Wordless Wednesday

Weekend Wonders

So this weekend was interesting.  Kevin has a raging sinus infection and got meds on Friday evening.  There was talk of me taking the older girls to the movies and Kevin taking the younger two to the kid festivities at the local strip mall.  That was before he got sick.  Apparently, he popped a pain pill (not one of mine!) and claimed to be fine to take the kids.  I headed out to the dollar theater to see Mirror Mirror with Julia Roberts.  Rory hardly ever gets to watch "older" kid movies because Logan's always around.  So this was a nice treat.  The movie wasn't that bad.  Rory raved about it, and even Kaelyn said she liked it.  Afterwards we went out to lunch at Boston Market.  I LOVE Boston Market and ate it even though it hurt to eat it.  :(

Meanwhile, back on the home front, Kevin and the littles were having a time of it.  I received this photo while in the movies.  

 Kevin said they stood in line for a long time.  When the lady asked Marley what she wanted she said, "I was a T-Rex going down my face."  And that's what she got.  I think it looks awesome and I especially like how the T-Rex's mouth is Marley's mouth.  :)

Saturday night I had a party, so I popped a pill and went about my merry way.  I did not factor in the pill wearing off after all the talking and smiling I had just done.  I got home at 11p in pain.  Sunday I had another party, but I was not the consultant at it.  I was just there for moral support.  It went well, and I came home.  It feels different being home and not going to the gym every night.  I'm thinking I might need to prioritize my activities in the evenings rather than missing too much family time.  This might look like making the gym a part of our days rather than evenings.  

All in all, it's been nice being forced to rest with limited activity.  I like it.  I could do without the whole soft food eating without working out.  I've been living off of pastas and potatoes.  Anyway, that was my weekend.  

Stitches are out, Man

After my last surgery, I remember the stitches being removed was the easiest part.  I went to the doc on Friday expecting a walk in the park.  I took a pain pill to make sure I was comfortable just in case, but I was optimistic.  Folks, it HURT.  I was not expecting it.  Kevin used all these gross words to describe what happened like "gushed" and "fluid."  Alas, it is all done.  I've been hurting on and off this weekend.  I had a couple of Thirty-One parties.  (Note to self: Give more than a week for recovery if ever having surgery again)  All the talking and smiling was too much.  :)

This week we'll be getting back to school-ish things.  I'm going to inventory what we have for going into next year in an attempt to cut back on the home school budget.  There are also some home projects I would like to tackle this week, but I know better than to mention those lest they be forgotten.  Next Monday it's off to Canada where I will be my nephew's Godmother and my other nephew's Confirmation sponsor.  Until then, there is lots to be done.  

Here are some pics that Kevin took from getting my stitches removed.  They might be graphic.  Sorry!

Not too bad, eh?  Sorry.  Might as well start practicing my Canadian.  Have a great week!
 

Ode to a Pain Pill

small and unassuming
in your red and white plastic
clean and refined
your attack
not too drastic

as the pain screams
in falsetto
my head swells
in a happy crescendo
and I smile...still cautious
careful and possibly nauseous

but the ride is my guide
and I'm pleasant
to passerbys
with a nod to true talent
your fight most valiant

to my new friend
my pardon
my smooth talking
oxycodone
 
 

Post Surgery Daybook

Outside my window...
It's spring again.  We had some rain, but it was nice, sunny, and hot this afternoon.

I am thankful for...
my family and friends.  So much love, support, help, kindness, prayers, everything.

I am thinking about...
lots of things.  Travel coming up, test results coming up, normalcy coming up.


In the schoolroom...
not much happening right now.  The kids are learning about post-op procedures.  :)  I've been researching and coming up with my own plan for next year rather than buying another box.  I'm worried, but I am their teacher.  I need to trust that I know what will hopefully work for them and me.


From the kitchen...
lots of delicious food that we didn't have to cook!  Thanks to friends and family, we are fat and happy.


I am creating...
a business.  It's starting to get real.


I am working on...
healing.


I am going...
to really try and revamp things not going well around here.  It's so easy to be slothful when home schooling (at least for me!)  I need to get out of a rut.


Clicking around...
I just requested books from the library that I am thinking of using next year BEFORE just buying them.  See?  I'm serious, folks!


I am reading...
nothing.  I have books that I'm in the middle of, but I haven't picked them up lately.  It's all that researching.  I need to get back to books.


I am praying for...
personal intentions.


I am hearing...
Power Rangers.  It's so corny that it's funny.  Not to mention that it's hilarious how Rory and Logan repeat all the lines they say.


Around the house...
Kevin mowed the lawn and weed whacked.  It looks SO good.  If we didn't have Christmas lights still hanging, I would think it looked awesome, but Kevin says he's not taking them down.  I just don't like our house looking like a shack.


One of my favorite things...
listening to the rain the past couple of nights while not being able to sleep.  The only time I wish for a tin roof.


A few plans for the rest of the week...
Doctor's appts., rest, plan...


A picture thought I'm sharing with you...

I totally forgot the blue hat pic.  Sorry about that.  I know that's the one everyone's holding out for.  Have a great week!

 

Kaelyn's Senior Prom!

It was quite a weekend.  First surgery, and then it was prom.  I wasn't really wanting to be up and at 'em, but I didn't have a choice.  Kaelyn originally wasn't going to attend prom, but she got back together with her boyfriend the week before.  This was Kaelyn's third prom, so it was old hat this time.  I knew I wasn't going to be able to do much, so I got an appt. for her to get her eyebrows done last minute and to get her hair done last minute.  She was actually out the door early if you can believe it.  I think it also had to do with the fact that she was more laid back this time.  Hey, it was her third.  I think the novelty wears off.  :)  Here is Kaelyn's senior prom in pictures. 

