Monday Morning...

AAAHHHH...coffee - there is just not a lot better in this world! Last night went much better - thanks for all your prayers. I slept on the little couch - I just seem to do better there. The anesthesia is doing the exact thing it did when I had my thyroid out -- it is going to take a while getting it out of my system so I get a lot of "little" sleeps. However, they are already getting longer & longer. Hopefully by the time we return home, that will all be gone! Melynn said last night that she thought that I looked, "SO MUCH better!" That got a whole hearted chuckle from me - I guess it is all relative!! I guess I look "better" but still have a long wa to go! When I registered, I filled out all these papers (& then they called me the night before & ask me all the same questions) -- one of the questions is that they are trying to stop spousal abuse. They ask me if I struggled with that problem -- I said no and chuckled and said that I probably would LOOK like it though when I fly home next week!! I just thought that was kind of funny...We are watching the Waltons right now! I LOVE the Waltons -- Grandpa always reminded me of Daddy!! I'll write more later! :o)

Dave's a Liar, Liar Pants on Fire!!

I look AWFUL, I still can't open my mouth (so i can't really talk-did you ever think that would happen?) & i really don't feel that great! I was never into plastic surgery - i'm thinking now that we better get some results!!! :o) I was able to take the bandages off this morning & so I can now wear my glasses - not being able to see anything made it worse. I will probably try to shower later. Didn't have a very good night - I am very congested & that is making it worse -- please pray about that specifically...ok?

Kay

Well, we had a rough night. Kay can't swallow her meds due to what we feel is congestion in her throat she can't cough up. She woke up scared and shaking and we had to call the ER.
It scared me as well but she is still able to breath. I'm nervous playing doctor when I'm not qualified. Please pray the the swelling will go down and that Kay will be able to get her pain medications and antibiotics down easily. I think this will be a long day as Kay and I are both from lack of sleep tired and are ready for her to start showing some improvements!

End of a long day

Kay and I are in he apartment which is very very nice. It's right on the harbor so we can look out and watch the sail boats go by which for me is a real thrill!!!

She slept most of the day and her eye is still quiet swollen. The doctors said we could remove the bandages tomorrow and get her cleaned up. Kay, true to her amazing self is doing GREAT!!!! What an amazing woman God blessed me with!

More as time goes by!

Next Day

Kay is resting comfortably at the moment. She got up twice in the night and each time it gets easier and easier. She can only open her mouth wide enough to get in a straw so maybe she will make her weight watcher's goal!!! We don't want to scare any one with pictures so that's why you haven't seen any. The doctors came in and said she was doing great! The right side of her mouth is drawn up because they overcompensated so with time this should relax and no longer be a problem, time will tell.

I would kiss her on the forehead but it'd get a mouth full of gauze as she is wrapped up like a cu tip, the prettiest cu tip I've ever seen!!!!!

Kay's thoughts

Well, It's me writing and Kay is going to provide imput. We're in a room and Kay can't move but is doing great. I never thought she would be in a position of not being able to talk (her thought not mine). To me she looks WONDERFUL but to some she looks like she has a bonnett on her head. She is sitting up some and drinking some "tasty" broth provided by the fine folks at JH.

She said she thinks this better have some results but at this point she doesn't think it's worth it.....and she only feels 1/2 the pain. Kay is in and out (not physically but mentally as the pain medications kick in) but she said she will write later. Me, I'm in and out mentally but not form medication, I was born that way (ha ha ha).

In Recovery

Well, I just got to see the most Beautiful sight in the world, the angel God blessed me with named Kay. She is resting and we're waiting on a room.

I wnat to thank everyone for your thoughts and prayers, It means so to me and my family!

You have blessed us much more than you know!

Thanks again and Lord willing the next post will be from Kay!

Kay is FREEEE

Well Kay is out of surgery and doing fine, still in recovery.

The doctor said they had to remove more tendon that the originally thought but she is doing great!!

The doctor said time would tell how much movement she will have but he thought Kay looks great, I'm anxious to see her!

We're still here

Well,
Now I know how those fathers felt pacing the waiting room waiting for their wives to give birth.

Kay is STILL in surgery but is doing fine according to the doctors.
I just got an e-mail from one for the girl's teacher and they are doing fine as well.

More to follow..........

Thanks for every one's prayers and thoughts!!

Kay's in Surgery

Well, they just took Kay back for surgery and said it will take 4 or 5 hours to complete. They are going to take a tendon form her left leg to help bring more symmetry after the surgery. Kay is a real trooper and went in "smiling". Kay asked if they could remove some extra fat while they weer in there but I think she is perfect!!!!

I'll post new information as soon as I know.

Till then........

