Surgery

So here are the pictures from before the surgery! Sorry it took me forever to post them, but it has been a little bit busy around here with school.

I was a little bit nervous before going in, but once I was called back to get prepped my nervousness went away. Matt was able to come back with me and that made me very happy. Once we were in our little waiting room we were just joking around and not doing much. I was busy texting my mom and Matt was busy reading. The nurse came in and put some lovely tights on me. They are supposed to prevent blood clots and I had to wear them for the entire week. I hated them & was gleeful as I threw them away! I also got "cute" blue socks to wear. Matt was insisting I had put them on wrong but there is tread on the top & bottom, so there! Then I got a lovely IV. I hate IVs. they hurt my hand, but that is always where they seem to put them, supposedly my arms are not very good for IVs. Dr. Harrison came in and as you can see in the picture below he initialed my shoulder and wrote "yes." I know they have to do this because surgeons have made mistakes, but it still made me laugh. My kids thought it was pretty funny too. I put on my awesome blue hat for Matt so he could take my picture. i felt so ghetto! Here are my not so upside down socks. I am totally working the hospital gown!

I love this picture of us =)

I talked to the anesthesiologist also and he was very nice too. Then the nurse came and they both walked me back to the surgical room. Matt went to the waiting room. My anesthesiologist asked me how I hurt my shoulder and I told him it was really lame and I was embarrassed to tell him. but I did and he said, "Yeah that is lame. You should tell people you got hurt because you were cage fighting!" And at that moment I knew he was the anesthesiologist for me. So that is the story now folks...I was cage fighting!

I had to lay down on this super narrow table & I totally felt like I was going to fall off. He then did the nerve block using an ultrasound machine and a huge needle...ok it might not have been huge but it hurt like the dickens! So we will just assume it is huge. Then he told me that he was going to give me something to relax & boy did I start to relax. it was great...sigh...how can I get some more of that??? Then they gave me an oxygen mask and told me to breathe deep. he then said he was going to put some stuff in my IV that would make me fall asleep. his exact wording was, "You will be out in about 5 to 10 seconds." HA! 5 to 10 seconds??? Yeah right. That is exactly what I was thinking. i think I even started to count and I don't ever remember getting to 5. The whole thing went so fast and smooth that I didn't even have time to get nervous. I loved it! I always thought surgery would be terrifying and so I was pleasantly surprised. It is only the after surgery part that stinks.

I remember having hazy dreams. i was younger, like 15 maybe. And I can only vaguely remember Joshua being in it. he was probably being obnoxious and talking about poop. Love you Josh! Then someone started saying my name and I got really confused. i just wanted to keep on sleeping. As I started to wake up I couldn't remember where I was and was VERY confused. I just kept looking up at the ceiling and everything was fuzzy because I didn't have my glasses on. I then realized where I was and thought, "Man that was fast!" I was shaking so bad that the nurse put an inflatable blanket on me that was full of warm air. It was so nice. The shaking continued so they gave me Demerol, which made my arm break out in hives, but nowhere else so that was good. They then took me to the next recovery room and put me in a recliner and then brought Matt in to see me. Later as I was thinking about this, I realized that I when I woke up I was in an entirely different bed, my hairnet thingy was gone and I had a huge sling on my arm, that was strapped around my waist. Man these guys are good! I think it would have been funny to see all of that happening. i was probably flopping around. Hahahaha...it makes me laugh just thinking about it! Oh man! If only they had a camera going!

The nurse then gave me an icepack and kept telling me to just rest and go back to sleep. And I just kept thinking that I didn't want to go to sleep, I just wanted to go home! Eventually we left and I sat in the car while Matt picked up my Lortab and some Aleve. Oh and we did go by Great Harvest and he got me a slice of their tomato herb bread and a cinnamon roll. He fed me potato soup when I got home and I ate it with my bread. So yummy. Then I passed out & it was great...The End.

Hello friends!

