Lindi is Recovering

The surgery went very well. In fact, it only took about 30 minutes. The surgeon was 2 hours late getting her, so that wasn't a fun time, but she is home and recovering. They didn't even knock her out... she was awake most of the time.

So, the DVD marathon begins and three days of rest and relaxation.

Thank you for all your prayers and well wishes, we love you all!!

Which "Saved By The Bell" Character Are You?

Getting Prepared

Well, the countdown has begun.

Lindi's surgery is scheduled for 12:00, it should take about 45 minutes to an hour and then an hour in recovery. They said she probably won't be knocked out, they will do a spinal block, so she won't have to be put under, which is great.

She is having a carpal tunnel release on both wrists through the use of a scope instead of having her wrists cut open completely. (The link also has a video - it's pretty cool) The healing time is reduced by half if not more, depending on the success. I really hope they won't have to convert to an open procedure for any reason.

So, we have made sure she has jammies that she can get on and off easily, our DVD collection is growing, and our friend Dawn is bringing us dinner tomorrow night, which is really sweet of her. (I meet the best people here at eBay). I went grocery shopping yesterday and stocked up our kitchen so I won't have to leave the house unless it's an emergency.

Last night we had a beautiful steak, baked potato and califlower dinner to build up her iron and protein to help her with her healing. The cats enjoyed their little pieces of steak, too!

Speaking of cats, our little abused baby Mickey (aka Clover) has really come out of his shell lately. He is letting me pet him daily now, and even lets me brush him (as long as I strech my arm out and he doesn't have to be held). The other day, he let me cuddle with him on Sarah's bed, pick him up, take him to my bed and cuddle with him there for about 5 minutes. Trust me, this is a HUGE step toward normalcy for this cat.

Since then, he greets me every morning while I pee (it's a ritual for all my cats, but now he's the first one in for morning loves). I couldn't be more pleased with his progress. I do need to et him into the groomer, though. Because he spends most of his time behind the couch, his back fur is matted, and my limited brushing isn't going to help him. I am worried about the skin underneath not breathing and him suffering from sores. As soon as the weather warms up a bit, he will be my shaved lion kitty!

Anyway, gotsta get back to work. I brought in some homemade salsa and we are discussing gay rights and snow days. It truly is a wonderful day here at eBay!

Feel free to give us a call on my cell (if you want to the digits, email me) for updates and/or to schedule visits. We are taking DVD and dinner donations (wink).

Tee Hee

Your Inner Child Is Naughty

Like a child, you tend to discount social rules. It's just too much fun to break the rules! You love trouble - and it seems that trouble loves you. And no matter what, you refuse to grow up!

How Is Your Inner Child?

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

For those who don’t know, St. Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland, credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland after being held as a captive in the country for 6 years.

But for the rest of us, it’s really just an excuse to drink lots of green beer.

It’s Friday for the rest of the world, but only my Wednesday. I don’t really mind working the weekends much, it’s quiet and we get a lot done. But it’s hard when there is a holiday on a Friday and everyone is going out to get drunk or what-have-you. Tonight the fam is gathering at Red Lobster for Sarah Marie’s 17th birthday (which is Monday, but we are celebrating today because of Lindi’s upcoming surgery). Already planned my meal there just by checking their website. It’s been so helpful to do that, know in advance so I am not tempted by the fattening foods. Since it’s working, I am not going to mess with the system, dude.

Love out to Chet – thank you for your kind words and support. It’s amazing what we can accomplish when we approach an issue with respect, isn’t it? (wink)

Love out to Lorene – where the hell have you been?!?!!

Love out to Toni – just because I still can’t believe she ripped her calf muscle walking across the street.

Love out to Denise – damn, these are good cookies. Apple Pie is my favorite so far.

Love out to Maine – because… well… because.

And in other news… do you think you can eat this?

Personally, I think it’s rather disgusting, but in this day and age, I am most certain someone can do it. Probably a skinny little Chinese man. Their ability to over consume really scares me, especially in contests.

My Two Cents on the L Word

So, I really don’t know what to say. After this last episode of The L word, I am really not sure it will ever be the same or if I will even watch it. I know, me, the L word Fanatic, but I don’t like their story decision. I can’t believe they thought Dana’s character was so expendable that they could just kill her off, especially when Dana and Alice seemed to be getting things back together.

