What a week

You know, just when I thought things were getting slightly back to normal for me, I get slapped in the face with yet another challenge.  I went to see the nurse practitioner last week for my one month check up for my back and during the course of our visit, he told me to remember to not bend, twist, or pick up anything over 25 pounds for the next 6 months….I sat there with my mouth open and said..”Um, what!”  I know that my neurosurgeon told me 3 months but apparently he forgot to add 3 more months on top of that.  I have been really struggling with this.  It sent me into a wonderful state of depression for several days.  All I could think of was all the things I will not be able to do this summer.  I mean I was to a point where I was accepting the fact that for another two months it was going to be a struggle, but now….  Uggg this really bites.  I am so glad that Austin has been so supportive.  I have not exactly been a pleasant thing to be around lately.  Today I have felt a little bit better about all this.   I usually pride myself in not letting things get me down, but sometimes it seems like this whole ordeal is getting the best of me.  I’ve also been sooo tired lately, and it doesn’t help that at night it takes me like 3 hours to go to sleep.    It sucks when you don’t feel like yourself and you can’t do a lot of things that you used to be able to do.  I’m not the kind of person who likes to lay around all day and have other people do things for me.  Anyway, I’m not trying to be a mopey sour puss, but I just needed to vent.  I’ve realized that the only way I’m going to make it through this is the with the help of my Heavenly Father.

Well, a couple of good things that have come of this is that I have a lot more time to read now.  Right now I am reading the 13th reality series.  It is really really good.  I’m also now obsessed with watching The Office.  Austin’s brother got the first 3 seasons for his birthday, which he kindly let us borrow.  I also got released from my calling as the 2nd counselor in Primary.  I am now the secretary in Primary.  I am so grateful for this change because it really would have been a struggle to do the other calling.  Well it always seems like I have a lot more to say, but I guess that’s it :)  Oh, Wendy got her gastric bypass surgery done two weeks ago and she is doing awesome!  She has already lost 16 pounds!  Anyway, hope you all are having a good week.  Here are some random pics to enjoy.

                        Kylie LOVES dandelions. 

              Our flowering cherry tree…LOVE IT!

           Kylie bug after eating a yummy cookie

Ok, this is the first and only time so far that she has done this…

                                               Me and my sweet girl

One month

I can hardly believe it has been one month since my surgery.  I am so happy it has gone by so fast.  2 more months and I get to pick up Kylie and bend over!  Funny how those two simple things are so exciting to look forward to :)  Well I wish I had something exciting to write about, but when all I do is sleep, eat, read, and watch TV, there’s nothing really new to share!  I did decide to break out of the monotony of my days and sew a little bag for Kylie.  My friend Nichole finds the coolest stuff to make from other people’s blogs, and so I decided to make this bag. 

It’s going to be Kylie’s quiet bag for church.  It took me a little longer than expected since I’m crippled and it takes twice as long to do anything.  I put some books under my sewing machine and was able to stand while sewing.  It worked out fine, but what would happen is I would stand for over 2 hours, losing all track of time, and before you know it, my back would be  killing me.  So I decided that I will have to officially lay off the sewing until I get better.  It’s tragic, I know.

Anyway, I’ve already tired myself out.  I’m going to see if I can go back to sleep….

Are you kidding me???

Using the hospital’s operating room for 4 hours = $7,134.86

Drugs/fluids that were pumped into me =  $1,671.15

Six titanium screws put in my back = $22, 143

Having my back be worth more than our two cars put together = PRICELESS

 

So I got the mail yesterday and got the hospital bill for my 4 lovely days at Utah Valley for my back surgery…$69,064.66.  That didn’t even include the $19,000 for the neurosurgeon’s fee.  Can we say what the????  Seriously, I feel really dumb now for telling everyone that this whole procedure would be about $25,000 to $30,000.  It’s going to be more like $90,000.  Austin is in the wrong profession.  Anyway, we have awesome insurance so we’ll only have to pay $1,000.  But still, can you believe that!  The filler bone kit as they like to call it (a mixture of my blood, ground up bone, and this filler mixture that was put on top of my vertebrae that will in time form into bone) was $12, 444.70.  I added up how much it cost for the screws, instruments, and everything else that they had to use to operate on my back and it added up to $52,001.90.  So if any of you want to get rich quick, you can just gouge out my back and take all my expensive hardware :)

Well, I hope everyone has a great Easter weekend.  I’m looking forward to eating some good food :)  Here are a couple of pictures that I forgot I had taken when my mom was out here.

