I'm back

Had back surgery on Tuesday, and things went well. The doc put in two screws, two rods, a piece of bone from another part of my spine and some bone protein at the L5 level. Got out of the hospital Thursday afternoon, to the shock of B. and my family. I was not in good shape at all Thursday, but personally felt my best chance for recovery was to be at home. Since when is being in a hospital a comfortable, relaxing, quiet place to be?

On Thursday/Friday I was shocked by how much worse this surgery was in terms of pain. When I got home it took me several minutes to get up the two steps in our garage; the last time I was pacing the living room (slowly, yet without assistance) for over an hour once I arrived home from the hospital. I swore up and down that I could not go through this again - this surgery had to work!

Yesterday and today have been breakthrough days, though. Every day I find a whole new range of stuff I can do. Though I started out in a much worse condition, I am recovering at a rapid pace. I'm of course still limited, but I am very pleased at my progress. If things continue to move forward I will definitely be back working from home PT by March 5. In other words, I better try and enjoy my week off as much as possible!

I am truly grateful to B., my family, friends and co-workers, all whom have gone out of their way to make sure I know I am loved and supported. That helps a lot, and I keep it in mind every day. I am upbeat about this surgery doing the trick - and allowing me to have a "normal" life again. Time will tell!

Surgery Time

Tomorrow is surgery day. Will be leaving around 5am for the hospital; surgery should be around 8am. Three plus hours on the table, and then hopefully I'll be awake by 1pm in recovery. Let's also hope that afterwards I'll be ushered to a nice private room so I have a little more flexibility regarding things like watching tv.

I'm nervous and scared, but that's to be expected. The last surgery experience is still fresh in my mind...which doesn't help. But I'll have my husband, parents and brother at the hospital, and I have wonderful family, friends and co-workers offering lots of support and prayers so I know I will be ok. I'll get through it, even if this fails.

I'll see you on the other side.

Welcome, Little One!

A big congratulations to my cousin G. and her husband on the birth of their first child, Noah , who was born at 2:35am on Thursday, Feb. 15. Though I'm sure it's too early to start planning their next one, I know it will be the first of many since the "big family" concept has always been one they have had their hearts set on.

On a "disappointing" note, that means I did NOT win the contest my aunt came up with guessing the birth date, time and gender. I don't think Feb. 21, in the afternoon, and a girl were even close!

Intelligent, dedicated, high energy individual looking for an office manager position or similar

I'm actually looking forward to being home after my surgery for a couple of weeks - gives me a chance to update my resume and reintroduce myself to the job boards.

There is so much I would love to say here but I can't, even though there is little chance my employer would be able to find this blog with the info they have about me. Recently myself and the other employees were told they need to sign a confidentiality agreement, basically stating that if I spill info about the company to anyone I could be sued. Why? I can't say. But I can say that lawyers and a crisis communication company is now involved.

I want out.

Snow Day

For most of the Cleveland/Akron area it is a snow day. Not for me, though! Working for a consulting firm it is absolutely vital that we risk our lives getting here so we can then answer phone calls from all of the traveling consultants. Very, very important stuff.

Of course I find it "hilarious" that the only owner in town left at 3:30pm due to bad weather (while the rest of us had to stay until 5pm) and then he also stayed home today, not bothering to call the office until 8:20am this morning to let us know he wasn't coming in. Of course, us peons were not given any call or e-mail telling us to stay home if the weather was difficult (which it is). Absolutely no direction at all from our fearless leader during the second worst snow storm I have seen since I moved here in 2003. Have I mentioned this guy is possible the most self centered person on the planet?

So, this morning it took me about fifteen minutes to go about 1.5 miles - from my house to the interstate. Roads were horrible and still covered with snow, and had to drive out of my way to find a place to turn, as my typical spot was covered in snow I couldn't get through with my Corolla...plus there was a car already stuck there. Once I got on the Interstate it was ok as one lane was partially cleared, which was an improvement from last night. Most people stayed home, so traffic was minimal. Plus it seemed the idiots on the road yesterday were sleeping in, as everyone this morning seemed very respectful and safe.

The funny part was that I was so happy I made it to the building I work in...only to find that no one had plowed the drive and I couldn't get through. Had to drive about 1 mile to turn around and ended up parking in a bank lot across the street. One of my fellow co-workers did the same thing (he also had a long drive), so we trekked through the deep snow together to get inside our building. There were to be four of us here today, and amazingly three ended up getting here. One got a ride from her husband, and the missing one will probably show up later once her husband can drive her in.

