Heart of Glass

It's now almost twelve hours since my hysteroscopy and my sleep schedule is a bit wacked, so I thought I'd give you all the run down.

My procedure was being done in the hospital, in the day surgery ward. My Beloved and I left at 12:30 and by 12:45 I was gowned, braceleted, and anxiously trying to calm my nerves. This time I thought to bring a book (unlike my D&C in September) so I was able to distract myself a bit. Two different nurses came in and asked me the usual questions... when was my last AF, when did I eat/drink last, explain any allergies, etc. Then we were told that we might be waiting a while due to emergency c-sections. Oh, and one nurse took my blood pressure, which true to form, sky rocketed at the sight of a hospital bed.

They ended up taking me into the OR waiting area about 45 minutes later. Have I mentioned how much I hate being without my glasses? All I can see is colourful blobs without them and it drives me nuts. The anesthesiologist checked in with me, and told me that he would prefer to put me right out rather than locally sedate me. I was fine with that, as I wasn't looking forward to that half-awake thing. Oh, and he asked me the same questions that the two nurses in day surgery asked (as did the OR waiting area nurse and the anesthesiology intern). I'm glad that they are thorough, but man talk about overkill.

After a half hour in the waiting area they took me to the OR. The nurse was having problems with the gurney I was on, and it felt like it had the wheels on that cart at Safe.way that I always get. The intern opened the OR doors and I was blasted with Blondie singing "Heart of Glass". It was a little odd, and while I know it was mostly nerves, I had the most inappropriate urge to giggle.

We did the gurney shuffle (me trying to slide my ass from the gurney to the operating table gracefully and failing miserably), and then the fun began. Oxygen mask, heart monitor leads, blood pressure cuff, warm blankets, IV, and my arms being strapped down, the anesthesiologist saying to take slow deep breaths...

Next thing I remember I was in recovery. I had been dreaming about work and was honestly surprised when I opened my eyes and wasn't in my store. And guess what song was in my head? That's right... Heart of Glass. I was in recovery for about a half hour. I listened to the nurses talk about buying eggs from the Hutterites, and I was given a titch of morphine to help with the cramping.

When I was finally taken back to the day surgery ward, there was my Beloved, dozing away in the chair in my room. It actually wasn't until I was given some water that I realized that my throat didn't hurt like last time, although it did feel weird. It turns out that my uvula (you know, that punching-bag-thing in the back of your throat) is swollen to triple it's normal size.

After about an hour, when I passed the ginger ale test, the nurse took out my IV and told me I could get dressed. I had just stood up and was getting my stuff together to head to the bathroom (I had to PEE!) when I felt a gush of blood on my hand. I looked down and I had soaked through the bandage the nurse had put on when she took out the IV and I was dripping blood everywhere! For just a split second I thought it was coming from 'other' areas. My Beloved got the nurse and all was rectified quickly but not before I made a huge mess! Ugh!

So, we made it home and I ate a ridiculous amount of Chinese food (I was starving!). I've now dozed off and on enough to mess up my sleep schedule, but hopefully by morning I will feel more normal. I really have no pain to speak of, and my only discomfort is when I swallow (that uvula thing is still really swollen).

That's what I got myself all freaked out about... not as bad as I thought it would be. I'm glad it's over now. And hopefully, once we get back to trying in the fall, all will go smoothly and I might just have some happy news by the end of the year.

I Did It!

Hey there humble readers!

I have an announcement... I did it! I overcame my fear of the drill! If you recall from this post, I have been procrastinating on some home repairs because I was just a titch afraid of screwing things up. Well, yesterday I bit the bullet and started doing some basic stuff.

I bolted the bookcases to the wall. No more leaning towers of books! And I put up the curtains in the kitchen! Curtain rod, brackets, and tie-backs.

There's still a fair bit on my list, but I'm feeling good about what I've gotten done. And I only stripped one screw!

Small steps...

Disappointment

Ok, so I wasn't going to watch it, but I did. Jon & Kate tonight was probably the most disappointing thing I've ever seen.

My opinion probably isn't a popular one (and I might get some nasty comments), but I feel that they are being selfish and copping out. What is more important for a child than for his or her parents to be together? Marriage takes constant work, especially when they have as many stressors as they do.

They kept saying that they were doing this for the kids. Pardon me for saying so but, what a load of crap...

Outside My Window & Inherited Clumsiness

So, I'm on vacation, right? Looking forward to having some quiet time at home, puttering around the house, getting things ready before my hysteroscopy tomorrow (for some reason I can't go to the hospital with a messy house... go figure).

And what do I wake up to this morning? Our condo building shaking, diesel engines roaring, and dust on the wind filtering through my open windows. I should have guessed this was coming. I noticed the spray-painted marks on the sidewalk last week, but I was hoping that their work would end at the far end of our street.

It appears that they are replacing the curbs, and possibly the sidewalks, too. I hope that it doesn't take all week.

