Week 8: Battle of the Books Wins and Post Op Recovery

On Sunday, the men went to church, and I stayed home. I couldn't sit upright let alone sit through the whole meeting. I even took a nap. Shaulan came from Arizona on Sunday night to help us for the week. Shaulan is my roommate from college. Her husband and in-laws made this possible for us to have her come for the week. We are all grateful.

After going over the week's schedule, the men and Shaulan were on their way for a productive week. With no school on Monday Underfoot went to a movie birthday party. Since it was the Lego Movie 2, Hurricane REALLY wanted to see it as well. Shaulan took Hurricane to the same movie at the same time that Underfoot went. Afterward they got burgers. Sweetheart got Underfoot to his cello lesson that evening.

Sweetheart is making a lot of sacrifices to make my healing go as well as possible. Some of my restrictions currently are I can lift no more than 5 pounds. That excludes a gallon of milk. Until I go to my 2 week post appointment, I am not allowed to drive, cook, or clean. I am to walk around the block each day and not do stairs very much. Some of the restrictions will continue after the 2 week post op like no lifting more than 5 pounds until 8 weeks post op. Sweetheart is doing more than he normally does. He's a hero.

The week before Hurricane's good behavior ticket was picked to get a dress down day. Since last Friday was no school, he got to dress down on Tuesday. This is two times in the last 3 weeks that he's won that lottery. He has figured out a system that works for him. He saves his tickets until he has more than 10 than he puts them in for the drawing. The quantity helps gets his number picked.

Battle of the Books teams both won. The library changed their system this year for how to move forward to elimination battles. Instead of accumulated points, it is number of battles won. Hurricane's team had two wins and two losses. Underfoot's team had all wins and will move onto the elimination rounds. Hurricane is concerned now with when they will have a celebration. Since I'm the coach, I'm not sure when I will do it.

After a lot of help Shaulan, she left early Friday morning because of the weather on the East coast was cancelling flights. We are grateful she can to help.

Sweetheart had a hard week at work. That doesn't happen very often. By Friday, he had found a lot of resolution, but he was trying to balance the stress from work and home.

Be Well.

 *****

What Happens with Bed Rest

Week 7: Surgery

​Happy Birthday to me! Yippee!!!

We celebrated with a delicious meal of steak and roasted vegetables. Later that night I made a chocolate cake with ganache and raspberries.

Apparently the cake was yummy as well. I appreciated the phone calls and texts. It was a really lovely day.

We went about our normal activities for the week for the first part at least. Allergy shots, cello lessons, Scouts, Battle of the Books battle, and regular family activities were in our Monday and Tuesday. Tuesday evening I taught the cooking merit badge at our house. 

Hurricane's Battle of the Books team won! Kirk participated in the battle and was so excited. He was also the spokesman and did a really wonderful job. He was so happy but kept a very good face on until he got home. He was over the moon.

Hurricane has been asking for about 2 years to go and speak to the City Council about wanting to have chickens for our yard. During supper Hurricane brought the topic up again. Sweetheart looked up if there was a town meeting that night. There was. We wrote up a quick speech for him to say in front of the council. We arrived just before the meeting began. When it was time for public comment, Hurricane stood. He was too short for the podium and needed to be at the table on the side. He read what he had to say and asked if he could leave. Interestingly earlier in the evening the council had been speaking about chickens and if they should allow them.

​Sweetheart has been avoiding getting sick​ ​​for a while. He has been very stressed out and attempting to not get sick. ​Monday night he turned a corner and got better. It is as if everything is coming together and the stress is going down.

Wednesday morning bright and early Sweetheart and I left for the hospital.

The surgery time had changed from 1 pm to 8 am. We had to be at the hospital at 6 am. A lady from our congregation came to help the boys get up and to school. Sharon D went to the airport and picked up my Mom. I got checked in for an abdominal hysterectomy and repair work, and they did the last minute steps to make sure I was healthy enough to have trauma done to my body. The anesthesiologist was a ray of energy. The poor nurse trying to get the IV port started and missed both times and needed to get another nurse to get the IV port started. 

The surgery went well said the surgeon. Lots of stitches were done.

I learned I don't like the taste of sugar-free jello. 

I'm very grateful my Mom came. She was super supportive. After I left for surgery, Sweetheart took her to breakfast. The anesthesiologist would send Sweetheart texts to tell how the surgery was going. She stayed with me until I woke up. I guess I wake up like a grouchy teenager. That night Sweetheart stayed the night with me in the hospital.

Twice during my stay, they had me walk down the hall.

The first time I only made it to the first exit sign. I would burp and be embarrassed. The CNA helping me said the louder and bigger the burp the better. The second walk I walked to the fourth exit sign. I burped so loud once a nurse came into the hall to congratulate me on how loud the burp was. Those were my real accomplishments that day.

At one point the nurse came in around 4 am, Sweetheart said, "I have no idea how anyone gets better in a hospital." He rolled back over and fell asleep. I was released the next day after having 2 checks by doctors, blood drawn (she had to poke me 2x as well), and emptying my bladder without a catheter. Life got a lot better once the catheter came out. I peed so well I didn't have to have them teach me how to self catheterize. Hallelujah!