Sooo...the surgery went great...or int he words of Dr. Harrison, my surgeon, "Excellent!" It has been hard not using my right arm. I can use it a little bit, I just have to keep my shoulder still. So basically I just need to keep my elbow pinned to my side, otherwise it hurts crazy mad. I have some pictures from the day of the operation. Nothing gross, don't worry. I will post them soon. But good news, I slept in my own bed last night!!!!! I have been sleeping in a recliner the past week & it felt so good to stretch out! I was told that I could start to wean myself off of my sling at night. But i am a little bit too terrified to try that. Maybe in a few days. I am also allowed to take off my sling when I am at home and only if I am not doing anything. So that has been nice. And that stupid pillow (Dr's words not mine! But really they are mine too.) came off on Wednesday. I was told that I was going to have to wear it for 4 weeks. Well the surgery was "excellent" and I wasn't having any pain so they took it off & threw it away. I like that throwing away part...too bad they don't have an incinerator...or do they? Elizabeth and Josh were here last week. It was SOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSO nice having Elizabeth help me out. For the first half of the week I needed help getting dressed, so glad to have my sister there! I was finally able to get myself dressed by Thursday...I think...and it felt so good! Occasionally I still need help with my shirt, but that is only if my shoulder has been really bothering me. I guess the good thing about only using my left hand is that it has made me slow down. I can't get things done near as fast as I would like to (ex: eating), but it has helped me just let life slow down. I think I was just used to such a fast pace of doing things, does this make any sense? Anyway, I am grateful that I am spending more time appreciating life. I also have a vase full of beautiful roses to stare at. My sweet sister Erin sent me flowers. I got them the day after the surgery. I had just woken up from a nice long 3 hour nap & was slightly (OK, maybe heavily) drugged. But i saw a box sitting on our couch and I got so excited. I got Matt to come and help me open it and I was just about crying. It was a bunch of beautiful roses (yellow, pink, peach, cream). I wanted to call her, but unfortunately I was a bit drugged. I had Matt take a picture (I will post it later) & now when I look at it...oh boy I just want to laugh! I looked so doped up. I seriously thought I had this big smile on my face and was looking so happy...hmmm...I almost looked a little like death had warmed over. Anyhoo...I still look at them and sigh with happiness and know that I am being thought of even though I am far away from family. I am going to call you Erin! It has been on my agenda...it gets tiring holding the phone up to my ear...I know...I am crazy! But do you still love me??? Andrew is here now. It is so different going from Joshua to Andrew. Andrew is very quiet =) Not saying you are a loud mouth Josh, but you definitely strike up a conversation more often. I love having Andrew here though. My kids are excited he is here too! It will be nice getting to hang out with him for the next 2 weeks...I always miss my family and am always so happy when I get to spend time with any of them. Well this post has gone on long enough, although I am sure i could ramble on some more. I wonder if anyone made it down this far....if so you are the lucky winner of a trip to Fiji!!! (work out the details with my doctor...I'm sure he would love to finance your trip since I financed his)

Happy Green Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!!! Here are my sparkly green pre-op toes! I had to take the pic with my phone so it's not so great, but oh well. I had to paint my toes green so the surgeon won't pinch me. And they are super cute & this pic does not due my cute sparklies justice!

Have a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Some more randomness from yours truly

So, thankfully my pink eye went away fairly quickly and we were able to go to the baptism of Hannah and the blessing of Gavin. Oh that baby is so cute! I just wanted to hold him and had to practice being unselfish by letting other people hold him. But really I just wanted to be selfish...

I am getting more and more nervous for this surgery. It is tomorrow. I am hoping that it is earlier int he day since I won't be able to eat anything from 11 pm tonight until I go home from the surgery tomorrow.

I have been realizing just how important my right arm is. I have been giving my kids extra hugs (hard to imagine because I literally smother them anyway, but they are still breathing so I will carry on!), and Matt too. I even take joy in doing things with my right hand and am bemoaning the future when I can't use it. I will relish taking a shower today, because it will be the last chance for privacy for awhile. Matt says he will wash my hair for me...I wonder if he would shave my legs or if I have to go around like a hairy beast for the next six weeks...oh man I am making myself sick....

I also googled what my new appendage (aka sling) will look like. I.am.horrified. Go ahead and google it...I dare ya...some aren't so bad, but there are some that look like you are carrying around an extra person! Elizabeth will for sure make me walk ten feet behind her. Maybe Josh will walk with me...but then again he will probably be ten feet in front of Elizabeth....=) hehe

I did a Bollywood exercise video off of hulu today. It was quite fun. It is a bit ridiculous, but no one was around so I jumped and went crazy...it made it easier that the kids were at school, Matt was at work, and the blinds were tightly shut. But if you want a workout that makes you jump, shake and act a bit crazy then you should try this. I totally was laughing out loud! Lots of fun and am thinking that when I go to Cali in June Ashleigh totally needs to do this with me! She would totally go crazy with me! Imagine a sleepover dance party....insane goodness. (My favorite part was you had to make your whole body vibrate...totally funny & the voiceover actually had her voice vibrating! It made it so comical and really made my morning...oh Bollywood...what have I ever done without you?)

