The Purse

In a uncharacteristically decisive moment I bought it.  

It wasn't even black.  

Not even close.

It is summer, I thought, and it makes me smile.  

   

Everywhere I go, complete strangers tell me how much they love the purse. 

Men are even making comments about it. 

Well... two... but still. 

Phillip confessed to me recently,

 actually on our way to the hospital for my pre op tests, 

that he may be getting a tad jealous of the purse.  

He said that it gets more attention than he does.

Moments later

 we walked into the lab

  the woman behind the counter got up out of her seat and exclaimed in her charming hispanic way,

OH MY GAUSCH,

 I loff jor purse.

In her continued excitement, she asked me where I got it,

 how much it cost,

 if she could touch it,

if it was real leather.

I could hear Phillip's eyes rolling into the back of his head.

 I mentioned that I had surgery Friday

 she offered to do all my admission paperwork for me after my tests so I wouldn't have to wait in any other lines that day. 

She was so kind to me

 and in spite of all my pre surgery nerves

 she had me smiling and laughing the whole time I was there.  

When she was finished, 

she personally walked me to the admissions office

  introduced me and the purse to the ladies there, 

hugged me,

  told me  not to worry,

 that I had the best surgeon ever

 and that I would be well taken care of. 

Phillip mentioned that I might want to bring the purse into the operating room,  just in case.

Seriously, she was the nicest lady and her kindness was a real blessing to me that day.

She probably wouldn't remember me if I walked into her office again however

She most certainly would remember the purse.

Perhaps I shouldn't post this...

Lets play a little catch up:

July

Cruise with the kids and dear family friends, what a treat!

Family vacation at Dads in Washington

Pretty sick and scheduled surgery

celebrated Philllps birthday. 

Aug. 

Emily turned 16.  We had a fun party and so enjoyed spoiling her a little bit.  

School shopping for 4 kids and back to school

Started teaching seminary. At 6 am.  E v e r y d a y of the week. 

Started taking naps... and praying more.

Tanner finished his papers for his mission. Including a series of Dr. appts and expensive DDS appts packed in so as to finish before he left for school.

Sept 

Took Tanner to BYU Idaho.  Love love love it there.  Love him.  Left him... didn't cry till I got in the car but then cried off and on for a day or two.  I so miss him but he is having so much fun it makes it easier.

I came home with a week to prepare for my surgery. 

A Hysterectomy. 

I'll admit its a little sad knowing no more babies even though I knew I couldn't handle more anyway.  The surgery was the easy part.  Every day since has been... well... lame. Pretty much... I hate it.  I should say too, that I really don't care for the word hate.  I tend to steer clear of it and its kind of a bad word at our house.  But ya... I hate it.  I had my surgery early Friday the 17th and Sunday, after a horrific spinal headache for 48 hours, they did an emergency spinal patch to heal the leak I had in my spinal column from the spinal meds they gave me during surgery.  Apparently the leak literally causes your brain to sag.  Seriously painful.  After 2 days of not eating or drinking, I was so dehydrated the dr was thumping my jugular as a possible vain to use during the procedure.  yikes.  I don't want to do that ever again and Im very very thankful for modern medicine and talented Drs.

  

After 4 days of the hospital and painful experiences I finally came home Monday to... 

 a household of (amazing) kids wierded out about their brother being gone and their mom out of commission, 

sleeping (if you could call it that) downstairs in our guest room, 

a body pretty super messed up and unable to tolerate food,  

pain medications that made me sick but pain that made me cry,

a very sweet protective, laundry doing and dish washing husband,

and a wonderfully helpful mom trying to maintain our household

and some dinners from really kind friends.

What a humbling experience this has been.  

I thought I'd be down for a couple of weeks and then just tired for a few more weeks as I recovered completely. So not reality.  I really really didn't understand what I was in for.

It's now,  almost 4 weeks since my surgery and Im still walking quite slow and it hurts to sneeze laugh and cough... STILL.   Im pretty achy if I am on my feet for any length of time although I can walk all the way around the block now.  We just won't talk about how long it takes me.  I really underestimated how much damage was done to my insides, however I think I understand now.  When they tell you it's major surgery, they mean it.  My insides are still settling from all the jostling around and patching they had to endure and Im still a little swollen.  This process is so painfully slow and frustrating.  I have always thought myself to be pretty tough and on the positive side however, these last 4 weeks I have found that I am 

1. A horrible patient. 

2. Horribly impatient. 

3. Not positive at all. 

4. Just plain grouchy.  

I think my family might even like to add a few more flowery adjectives of their own too.  Sad.  

I am on a steady diet of counting my blessing every night now trying to pull myself out of this.

It works... till morning. ; )