My Baby Boy is 18...

This week, my oldest son turned 18. He is now eligible for the draft. Wow. That is very sobering. I was just reading all about his arrival and newborn moments in the (paper and pen) journal I kept. How quickly the time has flown. My Joshie. He's all grown up.

Did March just whiz by?

OK, that was a busy month! I feel like I'm finally catching my breath. In one month my grandmother died, I hosted a get-together afterwards, David and I went to Philly for a weekend, Easter weekend came, egg-hunt and all (this was hosted by my sister, Wendy), I threw a kid's party for Noah's 6th birthday, we had carpet installed in our bedroom, and new (used) furniture arrived and had to be fit in. I'm bushed!

All I have to do this month is drive for three boys in sports, and throw two birthday parties. Oh, and on the last day, I go through "revisions" of my Dec '07 tummy tuck. My belly button and the edges of the scar, one on each hip, didn't turn out right and need tidying up. Just so this doesn't sound like my plastic surgeon is a quack - revisions are common. Plastic surgery is not an exact science. The docs do the best they can. I'm very happy overall with my tummy tuck, and would do it again, with the same doc.

Change of topic - Today I went to probably one of the nicest funerals I've ever attended. My friend, Kolene, lost her mom, Barbara, this week. Barbara was 74, and loved the Lord very much. She was ill for at least 20 years with various ailments, but always believed that the Lord would heal her, even up to the end. Kolene pointed out that she was like the prophets of old, who looked for the Messiah, and yet died before He came. She was picking out which color car she'd like when she got her license again. But she took a bad fall, and that was it. She's with the Lord now. There was harp music at her funeral service. "His Eye is On the Sparrow" was one of the songs. It was lovely. I was especially touched by the comment of one of this dear lady's grandsons: "I knew I was special because she told me I was." At the end, we all sang "When the Saints Go Marching In" and "I'll Fly Away." I thought it was a very sweet and homespun event. Barbara would have liked it. She left behind a husband, six daughters, and many grandchildren. Just like with my Grandma, it is a huge comfort to know they are not gone forever, but merely waiting for us to join them...

Grandma went home

My maternal grandmother, Alene Casey, went home to be with the Lord on March 8th. She died peacefully, with an aide by her side. My mom, my sister, my brother, and I were with her all that day. We were told she would last the night, so we went home to sleep, and got the call a couple hours later that she was gone.

She was 84, and had 4 children, two daughters and two sons. She had eleven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She had had a difficult life, and many problems to face. But she always smiled. She had a southern accent and charm as well. Everyone who met her liked her right away for her kind smile and sweet spirit.

A couple days before Grandma died, I was sitting with her. She was only able to nod "yes" and shake her head "no" by this point. So we "talked" as she slipped in and out of sleep. The day before this my mother had pondered aloud that I must have looked like Grandma's mother, Catherine L.C., as I looked a lot like her cousin who supposedly resembled CLC. So as I sat with my Grandma, it occured to me to ask her. She firmly nodded "yes". So I learned something new, and almost missed knowing it.

I'm so thankful that I will see my Grandma again.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. ~ Revelation 21:4

Big Praise Report

My sister-in-law, K*****, 37, went through a major surgery this week. She had pancreatic cancer, the endocrine type, very rare. She's been battling it for over 2 years, and her doctor was finally able to remove most of it - praise God!!!

Her story is truly a miracle. She's recovering now. I hope to speak to my brother soon and see how she's doing.

Noah's first Valentine exchange

Tonight Noah and I sat down at the dining room table and made out 17 Valentine cards for his kindergarten class. He's never done this before, but got right to work. It was so sweet. I had to snap some shots.





























I really love that my oldest, Sarah Jane, 22, lives here with us while she commutes to college. She's my only comrade against the menfolk. My home is full is trucks, guns, sweaty socks. But then I pass by Sarah Jane's bedroom and take in the pinks and lavenders, and the smells of all her various lotions and perfumes. Even her rabbit is a girl. Ahhhh.... I am not alone.

Still, I love my boys. I always wanted to have at least two boys. I was a tomboy, and I enjoy being with my boys. They are up-front, and logical about sorting things out. Girls can be catty and take things personal. Sometimes that gets stressful.

