Sunday

So much to share......! Today we stopped by Tanya and Chris' house to see if we could park at their house and go around their neighborhood to try to sell the rest of Spencer's candy bars (we figured we'd have more luck on the "other side of the tracks"). Well, when we pulled up at their house they were all outside playing and Chris and Ryan took Brett, Spencer and the girls around to sell the candy...they sold out within a few minutes! Tanya and I just sat on her front porch swing and enjoyed the quiet! Brett and Chris played baseball with the kids while Brooke and Maddie took care of Ellie in the house, so it was a nice break for us! Anyhoo, I really appreciate Tanya and Chris allowing the kids to come play and for helping us get rid of the candy bars!
Ok...I have some "breaking news" that I am so thrilled to share with you!! Today I learned that you can print Target coupons AT Target! Those computers at the front of the store (that are for wedding/baby registry) also print STORE coupons (which means you can match them with MQs to get GREAT deals!). The manager was not even aware of this, I asked about it when I got there and he told me that the only coupons you can print are the ones that are only good online (that did not make sense to me so I played around with the computer until I figured it out!). First you want to go to the "shop online" option, then scroll all the way to the bottom of the page, to the tiny print at the VERY bottom, and click "store coupons", that brings up a page of coupons and you just click "Print"! It gives you the option to choose which ones you want to print, but if you just click "print" they all will print (4 pages). They come out of the printer right there! Some of the coupons are "Super Target" coupons, Target will not honor those (I do not think!) but most of them are "Target" coupons and you can use them right then! BTW-the coupons state "Offer valid for in store purchase only", so obviously they are not for online purchases.I know that I am easily amused, but was just SO excited to learn this! You can also print them from your PC, but I figure-why waste YOUR paper and ink? Also, if you ever forget your coupons, you know that you can get them right in the store!

Friends...who are more like family.

I know that I have shared so much about my friends and how blessed I am to have them, but tonight I'd like to share how humbled I am by the blessings they bring. As many of you know, we have had some plumbing issues in our house for MONTHS! Well, when Chris (Tanya's husband) got word of it, he insisted that he come and take a look! He refused to take "no" for an answer and told me not to "take away the blessing of being able to do it". Chris is not a plumber, he is an "IBM" guy-but that did not stop him from coming over and fixing our "issues". He was here for 3 hours, he ran into all kinds of problems (hey, at least we know it is NOT just US!), but he pushed through until things were fixed! He kept asking "OK, what is next?". Anyhoo, I am so grateful for friends who really are FAMILY. I am grateful to God for sending Chris to help us! Now, we can use the money, that we were going to have to spend on plumbing, to get our air ducts cleaned out...which they need BADLY! Anyhoo-tonight I am thanking God for Chris and Tanya!!

Sisters..........

Yesterday morning, after "hitting the gym", I went to Tanya's house for coffee-I just love her house, it is so beautiful and I enjoyed her company tremendously! Tanya bought me the cutest travel mug-with my initial on it! I just love it! I need to take a pic so I can post it! She also bought me a "I Love Lucy" calendar for my purse.....along with some chocolate goodies! She pulled my name at Christmas-and since she was not able to make it to the December GNO-I have not even seen her!
I am so blessed to have a few people in my life that I can REALLY open up to, and share that bond with! I do not take it for granted-not even a little! I remember a time in my life when I was STARVING for that closeness-and I can not thank God enough for sending me my "sisters"!

Last night I went out with Karen and Jodi....it was supposed to be our monthly "Girl's night out"-but several of the "girls" were unable to attend! Never the less, Karen and Jodi and I went and we had a great time together! We ate at Ruby Tuesday's-LOVE the salad bar there! Karen and I then went on to see the movie "Bride wars"-it was a cute movie, but once again, I do not think it merited a "PG" rating! Kinda scary how the last 2 "PG" movies I have seen had so much "PG-13" stuff in them! I guess America will just continue to lower the standards-until we can not even turn on our TVs! Perhaps it is already near that point now! It just angers me-it angers me even more that there is nothing I can do about it! Anyhoo-I thought the movie WAS "PG-13"-Brooke told me today that it was "PG"-that her friend saw it and told her all about it.

