Sore Noses, Sore Jaws ..... and 48 hours .....

.... to go to be past another year.

Even though this sounds a bit insane, it's been almost nice to have the distraction of the pain of surgery and it's aftermath ..... to think about something other than what day this Sunday will be.

It's been a relatively quiet couple of days.

My surgery went well and Son #2's extractions went much better than expected.  We had no complications, which was a relief.  I was worried about his procedure and the possible problems that his X-rays indicated.
But all went well.
The oral surgeon said that his teeth (all 5 of them!) came out relatively easily.

My surgeon was pleased with how well my surgery went and with how little blood there was.  Also a very good thing, since I didn't want to wake up with a packed nose.
I did have a difficult time coming out of the anesthesia because I was in an unusual amount of pain.  I can remember hearing him, and the nurse, discussing it.  They had to give me Demerol and Morphine to combat the pain.  I can remember the pain, and snatches of their conversation.  I distinctly remember hearing the surgeon say that he had placed 2 stents in my nose .... and I was so ticked off that I ALMOST opened my eyes to ask, "WTH?!" ..... but I couldn't quite manage to get even one eye open.
I had not been forewarned about the existence of stents.  I plan to take that up with him on Monday, when I go back in.  Hopefully after he takes them out ..... causing me as little pain as possible.  I've heard otherwise, but I'm just trying to focus on getting them out and all of this behind me so that I can move forward with the healing.

All in all, it's probably gone much better than I thought it would.
And I couldn't have asked for a better caretaker on the day of surgery.
Truly.

I left home this morning at 5:30.  The building was pretty quiet at that time in the morning.  I think there may have only been one other patient there that morning.  They moved everything along pretty quickly.  Once I filled out a couple of forms they took me back, had me change into one of those lovely gowns and blue hair nets (no, I did not obtain a picture for you) .... and then started the IV.  I think they took me back into surgery less than 30 minutes after I walked back there.

I was on my way back home sometime after 11:00 or so.  I don't remember much about the drive.  I got into bed, where I spent the rest of the day.
Jim would not have handled any of this well.  He would have tried, bless his heart, but the man could not handle blood .... or gore of any kind.
He most likely would've handed me a Kleenex, told me good luck, and then would have gone to lie on the couch to avoid from passing out.
Whenever one of the kids got hurt and needed stitches ..... I had to make sure that he sat alone in the driver's seat, while the injured child and I sat as far back as possible .... to make sure he never caught sight, sound, or whiff of anything that appeared remotely like blood.
:)


Daughter #2 did a great job of taking care of Son #2.  She helped him with his gauze (gag!) and kept him on his medicinal schedule.  She also hung out back in the bedroom with me and we watched movies and I dozed on and off.
Son #2 stayed closed up in his room most of the day, too.  We saw very little of each other.

Yesterday was a bit tougher.  The wonderful local that the surgeon had given me on Wednesday had worn off by Thursday morning.  The stents were now very apparent .... and very irritating, as well as painful.  It was another day packed with pain meds, though fewer than the day before.  I was grumpier than the previous day.  
For some reason ..... my body sometimes has a wonderful time reacting completely opposite than expected when it's on medication.  This has been one of those times.
I did not sleep all night.
Not one hour.
At 7:00 a.m. I gave up and got up to see which son was heading out the door, got something to drink, and then decided to try to go back to bed .... and sleep.
And I did.  Except that I think I then received a phone call from my cousin, which I mostly slept through (sorry cuz).
I got out of bed around 11:00 and stumbled around the house for a while, until I was able to wake up and hold half of a conversation with D#2.
Son #2 was able to go hang out with friends today ..... he seems to be rebounding rather decently.
I hung around the house, paid some bills and managed to wrap all of the kids' Christmas gifts and get them under the tree before I went to the tennis team's Christmas party tonight.

I have to admit that I abhor gift wrapping.  Really, really hate it.  And usually dread it so much that I put it off as long as possible.  But today I just decided to tackle it and get it done.  The fact that I cut back this year on the insane gift-buying helped quite a bit.
Well, it helped me ..... the kids won't be too crazy about it, but there you go.

And there you go.
A totally boring account of our last 2 days around here.
But you know, I've discovered over the last 4 years .... that boring can be pretty damn good.

Son #2 and I are healing.
Physically.
Hopefully all 6 of them and I are healing ..... emotionally.  I admit that I am much slower at this healing than the rest of them.  Or so it appears.
Some days are better than others.
Some months are better than others.
December is .... December.
I know it won't always hurt as much as it does now ..... it doesn't hurt as much as it has the last few years.
I am learning to be patient.
And learning that some expectations are made to be surrendered.

I am thankful for who I have in my life.
I am thankful for what I have in my life.
I am thankful for who I've had in my life.

I am thankful for easy wisdom teeth extractions.
I am thankful for unpacked noses.
I am thankful for love.

I am thankful that God is here ..... even, and especially, when I don't always feel Him.
I am thankful for the things He's teaching me, showing me .... and how He's preparing me.
To keep learning, to keep loving ..... and to keep living, and being ready to follow Him ..... wherever He leads.

I've learned a lot these last 4 years.
I never wanted to learn the things I did.
But here I am.
Ready to see what's next.
Ready to see where is next.
Ready.

And now, hopefully, ready to fall asleep tonight/this morning.

Happy Saturday, Peeps.
:)