4 Lessons Learned from 4 Surgeries
March 23, 2016 • health and beauty, life
2016 is shaping up to be the year of health insanity. Multiple family members are struggling with one thing or another (who can forget my dad starting 2016 in ICU trauma after a ladder fall?), and of course, family must stick together: a recent routine ENT checkup revealed the unwelcome surprise that my cholesteatoma had returned.
Lots of apology and sympathy from the doctors. They know it's not fun. They know nobody wants four surgeries. They know that recurrence is extremely rare in cases like mine (I've almost accepted the fact that worst case scenario, no matter how unlikely, will always be the case for me). Still, it had to be done, so off to the OR I was whisked yet again on Monday.
Despite feeling like a pro, it never gets any easier. Here are my top 4 lessons learned:
Lots of apology and sympathy from the doctors. They know it's not fun. They know nobody wants four surgeries. They know that recurrence is extremely rare in cases like mine (I've almost accepted the fact that worst case scenario, no matter how unlikely, will always be the case for me). Still, it had to be done, so off to the OR I was whisked yet again on Monday.
photo credit: Butchers workbench via photopin (license)
Despite feeling like a pro, it never gets any easier. Here are my top 4 lessons learned:
- It takes a village. It seems a little excessive to have multiple people waiting for you when only one is required, but having two (or three) family members with you makes things easier for both you and them (they need a break, too!). I've always had at least Sean and my MIL around post-op, and often one is off trying to fetch a nurse (more ice, please!) while the other is keeping me
comfortablecompany. - Get the early appointment. You know how they tell you to get the first AM or first post-lunch visit at the doctor's office to avoid extra waiting time? The same goes for surgery. My first surgery was scheduled for early afternoon and ended up being delayed 4+ hours (and remember, you can't eat all day!). When surgery went longer than expected, things ended late enough that the doctor had me admitted overnight. Not fun for me or my wallet. If possible, always try to schedule a morning procdure.
- Know your history. I wouldn't wish multiple surgeries on anyone, but should you have the need, it is important to remember details from each to make things better in the future. I mentioned to my MIL how bad the anesthesia made me feel after surgery #3, and she immediately told me to tell the doctors pre-op so they could use something different. If you can make things more bearable by remembering these details and discussing them, do it!
- Dress comfortably. Don't try to be cute. Arrive clean (always shower before, you may have to keep some areas dry for some time after) and comfortable. I usually arrive in flip-flops and a sundress so that getting dressed to go home post-op is as quick and easy as possible.
Baltimore, MD, USA
Irish You Good Luck Giveaway Hop
March 16, 2016 • giveaway
Ever put off buying new glasses because you don't feel like spending an entire paycheck? I get it. Last year, I bought my first pair of glasses since before Sean and I got married. That's over five years ago! I tried the ol' glasses shops, even the ones claiming I could get 2 pairs for under $100. Yeah, that doesn't work when you're as nearsighted as me. $300 for one pair was "the best they could do."
No, thanks.
Thankfully i knew about Firmoo by this point. They'd given us some prescription sunglasses for Sean which he loved until I accidentally stepped on them they broke on vacation last summer. I decided it was time to try them out for myself and my high prescription, sure even their low prices would soar once they knew how blind I was.
Nope.
For less than $75, a new pair with all the features I needed (thinner lenses, anti-scratch and anti-reflective coatings, etc.) was express shipped to me!
You're about to get an even better deal than I got—Firmoo is letting me choose six winners this month! The grand prize winner gets a complete free pair with shipping, and five additional winners win a pair of glasses and are only responsible for the shipping costs!
Irish You Good Luck Hop
Welcome to the Irish You Good Luck Giveaway Hop! Hosted By: Mama Smith's & Women and Their Pretties Co-Hosted By: Dorky's Deals Joyful Gifts by Julie Wild Redhead Homestead The Mixing Bowl Seasonal Family Fun I Don't Have Time for That! A group of bloggers has put together some amazing giveaways for you (with the minimum value of $15 each – but some are much more than that!). Be sure to enter them all – there is no limit to how many you can win. GOOD LUCK!
Baltimore, MD, USA
My Pantry Essentials: Now vs. the 90's
March 14, 2016 • food
It cracks me up to think about how I ate growing up. My poor mom was dealing with 3 picky kids and wound up making spaghetti more than anything, knowing it was one of two or three options that would appease the whole family. As far as "staples," I thought we were pretty simple. In my parents' kitchen, you could always find:
- dry spaghetti
- pasta sauce
- lemon juice—the bottled kind
- ketchup/mustard/mayo
- milk
- American cheese slices
- white bread
- eggs
- white sugar
- white flour
- salt/pepper
- vegetable oil
- canned tuna
- peanut butter
- jelly
- ground beef
Wow, how food has evolved since my childhood! Everything on that list seemed so normal, and I gag at the idea of having some of those items in my house now. I admit the pasta and sauce are still a convenient, last-minute go-to, but oh, how the others have changed:
- lemons
- organic ketchup/mustard/olive-oil based mayo
- almond milk
- cheese of every kind except "American," since apparently that translates to "not really cheese"
- whole grain tortillas
- eggs
- organic, fair-trade sugar
- 3 types of flour—all purpose, whole wheat (I do half and half whenever possible), and self-rising
- pink Himalayan and/or sea salt
- olive oil
- organic peanut butter- mostly for Anise
- quinoa
- black beans
- tea
I do believe we've learned a lot more about what is and isn't healthy, but at the same time, I realize food can be just as trendy as clothing. I wonder what items on my list will appall the next generation and what their pantry essentials may be.
How do your essentials compare? What is always in your kitchen?
Baltimore, MD, USA
2016 Gardening Goals
March 7, 2016
Now that we've dealt with the obligatory (and completely unnecessary) March snow, is it safe to say spring is here? Or at least temps below freezing are gone? I'm ready for round 2 of gardening adventures—time to beautify my front stoop and make another attempt at growing some of my own food. Here's what I'm hoping to accomplish this month:
adapted via |
Floral
- Put my Monrovia jasmine plants back outside. (I tried keeping them alive indoors with a grow light over the winter months. They are a little sad, but hanging in there, so I hope they'll perk back up when they return outdoors)
- Find a way to mount a window box. We bought one last year only to find it wouldn't fit as we expected. I'd love to add one for extra curb appeal outside of our bay window.
Please take me back outside! |
Edible
- Swallow my pride and accept that it's OK not to start everything myself from seed. Let's try tomatoes and a few other veggies from plants this year.
- Work with Sean to re-configure outdoor pallet garden. Perhaps individual boxes?
- Start an herb garden .
Here's to hoping I have better results than last year, particularly with the herbs and veggies! Any tips for a girl trying to make her black thumb green?
Baltimore, MD, USA
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