P is for Paga

P is one of my favorite letters. It could be because my name starts with P, but so many fun words start with P, like peninsula and petunia.  Some of my favorite foods also start with P, like peanut butter and popcorn. But for today's blog....P is for Paga. 

Paga is a nickname I was given back in high school, but the assistant manager at Einstein Bagels.  I came in one day and he had given us all new names on our name tags. I was Paga de Paga.  Right about that time, the Mackey's finally got internet at our house and I needed an email address handle. The only other nickname I had up until that point was Hot Rock, given to me by my Daddy and Mackey or Mack.  I didn't want to use either of those so I chose paga215, 2 and 15 being my favorite numbers.  Then, the summer after my freshman year of college, I went to work for YMCA Camp Lakewood, in Potosi, MO.  The counselors did not go by their real names at all. Everyone on staff was called by a nickname.  All week, the kids would try to guess our real names.  So for 4 summers of my life, I was Paga.  I remember going back to the University of Arkansas each fall and not repsonding to my real name. Even one time, after some alcohol was consumed, I even introduced myself as Paga at a party. 

Until October of last year, when I got married, the plates on my car were personalized to Paga. This reminds me, I need to look into getting Missouri Paga plates!  I love that there are people in my life that still call me Paga. I love that still run into old campers and co workers that call me Paga. Julia Noack, my wedding photographer, was my co counselor in 2000.  She would call me Paga during some of my photo sessions when not thinking.  I in turn called her Verne!

O is for Orthopedic Doctor

It honestly took me a while to think of an "O," then today it finally dawned on me...duh, Orthopedics.  Dr. Matava is my orthopedic doctor. We have shared the last few years together, and I have an appointment with him on monday.   From my previous posts, you may have read, or know in real life, that I have a crappy knee. Crappy in a sense that I am now surgery free for 2 years (for a while I was having a knee surgery a year)!  I have had a lateral release and chondroplasty, a scope and cartilage biopsy, and a fulkerson osteotomy.  The latter being the worst and left me non weight baring for over 2 months, and another month learning to re walk.  I have screws holding my tibia in place. They stick out a little bit and if I am not careful, I cut myself around them shaving.  I still have nerve damage on the side of my right leg and still have a numbing sensation when I touch the area.  I am not supposed to run....much.

That being said....I still have knee pain. Not as bad as it once was, and I really hope the hole in my knee cartilage hasn't grown bigger than the dime size it already was since the breaking of my leg in surgery was supposed to help that.  Needless to say, the second part of the surgery still needs to happen, too bad my insurance is a pain in the ass and denied it (too experimental).  So for the time being, I am going to visit Dr. Matava to see if we can do another round of osteoarthritic shots (they last a year and I am due soon). 

I don't complain too much, I am able to wear heels when I want and do most activities.  J just doesn't want me to have surgeries after babies so I need to figure out the next few years.  But I definitely rocked the crutches and even got really good on them.

N is for Nephew

Life has been so crazy busy that I have slacked in my blogging. Today's post is brought to you by the letter "N." N is for nephew. I inherited 2 nephews when I married J. Today we are watching the youngest, Alex. He is 3 about to turn 4 and a total chatterbox. Alex rules the roost in his household. We have taken to calling him the King because it is Alex's way or the highway. He loves Ironman, boats, and your typical boy things.

He is totally fascinated with Ironman, and I am pretty sure that he will have an Iron man themed birthday party next month. A few weeks ago, J and I stopped by Alex's house so I could sign my refinance papers. Alex so innocently and seriously asked J to make him an ironman costume so that he could fly. He was so dead set on flying that he cried when his mom told him only birds could fly. He just couldn't comprehend that Ironman is a superhero and different from you and me. He wore an ironman mask to one of Peyton's basketball games. And as I got home from Ann Taylor today.....superhero action figures (yes, not dolls) were spread out all over my living room carpet.

He is so full of life and says the funniest things. And I love that he tells me he loves me!