Hi All! First up, I’m good and recovering well. The whole thing was pretty easy (for surgery!) for me. We got up at three, and were at the center by five am. I was in surgery by a little after seven, and there were, thankfully, no complications. She did grab a few lymph nodes while in there strictly as a precaution to make sure there’s no spread, but overall, everything looks good.
They kept me overnight as expected. The interesting thing is that because the center is brand new, they aren’t set up with patient rooms, so they kept me in recovery. I have never had such care in my life! I had two amazing nurses, and I am grateful to them both. Normally staying in recovery that long would be miserable, but for the first night after surgery, I actually felt safe and comfortable. I’ve had minimal pain, which apparently is unusual, but for stuff like this I sometimes have a high pain tolerance. However paper cuts and mosquito bites me me whine incessantly, LOL. I have some pain, mostly in the left side where I guess she dissected the lymph nodes in the afternoon and evening but it’s easily controlled and much less than I had expected. Overall, I think I’m healing as I should and my only complaint is an occasional cough. It feels like a lot of drainage and irritated throat which is all normal after having a breathing tube but we’re watching it. Each day I’m doing more, but I need to be careful until my fallow up on September 6th. I have internal stitches in a few places, and external steri-strips. It’s a small incision but we definitely don’t want it opening up. I’m not great at remembering to be careful and not lift things, however, Wizard is excellent at reminding me 
And I’m glad he does. Sometimes I’m just doing what I always do without thinking, so it’s a good thing to have a watcher
Guys, when the kids were young, youngest would just pop up in the weirdest places. Like I’d close the refrigerator door and he’d be standing there. Middle could do that too, but youngest did it more often. The kid can move quiet as smoke when he wants too. So I’m resting in recovery after I’ve sent Wizard home and I think I’m listening to a conversation in the next bay. Then I hear, “Mom are you awake?” I opened my eyes and Youngest is sitting all comfortable in the chair. He said he’d been there ten minutes. He said he thought I was asleep for a bit then I moved in a way that told him I’d come awake. He’s probably right, but I’d have sworn I was awake. The whole thing was such a throwback to when he’d catch me by surprised as a kid. By the way, he didn’t startle me into jumping. I knew he was on his way, I just didn’t realized I’d dozed off and he’d arrived. Plus drugs — I was pretty much just going with things.
And then, I kid you not, he did it AGAIN later that night. He came back and sat there until I woke. A couple days later he said he’d only been gone an hour when he and his wife got something to eat, but I wasn’t tracking time and thought hours and hours had gone by. I believe him. Anyhow, I found it funny. His wife also came and I loved seeing her. She helped me with some stuff which was great. Oh and they were only letting one visitor in at a time because I was in recovery not a patient room, and they were monitoring me for calcium levels and other things. So in my memory it seemed like everyone was a separate visitor even if they came together — if that makes sense. And Oldest came by, it was great to see him and catchup on everything Turbo is doing. I enjoyed talking to them all. His wife had a mild virus so didn’t want to get anyone sick. Middle called, but I did not expect him to come to the hospital.
Then yesterday Middle and his wife came to the house. Umm…she’s 39 weeks pregnant! And they drove an hour or more away from the house and hospital! She assured me it was fine, she wasn’t having contractions. She looked amazing and the baby was moving all over, so she was right. But still!!! Middle looks great too, and very happy. Oh and this daughter in law had offered to bring Wizard food while I was in surgery. I love that. Wizard said no (we didn’t want her in the facility where she could pick up a virus), but it meant a lot to him that she would do that for him. While I was in surgery, Wizard did as I asked and left to go eat. They had his cell phone, so it was fine.
Anyway, all is going well. It’s probably all been a lot harder on Wizard. I hope to keep healing quickly.
Now I’d love to hear how all of you have been. I may or may not answer right away, but I will read it. If I don’t show up here Wednesday, I definitely plan to be back on Friday.
August 26th, 2024 at 7:23 am · Link
MASSIVE (and gentle) HUGE HUGS!!!!! Been thinking about you and sending good vibes your way and so happy to sit down at the computer this morning to find your post at the top of my blog feed! Yayayay! And you’re doing so good!!!!! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!! 💖💖💖💖💖
The whole tube-down-the-throat thing will take awhile. I still have to clear my throat and occasionally have trouble taking pills. The good news is, this too shall pass! Your recovery is coming along so well! Yay!
Yes, I’m over here Snoopy Dancing™ around my office. Yay!
No baby yet. Ah well. Okay, my next date is September 5 because that’s Uncle Fix-It’s b-day. You have such great kids. We should start calling Youngest Ninja-Boy.
Middle and Oldest are also cool “kids” and you brought them up right to pick such awesome ladies to bring into the family.
I’m sure Maggie is thrilled to have you home. And trust me, Wiz will hover for awhile, even after the doctor clears you for full duty. (I STILL haven’t been to Walmart by myself
)
Gosh. I’m just so happy that things are going so well for you! Your doc was smart to go ahead and nick those lymph nodes now. We can get along just find without them for the most part and better safe that have to do this again.
