Myles Seubert Buswell January 1996-August 2013

Myles age 3 months

Myles age 17
 

Myles Murray Seubert Buswell, our beloved beautiful black lab passed away peacefully on August 3. He was 17 1/2 years old.  He was the best dog anyone could hope to have.  As many of you know I picked him out at 5 weeks old in Monterey, California.  He was one of 8 and for the first year I would run into his siblings on the beach, at the pet stores and the vets. 

Since I was a flight attendant at the time, Myles got to travel for free as well, albeit in the climate controlled part of cargo. I always knew he was doing okay because he would bark non-stop at take off and landing, and he was right under first class.  Myles flew back and forth from San Jose to Seattle multiple times and then he lived with my folks for six months while I was in Connecticut. 


My dad and Myles on the beach
where he learned to swim and
chase sea otters in Monterey.

Myles age 18 months waiting for
me to tell him to get the ball.

One of our family pictures with
Myles.



Our engagement picture
 

When I lived in Monterey Myles learned to play catch and although he tried many times he only managed to get two balls in his mouth at a time.  He loved playing catch so much that he wore out 3 chuck it's in a year.  He played catch in and out of the water, on the street, on grass and his favorite place of all was on the golf course in Ellensburg with my dad and his golf buddy's.  He would place the tennis balls on the edge of the golf cart and wait for one of them to throw the ball.  His tail would be in constant motion and his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth.  When he would get too hot he would just throw himself into one of the water hazards or the river to cool off.  I had hoped to hunt duck or something with him but it was out on the golf course one nice fall day that we all found out he was afraid of loud noises and anything that went bang.  Some people were hunting by the river and when they fired a shot Myles dropped his balls and ran to the clubhouse and hid under my dad's truck until he could be coaxed out with a treat.



His most important job
taking care of Piper.

Just waiting for the ball
to get tossed

There are so many wonderful stories about my beautiful, sweet, protective and loving dog.  He has been with me and my family for over 17 years.  He has sat on the bed with me when I didn't feel well, he laid his head on my stomach when I was pregnant with Piper until she kicked him.  He let her crawl all over him when she was a baby and has been her constant protector from the day she was born. 



Age 10, when his paws
were crossed it meant
trouble.



One of our favorite pictures
Piper sitting on Myles when
she was 18 months old.

We wouldn't have such a close and loving friendship with John and Jeannine if it weren't for Myles and his 'welcome to the 'hood' shake down he gave Haley when they first brought her home.  What fun Myles had with Haley whether they were at each others house or in the back yard racing around chasing each other until one would fall down and need to rest.  Myles is now back reunited with her in heaven and I am sure they are back to running and playing and wrestling.   

Myles and Piper on her 8th birthday

I will miss him and so will Brad, Brian, Kaitlyn, Piper, my parents (who took care of Myles for months at a time while we were traveling or I was in an apartment and he needed more room to run), the Salamones and so many other friends who's lives have been touched by "Cool Dog Myles". 

He will never be forgotten and I guarantee there will never be another like him.  Whenever it is we decide to get another, it will be more Piper's than mine.  I know I was the alpha dog with Myles and I will never be blessed with such a beautiful dog again.  He is happier, in no more pain and back with all his friends now.  This past year without Haley and in a quieter neighborhood was hard on him and he was lonely for more dog companionship.  He was my rock when I needed one and I can only hope that I was the same for him.  I will love him forever and I will miss him every single day, he was a once in a lifetime blessing.   

My Cool Dog Myles...







Summer League Swimming -the 3rd Summer

This summer my girlie was more prepared for summer league swimming than in the past two years.  We had her swim with the Potomac Marlins team in the winter and compete in meets about once a month to keep her sharp and to see how she would progress.  I think it was good in a lot of ways to go this route, she really enjoyed swimming with her friends and she got used to doing relays too.  As a bonus we met some wonderful coaches and I got to spend some quality time on deck timing with my good friend, Alicia. 

