March 2

Driving to school, all around me were pink and yellow wildflowers popping out of the ground. Couldn't help but smile seeing them! Hope that feeling for renewal and joy lasts all day!!

Dave vs. American greed

Yesterday, my GMC Envoy turned over 100,000 miles. It's paid for.

Most of society and the car dealerships would be drooling as I passed by their dealerships and offering me great deals.

Ha! Dave has made me see the light. I'm a happy woman!!

May it go many, many more miles!!!

My kids at school have been so cute since I've been back. The 1st two I saw, my Jimmy with the cartoon voice and my "tweener" Zoe, came running in to my classroom and took turns in my lap. Not really "legal" to hold a kid on your lap anymore, but who cares?! Jimmy just kept saying, "You're back, you're back!" over and over. He's the only one that wanted to touch my incision, so I let him after I inspected his fingers, and he made the appropriate noises and grimmaces. Man, I love everything about that little boy. (Gregg and Erin - I'll take one just like him; a stinker with a big, big heart! :) ) Zoe stood her distance and asked lots of questions, like, " how close did they come to cutting your head all the way off?" I patiently let them ask whatever they wanted, for the past two days, and have tried to answer them with careful but truthful answers. I've never felt like you should shelter kids from reality, especially if they ask. The thing about 3rd and 4th graders is that they - for the most part - are pure in their questions. They haven't figured out the "polite" way to put things, so when they ask about "all those ugly bruises" on my arms (I'm a hard stick!) they are just concerned. In their own ways, they've made me feel very loved and wanted. Not a bad thing when it comes to where you spend the majority of your days.
Good news, I hope. One part of all my blood work was a test for Dr. Massey - he called it a "tumor chaser." Lovely. He said they like to keep track every so often to see if any of those pesky cancer cells have hidden somewhere. So, several days have passed, and I've not heard from him to come in. I'm taking that as a good report!! Thanks, Father!!!
Well, tomorrow is Wednesday. I'm going to bed.
Sweet dreams!

Home again

Well, the deed is done; I am thyroid-less and have a new non-deviated septum. I also have a killer headache.

The surgery went very well; my thyroid was large and growing up under my collarbone, which is quite sore as I type. I also have a yard or two of packing up my nose, which is a little more than uncomfortable and makes my lips very dry from all the mouth-breathing. Other than those little complaints, I am fine. Andy took off the bandage today as the doc ordered and my neck in noticably smaller from every angle. Tomorrow, I get to shower and shampoo this nasty hair, and then I'm sure I'll be even better. I'm not sure how I'm going to cover this big smiley mouth on my neck when I go back to school; I don't want to gross out the kids. I may need Andy to go buy me a delicate little scarf for the first few days.

One thing I really like about surgery is the maching they put on my legs to keep blood clots away. They "puff' every few seconds, which constricts my feet and lower legs, and it feels like a constant massage. The nurses tell my most patients complain about them, but I love it. I'd buy one if I could - except for the hassle of taking them off to go to the bathroom.

So, that's it for the surgery news. I"m really hoping this is it for a long, long time. I asked God for something the night before, and it worked out, so I'm figuring I'm cool for a while.

Thanks for your prayers and well-wishes. I'm very blessed.

News

Earlier in the week; Andy and I met with Dr. Brown, the guy who's taking out my thyroid. I very likeable fellow; laughing eyes and a quick wit - gentle hands around my throat. The visit started off on a bad note, though; they sprayed this deading down my nostrils, and it was nasty - gagged me and made me jump sky high! That did not sit well with me - I like to know what's coming! Anyway - once Dr. Brown came in and we chatted a bit, he began to look in my nose. His eyes widened, and he proceeded to inform me that my septum is very deviated!! So, after he takes out my thyroid, he's going to do a little rinoplasty!! It's apparently a win-win deal; no bruising or swelling and little pain. I'll sleep much better and breathe through my nose for the first time on that side. Nothing will change externally, so you'll recognize me next time we meet after that -
My insurance is going to begin to wonder if I'm trying to come up with these duo-surgeries if I don't stop soon!! Hey, why not get the most out of those anesthestiologists and operating rooms while I can!!

The date: Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007 - 11:30 am. Please pray.