Now, I must go to the dentist...yuck! It is just for an exam-I will have to come back for a cleaning (sounds like a way for them to make more $-imho!). Anyhoo-I already know that I need 2 root canals and I just wanted to see how much money it will cost with my insurance-I want to get them done before I lose my insurance!!
Well-I gotta run! Hope you all have a great day!

FYI...here is the link that we use to check out movies that we worry may be questionable-NOW, we will be checking out ALL movies!
It is a movie review website-from a Christian's perspective (by "focus on the family")!
http://www.pluggedinonline.com/movies/index.cfm

I think I am gonna have to wait until tomorrow to post pics of my awesome presents....I am tired! Too tired to blog even! I am ready for my body rub and Brett and I are gonna watch the "Biggest loser" finale show (we recorded it last night, so we could watch it together tonight...I had GNO last night)-even though I already saw on MSNBC who won! It was staring me right in the face when I woke up this morning! Anyhoo, I have the "bestest" friends ever! I got "Brighton" earrings and a gift card from Carol today. My earrings are beautiful! I have to say, I was "struttin' " my stuff around Publix today-feelin' pretty good about the "bling bling" I had hangin' from my ears! Karen got me a awesome travel mug that says "You'll always be my best friend......you know too much!" and a totally rockin' "I love Lucy" sign-with hooks for my keys (which I am always losing!). I opened the presents she bought me first-I started to laugh when I saw the mug, because I special ordered a picture from http://www.greenyweeny.com/ -with the same exact saying on it!! Too Funny! I promise to take pics tomorrow-I really want everyone to see my gifts! Poor Brett, we decided not to buy presents for each other this year.......so he is not getting ANYthing (well, his family draws names, so he will get one present). Even though he is not buying me a present-I still got great gifts from my friends! I have wife guilt!

Alright, I am ready for my Dormia, see ya tomorrow!! Hope you all had an awesome Wednesday.....just because you were alive to enjoy it! Don't get me started........THAT......is a whole other blog!

laughter...the very best medicine!

Last night was "Girl's night out"...I have to say, I think it was one of the best ones we've had! We celebrated Jodie's Birthday (LATE!), made our Christmas plans, and did some "chick chatting". We laughed so much! I just love to laugh (that sounds weird...huh?)-but it is true! Laughter is so important, without it-life would be dull. I love the kind of laugh that actually makes your belly hurt! I got a few of those laughs last night.....and it energizes me! I have some really funny friends (who......I just realized, love to pick on me!)-and it is so good to know that, even with times being really tough -a lot tougher for some than others :( we can just let down our "guards" ; forget about our worries and relax and have a good time! We can share our "woes" one minute...get loads of "advice" and be belly laughing the next minute (often...ABOUT our "troubles"!). The Bible says that " A merry heart does good like medicine"............I know that it is absolutely true!! Make it a goal today to laugh. Try to let loose, be a little "crazy", goof off with your spouse and kids and just truly enjoy a good belly laugh....it works wonders!

Today, Carol (my friend from high school) came over to my house to have coffee with me. We had such a great time-she is a lot of fun to be with! The rest of the day I did not have too much else to do......but managed to stay busy ( ?-how does THAT work?!). Tonight I started editing the pictures I took at Pioneer village-I was supposed to have them edited by last week-oops! Maddie's teacher requested copies of them-so I need to finish them up and put them on disc for her. Tomorrow is gonna be NUTS! I am going to wake up early (5:55 am) to go for a walk, then I have to take Maddie and Brooke to school, take Bubba to the doctor,take him to school-then turn around 2 hours later and pick the kids up early to take them all to the dentist! I am tired just thinking about it!

