NYE 2009: Here's to a better 2010!!!

I've been thinking about what to post for NYE. I can't really think of anything compelling and I don't feel like doing a more organized year in review. Here are a few thoughts:

Not much going on here for tonight. It doesn't make sense going out tonight since I can't dance. We've purchased a rib roast so it'll be champagne and a good cut of meat tonight. And for tomorrow - omelettes, scones, clotted cream, jam and mimosas for breakfast!

I think 2009 was a good year. Aidan doesn't really agree - he said it was very difficult. It was definitely difficult but for me it was much better than 2008. In 2008, I was told that things were wrong with me and with Aidan, school sucked, work sucked, my confidence was virtually non-existent and I was borderline depressed. This year I got up off of my butt and made changes. Yes, that meant starting a consulting business during a recession, a failed IVF cycle, retooling my entire dissertation proposal and fibroid removal surgery but for me that was progress. Frustrating progress but progress all the same. I'm tired, somewhat frustrated but more optimistic than I was this time last year. I see a lot of work in 2010 but I don't mind it as much.

I have so many hopes for 2010, least of which being getting pregnant (hopefully naturally at that). As important as that is, I really want to help Aidan rebuild his confidence while I continue to work on mine. We've both been beaten up pretty badly over the last 2 years. We've made a lot of progress since September. Aidan was amazing in Boston and he said that he felt better than he did in CZ. I hope that he continues to feel this way as the new year develops!

As for normal stuff, we plan to spend time retooling our priorities. House and home was the lowest priority in 2009 and it shows somewhat. We intend to ensure that doesn't happen in 2010.

I may think of more later. I'm watching the stage version of Victor/Victoria on tv and it's distracting me...

A Wonderful Christmas...

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! Christmas was lovely. It really shows that slowing down does make a difference. I'll have to remember this in the future. Christmas Eve was nice. I decided to spend the day watching Christmas specials and reading. When Aidan got home mid-afternoon we relaxed until we had to head to church for the Children's Mass. It was an enjoyable Mass. It hurt to sing since I am a diaphragm singer but it was nice to sing the Christmas carols. The Nativity was adorable and my MIL had done a wonderful job decorating the church. After Mass we went to La Trattoria for dinner. I had some lovely mussels followed by lasagna while Aidan had chicken cacciatore. We then watch 'Fringe' until midnight. We opened one stocking gift each before going to bed. We woke up in the morning and started opening stocking gifts. The stockings were excellent this year. I think we now have figured out how to infuse the meaning that we put into the tree gifts into the stocking gifts while keeping them fun. We then jumped into the car and met my mom and dad at the graveyard. We put poinsettias on my great-grandmother and grandmother's graves (mother's) and then headed east to put flowers on my grandparent's graves (father's). Afterwards we went to my parent's house for breakfast (cassava pie and ham) and to have them open their gifts from us. Next was Aidan's parents to exchange gifts there. We finally got back home and sat on the floor next to the tree and exchanged gifts with each other. The afternoon brought Aidan's grandfather and parents and my parents to our house for Christmas dinner. Everyone brought food and we provided the china and crystal and wine. It was an excellent dinner with lots of conversation. I will admit to sitting on the couch for a quick nap in the midst of the afternoon though..... After everyone left we cleaned up and then watched more 'Fringe'. Boxing Day was nice and lazy. We finished watching 'Fringe' and then headed to Aidan's parent's for his family's Boxing Day lunch. More great food and this time games as well. When we got home it was time for 'Doctor Who'!!!!! Yesterday I overslept so I missed church - Aidan did go though. I felt pretty bad about that. We watched 'The Tudors' until we had to go out to a few friends' open houses. More food!!! We finished 'The Tudors' when we got back, watched the 2 episodes of 'United States of Tara' that were on the DVD and then started watching season 1 of 'Star Trek - The Original Series'. Today is the observance of Boxing Day since it fell on Saturday. We're going into Hamilton for lunch and to do some shopping for the Pipe Band party that we're hosting on Wednesday night and prep for our New Year's dinner. I also need to exchange a sweater (it has polka dots). And tomorrow, I need to go to the hospital for blood tests and then hopefully have lunch with a few of my interns.

Christmas, Christmas Time is Here!!!!

It's Christmas Eve - perhaps one of my most favorite days of the year. No running around shopping on behalf of my dad last minute this year (Aidan just did it for me - he's such a star) or having lunch in the midst of Christmas Eve mayhem or catching an afternoon movie this year. Yup, I am at home, on the couch, tracking Santa on www.noradsanta.org. And I am not complaining - today it is just fine. I'll watch a few Christmas specials, snuggle with the doggies and when Aidan gets home we'll watch some 'Fringe'. We've decided to go to the 6pm Children's Mass this evening because we're not sure my body can handle midnight mass so I think we'll do dinner afterwards and go to see some Christmas lights.

