Here she is waiting in the pre-op "holding" area. She's got her stuffed monkey, Tom, with her, along with Tom's tyedie blanket that goes everywhere with her. My parents took Tanner to Build-a-Bear when she was 3 and let her "build" Tom. The two have been inseparable ever since. Anytime Tanner has to do something scary or painful, she takes Tom with her. Yesterday they let her keep Tom until she fell asleep and then when she woke up after the surgery, Tom and his blanket were tucked under her arms. Too sweet.
We had two awesome pre-op nurses, one who also went to post op with her. In talking to them while they were getting Tanner ready, I discovered one was a wife of a Fayetteville PD Officer that we knew and the other was his sister. I knew she'd be in good hands. In fact, technically, only two of us were supposed to be back in pre-op with her, but the nurse bent the rules for us and said that Mike and Steve could both come back with her.
Tanner thought it was really funny that the nurse had to shave her leg and then write "Yes" on her right knee and "No" on her left knee. 
Dr. Powell started on Tanner around 8:30 and was done around 9:00. He talked to us afterwards and said that the surgery went great and she did "perfect." He removed the plica and said that was definitely the problem. He said the plica was the "biggest he had seen in over a year" and "definitely needed to come out." Evidently the plica comes down from the top to the bottom of the knee. Tanner's started out at the top and came around the side and then ended up at the opposite side of her knee, pinched. Instead of going up and down like it was supposed to, it was basically in the shape of a "C." Dr. Powell said the reason why she couldn't bend her knee was because the plica was pinched. He took pictures and we'll get to see those on Tuesday when we see him again.
He said recovery wise, she should be back to normal is 4-6 weeks. She starts PT tomorrow morning and will do that three times a week for a few weeks. He sent us home with a machine that acts like a ice pack along with compressing her knee and her calves (to help prevent blood clots). She has to be on her machine at least four hours a day, although the guy who explained the machine to us said most patients say the machine is their best friend because they enjoy the cold therapy it does. Our machine actually pooped out on us this morning, so we are currently waiting for the guy to bring us a new one.
The top picture is the machine (we are currently trying to think up a name for it) and the bottom picture is her knee hooked up to the machine.
She is able to get up and around with help. Dr. Powell said he wanted her up walking and not just laying on the couch. We get up and go to the restroom or just take a lap or two around the inside of the house. She has to hold onto someone or something and isn't able to fully put weight on it yet, but I think she's walking great all things considering! 
Obviously she's still taking pain pills every four hours along with a baby aspirin, again to help prevent blood clots. Last night we took a chair outside for her and she sat outside for ten or fifteen minutes and the she and my Mom walked around the driveway a couple of times.
My parents came down Sunday and then left this morning. I'm so glad they were here to help. It was nice to be able to get things settled when we got home, knowing Mom or Dad was with her if she needed help. Or even this morning-I got her up and attached to her machine and then Dad sat with her so I could go take my walk. Mom and Dad being here made Tanner feel better too. Thanks Mom and Dad for all your help!
Here is a picture of Tanner and her little sister, Rachel. Rachel was very worried about Tanner yesterday and even called to just hear her voice. Rachel had a T-ball game last night so Mike and Jill, along with Rachel and Porter stopped by to check on Tanner and bring her a couple of things. I love this picture, by the way!
Not long after Mike and Jill left, the back door opened and Steve was letting a lady come in the house. She had this basket with her and a big grin on her face. It was obvious who Tanner was, so she went over to the couch and handed it to Tanner. (Only later at dinner did we all talk and realize that none of us knew this lady and we had let some strange woman come into the house! Steve thought she knew us and I thought she knew Steve! When Steve asked her if she wanted to go in and give it to Tanner herself, she said "Sure" and said she loves making the baskets, but she loves delivering them and seeing the patients faces the best!) The look on Tanner's face was priceless. She told Tanner she hoped she felt better soon and then she left. Tanner opened her basket and you won't believe who it was from-her Orthodontist and his staff!!! Seriously!! 
The basket had all kinds of cookies, drink mixes, mints, jelly belly's, and a couple of notepads in it. I was so touched to think that Dr. Whitlock and his staff remembered Tanner. Three weeks ago when we scheduled the surgery, I had to reschedule an Orthodontist appointment for tomorrow. I explained to the secretary that Tanner would be having surgery and we needed to postpone the appointment for a week. We got that taken care of and I haven't talked to them since. So to remember three weeks later and take the time to send her a gift basket, just blew me away-and totally made Tanner's day!
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