I am recommitted to my weight loss ( NOT as committed as YOU Carol!-you are a woman on a mission!) -it has stalled since my last 4.6 lb loss! At least I did not GAIN...amazing considering all that I have cheated! Anyhoo...tomorrow is a brand new day and I shall begin again! I have kinda been doing my own version of WW "Core"-which basically means (WHEN I have been being "good") I have been limiting myself to "whole foods"-except my beloved "Fiber One Chocolate/ Oat bar for breakfast...I just can't give it up! So...I begin again! I'd really like to make "goal" by January...we'll see!

This morning I had breakfast with Carol (thanks for treating me Carol!)-she is the friend from high school that I just recently met up with again. She is doing well in life-she is working part time and a real estate agent, she is married to an attorney, and they have two kids (a boy and a girl). Her daughter is friends with Madeline and I think that it is really neat to see our girls together! It reminds me of our "younger years"! Although, we became best friends in high school, not grade school. We shared a lot of good times and had a lot of fun together!

Well, this morning I was all ready to leave to meet Carol and I had 15 mins to kill. So...........I decide that I could clean out one of my kitchen cabinets during that time. I cleaned out the cabinet that hold all the "stuff" that we rarely use (blender, mixer,coffee grinder.......). I started washing out a tub, that I hold those things in, and I heard the RUSH of water coming from under my sink! Oh lordy......we already have a bowl under there, to catch the dripping water-but this was a gush and it started pouring out all over the floor! I guess when I was cleaning out the cabinet at the end I bumped a pipe loose and it came apart. So-I stopped the water, tightened up the pipe again and grabbed a towel to soak up the water. That is where I left it. Now.....I am home from breakfast and I need to face the mess all over my kitchen floor! Everything from all the cabinets on that side is out-all over the floor. I am gonna get started now!
We really, REALLY need to get the plumbing in this house fixed!!! Brett's bathroom has water running on and off all day (I can hear it but I do not know where it is coming from-it is not the toilet!), The kitchen has a leak again-(I replaced the pipes not long before my surgery!) and the water in my bath tub is impossible for me to turn on because Brett has to turn it off so tightly since IT is leaking! Oh.....yeah....one more thing!! The shower in Brett's bathroom can not be used AT ALL! It was pouring water even though it was shut off as tightly as possible-once we finally managed to turn it off-we decided never to touch it again! Now ALL of these problems (except the mysterious running water in Brett's bathroom) have been fixed by plumbers (who we paid BIG bucks too!) in the past.....and not long after they were "fixed" the problems reoccurred! We just can not afford to pay a plumber right now-but even if we could-it would seem like such a waste since they can't seem to do the job any better than we can!

My "bestest" friend!

Karen called me this morning and told me that they were about to take her into surgery! With Nikki having HER surgery just yesterday I was beginning to wonder what was going on with our little "gal pal group"!! Tanya said that she thought we were all "making up things" just so people would bring us supper!! She is funny!! She said that she was gonna go get a face lift just so we would bring HER supper!! Anyhoo.....back to Karen. She had a bad tooth and when they did x rays they saw that her root was growing up into her sinus cavity!! Sounds like it hurts!! OUCH! She had her surgery and is now home resting. I went to her house this afternoon to bring her some soup and she was still "high as a kite" from her surgery meds!! I just HAD to laugh at her!! I let myself into her house-since she was resting, I asked her how she was doing and how the surgery went yada... yada.... yada..... . I talked to her for about 5 minutes and then I told her that I was going out to my car to get the soup and some other things I bought for her that I knew she could eat. When I got back into her house with the bags I told her " I am putting the ice cream in the freezer" and she said "Oh my goodness!! I did not even realize that you were HERE!". She was so "out of it"!! I spoke with her tonight and she sounds better-but she did not remember much about my visit with her!!

I spoke with Nikki's husband today and he said that she is doing well. I told him that Karen had to have surgery too and he said "it seems like you girls would find a better way to get free food!".
I am glad that Nik is doing so well and I am glad that she and Karen are both able to take the pain meds....I feel guilty about being jealous of that :( . I would not fear/avoid the other surgeries (the other two that I need and the one that I WANT) if I could stomach the pain meds. I just NEVER want to have to go through the pain that I had to go through with the spine surgery...ever again!! Maybe the memory of the pain of surgery will pass like the memory of the pain of childbirth! I guess we'll see!