I had to stop at the gas station this morning, and the cashier asked me if I was driving to work by myself. When I said yes her jaw dropped and she said, "Really?" I guess if you're a female that automatically makes you not want to drive in snow. Well, not me. As stressful as it was, there is also a rush I get from being on roads when conditions are poor. I put so many miles on my car, I enjoy a driving challenge occasionally. Of course, I have not been in an accident (minus my first "deer" accident last week, see my earlier post), so that's probably another ignorant reason why I kind of like weather like this. Plus it gives me bragging rights...right?

So for those of you staying indoors, you aren't missing anything. And for those few who care, here are a few pics outside our office windows for your viewing enjoyment!

This evening

The Bears lost.

And on the way home from watching the game at the parents house a deer decided to run into my car.

I think it's time to call it a night. Tomorrow is a new day.

Summing it up

Courtesy of a CDW rep out of Chicago who sent it to my husband. The whole city has Bears fever - now let's win this thing!

In Hiding

Yes, I've been pathetic on the blogging these last few weeks. Our home builder dumped the homeowners association in the resident's laps with little notice and communication. There are only eight of us, which I think makes things worse rather than better. Luckily I (with B) was voted in as VP/Treasurer, so at least I know the money is in good hands and the bills will get paid. So I've been dealing with a lot of those issues, which has taken up a lot of time.

I've also been dealing with withdrawl from a nerve medication I was on for eight months and then had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic. Basically I have felt absolutely miserable these last few weeks and quite frankly don't have a lot to say. However, I do have several things I am looking forward to these next 30 days:

1. The SuperBowl - more importantly, a SuperBowl WIN for my Bears.
2. My back surgery - after which I'm hoping a lot of this pain I've been dealing with will go away.
3. Our (B and me) 5th year wedding anniversary - and though I will still be recovering from the surgery it's still a day I look forward to.

So there are definitely some good things going on in life, which you definitely have to keep in your mind to balance all of the other junk out. But, I'm guessing the next couple of weeks are also going to be difficult health-wise, so don't be surprised if I drop out of view for awhile. Hopefully when I come back I'll be stronger and healthier than I've been in years.

Only one more game left!

We won!!! We won!!! We actually won!!!

The Chicago Bears are going to the SuperBowl!!!!!!!

Bye bye, B

B is leaving for Iowa tonight, where he will meet up with his brother, mom and eventually his sister and her cute twins. I have not met the twins or his brother (who's in the military and is never usually around for family events such as our wedding in 2002), so I'm a bit bummed that I must stay back in Ohio and take care of the fish.

Ok, so the real reason I'm staying home is because my employer believes in giving people bonuses not at the end of the year but at the end of JANUARY, and they never tell us until last minute how much that bonus is. And even though we had a great year financially and all I hear about is how they almost have too much money in their pockets, my guess is our bonus will be a joke just like the last one. So because there is no bonus to count on at this point and since we haven't won the lottery (that I know of) I'm staying home.

So what will I be up to this weekend? Celebrating my dad's 59th b-day, which is today. Maybe chatting it up a bit with the neighbors or catching up by phone with long distance friends. My main goal will be to stay indoors as much as possible, since it sounds like Winter is finally going to show up on our doorstep tonight. I'll do a small grocery store run this evening, then curl up on the couch by the fireplace and read a good book and drink hot chocolate. But I must say, even though I lived on my own for many years prior to moving in/marrying B, it will be a very empty place without him. Sorry, but the fish are not a substitute.

I want to wish B a great, wonderful trip and I hope he can enjoy it as much as possible. Give those twins a big hug from their Aunt Carrie and take lots of video so I can really see them in action. Give your Mom and sister a hug as well and tell your brother...well, tell him what you want. :-)

Traveling Salesmen

I must share the one scene from "The Office" last night that I kept "rewinding" on our TIVO over and over to see!



I just about fell off the couch. Rainn and John's expressions are priceless!

The Injury From Hell

One of my bosses has an infection in his foot. Now I will go one record saying that I'm sure it's very painful and unpleasant, and I sympathize. However, his constant whining and need to tell everyone and anyone who will listen about how bad it is...well, it's driving me crazy. So, I give you this clip from "The Office". This is kind of what I've been having to deal with for two weeks.

