Recovery Milestone

I had hit a milestone late yesterday when I had the zombie head bandages and stiches removed. It was such a relief to have this heavy, scratchy thing gone. I decided not to save it (even though Annelise had decorated with My Little Kitty band aids and In and Out burger stickers), or to burn it. My recovery is past the worst stage, and the healing is going well. Besides my battle with Vicodin (not a fan of giving in, but finally was made to realize when you head it cut open, you need a pain killers or you will suffer very badly!!!), the process has been smooth. I feel blessed the doctors were so skillfull and medicine has come so far - I'm glad to be free of the non-friendly growth called a cholesteatoma that had taken over my inner ear before it inhabits any other unwelcome places. All that is noticeable now is a swollen ear (have to be careful with the comb!), back of my head, behind the ear is totally numb (whatever, no impact here), a black eye (they got a little rough in the operating room!), and oh, I can't hear out of that ear (not that major since I can hear out of my right ear perfectly + this is temporary until the next surgery in 6-9 months). I'm very thankful for all the thoughtful friends for their food, flowers, emails, calls, and positive vibes. And, I feel blessed to have such a strong and supportive family. My sister in-law was like an angel completely taking charge on surgery day when my husband unexpectedly got the flu. My husband has been awesome, and very patient taking care of me so carefully. My in-laws almost adopted our kids for the first week, and now my mom has been staying to help. The

kids have been very understanding, and kept too busy to be affected.

Cholesteatoma "What?!"

I am on day 5 (not including operation day), and wanted to share about my cholesteatoma experience.

Pre-Op: After having a plugged feeling, and loss of hearing in my left ear for around 6 months, the week after Annelise's 3rd birthday, I was diagnosed with a cholesteatoma (CT-Scan and it can actually also be seen from the Dr. just looking in my inner ear). This is a skin growth, non cancerous tumor that has enzymes in it that cause it to destroy structures including bone that are in it's way. I was assigned a surgery date of August 25th - the soonest to fit me in the schedule, and not something at my stage to delay to avoid further damage, and just the fact that it was uncomfortable. They presumed the growth had destroyed my ear structures and they would need to be removed, and needed to remove the growth soon as it had started to attack the skull bone that leads to my brain. I would have NO hearing in this ear for 6 months, and at that time they would operate again to install "fake" ear drum and other structures I can't spell to bring my hearing to 60-70%. Pretty cool to live during this time of age and not the 1800's - even in the last 10 years the procedure has advanced.

Operation Day: Jim is feeling "sick" to the stomach but I am ready to get this long awaited surgery over with so without delay, we drive out at 8:45 and arrive at the UCD Hospital off Stockton Blvd just before 10, and are greeted by my sister in-law. She has a huge smile and is bubbling over with positive energy. My in-laws who have taken the kids the night before, arrive after dropping Rylan off at his new school (started Kindergarten Thursday prior), and little Annelise. I'm called into the Pre-Op room at 10:30. Jim gets more sick and has to leave. Later, my sister in-law and mother in-law take turns "hanging out" before I get "put under". Later I learn Jim was throwing up profusely and laying on the steps outside the ER. At the time we're not sure if the flu or nerves.

About 8 different Dr's, Nurses, and Anethesioligists visited me, and I am glad for Jennifer being there to ask questions I was too nervous to think to ask. She took complete charge and even hit it off with the group to the point I thought we were "hanging out" at Chevy's for cocktail hour or something. They were joking and having a good ole time. Just 10 minutes prior to "going under" - around 12:30 - Jim made it in to kiss my good luck. One of the Anethesiologists gave me a couple shots, and that was all I remembered until I "woke up" hours later dreaming about "my to do list" that would not get attention for some time now. The surgery was about 5 hours, and then it took awhile in recovery for me to "wake up".