My appointment

Yesterday, as you know, I had my doctor's appt at USF. I was thrilled when the doc looked at my x ray and said that he saw some bone growth!!! He said it was just a tiny bit of growth-but none the less, it was growth!! He showed me in two spots where he saw the growth-oddly enough, it has started growing in the middle area first. He says that everyone is different-but all the people I have spoke with online, have had the growth start at the bottom and move up. No big deal-just proves that I am "odd" -(as Karen suggested-LOL :). I had really, REALLY hoped that, once they saw some bone growth, they would release me to "do more". But-they want me to wait until 3 months post op (my next appt is in Nov.) before they will talk about what I can do and to what extent I can do it! Frustrating-for sure! Originally, before my surgery, he told me I would be "out of commission" for 6 weeks-now.....3 months!? I can still drive short distances-thank God! I am grateful for that :). I can still walk as much as I can-thank God! I asked him if there was such a thing as "too much" walking and he said that I just had to listen to my body-if I was in pain when I finished a walk-then it was "too much". I asked about being able to "sit"-and he said "as tolerated". I am happy with that because some surgeons give a 15-20 min time limit for sitting. So.....what I can not do....... lift (he says I can lift my purse. A nurse told me, one day when I called, that I could lift a gallon of milk), bend (like that is even possible in this hard brace!), twist (again-not possible!), push (I refused to ask if that included a shopping cart-I did not want to ask in case he said "no"-Karen said since it is on wheels-It should be ok. I like her answer!), and pull. So, that pretty much includes everything but walking, sitting and laying!

I have been doing more than this already-but in moderation. I just can not let Brett do everything by himself for another 7 weeks! He said that it did not matter if it was going to "take a year" before I could help-I need to do what it takes to get better. I have not been doing much, just making the kid's lunches, cooking supper with help and the shopping (I make the "bag boys" keep the bags light-and they load everything in the car for me-then I put away the cold things and Brett puts away the rest). That is literally ALL I do. On a regular day I walk in the mornings, shower, lay in bed until time to get the kids from school. In the afternoons I make lunches and rest. In the evenings I make supper and rest. WHY......do I feel like I have to justify all of this? My point is......(if I can remember) I am being careful, I am listening to my body, and I am doing what it takes to stay sane and keep Brett from going nuts! Ok-I am done!

The pics are of my x rays. You can not see the "cages" from the side the x ray was taken from-I think they are on the anterior side of my spine-the x rays were taken from the posterior side. The doc said he could see them a little but I can't. Also-I think that they must not be made of metal or else they would be more visible.

So.........Karen and I had a really good time yesterday! I just love being with her! There are only a handful of people in an entire lifetime that you can really "let loose" with. I mean.....hold nothing back (literally!) and feel completely safe with. She is that person for me! We laugh so much together! I can (and HAVE) tell her anything! After my appt yesterday, we went to lunch. Then we went to the store to pick up a couple of things. After that, we came home and just relaxed and talked until time to get the kids from school. After they got home Karen cooked what she was bringing for our night out. She let Maddie help her with that-which Maddie loved! Then we were off to Tanya's house. We had a good time just kicking back and relaxing (and eating some really good food!)! It was just a really, really good day for me. I had so much fun and enjoyed every minute of the whole day!! Thanks Karen for taking me to the doctor and for staying with me all day!! Thanks Tanya for letting us invade your house for our night "out". Later today I will upload the pics from last night!

