So Thankful

Today was Doctor Day. I just decided to see them all in one day. First stop, check on the tumor on my ovaries. Praise Jesus, it's gone! Amazing! I was in shock. SO good!
Next stop, check on my depression. Doing great, keep up the good work, he says.
After some shopping/returning some unneeded items, on to the counselor. Nice time with her; we got to the bottom of some things, and I am excited about working on new things with her.
Finally, a trip to my surgeon who removed my gallbladder-she said she was glad I'm better; that my gallbladder was acutely and chronically infected and had to come out (pathology report), we agreed, were glad, she said I am not healing as well as she'd like, but to keep a watch on it.
Last saturday I went to the nurse practitioner for-yes, again, a sinus infection. She said i was really full of icky fluid in my ears and gave me some meds. I mean, i feel like all i do is blog about my health.
God is so good to me; He restores me, brings me GREAT healthcare, and my husband is sweet and (mostly) understanding.
Health challenge for the night-Kate was somehow playing with my nostril, (we are learning that word) and she must have been trying to touch my brain, because I had a massive nose bleed, and I started crying and sobbing. Kate started to freak out. Andy couldn't tell if I was laughing or crying, but I was sobbing. He can't stand blood so he threw some paper towels at me. I thought I might pass out. Since he has had some nose bleeds before, he was the expert-told me what to do. It was over in no time, but man. Don't let a kid poke in your nose.
Kate was AWESOME at following instructions tonight. "Kate, go pick up your toys." She did it. I'm amazed. Maybe she can help Andy have a good attitude about these things.
So i'm good.
We will be having Thanksgiving here at the beach, since I am not clear for travel at this point. Since my great grandmother was one of 14 children, and I am a 4th generation Mississippian, I can find a relative in any corner. We happen to have some fun cousins here, and will be with them on Turkey Day, complete with our casserole of choice and serving spoons, since they lost theirs in the hurricane.
Of course, I will book it home to start putting up the tree and all its glory. MMMMM.

Here you go

Please start watching Notes from the Underbelly when season 2 premiers next week, and please watch Carpoolers. Both on ABC, both amazing.
Do it for your sanity. You can watch them online at abc.com

recovery and refinement

I have been recovering all week from previous surgery. Surgery would be easier, i thought, since everyone downplayed it. yes, i was out of bed significantly quickly, but i am still sore and hurting. the day i came home from the hospital with kate after my c section, i was churning out clean laundry and cleaning. now, i am feeling the same effects-not as much as then but still sore and painful and not able to work as i'd like to. that is how God works. He wants us to slow down, rest, when He tells us to. I'm dumb and I don't listen.
but i have to. it hurts not to. we went to church today, it was so good. i have some respite from work this week, since we don't have any volunteers at Lagniappe, but i know my emails/phone calls will need returning.
tomorrow i will spend in waiting rooms for follow up from surgery, etc etc. andy is so gracious to stay at home with Kate tomorrow. I think he was so surprised to see how she had grown while he was in Illinois all last week. she is now completing sentences, repeating phrases, and also being quite independent.
i shared some photos of kate and her encounter with santa on her blog. it did not go well. i was not surprised. she is a predictable girl, loves her mommy. does not love strangers with long beards. even though they bring great gifts, she cannot be solicited.
i beg to differ. i am a good friend of santa's.
so glad to have andy home this week. i am not a fan of travel. i like my house. i like my routine. it's comforting.
so my recovery and refinement is eminent and happening. and i can't wait to start singing Christmas carols.

delimma

How in the world do you choose one photo for the Christmas card? Weeks of racking my brain, reviewing Picasa albums (thank you Jesus for Picasa), editing, thinking.
I will make the decision tonight.

Hm.

I survived major surgery last week. I survived a visit from my mother. I survived telling the lady at Target that unless she wanted to babysit my kid while I tried on clothes, that she better let us take a toy in the dressing room. I survived my husband being gone 5 days now, holding down the fort while recovering from said surgery.
I think I could maybe be a rock star at least for this much. Also did not tip today at olive garden, my first major day out since, again, said surgery, because waiter charged me $6 for ALFREDO SAUCE.
is this america? do we now pay taxes on sauces?
Uht uh.

Nail on the Head

This story is one of the most accurate about what we are going through here. Filled with honesty and integrity. I've been working with the team leaders from Ole Miss since last August to host the group they brought last weekend-all 140 of them! Emails, calls, etc brought this to fruition.
I'm glad I could help guide them here, and I'm glad for this article. Couldn't have said it better. It's so hard here.

