Recovery Week One

A week ago today around this time I was in surgery.  It was a planned surgery to remove fibroid tumors from my uterus.  The doctor thought there were 5, but it turns out one of the tumors that she thought was two was fused together and really big. so she only have to remove four.  I don't know if that was a good or bad thing...it is just a fact.

So far my recovery is going pretty well.  Today I am having a more painful day; I seem to have good days and bad...true of most life stages, no?  Today the part of my stomach that is still numb from the surgery (completely normal by the way) seems to be waking up some and is hurting.

My awesome sister came in town on Sunday and stayed with me until this morning to help me.  The husband had to go back to work on Monday so I was extra happy to have her here.

 

She helped me by doing all the things around the house that I cannot do right now, plus cooked dinners for us.  I miss her already and I am sure the husband will miss her too since he will have to pick up the slack.  Thank you Sissy for coming to help...I love you tons!!

Yesterday I left the house for the first time since I got home from the hospital.  It was actually a few days early for doctor recommended house leaving since that isn't supposed to happen until week two, but I was feeling good and we were just going around the corner to the drug store.  My big purchase?

More reading materials!  Yay.

In my spare time while not working and not being able to do a lot around the house, I have had lots of time for thinking and internet browsing.  I saw a couple of things on Facebook this week that provoked some thought.  The first one was this...

This is so true, right?  I make it no secret on the blog that I struggle with my weight and that I am actively trying to lose weight right now.  It's important.  This surgery was not weight related, but if I don't make permanent changes there could be future surgeries that are.  I want to be a good example to my nieces and nephew and any future children that I may have.  This quote gives me even more motivation.

The other was this...

So are vegetables...they just need s good wash.

Food for thought.

Have a great Thursday!!  You have almost made it to the weekend!!

Piano Embrace

When my sister, mother and I were cleaning out my mom's house and dividing generations of treasures I was hoping my sister was going to want to take my mother's upright piano to her house.  She did not.  For a while I avoided decorating the piano hoping my sister was going to change her mind.  She hasn't.  I finally gave in and embraced the piano and truth be told, I like it.

 

I started with the lime green clearance vase I picked up at Hobby Lobby for 8 dollars and went from there.

When I purchased this vase, I had no idea what I was going to do with it, but I loved it and couldn't pass up the great deal (it was 80% off).

Then on a separate Hobby Lobby trip I found this wonderful frame that was half off and the planning for the right side of the piano began.  I printed one of my favorite pictures from our New Year's party and went to Pier 1 to search their floral sale for the fillings for my vase.  I am very pleased with how the vase turned out.  And bonus, I found these daisies on clearance during my Pier 1 visit.

The left side of the piano is the side I don't think I am finished with.  I love the picture of the twins, but I feel like I need something to replace the candle with more height.

I think the middle of the piano was a small stroke of genius (a stretch, I know).  I thought a stack of books would look nice there so I headed over to Half Price Books and found a few hard back biographies on famous pianists.

I will still be on the hunt for additional/replacement books if I find more with more interesting colors/designs, but these are a good start.  The bunny was another Pier 1 find and he will be allowed to hang out until after Easter and then will be replaced with another bauble.

Now I kind of wish I knew how to play.



Have a lovely Wednesday!

Sammy Surprise

Sammy got her first BarkBox yesterday.  She was very excited.

Have you heard of BarkBox?  I read about it on Jessica's blog Fantastically Average and knew that even if Sammy didn't win her giveaway she needed BarkBox in her life.

Whenever a package comes to the door, Sammy always inspects it with anticipation and it is pretty much never for her.  Well, now she will get packages each month and rescue groups will get a donation from us.  I figure I spend 20 bucks a month on silly treats for my dog anyway, I might as well channel it to a fun surprise for her and a donation for needy pups.  Win, win.

Happy Girl!

Sammy got 3 packages of treats (one that is a dental chew), a funky penguin toy she loves and a teeth cleaning ring toy.

We played and played; then this happened.

Worn out pup = BarkBox success.

It was a good day.

Weekend Recap

You might know that the first part of my weekend was spent in the hospital.  If you have ever had a hospital stay of any kind you probably already know this, but if you have never had to spend any time in the hospital let me tell you...nurses are awesome.  Doctors get all the glory, but the nurses...they really take care of you and deserve more credit.

I had the pleasure of being pushed by several different fabulous ladies...and getting in trouble with a few (like the recovery room nurse who didn't want me straining myself trying to look around while I was waking up).  Each of them were awesome in their own way (even the one I didn't think I liked very much), but Esme was my favorite of them all.  She worked part of two of the day shifts I was in the hospital for and she was awesome.  She was encouraging and comforting at the same time.  I wanted to walk my hospital laps for her.  If you see a nurse today, tell them they are fantastic.

Thank you fabulous ladies, you rock.  Keep up the good work.

And then there's this guy.

What a great view, right?

This guy is pretty awesome too.  The husband was there for me whenever I needed him and he was also a pretty good cheerleader...he thinks I am kind of strong where all this surgery stuff is concerned.  I think he is sweet.

