Healing and progressing

We have a had a busy few weeks! I was gearing up to have a barrage of medical check-ups and go back to work and R has been trying to keep a leash on me! So, here is the latest update...

We went to see the surgeon last Friday. Of course there was the waiting room with oldies playing and all of the 'pain update' paperwork to fill out. They want to know all kinds of things like, how long can you sit in a chair before you start hurting, how long can you stand, drive, read, etc. They also check on the status of your personal care i.e. do you need help dressing, doing your hair, makeup, shoes. I laughed out loud because I haven't done my hair since the beginning of December and haven't worn makeup since November! On those two questions I put a big question mark and smiling face. ? :-)

Anyhow, when I finally got in to see him we chatted about how I am feeling and the activities I have been participating in. I haven't been doing much so it was a short conversation! He pulled out the two x-rays and studied them for a moment. He said "Huh..." Meanwhile I am sitting in a chair behind him freaking out! Huh... Huh? Huh, what? Huh, good or huh, bad? ACK! Finally he turns around and says "I am stumped." Being out of patience, I said 'Ok, Doctor B. You said 'huh...' and now you are stumped, which is great but it is my neck holding my head up, so spill it!' He said 'Hop up here on the table and I'll tell you while I check it out.'

I did as he requested and he proceeded to tell me that it appears that the front of the fusion, you remember, the one from last June, is starting to fuse. What?! Yes, starting to fuse after 10 months of no bone growth at all. He said "I have never seen anything like it. It is unheard of for a fusion that old to start healing. I can't explain it." I smiled! I can explain it - I got a blessing, many blessings actually, that are predicated on my faith, of which I have an abundance. I was instructed to study and learn the lessons that I need to learn from this experience and I have been doing so. - I should apologize for not sharing any more of my lessons, but they suddenly became very personal and precious. Being such, they were inappropriate for me to share on such a public forum. - So, great news; I am healing!

My incision goes from my hairline strait down about 4 inches and across the base of my neck/shoulders about 4 inches (like a big T). Then there is a hole the size of a pencil eraser, which is now closed, about 4 inches to the left of the base of the T. It is bright pink, as with most newly forming scars. I believe it will be a while before I am comfortable wearing my hair up in public.

I asked about work and he said no, not just no, but emphatically no! I am only 4-5 weeks out of surgery and I need to be 8-12 before the bones have healed enough to start being really active again. So, 6 more weeks. He wants a CAT Scan at that point and those results will enable him to better determine how fast I can increase my activities.

Check out my metal!



The original plate and 4 screws are in the middle, each side has a clamp, rod and 2 additional screws.
R likes to say I am much like a walking hardware store!
Yes - I did notice that they are crooked - but if you know me, you will know it is fitting!

Ready for even more great news?! I saw the vocal cord doc on Monday and he said that my vocal cords are 100% physically healed! Woohoo! Here is the only bad news of the entire situation over the last week... I saw the speech therapist for a check up and a battery of tests. I didn't pass so she wants to keep seeing me. We need to work on a few things and in time, I should be 100%. So bad news but not terrible! Part of my homework is to read out loud for 10-15 minutes each day. Today, Dozer and I lazed in bed and read a Nora Roberts book. Dozer loved it, he is such a romantic! Perhaps it was the tummy scratching, but I choose to believe he likes romance... I have been reading a lot, not just romance, but a nice variety of books. If you have any suggestions, let me know - I am always looking for new reads!!

I have also been doing some embroidery. I gifted a cute little heart to my Mom, now am working on a fantastic little piggy banner. I didn't take a photo of the first one but I will take a photo of the piggies when it is done!

JoAnn's had a sale a few weeks ago and R took me down to browse. I picked out a pretty skirt pattern and he picked out some really nice tan fabric with embroidered fabric. May I just say that he has some very expensive taste?! I am too scared to even take it out of the bag to wash it! I imagine I will be doing just that over the next few days since I need to have it done by April and I haven't sewn anything in years. I did get the machine out and it works well. I've been practicing on a pillowcase doll that I made for, Jasmine, R's little sister's baptism in May. When I get that done, I will post a photo! I want to wear the skirt to Mom's Easter singing program. They started practicing last weekend; there are 160 people in the choir and they sing like angels! I am still hoping to get some photos and a video when they perform. I would really like to make a new outfit for Jasmine's baptism in May. The question is - skirt or dress? plain or floral? Bright or subdued?

We joined Facebook last August; the peer pressure was too great to resist! It is a neat tool for keeping in touch but I still find it odd how some people use it like a journal. There are some things that you should not share with hundreds of people... We share, but as on here, we are very selective in what we share. It is fascinating none the less!

We have had a few 'almost' adoption situations over the past month - 4 to be exact. As frustrating as it can be, we are still trying to be patient and calm. Everything in God's time, not mine. Our Birth parents are out there and we will be reunited at some point. We have been chosen and then rejected, almost chosen and had an opportunity slip through our fingers due to technicalities. Through it all, we know that all of these things have happened for the same reason - it was not meant to be. Those situations were never meant to be ours. We continue to serve through Colorado FSA and I actually got to write a blog post on February 15th!

And we made it home...

Oh gosh, so much has happened in the last week I hardly know where to start!

