Shoulder Surgery Update

Anesthesia and I get along quite well, apparently. My poor friend, Mo...

The nurse, Bill, took me in, gave me privacy to get into a gown, and began going over the forms with me. The privacy forms, the permission forms, the release forms, yada, yada, yada, and the form giving them permission to discuss me and my care with my friend, Mo. My poor friend, Mo. About 15 minutes, in, I started to cry and was trying desperately not to panic, and Bill said, "Let's get your friend Mo in here." Poor Mo. I have to hand it to him, he stayed with me the entire time I was awake. I kept getting cold, just laying there doing nothing, and the nurses kept taking blankets out of the oven and covering me up. At one point, I had six blankets on me and Mo started kidding me about using their entire blanket supply.

Sometime shortly after 8 a.m., the doctor came in and began discussing with me what he was going to do, and I began to cry again, so he talked to Mo, looked at the anesthesia nurse and said something like, we can put her under now. The nurse told Mo to kiss me goodnight, he did, and that is the last thing I remember until I woke up at 3:05 in the afternoon, all tucked in on my living room couch.

I have no memory of waking after the surgery, getting dressed, or getting home. Mo, however, has memories to last a lifetime. He says if I ever have to have anesthesia again, he is going to make sure he has his camcorder with him so I can make him a rich man.

Apparently, while under the effects of all the drugs, I just looooooove everybody and everything. The nurses, the doctors, my friends, the ceiling, the blankets, my job, my boss, my car, you name it. At one point, I was reportedly proclaiming my love for something, and Mo and the nurse could not figure out who or what I was talking to. On the way home, I didn't want Mo to get out of the truck, but he needed to get gas or we wouldn't have made it home. He picked up my prescriptions and bags of peas so I could ice my shoulder, and I have no idea when he did that. I also was complaining I was hot and at one point, removed my coat and began to remove my shirt. Poor Mo. It's a wonder he's still speaking to me.

Anyway, tomorrow I have my first PT session, which I expect to hurt like crazy. I'm taking Lortabs and Motrin, so hopefully I won't feel much pain.

And I've arranged for a friend to drive me to and from work for a few days. I don't want to be driving 'under the influence'.

Cream of Asparagus Soup (Creme D'Asperges)

This soup is wonderful - Even Ian liked it!!! We substituted half and half for the heavy cream and completely forgot about the lemon juice, and it was perfect. Enjoy!

2 pounds green asparagus
1 large onion, chopped
3 T unsalted butter
6 c. chicken broth
1/2 c. creme fraiche or heavy cream
1/4 c. fresh lemon juice, or to taste

1. Cut tips from 12 asparagus 1 1/2" from top and halve tips lengthwise if thick. Reserve for garnish.
2. Cut stalks and all remaining asparagus into 1/2" pieces.
3. Cook onion in 2T butter in a 4-qt heavy pot over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened. Add asparagus pieces and salt and pepper to taste, then cook, stirring, 5 minutes. Add 5 cups broth and simmer, covered, until asparagus is very tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
4. While soup simmers, cook reserved asparagus tips in boiling salted water until just tender, 3 to 4 minutes, then drain.
5. Puree soup in batches in a blender until smooth, transferring to a bowl (use caution when blending hot liquids), and return to pan. Stir in creme fraiche, then add more broth to thin soup to desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper. Bring soup to a boil and whisk in remaining tablespoon butter.
6. Add lemon juice and garnish with asparagus tips.

Yield: 4 servings

Nutrition Info per serving:
Calories 294/Carbs 17g/Fibr 5g/Fat 23g/Protein 9g/Sugars 8g

The Fambly

Standing in back are my cousin Bill, Easton held by Amanda (who is Marlene's daughter), Amanda's husband Jeff, my son Ian, my cousin Burnet, my cousin Jodi, Jodi's son Joshua, my cousin Dan, my cousin Laureen, and me. I have no idea what I was looking at. Seated from left to right are my cousin Dorinda (married to Bill), Marlene (married to Burnet) holding Nolan (son of Amanda and Jeff), Elianna (daughter of Amanda and Jeff), Mike (Aunt Mary's boyfriend), Natalie (Dan and Laura's baby) being held by Aunt Mary, Laura (Dan's wife) holding Mckenna (their oldest daughter), and my cousin Karen.

Thanksgiving Saturday Dinner

Josh-full and sleepy. I think we all felt like this after we ate. Dorinda and Bill are GREAT cooks!

Bill and Ian

My cousin, Dan

My aunt Mary. I swear, when I took this picture, her eyes were open.

My cousin, Burnet.

I took a ton of pictures, but only a few came out. I just do NOT have my brother's talent for it.

Max

Pony Dog.

Woof!

This is Jasmine. Her head is almost as big as a dinner plate.

Over the Hills and thru the Woods to Dorinda's House We Go...

I hate driving in stuff like this. The food is totally worth it, though. :D

Happy Birthday to Me

One of my former employers used to always buy me flowers on my birthday. I loved them, especially carnations. And even though I've always wanted flowers on my birthday, since I left his employ, I haven't gotten any since! It makes me laugh. Serves me right for leaving a good boss.

So today, Happy Birthday to Me. I'm gonna buy my own flowers. :D

And then curl up with a blanket, a glass of White Zin, and a good murder mystery. Life is good!

Email to my Friends

Hello all!

Just a quick note to let all of you know I have a 'surgical procedure' scheduled for my shoulder on November 29th. The doctor is going to perform a "manipulation" under anesthesia to force my shoulder to move again. (Click here for a bit more info.) Sounds like fun! I am SO glad I will be unconscious. The hope is that I regain my range of motion, can work on regaining my strength, and ultimately avoid rotator cuff surgery and the shaving down of my shoulder bones. (Just thinking about it makes me nauseous.)

I will be out of work on November 29th and 30th at the very least. A friend of mine is taking me to the surgery center and bringing me home, and I may be keeping Ian out of school on the 30th to keep an eye on me if necessary. I've never had a problem with anesthesia before, but in case of emergency, Ian's phone is programmed with all his grandparents' telephone numbers as well as my neighbor's phone number so they can give him guidance if necessary.

I am positive we will be just fine. My doctor has performed hundreds of these procedures with great success, and I am absolutely sure it will work for me, too.

I thank all of you for you kind thoughts and well wishes. :) Have a great day!

Love and laughter,
Serena / Kelly

Dream on, dream on, dream on, ....

Mom, I need $12 million.

I'm laughing too hard to reply.

It's Strep

Poor baby. He's got strep again. I wish it was one of those one-time things kids get, but the pediatrician says that children who get it once are more susceptible to getting it again.

Ian is sick today...

Poor kid...sore throat, tender neck, severe headache to the point that lights and sounds are bothering him and he doesn't want to eat... which saves on the grocery bill, but I hate seeing him like this. I hope it's not strep again. {heavy sigh}

Anyway, for those of you who check up on me (which I truly appreciate, because it is so nice to know people care about us), I will not be at work today. Further bulletins as events warrant!

Another Shoulder Update

I can't believe how fast time goes by sometimes.

I have a surgical procedure scheduled for my shoulder on November 29th. I'm supposed to have a responsible adult stay with me for 24 hours following the surgery. HA! Ian will have to do.

They are going to knock me out, inject my shoulder with three times (or so) the normal amount of cortisone, and forcefully manipulate my shoulder so it moves.

Oh joy, oh rapture, oh melody divine.

Zach and Ian

...crowded in front of the computer, completely ignoring the Bills game. :D