Hot and Sexy

Yeah that made you look. I have some great decorating tips at my decorating blog, Dwell Well. Keep looking to see my extreme home makeover living room edition.

HAHA I made you look at my gallbladder. Not really mine but that's what it looks like. Educate yourselves, people.
I don't have one anymore.
Now I have a few war wounds and some stories to tell. I'm finally back in blog land because I can sit in a chair like a human, sort of.
I haven't even been taking much pain medication because they wouldn't give me anything decent, so I just take Tylenol. Of course, the day of was magical with morphine and other goodies.
Andy came home day after surgery and helped me, well I say that but I was asleep so much I didn't really know who was here or what was going on. I do know that Kate was well taken care of by our friends, Andy was here and now is in Illinois, and my mom came to help. She behaved herself while A was here, but once he left, Hell broke loose. I am not kidding. She was asked to leave early due to her bad behavior. I would have made myself do crunches just to make her leave because she was acting so nutso.
But now it's just me and Kate, and we are making it. A few spankings, a few talks, some kisses and hugs, and we are here. She's in her bed, which was converted into a big girl toddler bed while she was gone. Yes, this was a big step. For me. I like the safety of the crib. She hever tried to crawl out. Now she's out of bed and opening the door and turning off the white noise machine like 2 times before she really goes to sleep. and now she's started waking up all hours of the night! we have reverted to the 2 month old phase or something. I am not happy about the night waking but she likes the bed.
I decided my living room was too thrown together. The pillows, which I made, needed a switch. So I have been trying to work on that, even as a cripple, but I have to pace myself. Will post to my Dwell Well blog.
Am looking forward to a hair appt tomorrow! Had one scheduled last week but had to cancel due to the need of removing said gallbladder.
I am listening to Bob Seger, he's awesome. I miss my husband, and I want my tummy to be smaller!

and scene.

And just like that I am back home again. Modern medicine is amazing.
I showed up at the hospital 8 minutes late-and they were all ready for me! They hurried me into wardrobe (read: hospital gown) but there were no hair or makeup people. I think they should have had some for me. Also a more attractive gown.
Quick chat with the anesthesiologist, nurses, my sweet doctor, Dr Kristine Carter, and away we went. Into the operating room, and then of course after a few breaths of the gas, I was sleepy. I said, "Wait! I want to say something before we start." They said, "What?" I said, " Goodbye; I will be a rock star throughout this because I am strong." And they all laughed.
Next thing I knew, I was awake, yucky feeling, and I started to cry. (That is a side effect of the anesthesia.) I really was sad that Andy wasn't there but I knew I was okay. I said, "Was I a rock star?" and the nurse said "Yes!"
So back to recovery room that I shared with a prisoner who had 2 cops in his entourage. My entourage consisted of my mom, who guarded my bags, my MS magazine, and my Tocca Stella lotion that I had to take with me to bring some of my style to the hospital.
Laid there for a bit, then back to my room, laid there for a bit, then I was ready to go home.
I changed clothes again, did a hair check (it didn't look very good at this point) and we headed home. Of course, we planned so well that we forgot pillows. So we stopped at Family Dollar and got one for the 30 minute ride home. Beautiful scenery of the beach and the sunset was quite calming.
Got in bed when I got home, Andy arrived! He surprised me today and told me he wanted to come home, so it was good to see him. My mom is at the pharmacy now for me, and I am able to sit up and post!
I want you to know: prayers were answered and heard and I was not scared, I was so calm, had such a peace, and I am so thankful for the Great Physician.
Dr Carter said my gallbladder was inflamed, but not infected. She said there were gallstones but they had to send it to pathology for a report.
So good thing we got that yucky thing out when we did. Infection would have made me MUCH sicker.
So, all is well here. I'm looking forward to actual food-it's been months since I could enjoy anything besides a cracker without getting sick, and sometimes even that was too much.
Thanks for your love! Maybe next time I'll have them do some cosmetic work while they are poking me already. Just kidding.

nip tuck

I am having my broken gallbladder removed today. Sort of like taking the car to the shop.
I will be in the hospital briefly, and should be back to normal soon!
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I do accept flowers and gifts at my home address.
I did not watch ER or Grey's last night in case someone had a weird gallbladder thingie happen.
I am probably going to read my Mississippi Magazine in the waiting room and then get really nervous and then it will be over with.
Kate is at summer camp in Kosciusko for the weekend (She's playing with her friends). When she gets home I will have some chores for her to do-swiffering, dusting, etc.
Just kidding.
But she really does know how to swiffer vac.
So ciao to you all, see you on the flip side.
In case of any untimely passing i have a nice purse collection up for grabs.