Thursday night

It's evening or I would start, "Good Morning Baltimore!!" We are here. We just returned from eating at Little Italy -- it was SSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOO good!! We didn't have any problems getting here this time (except that Dave & I didn't get to sit together & Dave had to sit by an extremely large woman). After getting our car, we went straight to Johns Hopkins to pay for the browlift - they wouldn't do it if we hadn't paid today! After that, we came & met Melynn & went to an early dinner (we hadn't eaten since breakfast). The hospital called & I can go earlier tomorrow -- so I am supposed to be there at 8:00 now and they will start the surgery at 9:00 (instead of 11:00). THEN I had a message from Dr. Byrne -- such a nice touch. He said he just wanted to make sure I didn't have any questions (but assured me we would have time for that tomorrow) and said that he hoped I got a good nights sleep and that they would take good care of me tomorrow -- so sweet!!! Anyway, I have to make some lists for Dave (I am trying to make sure he can update this blog, if not Melynn will do it for us) and eat some cheesecake on a stick that Melynn made!!
Keep praying!! :o)

Last Minute...

Just a little update...Here I sit doing this instead of what I SHOULD be doing. I have pretty much finished everything but packing (which I haven't started), but since that will mainly be PJ's & lougewear, it shouldn't take too long. I finished the schedules for the girls for Mom so that is out of the way. I am really NOT nervous or scared, just anxious about leaving the girlies. We have left them before, but not for this long and not for anything but a pleasure trip. It is harder since Addi "gets" it now and can worry about me! Gotta run get busy so I won't be up all night... :o)

Trying to get everything done...

I am taking a short break (kind of - I still am doing laundry!) from all the "stuff" I have been trying to get done today. I started the day by getting my pre-op work done at my PCP's office. Thank goodness they were able to get me in on such incredibly short notice! I got everything done except AFTER they had me all hooked up to the EKG machine, they discovered that it wasn't working!! They were supposed to call me this afternoon after it was repaired, but I never heard from them! Maybe tomorrow...I have written notes to the girlies teachers/school and will talk to Kendie's teachers tomorrow. I have also trying to square away some basketball stuff as I am the "Team Mom" and in charge of all the money. I called the insurance and tried to plead my case about how they pay COMPLETELY for reconstruction on BOTH sides after a mastectomy (where only the significant other sees that) but not on your face (which the WHOLE WORLD sees daily). She told me that that was because of CANCER (not very nicely) to which I replied, "Oh, mine was because of a BRAIN TUMOR!" I can and will appeal it, but we will still have to pay up front for the brow lift. Which brings me to another point, I have decided to go ahead with that -- after much prayer and discussion. Dave assures me that it will be OK, but I am going to feel REALLY bad if I have to start feeding my girlies Ramen noodles because we spent all our money on my FACE!!! More later...I have to get Emee to a birthday party (that we haven't even gotten a gift for!)!

Ski Trip

Here we are skiing at Monarch -- it was the first time that the girlies skied and the first time I really skied since I had brain surgery -- everyone did GREAT!! Here are Emee & Addi up on the mountain by the run called "Sleepy Hollow" -- which is also the name of their school! Kendie never made it to the top, but did well. Emee decided that she DID NOT want to go back to the top, even though she did exceptionally well. There is also a picture of Dave with Kendie -- we think that she will DEFINITELY do lessons next year!! We didn't get a picture of our whole family -- we need to work on the scheduling with everyone needing to be at different places at different times. Won't it be great when we can all take a run together??

Figure Skating

I am going to try to catch up on a few things that have happened the last couple of weeks that I just haven't had the time to post! I even have pictures!! I took some pictures of Addi playing basketball but they didn't really turn out that great -- since she will be playing a lot more, I'll get better pictures of her later (she has her new uniform now anyway). Here are some pictures of Emee's Figure Skating Exibition -- since we only have ice when the hockey team is playing (& their season now over), we have already had their "final" recital-type thing. Emee finished the season doing much better than the beginning. The big highlight was getting her beautiful skating outfit from Aunt Francie AND it had a matching scrunchee (she thought that was the BEST!). You ROCK Aunt Francie!!

(Obviously I have to work on getting the pictures to look right, but at least they are here!!) :o)

SUGERY DATE

I have so much to write & so many pictures to put on here, but for now I will tell you about my Dr. visit today at Johns Hopkins. In a nutshell, I am having the T3 surgery on March 28th -- YES, 1 WEEK from FRIDAY!! They had no openings until May or June. Dr. Byrne actually doesn't usually do surgeries on Fridays, but that is when they worked me in!! SUPER quick, but it was now or never. My jaw muscles on the right side are not as strong as they are on the left (that is what they attach the tendon to), but he still thinks there will be benefit from doing it. I figure that I have nothing to lose...& if you know me, if I can, I will be trying to strengthen those muscles!!!! All that to say that I may not have the dramatic smile results that I would like, but still should gain some movement -- it should look better, especially at rest. He also thinks that I would benefit from a browlift on both sides (to help the right side) and maybe changing out my eye weight to platinum. HOWEVER, we are still praying & deciding on that -- I have had SOOOOOOO much trouble w/ my eye over the years and since I finally have it more under control, I don't know if I want to mess w/ it. I have already called to get a consultation w/Dr. Munden when I get back. I will be here in Baltimore a week (hospital 1 night) and then he said a 3-4 week recovery. I asked him if that was 3-4 weeks feeling bad or just looking bad -- he said just looking bad -- to which I replied that wouldn't stop me!!! That's really all I can think of now -- I am very tired just from all the travel the last few days! I'll write later to tell about the trip here and about the parrot accosting (?) me this morning...