Nervous

Ok, so "The Ohio State" got stomped on last night by Florida. Kansas City lost to Indy in the Wild Card game. Will the Chicago Bears make that a three in a row for losses with their game on Sunday against Seattle????

I'm nervous.

Let's face it, the Bears performance against the Packers on New Year's Eve was embarrassing beyond belief. Couldn't even watch or listen to the game, it was pathetic. Now they will have had two weeks off. Will Lovie's plan's to win the SuperBowl work out? Will the competent Grossman show up, or will he completely fall apart on the field?

I'm nervous. Sunday can't come fast enough!

Stuff and Things

Got a new redcap goldfish this weekend; B named him Sammy. So far it's been pretty harmonious between him and our other redcap Louie. Fish One, who died in October, would have made life hell for him, at least for the first few days. Let's just say that the four fish that were with Fish One in his 3-1/2 years were scared leave the corner for at least their first day in the tank. I'll have to post a pic later. It's nice to see two fish in the tank again.

Going to pain mgmt doc today, will ask if I can go off the nerve medication I've been on since May. Docs keeping increasing my dosage but the only thing it accomplishes is making my brain more foggy and tired; no pain relief that I can see. I'd rather just take Vicodin between now and my surgery in Feb., it helps me out a lot more. I could go on, but that's really something I should probably put on my other, back-pain-specific blog.

One of my cousins, three years younger, sent out pics of their new baby's room. The baby is due on Valentine's Day; it's their first. When we were younger and in the world of make believe she always wanted to have 10+ kids, so it's nice to see her dream starting to come true. It's also weird to see someone I grew up with (at least until we moved far away in 1989) have a kid. Make's me feel like a grown up. And old.

Lazy Saturday

Finally, a day I have been longing for - Saturday. And for once we're not traveling, running errands, helping people move, etc. So what do you do with a lazy Saturday? You make coffee (for B), make some pancakes for breakfast, and lie around either on the computer or watching tv for a good part of the day. Don't get me wrong, eventually we'll do something productive. But not too much, because it's a lazy Saturday. Tomorrow is Sunday - we'll do our work then.

Michael Cera's Video Resume

Though "The Office" episode was pretty awesome last night, I can't help but miss my "Arrested Development." Check out Michael Cera's video resume, made for McSweeney's Presents: The World, Explained (a benefit for 826LA).

Surgery - Again

It's official. I'm having my second back surgery on Tuesday, February 20. To say I am nervous is an understatement. It's not just worrying about the procedure and the 3-4 days in the hospital....it's being nervous over whether this will do any good in the end. If it doesn't I'll be looking at surgery #3.


So what am I having done this time? It involves putting some hardware (screws, mostly) in at the L5 level to hold together three fractures - two pedicle fractures and one pars fracture. All caused by the artificial disc I had put in back in May 2005.


So far my employer is being ok about me having to take off another 2-4 weeks off work for surgery/recovery time. We'll see...they are not known for being the best at communication where I work. Especially direct communication.

Goodbye 2006

Well, as expected B and I did drive to Iowa this three-day weekend to spend some time with his mom. There was no discussion of recent health news; we just had a good time sitting around, sharing stories from the past and hearing the last news around town. The town B grew up in consists of about 800 people, so everybody knows everybody else. It's both good and bad.

B had to do all of the driving, poor guy. My back is giving me difficulties, so even driving 20 minutes to work is difficult. In total the drive was 11 hours and 40 minutes. One way. Did about the same going back. Had a surprise snow storm/mini-blizzard on Sunday evening, so that was "fun." Between that and the Bears horrible performance against the Packers it was not a good way to end a year!

However, I must give this a mention - B's Kansas City Chief's made it to the playoffs! Since I'm still fuming over my Bear's performance, I may start backing the Chief's for the Super Bowl!

Unexpected

Might be making an unexpected trip to Iowa this weekend. B's mom is having some health trouble and we want to spend some time with her. It's weird...last year I spent New Year's in Iowa, since my Grandpa G's funeral was on New Years Eve. Never thought I would spend two years in a row in the corn state.

I guess you just really have to live each day to the fullest so in the end you don't have any regrets.

Getting interesting

John Edwards has now officially announced he is running for the Presidency in 2008. No wonder people get sick of politics...it seems like someone is always running or campaigning for something. The run for the Presidency use to be a matter of months...now it is years. Don't get me wrong, this election will be an interesting one. However, can I help the fact that I am already sick of it and wanting it to be over?