Awesome relay both free and medley

Once summer league started McB met up with old friends and made new ones too.  The four girls on the relay really formed a nice bond. As the 8 and under girls relay they were a formidable foursome.  They easily won the relay carnival in the 100 meter free relay and were a tenth behind in the medley relay. Then were told they won it when the first team was disqualified.  I think it is pretty fun to win and I think McB figured that out this summer too.  They missed qualifying for All Stars and would have done well in the Relay Championships but didn't get entered in time.  Lesson learned, and as parents we just hope they have another chance to compete in those types of meets again.   

8andU girls hanging on the couch
before a meet with Coach Jon.

McB bettered all her times from last season and as the last meet of the summer got closer I took a look at her yard times from indoor swimming and realized all her meter times were better than the yard times.  I think once I pointed that out she felt a little better.  We'd hit a bit of a plateau and then some in July and she was swimming terrible.  Since I am not competing in swimming, at the moment, I spent a lot of sleepless nights trying to figure out how to fix her strokes, get her back on track, anything.  Turns out since school had gotten out she had grown an inch! That will throw your strokes off right??  It isn't always easy on the 8 year old when her mom is still a competitive swimmer, even worse when that mom has been sidelined with two shoulder surgeries in 18 months and only one swim meet in that entire time. 

Divisionals were at our home pool and her event, the 25 fly was the last of the day.  By then she'd had time to watch her friends swim she was focused and ready and I was a nervous wreck on the sidelines.  I so wanted to video that swim, I knew it would be good, but I was too nervous and Brad was on the other side of the pool taking pictures.  I think the funniest video of the summer would have been one of my swim mom friends videoing me watching her swim!

She ended up tied for 4th with a best time and I think that was a great way for her to end the summer league season.  I was just so happy she pulled out a best time after struggling for the previous three weeks.  Even though I would have loved to have her swim a second event, she said to me the night before the meet; "Mama I'm good with just the fly and it will be a fast swim." That was really all 'somewhat' competitive mom can ask for right?

Best Fly Butt with co-winner, Isiah

That night at the team banquet and awards she got her plaque and medal.  She and her lifelong friend, Ryan were in the running for most likely to be seen together,  but they were robbed...some cute 11 year old boy, Nicco, and all the 11-12 year old girls won, ha ha.  Instead she won for best fly butt with another talented young butterfly swimmer, Isiah.  McB was very cute going up on stage to get her certificate and I realized that she has come so far in a year.  Last summer she would barely go up and get her medal and this year she was so much more comfortable up on stage and talking to all the older swimmers. She has always loved Addie, who is off to college this year, and has been an assistant coach the past three years, but this year she chatted with all the older kids.  She even asked Mason to be her 'legs' for backstroke starts.  She pals around with Sarah, who she will be teammates with this winter as she joins FBST, and an occasional babysitter too. 

Hanging with Mason after 25 back

Hanging on deck with
Sarah

 I think as a parent you want your children to be happy, to find a passion, and to be good, hopefully great, in at least one thing.  It gives them a sense of accomplishment and a feeling of success.  As a swimmer I had all of that and more. It took me until I was in my 30's to accomplish the world championship title and break a world record but when I did (at Masters World Championships in Australia) it was the best feeling in the world. 

When I asked my daughter if she was happy with her summer swims, and if she felt she had accomplished her goals this summer, she told me with her head nodding "Oh yes and it was fun," I asked her about the relays and if she enjoyed swimming on them and she said she did.  I asked what the best part was and she said it was swimming on the relay with her friends.  Then I said "what about winning?" and she said, "winning was fun too but I liked swimming on the relay with my friends."  This is the right attitude when you are 8 and you want them to love to do a sport. Especially when that sport is the one you love too. 