Surgery Update **WARNING!! Graphic Pictures**

Well, the deed is done.  I went to the hospital Friday morning with the intention of blogging.  I even wore my shirt just to make sure they knew I meant business.  
 
We got there and registered.  The registration desk we sat at had peace and faith written on the lamp.  It was comforting.  We went back to the outpatient surgery desk where they were advertising for a chocolate show that started at 7a that morning.  Talk about a nice welcome.  I told Kevin that he would at least have something to do while I was down and out. 

We got back to the room where they gave me my fashion garbs.  The only thing nice I can say is at least the socks matched the gown.  
 
I think my sweat jacket made the outfit.  
 
I met my nurse.  She was nice.  She had a daughter in her senior year of high school too, so we got to talking.  She even brought me warm blankets and snuggled me in.  
 
It was fine until she went to do my IV.  She said she was going to cheat and go to my inner elbow for the IV even though the doctor's preferred the hand or wrist.  After getting my blood drawn about every 6 months for the past 5 years, my veins are plump and ripe for the drawing.  I mean...the philobotomist at my Oncologist always comments on my veins because they're so easy.  She couldn't get a line in folks.  So she moved to my wrist.  While she's repeatedly pricking, she says it keeps rolling.  She finally called for reinforcements.  Another lady came in and she had a daughter that was a senior in high school too.  So we started talking about all that again.  This nurse brought Lidocaine with her.  She shot it in, rubbed it around in my hand, and got the line in without me even feeling it.  I loved her!  

Next we met my Anesthesiologist.  He was a funny guy cracking jokes.  He reminded me of someone that I still can't place.  He seemed nice and unassuming.  My doc came in after him.  He was ready to go.  I went ahead and told him that there was a mole that I hated in front of my ear, and that I wouldn't mind if it was missing when I woke up.  He looked and said he could take care of it.  I asked if there would be an extra 5k added to my bill for it.  :)  He said he would throw it in for free!  Yay!!!  I really hated this mole because it was a bumpy one.  He marked where the lumps were that he needed to remove.  Next they rolled me out.

 See the mole?

I got to the operating room.  They moved me to the operating table, and started to strap me in.  The Anesthesiologist put a mask on my face and told me to breathe normally.  I did that for a while and started to panic because I was still awake and not feeling anything.  I was about to tell him that it wasn't working when I heard someone ask me how I was, and it was all done.  

I felt a padding around my neck which was extremely uncomfortable.  The nurse told me to eat some graham crackers and drink some water, so I did.  She asked me who to get from the waiting room, and I told her to get Kevin.  He showed up and in true fashion snapped a pic for the blog.  Gotta love it!  

They brought me my clothes.  I remember it taking a while to even start to get dressed.  I wasn't ready.  I just wanted to rest a bit, but the nurse kept coming by and asking how we were doing.  I just wanted more time, but I felt rushed.  Soon I was in the car and on the way home.  

I slept when I got home while Kevin went to get my medicines and mashed potatoes for me to eat.  I called the doc and found out that I had to keep the whiplash/dog collar on until I went to the doc on Tuesday.  It's supposed to protect the incision site and drain.  Last time I had a pump coming out of my face.  
 
This time I have a little drain that he'll just pull out on Tuesday.  

Lovely thought, huh?  He'll just pull on that little white tab, and the drain will come out.  Then on Friday my stitches come out.  He said one of the lumps that showed up on the Pet Scan looked like a Sjogren's blockage.  The other one that didn't show up on the scan looked like the last one he took out that was malignant.  I'm sure we'll know Tuesday.  I'll keep you up to date.  Thank you all for your help and well wishes!  We really appreciate it!

Happy Birthday, Rory!!!

It was Rory's birthday on Sunday the 6th.  We were in play mode this weekend, and I haven't had a chance to breathe until now, and even that's shaky at best.  Rory was in Fiddler on the Roof with a local theater group.  She was great.  The play was great.  Unfortunately, I'm just now getting to her birthday acrostic.

R- RUTHLESS  This child has a commanding presence...when she wants to.  When she gets something in her head, watch out!  She is determined and persisting.  And when she doesn't get what she wants, take cover.  On the other hand, she has a gentleness to her too that she is ruthless at.  When she's being kind, she is ruthless in being kind.  Self-sacrificing.  There's definitely an extreme.

O- OUTGOING  Rory knows no strangers.  The same thing has been said about her paternal great-grandmother, Rozella.  She makes friends faster than an introduction to someone takes.  She doesn't remember names well, so it's funny sometimes.  She'll talk on and on about her new best friend, but when you ask her her name, she doesn't know.  

R- RAZOR-SHARP  There is no getting anything past Rory.  She is truly as sharp as a tack.  She's always been that way.  Even when she was little, she was so bright and intelligent.  It's awesome to be able to witness her growth.  It can be challenging...her having such a hard head, but I'm trying to nourish it and not kill it.  I'm trying to get this done before the teenage years.  ;)

Y-  YEARNING  As strong as Rory comes off, she needs people.  Sometimes I think she comes out of the gate so strong so no one sees that she's scared of what will happen if she doesn't.  There's a vulnerability to her.  She yearns to do good, to love strong, to serve others.  She yearns God, and as long as that's there, I know she'll be ok.

Happy Birthday, Rory!  I love you so much...no matter what..for as long as infinity times infinity!