quick update ~

If you scroll down to my April 12th post ~ you'll see my plastic surgeon marking my back before surgery.

I took a picture today and though the scar is quite large - I think it looks great - as far as scars go : )



I'm packed for my trip; have 20 t-shirts for friends and cannot wait to go - geesh it's hard to sleep these days!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Wow - 80 today - I can't believe that!

Since he squelched any ideas we had for a party - we simply had cake and celebrated after yesterdays Easter dinner. It was a good day with too much food, decent weather and plenty of visiting ......

Here's me and my boy - it's hard for me to get us both in a picture, as he's so tall!



I came home late afternoon and spent the rest of the day doing laundry and packing for FL. I am so super excited for this trip - I can hardly stand it! Leaving early Thursday morning and down there for ten days. Big Shellabration party for me next Saturday night. Hopefully there will be plenty of pictures to share after that ~

I did get my drains out last Friday. Having had them in for more than two weeks, it was a great relief to finally be rid of them! I'm still wearing a foam piece on my back incision, which keeps fluid from collecting there and protects it - but I go to the doctor again tomorrow (more saline) and hope to be done with the foam then!

well hello saline : )

Sabrina took me to Springfield bright and early this morning ..... when we walked into the examining room - this is what was on the counter - yikes!



Unfortunately, I did not get my last two drains out :( they are still outputting more than they'd like. But I am determined that will dissipate SOON and they assured me I can run down there any time and have them removed. The physicians assistant did remove all of the tape from my incisions and said everything looks great..... she then put two of those syringes of saline into my left breast. That brought it to "matching" size of my right one - which had the flap. So next week I will have a fill in both. Thankfully no pain involved, could just feel my skin tightening - but have felt great all day.

I went to my aunts attorneys office this afternoon, to finish up her estate business (will be so glad to have that all over and done with!) Then met a girlfriend in Mahomet for dinner this evening.

Life is good!

Better and better!

I came home a week ago yesterday, and have been feeling better every day since....

I went to Carle on Friday, to have the bandages on my drain sites changed. The nurse there said that everything looks fantastic.

Unfortunately, Springfield changed my appointment for this week - from Tuesday to Wednesday :( I am anxious to get these last two drains out and to have my first saline fill ..... but I suppose I can wait just one more day.

I felt incredibly productive yesterday, and cleaned out / straightened & organized two upstairs closets. Jeremiah asked me to lunch (if I buy - LOL) so of course I took him up on that. He was home for much of the day & it's always nice to spend time with him.

I got my luggage out for FL, and am ready to start packing! Mark and I went for a country cruise last evening and ended up at a hole-in-the-wall where we had yummy burgers & fries : ) We've had another cold spell; while it felt like spring there for awhile, with temps in the upper 70's ..... the last couple of days have been windy, cold and drizzly. I'm totally ready for warm weather and sunshine!

oops

forgive me for double posting some pictures (and stories!)

I really should look back at my last post, before making a new one! LOL

home and happy!

Sorry for the brief lapse in posting ....... have been busy as usual and resting when not!

Got out of the hospital just before noon on Saturday. I am still stunned by Brittany & Javier walking in there - wow what a great surprise that was! They were here when my mom and I got home on Saturday and we spent most of the afternoon just sitting around talking; I think I attempted a short nap. Mark came over that evening and we all went to Monical's in Mahomet for dinner.


Afterwards, Britt made a homemade hot fudge sauce and we had ice cream & hot fudge while relaxing, visiting and watching t.v. It was a fantastic evening w/the people I love!

I slept well in my own bed that night. Still quite sore when I first got up, but felt a little better each day. My mom changed the bandages around my drains (I had four) and said everything looked great! She went out to see Scott on Sunday afternoon, so Britt, Javier and I went to the mall, where Britt and I got pedicures.


Back home to rest; I took a short nap on the couch and visited w/my mom while Britt and Jav went over to see her dad. They came back for a little while - for some good bye hugs before hitting the road to Kansas City again. It was such a treat to have them here - fun getting to know the new guy in her life and great spending time together - it makes us look even more forward to FL in just a couple more weeks!

My mom left on Monday morning and I went to lunch with the girlfriends. It's our once a month outing and I wasn't sure I'd be able to make it - but of course I felt well enough to go : ) I only drove to Leroy, and a friend took me to Bloomington from there ...... where I got the biggest tenderloin I've ever seen in my life! Knowing I'd have plenty to bring home & share with Jeremiah, I asked for three buns. There was easily enough meat for six!


Came home and laid down for another nap : )

My dad stopped by afterwards, to drop off a cherry pie that Aggie had made me - yum! And Mark came over in the evening, to share that w/me and visit awhile. I slept better last night, finally able to lay on one side - instead of flat on my back all night.

This afternoon (Tuesday) Sabrina took me to Springfield for a follow-up with my plastic surgeon. It was a quick appointment, but she said everything looks great and I got two of the drains out - yaay! I hate getting them out, it's a creepy, icky feeling ...... but what a relief once they're gone! I will go back next Tuesday to get the other two out, and they'll begin filling the Tissue Expanders with saline then.

Wanted to share a few more of my favorite - random photo's from this end of the journey .....

This first one is my plastic surgeon marking me before I went in. That oval patch, is what was removed (along with blood vessels and muscle) and actually routed INSIDE my body, under my arm and around to the front ...... where it was patched in, for heathy skin (since radiated skin won't stretch & doesn't have good blood flow). I found that incredibly fascinating!



Then there's my mom and I in the hotel, the night before surgery : )


And my daddy visiting me the day after surgery ~
(Aggie came too, just didn't get a pic)


My friend Sheila also visited while I was there. She lives near Springfield and brought me a chocolate shake as I requested : ) I met Sheila on my scrapbooking message board two or three years ago ~


And last but not least, my prune picture : ) When mom tells ya to eat your prunes - ya just gotta do what ya gotta do (but ick!) I managed to choke down two of the three they served me - blec!

going home

surgery on Wednesday, going home Saturday.

I was still quite sore when I woke up this morning but it gets better as the day goes on. I think it's from having been immobile all night.... I got a shower this morning, which was refreshing! And am now dressed & waiting for my discharge papers.

My biggest (and best) surprise of the day was a knock at the door and someone said "housekeeping" ..... when I looked over, I saw Britt and Javier! I was stunned - SO excited! They'd been driving since 3:30 in the morning to get here before I checked out!


So I'm gonna have a full house when I get home later today, but it'll be fun!

Here are a couple of pics from last night. My friend Sheila stopped by - and brought me a chocolate milkshake : )





Then mother ordered me prunes with last nights dinner (yuck!)



Survived another new experience though & have the pics to scrapbook the rest of my journey! Much of the staff here has commented on my good attitude and outlook - I say hey - it's what works for me! : ) I'm also told the incisions and scars look great, everything is healing beautifully. More later . . . .