Mommy is now Iron Man

How I view myself now

Tonight on The Current Lifestyle: Mommy is now Iron Man.

I survived. Yep, as I write this, I'm a little hopped up on Percocet. Thankfully for you my reader, I cut the dose in half. I'm not going to lie, this wasn't fun, but now that the worst is over, I'm glad I can now move on with my new back up plan.

This is the story of my ICD implant and how I became Iron Man.

Thursday, I needed to be at the hospital at 10:30 am. I wasn't too thrilled that it was that late in the morning, because prior to any surgical procedure, you can not eat or drink anything after midnight. My last meal was at, no joke, 11:53 pm. My husband drove me to the hospital where we were told to check in on the 2nd floor. The gentleman that checked me in then handed me a cup and said, " the doctor wants a urine sample before the surgery." I swear it took every once of my being not to lose it on this nice guy. I went to the ladies room, and squeezed out any remaining fluids my bladder could muster. I walked my sad looking sample back to the check in guy and said, "how could anyone request and even expect a decent urine sample after I've had nothing to eat or drink in over 10 hours?"  He laughed and said," I don't know, I don't understand it either." Shortly after, I was taken into a pre-op holding room. It had several beds circling a nurses station. Each bed was separated by those amazingly secretive curtains. A sweet nurse showed me my bed. She asked me to take everything off, place my belongings into a bag and before donning the gown that fits no one, asked that I again scrub myself with warm surgical soap pads that she was in the process of opening. I did as I was instructed, and then sat on my bed. Soon after the nurse came back and placed a heart monitor on my back. (Since my operation will be in the front.) She then started my IV which was by far the best one I've ever had. I barely felt it.

my hubby

She told me that she would then go get my husband and also return with something to make me relax. When she returned, Scott was with her, smiling. I guess he wanted to try and not look concerned. That or I looked so funny and small in my gown. The nurse asked me my name and birthdate then gave me a drug that she promised was a cocktail without the hangover. She was right! Unfortunately my doctor was held up in an EP study and the OR was behind on schedule and my meds started to wear off. I was supposed to be in surgery at 11:45. I wasn't wheeled back until 2:30. Needless to say, that nurse just kept giving me cocktails.

When the OR nurses came to get me, they placed my hair into a surgical cap. They loaded me up with blankets and wheeled me down hallways that I swear are kept at a fridge temp in case you die and they need your organs.

brave face

When I was in the OR room, I was able to look around. I saw the thousands of instruments that had already been sterilized and out for my procedure. I saw the massive lights hanging above the OR table. The anesthesiologist was already in the room waiting for me. Another nurse asked me to scoot myself over onto the table. As I did so, I was able to see through to another operating room. Through the glass doors, I could see a man with tubes hanging out of his mouth and several doctors standing over him. The next and last thing I remember was a nice nurse placing a non-rebreather mask on my face.

I woke up in PACU on my right side around 3:30ish. Apparently the first thing I said to that nurse was, "was I good?" I don't remember much after that first hour, but I slowly came around from the anesthesia. My husband was allowed in to visit with me. We sat in PACU and waited for a room upstairs. My husband said the procedure went pretty fast. He said my doctor came to speak with him about 50 minutes after I was taken back. My doctor said," are you the boyfriend?" My husband replied, "uh no, I'm her husband." Then my doctor said, "okay well its in and should be a very tiny scar. Everything went well." I laughed when Scott told me this. I guess I can understand why my doctor thought we weren't married. 90% of his patients are in their 60's or older. Although, he shouldn't have assumed.

Just woke up in PACU

I was allowed to finally eat some crackers and fruit after 5pm. Scott had returned home to check on my sister who was watching our little chunk and at my request bring me sushi. I didn't get a room until after 7pm. When I did finally make it upstairs it was shift change. I wasn't thrilled because at this point my pain meds had worn off and I couldn't receive my meds until the shift change was complete. My father, his wife, my sister and brother visited me soon after. They stayed and chatted with me glad to see I was okay when Scott walked in with sushi. I was so excited.

Me in my room

My family left shortly after we started eating. A nurse came into my room to give me my pain meds around 9ish and asked if I had any questions. I'll spare the rest of the boring details of this story. To make it short, Scott had to go home to be with our chunk. I tossed and turned most of the night because either I was in pain or someone was in my room for vitals or checking to make sure I was still alive. My resting heart rate dips into the low 50s and the hospital doesn't like that. Plus, my blood pressure was 98/65 and the nurse was very concerned I could be bottoming out.

The following day, I was finally allowed to go home after noon. I had received a dose of Zophran before leaving to cure the nausea the Percocet gave me. I was also told the best discharge instructions ever.