I awoke to a different nurse and Jennifer leaning over me. Jennifer, again, was taking charge - and had arranged for my pain meds to be sent to a different place -a Walgreens on the way home since it was now about 8 pm, and my place in Auburn would be closed. She thought ahead, and I am very thankful! My mother in-law had left hours before to pick-up the kids from school and tend to them. Jennifer and Jim had received all the information about the surgery from the Dr.'s who had already gone into another surgery. They are very busy! They wiped the goopy stuff my my eyes, gave me a drink of water, got me dressed, and rushed me to the car where my father in-law was driving since Jim was still sick. We were on a mission to get to Walgreens before they closed. "Give me Vicodin!" The operation medicines stayed with me until the next day but I was glad to have some pain medicine ready when I needed it.

I learn the surgery went very well and they got all the growth removed, and they didn't have to mess with the facial nerves or balance area. They did put in a support devise since the skull bone had been eroded.

Day 4 - The Purpose Driven Life

I am on Day 4 of reading "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. It is an amazing book. You read a chapter every day for 40 days. This takes about 10 minutes a day. Each day you get a point to ponder, and verse to memorize and think about. So far, it is making a lot of sense out of knowledge I already had but was not focusing towards.

It's still easy to get caught in the rat race but I think if I start each day with the readings, keep the verse where I can see it all day, this will help me get the most benefit.

I have had a series of both very fortunate and unfortunate events in the last couple months, that have led me to take this journey that is long overdue.

So far, I think this book is a perfect place for me to start.

Giving Thanks for 2008

I have been busy with my new career at HP since the last time I wrote in the blog. I enjoyed my 20 months break when I took time off with then 6 month old Annelise, and 3 year old Rylan. But, I am now happy to be working again.

I decided to fill everyone on our family by focusing on what we are most thankful for 2008.

In his own words, Rylan is most thankful for his sister (he calls her “little sweetheart”), house (I tell him we could live in our neighbor Helen’s barn if mommy or daddy didn’t go to work so this has stuck as something he’s happy to have), mommy, and daddy.

Rylan will turn 5 on the 31st. He’s thankful for legos, transformers, music, and books about dinosaurs and animals. He spends time building things in his room until his sister finds him. He enjoys looking at his books, and will even “pretend” reads to his sister, if she will listen. He also looks forward to our ritual after I pick him and his sister up at school where we turn the radio on and dance. Sometimes he gets his guitar.

We are thankful Rylan is such a good student at school – he’s in Pre-K. His teacher says “he is an extremely hard worker and has a lot of focus.” He spends a lot of time perfecting his art projects, and will even not allow me to take projects home from his box if he is still working on them.

Annelise is 2 ½ years old. Annelise is thankful for “pink” and “anything princess”. On a good day, she will go through several outfit changes to fit the occasion, and each to look like a princess. If the clothing isn’t pink, it must have a flower, heart, pocket (go figure), or picture of a princess, to meet her standards. She will even look in the dryer or “to be folded” pile to find specific clothing for a “look” she’s trying to achieve. She dresses up anytime we go somewhere (except school) because she thinks we should be going to a party. Luckily one of our friends is always having some sort of party!

Everyone that engages with Annelise is thankful she is “so entertaining and funny” (teacher Donna), “the kids and friend Dash are so patient with her” (teacher Donna), “a spitfire” (teacher Pricilla), “she’s tough” (a teacher’s aide said after she ran fast, fell, and everyone went running to her thinking she was seriously hurt, and before they got there she was up and running again).
In his words, hubby Roger (Jim) is thankful for… “I’m riding the (spin) bike, honey; I thought you weren’t writing a Christmas letter.”

I am thankful I have a husband that likes to be fit (thinks he’s slacking even though he still commutes half way to work most days of the week – 40 miles a day), gives great hugs and complements, enjoys playing with his children, likes to use a chain saw and build rock walls to help make my garden projects look good, chooses to go grocery shopping because he knows I’ll come home hours later with WAY more things than were on the list, and puts up with my attitude and ability to hurry when we are on our way to a function (he has a desire to be early or exactly on time – whatever).

