Nursing Christine

Christine, my middle daughter, is the athlete of the family. All her siblings are pretty athletic, but Christine has been something else. When she first played for a recreation soccer team in grade school, her coach told us that she should try out for a premier team. I didn't know what that meant, or what it would lead to.

In high school, she started as a sophomore on their soccer team. She played volleyball her freshman year, but decided she liked soccer better. That year, the team won state. As a senior, her basketball team place 2nd in state and the track team won every relay at state.

She went to college on a soccer scholarship. As a senior she pretty much had lead every offensive statistic in the league. She then coached at the college level, several premier girls teams and lately has been helping coach high school. During all this, she has continued to play herself several times a week.

Which leads up to this past Monday when she went into the hospital for knee surgery. Somehow she tore her meniscus cartilage. Whether it was a single event or just the accumulation of all her years of sports, is unknown. Unfortunately, the result of the surgery was her meniscus has been compromised, meaning she needs to greatly reduce her participation in activities involving planting her knee, i.e. soccer.

This was quite a blow for her. She loves sports and not being able to do whatever she wanted is difficult to accept. She's tough though. I'm sure she will be fine and will continue to be active. I'm sure soccer will still be in her life, just not several times a week as now.

So this week, I've been in Seattle, practicing my skills, or lack of them, as a nurse. Frankly, I'm not very good at these sorts of things. Poor Christine has to put up with my cooking skills too, but she's still alive.

Michele, my eldest daughter, came over too for a few days to help. She is a nurse which was great for Christine. Her son Raif was probably the best help for Christine mentally. There is not much better at discovering the meaning of life than having an infant go asleep on you tummy.

Michele's daughter, Saray, also came over. Now you must admit, they just the cutest kids ever. Not that I'm biased or anything.

Speaking of cute kids, my nephew came up from California for the weekend with his family. It was his father's day present from his wife. This is Max, their son. I'm sure he is going to be a football player. His uncle is a professional. I forget which team. But football is in his genes.

And this is their daughter Samantha. She just turned one and is quite the mover too.