Not much new here. Still hot. Stormy played soccer Saturday. He’s in a split 5th/6th class and is mostly doing the 6th grade stuff but for ELA. He’s doing 7th grade there. Only is still enjoying her students. I’m pushing to get the darn WIP to The End by Labor Day. I have a week. I keep telling myself there’s not that much left to tell and then the dang story and characters throw a wrench into the works. At least I’m writing almost every day. Jake, Loki, and Pete send woofs and meows to you and Maggie. And Wiz.
Take care of yourself, let Wiz spoil you with more care, and follow your doctor’s orders! You’ll be back to 100% soon. I’ve missed you and I’m glad your back! 🥰🥰🥰
August 26th, 2024 at 8:23 am · Link
YAY! I’m so glad everything went well and that you’re on the road to recovery. :HUGS: I hope everything continues that way. :HUGS:
Nothing much going on here. I finished the first draft of my WIP and it’s marinating. I hope to get to editing next week. Meanwhile, I have to figure out which book I’m going to work on next. The plan is to edit during the day and write new words at night. We’ll see how that goes.
Take it easy and don’t go tweaking anything while you’re waiting for the all-clear to return to normal activities, okay? We want you back to healthy sooner rather than later. :HUGS: (I know, I know… you’ll be good, but I had to say it.)
August 26th, 2024 at 2:12 pm · Link
I am so happy to hear that you are doing well and recovery is coming along. The post op care you got from the center sounds like the cream of the crop. You made an excellent choice.
It’s also fantastic that you haven’t been in a ton of pain. Your comment about your pain tolerance made me laugh. Isn’t it funny how we can really handle the big stuff but things like a paper cut drive us crazy 😆.
You have a fantastic family. They all made sure you knew how much you and Wizard mean to them. Wizard is quite the guy too 💗.
So the baby is chilling ☺️. She just wanted to make sure you were doing well before she makes her entrance.
Is Maggie sticking to you? Spunk is glued to me whenever I’m not in top shape so I figured Maggie is looking after her mom the same way.
Friday I went for my mammogram. When I got there all my information had not transferred to this new location (still University Hospital). That took a bit of work to add everything. Now when I go to look at mychart, there is NOTHING there. All the data from my primary care doctor visit on 8-8 is there instead. They really need to get their act together.
Our weekend was nothing to write about. Nothing really happened.
Today was hubs follow up with the neurologist. He was super angry with me this morning when I told him he had the appointment. It went pretty well once we were on our way. Things seemed to go okay there too. Afterwards A took us to lunch. It was nice.
I’m keeping you and Wizard in my prayers. Here’s to a smooth recovery! Take care.
August 27th, 2024 at 12:52 pm · Link
Silver, thanks on all! I’ve had two full anesthesia surgeries in three months, so yeah, the cough thing isn’t too surprising.
I am very relieves she dissected the lymph nodes. I’d much rather find trouble now, although I’m pretty confident they will come back fine. And that will be an extra layer of reassurance which is very nice to have!
Sorry for the ongoing heat! We got a couple less hot days and really appreciated them. Hope you get them soon!
And Stormy is an amazing, very accomplished kid!
Very happy to hear Only’s enjoying her students and new challenges.
Hope the characters are coming to realize their story is nearly over so you can meet your deadline! It’s hard to get their cooperation on that sometimes, LOL.
Say hi to the animals for me and Maggie
August 27th, 2024 at 12:56 pm · Link
B.E., thank you! I’m sure hoping this is the end of all the medical drama for a while. I’m doing well but I’m tired
Yeah on finishing the draft!!! Hope you are able to get a good amount of marinating time! I’m so guilty of not doing that.
Can you edit one book and write another at the same time? I’m impressed as heck if you can! And a little envious!
I swear I’m trying not to overdo. It’s a bit hard, but I think I’m staying within my limits. Fortunately I am allowed and encouraged to walk daily so that helps me and Maggie.
Hope you’re having a great week and have decided which will be your new writing project! (unless, of course, you decided to go into full time editing mode).
August 27th, 2024 at 1:05 pm · Link
Viki, the path to this new center was stressful and insane, but it worked out very well. I can’t express my gratitude to the surgeon and entire team, including my two recovery nurses. They were all amazing.
Yep the baby is having way too much fun stretching and rolling inside her mom, LOL. Her mom is patient, her dad…not so much
He wants to meet his daughter!
Maggie is checking on me, but nothing like when I had the cervical spine surgery. She seems to know the difference in that this is an easier surgery, which is interesting. Animals are amazing.
Glad you got your mammo done! But ugh on the data transfer issues! They are incredibly annoying. And you’re caught in the middle trying to fix it. I get so frustrated and imagine it’s the same for you.
It had to be hard to start your day of taking hubs to the neurologist with hubs being angry, but glad the rest of the day went well. And A is awesome for taking you to lunch. Hope the visit was helpful.
Hope your week is going well! Mine is good, just slow as I try to be patient with healing.