Recovery going as expected...

I told a friend the other day that recovering from abdominal surgery is NO PICNIC!  I don't know what I was expecting...really.  I know what the drs. told me to expect but -- you know, I never have believed it would be as challenging as they have said!  Denial?  They said I'd have good days and not-so-good days.  How right they were.  Right now I'm recovering from a not so good day AND NIGHT.  Aren't nights the worst?  On this particular night I was laying in bed at about 11 pm thinking there was a very long night ahead of me and wondering how I could make it a little more comfortable.  I thought and thought until midnight and made my plan.  I quietly got up without disturbing my sleeping husband, grabbed my special pillow, my fleecy pj's from the closet, went to the living room where I retrieved my comfort blanket (yes, indeed), a fresh bottle of water, two Tylenol, two throw pillows (just in case) and proceeded to my corner where my recliner is.  I arranged myself in the most comfy possible way, and stayed there all night.  I actually slept!  I don't know if it was the Tylenol, the pillows, the recliner or my mental state but I was so thankful that, even though I was awake a bit and rearranging all my pillows frequently, I slept.  What a gift it is to be able to sleep.

I've always been a good sleeper!  Even when our kids were very small I slept, sometimes getting a little cranky when awakened.  When we'd go camping I'd know life would be so much happier if mommy slept!  I remember on a hike through the Olympics I didn't sleep for what seemed like DAYS!  It was so hard.  So, I've had enough sleeplessness to have great empathy for those who have trouble sleeping.  God Bless You!  And in the meantime I'm giving much thought to how to rest well, take care of my healing body.  I'm giving myself permission to let the "ought-to's" of life just fall away.  I've never liked them much anyway--   

Yesterday at the University of Washington

Yesterday Don, Becky and I drove to Seattle for an appointment with Dr. Yueng.  This appointment was to have staples removed (accomplished!) and for general followup (also accomplished).  Becky let me squeeze her hand while the staples came out.  I remember doing the same for her.  How time changes things.  Now I just have a very itchy incision.

The result of our visit was that all of the tumor has been removed along with a 3 cm margin.  That doesn't necessarily mean the cancer is gone because they're still looking for the primary site--as yet elusive to all tests.  So the next step is to wait 6 weeks, by which time I should be recovered from this surgery, get another full scan and then go back to the UW for the results.  We're just going one step at a time.

My big job now is to rest, eat, hydrate and heal.  I have lots of help with this so feel no pressure to get up and get going!

Blessings on you all.  Thanks for your continual prayers...