More of the Same...

Okay, no witty, entertaining post about life on the river.

I sat down at my computer yesterday afternoon and within minutes my mom called.

Now, since Mom and I talk every single night  if she is calling during the day is not a good thing.

She started the conversation without me.

"I think I have to go to the hospital.  My little hernia (which was the size of a golf ball) is as big as a grapefruit and I can't stop vomiting."

Now, if you have been around here for a while, you know that we know the routine.

Mom has many hernias (Hernia?).  She has had surgery for as many as four at a time and has had four separate surgeries in two years..  She has been hospitalized at least ten times in four years. She left Tony's wedding reception in an ambulance and was in surgery within two hours.

 They always hope that by poking it back in, that the situation will resolve itself.  They will only operate again if it is life threating, due to her chronic blood cancer (which they control with oral chemo) and her age (almost 89).

I'm an hour from Mom, so I told her to call the ambulance and get to the hospital.  I would get there as fast as I could.

I got there and they were glad to see me.  They needed me to sign consent to treat forms and then told me to leave the building.  No visitors and even in the waiting room, only patients are permitted.

They did give me a few phone updates last night and at 9 this morning, she called to say she was being discharged.  No non-emergency patients!

We talked this afternoon.  The hernia-guy (I'm brain dead at the moment) wants her to see a surgeon.

The last one said that with all the stuff going on with her, the only way they would operate is if she showed up with her intestines hanging down to her knees.

I just don't know what to say...

So, to end this post on an up note...

A little cuteness...

Andy took Locklan to Lowes...Locklan wouldn't go unless he could wear his ruler!

Still Here/And I can see

A little over a month ago, I made a commitment to post three good things here each week for the next three months.

About a week ago, One of the best things that happened in quite a while happened...

I had a persistent, nagging, irritating, life-limiting cateract removed from my left eye..

According to my eye doctor, when I asked her about Lasix surgery last September,

I was developing a cataract in my left eye and that when it was ripe, they would not only remove it, they would correct my vision to perfect in that eye.

Since that seemed to be in the far, far future, I just ordered a six month supply of contacts and went home.

Now, a little background...For about 35 years, I have used monovision, one contact to see close and one to see far.  It has always worked, but in the fall, my far distance seemed to be worsening.

Fall got busy...Mindy was in and out of the hospital, Henry was born 5 weeks early and was in the NICU for a few weeks, Thanksgiving, Christmas preparation and celebration...I just made the best of it by not driving at night and wearing my glasses all the time.

Finally, the fog that surrounded the left side of my life was driving me crazy.  I went to see my eye doctor who examined and re-examined my eyes.  Finally she pronounced my cataract was ripe!  She explained that to be considered 'ripe' your vision could not be corrected better than 20/70 and I was beyond that.

She made an appointment with the surgeon, who re-scheduled for a week later (which turned out to be a good thing).  My appointment was on June 26.  I immediately liked the doctor who conducted several tests.  He was amazed that I am right handed and left eye dominant.  (I am sure, that in someone's definition, it means I am some kind of crazy...)

He said that it must have been annoying to have my vision that limited.  He asked when I wanted to have it done.

I said last week.  He said that he couldn't do it that far back, what would be my second choice.

Tomorrow?  He said that he was booked for tomorrow, but how about next Thursday?

We walked into the office where his secretary said that she had just gotten off the phone, that one of his surgeries for the next day had cancelled.  

And so...without further ado, I filled out paperwork, was given instructions, antiseptic eye drops and an appointment and WHAM!  By 11:30 the next day, I had perfect vision in my left eye!!!!

With a close up contact in my right eye, I am so close to being normal, it scares me.  Wearing my glasses, however, it a problem...4 more weeks until they will write a new prescription.  Can't wait!

Now that I can see...I'll let you know what I saw!

Wow, this is taking forever!

This story is really yesterday's news, I want to get you caught up to the present, so I'm about to venture into the Cliff's Notes version of the past year...ready?

I said YOU BET YOUR BIPPY to the question he asked (while on one knee) and he slipped this little gem on my finger...

 

 

I know!  It's a beauty, isn't it?  I liked it so much, and it sparkled so beautifully, that while I was driving, I kept staring at it with my hand on the wheel.  Trust me, diamonds are much more dangerous than texting...at least in my case!

 It was November and even though it was short notice, we began to make arrangements for late February.  We talked about clothes, food, the who-what-how stuff...It was kinda cool!

Enter those joy stealers:  Health and Kids...

We were told in October that Ron needed to have his left knee replaced.  He looked frantic and I assured him I'd help him, that he had lots of support...

The surgery date was set for December 9.  We figured that would give him time to heal before the big day.  It would also give us time to find a new place to live.  I was living in my house with Tony, he was living in an apartment 40 miles away.  We wanted to be closer....

The announcement of our engagement was not taken well by his family, from his former in laws to two of his kids.  They were real joy stealers, absolute poop heads, so what was supposed to be a joyous occasion, joining the two families, ended up being a very private (as in NO family) ceremony only a few days before the knee replacement surgery.  A honeymoon was planned for a few weeks after that.

Again, long story short, the surgeon (who was adorably cute AND younger than the socks I was wearing) told us that roughly 1% of the people who had knee replacements experienced complications.  My husband, the over achiever, had not one, not two but THREE complications!  I tell people we spent our honeymoon on the 10th floor of Allegheny General Hospital. 

After two separate hospitalizations and three surgeries, I'm thrilled to say he's fine...even better than fine. 

We  bought a huge house in a wonderful plan of homes about 2 miles from Andy and Tony (who bought the house we were living in).  Linda is here with us, Winnie, the Basset Hound, is with Tony and with sadness, I'll tell you that we lost Bill about six weeks ago from Osteosarcoma. 

My kids are happy that we are close by, we have room to have everyone get together, including room for the ping pong table in the basement.  Just last Sunday we celebrated Taco Night here with a house full of friends and family. 

Is ANY of this making sense?  Can you, as the boys say, pick up what I'm putting down?  If you are more confused than ever now, please shoot me an email ( redsockmama at g mail dot com) and tell me I'm babbling.  I want to get you caught up to today 'cause I have so much to tell you, and I can't wait!

Soooooooo, without further fuss and fidgets, I'm going to bed, to dream of all kinds of silly things (Ron says I sometimes giggle in my sleep).  I'll mention all of you in my prayers...and will see you soon.

Now, get yourself to sleep.
God bless you,
Jan