Conjunctivitis....{shiver & shudder}

I woke up this morning and had a hard time opening my eye...WHAT THE WHAT?!?!?!?!
I went to the doctor...I have pink eye (I just threw up a little in my mouth.)
And it is now sliding right on over into the other eye. Oh joy of joys.
I swear I have been to the doctors so often in the past couple of months...it is ridiculous.
They see me walk in and are like "She's back??? You get her this time." "No! I had her last time!" "I'll buy you lunch!" "Done! Emily Robertson the doctor will see you now." Seriously, I should just personalize my own room there. A lovely yellow would be nice with some plants, and some nice little knick knacks that I love lying around. I think we are paying for the doctor to go to Fiji this year. I am dead serious.
So anyway, I had to go to school with this nasty eye. It grosses me out so bad, so I cannot even imagine what other people are thinking. UGH!!!!!!
Now I will return from spring break remembered as the nasty girl who had pink eye and now wears a huge arm brace with pillow and pulls a rolling backpack. Would anyone like to contribute to the "Let's pay some people to be friend's with Emily so she won't feel like such a big loser." fund???
I am developing a complex...good thing Matt already loves me. There ain't no goin' back!

hehe

Just to clarify from the comments on my previous post....I will be wiping my own tushie & Elizabeth is not allowed near me...just sayin'. Oh man, I love my family!

Just some rambles...

So I only have a week and a half before my right arm is useless. I am starting to get a little worried. I have never had surgery before, so I am a bit clueless about what all goes on before and after.
My sister Elizabeth is coming to help me out that first week and I just found out that my brother Josh is coming that week too! I am SO excited. I keep thinking of all kinds of fun things that we can do & then remember that I will be a bit useless...sigh...
When Elizabeth leaves, my brother Andrew is going to come up and stay with us for a couple of weeks! Another big excitement! So I really shouldn't worry because I will have plenty of help, but I just don't like the thought of being useless.
But I am grateful that my shoulder will be fixed, so it will all be worth it!
Isabelle is sick today. She woke us up at 3am with a fever. So Matt is at home with her today, because I have to go to school. I am a little jealous that he gets to stay home with her. But it will be good for them to spend some time together. I am wondering when the illnesses will go away. it seems like one of us is always sick. I guess that's life though.
No more projects from us for awhile...unless Matt has a hankering to do something. He is so handy!
Well, have a fabulous day!

Bathroom finished!!!!!!!!!!!

Well here it is! I tried to find a good before picture that I know I have but I couldn't....and I looked for a long time! Sooo.....what do you think?????

I know you are totally diggin' our ghetto light bulb!

This cupboard was already in here and I just painted it white.

I love our new floor!

Here is a closeup of the shower curtain. I love the stitching on it!

Towel hooks. I am hoping to put a mirror above them.

The baseboards Matt did!

I wanted new knobs for the vanity, medicine cabinet, and the other cabinet. And I wanted them all to match. I found some that I liked and I found some that I loved! The ones I liked were a buck cheaper so it would have been $10 instead of $15. I was stuck... I am such a cheapskate! Matt finally said we were getting the ones I loved and I leaped for joy...I might have literally done that, but my memory is a bit hazy =)

No cracks in this sink! Hooray!!!

And now I have storage! Makes everyone happy =)

Come visit & see it for yourself!

WARNING: Someone Went A Little Camera Happy

Here it is...It is done...I am so excited and I LOVE the outcome. Ben loves it too. He keeps telling Matt and I that we are the greatest parents EVER! So here is Ben's new room.....

This is a copy of a painting that my Dad did. My Mom had it personalized and framed for Ben. All of the grand kids have one (just different characters). I love it!

Originally I wanted to paint his bed a dark red. But he wanted blue & since it is his room I painted it blue. Besides we have leftover paint from a dresser that I painted a few years ago, so we crossed that expense off of our list too!

Don't they look so great with the blue frames???

These are some pins off of Matt's Grandpa's uniform. We inherited this & has been hanging in Ben's room for a long time. I think it is really cool!

Matt says this wall is too bare, but I have NO idea what to do with it, so I guess it will remain this way for awhile. Any ideas???

This is Ben telling me he LOVES it! I love this kid!

I hope you enjoyed the tour. Come visit us and we will give you a personal one!

Here is all of the extra wood stacked up in our basement. I have so many ideas for this!

Once There Was A Snowman!

The snow has started to melt, and the kids were worried because their snowman's face was falling off. So they fixed him and took pictures. I think they are cute. They even took a picture of our neighbor's house and some random guy walking by. They thought they were pretty hilarious!

We {heart} Pirates!!!

My Dad gave me some Pirates of the Caribbean prints a long time ago. He made copies for everyone in our family. I have always thought they were super cool & wanted to frame them for Ben's room. Well, they are square & it is really pricey (for me) to buy custom frames & so I have put this off for a VERY long time. Ben and I were at Saver's and I found 2 square matching frames. They were $2.99 each and I was slightly annoyed at the price, because HELLO this is a thrift store! But I was glad to find them and so I tried not to let it bother me too much =) Here is one of the before pictures. Not too bad at all...but not what I wanted...
Doesn't it look so good??? Even the mat works perfect with it. I wasn't sold on the white frame though and asked for my mom's advice. It is now painted the same blue as the inner mat and looks fabulous! I didn't take pictures of them painted until they were already on the wall & you have to wait for the big reveal of Ben's room to see them in their final form. So sorry....Yo ho yo ho A Pirate's life for me!