1 week check (second go around)

What a busy long day!  A friend and sweet little girl came to visit me this morning.  Not only did she bring me my favorite flowers she came in with a little brown box that stayed a mystery until she was gone.  Oh my goodness, when I took a look inside I knew I was in trouble.  2 huge CC cookies, 2 red velvet petit fours and a small round cheese cake.  Bottom layer chocolate.  You know I text her and fussed.  She doesn't read my blog so she hasn't heard my complaining about gaining my lost weight back.  I'm sorry to say I didn't take the first picture.  Of us that is.  I did shoot my flowers after they left though so that's my excuse.   I don't know what's wrong with me.  I never skip pictures of anything.

Meanwhile during my visit with friends our AC man was here doing our spring "ac check up".  I know...be grateful something didn't happen on a Friday evening in LA heat to deal with all week end.  Gosh though, I'd just about had D convinced we could afford to take up this carpet I hate in the living room and put some flooring down.  Delay, gotta have the AC working.  Don't have to have new flooring sadly.   Unfortunately he found several things wrong so we fixed the worst.  He came at 9am and left at exactly 12:45.  My doctor appointment was at 1:15.  Need a good 25 minutes to get there during lunch time.  Paid the man then rushed out the door.

Appointment went well.  My prayer was answered.  Incision looked great, no sign of all of infection.  He took that huge bandage. All that tape was probably aggravating my hives.  He used some type of strips and said they need to stay on until the week end.  If they don't come off on their own by Sunday I'm to take them off.  This means I can take a shower now.  Woo hoo.  No tub, pool, sweating or anything strenuous.  Asked me to come back in two weeks and I'd most likely be released of all those no no's.   I'm going to do my best to continue to follow rules to make this happen.  No setbacks!

you can see how the tape was irritating my skin from the redness

I hope so.  Pool water up to 80.  Getting so close.  It's so hard to look at every day and not be able to get in.  When my friend was here we went outside on patio for about 20 minutes and at 9:30 in May we're already sweating.  I had to come back in.  I know, what do I want?  In LA you don't get warm weather without the humidity.  

My grandson on Mothers day ( curious P )

Nonna & P

I made a stop on the way home and kicked my feet up to read a little while until my husband would be in.  Yesterday I bought the new released copy of Dan Brown's Inferno.  I'm only on chapter 10 but I wish I could just read it all the way through.  I'd definitely be reading right now if not for typing this entry.  This series is incredible.  My husband came in around 45 minutes later and I met him at the back door and stepped into garage discussing our day.  A tall nice looking man stopped by from "no where"  I really didn't see him come up at all.  Any how, he asked if he could show us a shampooing method that was 95% powder and 5% moisture and dries in 25 minutes.  I told him we were looking to take our carpet up in the living room but hey if you understand that and it's free, go ahead.  He called someone and in they appeared with this vacuum and a huge box of all kinds of gadgets.  

can be use like a mop on tile also

To make a very long story short.  A three and a half hour story, they were Kirby sales people.  This vacuum was amazing.  Put my dyson to shame.  Seriously.  She not only demo'd the carpet but my couch, drapes,  pillow, ceramic tile, wall, ceiling fan, ceiling and....the worst my mattress and pillows.  It was absolutely sickening.  She told me not to feel so bad everyones was like that.  OH and she had to explain about how dust mites breed, and how much skin we shed in a year.  All kind of fun facts that I don't doubt for one minute are true but I didn't want to hear about.  Honestly, she didn't tell me anything I didn't already know.  Seriously.  I raised a son with asthma and we lived at the allergists' office.  As you can see there is a large stack of these circles that are made out of 1/8 of the thickness of bag it holds.  Everyone you see in the picture was dirty like that for multiple area she covered in same room.  Living room.

