Baked Mac & Cheese

Baked mac & cheese with Colby jack and mozzarella.

   Hey y'all, hope everyone is having a great and relaxing weekend! I am trying to relax and do a lot of nothing myself but I suck at sitting still. Last Friday morning I had my Synvisc-One injection done on my left knee. For the next 48 hours I can only walk to the bathroom or take a quick shower. It's actually doctors orders to do nothing but watch Netflix and read. The swelling has finally gone down but I am still very sore and grumpy. Synvisc-One is a wonderful gel that is shot into the knee joint to prevent swelling, and pain from arthritis. I began getting these injections after my ACL transplant and they have been a God send. I can work out harder, run farther, take the stairs all the time, and be a normal active adult. People who have had multiple knee surgeries should think about talking to their doctor about this gel to see if it is right for them. Since getting the injections I am not having to eat anti-inflammatory meds like candy anymore. Once in a great while I will take 2 Aleve for slight pain.

   Let's talk about that gorgeous container of mac & cheese. Tomorrow my church @St. Barnabus is having a Blessing of the Backpacks for all the kids going back to school on Monday. I am bringing my laptop, research materials, and books to be blessed. I think having the kids see that school can be fun and exciting when you get older will help their morale. Knowing that life gets better helped me in junior high and especially high school. College has been a wonderful experience and I am forever grateful that I was able to go. After church services we are having a pot luck and I am bringing baked mac & cheese along with chopped cantaloupe.

   Since I cannot move around much I enlisted the help of my mama to make this yummy dish. I got a cooking lesson while sitting in a chair inside the kitchen. I did get to grate the Colby Jack and Mozzarella so I kinda helped out. Mama taught me how to make a white rue sauce which is known as one of the great mother sauces. When you begin to learn how to cook, this sauce is a must have. It is versatile, velvety, and easy to make. I will write out the full recipe in the next blog post.

   What books or movies do y'all like to distract yourself with when you have to lie around the house?

Some People get Botox I get Synvisc-One

    It is that time of year again and no Santa is not on his way. The time has come my friends for me to receive another Synvisc injection in my left knee. The first injection helped me so much that I didn't notice the wonders of Synvisc until it wore off. Two weeks ago I noticed a sharp pain in my knee especially when I would walk on hard surfaces or in any standing yoga poses. While boxing at the gym it hit me like a foul ball to the face. Seven and a half months have passed since my last injection which I should get every six months. Synvisc alleviated all my swelling and 90% of pain that I would experience while working out. Due to the small amount of arthritis that developed in my left knee the injections are a necessity.  

   
    To help people with their first injection I have some handy tips. Bring someone with you to hold your hand or tell corny jokes while the needle is inserted into your knee joint. Ask any questions or present any concerns before the procedure. Freaking out before the ice is applied to your knee will make for an awkward visit. Have your favorite treat on hand after the procedure and be prepared to sit on your buns for 48 hours. Staying off my feet for two days is hard for me and not fun at all. However, I have access to Netflix and a husband who doesn't mind helping me out with cooking and other domestic chores. How do y'all handle stressful medical procedures?

What I'm Doing Today

    So today I am under doc's orders to be a hermit and a couch potato. To accomplish this I am watching way too much trashy reality TV, checking out HauteLook.com, Modcloth.com, and icing my knee. Thursday morning I got my first Synvisc-One injection, drained my knee, and received a cortisone injection.  Dr. Cochran's PA actually did an amazing job of the draining and injections making the procedure quick and painless.

    I am making the most of my lazy day and doing whatever the hell I want! Bring on yummy French Market coffee, Netflix, and snacks. I found the most amazing Pink English Lace shirt for work on HauteLook.com and cannot wait for it to arrive on my doorstep. Packages that come in the mail always make me happy! Hope everyone has a fabulous day :).

This is the best my knee has looked since November!

Synvisc-One Injection

      Friday I received a phone call from Dr. Cochran's office telling me that my insurance had approved my synvisc-one injection. I was kinda hoping that they had forgotten because needles are not my favorite thing in the world. The cherry on top is that they will have to drain all the fluid from my knee before I can have the injection.

Have fun draining that!

     Basically this injection helps to regulate the fluid in your knee and lubricate and cushion the joint. This injection is a gel-like substance that is made from hyaluronan that comes from chicken combs (how delightful & disgusting). Hyaluronan is actually found in the human body within the joints and acts as a cushion for the joint and allows the joint to work properly.

Yummy injections!

     Although this procedure is important for the health of my knee I Am Not Excited and will require hours of Netflix, Pinterest, and maybe a small paleo brownie. I am required to be off my feet for 48 hours after the injection which for me is a little difficult. So Friday morning Steven and I will go to the doctor with caffeinated smiles on our faces. I plan on wearing red lipstick because why the hell not. If I have to feel like crap then I might as well look cute. I also plan on taking pictures and videos to upload in my next blog post. Spoiler Alert this will not be fun. Happy Weekend Y'all!

Life is too short not to laugh. #Funny