The dentist visit went well yesterday. I am going to have to get veneers for my front teeth in 2010. I broke both of the them when I was 9 (a fall from a balance beam) and killed the nerves so the teeth look different from the others. I had x-rays yesterday because the dentist thought one was infected but it was just that the nerve was dead. So I need to think about teeth and getting pg in 2010... no biggie.

All I Want for Christmas is My Front Tooth....

Who'd have thought that life on the couch would be so difficult!

Yeah, I'm trying to take it easy. Between the low energy and the sore belly, I get more than enough reminders daily that I need to be careful. The transition to Tylenol hasn't been going well and I am doing the oxycodone first thing in the morning in an attempt to keep the pain in check. Menstrual cramps have not helped the situation even though the flow has been dream in comparison to past months.

Anyhow, I was having dinner last night and chipped my front tooth. I was so pissed off at that. It was a cap so the whole corner is gone! Thankfully my dentist will see me tomorrow at 11am but that also means getting to the dentist tomorrow at 11am. I still can't drive for at least 2 weeks (tried driving down the hill yesterday and braking is hell on my abdomen)and catching the bus is not fun. I hope Aidan and I can figure out a plan. At lease I'll gt my wish for my front tooth for Christmas!

Added to the insanity of yesterday, we took our CKCS, Bronwyn, and our black cat, Matthias, to the vet yesterday. We also had to take the other CKCS, Ptolemy, with us or he would have howled the house down. Well, I learned that dogs on leashes and sore bellies don't mix. Bronwyn and Matthias survived their annual shots and worming - Matthias has been sleeping off the visit while Bronwyn it brighter this morning. And I won't be walking Ptolemy and Bronwyn on my own any time soon - it took a while to get the pain under control last night....

And then came the best part. Resigned to staying on the couch after the vet visit and the tooth incident, I turned on Lifetime for a Christmas movie or two. With the weather the way it is here (cold, windy and rainy), I was bundled up in my fleece blanket. We had lost electricity earlier in the day and I was hopeful that I could finish the movie before we lost it again thanks to some minor light flickering. All of a sudden I heard an explosion... but the lights were still on. Turns out that one of our reverse cycle A/Cs blew out. Aidan tried to look over it in the dark but had to wait until this morning. Looks like we may have to replace the unit... sigh.

On a positive note, our open house went very well. Beatles RockBand was the star of the day. Sadly the weather kept many away but we still had a significant number of guests. I managed to stay on the couch most of the day. It got a bit difficult to do so when a lot of people arrived in the evening.

Let's Get This Holiday Season Moving...

Outside of sub-par bus ride yesterday, the student reception an Aidan's company's dinner was good. I also managed to pick up table cloths for tomorrow's open house and my Torchwood 2009 Annual. So with that done, it's time to get the holidays started.

Tonight we're having an early Christmas at Aidan's sister's house. His brother and sister will be flying to the UK to spend Christmas with their respective spouses' families. So tonight we're letting them open their presents early if they wish and then going out to dinner. We probably won't open anything because we're more the type to open gifts on or after Christmas but I am hoping they like what we've chosen for them!

I'm almost ready for tomorrow's Open House. I am contemplating whether to have a game or something to give away a few prizes. I picked up a few things just in case but I haven't figured out the type of game. Usually I do a Tombola but I can't be bothered this year. It has to be a game where they'd win a prize while they are there. Maybe if I do a Christmas Quiz and perfect scores get a prize.... I don't know...

Oh yeah, my period has started and I am happy to say that it is quite nice compared to past months! I am so on time that even major surgery can't stop my cycle!!!

Healing...

I got home and in the midst of being excited to be back in my house with my dogs and cats and my tempurpedic mattress I also had to deal with bleeding and swelling. It wasn't a surprise because the doctor said it would most likely happen - and to be prepared for random bleeding over the next 8 weeks. So after doing laundry, I napped, hoping that the bleeding would slow... it didn't.

I had to go to the Christmas Concert for a school that I am a Board Member. It is a K-12 school so it was a longish evening. But it was great fun. The little kids were really cute and the Glee Club sounded great. In the Nativity, they had a live Donkey which was really cool!.

We then went to visit my parents. It was nice to catch up but I was so ready for bed. So we headed home and I spent much of the night concerned about the bleeding. It stopped around 3am but I was already tired. Thank God I did not have to go to work today!

So I am set to go to a reception tonight and then a dinner. Unfortunately I have to catch the bus into Hamilton since I cannot drive. I have no idea how I'll get to the dinner... I can't walk!Anyhow, I have finished wrapping presents and need to start getting the house ready for Saturday.

