A gift a day, while Donna's away

I was given this box by an extraordinary friend, Donna.  She came by to visit me and brought me some Jewish Penicillin, (Chicken Soup).  I always leave her feeling encouraged and supported.  Todays visit was no exception.

Inside this box is little prezzies - I'm to open them one per day while she's away in Costa Rica for a getaway with her hubby.

So, I dipped my hand in and took out a prezzie

This was perfect, I needed tissues at my little home in the living room. 

The next day I got:

I can't wait to take this to work and bowl at my desk!

The next day.....Encouragement!

The following day....

Donna likened me to Deborah in the bible, sitting under my palm tree giving wisdom to all who come to me....let's face it, I'm not going anywhere...people have to come to me!

The following day, I got my crown, (You can see it on my finger....) and more encouragement:

The following day, I was asked to make her laugh.

 

The next day I opened the red envelope....I was warned about the red envelope, when I was ready to laugh (that has hurt to hiccup, sneeze, cough...I can't imagine what a laugh would be like....)

I can't wait to do this!

Well, isn't this the life!

Well, now I'm home and I'm resting somewhat comfortably, and today I realized, this is the life!  Someone brings me everything I need, (here you see I am eating cabbage soup that I made before I went to the hospital) and watching football.

I get up every hour or so for a little walk about the house.  Funny, Kent got me a Fitbit before I went into the hospital and I'm walking so gingerly, it's not registering any of my steps!

My nursing staff has been bolstered by 2 new nurses.  They seem to know when I need someone to warm me up -- seems to be their specialty.

BlackBerry the nurse

Socks the nurse

My days pretty much consist of TV, drinking fluids eating some soup and petting the animals. And repeat.  And repeat.  And repeat.

We have been incredibly blessed by the support of family, coworkers and friends and church family.  There's someone bringing dinner around every night for weeks.  I have been getting the most amazing flowers and gifts.  My living room is alive with colour....speaking of colour, I got a colouring book from our daughter Melissa:

If only I could use my arms....maybe next week.

You've *got* to be kidding.....

March 15th - I've made it through what I thought must be the worst of it.  I am still breathing AND they can find the Doppler flow (both arterial and venous)

I was basking in the fuzziness of drugs and enjoying a diet of nothing.  You heard me right, for 24 hours, I wasn't allowed anything my mouth.  I enjoyed the odd sponge dipped in water.

Yum.

At 8 am, I was allowed to have juice and tea.  I drank the juice the tea looked really awful.

At noon, I was allowed to have juice and tea.  I drank the juice, the tea, again, looked awful.

At dinner time, you guessed it!  I was allowed juice and tea!

The worst part has been the caffeine free diet.  The nurses came in and asked me my pain level and I really could bear up the pain from the surgery, but I couldn't handle the pain in my head.  I'm not sure that I'm going back to coffee ever again.

In the afternoon, the physio came in with 2 nurses and gave me the orders, to get out of bed.  I thought they have *got* to be kidding.  But, they weren't.  So they taught me to draw my knees up and roll onto my side.  I was literally gasping for air it was so painful.  When I got rolled over, I used my arms on the bed railing to pull my upper body up, while letting my feet go to the floor.

It hit me all so hard, instantly I was sick to my stomach, I had broken out in a sweat and was incredibly hot.  One nurse got the emesis basin, while one nurse ran out.  I was trying to breathe through it--but the nausea was intense.  The nurse came back in the room with a syringe and she put the drug into the IV butterfly in my leg.  Instantly, the nausea subsided.  From the sitting position, I was asked to stand.  So I did.

I knew this would be painful.  But I don't think that words can describe how intense the pain was.

A couple hours later  - the nurse came in to say it is time to take the catheter out and I about lost it.  That means, having to get in and out of bed on my own, probably every hour.  Remember, all I am having is fluids.

So, they took the catheter and I began getting out of bed.  The first time was excruciating, but each time after that, it got easier and easier. 

Sometime on Wednesday night or Thursday morning, they were checking me every 2 hours--and we made the decision to stop the "big drugs" and transfer me over to the medication I'd be taking at home for pain.  Good decision or not, I hate feeling high and not being able to focus.

As I woke into Thursday morning, the pain level was tolerable....as long as I didn't move.  Moving was a whole other story!

Thursday morning, it was decided that I'd be going home in the morning.  As long as I did a walk around the ward and I accomplished that by Thursday afternoon.

Friday I woke feeling like a completely different person.  I was clear in my head.  Kent arrived to take me home and after a shower, and getting dressed I could see that I was completely able to go home.

Kent wheeled me down to the discharge lounge while he went to get the car.  The drive home was excruciating.  I felt every bump ... this city has incredibly bumpy roads!

Once home, I set up home in my recliner in the living room.  It felt like I had had a very long day and it was only 11 am.  Fortunately for me, I have round the clock nursing care in the form of Kent and Pippin.

March 14, 2017

March 14, Surgery Day.

This day has come upon us so quickly and yet, I feel like we are as prepped as we can be and are as ready as we'll ever be.

You see, we've read blogs and forums.  We've prepped the house, I've spent days nesting and cleaning like crazy.

At work, I was able to completely empty my email inbox and have my job tied off and ready to hand off to my fabulous Manager who will be covering my position for the next 6 weeks.

6 weeks.  That's baffling to me that I will need 6 weeks for recovery, I am following all instructions and guidelines to make sure I don't set back my recovery time.  I have also worked very diligently at getting myself into the best shape and health going into this surgery.