Damian, Jenelle, and Kylie

               Me and my momma

Hello, hello! Just thought I would share a quick update on how I am doing. My mom left on Tuesday to go back home and that was kind of hard for me. She was such a great help and it was so fun to see Kylie and her playing together and getting to know each other a little more. I had an emotional break down a few days before she was going to leave. All I could think of was how was I going to take care of Kylie?? It scared me to death to be on my own. But thanks to my WONDERFUL neighbors, I know that I can get through this. My friend Shelly made up a list for the next month of who could watch Kylie in the mornings. She and others are also making us dinners for the next couple of weeks. You guys, you have no idea how much this has meant to me. I know that you will probably get sick of me telling you thank you, but seriously, I don't know how I could make it through these next couple of weeks without you guys. I know that Kylie is having so much fun playing with your kids, and I have enjoyed the chance to rest. I just wanted to let you know that you have been the answer to my prayers. Thanks for all your kindness. Thanks also to everyone who has called or written me or sent over movies and books so that I won't be bored :) I appreciate it so much. Thank you Austin for being such a wonderful husband through all this. I'm so grateful for the next little while that you will be able to work from home and will be able to help me out when I need it. I know some days seem overwhelming, but I just want you to know how much I love you. I have just been so humbled through this whole experience. Thanks again for everyone's help.


We are buying Kylie a little table and chairs this week so she can eat at it. My friend Wendy let us borrow hers until we get one, and she seems to really like it. She has noticed her added freedom and will periodically get up from her chair and run around the house with food all over her hands. But this is the easiest way that I am able to feed her on my own. We still have to figure out her crib situation. We thought maybe we could buy her a step ladder to get into bed, but we haven't found one tall enough or wide enough that I wouldn't have to worry about her falling. Someone suggested doggy steps, but I need them to be at least 3 feet high. Anyone have any suggestions? Austin could build something, but we're having trouble figuring out what we could build it out of that I could move around to her changing table and away from her bed so she won't try climbing out when I'm not there. My neighbor offered to let us borrow her toddler bed, but again I'm worried about her just getting out of her bed and not taking her naps. Anyway, I'm open to new ideas :)

Before I go, I just wanted to share this adorable picture of Kylie and Brittany. Britney is Shelly's little girl. She sent me this picture today while she is watching Kylie. I guess they decided to set up these chairs and watch Backyardagains. How cute!


 

Cute and not so cute pictures

Well, not much has happened since I wrote.  I pretty much just lay around :) I took a few pictures of Kylie with this cute ribbon in her hair.  She actually leaves it in which amazes me.  There is also a picture of how big my incision is.  I think it’s wicked cool.  It’s 6 1/2 inches long.  I get the staples out on Monday…fun.  Anyway, I’m still getting over my little adventure to Wal-Mart.  I’m such an idiot.  Honestly, who goes walking around for an hour a week after back surgery???!!!  Me, I guess :)  Anyway, here’s a few pictures of my sweetie pie.

 

Don’t be jealous guys……

One week down...11 more to go

Hey guys! Wow, I was having withdrawals from my blog :) Wow, what a week. Probably the hardest of my life. Last Tuesday was a long day for me. All that waiting made me want to take my IV out and high-tail it out of that hospital. Speaking of IV, they blew through 2 of my veins in my hands trying to put an IV in before they got another lady to give a stab at it and she got it on the first try. So that was just wonderful to start off my day. I remember finally waking up from my operation and hearing everyone around me but not being able to open my eyes or talk. That was weird. They got me to my room and I finally opened my eyes. Guess it took me over an hour to get them to wake me up. That kind of freaked Austin out. Anyway, I was slurring my words and thinking what the heck did I just do!!! It was really uncomfortable and it took them a day and a half to find a pain pill that worked. Wednesday morning I got up for the first time...and I wanted to cry. Wait, I did cry. Sitting up was torture and I was kind of mad they took the catheter out because I didn't want to get out of my bed again! Anyway, as the day went by, it got a little easier to get up. By day 3 I was so sick of their food and just so nauseated that all I could manage was jello and cereal. Thanks for all those who came to visit me. I really appreciated it :) It broke up the monotony of my day. I was able to go home Saturday morning and I think I got better just walking through our door. It has been nice to be home with my family. My mom has been such a wonderful help. Austin has been my night in shining armor. He has been the sweetest guy and helps me whenever he can. I feel so bad for him at night. I still can't sit up on my own and I have to wake him up 3 to 4 times a night to go the bathroom and to roll me on to my side or back. I felt pretty good yesterday and therefore thought I could handle a trip to Wal-Mart. After being there for over an hour, I realized how wrong I was. I am paying for it today. I need to stop over doing it :) Anyway, I know that was kind of long, but I probably won't write in my journal about this because well heck, I haven't written in my journal since I was 12. Thanks to all those who dropped off goodies and came by to say hello. I really have been blessed to have such wonderful people around me.