Nerves

Last night it took me FOREVER to go to sleep! Once I went to sleep, I kept waking up with "night sweats". I think that it is from nerves. I have been more nervous about my doctor's appt this morning than I was about the actual surgery! I think it may be because I now KNOW how bad the surgery actually is. I thought I knew before how bad it would be........but my expectations were not even close to reality. I was warned that if I do not "fuse" then the surgery will have to be done again. I have been doing everything, in my power, to try to get those bones growing-the rest is up to God! They expect to see at least some growth today-it will take around a year (sometimes more) to fuse completely, but we should see progress with each x ray. Even if they do not see growth today, they'll give it a couple more months before they make any plans for surgery. I am SOOOOOOO glad that Karen is taking me today-I do not want to be alone at this appt. If they see growth, I want someone to celebrate with me, and if they do not, I want a shoulder to cry on! Karen will be here around 9:00-we will be driving to Tampa to the USF neurosurgeon's office. After my appt. we are going to lunch together and then back to my house. She is going to stay with me today and make her "covered dish" for the PJ party (GNO) here. It is going to be nice to be able to just hang out this afternoon! Then tonight, we are going to Tanya's for GNO-we are just relaxing in our pjs and watching a funny video that Tanya picked up from MOPS. I am so thankful that Karen is taking her DAY OFF and spending it helping me! Also, I am proud to have friends that did not just leave me behind for GNO this month but instead, they planned it so I would be able to come and enjoy it too! I am gonna bring my camera tonight-it is sure to be a blast! I will update my blog with the GOOD REPORT I will be getting today!!!

My "bright" idea

Jodi brought over our supper tonight-it was soooo good! It was "taco shells"-it was those large pasta shells stuffed with ground beef, salsa...... and topped with cheese and crushed tostitos. YUM! (Thanks Jodi!) All of this yummy food that we have been eating gave me an idea. Once I am better, I want to set something up with my "gal pals" where we cook for each other-just because! I figured that one of us could bring a meal to one person, then that person would then bring a meal for the next person the following week or month or whatever we decide. Tanya and Jodi are already on board-none of the others answer emails (hint, hint)! Anyways, it has been so nice to try new foods and get new recipes and every mom knows how hectic supper time can be-I thought it would be nice to just not have to worry about it every now and then! I want everyone to experience being "spoiled" like I have been!
One time, several years ago, we all got together and tried the "cooking once a month" thing-we all went to Karen's and spent the entire day cooking-then we froze the meals so we could just heat them up. Some of the meals went over very well, and it made supper time easy, but some of the other meals did not go over well with my family. We did have "bonding" time though-so it was worth it just for that! Maybe we should give it another shot girls?

Even more blessings...

This morning I went for a long walk-Spencer's hearing aid needed to be dropped off for repair so I saved Brett the trip by walking there and taking care of that. Brett was awake most of the night-he just could not sleep, so this morning I asked him why he could not sleep and he said he had too many things running through his mind and he was thinking about all he had to get done today. I can't do much-but I CAN walk so I wanted to help him out. Poor guy! I have said it a hundred times but we are so thankful for all the meals we have been getting-if he had to take care of cooking supper, on top of everything else, I am not sure he'd be able to do it!
This afternoon Michelle and her daughter came by with lots of goodies for us! She brought over an ice cream maker (can't wait to see what the kids do when they see that!) and she brought a CASE of easy mac (the kids love that!), she brought juice (grape is the kids' fav!), she brought a ton of fruit cups for the kids' lunches and she brought cookies (Brett and I already got into those-but don't worry, we saved some for the kids :)!! Her family has been such a blessing to us during this time-Michael has even asked if he could mow the lawn for Brett! Unfortunately, Brett's 2nd job has been dead lately-so he has had the last 2 Saturdays free-he's been able to keep up with the yard work then. At any rate, I am just amazed at how giving they have been! Worth repeating...time and money are so tight with almost everyone-I continue to be humbled by how people have stepped outside themselves and taken time,money and energy to help my family. I will continue to pray God's blessings on Michelle and her family-that is the only thing I can do for them now, but someday-I hope that I will be in a place that I will be able to "pass it on" and BE a blessing just as she has been!

