months. Kenyon had already seen another doc in that practice but he is fairly new and unfamiliar with the problems.

So here it is....the diagnosis is Avascular Necrosis which means: (AVN) A condition in which the poor blood supply to an area of bone leads to bone death. 

Because of the crazy dosage and long term use of prednisone (a steroid), the blood flow was poor to his knees causing the bone to die. The doc says it is around 70% loss. That seems kind of crazy but it is pretty bad. 

Originally we had been told that they could try some bone grafts or ultimately knee replacements. Not so. Dr. Rosenberg says no to that plan. With the amount of bone loss that he sees those solutions wouldn't even work.

The plan - making big improvements to Kenyon's diet - focusing on decreasing inflammation and bone health. And adding daily weight bearing exercise - walking - a couple of times a day and gradually building up as he gets strength. He is also supposed to do straight leg raises. Ice several times a day and wear compression sleeves. All of these things will help increase the blood flow to the knee and allow new bone to grow (we had been told that wasn't possible but the doc is saying otherwise).

In a couple of months, he may go in and scope the knee to get rid of the inflamed tissue and clean it out a bit. We'll see.

With time we should see gradual improvements. Like 3 years from now. So good news but once again quite the road ahead of us.

Oh - and did you know that he should NOT be taking ibuprofen or aleve. That isn't what the other doc said. Apparently those things cause bone loss. 

We will start making some changes.

As for the walking - anyone have a treadmill sitting around that they never use and want to sell. Or any good recommendations on that kind of a purchase?

Look Who's Turning TWO!

Two years ago, June 25, 2008, Kenyon got new life. Thanks to his big brother, Brett.

The new blood cells dripped into his chest through the port and a couple hours later he was a new guy. (that is the very, very simplified version of a long story.)

Last year we celebrated the 1st birthday with two fun parties. Life was definitely looking better. I am kind of wishing I had planned parties again because that was so much fun (thanks to some good people who made it happen - you know who you are :))

If you had asked me last year, how we would celebrate year 2 - I would have said that we would be in some great location totally relaxing and that this whole thing would be completely behind us. Not so much. I wish. Oh well. Maybe year 3.

But so my big questions are - is this the start of the Terrible Twos? Yikes. And what do you give a grown up two-year old on his birthday?

PS - We go see the orthopedic guy this next week so hopefully we will have some sort of update on his knees.

MS Boutique This SATURDAY

Come check out this fun boutique on Saturday in SoJo. My friend Sunni is amazing. She was diagnosed with MS about 3 years ago. She is riding in the upcoming MS100 ride and is raising money for MS.

Support a good cause - and get some fun stuff. :)

AMAZING

The kids table was decorated with candies. A kids heaven.

So this weekend I went to the MOST AMAZING wedding ever. And I know that I am known for exaggerating things a bit. This is not an exaggeration. I took a few pictures with my phone but it won't do it justice so we will just wait for their photographer to post some pictures.

Those flowers on that cake are made from sugar. It is unbelievable.

During the dancing part of the evening (which was so much fun, btw), they cleared the stage and the bride and groom were standing on the side. And all of a sudden the music starts and a flash mob style dance gets started. The bride's sister and sister-in-law had choreographed the whole thing. Check it out here. Maybe it was one of those things where you had to be there. But it was so cool. The bride - who planned every detail of the wedding - had NO IDEA. And near the end you can see her groom (who was in on it) come dancing down the center.

AWESOME!!

**Everyone is posting about this wedding. I clearly do not take good pictures - especially with my phone. But you can see more great ones here and here.

Lemon Yumminess

Have you been to Sprinkles? I have been to the one in Newport Beach. We don't have them in Utah. Dang it. But for my birthday, my friend Amy (one of many) gave me a Sprinkles Cupcake Mix. I was waiting for the perfect occasion to make them. It finally came (sort of) and OH MY!

You MUST try this frosting recipe. If you like lemon - you will die. For sure.

Lemon Frosting (follow these directions!)

from Sprinkles

2 sticks unsalted butter, firm but not cold
zest of 1 lemon
1/8 tsp salt
3 3/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice

In a bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the flat beater, beat the butter, zest and salt on medium speed until light and fluffy - about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to low and gradually add the sugar and beat until thoroughly blended. Add the vanilla and lemon juice and beat until smooth. Do not overmix, or the frosting will incorporate too much air. It should be creamy and dense like ice cream. Add milk, 1 tsp at a time, if frosting does not have a spreadable consistency (I didn't need to).

**Warning: Careful if you make this - you might it eat it straight out of the bowl.