Reconstruction is Done!

Sorry for the long abscence and no news. Mom has asked again and again for me to blog. It's usually about this time at night that I find the time and lately I've not been in the writing frame of mind. I've been really tired.

Mom & I have the reconstruction surgeries behind us. She was looking forward to hers, whereas I was not! But we are both thankful to be done.

After Mom's reconstruction, she has done better each day. She still has days where she "tanks" but she is getting around the house & actually (unfortunately for her) doing some chores. She is still not able to do any heavy lifting or pushing but can at least clean the kitchen. Dad is overjoyed & has decided that he's off duty after almost a year. I figure that he's not caught up to Mom's "45 years of marriage work", but he graduated a different math school than me :)

She just came to spend the night with me & we had a great visit. It's the first time since last January that she's been able to be with us at our house & we enjoyed her so much. She has lost 35 pounds, has no clothes that fit & has furry cute silver hair coming in. She has black patches that amaze us. Dad calls her a dalmation. We love her hair short & silver, but we'll see if we can convince her to leave it that way. I'll post pictures as soon as I can.

She is doing really well except for neuropathy. Her hands & feet stay freezing/tingling & she is constantly rubbing them. She is to go in next week for blood work to see if the oncologist should increase her medicine.

As for me, my reconstruction was October 20 & it was harder for me this time than last. I say that.... but last time, I had more time to recuperate & had more drugs. (obviously... for those of you that visited me. So sorry Linda Rich!!!!) Be very careful using the word "girls" around me these days.

Anyway, my surgery should have been about 3 hours but ended up being almost 7. The doctor worked & reworked to get things right. My back muscle had to be tightened on the side of the cancer & he went back through most of my scars to clean things up. My back & right side are the problem areas, but they will pass. I am trying to get to where I can lay on that side for sleeping w/out hurting. I know I will feel back to normal again, but the road there is tiring sometimes. I have NOTHING to complain about....I've been enormously blessed....just ready to be back to "me". I went back to coaching about ten days after the surgery but could only talk to the girls. I can not lift my hands above my head all the way yet & I certainly can't show them any basketball moves :) I get the older girls to help me demonstrate. My team of girls is precious & very understanding & careful with me.

I still have stitches but will get them out soon. I think most of you would want me to spare you the details from this point on, but I'll just say that I am close to being a "finished product" & Mom is not that far behind. ha ha! I go strong for a few days & then have a day that I tank & have to rest most of the day. I have not been given permission to do any work outs or any major pushing or pulling. Darn! Housework will have to go to someone else :0 I'm going to ask my doctor to continue to give me that prescription for a while.."no heavy housework".

Mom & I have fun comparing aches, battle scars, laughs, & all else. We are on the downhill side of this whole journey & are so thankful. We've been blessed with precious, Godly men who stood by & took care of us through it all. We could have never made it without them! Dad has been to more doctor appointments with Mom than he has for himself his whole life & Steve has been a Mr. Super Mom this whole time. We have had amazing friends support & love us, bring us food, transport my children, keep my children, send cards, & pray. God is so good & has made this journey, which we would have never wanted to take, such a blessing in many ways.

As always, thank you for your prayers. We still have a little ahead of us, but for the most part, the bad is behind!!! Please continue to pray for Mom especially....that her CT scans, bone scans & blood tests continue to be negative. Pray for her strength physically.