Summer swimming with a very
happy and proud mama

summer and now winter teammates

So for her, it was a great summer of swimming and she is looking forward to joining two of her summer friends on FBST this winter. Hopefully swimming even faster and better next summer. I was very proud of her this entire year and so was her dad.  She can be incredibly competitive and yet at times very much an 8 year old; more interested in getting treats from the cuda shack and playing sharks and minnows.  I hope this next year will be filled with a lot of growth, not just physically but also emotionally and she will be more focused and able to turn that competitiveness on when it's time to race.  I type and think this as I am listening to the World Championships in swimming on TV. Meanwhile, I think she is watching them too, but instead she's watching Judy Moody on the iPad. Ahh well, a  deep breath for Mama, a sip of wine and a nice beach vacation on the horizon for us all.
 

First Communion

In May, our 8 year old had her First Communion at St. Bernadette's Catholic Church.  She was so excited about finally receiving the body and blood of Christ after going to mass for 8 years and watching me receive it and she only being blessed.  Piper's 2nd grade class was the first group to receive their communion and Piper was the very first one. 

It was such a wonderful experience for her and our family.  The entire 2nd grade at St. B's prepares for the entire year so that when the day comes, they are ready in mind and spirit.  In February we attended a First Penance workshop and a few weeks after that she went in and did her first confession with Father Kevin.  I am constantly amazed at her poise, maturity and knowledge of her religion and all that it encompasses. 

Kristin, Piper and Trish

We threw a little party after mass on Saturday night with family that had flown in and friends from around the area.  We were especially lucky to have my eternal buddy (as my husband calls her) come out from Seattle too.  Kristin is Piper's godmother. 

Aunt Meg, Chelsea, Kaitlyn, Grandma
Mary, Brad and myself.

There are so many pictures I want to share, but I will just put this last one up, it is the entire family that could make the mass.  We feel very blessed that our daughter is at a school like St. Bernadette's with wonderful friends all around her that share the same values and a staff that is phenomenal.  We feel very lucky to have had Mrs. Dorsey this year as her teacher.

As the end of the school year approaches and we look towards 3rd grade we will always look back fondly on this year and Piper's First Communion and be eternally thankful to Mrs. Dorsey for helping her on this journey. 

Teachers are asked to do a lot, and even more so in a catholic school when they are preparing the students for not only academic success but spiritual ones like a First Communion.

Being a Host Family for the Potomac Nationals

When we bought our house I said to Brad that we should join the Potomac Nationals Booster Club and think about becoming a host family for the minor league baseball players.  What I really meant was, we are going to join the booster club and come spring we will have a minor league player living with us.  He understood that and thank goodness he's used to my somewhat crazy ideas that end up happening, just like this one did. 

Piper and Ben goofing around.

April 1 was the Nationals Opening Day game and although the team looked good they didn't look like the team we saw in October last year. ( I am just keeping my fingers crossed they achieve success in the post season, more than last year.)  But, I digress, someday I hope to say to people sitting near us at the Nationals games, "see that guy out there pitching? He used to live with us, we were his last host family before he moved on up and was called up to the Majors."  April 2 we went to Woodbridge and attended the annual Meet the Players dinner where the single A players come and eat with all of the booster club members and families.  It was a nice evening and towards the end, one of the players, Ben Hawkins, realized we didn't have a player and asked if he could live with us.  It was a great decision on our part because Ben fit right in and Piper took to him immediately.

Two days later Ben came to live with us, the next day was the P-Nats Opening Day and we went with our friends the Healy's.  We had a great time at the game and Piper got to see Ben in his uniform.  He gave her a signed baseball, which now sits proudly next to the foul ball she caught from Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez.   I think one of the side benefits of hosting a player is we go to the minor league games.  The games are so family friendly and fun for adults and the kids.  Plus the Summer Shandy beer is $2 cheaper than at the Nationals games! Another advantage is you can always see Uncle Slam, the mascot, because he's always walking around the stands doing goofy things and high fiving everyone. That said, it is a smaller stadium and you've got to pay attention because foul balls can come from anywhere!



