Surgery

Well, I survived surgery!  I seriously used to pray that I would be one of the lucky few who could get through life without ever having surgery, and I have told Josh on numerous occasions that if I ever needed surgery, I would opt out of it.  However, the last few years have matured me.  If you told me five years ago that I would have a tooth pulled, give birth twice (naturally!), have surgery, and be stuck with more needles than I could count, I would have freaked out.  I was seriously scared of shots just a few years ago, and the thought of getting an IV put me over the edge!  I have been forced to grow up, and for the most part, I can honestly say that most things are not as bad as they seem.  Interestly enough, most of the hospital staff were surprised to find out that I had never been put to sleep.  I am only 28; is it really that unusual?  I guess I should count my blessings.

The day before my surgery I started to get a little nervous.  Several friends called to say they were praying.  I had to get up at 4 am the day of the surgery to get to the hospital.  We took Jacob with us because he had never had a bottle.  Josh's Aunt Sherry met us there to help take care of him while I was in surgery, but I got to cuddle him right up until time.  As my friend Jennifer had prayed the day before, he was a "delightful distraction."  I loved that she prayed that; it was so true!  As soon as I woke up, he was there waiting for me.  I was so thankful he got to be there!

Being on this side of the surgery, I can say that overall, it was not that bad.  However, the day of the surgery, and the day after the surgery were pretty miserable and were actually much much worse than I thought they would be.  I have never really had pain medicine in my system-and especially not like that!  I was so drugged up when I woke up from surgery, which was part of the reason I felt so terrible.  It made me shaky, tired, and nauseous.  The other reason I felt terrible was because I was sore!  It felt exactly like someone had stabbed me in the side with a knife-and it felt like that for awhile.  I don't know why, but I did not expect to be that sore.  It didn't help that I didn't take any of my pain medicine afterwards.  I was too worried about passing it on to Jacob through nursing.  I honestly felt a million times better after giving birth.  The ironic thing is that after giving birth, I felt like I could have gone straight home, but I had to stay at the hosptial for 24 hours.  After having surgery, I would have loved to stay 24 hours, but they made me leave almost as soon as I woke up!  I could seriously hardly stand, but they handed me a barf bag, put me in a wheelchair, and wheeled me out of there!  From the way that I was feeling, I could not believe that this was an outpatient procedure!

What made this experience even more difficult was having a 3 month old baby and 2 year old to take care of at home.  The first day, I was so sore that I only stood up twice when I absolutely had to go to the restroom.  Josh even fed me dinner while I was laying down; I was in so much pain!  I told him that was the definition of "in sickness and in health."  Josh also pretty much handled Hannah for the first two days, but I was on Jacob duty because he loves his momma... and only I can feed him.  We cuddled lots, usually with a pillow between us.  Then, two days after surgery, Josh got really sick, so I was already back on duty.  It was hard, but I guess that's what mommas do!  We don't get to be sick and pathetic like dads.... :)

The surgery itself went as well as it could have.  The tumor was easily removed, and it was benign, so that was a huge blessing!  It eventually could have turned into cancer if had not been taken out, so it's a very good thing that it's gone!  I am so glad this chapter of my life is closed, and I hope that I never have to do it again!