Shadow of Amy and Quinn reflected on the red dirt of the Soussusvlei desert in Namibia

Musings from Muizenberg

In three days, we will have been on the road for six months. First, I want to thank those of you who are following along and sending us messages of encouragement and support. I have received a lot of loving questions about “the knees” which makes me feel cared for and grateful. I was never much of a “Facebooker” until we began our travels. It has now become my lifeline to our many friends and family members. If you love or even like a little bit of the blogs you are reading, please share them with your own circles on Facebook or forward our website to your friends who boycott Facebook. We would love more followers.

I thought I would take a moment and give you all a real time update on our whereabouts. We are currently in the city of Cape Town in beautiful South Africa.  As you know, I have been battling problems with my knees since we left Colorado. While in Namibia, the swelling gave way to a lot of pain and so we searched with spotted internet service, and found an orthopedic surgeon in Cape Town. After undergoing MRIs on both knees (wow that was intense, who knew how difficult it would be to stay perfectly still for 20+ minutes/knee?), his assessment is that I have broken up cartilage that is irritating the knee joint and causing the inflammation and pain. I must have a piece in my left knee joint that is preventing me from fully straightening it. His recommendation is arthroscopic surgery to “clean out” the cartilage in both knees. Apparently the right knee is the worst and I am even missing bits of cartilage on that side. Because of this news, we have opted to stop here in Cape Town to receive the needed treatments. The long flight from Spain to Namibia (10 hrs) taught me that when inflammation is running amuck it will fill up your whole leg, is really painful and takes several days to subside. In my case, the swelling in my knees has been ever present for the last 5 months. Traveling back to the US is not only very expensive on such short notice but it is also a 35-hour journey.

Here in Cape Town, I will be able get treatment and proper rehabilitation. Our visa allows us a 3-month stay and we have found an apartment to rent for that time. We can even apply for an extension if needed (which I am pushing for so we can explore the many nature trails and mountains of the Cape once I am healed). We have found a very sweet Montessori school called Auburn House School where the girls are enrolled and will start the new term with the rest of the students on April 5th. This was at their request and they are very excited. It will allow me time to catch up on writing and Jacob to continue to work on his plans for his own career goals.

That is the Real Time update for today March 19th, 2016. Happy Birthday to my nephew Roarke who turned 12 on St. Patty’s day. We are sending so much love to Jacob’s family as they celebrate Shirley Martin’s life at her memorial service today. She was a kind, hilarious, beautiful woman, mother, sister, daughter, grandmother and friend to many people.

Keep watching your inbox for our blogs. In queue are more words from Mackenzie and Quinn, my take on Sevilla and our amazing experiences in Namibia.

As they say here in Cape Town,

 

Go Well.

 

16 thoughts on “Musings from Muizenberg

  1. Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers Amy! Here’s to a successful surgery and rehabilitation. Enjoy Capetown.

  2. Amy, I am so sorry that you are going thru this knee stuff. It sounds so painful, to think that flying made the pain so much worse is horrible. I have loved all of your blogs and while missing Dee and Matt and the kids so horribly, I am missing their crazy social life also with their beautiful friends. Watching all of you grow and experiencing lifes adventures has been so much joy. Now I pray for a speedy answer and recovery for your knees, I know how much you all enjoy the outdoors and adventures that this crazy world can put at your door steps. You take care sweet Amy, and may God watch over your family.

    • Hi Donna! Thank you for following us and encouraging our journey. I am sure you miss D’ and Matt as much if not way more than me. Will you get to go and visit them soon? Thank you for the prayers for my knees. With all this love I am sure to heal soon and be back on our way.

  3. Hey there Davis clan! Amy and I read your blogs religiously, we love hearing about the sights, sounds, and tastes you are experiencing as we go about our daily routines back here in Colorado. I said to Amy, “I don’t really know them, but I’ve always appreciated how kind they are to me.” Amy’s response, “You had a special connection with them from the get go, it makes sense to me.” So, as I read Amy’s words this morning I felt compelled to write.

    As much as we are bummed to hear about your knees, Amy, we are happy to hear you’ve decided to take care of them. To pause long enough so you can move farther, faster. You deserve a full experience and we are sending warm and healing thoughts that you’ll be back on your feet in no time. Too, we are thrilled to hear of the girls starting school. WHAT AN IMPACTFUL EXPERIENCE, no doubt it will shape their futures through a different looking glass for the rest of their lives. WOW! Lot’s going on, scary, exciting, courageous. The gumption your family carries reminds me of a lyric from the song “Hammer and a Nail” by the Indigo Girls “My life is more than a vision, the sweetest part is acting after making a decision.”