The award for the most excited animal to see me come home goes to...

Sammy!!!  Shocker, I know.  Trixie was happy too...in her own special kitten way.

I have to say that I felt the love and the prayers that were sent my way in the past week.  It has been really touching.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Surgery Update

My surgery went as planned with no complications. I'm resting as comfortably as I can in a private room. The husband is here with me. He is a sweetheart...even telling me I look pretty & bringing me a Hello Kitty lamb to snuggle.

I am loving the non slid socks and compression sock layer I am rocking (I'm sure the husband is too).

Don't be jealous.

Have a lovely day!!!

Living Room Before and After

I have mentioned before that I wish I had taken better before pictures.  I wasn't very organized as we were tearing the house apart, but that doesn't make my after pictures less awesome.  I love our living room!

I could sit in here all day.  It took me two tries to get the yellow walls that I wanted, but I am so happy with the result.  This yellow is sundance by Sherwin Williams.  Perfect.

I love the wood trim and wood floors; and this rug that was my mom's couldn't be more perfect.

On my living room to-do list is window treatments...I want to keep the blinds, but I think a nice valance or something would make the windows pop more.  What do you think?

I love these animal prints.  They were actually old postcards of the husband's.  My sister had them framed for him.

Cozy.



I hope you have a fantastic Wednesday!

Liebster Award

Maria over at Keeping It Stepford nominated me for a Liebster award!  What is that you ask?  Well, that's what I thought when Maria told me about it.  I thought for sure someone had hacked her account and left me a crazy comment.  But guess what...it wasn't spam...it's a networking tool for new bloggers with less than 200 followers.

So much fun!  Here's how it works...

1. Answer the 11 questions the blogger who nominated you asked.
2. Give 11 random facts about yourself
3. Nominate 11 bloggers with less than 200 followers
4. Create 11 questions for your nominees to answer

Here are the 11 questions Maria asked me:

Do you have any pets?

I do!  A pup named Sammy and a cat named Trixie.  I NEVER put pictures of them on the blog.

They are also not spoiled...at all.

What is your favorite restaurant?

Right now it is totally Fleming's.  The husband and I love to have special date nights there when we are celebrating birthdays or anniversaries.  It is yummy.  And the service is great and the lighting romantic.

Looking back, when you were growing up did you think you would be in the place you are now?

No way!!  As a kiddo I thought I would be married by 25 and a mom two years later (since that's what my mom did).  As a young adult I thought I would be a reporter living in New York or somewhere.  It is interesting how your life's path changes and somehow you end up right where you are supposed to be.

Has anyone ever said you look like someone famous?

It's funny I mentioned being a reporter in my last answer.  I was once mistaken in the grocery store for one of the local Houston reporters.  But no one more famous than a local celebrity.

What is one goal you would like to achieve within the next 3 years?

This is kind of a boring answer, but I would like the husband and I to have our retirement plans and investment strategy in order.  We have plans and savings and all that, but I want it to be more organized and I would like us to see a financial planner. 

What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas!  Hands down.  I work at a university and we are closed for a week at Christmas time and it is so wonderful to be able to have built in vacation at that time and really get to kick back and enjoy my family.

If you could hang out with any celebrity who would it be?

Ann Curry.  I think she would have so many interesting stories to share.

Snow Bunny or Sun Worshipper?

Sun Worshipper.  With sunscreen.  Period.  I do not like cold toes.

What is your favorite band or singer?

This is a tough one.   I like a wide range of music and I am terrible with knowing artists' and bands' names.  I will go with Ingrid Michaelson...love her song Be OK.

If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

The one thing I struggle with is weight and eating the right portions so I suppose I would have to say I would change my relationship with food. 

What is a book you recommend?

The Help.  Read it.  It is awesome. 

11 Random Facts About Me:

1. I watch Friends re-runs daily.  Every night while I am falling asleep and in the middle of the night if I need my mind to stop racing.  I own all the seasons on DVD and watch them in order over and over.  The husband loves it.  If he says he doesn't, he is lying.
2. I met the husband playing darts.  We were both in the Houston dart league (don't play us for money).  The first thing he ever said to me is, "I'm not losing to the likes of you."  He lost (at least that game of darts).
3. I am having surgery on Thursday morning.  I am not looking forward to it.  I am ready to be on the recovery side of this process.
4.  I love to shop...one of my favorite stores is Pier 1.
5. I am both handed.  I do random things with random hands...like write with my right, eat with my left, use scissors with my right, brush my teeth with my left.  For some things I am completely ambidextrous.
6. My dog sleeps in the bed with us, usually in the middle and sometimes with her head on the pillows like a person.  I let her do it and find it cute and sweet.  Some people think it is not cute and kind of gross.  I am okay with that.
7. My friend John nicknamed me Ema in college.  I decided it needed to only have one m in it since it was short for Emily and Emily only has one m.  John spelled it with two m's and he probably still would.
8. I have a terrible singing voice, but I love to sing.  I try to only do it in private so no one's ears will begin to bleed.  I am a considerate singer.  It sounds good to me.  My dad used to tell me I was a lovely singer...under water.
9. I was a complete daddy's girl when I younger.  He was awesome dad and I still miss him everyday.
10. I wish I could make braids and do cool things with my hair.  I can't...I am terrible at all hairstyles except straight, curled with a curling iron or a flat boring pony tail.
11.  I have only been out of the country 3 times and two of those times I went to Mexico.  I am VERY excited about our trip to Italy later in the spring.