One very small spot for about 30 seconds.  Used the dyson yesterday :-(

The mattress about 10 seconds in one spot

These people stayed in our home from 4:30-8:00.  At 6:00 I told the sweet young girl.  I'm sorry but I'm starving and I have to eat to take my medication.  At this point my back was screaming at me because like a nut I'd been standing 75% of the time she'd been there.  She didn't seem to mind at all if my husband and I heated ourself up something to eat.  I couldn't believe it.  We made a plate a food, sat down and ate while she cleaned my couch.  Are you sure my sofa is leather ok to vacuum?  I asked her what did she expect to see come out of a sofa that wasn't breathable material.  She said, "watch".  ANd I did.  And my jaw was hanging.  Unbelievable.  I'm still dumbfounded.  I think she felt sorry for me because she kept telling me.  Awe your house isn't bad,  We see much worse.   It had a million attachments to do everything you can dream of.  Your gonna love this, you can blow the yard after my husband cuts the grass.  It has an attachment to air up balloons or balls or a mattress.   At one point she said it will do everything but the dishes and mow the lawn.  She's wrong.  It does do everything, but she left out one thing on the don't do list.  LAUNDRY :-)

I was so exhausted when they left.  I have to say they were super nice people.  I did be honest at one point and tell them that I think the vacuum would sell on its on if a customer was in need of one without 3 hours of demonstration.  Seriously.  I'm not sorry at all I gave up my night.  This young girl and I had a very long talk as she had breaks changing parts and hoses at times.  I really believe God wanted us to meet.  This story I will share with you in another blog post.  I really need to try and get some rest now. 

My back side is pretty sore from the big padding they had back there protecting my IPG and incision.  It really feels bare now.  It's good and bad in the same way.  Know what I mean?  I have not had my reprogramming yet.  My reps been hard at work and no time for me this week.  Well, maybe Friday.  He tired to get Lovely to come meet me at my appointment but even she was booked up also.  They must be implanting these things a lot.  He said definitely Friday or Monday.  Really up to me.  It can get crazy in town on Fridays so if my battery looks like I'll make it until Monday I may hold on until then.

I love you guys and so happy you've hung in there with me a year now.  Of course I've picked up many friends a long the way and even had an "old" friend find my blog while just searching for me.  It's crazy what you'll find when you google someone.  After I talked to them I had to try it.  I found myself on pinterest,  google + and my blog.  Also alot of pictures associated with many people with my same first and last name.  My friend had mentioned a few in particular and I asked, "how did you see those?'.  Private means zilch on the internet my friends.  So long and good night.  

HOPE.....Hold on pain ends

Theresa

When I started this is was Wednesday not Thursday. 

My son, Mothers Day 2013

My daughter

Happy Mothers Day!

Me @ 17 and my mom @ 40

Along with the month of May comes the special day that is the biggest day in restaurant business every where.  A day we celebrate our moms.  Some of have moms to praise and are moms too!  I have friends who have lost their moms and a couple who are like me...lost their father first.  Regardless if their here are not this day is still theirs and they earned it.

As far as my Mothers Day it will be a little different this year.  With the surgery and a family member unexpectedly in the hospital, my husband was out at 6am to go where is family lives to be of some help.  Not without telling me of my "mothers day gift".  Yes, telling me.  It has to be made.  Go ahead and try to guess you never will.  Those of you who know my husband will agree.  Always expect the unexpected with him.  This is one unique gift though.  I will treasure it forever.  You'll see it as soon as I do ;-)

I had much improvement day yesterday.  I didn't give out until 4 in the afternoon.  Not that I did much, but it was a pretty typical day (for me).  As I tired out I started noticing that my arm was itching.  Ah, yes I remember what this familiar itch feels like. My never far away friend the hives.  Yes, hives with an "s"  Before I went to bed there were 3.  

I don't know why but some time there are just there and they itch and feel like stretched skin.  A tightness I can't explain but every so often one of the bunch just really hurts.  It kind of throbs and is warm to the touch.  They some how always seem to appear at the worst time or day.  I'm covered in cream, full of antihistamine and 3 wasn't enough.  I got up with a new one this morning.   I'm hoping they will calm down before my children come to visit me this afternoon.    

the one that hurts and the only one I can show you!

