Surgery Update

Let's start on Monday. Monday was my last ditch effort to get things done before my surgery. I had plans to tidy up the kitchen etc. while the kids were in school, but that didn't happen.

As I was getting Natalie ready for school, she was complaining that her eyes were itching. I offered to put eye drops in, but she wasn't interested and we had to get out the door, so we left. I went into the school office to check in and Natalie walked to her class. By the time I got to her class, her teacher was writing a note for Natalie to go to the nurse's office because her eyes were very red and swollen. They thought it could be conjunctivitis/pink eye. The school nurse suggested taking her to the doctor. So, I checked her back out of school, made an appointment for Natalie, drove Zander to preschool and off we went in to town. The doctor thought since her eyes weren't producing any goopy stuff that it wasn't bacterial conjunctivitis and therefore not contagious. The nurses washed her eyes out with saline and gave her some medicated drops to use once a day. I drove Natalie back to school and was so relieved that it wasn't pink eye...after all she had school pictures the next day and I had planned for her to ride the bus home with Sarah where she would play while I was in the hospital.

After Natalie got home from school we went to get hair cuts. I planned to get them the day before pictures so I asked the stylist to give Natalie a headband braid so I didn't have to worry about styling her hair in the morning. Zander got his hair cut too as his pictures are today (Wednesday). Next it was off to the store to get some last minute things. By the time we got home it was time for the kids to go to bed. Fortunately, we stopped off and had a bite to eat while we were out.

Tuesday morning, the day of my surgery...I showered and got Natalie ready for her pictures, then Dan drove her to Sarah's house as my friend Debbie offered to take her to school so we could then drive the boys to Chris and Anne's house to play with Isaac. (Thanks guys!!!)

I knew we were running late, so I phoned the hospital, but by the time we got on to the freeway we hit "traffic" going a mere 5 mph, so I phoned again and let them know. As it turns out, there was a log truck stalled out in one lane, then further down there was an accident.

We finally made it to the hospital and got checked in when they told us we needed to pay the balance of our insurance deductible...only $3,000!!! The lady at the desk offered to have this billed to us, so we didn't have to cough up that much all at once. Yikes!

Once I got checked into my "stall," I got into my gown and the nurses asked me a bunch of health related questions. It was actually odd because when I called to pre-register they asked the same questions...then the hospital called and asked me the same questions again. Once at the hospital, the attending nurse asked me again, then the anesthesiologist asked me. Next time I go in I am going to wear I sign that says "NO, I am not allergic to anything!"

Here I am in the second photo NOT looking when the nurse is inserting the IV!

Here I am removing my ring...All summer long I had been a little anxious about this surgery because I knew they wanted me to remove all my jewelry. Well, I couldn't get my wedding ring off to save my life and I didn't want it to be cut off. So when school started up I began doing Weight Watchers on my own and I managed to lose 8 lbs...just enough to get my ring off!!!

Before surgery Dr. Kim came in to explain everything. Then the anesthesiologist gave me some happy juice (versed) and I was wheeled into the operating area. The last thing I remember was them saying "this is just an oxygen mask." I remember breathing in, hearing them talk about how the mask smells like vanilla which is better than it used to smell...then the next thing I know... I am in recovery!

I woke up out of surgery pretty fast. Not like the other times when I could hardly keep my eyes open as they were giving me discharge instructions. This photo is me after the surgery, drinking water, trying to keep hydrated. They gave me some crackers so I could take my percocet, but my mouth was so dry from the anesthetic that I couldn't swallow the crackers without lots of water...it was pretty weird.

After awhile the nurse wanted me to try and use the bathroom. This is the part that I was dreading. Last time, with the stent in, it hurt so bad that I couldn't go without extreme pain, so I stayed the night so they could manage my pain better. This time however...no problem! Thanks to all of you for your prayers.

..and here I am being wheeled out to the car.

I am feeling pretty good over all. Just a little bit tired and sore. I have a huge 4" bruise on my back where the shock waves were aimed, but all in all, thanks to my pain meds, I'm doing fine!
Thanks to Anne and Debbie for your help with our kiddos (and with dinner too!!! Yummy!)