1) no shower for a week
2)no driving for 2 weeks
3) schedule a visit to see your doctor next week
4) no lifting of your left arm
There was more but those were the most important. I think number 1 is my favorite. For fear of getting my surgical sites wet and infected, I get to stink. Awesomesauce.!!!!!!

That's all for now. I'll write more on this subject later. I'm actually feeling nauseous from the pain meds as I type. Thank you to those who called, visited, texted or prayed. Like what I post? Then please leave a comment or subscribe.

My surgical site

my nauseating pain meds

My new device

always get back up

Pre-OP thoughts

Tonight on The Current Lifestyle,

Pre-OP thoughts.

my arm band

I headed over to the Rothman Center at JFK Hospital this morning around 9:15am. I walk in alone because my husband needed to take care of little chunk. (She can't sit still for a couple of hours while I check in and get work done.) So, I tell myself to be brave. "You must be brave today, this is only blood work, a chest X-ray and paper work," I told myself as I walked through those glass doors. Its amazing how numb one can feel when just trying to go through the motions as quickly as possible. After I checked in at security, I was placed into a room to wait for a nurse. You're left alone with your mawkish thoughts of what is and what is not possible in the next two days to come. The not dirty but not chemically clean either smell of the traffic run pre op center wafts its odor all along the hospitals' first floor; making one cringe at the thought of even touching a waiting room arm chair. A lovely elderly nurse walked in and introduced herself to me. She reviews my pre op instructions about proper bathing before surgery and when I can have my last meal. I actually have to bathe with a special solution I was sent home with. She asks me a few questions and informs me that the blood work for today will be a type and match. "Just in case you may need a blood transfusion." she said.  To be honest, I've never really considered the thought of someone else's blood running through my veins. I would welcome it gladly should I need it, however, its truly someone else life force.

I let the nurse continue her questions about why I'm here and my medical history all the while as a short young phlebotomy technician comes into the room to take my blood. The only thing I like about getting my blood drawn is when its a phlebotomy tech.They are usually quick, as painless as possible and don't leave me with any bruising. This young woman lived up to my expectations and was in my vein and out quickly. The last piece of the check in was a chest X-ray performed in the radiology department. A young, still in school radiology technician, came to escort me and directed me through the hospitals maze of hallways to the X-ray room. Once there, I was asked to stand in front of the machine for 3 pictures. I'll spare you the rest of the boring details of this visit. On the way out however, the funny thing the technician said to me as he was then escorting me back to the front door was, "you'll have your results in about 2-3 days." I silently chuckled at what he said. I wasn't there to get results of anything. I know first hand that he had no clue why I was there and if a doctor wanted them stat, X-rays are instantly placed on computer screens now for instant viewing. They already had the results, which are nothing. My doctor just wanted a clear view of what's underneath my skin before placing my new device.

I guess this post is just random thoughts of experience before the big day. I'm scared. Things at home are tense and I'm not one to talk about how I'm really feeling. I'm better at expecting my husband to already know how I'm feeling then get angry when I'm asked what's wrong. Yes, I know that's not fair to him.

my goody bag and body scrub

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Pumpkin patch and thoughts on life while eating candy corn

Chunk at the pumpkin patch 2015

I type this with a sadness and a little bit of fear wedged somewhere in between. This week has been so much fun. Today, I took Chunk to the pumpkin patch at one of our local farms. I was more excited to take her this year, because she is now old enough to get some enjoyment out of touching the pumpkins. As far as I could tell, she had a blast. She experienced her first hay ride around the farm and got the chance to play with some pumpkins. I didn't brave the corn maze with her, for fear that we'd get lost. During the hay ride, she squealed with delight as the tractor pulled us around the farm and the wind blew her hair. It was such a joyous moment to see. This week has been full of those wonderful moments whether its with her or my husband and I have been happy just to have witnessed them. The sadness and fear that fall within these moments are a causation of a future surgery I must undergo this coming Thursday. For those readers that don't know, I was born with a serious heart disease and though its been under control with medication for sometime now, doctors want a defibrillator implanted. Yes, I know that this is a routine procedure, however, there is always that slight chance that your heart doesn't start again once they test the device. Its difficult for me because I know this is what's best,however, what happens to my family if it goes wrong? I dislike very much putting my life in other peoples' hands. My husband will be the first to say that I do this everyday on the road, but I logically can't log it into my brain. I am one of those cruncher type of people that will do anything to keep foreign items or chemicals from my body. I like to believe I'm as close to holistic and natural as mother nature intended. (I'm eating candy corn as I type this. I also can contradict myself, candy corn is full of everything but nature and her intended ingredients.) I know my readers have previously loved my posts because they have been humorous in nature. I do apologize for the lack there of as the last 4 or so posts have been somewhat serious or dull.

touching hay for the first time

If I ask anything now of my readers its a wish, prayer, spell or kind words for a speedy recovery.

