I just returned home from my orthopedic surgeon and YES…surgery is scheduled for January 27 to repair my left elbow! I’ve been suffering with pain since December of last year and, after having exhausted all other methods and efforts, I’ll have surgery to repair torn tissue around my elbow. At the same time, the doctor says he will inject my right knee with cortisone to determine if I have a torn miniscus or petellar tendenitis. If it’s the former, he’ll do a scope once I’ve recovered from this first surgery.
Finally…some hope of ending at least some of the pain. I’ve lived with perpetual pain since my accident nearly 3 years ago and it’s taken quite a toll. I can only imagine what others go through who have worse pain on a daily basis. It’s not fun, that’s for certain. I’m praying that surgery will eliminate the pain altogether or, at a very minimum, reduce it significantly. More to come on that.
Now to telling Will’s dad and hoping he’ll help take care of Will during the 3 months of recovery. I should be functional for the most part, but won’t have the use of my left arm for 3 months.
Where is my wonderful husband to be here for me through this??? Hmmmmm…okay, God…that’s what you’re here for. I get it.
I hate moments like this. I wish I had a wonderful man here with me right now. My soulmate…my best friend. Cuddled up with me. There, I said it. I want an awesome man in my world…who cares for me and wants to be with me.
Less than 24 hours from now I’ll have my Will back! I can’t wait to get him home and give him big hugs. We’re going to celebrate New Year’s Eve with movie night and ginger ale…and probably some junk food. I have been so lonely without him this week…more than usual, and I’m not sure why.
Today I got up pretty early…7am. Watched a little news and then got started with my day…I put some stuff away, then cleared off my desk. I decided it was time to re-configure it, so I took it apart (well, the top half) and took it to the garage, cut it down and re-worked it so it was a bit more practical. I painted the desk then put it back together. MAN, did that make a difference. I have a whole wall now to use for pictures or whatever, instead of the clutter of shelves and books and stuff. But, i still have to finish putting the room back together. That’ll be tomorrow’s project before Will returns home.
So, while waiting for paint to dry, I decided to go outside on this gorgeous day and see about pulling some dead wood out from the back corner of my property. So, I ventured back there and was surprised to find a TON of wood. But, the most exciting discovery was an old stone slave wall, which is now delapidated, but nevertheless, very cool! I gathered some of the rocks and hoisted them over my fence…I’ll add them to my pond. But for this project, I was completely done in for after getting the wood into the yard. I hurt all over and was exhausted, so I came inside and collapsed on my bed…fell asleep for THREE hours! I woke up at 5pm, just in time for dinner!
Tonight I decided to start a separate blog for my pink toolbelt projects…thought it would be fun to share those publicly. So…check it out. The link is to the right here, entitled “The Many Adventures of A Single Mom and Her Pink Toolbelt”.
My days are all messed up when I’m not working a regular schedule! Let’s see…it’s Monday, right? Yeah.
Last night was another sleepless night! I don’t know what the deal is with the pain, but I’m looking forward to talking to the doc about it on Wednesday.
I finished my painting today (at least all I’m going to do for the week). The kitchen is put back together and all that’s left is Will’s room and the office. The office…what a disaster. I’ll see about tackling that tomorrow.
I met a new friend tonight at Panera. Tara is her name, and I found her on craigslist last week. We are going to be weight loss buddies…it’s the oddest thing. She and I are the same height and build. She’ll be 30 on Jan. 1 and I’ll be 36 in March, but our goals are the same for weight and size. I’m excited about our challenge, especially since we have similar goals. She’s a neat woman…married with a 2 year old and 2 step kids as well. Lives a few miles south of downtown…I’m a couple miles east of downtown. We’ll start our induction period on Friday and see how it goes! We’re doing the Atkins diet for the first 2 weeks and then we’ll evaluate and go from there. We have goals set and hope to make our target weight by May 1. We have lots of work to do, but we’re hopeful that together we can do it! 
It’s definitely time to take better care of me. And, insodoing, Will will be better taken care of as well!
I just returned home from grocery shopping, thanks to 2 gift cards my parents sent me for Christmas. I stocked up on meat and essentials. I can’t remember the last time I bought any meat other than hamburger. My freezer is full now with beef, chicken, fish and pork. All I know to say is thank you, Lord, for this gift. And thanks, Mom and Dad, for allowing God to use you to bless Will and me in this way.
I turned on the TV and caught the taiil end of a program on TLC about a man in Indonesia who is called Treeman, because his entire body is covered with warts. It is so, so terrible, but his outlook on life is so much more positive than mine is at times. The next program that came on (and is one as I write now) is about an 8 year old girl with mermaid syndrome. She’s the only living mermaid in the world. She loves her life, despite the fact that she is constantly undergoing surgeries and dialysis, among other things. Unbelievable. What a reminder of how blessed I am, of how blessed I am to have my Will. Of how blessed we are with the life God has given us.
Lord, continue to remind me of how good things are. Use me, Lord, to encourage and share compassion with those who are less fortunate.