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In other Hobbit-land news... I have always been known as a clumsy person. If you don't believe me, check out my Hobbit vs. Old Man Winter post. I have always known that I inherited this from both my biological and foster moms, and this was proven yet again this past weekend.

My mom, on her way through the Las Vegas airport, fell. Apparently she was just walking along, and her ankle rolled. She went down hard on her left side. As she says, at least it was at the end of her trip and not at the beginning.

Stubbornness is also an inherited feature of the women in my family. Knowing that, you will not be surprised that my mother, even though she was in incredible pain, had my dad help her to board the plane. By the time they landed in Vancouver, she was ready to pass out from the pain, and the airline had a medical team standing by to take her to the hospital.

Now, normally, when a fifty-something woman falls, it doesn't have the same connotation as when, say, an 80-something woman falls. But, my mom is a five-time cancer survivor, and all that chemo and radiation has done damage to her bones. It turns out that she has broken her foot and has a fracture in her pelvic bone.

I talked to her yesterday, and she texted me today... she seems to be doing ok. The doctors said that the nature of the fracture in her pelvis is such that they want her to stay mobile (to avoid blood clots) and the break in her foot is such that they can't cast it.

She's anxious to get home so that she can check in on my Grandma (in a nursing home). My sister is going to stay with her for a couple weeks so that she can keep her under control and not doing a whole lot.

*Just sitting here shaking my head*

June ICLW: It's Really All About Me

Ok, so there are a ton of these meme things floating around out there. I chose to do this one for my ICLW intro this month because it's a little different than most. If you like it, please feel free to steal it. In any case... this is me...

1. What's your favorite Dr. Seuss book? The Dr. Seuss Sleep Book
   
2. If you could live in any home on a television series, what would it be? Charlie's house on Numbers (love that front door)
   
3. What's the longest you've gone without sleep? a couple days... in college
4. What's your favorite Barry Manilow song? not a clue!
   
5. Who's your favorite Muppet? Fozzie Bear
   
6. What's the habit you're proudest of breaking? cracking my back
   
7. What's your favorite Web site? allrecipes.com
8. What's your favorite school supply? a blank notebook
   
9. Who's your favorite TV attorney? Ed
10. What was your most recent trip of more than 50 miles? Dids.bury, yesterday, to visit the inlaws
    
11. What's the best bargain you've ever found at a garage sale or thrift store? my old khaki capris... I loved them... $3
    
12. Where were you on September 11, 2001? Getting ready for work
    
13. What's your favorite tree? weeping willow
14. What's the most interesting biography you have read? The Duchess
    
15. What do you order when you eat Chinese food? Chicken fried rice, Almond Soo Guy, Almond Guy Ding, Beef with Broccoli
16. What's the best costume you've ever worn? my clown costume when I was 5
    
17. What's your least favorite word? moist
    
18. If you had to be named after one of the 50 states, which would it be? Georgia, I've always loved that name
    
19. Who's your favorite Smurf? Baker Smurf
    
20. Describe something that's happened to you for which you have no explanation. Infertility
21. If you could travel anywhere in Africa, where would it be? Tanzania
22. What did you have for lunch yesterday? pesto chicken panini & fruit smoothie
    
23. Where do you go for advice? books
    
24. Which do you use more often, the dictionary or the thesaurus? thesaurus
25. Have you ever been snorkeling? nope
26. Have you ever been stung by a bee? ouch, yes!
    
27. What's the sickest you've ever been? recurrent bladder infections when I was four. I ended up in the children's hospital
28. What's your favorite form of exercise? walking
29. What's your favorite Cyndi Lauper song? her version of Iko Iko
    
30. What did you do for your 13th birthday? I don't remember, nothing spectacular
    
31. Are you afraid of heights? Heck ya!
    
32. Have you ever taken dance lessons? I have two left feet
33. What's your favorite newspaper? The free paper available at coffee shops in town... has some funny stories
34. What's your favorite Broadway musical? WICKED!!!!
35. What's the most memorable class you've ever taken? grade 11 biology
36. What's your favorite knock-knock joke? I can never remember jokes...
    
37. What's your favorite commercial? any of the PC and Mac commercials
    
38. Do you prefer baths or showers? showers
39. Does your chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight? never tried, but I suspect it would
40. What's your favorite breakfast food? real breakfast? my Christmas morning casserole! YUM!
41. Who's your favorite game show host? Gene Rayburn
    
42. If you could have a super power, what would it be? to be able to teleport myself
    
43. Do you like guacamole? sometimes, I have to be craving it
    
44. Have you ever been in a food fight? who hasn't?
    
45. Name five songs to which you know all the lyrics. Dear Prudence, Last Saskatchewan Pirate, King of Spain, Gravity, It's All Been Done Before
    
46. What's your favorite infomercial? sham wow
    
47. What's the longest you've ever waited in line? overnight for NKOTB tickets (when I was 16)
    
48. What's on the cover of your address book or day planner? ummm... mine's on my phone, so it's got a picture of a highway and a field...
    
49. Have you ever taken a picture in one of those little booths? yes, quite a long time ago