I should have followed up my last post sooner. Things have been better the past two weeks. I was able to go to the full 3 hours of church last week, Sacrament meeting the week before, and the temple last week. I am always surprised, though I shouldn't be, how much better I feel when I get to attend church. There is nothing that makes up for missing it. I think the hardest part of my job is the fact that I miss so much church and so many activities. After a year and a half I still haven't figured out schedule myself so I don't miss. In addition to my church attendance I was able to attend a hearing at the Supreme Court and see the Terra Cotta Warriors. And... work was pretty good the last couple of shifts. I do have some of the best co-workers in the field.




I am still losing weight - down 47 pounds. Just had my blood work done today so we'll see how I'm doing there. Probably need more vitamins!

Broken

These past few weeks have been hard and I'm feeling a bit broken. In November I had surgery - which has been a great success, 50 pounds so far - but I have also been very tired and at times, sick, because of it. I also moved, which has been a tremendous blessing. Back in January I went home for a visit and, in the end, got to be with Grandma in the emergency room. She past a week later. In the meantime I had gone back to VA and back to work. I, thankfully, went back to CA for the funeral and to mourn with my family. My Grandpa J has also been having some considerable health problems and is never far from my mind. Then back to VA to the most incredible of snow storms. I spent 3 days in the hospital then home for 24 hours then the next 3 days in a hotel and working. I came home only to wake up to a severe muscle spasm in my neck. I couldn't lift my head for days then finally went to the ER and got some relief. It's healing now (a week later I can move my head) but I'm exhausted. The first piece of advice I received from the neurosurgeon today was to d/c (discontinue) my job and get some rest. I haven't hardly seen my friends, I haven't been to church in almost 2 months, and I pretty well hate my job right now. All I seem to want to do is curl up on my couch or in my bed. My body hurts and my mind is worse. I'm supposed to go to work tomorrow night and the thought makes me cry. I'm just too tired and lonely to take care of others. I want my mother. I want to go home.

All that being said, there has been some divine intervention. When I arrived home after the first big storm my parking spot was chin high in snow. Just as I was losing my will to maintain sanity some men pulled up to plow the parking lot next door. $50 later my driveway was beautifully plowed. Highway robbery but completely worth it.

On Sunday I finally called a friend for a prescription for some muscle relaxants and pain killers. He stopped by, despite being awake for an obscene number of hours, and wrote for me. Then a friend walked over and filled them for me. And she brought me British movies to enjoy during my recovery.

On Wednesday I got myself to physical therapy only to have my therapist say my neck was far to unstable for her to do anything. She put me in a wheelchair and, despite my excuses, took me to the ER. There she stayed with me. I was given diluadid, a very potent pain killer, and I finally had some relief. Then another dear friend came over and filled my latest prescription.

I suppose the good comes with the bad. I just wish I had the constitution to be more, shall I say, optimistic and grateful.

I'm sitting in a hotel room tonight, down the street from my hospital. I'm on-call and couldn't stand the thought of staying at the hospital, again, but have to be able to get there if they need me. I spent the weekend working nights and sleeping at the hospital during the day. The snow here has been insane!

A few weeks ago I went home for a visit. I got to go visit my Grandma and was able to go with her when she was taken to the ER. She past away a week later. I am so grateful I was able to be there to say my goodbyes. She was a beautiful women and will be missed. Grandma dedicated her life to her family and the church. Thankfully I was able to go back home a week later for her funeral. It was so comforting to be with my family and to celebrate her life. I remember, before her stroke, Grandma would recite stories and poems and tell stories from her childhood. I've missed her voice as she has lost her speech over the years. One of my greatest comforts has been that I know she is with my Aunt Kathy and so many of her friends and family and that she is now free of the body that had become worn. I have been so comforted by my testimony of eternal families and that she still lives.

The latest update on my surgery and progress, I am down 50 pounds. I am not throwing up nearly as often and usually only when I drink too much water. I'm getting better about getting all my vitamins in. As many have asked, and I've been worried about, my hair is falling out a bit more than normal and I struggle to stay hydrated. Don't worry though, I found a protein supplement that should help with the hair and I'm always trying to drink.

So mostly I haven't written because I've been traveling, mourning, working, snowed in, sleeping, and a bit sad. Nothing much else is new.

I still have some work to do... hanging pictures, putting things in the storage unit outside, getting an closet, etc. It's getting more organized.

My new home!

My new place. I moved in the Monday before Christmas. I'm truly enjoying having my own place to decorate and make my own. I'll post the "after" photos shortly. I have to take some.

Weight Loss

This photo was taken in October, just a few weeks prior to surgery.

This was taken on Thanksgiving, 2 weeks after surgery. I was down about 15-20 pounds.

Last week, taken at "Ice", an incredible ice sculpture exhibit my friend took us to. Photos to follow on another post... I'm down about 37 pounds, 2-3 jean sizes. I actually fit nicely into a size 14 dress at Banana Republic yesterday!

Taken Thursday

I've been feeling pretty good lately. I would say my energy level is almost normal and I'm able to eat a greater variety of foods. I currently eat, as several people have asked, lots of dairy, eggs, chicken, and crackers. "Lots" being relative. I typically eat about 3 bites per meal. I recently purchased child sized silverware which has made eating far more enjoyable. This week I started eating non-pureed fruit, i.e. apples and berries. I haven't lost any hair, thankfully (Mom said people were asking). Any other questions...? I am delighted with the results of my surgery and am looking forward to returning to work in a couple weeks. I've been off forever (I can't go back until I can go back with no restrictions) and I'm ready to see my friends and patients again.

Donation

I've been donating lots of stuff to Goodwill lately. Mostly because I moved out of my townhouse and into a small studio with next to no storage. I do love my little place and promise to post pictures soon. So... today... I had a box to donate sitting on the front seat of my car, the sun was bright so I took off my glasses and placed them on top of the box and put on my sunglasses. Little voice in my head says, if you leave those there you'll forget and end of donating them... in reply I thought, probably true. Did I move my glasses? No. Did I donate my glasses to Goodwill? Yes. Tomorrow I'm going to the optometrist for an emergency vision test and new glasses. Lesson of the day, always listen to the voice (aka the Holy Ghost).

And yes, I did go back and ask and dig around but loads of other people were donating today too. I did love those glasses....