…”this life is more than just a read through”

Woohoo!!  Today is the day that I can FINALLY take a shower!  2 weeks and 2 days without a shower (YES, I did sponge bathe everyday, I am not THAT gross!).  I can’t wait.

Had some more stitches out yesterday.  It went well.  I have maintained my weight so far and haven’t gained an ounce, I am psyched about that.  I have been doing my usual activity as far as daily routine, I just can’t run.  I think in about 4-5 more weeks I can.  I was reading my Runner’s World magazine yesterday while I was sitting at my daughter’s gymnastics practice.  I cannot wait to get back into it!

“Well, why the hell not” I respond?! Since I am recovering from major surgery, every little bit counts. Big news, I am getting my stitches out today. I can’t wait to find out how many there are, I am guessing between 50-75.

My husband went back to work yesterday, but my mom came over and helped out a lot! Today is my big 1st day back to our usual schedule - one in elementary school, one 25 mins. away to pre-school, one with me (except for having my stitches out) for the day. Then we have a pre-school carpool pick up, drop off, pick up at elem. school. Quick - home for 1 hour, pick up gymnastics carpool, drop off @ gym, pick up @ gym, drop off. A ton of time in the car. When is the healing and resting time today? Oh well, I guess I have to wait until everyone gets to bed tonight to get some rest time in.

Will try to get in some more walking today. Haven’t gained any weight so far in this week of post-op. I have probably traded some muscle for fat. It will all work out. I am having a hard time resisting a peanut butter and fluff sand. before bed at night. Going to find my willpower tonight!

Workout:

• Type: Walk
• Date: 10/14/2008
• Time: 08:15:00
• Distance: 0.1 miles

I did maybe 3/10 mi. today, I don’t know. I keep walking up the driveway, around the cul-de-sac and back down again. I did it a few times.

Feeling good today. Drains are out (gross)! My husband asked what it felt like when they were removed and all I could say was that it probably felt like being circumcised without anesthesia. It hurt, badly - and I have a fairly high pain tolerance. Hope you are all enjoying your weekend!

Workout:

• Type: Walk
• Date: 10/11/2008
• Time: 17:50:00
• Distance: 0.3 miles

In my post op instructions it says to get up and walk every two hours to avoid blood clots in my legs. So I have been walking around the house. Today, man was it beautiful outside, I went up & down the driveway a few times and around our neighborhood, I think maybe 2/10 of a mile ,max 1/4 mi. It felt so good to know that I can still get in some sort of exercise. I was also doing lunges going down our downstairs hallway. I have my first post op Dr. appointment tomorrow a.m. Can’t wait to hear what they have to say. The drains are driving me nuts, they are so itchy and always seem to be getting caught under the bandages. Will walk some more tomorrow. I plan to continue to increase my distance as I heal. From what I read, I can’t run for 8 weeks. Walking will have to do.

Surgery on Mon. went well, I think. Not really sure due to swelling, etc. I wont know for a few months how it really went until everything falls into place. I had a horrible night in the hospital on Monday night. Woken every two hours by the nurses and the woman in my room would not turn off the light over her bed - so it was super bright in the room. I am a side sleeper and wanted so badly to turn onto my side and couldn’t. I was released on Tues. and went to my mom’s for the night. Thinking that it would be more quiet and calm for me to get a good night sleep. No go. Uncomfortable there too. What is uncomfortable are the drains that are hanging out of my sides. I keep catching them with my hand and they feel like they are pulling out. I cannot wait to get them out. I have had literally no pain and have not taken any pain med since Tuesday night. Came home on Wed. morning and was sooooo happy to get into my own bed with my own pillows. Although it is awful to have to listen to my husband deal with the children and their bickering. He does not have anywhere near the patience that I have with them. And the children are in & out of the bedroom climbing on the bed and nearly missing bumping me. It is nice & quiet now that they have gone out. I slept much better in my own bed. I found that I can lay on my side in my bed since it is a tempurpedic and it molds to your body. I am going to go outside and walk a bit up & down the driveway, then come in and change my bandages.

Wow, so this morning I am going to run for the last time for the next month or so. My surgery is in two days, 1 hr. and 45 mins. OMG!

I think I will run outside. That would be nice. I am not sure how I feel about not being able to run. I am always VERY, VERY busy with three children, all with their own schedules, and the usual running of the home and so, I can sometimes justify putting off my running - but knowing that I could run if I wanted to. But, not being able to run, not sure how I feel about that. I think I will be able to walk - slowly at first, but some movement is better than none.

I am scared about the anesthesia, hey, I am older and have kids. I am nervous that the surgery will go wrong and wont work out the way I hope. Then only have myself to blame for doing it in the 1st place. Then there is this side of me that looks forward to my husband taking over my hectic schedule for a week and I can just relax. How sick that it takes surgery to get a minute to myself, isn’t there something wrong?? I was literally cleaning the house until 12:00 p.m. last night. I have to finish the vaccuming this a.m., clean the goldfish’s tank, do a shitload of laundry, etc. All this so that while I am laying in bed for a week, the kids and my not so organized/neat husband can mess it all up.

Hectic, hectic schedule this weekend, which should distract me for the next few days. My oldest daughter has her 1st official gymnastics meet tomorrow as a competitive gymnast!! I am so excited for her. I am super obligated to her team as a “team mom” and have to work the meet all day. It should be a really fun event for our family. We have to be there at 7:00 a.m. and I will be there until the meet ends at 5:00-6:00.

Well, will log my run a little later, but I had all of this on my mind.