Hi!  It's me, Philomena Rose Graves from Sonora, California!  Figured an update on my life was in order, so here goes nothing ...

I had my knee surgery shortly after my last entry three years ago.  It was very painful (the recovery); it was some of the worst pain I had ever experienced, especially when I had to have PT.  It was awful!  Yet once they healed, I found I could get around a lot better than I could, so I was very grateful for that.

I am still walking on the crutches and wear the AFO's on my feet/ankles, but at least I can walk without the terrible pain.  I just don't trust myself to walk without the crutches.  What if I fell?  What if I reinjured my knees and unhinged everything the docs fixed up?  Then I'd probably be in much worse shape and I am not taking any crazy chances, especially when there's uneven spots to worry about.

I am in my last year of high school.  Seems hard to believe, but I am.  I'm a senior now and will be graduating the first week of June.  I can't wait!!  I love school, don't get me wrong, but I'm ready to put it all behind me and embrace the future!

I would like to go to college, but it's too expensive.  So I will probably just find a job at my church or a place where I can work with kids.  I would love to work at a daycare center or a school for children with disabilities.

My parents couldn't afford to send me to college: not with my medical bills!  They're still paying on some of 'em, and the meds (the cost of) is an ongoing issue.  

My brothers Paul and Heath (they're 11 1/2 and 13 1/2) are still brats, but even then they're starting to settle down.  I'm thankful for small favors.  When they were younger, they were such monsters; I couldn't stand being around them!!

The weather here is showery, but not too bad.  At least the rain's supposed to clear out by later today and be nice and sunny the rest of the week, with highs in the lower sixties.  Today's high is supposed to be 55, which is rather cool.  I can maybe get out later if my joints don't hurt me that much ...

The pain's not as bad as it was yesterday, so that's good.  It's a sign that the rain will be going away.

I'm waiting for the school bus to pick me up now.  It should be here within a half hour; it usually stops by my house at 7:45 a.m., P.T.  I'm at my house.  If it wasn't raining, I'd be at the bus stop, which isn't even five minutes away from where I live.

Well, I'll go now, so I can do a last minute check, to make sure I have everything, then wait for the bus.  I will write in here again soon; until later, this is Philomena Graves sayin' I'm outta here! Over and out!  Bye and God bless!

~Philomena Rose. :)