Tyler, Piper and Ben

We settled in with Ben and within two days we also acquired Tyler Herron.  Tyler came to the Nationals as a free agent, the team had been watching him for about a year as he recovered from Tommy John surgery.  Originally, Tyler was a first round draft pick from the St. Louis Cardinals, but surgery and recovery take time and the Nats were lucky enough to get him.  Tyler's great and once again, Piper gave her double head pat of approval and just like that, we had two pitchers living with us.

We were lucky enough to see Tyler pitch on Mother's Day.  He finished the game that had been suspended the night before because of rain.  So, even though he was going out as a 'reliever' he treated it like it was a start, which I totally agreed with because it was a start, of sorts.  He only had to go three innings but they were impressive and dominate and by the time he was done pitching he was #3 in strikeouts for the team, as a reliever!

Shirt I wore on Mother's
Day at P-Nats game.

 Two weeks later he got the call that he'd be moving up to AA Harrisburg Senators.  We were so happy for him and yet sad he'd be leaving.  I know we'll see him, from time to time and maybe even in a Nats uniform in DC.  But the next time for sure is in two weeks when the Senators come down to play the Bowie Bay Sox.  He's a great guy who knows where he wants to go and has the ability to make it happen. 

What we were unprepared for was how the leaving of the players would affect Piper.  She had plans for big time play with both boys as well as the third pitcher to show up, Rob Gilliam.  The one thing we will take away from our first experience as a host family is to make sure Piper understands that they might not live with us the entire season.  We had no idea that Ben would go back to Florida to work on his mechanics and subsequently be released.  We had an inkling that Tyler would move up, but figured it wouldn't be until June.  Finally, we have had the pleasure of hosting Rob Gillium a starting pitcher, at our house.  We knew Rob would only be passing through since he was on rehab from a shoulder surgery in October.  He thought he'd be with the P-Nats for 4-5 starts, but that turned out to be 2 starts, he's been doing well in Harrisburg too.  Rob was part of the Gio Gonzales Oakland A's trade two years ago. 

Luckily, before Rob and Tyler left Piper was able to take them, along with another P-Nats starting pitcher, Robbie Ray, to school for a meet and greet with her 2nd grade and a question and answer session.  It was really fun to watch and other than A LOT of questions about Uncle Slam, the kids were able to learn a bit of what it's like to be a minor league baseball player and a little something about each of the guys.  Tyler and Robbie also stopped by Mrs. Peckl's kindergarten class and ended up getting their picture taken with the kids and in the kindergarten yearbook. 

Rob, Robbie and Tyler
in 2nd grade.

    

Rob talking about Uncle Slam

So right now, as we count down the last few days of 2nd grade and look forward to a summer at the pool and swim meets, we are player-less at the Buzz Shack.  That said, Lamar could call at any time and there could be a new guy in our house.  We've loved having these three and look forward to following their professional playing careers or in Ben's case, his new career as a baseball coach.  Ben is also headed back to West Florida University in the fall to finish his degree in Sports Management.  (Where he threw his first no hitter and helped them win a NCAA Division II Championship too). 

 

7 Weeks Post 2nd Shoulder Surgery

I'm happy to report that my shoulder is getting stronger and I'm progressing pretty well.  We don't need to do measurements to see what degree I am at since I surpassed 'book normal' about 10 days post surgery.  Susan rarely has to stretch me either since I can fully extend into a streamline with my arms above my head and have regained all that flexibility.  I was worried that by 'capping' the tendons and pulling them through the 'button hole' it would shorten them but I haven't had an issue yet.

 I'm now using the Bosu ball for stabilizing and more strengthening.  I'm also using it to do almost full push ups.  I started using the Bosu ball for push ups after my last surgery because I felt it made me use my core more and it forced me to use my back muscles more and those are what I need to keep my shoulder strong.  These two pictures are from last Thursday at six weeks post surgery.  I could do 10 and now I've built up to almost three sets of ten.  I am constantly surprised at how fast I lose strength, the older I get. 