Let's start at the very beginning
A very good place to start
When you read you begin with A-B-C
When you sing you begin with do-re-mi

The beginning. We finished our chores last Thursday and then did all of the extra things to prepare the farm for us to leave for a week. Yes, we went on vacation; our second in 13 years. That is actually misleading - we have gone on lots of vacations but all were to visit family or go back and help Mom and Dad with the ranch. Somehow digging a foundation under an already built house and hanging siding doesn't really count as vacation - but those are different stories for another time. This was a vacation - a real vacation - no family visiting or chores required!

My Uncle (Mom's Little Brother)- Gary pictured here...

has a fabulous vacation in Scottsdale, Arizona. We are talking 3 bedroom, pool, misting system, big screen... Paradise. We went for a week in February 2007 (before the Ranch) and it became our favorite place to go for rest and relaxation. Anyhow, Gary was gracious enough to allow us to use the house again, free of charge for a week.

R and I had this summary of a conversation on Thursday night. Me: What time do you want to leave in the morning? R: 5, I'll set the alarm for 4. Me: Are you nuts?! We are on vacation and you want to get up at our normal time set the alarm and I will get up. You can drive first! R: OK.

Fast forward to 2:00 on Friday morning. I wake up with excruciating pain in my ankles. It literally feels like some one is stabbing my ankles with a knife. Mind you - I quit taking the steroids on Tuesday. I tapered off like I was supposed to, but instead of tapering off over 1 week and quitting, I did 2 days and quit. Who knew? OK, so the doctor probably knew, but I didn't.

So, I am awake, groaning in pain on the couch in the living room, trying to be quiet so we can leave in 3 hours. R woke up and came in - we decided a hot pad might help and the couch was making my neck hurt. More pain pills and back to bed. 3:30 I am up in the living room again, but on the floor this time. The alarm goes off at 4.

I can hear it and know the following is going on: R wakes up, thinks - crud, she was right, this is too early! 'Honey, turn it off and we will leave later. You were right.... Honey? Honey!' He turns off the alarm and finds me on the floor in the living room. You must realize that the pain is nerve pain, so rubbing stimulates the nerves, which cannot feel 2 sensations at once. So the rubbing my ankles blocks the stabbing pain and makes it feel better. I hobble into bed and we sleep until 6. At 6, he rubs my ankles again and we say our morning prayer. The pain leaves about 5 minutes after our prayer and we are on the road by 7.

I called the doctor when they opened and asked about the pain. Doc confirms it is nerve pain and I am probably over the worst. Probably - there is a comforting word... We say another prayer that 'probably' means 'absolutely' and continue on the drive.

We arrive in Scottsdale around 10pm, shower and fall into bed.

We spent Saturday - Tuesday afternoon at the house. We swam, slept, ate, watched TV, slept, swam, relaxed, talked, laughed and just plain enjoyed each other and the house. We are so blessed to have been married for 13 years, still in love and still enjoying each others company and humor.

We also went to IKEA. I love IKEA! We got everything on our list. Nothing super exciting for normal folks, but for us... Wonderful. New knives, pots and pans, silverware, pot holders, candles and candle holders, living room lights, lazy Susan, colander, picture for the master bath, duvet covers (one for winter and one for summer - now we have 4 choices! YAY!), a throw pillow and of course another cook book! Ah, heaven!

We also found all of the furniture we want for the nursery - I found everything for under $1,000! And it matches and it is new! I am so excited for the day that we can go back to IKEA and come home with a crib!

We left Tuesday morning and drove up the the Grand Canyon. We hiked and took photos, stayed the night and drove home Wednesday via the back way (over the Rockies). We went from 105* to 48* all in one day. It was funny, we stopped for dinner in Gennese and I had on shorts and a light shirt with flip-flops... It was raining and cold! I felt like a tourist! People kept looking at me oddly until they saw the truck and Colorado plates - then it registered - flat lander!

We got home about 8 and were able to visit with Mom. Yep, she was nice enough to watch the house and ranch for us while we played in Arizona. She fed, milked and watched out for everything. We are so grateful, I cannot express how much. You cannot know the feeling of leaving home and knowing that everything will be taken care of, that your possessions, animals and memories are in good hands and will be safe (it is possible that she spoils everyone more than we do). I am so glad that she was willing and able to stay at our place and keep track of all of our critters. With out her, we would not have been able to even go!

We spent today running errands, playing with horses, burning brush and relaxing. Tomorrow is the CORE training at LDS FS in Aurora and we will be approved for adoption! More on that later.

Saturday is hay day. Yay! *sigh* We should be getting about 100 bales to fill the barn but alas, I am still on my 10 pound restriction, so other than moral support, I cannot help load or unload. I hate being useless and not able to pull my fair share. Maybe I'll make a cake or something for R to make up for not being able to help.

We have been trading milk for eggs. Each week a neighbor (they live in Eaton) drives up and gets 2 gallons, in exchange, they give me 2 dozen eggs! If you have never had farm fresh eggs, please look on craigslist and find someone that sells them (usually about 2-3 dollars per dozen). Buy a dozen and if you are not hooked and in love, let me know and I will send you 3$! I turned to R and said: think of something that I can make for you to make up for not being able to help with hay. R; *wiggles eye brows* we have fresh eggs.. Me: yep. 2 dozen, she dropped them off today. R: enough for quiche? Me: *laughing* yes, I suppose so. R: Sweet! Problem solved and guilt gone! Yay! One of these days, our website will be up and I will share the quiche recipe!