Snow days

Yesterday and today, my kids heard those words that children the northern states over long to hear: school closed! We've been watching way too much tv and eating too many carb-loaded snacks. I think I shall ban tv for a few hours today to encourage game-playing, or at least reading.

Last night, I caught and kept our outside kitty, Sylvia, in the the garage. It's probably 25 degrees warmer that outside, as it's part of the house. I have a pillow out there for her, next to a house-side wall. I hope she slept on it.

This morning, when David opened the garage door, Sylvia when slip-sliding and spinning out, and eventually found refuge under Sarah Jane's little red car. Then I let Maisy out, step-step flump-on-the-rump. It's her special dance for when there's an inch of ice on the driveway. She did it all the way to the yard. Then back in.

David impressed me with his driving skills. After sprinkling ice melt around, and waiting a few minutes, he pulled his little Saturn straight out, turned the front wheels, as the back wheels stopped and caused the whole car to turn, missing Sarah Jane's car, right onto the street. I was amazed. You have to know that our driveway has a rise that makes water run downhill towards Sarah Jane's car. So imagine driving over ice on this driveway. He could be a professional driver.

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Christmas recovery

I am presently recovering from a double surgery, performed on December 18. First I had a total abdominal hysterectomy. That was followed by a full tummy tuck with muscle repair. (My abdominal muscle rows in the middle were 2-1/2" apart from my five pregnancies, esp those three 10-pound boys!) It took four hours, and all went very well, praise God! I had two surgeons, a gynecologist and a plastic surgeon. I was very pleased with them, with their bedside manner and their handywork.My gyn was so sweet.

The operation was delayed 90 minutes, so my anxiety was building. Even my time in the OR stretched out. I must have lay on that OR table for 10-15 minutes, overhearing the OR nurses counting out all the instruments, guaze pads, etc. The room was so chilly. I had seen this show a year ago about people who feel and hear everything while they're "under" during an operation, but are still paralysed, unable to cry out, "I can feel you cutting!!" (This is called "anestesia awareness" I believe.) I told this to my anestesiologist and he showed me the device that the hospital had recently gotten. It would alert him to very slight fluctuations in my system that I'm in a state of heightened anxiety. He put this adhesive strip of what felt like a row of chiclets on my forehead, and pressed down firm. Then my "number" came up on the machine, 97. When my gyn saw the number, which must have been high, he rubbed my arm, and made a little joke. I looked over at the machine and the number was lower, 91. The anestesioligist then told me how would give me something that would really relax me, and I soon felt very woozy...

Then I was awake again and being taken to my room in the women's section. Everything was blurry for lack of my glasses, but I could make out the form of my husband and mommy, asking me how I felt. I knew the surgery was over, and that was a relief. But I was terribly thirsty! My mouth was like cotton. After I was fussed over, vitals taken once more and such, I was left in David's care, with instructions to give me only a few ice chips here and there until 8pm, in case I became nauseous. Mom kissed me and headed out. She had wanted to stay until my lips were their own color, which they were't til the next day, but she also wanted to leave David and me alone. Apparently my Dad stopped in and waited with them during my surgery, and even teared up a little as he remenisced about me as a little girl, but then he had to return to work.

That first couple days after surgery were hard. Getting out of bed the first time was so painful. But each time it got a bit better. I became more and more active, and was able to go home on the 20th. Surrounded by my doting husband, older kids, mom and mother-in-law, I have been living the life of a pampered princess!

The outcome from the hysterectomy is still unknown, but my gyn said it looked like I had adenomyosis* The lab has yet to confirm that. My uterus was the size of a large cantaloupe, and was spongy as well. My ovaries were left in, as they appeared normal. All I know is that my super-heavy periods are over - yay!! No more being trapped at home for two days each month! No more anemia!

