October 3, 2010

• Surgical Procedure This Week

  Hello dear Xanga friends!

  I haven’t mentioned this in the past – fear, I think.

  I have decided to undergo a procedure this coming Wednesday morning.  I’ll admit, I’m afraid of the procedure, in fact, I initially refused it with a hearty, “No thanks!”:

  If I didn’t think the risk (which they say is not high) was less than my physical problems, I wouldn’t choose this route.

  They are using a guided image (referencing my last MRI pictures) and going into the area by my spinal cord and injecting steroids and something else.  I’m a person who chose natural childbirth over an epidural because of the fear of having a needle near my spinal cord.

  I have had a growing numbness in both arms, from the elbows down to my fingertips.  At this point, I wake up numb, gradually regain feeling, but NOT in the tips of my fingers.  According to my last MRI report of my cervical (neck) vertebrae, I have pressure that causes pain and numbness. 

  The truth is, I have pain all up and down my back, but I’m not having this procedure done (not anywhere else, that is) to alleviate any  pain.  I simply want to regain feeling in my fingers, and less pain and numbness at night. 

  The numbness also occurs when I read a book with my elbows bent, or it happens when I talk on the phone (even *IF* I change from one hand to the other) with my arms bent.

  I will be put to sleep in surgery (I’m happy about that) at a “Spine Hospital” – which makes me feel more confident.  You know?  Like they do this procedure all the time, and they should be pretty good at it!! 

  They’ve already told me I will be “tender” and may feel worse for 1 – 6 days AFTER the procedure.  Oh well, at least they were honest.

  On Thursday, whether I feel good or not, I HAVE to go to the cancer place for my monthly bone IV AND visit with the P.A. (my oncologist is still on maternity leave) for a routine 3 month check up.

  Okay – enough of that info. 

  If I don’t have a chance to write on Xanga anymore this week (I Have a long “To Do” list!), I would appreciate prayers Wednesday and for the rest of the week.

  Stephanie (our oldest) is watching the girls while I’m in surgery.  Jesse is taking off Wednesday and Thursday and my church has already inquired about help with meals.  I know I’m in good hands – not the hands of men, but in God’s hands, the best place to be!

                   *********************************************************

  Even though the leaves on our trees aren’t quite ready to express fall colors, our clothing has taken a major turn.

                                

  We’re packing up the rest of the short sleeves and light summer colors.

        
  And, we are sifting through the attic storage bins of warmer clothing, trying to figure out who can wear what, this year.

  Just as I suspected, Luci is making out like a bandit in the clothes department and I’m SO GLAD I’ve bought Annamarie a bunch of sweaters and skirts.

  My wonderful seamstress (for years and years) has been called to a ministry of helping couples and will no longer have time to sew or to alter my “too big” dresses.  I didn’t know this when I set out shopping for me and the girls in thrift stores and on Ebay a month ago.  God certainly led me and prepared me ahead of time!

                         
  My closet reflects the fall and winter colors and has been recently cleaned.  I mean REALLY cleaned!!!  The shelves, to the right in the picture, have also been cleaned out. 

  I had needed to work on the shelves 2 years ago and then when I was diagnosed with cancer (and all that unlovely stuff) last year, the disarray of the shelves was left for a future date.

  It looks fantastically organized, now, and I even rearranged the hanging clothes on the rods. 

  Now, I have a few short sleeves and pastel colored things left, but, they will soon go to the attic with their “friends!”

                        ****************************************************************************

  I’ve been busy in the den, too.

            

  We’ve swung the sofa and love seat on an angle to the TV.  It’s better in the winter if we are not so close to the windows.

                  

  This way, we are facing the fireplace, too. 

  Jesse said he didn’t want to buy wood to heat the front of the house, so the girls and I will be wearing our new sweaters and enjoying an occasional fire with the little bit of wood we have leftover from last year.

             
  Another reason for the switch in furniture position was to make sure Tango (the cockatiel) is away from the windows.  She won’t get any sun in her new spot, but she won’t have a cold chill or breeze blowing on her, either.  The fish have a heater, so they’ll be fine.

  Our windows LITERALLY blow air if you sit by them in the winter.  We may have to resort to heavy plastic on the windows.  I hate to block out the clear view – it makes the house feel more open, but it may save on the electric bill.  We just can’t afford windows in this house.  I think I once counted something like 24 windows in here!

  AND, we need carpeting before we buy even a few replacement windows!

                   ***************************************************************************

  Jesse took us out to lunch after church, today.  Nothing fancy.  “Golden Corral” buffet. 

  I love to try a little bit of all their different salad items each time I go.  I don’t make carrot raisin slaw or any other unusual, “fancy” salads at home. 

  I had a really good, but small-ish, piece of sirloin steak and some hot wheat rolls that were delicious. 

  And, of course, a taste of 3 different chocolate desserts!

                
                   That means I didn’t cook dinner tonight.  The girls enjoyed popcorn for their dinner!!
                               Rissy’s mouth was full, or should would have smiled with her teeth!

                  ********************************************************************************

  I have a major grocery trip to make, tomorrow.  Jesse told me not to go October 1st since it would be too crowded.  My nervous system is definitely not as strong as it used to be.  Crowds tend to make me jumpy.

  We also need to go to the library to return books and pick up some holds.  I figure it might be nice to lie around and read some books for a few days. 

  The girls have a huge history test tomorrow – a first for them.  They’ve studied their history book this weekend preparing for THE BIG DAY!!!  LOL!.  AND, I had to give Luci and Annamarie another spelling test today, because they didn’t make a high enough grade on Friday.  In our school, if you don’t make at least 80%, you get to take the test over AFTER you have studied!  Both of them did much better on today’s test!!!

  I have 92 million phone calls to make tomorrow morning.  Nothing can wait until next week, and, since I’m not sure how long I’ll feel bad . . .

                              
                                                                         Annamarie

  I am planning to go to our local Christian bookstore tomorrow or Tuesday.  A real sweet young girl in church lost her mother yesterday.  She is so grief stricken, she sobbed through the entire service.  Everyone felt so bad for her. 

  Our next door neighbor’s sister died suddenly yesterday. 

  AND . . . two women in church are having a rough time.  I’m going to pick up some cards and maybe a couple bookmarks for each of them. 

  A sweet, young friend who goes to the church the girls and I attend on Wednesday nights, may need help with a meal this week.  She lives only a few blocks from me.  If I was younger, I could easily walk to her house with the food!

  As long as I can do something to be helpful BEFORE Wednesday, I’ll be just fine and will enjoy staying busy!

                       ****************************************************************

  That just about wraps up all the information from our neck of the woods!
  
  Well that’s a rotten way to end my post! 

  All the bad news and hardships in everyone’s lives! 

  So sorry.  I didn’t mean for that to happen; but, I don’t really have the time to edit this and end with something more cheery!

  How about this

                                                     

  Oh well, that was supposed to come across bigger, but I don’t have the time to mess with that, either!!!!!!!
   

  Be Blessed  ~

                         
              

  • 10:11 pm
  • 14 Comments