    Decisions. That’s what inspired me to write, I have a large admiration for the many decisions you’ve had to make on this journey. The collaboration and compromise augmented by the bit of fear and trepidation you must have as you sit on the other side of the planet. If you haven’t heard it yet, you need to-my gawd the qualities you’ve taken on, organically, are stupendous! What is now required from you personally is shaping your professional impact moving forward. Both of you exhibiting great courage, determination in the face of adversity with little to no safety net. Demanding efficiency in healing, pausing long enough to create it, staying on budget as you re-direct your family/team’s experience, building culture and trust. So yeah. Lot’s of admiration I’m feeling for you today. You’re doing it. Whatever direction you choose remember to see the core truth: you are making the right decision just by making a decision. It is yours. And the team you’ve built will forge through. Go, with confidence, we’re rooting for you! Off to be with your family today, we’ll carry you in our thoughts.

    • Tawny,
      I am blown away by your words. They are so powerful. I have loved the Indigo Girls since my teenage years. That quote is perfect and one that I will carry with me as a daily mantra. This trip is so full of decisions some easy like what delicious dinner will be eat/make to difficult like navigating care in a foreign country. I suppose the biggest vision made reality has been going on this trip to begin with! Tawny, I and I think I can speak for Jacob too, felt that same connection immediately with you as well. I knew Amy had found a great partner when she found you. Hooray! I suppose I am not fully aware yet of how this year will move me forward in the professional world, this pause in our journey is perhaps a time for integrating the first six months and marinating in all the experiences we have had with people and places and our own inner world. I hope things are going well for you in Denver, your business and play are all filling and gratifying. I hope the service was good yesterday, I know Rachel probably needed the support. I can’t imagine her grief. Love to you and Amy

  4. Thank you for this update. It sounds like your medical plan and stay is exactly right for your entire family. Positive thoughts & prayers to you all!

  5. Love reading of your travel and adventures, makes me think you and Jacob are on you to becoming professional travel writers and reviewers. Sending lots of healing thoughts and energy your way. Love to you all!

    • Thank you Julie! I hope to keep the vision of writing professionally clear in my mind, I would absolutely love it. Sending love back to you, hope all is going well with your new daughter and growing family. XO

  6. DEAR JACOB AMY & GIRLS…ALL OF YOU WERE DEEPLY MISSED YESTERDAY AT SHIRLEY’S SERVICE, BUT KNOW THAT SHE WOULD NOT HAVE WANTED YOU TO RETURN FROM YOUR JOURNEY TO BE HERE…..AMY, I CERTAINLY CAN EMPATHIZE WITH YOU IN REGARD TO YOUR KNEES..I KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE STRONG AND CONTINUE TO HANG IN THERE AS YOU HAVE SOOO DILIGENTLY DONE SO FAR. EVERYONE’S THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS WILL BE WITH YOU FOR A SPEEDY RECOVERY….YOUR DAD SHOWED LEAH AND I PICTURES FROM THEIR TIME SPENT THERE WITH YOU AND HE WAS JUST BEAMING WITH LOVE AND JOY WHEN TELLING US ABOUT THE GIRLS AND HOW MUCH THEY HAVE GROWN. LOVE YTO ALL GRANDMA BETT

  7. Amy,
    I have been following you since Shirley told me about your blog. I’m so excited for you and I know she was so happy and proud of you all for making the decision to take this trip. She told me the trip and how excited she was for all of you more than once.

    I hope you have an easy and speedy recovery and that your knees are as good as new as soon as possible. I love reading your blog, that so you much for it. It has helped to inspire me in many ways. Stay safe.

    Love,
    Susan

    • Thank you so much for following, Susan! You never know how self expression and written word will land for people and I am happy to hear it has been inspiring. That is the thing I hope for most. All this outpouring of love being sent to my knees will truly be the remedy to what ails them. Be well!

  8. Amy,
    So sorry to hear about your knees. Glad to know you will be receiving treatment!
    How wonderful to settle in Cape Town for rehabilitation, rest and an opportunity for additional adventures.

    Sending my love. You are all in my daily thoughts and prayers.

    Tish

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