Busy,Busy, Busy...

I remembered the camera Sunday at the basketball game and have pictures from Emee's Figure Skating Exhibition too, but just haven't had time to get it all on here. Tuesday was Kendie's birthday and I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to get everything ready to go skiing and then Dave & I leave the day after we get back for Baltimore! Yesterday, I apparently got food poisoning and was sick all evening and into the night! Wasn't pleasant and put me even more behind! I know everything will get done...eventually. Tonight we have Kendie's little performance at 7 and then have to be across town at 7:30 for Addi's championship basketball game (that is after Addi's dance!). Run, run, run...
More later...

Before/After Pics & Article

I thought that I had posted this earlier, but I realize now that I just sent it out to a few...I didn't want to be too overzealous too soon. Here is the link that shows the before/after pictures of some of the people that have had this surgery: http://www.hopkinsfacialplastics.com/gallery_facial_reanimation.php. Some of the people obviously had some other work too!
I thought that I had 2 articles on the T3 surgery, but I think they are the same! :o)
Happy Friday!

Article...

Here is another story that my friend, Diane, found on the T3 surgery if you want to check it out! Click here: OPERATION BRINGS SMILES BACK TO PARALYSIS PATIENTS (REUTERS) - Johns Hopkins International
Happy Reading!! :o)

Jim Brickman Concert

Last night Dave & I went to the Jim Brickman concert here in town. Dave gave me the tickets for my Valentine's Day present (I'm spoiled, what can I say?). I used to always play his CD's in my classes while the kiddos were working (especially writing). Even though I am from here, I was not real excited when we first moved back here because we LOVED living in Austin. He was in concert here and I said it was a "sign" I should move back here (there were others). Anyway, he puts on a GREAT show & I would recommend it to anyone if he is in your area. Not just that he is such a talented performer, but he is SO funny too!! We got there & I told Dave that I almost wished that we had brought Emee (our rising star at piano) so she could see what someone could REALLY do with piano. He came out & started and he was SSSSSSOOOOOOOO dramatic! Dave & I just looked at each other as he had NOT been this expressive the last time we saw him and I said, "Good thing we didn't bring Emee!!" He played a couple of numbers and after a while he talked about his "expressions" because he said he knew everyone was wondering (he was right!). At the intermission, you could turn in a card (which basically put your name on the mailing list, I am sure), but it had a place for questions or requests and they would try to read/fulfill them in the 2nd half of the show. If your card was read on stage, it would be put in a drawing for a FREE Jim Brickman cruise. I had filled mine out & I had included the story about how we were glad that we hadn't brought Emee -- I just thought that he might read it after the show & get a kick out of it. After the intermission, they began reading the cards & answering questions...all the sudden I hear, "...& this one is from Kay." It went something like this: "We thought about bringing our daughter to this. BOY, are we glad we didn't (you should have seen JB's face at this point!!). We have enough problems keeping her feet still while she practices. Not to mention that she might give her teacher a black eye (he finishes with huge flourishing gestures)..." The place was roaring (I was crying I was laughing so hard -- I couldn't believe they read it!) -- the lady (Ann Cochran) was hamming it up doing his gestures. It was crazy!! Anyway, the best thing is I am now in a drawing for a free cruise -- I don't feel the need to go on a Jim Brickman cruise, but if it is FREE, bring it on!! :o)

E-mail from JH...

I just got an e-mail from the girl at Johns Hopkins and she said that Dr. Byrne reviewed my pictures and thinks that I would be a good candidate for the T3 surgery!!!!!!!!!! YEA!! She asked if she could call me & schedule an appointment...but since I already have one, I am one step ahead of the game! I guess I kind of got the cart before the horse, but I was just asking and since Erin found that appointment, I jumped at it figuring I could cancel later! Now I don't have to!!! YIPEE!! I have to secure our plane tickets for the trip now!!

My friend, Gayle, said the most beautiful prayer about my situation last Wednesday in Ladies Bible Class. They have been praying about this every since I found out about the possibility. She said that she "hoped that the smile in my heart could be on my face again for everyone to see" or something close to that. Is that not the sweetest thing -- and what a way with words?

I am trying not to be too excited, but 12 years is kind of a long time to not have a real smile...

No Go...

No surprise here, I forgot the camera...maybe next weekend!!