Church During Recovery

So I really wanted to go to church on Sunday, even though I had been in so much pain on Saturday night. As pictured in my earlier post, I got ready with my mom's help.

We showed up at church and sat on the back row. I brought my rice bag (a fabric bag full of rice that you warm up in the microwave. It's like a poor man's heating pad) for my shoulders. I was still in some pain. We sat down and the meeting began. After about 20 minutes into the meeting (just after the sacrament was passed for those Mo'mons out there) my rice bag was cold and I asked my mom to warm it up for me. She promptly went to the kitchen and warmed it up. When she came back she said to me, "it's kind of hot, it keeps making a crackle and pop sound." Sure enough, it was. But my shoulders were in pain and I didn't mind the bonus heat.

As the meeting proceeded, a counselor in the bishopric got up and ran outside. Although this is strange, it's happened before in our San Marcos Ward. Once, while Russ was speaking in church, a man had a heart attack. A lot of people left in the middle of that meeting. No, not because of Russ, they left to help the man having a heart attack! Sidenote: our church is next to the hospital so the man is ok and got quick medical attention.


Anyway, I thought nothing of the bishopric member leaving. The meeting proceeded and it was a wonderful meeting. It was a fast & testimony meeting. I was glad that I attended. Then, five minutes before the meeting ended, I felt those little feelings telling me to share my testimony. Now before you get too excited, I didn't get up and give a long crazy testimony due to the pain meds. I gave a very short testimony because I knew if I didn't, that I would say something crazy. So I kept it short and sat down before the room began spinning.

But my mom had walked me up there and she then bore her testimony. And I think hearing her testimony is the reason why I felt that I should bear my testimony (because she wouldn't have gotten up on her because she's a visitor and has some sort of policy about that). Anyway, here's what I remember that she said that I want to remember:

• When she was raising 5 kids on her own she thought she was raising 5 juvenile delinquents but she kept on taking us to church and stuff.
• Her attempts to have FHE were normally family fights that started and ended with prayer (so true. I remember these).
• Even though life sucks right now, just remember: THE BEST IS YET TO COME.

After that the meeting shortly ended we spoke a few words with some friends and headed out to the foyer. Out there the bishop quietly came up to Russ (who was holding the rice bag) and asked, "Can I smell that?" Russ, of course, obliged. The bishop went on to explain that during the meeting, he thought the church was on fire and had sent the other bishopric member to go put it out. Turns out it was only my  rice bag, burning in the microwave!

I am glad that I went, but I think I left before I caused any real damage to the church. I went home and took a small nap before watching "The Social Network" with Tiff and Mom and Russ.

Here's to another day of feeling BETTER!!!

Starting to Heal...

With my best friend, my mom, and my husband (he's taking the picture) I am ready to get better.

I woke up Saturday morning feeling very brave. Russ went into work, so I decided that Tiff and I better go out to eat. I took Tiff to my favorite San Marcos restaurant- The Root Cellar. There was a small wait and we put our names on the list. We waited for our names to be called and the restaurant got louder and louder. I started to feel dizzy and nauseous. I stepped outside to catch some air.

I was only outside for a few minutes when Tiff told me the table was ready. I walked back in the restaurant and walked to our table. I took one look at my seat and knew that I was going to toss whatever I had in my stomach. I told Tiffany, "This is not going to happen." I started walking out and Tiff quickly explained that I had just had surgery. 

I got outside and didn't make it up the steps before I was hips over rail puking in the flower bed. Tiff came out and immediately began rubbing my back as I continuously ralphed. And it was not pretty puke. It was not "blend in with the dirt" puke. It was neon green. It was obvious that I had puked there.

We got back to the car and I realized I left my purse in the restaurant. Tiff went back to get it and all the people in the restaurant were oowing and bemoaning my poor-puke state.

"That poor dear"

"And she left her purse!"

I felt a lot better after that. We went to my second favorite San Marcos restaurant- The Cool Mint Cafe. And honestly, I think it just became my favorite after this experience. Because while I love the Root Cellar, so does everyone else in San Marcos. It's impossible to get in and get a seat in less than a half hour. While I love the food, I don't love the wait. I don't love all the people that are always there. it's too busy for me.

But Cool Mint Cafe is a undiscovered treasure. When Tiff and I walked in there the atmosphere was so calm. You could hear the soft music playing. There were a few other tables, but not too busy. We got a table right away. And there's large windows with light (the Root Cellar is in a cellar- small windows). I felt to much better at the Cool Mint. 

After Tiff and I had enjoyed sometime together, I had two angels show up to help me heal and feel better- Hilary and Jessica. They brought me these beautiful flowers: 

They also brought me some cookies. It was so nice to see some good friends. Thank You!

Tiff and I did some other things that helped me get moving and get feeling better. Plus my mom came.

Another thing that helped me heal was Russ's good cooking. On Sunday he made me some corn beef and cabbage with potatoes. I really think his good cooking has kept my body on the mend.

Thank you sweetie. Best Husband ever.

Today I went and got my nails done with Tiff. My mom paid for it, so really it was a group effort. 

The only downside of the experience was the lady massaging my hand massaged where my IV was. That area of my hand was very bruised and it hurt a lot.

All in all I am on the mend. I am feeling better. I think I am through the rough parts.

More to come tomorrow, but here a the topic: Church while Recovering.

Spring Break Begins...

I kicked off Spring Break this year with some surgery. I had known this was coming for quite sometime, but with law school being so busy, I didn't really think about it. Before I knew it, the surgery was here. 

Check out how it all went!

This is me sitting on the bed in my room. Tiffany and Russ are in here too. We were waiting for a while. They gave me socks and pants and a cool gown that plugged into the wall and filled with warm air. 

Finally, they stuck an IV in me (they tried it on the left but the vein spasmed so they stuck it on the right). I think I was pretty nervous at this point. When everyone was ready they wheeled me down to the operating room. The operating room was very intimidating. The giant lights on the ceilings and the tiny little table I had to lay on. I was nervous. I got on the table and the nurse put an additional tube into my vein. "What drug is this, " I asked her. "Versed. It's in the same family as Valium."

That is all I remember from pre-surgery. Next thing I knew I was grunting in the recovery room and the nurse was making me cough, breathe deep, and drink water. I kept wondering how everyone else was feeling. So everytime someone would ask me how I was doing, I would respond with, "How are you?"

This is when they wheeled me back into the room where Russ and Tiff were waiting. I was not totally there at this point. I was in and out of consciousness. I remember Russ helping me get dressed and I thought he was putting on my dress and I got really mad at him for it. Turns out, he was just helping me get dressed.

Then I insisted on this awful picture. First of all, to do the type of surgery I have, they inflate your body with air and gas. So in this picture I sort of look like a float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. But apparently I really wanted to remember this nurse.

Finally I made it home. Tiff and I stayed in these seats for quite sometime. We tried to watch the Academy Awards pre-show but I kept falling asleep. 

The soup next to me is from the Soup Peddler, in Austin. Quite tasty. 

Tiff and I had a few adventures inbetween sitting in these seats, but I'll post about that tomorrow. For this post, suffice it to say that we spent a lot of time in these seats. Me recovering from surgery, and she being prego and taking care of me. 

My mom flew in last night (Saturday night). I was in a LOT of pain that night. A LOT of pain. Even on Sunday morning (today) I was still in A LOT of pain. But I wanted to go to church. So this is my mom putting on my make-up for me to go to church.

There's a little update but there will definitely be more stories to come!