Where would I be......

without my sisters? Seriously. I know you are all probably "sick to death" of me saying it but,.........it IS my blog so I am gonna say it anyhow :) . My sisters have carried me through this whole ordeal! It is kinda weird but they have been closer to me and more involved in my recovery than my own blood relatives (except my "mama" of course!).
Tanya came by this morning-she brought me my fav Starbucks coffee drink and she took the time to sit and visit with me before she left to go buy our groceries. She has been up since before 6 am-taking care of her kids and getting them off to school, but she cared enough to sit with me a while. I enjoyed our time together this morning! She volunteered-from the beginning, to do our shopping but she has went WAAAAY beyond that (as if that were not ENOUGH!). Each week, she has bought a complete meal-out of her own budget-that we can throw in the oven "in case someone forgets to bring us food one night".
Last night, one of my other sisters brought over a meal for our family. She shared a little about what HER family is going through right now....someone should be bringing THEM meals-but yet she, so unselfishly, took the time to make a (awesome) meal for us!
Karen is always calling me to check on me-she's brought us a meal and even brought over a ton of extra goodies for us.
Money is tight-with everyone I know. Time....probably even tighter.I do not take for granted that my sisters have used money out of their budgets, and time our of their chaotic, busy days to help a sister in need. I am in awe and I am so humbled by all that has been given to us. Not many people have what I have...Sisters who REALLY care and who give so much of themselves to show it.
I thank God for each one of you-I pray that He blesses you and your families in everything that you do!

Oh...and just a note-they have even planned our monthly "Girl's night out" around me-we are having a PJ and movie night at Tanya's house (or mine-if I am not feeling well enough to go over to her house)! Sounds like so much fun-I will be sure to bring along my camera!

I am getting there!

Today has been a good day for me-the pain is less today and I also got out and went for a walk! I walked up and down 2 streets-which is the farthest I have gone since my surgery! It took me long enough-about 45 mins! It feels so good to be "active" (kinda) again! Tanya came by this morning and brought me Starbucks coffee and visited for a while. She has graciously volunteered to do our grocery shopping during my recovery, so she is out doing that now. I can not say enough how blessed I am! You know the scripture verse that says to "test God" and see if He will not pour out a blessing that you will not have room enough to contain? Well.....we have been so blessed that we literally do not have room enough to contain it! We have food stored on the counters, on top of the fridge, cupboards, .....even in the bedroom closet! Our "cup is running over"! God is so good to us and I keep praying that all those who have helped us in any way will receive a 100 fold blessing!

Ok-everyone knows the story of how God provided a FULL paid scholarship for the kids to go to Christian school-but I just wanted to say what a blessing that has already turned out to be!! I am so thrilled when the kids come home with homework -having to memorize scripture! Every aspect of their learning is based on the Bible! Even Maddie's science book is titled "learning about the world God made"! History,science,english.....they are all centered around God. I should not be shocked by this-I grew up in a Christian school but there is just something so different about being able to see my kids go to one! Spencer came home one day and said that they had "prayer request" time and he asked them to pray for my back. Sweet-so precious! He is a "mess"-that child! Let me tell you! He came in to the bedroom one day, while Brett was helping me put on my brace, and he saw my scar-he exclaimed "WHAT DID YOU DO?"-he was so serious-I just had to laugh. He knew I had "surgery" but obviously had no idea what that meant. I told him that the doctors had to cut me there to fix my back-he asked "well, how come you didn't die?", In his mind-if you get cut open like that you have to die. He still keeps saying "I just do not understand why you did not die". Oh-then last night, while we were eating supper he asked "why do people keep bringing us food?"-we have been getting a meal brought to us every night for the last 2 weeks and he just now asked why! Last night's meal was a big hit with him-he said "I can eat this forever"! He keeps us laughing! Part of the reasons why he doesn't understand things or that he says things that are not quite worded right is because he has "auditory processing disorder"-he has been getting a lot better but he still struggles with it some. God is faithful and I believe that he will be able to overcome it all together!! Well-Tanya will be back soon-so I am gonna quit for now.