It’s a gorgeous Sunday and I’m watching the Titans give up a game to the Colts this afternoon.
Last night was such a strange night. I came home is so much pain from shopping yesterday, and went straight to bed at 8:30. I fell asleep at about midnight, but was in so much pain I couldn’t stay asleep. Everything hurt when I tried to move. My knees, my arm, my back. I don’t remember being in this much pain at one time. I finally got up at 3:00 and couldn’t bear it any longer. I took 2 hydrocodone (which I ONLY take when the pain is too much), and went back to bed with my laptop to wait for it to start working. Finally, around 4:30, I was able to go to sleep. I didn’t wake up until 10:30 this morning. The pain is much less this morning, but I have remnants.
I go to my orthopaedic surgeon on Wednesday, so I’ll be able to talk to him about my arm and knees. I have a feeling we’ll be scheduling surgery for my elbow.
Anyhoo…I’m taking today easy and hoping the pain will subside an allow for a better night’s sleep tonight.
Once I got up this morning, I got going with my caffine and started painting again. I got the hallway and family rooms trimmed out and put back together, so they look great! I got my caulking gun out again to seal the shoe molding in the kitchen, but didn’t have the energy to paint anymore. The weather has been so mild all day…I actually had the windows open all through the house! I’m watching a storm move in tonight, so it should be here in a couple hours, which explains the crazy weather…and maybe my sinus attack as well!
I decided to go out shopping this afternoon to see if I could find a cocktail dress for my Phoenix trip coming up at the end of January. I ended up at the mall and spent FOREVER in Macy’s before venturing out to other shops. By 8:00, every bone and joint and muscle in my body was in so much pain I could barely think straight. I had to get out of there and sit down! I ended up with NO cocktail dress, but did find a pair of fancy pants…but no top to go with them. I swear that when it comes to fashion, I’m totally crippled! I can design an entire home with no problem whatsoever, but when it comes to dressing myself…I’m stumped! So, I’ll have to solicit the help of a friend to locate the perfect top and accessories for my ensemble.
I got home about 8:30, put on my pjs and got into bed, which is where I’ve been ever since! I’ve been sharing youtube videos on Facebook of some of my favorite songs…don’t know why, but maybe God led me to do it. Turns out that a friend from high school needed one of those songs today after learning that one of her brothers passed away yesterday. Isn’t it interesting how God uses us when we least expect it? WOW. Thanks, Lord. OH…that same friend, who was my colorguard co-captain in high school and physics lab partner…told me that she accepted Christ not long ago after all the years in high school of me trying to get her to see the Light! Praise God! That seed sprouted and blossomed into a beautiful tulip! How cool is that?!
After a lousy night’s sleep, I awoke this morning with a massive headache, stuffy nose and scratchy throat. NOT what I had planned for my Saturday, which has a long To-Do list to go through. It’s a dreary day, yet mild. I’ve been in bed for the last 45 minutes watching videos on YouTube…Casting Crowns and Avalon…2 of my favorites. I’m reminded that God is my Father, my husband and my one and only. In a world where so little can be counted on, my God is Emmanuel. He is Provider. Comforter. Healer. Sustainer. Waymaker. He is good, even in the midst of the storm.
Well, most of December is already recorded, as I started this blog in the middle of the month. So, I’ll cover the first half as I recall it.
For the most part, December was full of mundane, blah days. Kinda like the majority of the year. I’ve never been so ready to say goodbye to a year in my entire life!
Let’s see…what have I not already written about regarding this month? I spent the first week of December in Jacksonville, Florida. Reunited with high school friends, marketed Rodan+Fields and trained my mom…Jacksonville’s first consultant for R+F. Enjoyed two nights with my grandparents listening to stories about their incredible lives. Overall, the trip was great. I even went and stood on the pier at the beach for a few minutes. I went back to physical therapy for my right leg, which may have a torn meniscus and/or perteller tendon. I spent over $1,000 to keep my real estate license for another year. Sick to my stomach. I used up the last of my firewood. We had our first snow of the year. I emptied my savings account for the first time since my divorce. Sick to my stomach…again.
2009 cannot get here fast enough!
It’s been a productive day around my house. I got up and went to Home Depot for a few supplies, then a couple other errands before heading home. I finished my living room…and I mean FINISHED! The paint looks great, I cleaned up all the cutting in, painted all the trim, including the windows and put it all back together. I even painted the vents in the ceiling! It looks great and feels so good to have a room complete!
Next, I moved to completing the shoe molding in the house. I had to cut several pieces for the doors and hall closet, then I got to get out my air compresser and nail gun! I love that thing…attached all the molding. Then I got the caulk gun out again and sealed all the cracks. I just need to caulk in the kitchen with the matching color for the tile grout, then it will all be ready for paint.
I’m heading to dinner with a friend, but when I get back I may continue. I thoroughly enjoy caulking!!!! Did Imention my back is killing me???