I am thankful for all of the above, and also for our great group of friends who enjoy getting outside - gardening, hiking, biking, sledding, or going to the park or other fun places with our kids.

2009 New Years resolutions:
*Have a tea party with some Auburn girlfriends & neighbor ladies.
*Drop by a local friend’s house unannounced w/ cookies.
*Take the kids camping, and help Jim to like it.
*Teach our kids that good acts can be rewarded with things other than “presents” or “treats”.

I hope everyone that reads this has a great New Year!

Muddy Girls, Pumpkins and Dress-up

October

It's been a busy and fun month! I started back at HP again, and am really enjoying my new position. Aside from that, the first weekend, I went with my mountain biking girlfriends to ride at Grey Eagle. Friend Julie mapped out several fireroad routes. The riding is either up or down, but the views are AMAZING, and worth the climbing. We got very muddy due to a change in the weather, and loved every minute.

The following weekend, we went with friends - the Lotts - to the Bishops Pumpkin patch in Wheatland, CA. We had never been and I was shocked to see it's like Pumpkin Amusement park. This is a must-see for anyone remotely close to here. There is a petting zoo, train ride, hayride, pig races, lots of good food, HUGE slides on a man built hill, tractor tire climbing area, and lots of pumpkins.

After one weekend of soccor games, a long overdue visit to church and just hanging out at the in-laws, we spent the last weekend enjoying dressing up to go to a Harvest Festival (alternative to Halloween at the local Calvary Chapel where they have games for the kids), and then celebrated my mom's birthday by eating Mashado's pie and lots of lasagna!

And, of course, I fit in a mountain bike ride each weekend. Hubby and I even managed to ride together one weekend since the kiddo's had a sleepover at the in-laws. A couple weekends I have been solo, mostly because I haven't been good at the planning thing since I am VERY busy now with my new job and the kids. A little solo serenity is nice every once in a while.

Career, Cosmos & Singlespeeding

I start my career up again next Wed, Oct 1st. I feel very fortunate to have such a GREAT opportunity, and am excited for this new chapter. The kids are flourishing at their school, expecially Rylan, who has become quite good at math, and the teacher says he has excellent concentration for his projects/jobs. He reminded me today he is the "special person" and needs to take his baby picture, and gets to share. He was so proud and had his stuff bagged up. He quickly got ready and tied his shoes (started a couple weeks ago, and is pretty quick now).

With the new schedule, I still will make time for playing in the dirt but have tried to spend extra time in the dirt, some way or another, for the past few weeks. Here's a picture of Annelise checking out one of my cosmos. Next year, I plan to plant more of these since they are so very hardy and their bloom lasts WEEKS.

I have been out on my newly built singlespeed 2x since my previous post. I went a couple hours Sunday - Foresthill Divide and Connector Trail and cleared everything. Hubby says I should with that EASY gear. It was harder on the hills but it felt light under me and I enjoyed the heck out of it. Then, friend Kim invited me this Wednesday morning - we both had matching Sycip singlespeeds, her's blue, mine orange - and we rode, Upper Stagecoach, Clementine, part of Connector, Confluence, then back up Stagecoach and I still enjoyed the heck out of it. Then, we did a trail run on Manzanita and up Stagecoach. What a treat!

Spicy Singlespeed

Thanks to my hubby, my newly painted Sycip Unleaded frame has been setup as a singlespeed (32x20)! The color is salmon/more orange and the decal is ICE colored. I just love it! The frame used to be camoflauge green and I blended in with nature but now you will see me coming and I will bolt past you like a bolt of lightening (hah, hah)!

I can't wait to ride this. I know I will not start out with the Oregon Bar ride, though. Denise and I rode this yesterday and that would be a wee tough introduction to singlespeeding - haven't ridden a singlespeed in 3 years! Fun new singletrack over there but the climb out is loose and steep for a mile +/- before it eases.