Ups and Downs

This surgery experience is certainly of the roller coaster variety. Just when we think things are going good, we have another hill to climb.

It took longer than expected to get beyond the headaches. She had to have an MRI to help diagnose the problem. Seems there might have been a small leak of the spinal fluid. No matter what the cause, the treatment was the same - lie down as much as possible until the problem was gone. And that took until early Wednesday.

Wednesday was such a good day that the doctor said go home whenever she felt able. We got the ball rolling to go home Thursday morning. However, Wednesday night was not comfortable, so she opted for the more potent painkiller. By Thursday morning, her energy level was almost zero and her blood pressure would drop when she sat up or stood up. I didn't think we wanted to try to make it home like that, so we checked with the doctor. By the time he was out of surgery and came by, she was improved, so he said we could still go home if we felt like it. He said these dips are to be expected with the surgery she had.

So now we are getting ready to leave again. She is getting her dressing changed and perhaps we will make it home this time. Here's hoping....

Hospital Tales

It is Sunday evening and I am watching my taller, straighter daughter peacefully sleeping after a humdinger of a surgery.

What did we ever do before all the technology we have today? If I had been more savvy, I would have taken my computer to the hospital with me for the wait during the surgery. The hospital has wi-fi we can access with a patient password. I could have emailed updates during the day. As it was, we had to settle for hiking around to the skybridge to obtain a cell phone signal and send out brief texts during the day because we couldn't access ATT signal in the waiting room. Oh well, it was better than having to call collect from a pay phone down the hall.

When I went home today to clean up and get clothes for the rest of the stay, I grabbed my computer so I can have my entertainment and communication in the room with me. I can send updates a little faster this way....my texting is not so fast.

Amelia, as I am learning to call her, is doing well. She has a little challenge with nausea and a headache when she stands or sits, but the doctor has just ordered her to take it easy for another day or two until this passes. He said most people do not realize how difficult this surgery is. It is definitely not for wimps! Once this little hiccup passes, Amelia is ready to get on with the program. The physical therapist was amazed at how much she can already do by herself. She is determined to be able to go home in as few days as possible.

Vacation with a Purpose

Friday will begin my two-week vacation from the bank. I have a lot planned for those two weeks, but it will all revolve around daughter, Amy's, surgery. The doctor's estimate is 5 - 7 days in the hospital and months of recuperation and rehab.....although it is not really as bad as it sounds. She will be walking the day after surgery and will be plenty sore from the rib removal, but the spinal surgery itself won't be that uncomfortable for very long. Though she will have to refrain from lifting for quite some time, moving around will be something she might be doing a lot of for rehab. She is already planning to spend her weeks at our home upstairs!

While Amy is recovering, I will spend time weeding through 'stuff' in my home and trying to get rid of the extras. I hope I have enough will power to really simplify around here. Gotta get rid of some things I have been hanging on to for entirely too long!

I also want to reward my efforts with some fun things along the way.....don't want this vacation to be all work and no play! I would like to start on some digital scrapbooking and perhaps finish one of the quilts I have started.

With someone to visit with while doing these projects, I should be able to achieve most of what I am setting out to accomplish.

Happy Mother's Day

We actually began celebrating Mother's Day on Friday when a lovely flower arrangement arrived at the bank in Fulshear from Lyndsey and Kayla. Then Travis and I took Mimi to Houston for niece, Kylie Seitz', graduation from nursing school. Travis even survived the trip with me as a passenger in Houston rush hour traffic downtown!!

The celebration continued yesterday as David suggested that he and Lance take out their wives and families, and included Travis, me, and Mimi.

Travis and I took time to visit with MeMaw at Garden Villa for a while. She was watching her beloved Astros as we arrived. She is doing well, looking good, and seems to like her new surroundings. She said they aren't treating her badly with rehab....just getting her to walk some. Richard and Claudia had added a digital photo frame with lots of pictures of their family, so we went through most of them as they randomly popped up. They had even included Norris and Sallie's wedding picture. Today would have been their 66th anniversary.

We then joined the family for an enjoyable evening at Los Cucos in El Campo where we just 'camped out' for about 3 hours. I received an array of great cards from the kids and grandkids and Travis. It was relaxed fun and good visiting....and more food than I could eat, so I will make the celebration continue on to supper tonight with leftovers.

Travis and I joined our friends at Larry's for breakfast this morning for a nice fellowship. Travis had given me a gift last night that I enjoyed showing off this morning....new necklace and earring set. And the vase of roses is still beautiful.

Email and Facebook posts have dotted yesterday and today with Mother's Day greetings and wishes. I feel very loved and appreciated. Thanks to you all for a very special day.....

Barn Party

The Muegge family (the family we purchased our present home from) hosts a wonderful barn party every spring, and we are fortunate enough to be invited. The meat is furnished by the host, and guests bring the rest. Travis cooked his famous bacon-wrapped jalapenos and a pot of navy beans. I don't think the jalapenos lasted ten minutes after we put them on the serving line! He was being asked all evening for his recipe.

I know a few more of the attendees each year, but enjoy spending time with my lovely friend from El Campo, Mary Lou Birkner. We caught up on kids, grandkids, and things we enjoy. But with the first LOUD chord from the live band we knew our visiting time was over. We collected the navy beans that were left and headed for the car. We know a few more people a little better now that we have mingled in the casualness of the barn party.

If I Knew.....

Ohhhhh, if I knew which critter did the dastardly deed, I would exact the same punishment on it!

When I took Emma outside this afternoon I didn't see the Momma or Daddy Redbirds anywhere. Nor did I hear their familiar chirps. When I checked the nest, I saw it was empty. Then I saw evidence of the massacre. The poor little babies were just starting to get really fuzzy feathers. It could have been the owl....he was eyeing the Daddy yesterday and was perched just above the nest. He did fly off to a yard a couple of houses away, but he could have remembered where to come back when 'the human' was gone. Or we have lots of squirrels in the neighborhood and in our yard. I was just soooo disappointed.....I wanted to see them grow into the lovely birds like the Momma and Daddy.

Bird Watching

Emma is always ready to go outside as soon as I come home in the afternoon, so I put everything down inside and let her head for the grass. I have been taking her out on the leash most of the time so she won't wander off. She was in such a hurry this afternoon that I didn't stop her to put the leash on her. We both walked around a bit enjoying the beautiful sunshine and temperate weather. The birds (and we have lots of all kinds) were singing and flying around.

One bird was flitting near the house with his chirpy warning to stay away from HIS bush. He is a beautiful redbird whose hatchlings are in a nest in the bush. Apparently Momma bird was away gathering food. Daddy bird was doing his best to keep us distant.

I started looking around for Momma bird, I was startled to see just above us a great big OWL! Emma would have been an appetizer for this huge bird if I had not been standing there! I didn't think he would wait for me to grab my camera, but he obliged for several shots. I have never been so close to an owl before! He really was a magnificent creature!

In addition to these lovelies, I saw a red-headed woodpecker, swallows, wrens, and some I don't recognize. At other times of the year, we have tree ducks, doves, and even buzzards. Oh, and I can't forget the dozens of hummingbirds that found my red trumpet bushes this year! It's fun watching the birds when I have a little time.