Well....My mom just left to go back home :(. The girls are still crying and I am sad to see her go. She has been such a blessing to me while she was here! Before my surgery she took me and bought me some baggy clothes and pjs (since my clothes will not fit over the brace)-while I was in the hospital she was an incredible help to me, I could not have survived without her there! She was the one holding the "puke bucket" and she had many other duties that are better left unsaid! Since I have been home she has taken care of my kids and my house-she bought us a ton of groceries and necessities . I am going to miss her so much! I have enjoyed being able to spend time with her and just sit and talk to her. She made me a quilt to bring to the hospital (I love it! when I am better I will take pics)-when she just left, she told me and the girls that she prayed over us while she was making each of our quilts and she prayed that when we wrapped ourselves up in our blankets that God would wrap us in His love. I will cherish my new "baa boo" (what Bubba calls his "blankie") forever!
I feel very blessed to be able to call her my Mother!

The last few days have been basically the same, as far as my recovery goes. I am getting around better-but I still rely on my walker. The level of pain is still the same-it is really not that bad. I am most frustrated by not being able to do simple tasks-like get myself a bottle of water, or shower without a team of people getting it set up (I still feel badly about asking for and accepting help-but I know that it is something that I am going to have to keep doing over the next couple of months). I have a 3 in 1 chair that I use over the toilet (so I do not have to bend down to sit) and Brett has to put it in the tub so I can sit for my shower. I have to wear my brace as long as I am not lying flat-which includes the shower. I even sleep in it since I always have to wake up to go to the bathroom and it takes a lot of effort and energy to put it on-Brett has to put it on me-it would not be possible to get it on by myself. I have to wear it for 3 months-it is gonna feel good to be free from it! No complaints here though! This is a answer to years of prayers! Remembering that is helping me get through this!
Yesterday, Karen came over and spent the day with me-I enjoyed getting to see her. Then, last night, some of my other "sisters" came over. Tanya, Nikki, and Amee came and brought over Starbucks coffee and Panera bread goodies (YUM!) It was nice to be able to sit and have coffee with them all! It is the next best thing to being able to actually leave this house. I was looking forward to seeing them all day.

Date night and my sisters..

Brett is on his way home and we are headin' out for one last "date" before my surgery. We are going to dinner and to Starbucks-then we are going to rent a movie and snuggle up and watch it together. I am really looking forward to spending time with him-things have been so busy and I am ready to just relax and enjoy some time together.

I just got a call from one of my "sisters" (Tanya)-I am just amazed at how they have pulled together to prepare a schedule for helping me out after my surgery. They have thought of everything! My church is providing 2 weeks of meals after my mom leaves and my friends are picking up where they leave off. Tanya has even stepped up and offered to do my grocery shopping every week and Karen has jokingly offered to come shave my legs :) -I bought some "Nair" instead! I feel so blessed to have friends like them. I know they all have busy lives of their own-they are mothers, they work, run their own houses,................ and yet they have taken the time to consider me. They have "stepped outside themselves" and put themselves into my shoes and I feel like that is an amazing quality! Thank You-I love you all and you will never know how much your kindness means to me!! sniffle...sniffle

Pre-op appt.