Here I am on the ball and using little tiny 1 pound weights.  Ridiculously easy but it was where I had to start.  I start with my arms in a 90 degree position then use my back muscles to pull them up level with my shoulders and then I 'lift' the weights up higher than my shoulder.  Like in this picture to the right.  The next day I did this at the gym and used 2 pound weights and today I used 3 pounds.  I will probably stick with 3 pounds for a week and then start using 5 pounds. 

I have been able to do lat pull downs at the gym too, starting with 60  pounds last week and then 70 this week.  I hope to be back at 80 pounds next week.  Today Susan had to massage my bicep muscle because it was so tight.  All of these exercises are really working the muscles and it gets surprisingly tired afterwards.  That doesn't take into account every day life at my house.  An 8 year old, a 17 year old lab and now two minor league baseball players living with us for the season.  I tend to do more than I should some days.  But, it's all good and I have been pain free for the most part during this recovery.  Tuesday I got in the pool for the first time in seven weeks.  It felt good (and slow) but I could kick and do one arm freestyle and backstroke.  I am hoping in another two weeks to try my right arm too.  I need to start training again or else the 8 year old is going to get faster than me!

Finally I am also using stretch cords to do additional muscle building of my shoulder and back muscles as well as my arm.  I will post them soon since I am having a heck of a time doing one that looks like I'm throwing a baseball.  I can't seem to do it without wanting to tense up my shoulder and not use my back muscles.  Who would have thought it would be so hard?

 

One Month Post 2nd Surgery...the Recovery Continues

I'm at the one month point and things are much better than the last shoulder surgery, as I have previously stated.  The fact I can, and have been, able to put on a workout sports bra for over two weeks is a good example.  I have been able to dry and curl my hair, put on make up and today I even tried to clap at the Nationals baseball game.  I will take three out of four and am not ready to clap yet, too much vibration up and down my arm.  I will just stick to cheering. 

3 week point, I have almost
full flexibility above
my head.

I have also figured out how to help Myles (17 year old lab) up and get him in and out of the door and down the steps one armed, as well as strip and make beds, shovel snow, take the garbage out and occasionally cook with one arm.  Not always the best form but I can get it done.  I started running last week to train for a 5K and have figured out I can't pump my arms quite yet, so I keep my right arm at my side.  It will get better, I just have to let the actual scar heal and get rid of the scar tissue so it doesn't hurt.  (There will likely be a running blog entry or two in the future since I don't care for running nor do I find it very fun).



Inside and outside rotation with the band.

Here are a few pictures of  what I got to do today.  A special thank you to Susan for always being ready to take a few pictures to show my progress.

 I got to use the bands and start flexing my bicep during physical therapy.  I say in physical therapy because in real life, as mama to an 8 year old you do the best you can but sometimes you just have to be a mama.  That means I have probably flexed it and used it more than I should have already but again, being a mama is first then I can be an athlete.

The second picture is me doing an exercise I totally hate.  Nothing can make you feel more weak and useless than this.  I have to basically be in the downward facing dog yoga position and then try to lift my arm up by engaging my back and shoulder muscles.  If I have a good day I can get it maybe two inches off the ground and a bad day is thinking I am going to do it and then nothing happens.  I always end up feeling so weak and awkward when I do this.  Since it was the first time I held a band and let it pull my arm up, then I had to pull it down.  Again, I can't state enough how much I hate this exercise and yet it is really good for shoulder strength and recovery.


Finally, I got to try a little balancing on the table. I lift one arm up and slightly rotate and then I go to the other side and back and forth maybe 20 times total.  I liked it and it means I am only a week or so away from getting to work on the bosu ball and really rebuilding my arm muscles.  I also got to do little table push ups going down maybe two to three inches then back up.  It is crazy how exciting it is to be allowed to do a push up and really crazy how shaky my arms felt after just doing ten.  At my age it takes so long to build up the muscle and so fast to lose it and then so long again to build it back up, hate that! 

