I started this blog almost exactly a year ago, with the intention of publicizing my book Saving My Knees, but more importantly, spreading the book's message.
I started this blog because I think the current thinking about how to treat chronic knee pain (that is diagnosed as chondromalacia or patellofemoral pain syndrome) is wrong in some very important ways.
I started this blog thinking that I would continue it for a while, then stop writing at what felt like a natural stopping point. When Abe Lincoln was asked "How tall should a man be?", he replied (so the story goes), "Just tall enough that his feet touch the ground." So when I pondered, "How long should my blog go on?", the apt and Lincolnesque answer seemed to be, "Just as long as I have something to say, and no longer."
Well, I've still got plenty to say but a little less time to say it in.
Readers of the book will remember my wife Congyu was pregnant during my ordeal with chronic knee pain. On Sept. 5, 2009, she gave birth to a lovely (and healthy) baby girl we named Joelle Simone Bedard.
On May 25 -- just a week and a half ago -- both Congyu and Joelle completed a VERY LONG immigration process and arrived from China at JFK Airport in New York City, rather dazed and bewildered, and I welcomed them into my modest Forest Hills apartment (which now has an entire drawer in the kitchen devoted to odd pieces of nursing bottles -- I never imagined that bottles could be such intricate constructions!)
I had been watching Joelle grow up from afar, posting on Flickr the photos her Mom e-mailed me. Now I get to touch her and wrap my arms around her whenever I want.
I'm getting acquainted with a 21-month-old girl who is an incredibly beautiful, curious little child (and who seemingly has no "off" switch, short of her daily nap).
What that means for this blog: I'm going to try to post shorter (though I'm not close to running out of things to say, so I want to keep writing). I may try more linking and summarizing. I don't quite know yet. I just know the demands on my time have increased greatly, though in the best way possible, so I'm going to have to get a little better at juggling all I want to do.
Hey! That's great! Congratulations. I am really happy for you in all sorts of ways. Thanks for the link to her pictures... she is so adorable! I bet you are having the time of your life.
ReplyDeleteI also just wanted to let you know I'm still here and reading. I'm continuing on my own program for my knees, which currently consists currently of swimming, total gym stuff, and walking on flat. When I get stronger, I plan to slowly add elliptical and then hopefully eventually all the things I love that I've forsaken (walking anywhere and everywhere, biking, and if a miracle happens, running). My knees are feeling *slightly* better. It's going to be a challenge as my hubbie and I have our own little person on the way in November. So, we will see, but I'm feeling optimistic. Being off for summer and being able to spend time on them is such a blessing.
Anyway, congrats again! And I'm definitely still reading, keep up the great posts!
Jenni
Please keep me posted on how your recovery (and yes, I am confident it will be one) goes. Again, I'd just counsel patience. I think that, after a while, you'll get a sense of how fast you can push your workout to tougher levels. Early on, it will probably be quite slow (it was for me). As your knees get stronger, the gains will become faster, I bet.
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