The tummy tuck went great. I can hardly believe the change in my profile. My former baby belly, even though swollen, now looks flat and smooth, like I never had a baby! There are some stretch marks that do remain, but for all the improvement, I could care less! Before surgery I made note of a little red mole that was about 2" above my belly button - now it's 2" below - LOL! That's why I walked bent over for the first 4-5 days after surgery...I made it to my Dad's for Christmas Eve, and that was really nice. Of course I just sat around and was fussed over. I think my "percoset personality" was entertaining. From what I gather, I seemed a bit "lit."Christmas Day was really nice. David and the kids had the whole house clean and we all just enjoyed exchanging gifts, and being together with Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole crooning in the background.David gave me a gift that made me so happy I cried: a Tivoli radio. It is the first and only radio that has clearly brought a certain beloved Christian station into my kitchen! This station came in fine in the front of the house, but never the back, no matter which radio I tried. I had recently admired Tivoli radios in a stereo store because of their retro look and solid design, only dials and knobs, nothing digital. I wondered about its reception. When I plugged mine in and heard the Christian station coming in clear as a bell, I was floored, and hugged my hubby! He was delighted - he wasn't sure if I'd like it.
I'm now 10 days post op, and going in to my plastic surgeon for my post op appt today. I hope to get my drains out, but I'm not sure if I will.About the drains - these are two tubes that actually come right out of my skin, just under the hip-to-hip inscision. The tubes are about 8-9" long and lead into bulbs that have to be emptied at least once a day. (I drained about 20ml from each last night.) Then you squeeze them, and close them. Since they're closed compressed, they create a vacuum to draw more fluid out. The bulbs have tabs on them, so they can be pinned to my binder. The tubing inside me is about 10!" They are stitched in place during surgery, don't ask me how, but mine have both broken loose, and the inside white tubing sticks out a little. My PS said not to worry, as long as the bulbs stay compressed, meaning they're still working. He said it was very unusual for one to come out a little, but he'd never had both do it. Well, today he's gonna see "never." (How special to be a first.) It's probably because I've been too active. I'm hyper. I can only sit still so long! I haven't done any heavy lifting, but really after sitting/laying still for an hour, I have to get up and move! Then, after 10-2o mins I'm down again. Sometimes I can stay put for 2 hours. Oh well. (Note made later: the drains were removed during my appt - no more bulbs and all their hassles!)I have to wear a compression garment (also called a binder) 24 hours a day. It's simply a 12" wide piece of thick elastic white fabric with a velcro strip on one end to hold it tight once it's wrapped around your middle. Pretty much a modern corset. I woke up in it, and we have had a love-hate relationship ever since. Mine seems an inch too high, so I just fold it down at the top, and it fits much better that way. I've actually gotten used to it's constant pressure. I do enjoy a remove-and-itch session at least once a day. I have to wear it always until the 2-week mark, then only at night for four weeks.I'm not allowed to drive for 3-4 weeks. My mom has been driving Noah to and from kindergarten, and will til I can. Thanks, Mom.An interesting aside: Two days before my surgery, we had an ice storm and we lost all power for 2 days. We all moved in with David's parents, and I did all my laundry there. Since we have only about 10 days-worth of clothing, I was planning to save it all up to do that last 2 days before surgery, so we'd have more to wear longer afterwards. Fortunately, my mother-in-law let me do it all at her place. The ice storm was a blessing in a way: I was so busy, I was distracted from the waiting-anxiety for the surgery.I am so happy to be done with this operation. I've been waiting since September. It was well worth the wait, the pain, and the $$.

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and that you have a blessed New Year!

*Adenomyosis is uterine thickening that occurs when endometrial tissue, which normally lines the uterus, moves into the outer muscular walls of the uterus.

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December 6, 2007

Overheard

I often enjoy listening in to my kids. They say the most interesting things. A few days ago, Noah, 5, was whining to me about how his brothers would not play a certain game with him. On this day, he had honed in on Josh, age 17. "Josh won't play Super Smash brothers with me - will you MAKE him play? He's been layin' around and watchin' tv for hours!" The next day, I found Noah pouting about the same thing, even the same game. I urged Josh to look at him, ask-telling him to give in, "Josh, can't you please play that game with him for a little bit?" Josh looked at him and had to admit, "He's so cute. How could I resist that little face?" Noah knew he had the limelight, and spouted, "Josh! Play with me!" He sounded like Veruca Salt of Willy Wonka fame. Without missing a beat, Josh responded, "Oh, yeah - that's how, as soon as the mouth opens."