I know all the blah blah blah about how bad breast cancer is and all that crap, Hello, my family and I have lived it. But I really think the thing to show was a strong woman getting breast cancer and BEATING it, not dying.

The show revolves in these little circles and without one of the main focuses, Dana, it’s going to be this polluted former being of what it really was. Dana was the one character most of us could relate to in some way – at the beginning, newly out and discovering herself, falling in love with the wrong woman, falling in love with a best friend… everything. To remove her character is to remove that which is really the essence of every one of us out there.

hey better have a plan, or they are losing a devoted fan. And no, I am not kidding. I wanted the L word to be more than just a “spine tingling” gossip series. I wanted it to reflect real lives, real women. Yes, I am not stupid and I know death is a part of that, but to remove the character the majority of the people who watch it relate to the most – it takes the realness, the heart out of the show.

Is it going to become one of those tired old soap opera shows where there is a new band playing at the Planet every week and Shane and Carmen cheat on each other all the time, and Bette (predictably) finds peace and becomes stronger, and Tina (predictably) wants to sleep with men now and they fight over Angelica… I mean really.

We needed a story of triumph, not defeat. We have enough defeat in our lives, we needed to show that women have the strength to beat it. We all know women beat it every day - my mother and I included. We all know women die - both of my grandmothers. It's how we portray the struggle that defines us.

Showtime and it’s writers let us all down.

FABULOUS DAY

My day started with snuggling with Lindi til we had to go to work, a nice drive in, a weigh in with a 2.2 lb LOSS (For a total of 13.6) and meeting a new friend here at work who is family. All in all just a fabu day.

Tomorrow, on the other hand, my mom has to go in for a D&C and I am not thrilled about that. I think eventually they are going to have to do an entire hysterectomy, but at least, fo rnow, this is least invasive.

And Sarah is turning 17 on Monday... the same day as Lindi's surgery. I will be off most of next week, so I hope to catch y'all long enough to let you know how she is doing and what is going on with us at the house. I will probably have some time to blog, who knows!

Love out to Lorene (I hope you gain some power and energy soon...) and all my friends who I haven't seen in so long. I miss you all.

And to Maine. Because he smells of Bacon.

Wednesday, Success and Pain

Sorry I haven't kept up on writing lately, things have been so crazy. I am eating well, and have stayed on my meal plan, drinking more water and cooking dinner for my family with healthy, nutritious meals, which is so fun. I feel like I am really accompishing something here! A pleasant side trip to treating my body well has been a nice 5.2 total weight loss, for a total weight of 339.8.

I went in for a treatment on my back yesterday, one I was not so thrilled about having. I have a herniated disc in my upper back and a reptured disc in my lower back, causing me to have pain down both legs when I walk or sleep. Good news is that my latest MRI showed no change for the past two years, so my radical breast reduction did a lot of help.

I went in for what I thought was a routine spinal cortizone injection. I couldn't have been more wrong. Under an x-ray machine, the doctor did two injections, on each side of the nerve, in my ass. Yeah for me, I thought. First he numbed it with a lidocaine injection (burning pain) then had to insert the spinal needle into my spine, sharp horrible pain for about 2 minutes. Then he injected the lidocain/steriod mix, which made it feel like I had the worst charlie horse ever in my ass and back of my thigh - and I couldn't move. I couldn't move my head, my arms, anything. I was crying and swearing and when it was all over, I got to do it again on the other side. One of the side effects of the injection is fever and an increase of appetite. So I made sure I had lots of water and rice cakes to help me make it through the rough times.

I couldn't sleep last night for more than 20 minutes at a time, and drank a lot of water as a result, which made me have to pee every hour like a madman. Today, I feel better at the injection site, but I am still sore and agitated, so I am still taking it quite easy.

I am optimistic that my meal plan, my attitude and my treatment are going to do well for me. My sister brought over a bunch of healthy goodies for me for my meal plan and books for research and planning for my meals, which I love her for more than life itself. She is so very good to me.

Love out to everyone, I hope this finds you in health and happiness!