My 11 Nominees:

Dash of Sunshine
Gourmet and Gamer
Katy Louise
Life in the Moment
My Haunted Attic
No. 631  
Team Bowen
The Tuckers
The Whimsy One
Trailerhood Aristocrats

Questions for my nominees to answer:

1. What's your favorite childhood memory?
2. Where would you vacation right now if money was no object?
3. What is your dream job?
4. What's your favorite season?
5. Chocolate or vanilla?
6. How do you pamper yourself?
7. What is something you know now that you wish you had known when you were younger?
8. What is your favorite sport or hobby?
9. Friday night out or Friday night in?
10. It's a rainy day...are you watching a movie or reading a book?
11. What is your favorite board or card game?

Have fun networking!

Weekend Finds and Tuesday Ramblings

I had my eye on this picture frame at Pier 1 and when I stopped in over the weekend it was on clearance.  Yes, please.

I immediately thought that this first dance picture which I had in a plain silver frame would look very cute in it.

I like it.  These are on top of the chest in our bedroom.  There is also a picture of the husband with our niece Chelsie who is now seven, she was barely one in the picture on the left.  Time flies!  I love the picture of my parents at their wedding as well.  I picked up the blue distressed frame on the right on clearance this weekend too.  I like pops of color.

Now for my ramblings and a funny story.  Today is my pre-op visit with my doctor.  I have my list of questions ready which include awesome things like how long will my incision be and how will I be closed (staples, stitches, glue?); along with necessary questions like what time do I check in to the hospital on Thursday.

This will be my first trip to the office since I received news I was not expecting during my last visit.  My surgery is to remove fibroid tumors from my uterus so there would be space to carry a baby to term.  There are 5 tumors, three that measure 6 centimeters across at their widest and then two smaller ones.

The news I received last month when I was in the office was that the results of my blood work and the ultra sound that she had done on my initial visit showed that my egg count was low and the chances of getting pregnant naturally were very slim.  I was all alone in the office, no husband there for support, and this news hit me like a ton of bricks.  Now don't get me wrong, the husband would have been there if i had invited him, but I had no idea I would need him there. My doctor could see my eyes begin to well up with tears and she started to name lots of options for a family...adoption, egg donor ship, etc.

My doctor sent me back down for more blood work to check one of my levels again.  So I was off (don't worry the funny part of the story is coming).  I headed out of the doctor's office to the lab to get my blood drawn.  The office is in a professional building at the Woman's Hospital so there are women with their beautiful children everywhere.  I found it kind of comforting since I was sure some of them had received news like mine at one point.

I get to the lab and the very sweet technician greets me to take my blood.  She is gigantically pregnant and is telling me how wiped out she is.  I am sure she was.  She probably has a sweet baby by now, she was seven months along in December.  I get seated and she puts the evil blue elastic band on my arm to look for a vein.  Then she says to me, "Here squeeze the egg."  Yes, she was handing me a white stress ball in the shape of an egg.  Hi, your ovaries are broken, squeeze this egg.  How funny is that?

Through tears of telling the husband the news I received I still found this blood drawing story hilarious.  You can't make it up.  I am so thankful for my sense of humor or I might have burst into tears and run out of the office right there and left the sweet pregnant technician very confused.

Today I will also find out if the blood work taken during this story gave us any new information.

Enjoy your Tuesday, remember laughter really can make you feel better.

Weekend Recap

Relaxing.  That's the one word I would use to describe my weekend.  It was nice.  I am trying to get everything done around my house that I want finished before my surgery on Thursday.  I am still remarkable calm and laid back in light of the fact that I will be reporting to the hospital on Thursday morning.  Maybe I will feel differently after my pre-op appointment with the doctor tomorrow I don't know, but I will keep you posted.

Okay, back to the more fun and interesting topic of my relaxing weekend.  Saturday I had a wonderful girls day with my dear friend Rebecca.  We went for manicures and pedicures and then did a little shopping and lunching.  After that we returned to my house and put together the new tables I had purchased for the deck.

Oh look, there's Sammy.  Weird.  She is never in any of my pictures.  I found these tables at Lowe's and I think they look great with the chairs I already have out on the deck.

Look at our handy work.  We are awesome.  The husband was very impressed with us.  Rebecca, the husband, our friend Sean and my mom enjoyed the evening with the furniture, the fire pit and grilled burgers.

Obviously I have some spring planting on my to do list, but I will get there. The container on this table will be much cuter once it is full.

It was a wonderful Saturday.

My Sunday was very similar, I got a massage then did a little shopping and tied up some more loose ends around my house.

How was your weekend?

Have a great week!