It has been quite a long while since I posted on this blog...where has the time gone!

We had a wonderful vacation in Bar Harbor, ME...one of our favorite spots...the first two weeks of August. It was so great to be able to hike and bike without feeling terrible during and after. And it was a great time with the family.

On August 20th I followed up with my Endocrinologist and was given a clean bill of health. I will be following up with him on a yearly basis from now on. And so with the good news, it was time to start putting my life "back to normal"....

So, the kids went back to school and I started a new job...which lasted two weeks. I won't go into details, but let's say it was just "unprofessional." I had been keeping my eyes open for something better, something perfect to come along, and I think that I have found it. I am now working back at hospital I worked at prior to my illness last year, but in a new area. I work in a recovery area for invasive cardiology. So far I enjoy it very much. It is a small dept. of 5 beds and I work 2 or 3 days per week for 12 hour shifts. They are closed for weekends and holidays.

The kids and hubby are all doing great as well!

The good news is that there is nothing wrong internally that is of concern.  The bad news is I still have this unexplainable pain.  I'm going to try Naproxen for the discomfort and I may even try an over the counter sleeper.  Night time is definately the worst...so maybe I'd feel a lot better with a good nights sleep.

Drove today for the first time...it was a bit uncomfortable, but I managed and didn't have to go more than about 5 miles or so.

Took the kids to the grocery store, who were amazingly helpful.  They pushed the cart and loaded to groceries up at the checkout.  Jess loaded them into the car and they helped carry them up the basement stairs, unpack them, and put them away.

I managed to sneak in a nap for an hour, which was good...and not uncomfortable :)

All in all a pretty good day!

It has been awhile since I've updated and figured it was time to sit down and get it done!

The recovery has gone a bit slower than I had hoped, as I am still continuing to have pain at this point...we are almost at 3 weeks post surgery. I saw the surgeon last week for my followup and he felt that things were looking good. The preliminary pathology reports look good as well.

But another week has gone by and I still have this very strange pain in the middle of my belly. The incisions have healed well and the larger of the three is still a little tender to touch...like a bruised feeling, so...we just don't touch it! This other pain is in the center of my abdomen below and to the left of my belly button. I get sharp, stabbing pains when I take in a deep breath, bend over, after I do any extensive walking, and after I eat. I have a constant feeling of being full, like you get when you overeat, and even after a small meal, I am in a lot of pain. By the end of the day I am "done" and the pain makes it very hard to relax and sleep comfortably. The surgeon has not given me any more pain meds at this time and over the counter stuff just doesn't help at all.

In addition, my blood pressure has remained elevated at times...especially when the pain is more severe. So, I am still taking meds to control my bp until I am pain free. Fortunately there aren't any negative side effects from this bp med I'm on now.

So...all that being said, we are headed back to Boston this afternoon for a CT scan and another appt with the surgeon. I hope that they find a cause for this weird pain...not that I want there to be a complication...more of a simple explanation. I hate the thought of walking away with the surgeon throwing his hands up in the air.

Other than that...I am just trying to get my head in gear to readjust to a "normal" life. Things have been so "off" for so long that it is hard to readjust again. But I am ready for my independence and ready to "give" again!

The kids have done really well through all of this. Dan spent a week at camp at the end of June and had a ball. Today he started his extended school year program. He will go to a Vet Farm camp in August, and is still taking bass clarinet lessons. He is really growing up!

Jess leaves on Saturday for three weeks. I am really going to miss her! She will be in Tennessee for a week with her church youth group at a big retreat called CHIC (Covenant High Schoolers in Christ)...from there she heads to the Univ. of NH for two weeks of music camp!

Jake is getting anxious to start his camps, which aren't until mid July. In the meantime he is playing in a summer basketball league and taking piano lessons.

Rob and I are trying to get back in sync and plan a vacation for early August. He is busy with work as usual.

I am hoping to be back at work in late Aug/early Sept. depending on what jobs are available.

We feel so blessed to have had my sisters here over the past few weeks to help take care of me, the kids, the house, and the crazy animals. My mood has been less than pleasant during this time, but it is just because I am so tired and frustrated...and anxious to just "move on." All this in God's time...I know!

HOME!!!

Hi, This is Wendy's sis Terry again. Wendy got home today and is now resting comfortably (sort of) in her own bed. Hopefully being home will help recovery go even more quickly now. She's very sleepy and sore, but we're all just so glad she's back! 

Wendy's surgery went great!

Hi everyone, This is Wendy's sister Terry filling in today.

Wendy's surgery got started a little late yesterday and she was finished after about 3 hours and all went well. They were able to use laprascopic surgery for the entire procedure, which is good news - recovery will be easier because of that! The risks with this surgery involved fluctuating bp and heart rate as the tumor was removed, and thankfully that was all held under control. She is safe! After surgery her vitals have been "rock solid" steady, as Rob described to me. Of course she is in some pain and very groggy and hoarse - all to be expected. What a relief. We are all so grateful to everyone for their prayers, love, support, meals, etc! 

She was expected to stay in ICU for the night, but since she was doing so well, there was some discussion of putting her in a regular room sooner. I will update again later when there is more news!

It is hard to believe that after all this time, the big day is finally almost here.  These past two weeks on the new meds were not as bad as I thought.  They did make me tired and dizzy, but nothing that was unbearable!  

Now I am heading off to bed.  We have to be at the hospital tomorrow at 12 noon...the surgery is at 2pm and will take 3-4 hours.  I am scared and nervous, but I am ready to get on with life and finally release the "hold" button!

My sister will be updating my blog on my status.

We went to Boston this past Tuesday for my pre op appt.  It wasn't exactly what I had in mind, but I think I am okay with it all.  They took a bunch of blood, did an EKG, physical, and history.  I met with a NP (nurse practitioner) from anesthesia, a nurse from the surgery dept, and a very short discussion with an anesthesiologist.  Everything looks good and we are now counting down the days! I will spend at least one night in ICU...I am not looking forward to that!  I will be glad to get moved to a regular floor, and hopefully into a private room so that my nursing instincts will not be tempted.

Yesterday I started the new medication...it does make me pretty sleepy and so far I am not too dizzy...just feel like I am walking around on a sailboat that's tipped up on one side.

We are wrapping things up at school with the kids...they finish on June 23rd.  There is lots happening with them between baseball, softball, band, scouts, and recitals!  We enjoyed our Memorial Day camping trip, but sadly I did not take any pictures!

My sister Terry will be here the eve of the 16th and we will get her settled in to take over the household before my surgery. It's hard to believe that after all this time, the surgery is finally in sight!