My alarm went off this morning at 4:30 am.  We arrived at the hospital before 6 am and we were greeted by this lovely sight:

Georgie the RJH Cat.

I've had Georgie in my office several times over the past 4 years, when she saw us she came over and greeted us.  We caught her guarding the door, a dog had walked by and she went running up to the door to see the dog. 

I was taken up to the third floor to pre-op and was prepped for surgery:

I had to wear compression stockings for the surgery and then they put air massage-y things on my legs to aid in circulation--they became the most annoying thing ever.  I wore them day and night for over 24 hours.

I was wheeled into the Operating Room at 8, last time I remember was 8:15, the next time I noticed the time was 7:20.

In Post Anesthetic Recovery, I woke 3 times.  The nurses asked me my pain level and I said, 8, three times.  When I came around again, I noted the time on the clock, 7:20 and I realized I had the most amazing peace.  I was watching one nurse at the bottom of my neighbours bed.  I looked back at the clock, looked back at the nurse when she said rather loudly, she's not breathing and the alarms went off.  I must've passed out because the next thing I remember I was on the ward and it was about 9 pm. 

I lost a whole day.

I was on the 7th floor of the PCC and had the most amazing nursing staff.  At 9.30 the nursing staff came in to check my reconstruction...and every hour after that.

They'd check the reconstruction for warmth, and the first 12 hours they were cold.  They'd check cap refill and that seemed to be working well.  The final check they'd do was with a Doppler, to listen to the vein and artery to make sure they were flowing well.  The sounds could not be found.  The nurses didn't seem concerned at first, but around 3 am, they were getting tense about it.

In my drug fog, I texted my sister Lanette who is in Ontario.  Knowing she was 3 hours ahead of me, I took a chance she might be up.  I asked her to pray.  After going through all this surgery, to loose the DIEP flap would be horrible.

At the 4 am check, the sounds could be heard, faintly.  By 5 am, the sounds were robust and easily found.  We were out of the woods.

At the shift change -- the new nursing staff checked with the Doppler, and all was well.  I had made it through 24 hours.

My scripture reading for March 14th, seemed fitting, to give thanks -- I knew that God was all over this journey.

Farewell Betty and Veronica!

Authentically Faithful.  The name of this blog and the strongest desire I have, to be authentic and faithful.

This week, I had 2 "Boobvoyages".  What is a boobvoyage?  It's a farewell party for my boobs.  You might think I'm crazy, but I thought this would be a great way to gather the people who have "supported" me ;) and thank them, laugh with them, love them and then walk into surgery on Tuesday knowing that so many wonderful women have my back.

The first boobvoyage was at Christie's Carriage House Pub with my coworkers.  I didn't invite "everyone" but I gathered a number of women who have held me up, sent me emails and text messages of hope and encouragement, laughed with me and cried with me. 

My coworkers gave me some amazing gifts.  One I was in awe of, the other made me ugly cry:

This is a wine glass holder made from a 3D printer.  It's made to sit in my bathtub....

This framed statement conjured the ugly cry.  They know me very, very well.

My coworkers and I did what we set out to do love each other and laugh, there were a few tears.  It was a great night. Sadly, I don't have a single picture from the night. 

I came home Thursday night and made cupcakes for the 2nd boobvoyage.  I couldn't find my piping bag, so they didn't turn out like I'd hoped, but they were taste-y and pretty.:

For my second boobvoyage my church friends met at Glo Restaurant and Lounge for dinner.  For laughter and love.  I was expecting some laughter, to feel encouraged going into Tuesday--these ladies rocked my socks.

The waitress asked me what we were celebrating and I told her that I was getting my boobs removed and she responded with EMPOWERMENT!  As she walked away I realized she probably thinks I am having a sex change, so my next comment was, I'll be getting my penis next week.  Ugh, horrified, I didn't explain it at all well.  By the end of the night, she realized what was going on...probably the funniest moment of the night.

The gifts these ladies gave were truly from the heart, I had NO idea that they would do gifts, I thought dinner out a night off together WAS the gift! If I had known, I would've said not to.

Shelley - has an amazing talent.  She made me this beautiful bouquet:

Jenn (with 2 Ns) gave me really decadent chocolates. (I <3 chocolate)

Shannon, gave me a great toast in the night.  She blew up 2 balloons, named them Betty and Veronica and when we toasted Betty, she reached over with a fork and stabbed Betty to death, then toasted Veronica and stabbed her too.  She then gifted me with little Midge.....Betty and Veronica's replacement. She also gave me a tin, to put scripture, words of encouragement in so that when I'm low--I can read the words that people have encouraged me with.

Kim, Sandy and Amanda, gifted me with gift cards and money for food stuffs, so I will not have to cook for some nights and it will give Kent the night off too.

Dede.  As I write this I'm in tears.  Dede has become a really amazing friend and I'm so incredibly honoured to call her friend.  I have a little crush on her, I'm not gonna lie....Dede made me a quilt.  She has an incredible gift.  She's simply amazingly talented.

Each of the women wrote a message to me on the back of the quilt.  So, I will be wrapped in God's word and the words of encouragement from my wonderful friends.

Front

Back

Wrapped in God's word and Dede's arms. 

I am very blessed to be a part of the lives of these ladies.  I know that very well!

I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
So do not fear, for I am with you; 

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; 

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:9-11'ish

For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.

Psalm 57:10 11