I am on Tylenol at the moment and I am feeling achy. I might take a nap shortly...

Going Home Tomorrow!!!!!!

The last few days have been ok. Lots and lots of rest. The bruising on my right thigh had both of us concerned so I took it extra easy. I seem to get really drowsy in the afternoon so it hasn't been a problem being on the extra bed rest. I've still had about 2 daily walks. Plus Aidan took me to see the Boston Pops Holiday Pops on Sunday. So the last few days, while frustrating have been fun. Each evening Aidan has gotten an entree from Cheesecake Factory and we've shared it while watching the second season of the UK version of 'Life on Mars'. This has also meant that we've been able to experience the cheesecake - finally! And it is yummy!!!

Today was my postop appointment. Aidan was more nervous than I because he was concerned that the bruising on my leg would have me here for a few more days (believe me, we're ready to go home!). We wen't to the hospital via the T and then had to walk through Brigham & Women's via 'The Pike'. The hospital truly is a rabbit warren of offices and hallways. We checked in with our coordinator, gave great feedback on our stay at the Sheraton and gave her some Cadbury chocolates. We then headed to the 2nd floor for the appointment. I went in frst to be weighed and have my blood pressure checked. My weight is good and therefore will be back to normal when I get rid of all of this extra fluid. My blood pressure was the best I've seen it in a doctor's office. We then had a wait for the doctor.

When the doctor arrived she went over the 4 page report with me. She went through the locations of all of the fibroids, what was done to remove them. In the end, I had 3 fibroids that had entered the uterine cavity and were therefore affecting my fertility. Due to the repairs, I will have to have a c-section to deliver any children. And, we can basically start trying again in 4 months!!! I have to have a hysterscopy before doing IVF again but I am so very hopeful that we won't need to do another cycle..... (fingers crossed). Anyhow, the bruising was expected and my internal exam, while painful, indicated that I was healing well. She adjusted my meds so I should not be trippin' the way I did this past weekend. And best of all, I can go home tomorrow! We gave her some Cadbury chocolates as well and left the hospital so very relieved!

So this afternoon after my nap we did a little shopping. Aidan got me a knit dress for Saturday's party - a larger dress size so it will be comfortable. We also walked part of the way down Newbury Street to see the lights and the windows. Aidan is now doing some last minute shopping and we'll be going to dinner with Carrie & Peter this evening.

The hospital has scheduled pick-up for 6am tomorrow morning and we should be home by noon. I cannot wait to climb into my bed!!!!!

Crazed...

Ok, the drugs are amazing. I have been taking one oxycodone every 4 hours. I started with 2 tablets every 4 hours and I was as high as a kite. So it's been one tablet since Friday and today it is every 6 hours. It is indeed a special drug. I've been dozing off and have had the most active dream-life that I've ever had. Aidan has said that I was asleep and still carrying on conversations with him on Friday.

Yesterday was crazy though. I was a bit paranoid because my bruises settled in yesterday (it looks as if I was beaten my my stomach and right thigh). After calming down to have dinner and watching a few episodes of "Life on Mars, Season 2" we turned out the lights for the evening. My vivid dreams became paranoid dreams. I was afraid to sleep. I ended up with the light on and dozing over 6 or so hours. In the morning I finally felt normal enough to go to sleep. By lunchtime I was back to normal. At one point last night I wanted to go to the hospital because I was so paranoid. So the dosage has been cut and so far, so good. I am so looking forward to Tuesday's appointment though...

Other than that, the pain isn't too bad. The weariness is a PITA but that is expected over the next few weeks. I am so taking it easy.... I really do not need to rush myself through this!

Recovery....

Yesterday was difficult. Not a lot of pain due to the drugs but I am so very sore and swollen. Aida has been a star, taking my temps, making sure I have my meds and making me rest. We ha dinner at the Cheesecake Factory last night because I had to have a steak for dinner (doctor's orders). I ate maybe 1/2 of it with some spinach. Unfortunately I was having an allergic reaction to something (we think the glycerin in my anti-bloating meds) and he itching was so bad that I ended up back in the room drinking lots of water and standing under the shower.

Going back to Wednesday, we left the hotel early due to the snow. It was very light and fluffy at that time so it wasn't much to worry about. We got to the hospital a little after 7.35 and went to admitting. Unlike home where admitting is in the emergency department, admitting at Brigham & Women's was like a hotel lobby with fashion drawings all over the wall. It moved quickly and in minutes I was called in for paperwork and then I was called to be taken to get ready for surgery. Walking through the hospital was a bit unnerving but I got into cubicle number 5, changed and got comfortable. My nurse was excellent as she went ovr everything and I was soon visited by the anesthesiologist, the surgery nurse and my doctor and her fellowship student. I also received a reiki session before they inserted the IV and took my glasses. Aidan was sent upstairs to the Family lounge and I was wheeled into the operating theatre. They made me really comfortable with hot air pillows, etc. Then the buzzing started in my head and I was out.