My mom is with my Uncle who I mentioned a few posts ago.  We've exchanged texts earlier this morning and plan to chat later.  She plans to cook him some homemade soup then return to her home and stay there for the night.  I'm sure her animals will be glad to see her.

As I said, I got around a good bit yesterday.  I brought on my back pain and turned on my stimulator.  I wasn't using it unless I had to because I still have to get the charger for it.  This battery requires recharging more often.  Mr. R and I exchanged texts yesterday to set up something to meet.  I need some reprogramming.  Stimulation needs to be moved but he accidentally made my programs 20 seconds on 10 seconds off instead of minutes.   "His bad" he said.  "I'll fix that"  Thank goodness!  Lets fix it sooner vs later.  lol

I've done it, passed the half way mark of my weight loss last year.  As soon as I get ok from Dr to exercise again I'll be all over it but I think it will take a little more than that.  Maybe 3 months of WW's?  We'll see.  I love my new clothes I rewarded myself with so I have to stay in them and that's what works for me.  With this latest flare up (pre surgery) I've for once understood the term "comfort food".

growing some seasonings outside love the smell of fresh parsley

Not helping me get the pounds off!  I love it!

I hope everyone one of my readers that is a mom feels special and loved today!  It's your day, enjoy it and let someone pamper you.  Even if you have to ask for it.  

my Mothers Day breakfast I fixed myself 

H.O.P.E. ( hold on pain ends )
Theresa

Day 3

Today was better than yesterday.  I last saw the clock at midnight and slept until the awful thunderstorm that hit out area woke me up.  It was actually Dallas I heard crying the the bedroom lit up from the lightening.   This was around 5am.  My husband left for work @ 6 and as soon as I got the text he was safe at work I was able to go back to sleep until 8:30.  When I woke up the second time I wished I had stayed up.  

The left side of my neck and shoulder were cramping and felt strained.   I believe from sleeping that way all night.  I tried my back but I just couldn't tolerate the pressure on my buttock.  As soon as I was up moving around I actually felt better, just as yesterday.  Being up is much better for my incision site/battery area.  Down side, my back pain is exacerbated in this kind of weather so being on my feet created extra pain there.  So I traded off time each way. I washed some clothes and did some ironing I've been putting off.  A some point I made myself lay down for awhile and watch tv.  I had to remind myself I had surgery two days ago.  Your body needs rest after this.  I'm so used to pushing myself to keep going because I'm afraid of what will happen if I give up the fight.

It's a bit personal, but heck you know every thing about me.  I was able to do my sponge bath today.  Thanks to that shower extension my husband put in my big tub.  Last May I had a shower chair which was so helpful but little did I know that I'd need it again so it was returned to my mother.  I've really missed my hot soaks.  They really help me relax before bedtime and help me get moving in the morning.  My week check is next Wednesday.  If everything looks good the bandage will come off and I can take a "normal" shower but still no bath, soaking or swimming until completely healed and closed.  So for now I'm making do with my "half shower" lol.  My hair definitely needs an oil change and I will work on that tomorrow after my partial shower. 

A year ago when I had the SCS implant done some dear friends sent me a  "get well" gardenia bush.  It was so tiny at first and now it's big and thriving.  Ironic that it's been year and now I'm recovering again and their are the first blooms on the gardenia.  I love the smell of gardenias.  

My husband father has been in the hospital for the past several days in the town he lives in approximately an hour and 45 minutes from here.  His two sisters and other family members having been sharing staying with him.  D was asked to come early Sunday and spend the day helping out so they could have a break.  I'm not sure what I'll be doing yet.  I may stay put right here if I don't have a big turn around with the soreness of the incision.  My daughter, SIL and grandson will come here if I'm not up to doing out.   If I am we plan to out to dinner. 

bandage over incision and new battery site


Good Night all.  Donna, so wonderful to hear from you....I'll be in touch
Janet, I wrote a response to you after your last comment.
Thanks to friends and family that have been checking on me.  I'm so blessed!
H.O.P.E.     Theresa

Hold on pain ends