An Even Better Recovery Nest Than The Last One!

I had a nice little recovery nest after the last surgery.

But this time my recovery will take quite a bit longer, so of course my little nest needed to be quite a bit better.

The best way to achieve that?

Call in my sister Lisa of course!

I phoned her about three days before she was supposed to fly up and asked if there was any possibility of putting together a simple quilt while she was here so I could spend some of my recovery time hand quilting the top and bottom together?

I was thinking something like large nine patch squares.

She remembered some special prints blocks she had put away and got to work then and there.

We spent the Monday evening after she arrived doing a massive grocery shop.

Tuesday she started cooking. We called in Rebecca for reinforcements.

I went to get my hair done. They kept cooking.

This is what was put in the freezer. . .

3 full sized lasagnas and one half sized. 13 1 pound bags of fried hamburger. Some spiced for spaghettis and soups and some plain for tacos. (One of Morgan's favorites)  18 hamburger patties, 1 small bag of meatballs and 6 bags of chopped soup veggies. Lisa also baked a box of chicken breasts which were sliced and portioned out into bags for stir fries and pastas. . . and about twenty individual sized container with both cream of cauliflower and cream of broccoli soup.

This just simplified things so on the days I felt up to cooking I wouldn't have to think too hard.

Or plan ahead. Because I'm terrible at that at the best of times. . .

The next day I did a bit of baking and Lisa started another sewing project. . .

A custom housecoat with matching pajama pants.


But you will have to wait for a picture of the finished product because I didn't want to wear it until I was actually in the hospital.

I told you I was a dork!

Thursday she had to fly back after lunch but she worked tirelessly until the very last minute to finish the quilt.

And she did it!

Whoo Hoo!

Told you this nest was way better than the last one!

Love you Lisa. . .

Surrounded by flowers

This is Ev again.

I just got back from Rosa's hospital room.  While I am surrounded by kids and the sight of falling snow, Rosa's bed is surrounded by flowers.  It is actually quite peaceful in there.  She can't even see the falling snow, so one can imagine that it's warm.

So, the update.   She definitely has some pain, especially when she has to get up.  And yes, she can get up and has to, but only to visit the washroom.  And I don't think she'd really want to do more than that at this point.  Strolling around The Mall is definitely not going to happen right away.  Although moving is good for the circulation and most of her muscles, it isn't actually that great for the muscle that needs to heal right now. 

And how's she healing?  Although it's hard to tell with no real reference point, the nurses all say she healing really well.  She's feeling weird pins and needles in her leg, but I would think that's a good thing.  Without being a doctor or at all knowledgeable, it sounds like that would be active nerves, nerves healing or maybe reconnecting.  Like when you hurt yourself and it later starts itching.  That's a good thing.  Hopefully that analogy holds true here. 

Comfortable as that tinting bed may be, I'm sure she'll be more than happy to go home tomorrow.  Home to her own coziness and her own quiet sanctuary.  It's nice to have tea when you want tea.  To have comforting soup when that's what you feel like having.  As long as there's no temptation to get up and get herself these things!  Resisting may take strength of another sort. 

Role Models. . . Day Two In The Hospital.

How beautiful is the wake of that boat and the colour of the river?

These last few weeks, as I have waited to hear when my surgery will be, emotions flood through me. . . and some days, looking at my new circumstances with acceptance and dignity isn't easy.

 Those are the days I hardly ever stop praying. . .

I can honestly say I have never asked "Why me?" as the answer is, of course, "Why not me?"

I feel the certainty that God is is control, that He has His hand on me every minute of the day.

I am not afraid of dying, when my time comes, but, the uncertainty of what living is going to look like is awfully scary sometimes.

I like to be busy. I love projects, the bigger the better. . .

What if complications change my ability to live my life the way I want to?

I struggle sometimes, with that fear.

But, as a problem solver, it is in my nature to look for another way to do things, for examples of others who have overcome and who live beautiful lives, even if those lives are not what they would have chosen.

I have been mindfully looking for those examples. Some of whom I have known or still know, personally, and others whom I've gotten to 'know' through blogs online. . .

Not everyone is a person of faith, but they have all persevered and made the best of what they were given.

I thought I would introduce you to one of them. . .

This is Alicia's story.

I love her peaceful, gentle, quiet life.

And even more amazing? After years of childlessness?

She and her sweet husband Andy adopted a beautiful baby girl.

Amelia. 

All's Well

Okay, this is Ev blog-jacking on Rosa's blog, but it's been fully sanctioned by Rosa, I swear!  Plus, I'm a middle-aged gardener too!

I just received a very welcome call from Rosa in the hospital.  I didn't realize that she would be allowed her cell phone, but I'm glad of it because I got to hear all the news directly from the source.

Her surgery was earlier this morning, at about 9:30 so it's been a long wait for me to find out how things went.  Luckily, some of the words she used were:

• grateful
• peaceful
• worry-free

That's what we all wanted to hear!  That makes me feel grateful, peaceful and more worry-free as well. (And it's really all about me, isn't it?  No? Oh, hmm.)