As you all know, today was my pre-op appt. We were there the entire day-I was so glad that Karen went with me-we actually had FUN! We met some very interesting people-to say the least. The appt went ok-there were a couple of issues I had though. The first being that the info that I had conflicted somewhat with what the info the surgeon's office had. Yesterday I got the surgeon's notes (from my first appt) in the mail. In his notes he mentioned doing the TLIF (which I knew about)and also doing a "facet fusion". I did not know what a facet fusion was, so I asked the assistant today. He explained what it was but then he told me that I was not having that done (or at least he did not have the paperwork drawn up for me to sign consenting to that surgery as well). I showed him the letter I had gotten in the mail yesterday and he was perplexed-the surgeon is on vacation right now and he can not be reached,so they are going to ask him about it when he comes back and have the paperwork drawn up for me to sign the morning of my surgery. If he does (or doesn't) do it,I do not think it will make a difference as far as my recovery. It will just mean some more "screws" will be put into my spine-in a different part of the bone than just the TLIF would require. Anyhoo-I just got a little frustrated by that situation-I mean did the doc just "forget" that he was also doing the facet fusion (and therefore forget to put it in the paperwork) or did change his mind about adding that surgery since he mailed me the report? I am not sure I am happy with either answer. I am gonna have to be at the hospital at.....5:30 AM Tuesday(which means leaving at 4:30 am)! Bummer! Not so much for me-since I will get to "sleep"-but Brett and my Mom are gonna be exhausted! I also found out that I will be wearing a back brace for at least 3 months (24/7!). I was really hoping I would not have to wear one-some people I have talked to online had to wear one but others-didn't. I was hoping to be one of the "lucky" ones who would not have to wear one. Especially since being measured for the custom made brace..I am not sure I am going to be able to breathe! It is kinda weird how different surgeons require different things for the same surgery. Some surgeons require the patient use a "walker" (YES! The "old people" kind!) and others refuse to LET their patients use one! I also found out that I will be put in ICU for a day or so after the surgery-since I will be "under" for so long (they say it will take 6 hours-if all goes well). I am glad that they told me that upfront, so I could prepare my Mother-I knew she'd be worried if she did not know that it was planned that way. Hopefully I will be able to come home within 4 days-that is gonna be my goal! I am gonna do everything I am told to do-(YES! Karen! EVERYTHING!-even stick the "stuff" up my nose! :( ) Well, I am ready to kick back and relax for a while. I just wanted everyone to know that we made it home (miracle in itself! We did not know where we were going!). Please Keep praying for me! Thanks!

GNO

Last night was my last "Girls' night out" for a while :(. Although, I like the way Brett put it, in the note that he left out for me last night, (along with my pjs,water,my towel....I know that I am spoiled!) he said "don't look at it as your last night out with your friends for a long time but rather your last night out with them while you are in so much pain." I guess that is one way to look at it. We went to "The cheesecake factory" and then Karen and I went to see the musical "Mama Mia". We had a really great time with lots of really "rich" conversation at supper. I have said it 100 times...but I am so glad that God has given me my sisters! Karen is now on her way from Clearwater (where she lives) to New Port Richey (where I live) to go with me to my pre op appt, in Tampa,this morning (ON HER DAY OFF!)-even after we stayed out until 1:00 am last night. She is amazing-I feel kinda bad that she is going with me-I feel guilty:( , but I am really glad that she will be there for me! We will be there all day long because I have 2 appts back to back. I have been to so many docs appts by myself and I can never remember half of what they tell me and it is going to be really nice to have a friend there for me this time. Thank you Karen!! She has even made me up a "hospital survival kit" to take with me for my stay at TGH-I thought that it was really sweet-she even put a huge chocolate bar in it that has a "emergency chocolate" label on it. Anyhoo... I will let everyone know how everything goes today.

My "Sista"

Tonight I am going to be catchin' a movie with Karen (I've got a FREE ticket! Gotta love that!). She is finally back from vacation! Anyhoo, we are going for coffee and a movie and I am looking forward to spending time with her. I have been in serious need of some "sista" time! I am so blessed to have her (and all my other "sistas"!).

Girlfriend time

Tonight Karen and I went to dinner, to Citrus Park Mall (and yes! Starbucks)and a movie-things have been so crazy that we have hardly had any time to spend together. Last GNO-her son locked himself, along with her husband and daughter, out of the house WHILE the stove was on-so she had to leave before dinner to go open the door. Next week is our scheduled GNO and I am going to be out of town, so we took tonight off to spend some time together. Thankfully, both of our husbands are awesome about letting us have time together! Brett told us both, while we were driving out of my drive way, "have fun, you guys deserve it". Sweet-I wish all husbands understood the importance of "girlfriend time"! We had a great time! After dinner we had almost 2 hours before the movie started so there was plenty of time to have some "chick chat"! I am thankful for such an amazing "sister"! Thanks Karen! BTW-I was right and you were wrong girlfriend! nana nana boo boo!! :) (just in case you have not checked your email yet!)