Jilli took care of my boys in such a marvelous manner. They were brought home by our carpool. She stepped in like she was the boss. She took Underfoot to Battle of the Books and got the boys home for piano. Underfoot's team won. They called via FaceTime. She helped the boys get ready for school. She and Underfoot got to go to the temple together.

They planted grapevines that we got in October from Pocatello. She left us in a very clean place. The three men took Jilli to the airport on Saturday afternoon. We are grateful for her time and energy.

Be Well.

*****

 Come Follow Me Points

 Underfoot enjoying my birthday supper.

Birthday Cake

 Birthday Cake

Week 6: Parties and Preparations

Our friend celebrates his birthday each year by hosting a Super Bowl party. This year they hosted an appetizer competition. Because I have been eating a special diet to lose some weight.

I made 3 different dishes to bring - deviled eggs (avocado and regular with homemade mayonnaise), harvest Cobb salad, and a pineapple boat.

When we arrived the host said, it wasn't a dish per family member just one per family. The boys got to play the card game, Dominion. I got to chat.

On Saturday after Sweetheart changed the oil and rotated the tires, the tires began to make a horrid noise. Sweetheart decided to have the tires changed. One year ago one of the tires was changed. Monday morning the other 3 tires were changed, and the noise went away. Hallelujah! 

Hurricane's Battle of the Books team lost their second non-elimination round. He didn't participate in the battle. He was really sad because the team lost by a lot of points lost.

When we moved to Colorado, we looked at which Middle School would be a good fit for our sons. Colorado has public, charter, and private schools. One of the schools is very prestigious charter schools that parents must have a birth certificate to get the child on the waiting list. We put both boys on the list and have been waiting. We received notification that there was a parent orientation meeting while Underfoot would test to see where his placement would be placed. Underfoot is very happy at the school where he attends. We decided he needed to try just so he would know he's at the right place. After the testing and orientation, we decided if he is offered a place we will keep him where he is.

The Blue and Gold Pack Meeting was immediately after the orientation meeting. Hurricane had worked really hard to complete his Bear requirements and did complete the requirements. When we arrived at the Blue and Gold, we were informed that they didn't buy any awards. I took Hurricane aside and told him. He said he promised to not cry. That night Sweetheart and I served the food as the families came through the line. They had bought a big Costco cake for the dessert. No one wanted to take home the leftovers. I walked around to the other groups in the building and gave away the cake. We are hoping in the award will come next month.

 On Thursday I had a bunch of doctors' appointments. The appointments were in preparation for the surgery this coming week. I also got my annual mammogram done that day. Sweetheart accompanied me to one of the appointments to ask the surgeon the questions needed. Over the past nine and half years, we have done what we could to naturally bring more children to our family. My health requires that I have a hysterectomy and multiple other repairs in the area. The surgery should take 3 1/2 hours. A regular hysterectomy takes one and half. We have been making preparations since mid-January when we scheduled the surgery. 

Sweetheart attended our HOA meeting. He's ready to be done serving on the board was his comment when he returned home. I attended part of the book club. We had read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. It wasn't my favorite book.

When we moved to Colorado, I was going to turn 40 years old. I wanted to have A Favorite Things Birthday party. But when we moved, I didn't have the friendship circle that I didn't in Arizona. This year I decided to have a birthday party for myself. Those who came brought 4 gifts and left with 4 gifts. We did it as a luncheon where everyone brought their favorite salad or appetizer. The party was a lot of fun. It helped me learn better who different people are. 

Immediately after the birthday party, I finished helping Sweetheart and Underfoot get packed for the Boy Scout Klonderee. They left from our house at 3:30 pm. They went to the mountains 2 hours away. Sweetheart wanted to have a good supper so he made he and Underfoot a sous vide steak with mashed potatoes. They arrived with a temperature of 15 degrees. The temperature throughout the evening. Underfoot slept well because he took 3 sleeping bags. Sweetheart slept in the car. At 4 am, he turned the car on to warm up.

The boys participated in sledding, ice hockey, and rappelling the next day. Sweetheart said that one of the leaders put the chilled water in a cooler over night. In the morning, it was the only water not frozen in the surrounding camps.

While they were away, Hurricane and I had a quiet evening at home. We even fell asleep early which isn't normally the case. The next day Hurricane and I went to breakfast on a date and then to a piano recital his teacher had arranged with other teachers. He was nervous and said if he had gone first he wouldn't have been nervous. He did a good job. 

We attended stake conference that evening before falling into bed exhausted that evening.

Be Well.​

*****

 Kirk's Treat Creation

 Underfoot's shoulder blades don't attach properly. 

He has a set of exercises to help him strengthen the muscles around it. 

His Dad had the same struggle.

 This dress hasn't fit in about 4 years.

I'm happy to put it back on again.

Klonderee 2019 - Temperature -4 Degrees

 Klonderee 2019 - Temperature -4 Degrees