ANOTHER NEST...HIDDEN IN THE FERN and LESSONS GIVEN IN FLYING...

Yesterday Wayne took our fern down off the front porch to water it and guess what we found?  Another bird nest...look how perfectly round it is...Isn't that amazing?  I don't think we are going to tell Laura Beth about this one as she has not been able to come within a 50 foot radius of our porch because of her irrational fear of birds...I have been watching the nest and no "Momma Bird" has come back to it...not sure why it has been abandoned...it was built within feet of our other bird nest...I guess our birthing house for birds isn't closed just yet....

Momma Dove venturing away from her Baby and showing it how to leave the nest...

But always coming back when it isn't ready...as my dad would say "There is a sermon in there somewhere!" 

ANOTHER DOVE IS BORN TO US....

We now have dove #2 born on our front door in the flower arrangement.  I was trying to be sneaky from inside the house and get a picture of it without the "momma dove" flying out at me...it really is so precious how the baby sits right beside its "momma".  I think our birthing house will be closed after this "fruitful" season...

FRIDAY...DAY 4

I went to the doctor yesterday and he took all the bandages off--OUCH!  He told me that I could shower now, drive if I am not on pain medication but I can't lift anything over 10#.  The swelling will be there for 3-6 weeks.  My pain level has greatly decreased and I am only taking Extra Strength Tylenol during the day.  I am down to 1/2 Percocet at night to sleep.(That drug is always the hardest to give up--haha!)  I have sharp pains that last about 1/2 second but they told me that was normal because the nerves are trying to regenerate.  I have little pinpricks on my shoulders and on my stomach and I asked the nurse about them---she said it was where they "stapled" the sterile towels to me so when they sit me up in surgery nothing moves and becomes unsterile...That is weird to think about them stapling things to me when I am under anesthesia like I am a bulletin board...I wonder what else they do to me?  The nurse told me that my doctor is a "sterile freak" and is super careful about infection when doing surgery. I can't think about that too long...it kinda freaks me out! I go next Thursday to get my stitches out--maybe I will go back to the painkillers for that day only--we will see!  I will ask them to check to see if they left any staples in me...there are some things I think I am better off not knowing...

Thank you for all my care and support that I have received this week...I couldn't go through this without the support of my friends and family. 

WEDNESDAY---DAY 2

OK...hopefully this entry won't be as groggy as the last one---I surprised my words weren't slurring on paper...Monday, I was falling asleep in the  middle of conversations...that is something my husband does without medication...LOL  He is going to ask the doctor why he gets sleepy when I take the medication...that is a medical mystery!

I am doing fairly well--up and moving around---trying to take less pain medication as time goes on...I have to stay in my bandages until my follow-up appt on Thursday.  I am pretty swollen but I  am hoping that will go down in time.  I am sleeping well in my recliner thanks to Percocet...love that drug! I feel alot of tightness but not alot of pain. The doctor told my parents that I was the  "poster child" for this kind of surgery.   My dad asked him if I could get paid---he just laughed.  Let's just say there will  be no posters allowed!

I have free tickets tonight to see Helen Hunt at the Aronoff through the Susan Komen Foundation. We have been invited to a private reception to meet her also.  I am hoping to go but we will see how I feel.  I always loved her on  the tv show  "Mad About You." 

This  is the kids' last week of school  before finals so it is crunch time to get all these assignments in---we will all  be glad when school is out!  Thank you to my friends and family that  have helped us out during this time. Continue to pray for an end to all cancer...

OUT OF SURGERY and HOME NOW...

This will be quick because I am feeling a little groggy...Surgery was at 3:30 this afternoon...about an  hour late...my head was  pounding from lack of caffeine  and/or food/drink...that part was a little brutal...I was just trying hard to stay nice to people...if you know what I mean.  It took a little over an hour...I am at home and feeling groggy...haven't gotten off of the couch...Maddie, my little dog, is right beside me....I almost had to  set the laptop on top of her...just woke up from a 2 hour anesthetic nap...really, it is amazing how good that kind of sleep is...

Wayne is off all week and  being a great nurse...thanks so much  for your prayers...they mean so much!  I keep falling asleep trying to write this compliments of some good drugs...so I  guess I will go now...write  more  later! 

ANOTHER UPDATE...

It has been a long time since I have blogged...there hasn't been much to say except life is moving along at a fast pace with the end of school approaching.  It is a very busy time with my work and the kids' activities.  Everyday day goes by quickly and trying to keep a balance is my biggest challenge.  I haven't spent much time on the computer these days...which is a good thing!  It has allowed more time for other things...

On May 6th, I went for another expansion to prepare me for the upcoming surgery and the doctor told me that he really didn't "feel" the need for another one (by "feel" I mean in the true meaning of the word-OUCH!)...I was glad because I truly didn't see how it could happen...I didn't think my "Pet Rocks" could stretch anymore!  The doctor is very pleased with my progress and said that I have done better than about 98% of his patients that go through this process.  That is an answer to prayer!  I am feeling back to normal these days and exercising without restrictions...that is a good thing!

Surgery to remove the expanders and put in the gel implants has been scheduled for May 24th.  I will be out of work for about five days...it takes about an hour and it is done in an outpatient surgery center.  The doctor says that it should not be a big deal compared to what I have already been through...so I am trying to keep my anxiety level low about it.  I should be able to sleep in a normal bed after this surgery instead of a recliner.  The expanders do not move at all so I can't roll on my side or lay on my stomach without waking up feeling uncomfortable because of the pressure.  This will be the second part of my reconstruction...the next part comes in about six months.

On another note, the doves have moved out and two days later another "momma" dove moved in and layed an egg in the same nest....I guess we are running a birthing house for doves these days...It is sweet to know they feel comfortable there but not so sweet to not be able to use the front door at all for about two months...I think we are getting used to it, though. 

Thanks for all your continued prayers and support...I can't tell you how much they mean to me and my family.  Keep in prayer for healing from this second surgery and just for an end to cancer!  Since I have been diagnosed with cancer, it is a prayer I pray everyday!  It saddens me when I hear of another person diagnosed or struggling to overcome it--my heart goes out to them!