Thank you for reading, updates will be available as the date and time draw near.

Chunks first hay ride

Cup of morning tea and apple chips

Our beautiful morning here in Florida. This is my backyard.

Good morning fellow readers. It truly is a magical morning too. The temperature dropped below 74F here in sunny Florida and I'm stoked. That means I'm feeling fantastic and Fall has started. To kick off this glorious cooler than normal morning I have decided to share one of my favorite fall recipe treats with you. They are called Homemade Apple chips.

Fall is the perfect time to make apple chips because its when apple season is at its peak. Plus, the three simple ingredients and instructions are just too easy to not throw together and then be on your way.

I can not take credit for this recipe. All credit goes to: The Italian Dish http://theitaliandishblog.com/imported-20090913150324/2012/1/2/homemade-apple-chips.html

Apple Chips

Materials:
2 cookie sheets
Mandolin
Parchment paper
2 Bowls
Whisk
Tongs
Oven


Ingredients:
1 Apple (I used 5 and made a big batch)
1tablespoon Cinnamon
2 tablespoons Brown sugar

Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 225 degrees. Mix with whisk in a bowl your cinnamon and brown sugar. Place parchment paper onto cookie sheets. (I have a mandolin with rubber grips and place it over my second bowl, you could also use a cutting board) Slice apple(s) as thinly as your mandolin will allow. Place 4-5 slices into cinnamon and brown sugar bowl and coat the apple slices. Place onto the cookie sheet and repeat until cookie sheet is full. Repeat until both cookie sheets are full. Place both cookie sheets into the oven for 1 hour. At the one hour mark, take cookie sheets out, flip the slices with tongs and place back into the oven for another hour rotating the sheets, (the one sheet that was on the top rack now place on the bottom rack. Etc.) the apple slices will begin to harden.

I hope you enjoyed this tasty recipe. I loved it so much I just had to share. I can't wait for Chunk to wake from her morning nap and try them.

If you haven't noticed by now, Fall is my favorite season. It is the cool relief that comes for those of us living in the tropical climates that seems to bring out a little more happiness in us all. I seem to do more Fall cleaning too than Spring cleaning. Lol.

Like what I post? Then please leave a comment, share my post or join me for a cup of tea sometime.

Overwhelmed.....but I think finally the good kind.

I'm putting this out there, even though its nothing new for most people with children. OVERWHELMED.

If there is a word that even begins to make overwhelmed seem small, then, that my readers is how I truly feel.

I can't seem to feel any satisfaction even if I have accomplished everything on my "to do" list. I find it so fulfilling yet irritating that I can not and will never be able to catch up on everything I want to do. From me time to taking care and teaching Chunk, to taking care of the house, to earning a little extra income, to spending time with my husband. It all adds up. I want to start making money at home, research takes time. I want our family to eat organically and more raw, research takes time. I want to make a diy (insert occasion or seasonal holiday) project, research takes time. I want to learn to play the piano, speak Spanish, knit, work with leather, work with wood, about the policies of the numerous candidates for future president, read both a fiction and non- fiction book.... again either the research or just the act alone takes time.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, at this point with Chunk now a year and a month old, I thought I'd have it all together and I'd be that SAHM that knew how to accomplish it all. I try. I write out lists everyday, and at the end of everyday, I'm utterly exhausted. The best time saver I did for my self as well as a stress reliever was give up social media, which was FB because I didn't even bother with Twitter or instagram or whatever else is out there. On a very positive note, I'm so grateful to be in this predicament. Yes, I'm complaining that I have too much on my plate and admitting that I don't have it under control, but I chose this. I wanted that Chunk of myself and husband in my life. When Chunk takes even just one second to sit still and lie her head in my lap or randomly come over to me with a book in her hand for me to read, I know that this chaos is what I've always longed for.

So, to the friends I forgot to call back, to my cousin that waits longer than she should for my hand written letters, to my friends that witness me losing my mind over a forgotten wallet after arriving late, to my family that I do speak with on the phone yet sometimes my interruptions sound like turrets, please forgive me; I'm in the middle of being the most absolute awesome human being to my Chunk.

To myself, I forgive you too for not being able to get everything on your list done. Its okay, there is another day. That Chunk was so worth it and playing with her today was truly magical. Didn't you just love that smile?



Chunks worth it. I love her so much.