Shoulder Surgery Take 2

MRI December 26
 

It would seem, 18 months after my first shoulder repari,  I needed to have shoulder surgery again. Dr. Carlini knew exactly what was wrong in December after seeing this on the MRI. My bicep tendon was tearing away from the anchor that had been inserted in September 2011.  The anchor was holding in the bone great but the tendon, it was degenerating.  I love that my doctor calls me semi pro athlete and world class masters swimmer.  But what I really love is that technology has advanced in leaps and bounds in the past 10 years and even more so in the past year.  What I had done in September 2011 was a standard SLAP repair, but now the recommendation is for athletes like myself over 35 to have the Button Bicep Tenodesis by Arthrex Technique.  
 


What looks like white fraying at the top
of the picture is my tendon torn off.
 

Even though I met with Dr. Carlini on January 2, due to a planned trip to Las Vegas in February and Brad's work travel I wasn't able to schedule the surgery until Friday, March 1.  (See a future post for Adventures in Vegas with Brad's high school friends).  During that time I was having weird twangs down my arm and sometimes little pains.  Occasionally it would get tired and just ache but mostly it was the twangs that were disturbing.  I swam a little bit but the free style arm stroke hurt so it was easier to just kick or hit the gym.  By the time I had surgery two of the three tendons had pulled away from the anchors and one had torn in half. It's amazing what two more months will do to make it worse, and I really backed off on pretty much everything.  I think this had gradually been happening over the course of 3 months before it really started hurting in Hawaii over Thanksgiving. 
 
Surgery day arrived and I was not even nervous about this one.  The day before I had subbed half a day at St. B's school, then played (and won) Bunco that night with my girlfriends.  We dropped McB at school and went to the surgery center.  I will swear part of my loosey goosey attitude was the 2nd grade praying for me and a lot of others associated with St. B's.  I figured if they had my back I could just go in and get it done.  (Much like the 200 free at Masters Nationals, ha ha).  I walked in at 8:30 and was in the wheel chair heading home at 12:20 with a nerve block that lasted 21 hours.  Always make friends with your Anesthesiologist, they keep the pain away. 
 
If you look up my procedure this is what it says: The Bio-Tenodesis Screw System was designed specifically for the reattachment of soft tissue, both ligament and tendon, to bone. The Bio-Tenodesis Driver facilitates accurate graft tensioning into a bony socket in a simple “push-in” method. The interference fit provided by the Tenodesis Screw and FiberWire virtually eliminates graft separation from the bone. Because of the strength of the repair achieved with the system, patients are generally allowed to begin postoperative rehab earlier than previously permitted. The Bio-Tenodesis Screws are composed of PLLA and are available in numerous sizes to fit all applications. There are also titanium and PEEK Tenodesis Screws available for use with the system, if desired. The system is ideal for the reattachment of soft tissue to bone in proximal/distal biceps tenodesis.


Four weeks, March 28.

First day the bandages came
off, Thursday March 7.

What my doctor said is that not only would I come back faster,  but also stronger than last time.  For me, and what kind of progress we are seeing already in physical therapy, is everything is taking half the time. 

The picture on the right is my scar one week post surgery when the bandage came off.  This one on the left is what it looked like at four weeks post surgery on Friday, March 28.

 


 

First PT appointment on March
 8.  I could do the pulley already.



More important is this picture below, from day 13-post surgery; my arm is over my head.  My movement and flexibility at that point would be considered 'book normal' by most and it's fantastic for anyone, especially less than two weeks after a major joint surgery.  My flexibility and movement is a bit more than that so I'm almost there now but to have my arm move above my head so soon, it was just amazing. I also think it is really fortunate, to be able to work with a really smart and fantastic physical therapist who stays current on new exercises and techniques. 


Day 13 and my arm is above
my head.

But what really sets Susan apart from the rest is she's known me for over six years now.  With that knowledge of how my muscles and bones work, and also how I think, she knows when and how to push me to get me back to my old form.  

Stay tuned for the next entry which will document my continued therapy and recovery.