This is the week that I have decided that I should be ready to get all caught up on my personal ( re: adoption) stuff, so here I am!

This whole recovery from surgery thing took a bit more out of me than I expected.

Is it any surprise that it makes me feel lame?

To be completely truthful, it was not as bad as I had expected, but that is because, I believe, I firmly expected to suck royally. I made it just about as bad as it could be in my head, so anything was an improvement. I knew it had to be a trial by fire, and heck, if I could “make” myself give up my child, then I suppose getting a much needed surgical procedure wouldn’t be quite as bad.

It certainly wasn’t. Adoption still wins hands down!

Don’t I look lovely? Anyway, the pain and discomfort was actually not too bad. I insisted that they kept all manners of morphine out of me (claimed allergy.. I just HATE the stuff) and I am convinced that it kept me feeling better. IV Demerol was just lovely. After a long night in the hospital I went home the next day in a sling with 30 staples in me; nine in my hip where they took the bone graft and another 21 in my arm where they gave me metal. I had instructions to resume normal activities and no heavy lifting. See the happy post surgical look.. I still had NOT had any coffee..and OMG my mouth just tasted like rubber tubing!

“Normal Activities” for the next week consisted of laying in bed and watching TV, walking to the kitchen to get food, plopping on the chaise for a bit and then sitting on the porch, and occasional checking into facebook. I found even sitting at the computer exhausting. There was much napping, assisted by the Demerol pills and lots of Law and Order reruns.

I was seriously bruised in places I did not think possible and I turned a lovely shade of yellow on almost half my body. Apparently for bone work, they do allot of yanking on a person and they just thrust those muscles out of their way

I tried to convince myself that I could return to work on Monday. Then, I insisted on making myself stay home and rest. While it was really annoying to do NOTHING.. and I felt guilty for doing NOTHING.. and was mentally able to do SOMETHING, everything was really really exhausting. That’s‘ what got me the most.. just how crazy freaking TIRED I was from doing NOTHING.

I forced myself to remember that I just had had major surgery

I went to work on day 13 and left early to get my stables removed. The doctor promptly gave me an arm brace that clearly was designed by the same fashion consultant who made the Storm troopers uniforms. I blame Rye for it as he told the doctor about my installing the blue stone patio with a broken arm. I suppose the fact that I showed the doctor how high I could now raise my arm also got him nervous. I hate the brace.

That week I force myself to walk to work every morning, but had to make Rye come and pick me up to get home. The walk is five blocks, but the hip area was really really annoying and there was a nerve thing happening. That, thank goodness, has abided. For a while the not being able to walk more than 2 blocks with crying was a real hindrance.

Basically right now.. I think I am on par with my condition before the surgery, BUT now with the hope of actual recovery as opposed to broke arm limbo. The discomfort and annoyance is about equal. New things.. like the itchy scar, but that’s no biggie.. though the scar.. That’s freaking huge! My mobility is about the same as well. I am back to driving, can walk the mall and to work, have gone back to washing dishes and folding laundry (yeah).

The improvements are that:
a) My arm is straight.
b) It now SWINGS when I walk.. hasn’t done that for almost two years, so I am excited!
c) I can actually lift my arm over my head.. with one arm.. as in I don’t have to move my left arm with my right! That still hurts ( shush.. I don’t think I am supposed to be doing that? Something about worrying about my screws coming loose…lol. as IF that hasn’t happened already!)
d) They did NOT cut into my tattoo.
e) I have a great excuse to get another tattoo to cover the scar!

I am uber crazy thankful for our dear house guest now neighbors Pine and Jordon who took a HUGE portion of child care and household duties away from us allowing me to be a patient and Rye to tend to me.
Also dear neighbors and friends who brought over dinner, gifts and flowers.
My co-workers who not only took up my work slack, but also sent well wishes and brought chocolate.
And, of course, without a doubt.. everyone online Friend who cared, followed, commented, watched and sent good vibes.

I think they paid off. Thank you.. really.. thank you.

And now you all have to put up with me some more. Expect adoption rants to begin again on Friday with the Big Grown in My Heart Adoption Carnival! Of course, if you find me on Facebook you get all adoption all the time!

I still can’t type worth a hill of beans though. Oh well. Can we still blame that on the busted arm?

And.. for the record.. come October first I WILL be getting out the Halloween decorations and going at it again. Don’t even try to stop me.