I'm sure it wasn't altogether pleasant, but those are still comforting words to hear.  She went into the surgery with certain expectations based on a not-to-scale drawing by her surgeon, and we all go into things with past experiences on our mind or ugly web images.  There is the expected pain, but Rosa says it's manageable so far. The incision isn't as long down her leg as expected and the numbness isn't even as numb as she thought.  I'm hoping that's good news for the prolonged numbness that was forecast.  She was surprisingly chatty for someone who'd just had surgery.

I'm sure that all of the support of friends and family that she's gotten so far has gone a long way towards allowing peace to rest on Rosa.  It's nice that she doesn't have to think about whether the dishes are being done, or what to feed anyone.  It's great that she's surrounded by competent nurses and surgeons who she can trust to take care of her.  And she knows Who is really taking care of everything.  That's where the ultimate peace comes from.

I'll be leaving her with family visits tomorrow because she may be more tired tomorrow than she is right now.  If there's any more news, I'll let you know.  Otherwise, I'll get to see her on Thursday and I'm update you again.

- Ev

Words To Ponder. . . And Comfort. Surgery Day.

Well, I am in the hospital right now. As I have prepared this post ahead of time, I don't know what that looks like but I came across this post from Emily Freeman that really spoke to me so I wanted to pass it on. . .

How Death Brings Us to Life. (Click on the link to go to Emily's post.)

* Okay, I just realized that the whole thing might sound a bit morbid as I am not dying today, but, somehow, it is comforting. . . 

I hope to update you on how things are going soon.

Today Started Out A Bit Weepy. . .

My morning started early, with a call from the hospital nurse.

I needed to do my pre admission over the phone. It was 7:30 am. We went over my medications, exactly what the surgery entailed and things to remember for my recovery when I come home from the hospital.

"This is pretty hard" she said.

I agreed and the weepiness began.

The reality was really starting to set in and it became quite difficult to stop thinking about it and just focus on the positive. Thankfully, my sister-in-law Dorothy dropped by to keep me company, although, she may have regretted it as she ended up vacuuming my whole house!

Thank you Dorothy!

And then my other sister-in-law Evelyn came by and dropped off supper. Pulled pork on buns.

Yumm. . .

I got messages of encouragement all morning, which was lovely, although some of the messages brought tears to my eyes. . . but in a good way.

Not long after Dorothy left, Nicole came. She was there to take me to my Cat scan and keep me company.

When we got to the hospital I was given 32 oz of water and told to drink it up within 20 minutes.

Gulp!  I mean. . . Seriously? 32 oz???

We also had to watch a 5 minute film about the possible sides effects of the dye they would be injecting before the Cat scan. We had quite a laugh as they talked about the 1 in 70,000 chances of a reaction, or, in more familiar terms, about the same as being in an accident while driving from Edmonton to Calgary and back. We both mocked the necessity of such a thing, because , really, what are the chances???

A nurse brought me in to get an iv going and we began to talk about what was wrong with me and details of the surgery I would be having.

All of a sudden I felt warm all over and the thought flashed through my brain that I was already in the 20% . . .
(my dermatologist told me after the initial visit that there was an 80% chance that they would excise the area my mole was in and the lymph nodes and everything would come back clean. Thus the 20%. . .)

 So, who's to say I wasn't the 1 in 70,000?

And that's when I started to feel hotter, queasy and like everything was falling away.

Yes indeed.

 I passed out.

I felt mortified!

The nurses were wonderful and just kept coming by my stretcher asking if I was feeling better and, after a box of apple juice, I was!

Only the second time I my life that I have fainted.

After that, lying on the bed for the Cat scan and having the dye injected was a breeze.

 There came a really cool part when the cat scan machine, which  reminded of of a star gate, started whirring and I totally thought "Hey it's just like something from Star Trek! This is so cool!"

Because sometimes I'm a dork.

Once I was done, Nicole drove me home and we grabbed a quick bite to eat.

I spent the rest of the day just hanging out, with a quick trip to the grocery store for some last minute perishables.

It's nearly 11 pm and I have an hour before I have to stop all eating and drinking, including water.

But not to worry.

I saved my favorite donut and have big plans to party with a cup of tea and donut at 11:30.

Because there is nothing like a good party. . . or a good donut. . .

I will have some scheduled posts over the next week although Henry is going to phone my friend Ev tomorrow and she will be updating you all on this blog as to how I'm doing.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. It is immensely  comforting to know how many people and prayer groups are praying for me.

God is truly gracious.

A Little Something To Lighten The Mood.

Since my last post was rather gloomy, I wanted to post something a little more lighthearted today.

In our family Morgan is the resident poet and his efforts are guaranteed to amuse. . .

If you don't mind a bit of boy humor.

Lest you think Crystal was offended. . . She herself has quite a large selection of 'gas' jokes. . 

What do you think Chandra???