We finally went to Sea World again. As the children get older time and schedules change and vary, it got harder and harder for us to find time to go to Sea World as a family. Bear missed going, and so we went on Christmas Eve. I rode in a wheelchair. I am not quite up to walking the entire park. Todd, Aim and Bear all ride Kraken, and I now have a picture to prove it.I have joked for the last couple months that I live in assisted living. My husband and children have certainly been a HUGE blessing to me as I have recovered from my latest surgery. It hasn't been easy on any of them, but they are the best caregivers around! Even when the rule is NO LAUGHING....because it makes mom's chest hurt too bad.
I turned 50 this year. I didn't have quite the celebration I wanted, but dear friends along with Doug, Todd, Aimée and Bear sure made it a birthday YEAR to remember! As you can see...some friends are humorous... even when the 'DO NOT MAKE ME LAUGH' rule is in place.
I had more than my fair share of surgeries. The last one has given me a new appreciation for several things:1. A thyroid is capable of regrowing.... you might think it was ALL removed, but if there are any cells left...it can regrow where it wants to! Dr. R removed it the first time...and he did a wonderful job in 2000. He was quite surprised by my 'surprise' thyroid. I was very happy to use his services again in 2010 to remove this wayward 'beast'.... he is one of the best thyroid surgeons in Central Florida. I just happen to make things complicated for my doctors.... (sighing)
2. 'chainsaw' docs... the thoracic surgeon who is able to precisely cut open your chest and help remove a regrown thyroid that has entangled itself on your aortic arch, and wire you back together. Dr. Alessandro Ferrero in Winter Park, FL is one of the best, if you ever need to have your chest cut open I would give him a call!
3. I know what an Arterial line is now...and why they use them. I had 2 IVs and an Arterial line with this last surgery... Thankful, all those things worked like they were supposed to!
4. Chest surgery is PAINFUL........Before my surgery, my daughter would put her hand on her chest when we would talk about it. After surgery, I have hugged my son Bear's Teddy Bear to my chest to help when laughing, talking, coughing, riding in the car, getting up, sitting down, walking, any thing that required my chest to move, BURLY BEAR has been my faithful companion.
5. Chest surgery requires TIME To HEAL...and it is REALLY PAINFUL! :) (did I say that??) I have new compassion for those that have to have their chest cut open for different procedures....healing is a very slow and painful process that requires patience in the patient, and those that are around them!
6. I like sleeping in my bed! I don't sleep in a reclined position........ and not being able to get in my bed for 6 weeks and sleep was not something I enjoyed at all!
My 'caregivers' on the morning of my surgery....perhaps a bit too festive? LOLThankful that they were confident that the surgery would go well. The older ones were just a tad bit concerned about it, and the youngest (12) ...well to him it was just another day at the doctor's or at the hospital with mom. Bear has been my faithful waiting room buddy all year long. We had quite a year of waiting, and waiting, and seeing the doctors. Maybe, 2011 will be different??
Psalm 72:18
"Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things."
Isn't GOD amazingly WONDERFUL every single day???
