Recovery at home

I don't think my hubs realizes what he signed up for when he took 8 days off of work to take care of me AND the baby. Pretty sure after about the first 24 hours he was ready to throw in the towel, or just throw the towel at me....

It's difficult feeling helpless, especially when you're a mom to an 11-month old. I haven't cooked a meal in about 10 days, which I'm sure the hubs is not appreciating. And the state of my laundry room is leaving much to be desired. Oh well, I will get there. Did I mention that my Christmas decor is still up *sigh*....

The pain is mostly deep muscle and some gas pains from my abdominal cavity being filled with air during surgery. The oxygen is trying to escape my body and is slowing killing me in the meantime. I'd take back my gall-bladder pain in a heartbeat compared to this. I've heard some people relate it to having a heart attack.....not that I would know what that feels like.

I can't bend over to pick things up which I drop, which makes the hubs frustrated cause he doesn't like picking up after me. And I can't pick up the baby for at least another 5 days or so, which means daddy is doing everything.

We've had some great support and help though. My cousin came and took the baby for about 3 hours yesterday which gave the hubs a break. We've had meals brought in each night which has been a huge help. The hubs got a nice steak, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and rolls last night. I'm sticking to my yogurt and pureed soups. It's working nicely so far.

I appreciate all the calls of concern and love being shown across the miles. I'm staying pretty positive and am already down 10 lbs from when I started my clear liquids pre-op till now. Kind of amazing. Only 140 lbs to go to my goal weight....kind of daunting.

I did pass out today. That was strange. I bent over to fix my daughters heater and apparently that mixed with my pain meds just didn't mesh well. So, needless to say, I'm banned to the couch or bed.

Thanks to everyone who has helped or offered to help. Keep us in your prayers....especially the hubs. He needs them more than me......

D-Day

I arrived at 10:30am at Salt Lake Regional. I felt like a celebrity, seriously. Everyone knew who I was and lots of people stopped by to say hello and wish me good luck. I got my first experience as a "film star" from Brother Brigham* as he recorded my entry to the hospital and followed me through the pre-op process as well as the entire surgery. I don't think the hubs expected to be on film....oh well.

I had a little physical where it turns out I was still healthy enough to have surgery (phew!) and then had my IV started. Only took 3 tries.....I have horrible disappearing veins. Then, a little conversation with the surgeon and anesthesiologist and I was off to surgery.

I woke feeling like I had just gone to sleep. I remember asking as I was drifting off for them to let me sleep a little longer than usual. I don't know if they did. It was hard to wake up. I hate coming out of that lovely deep sleep. I remember reaching down to feel the incisions on my stomach and realizing it was over.

I thought it strange that Dr. Cottam never came back to talk to me, but apparently he had a conversation with the hubs. It also felt like ages before the hubs came in to see me.

After a little time in recovery, I decided I was ready to go home. I hate hanging around the hospital....but before I could go home, I had to do my "exit interview" with Bro. Brigham.

I'm thankful to everyone at the hospital who made me feel so welcome and for being so fabulous. It was a great experience and I felt so at ease. I know my nurses didn't expect to be on film, but handled it beautifully. You are all naturals!

I'm home, recovering now - and feel heavily sedated at times, so excuse the slopiness of this post.

*Brigham Cottam (independent film maker)