Recovering

Surgery was on Monday. I survived. I ended up staying until Wednesday evening- when they basically kicked me out. (I totally could've stayed longer, but they didn't see why I needed to... so because of that and all the other interesting things going on, I decided I wanted nothing more but to be back home. So it all worked out.)

I have about 10 puncture wounds (lol?) across my belly. I look like I've been stabbed. I'm also very swollen... my entire left side... from under my arm down to the top of my leg. Odd and uncomfortable. I'm just waiting and praying for the swelling to go down. Once it does, I think things will be smoother sailing.

I am on Codeine pretty much around the clock (every 4 hrs). It makes me sleepy, loopy, confused, and also sometimes slap happy. And I am pretty sure it's helping cope with the pain.

For some strange reason, one of my wounds decided to bleed the other day- at home! It pretty much freaked me out, but I think we've got it under control. It's not gushing or anything- just kind of leaky. We're just keeping an eye on it to make sure it's okay. I think it will be. I'm a pretty tough girl.

I am wearing an ace bandage wrap (what the doctors call a "binder") to help support my abdomen. It actually helps! It makes things a little less painful and I feel like I don't have "hold" my stomach as much as I would've otherwise.

Other than that...

My sister, Jessica, came to the hospital to see me with my nieces. That sure brightened my day. I actually had really missed them (even though I see them a lot)... and they brought me pictures they had colored for me. Bonus! Evie, my (almost!) 7 yr old niece, kind of "gets it" about surgery. She has helped me in the past after surgeries- giving me medicine, visiting me, being gentle with me, etc... She seemed so grown up when they came to visit. :) Eloise, who is 4, had told her mom awhile back "I wish Sisi were here." When her mom asked why, she replied "Well, these pillows are so cozy and would be great for somebody who just had surgery." What a sweetheart! I told her to get those pillows ready for me so I can come visit. :) And then there's Audrey- just turned 2 on Tuesday. She probably didn't totally get the whole hospital/surgery thing. But she did make silly faces at me and that made me smile. Plus, she had just earlier snuck some of her birthday cake- and that, too, made me laugh.

My sister, Katie, and her family sent me a card, balloon, and Curious George (goes to the doctor!) doll. That made me smile too. It certainly brightened up my otherwise gloomy room.

And Mom and Dad added to that cheer by bringing me another balloon. It's a huge difference those things can make in a dark, creepy, hospital room.

I had a roommate. Despite the fact that all adult patients are supposed to get private rooms, I did have a roommate. All the private rooms on the floor were taken up by patients that needed to be separated for health reasons. I didn't think I'd mind the roommate... but it was an adjustment for me. Her visitors were plentiful and sort of loud. She (a teenager) didn't comply with requests/orders to get up out of bed. She cried a lot. Her mom freaked out about the pain she experienced. They kept doing healing prayers over on her side... and even came over to my side (Hello? Privacy?) to pray for me. They spoke Spanish, so I didn't totally understand what they were saying... something about healing and the girl's grandma had a little bottle of something (holy water? oil?) she wanted to use on me. Sorry... it kind of creeped me out. I had to tell the doctor to please not let them come back over to look at me. They kept moving her bed closer to mine... so close that at one point I went to scoot up in bed and grabbed her railing instead of my own. Yikes. I take a diuretic- so when I had to keep getting up to go to the bathroom, I had to walk past them- like I was some sort of freak show or something- they'd all stare at me. And when I'd buzz for my nurse (so I could get up to use the bathroom) I heard them say "AGAIN!?!" over there on her side. Oh my word. Thanks for humiliating me.

Oh well... I'm not trying to complain. In fact, I'm just restating how happy I am to be home... where I have Mom, Dad, Jeffrey, and my sister all taking care of me and checking on me.

Molly called me tonight... well, I guess that would've been last night considering the hour I'm writing this. It was so good to hear her voice. Hospital stays are not the same without that girl. She is one amazing foot rubber and hair do-er/comber. It was good to talk to her and hear her encouraging words and feel her love. I miss you, Mole!

Anyway; I guess that's all for now. I should probably head back to bed or something... :)