No dreams or anything, I just woke up in recovery 6 hours later. I felt pretty sore. Even with the meds the cramping on the right side was pretty bad. I was in recovery for 3.5 hours while they got the pain under control. Aidan was brought down at one point but I was still hurting so they said they'd call him when I was ready to go to my room. That was about 7.30-8pm. They had me in the women's part of the hospital in a private room. Aidan was able to stay in a fold out chair and they gave him blankets and pillows. I began working on meeting the requirements for release immediately. I went to the bathroom (#1) at about 8.30 and It didn't hurt as much as I thought it would. I went for a walk around the floor around 9.30 and was eating crackers and soup by 10pm. The fellowship student came to visit and was so amazed at my progress.

The night was long. They had me up every hour for blood pressure, temperature and pulse checks. Plus I was up every 2 hours for #1. At 5am I turned on the tv and dozed off and on until 8.30. I then sent Aidan off to breakfast and ordered some for myself. The fellowship student and the nurse came in at that point and did my final exam, removing the tape from the incisions. They then went to do the discharge papers and I ate and eventually got dressed. We were out of there around 11am. Aidan had to go to the pharmacy for the drugs while I tried to get comfortable in bed. At about 3.30pm I went for a walk and then we did dinner at six. We tried to watch some tv - the first episode of season 2 of 'Life on Mars' but i was pretty drowsy. So I been getting up every 2 hours as before and Aidan has been making sure I get the pain meds every 4 hours.

I am hopeful that the worst is over. The gas is the worst part - It's tough to get it moving. I have to thank MIL for the full size brief recommendation. We purchased some at CVS and they make a world of difference over the incisions. My belly and bikini area look really weird - very swollen and droopy. Still the scars will be small and I will eventually get the bloating under control.

Thanks again for all of your thoughts and prayers. It has been a crazy roller coaster ride.

I'm OK!

Just a quickie! Surgery took place and went well.They got 10 fibroids. Surgery took 6 hours.

Surgery Today... Maybe

It's snowing so we're going to have to head to the hospital soon. We're making 8am and my surgery is scheduled for 9.30am. I should be released tomorrow afternoon if all goes well. That is if the surgery takes place! Yeah, I might get there and be told to come back later. Apparently the robot needs new blades and they're scheduled to arrive via Fedex at 8am. And yes, there is a snow storm sweeping the country.... argh!

Anyhow, pre-op was ok yesterday. We arrived early but they were able to take us. I had two meetings, had my blood pressure checked (good considering my white coat fever) and blood drawn (not fun but no bruise). We spent most of the day waiting for info on whether I would have to do a bowel prep. I only drank half of the magnesium citrate before I was told it wasn't necessary, but I had to stop eating. That was also when we were told about the robot issue.

We had a relaxing night though. We went over to the Cambridgeside Galleria for a change of scenery. Sadly, they had a Taco Bell and I couldn't have any (Thankfully, I wasn't hungry). I did have to get briefs for after the surgery while I was there... I am so not used to briefs anymore.....

So hopefully I'll be online at some point - they have wireless throughout the hospital and we will have both computers. Not sure if Aidan will do an update...

Thanks so much for the wonderful comments and thoughts!I truly appreciate it!

Feels Like Home... Sorta

I love Boston. I intend to purchase a condo here one day. I loved living here and try to visit as often as possible. So when we flew in yesterday, it felt like coming home. Granted, home is a hotel but it is connected to the Prudential Center so it is a well known area for me. We got used to our surroundings during the early evening. We managed to send all of the cards and gifts that had to go to the US and internationally (we sent the Bermuda ones yesterday before we left). We only have to go outside to get to the Shaw's supermarket. So we're happy with our location.

I don't have wireless though.... so we only have one computer between the two of us at the moment. It's a PITA. I cannot believe how I now expect wireless in my room when I travel. I mean shoot, I'm going to have wireless in the hospital but I don't have it in my hotel room! Anyway, we're trying to network the netbook to the laptop and I am having no luck.

So today is pre-op. Tomorrow it's supposed to snow. Just can't wait to get to Friday because it'll be over and I'll be back at the hotel recovering! In the meantime, I'll try to be calm. We celebrated our anniversary (8th anniversary of saying 'I Love You' to each other)last night at The Cheesecake Factory so that was really nice. We're contemplating getting tickets to see the Holiday Pops concert... probably won't happen until the weekend though.