Category: My Life

Well yesterday was a real crazy trip down to Boston and back. I had pre-operative testing and a class about the spine surgery, and it was important that I make the trip. So, when we got up and it was snowing, we decided to leave early. Fortunately, the schools were out, so our High School neighbor came over and stayed with the dogs during the day. Which is great, because they really aren’t used to being alone.

I digress…

Yesterday was also the Parade in downtown Boston to celebrate the New England Patriots Super Bowl win!

So you take the horrible ice/snowy weather, combine it with over a million fans jamming the city, a few blocks from the hospital where I will be having my surgery, and you have one giant mess.

Hubby drove, and somehow managed to get me to the hospital a mere 15 minutes late. I ran in, and got to the class, which was a good class for a novice, but after having had two cervical surgeries, I actually knew all the stuff, and could have taught the class. But, at least I got to see what they offered. The “other hospital” offered nothing.

Then I raced over for my pre-operative physical. Thankfully the buildings are connected by long corridors over the street, so we walked and found the Pre-Op area. Then the waiting began. My appointment was for 12:45 and I was not seen until 3:00. I was pretty upset and at one point asked if I’d been forgotten.

Finally I was called in, and Nurse Roberta did my physical. This is the best physical I have had in about 20 years. They did everything from blood, urine, heart, blood pressure 112/68 and heart rate. The results were actually in my email when I got home last night!  I am one healthy chick.

Then we got on the road. At that point the traffic was still bad, and it was raining in Boston. It was bumper to bumper all thew way out of the city, and route 93 North was horrific! When we reached the border of Massachusetts and New Hampshire it start to change from rain to snow and then the fun began. Heavy traffic, several accidents around us, and the roads were terrible loaded with hard snow/ice.

We plodded along until Hubby announced that we needed to get some gas. So we stopped at the New Hampshire Rest Area in Hooksett, and each got a bowl of soup and a little gasoline. (We wanted to make it to BJ’s where we can get gasoline for $191.9 a gallon!) Then back on the road we got. It took us nearly 4 hours to get home, and when we walked in the door I was so happy!

So, my testing is done and in one week I will go in and have my surgery. I’m ready and although I’m not sure Hubby is, he at least know, what to expect.

I remember giving birth to my first child. I was very young, and when I saw Mandy emerge into this world, I didn’t think I could ever love anyone or anything the way I loved her! It was the most magical thing in the world.

I watched her grow, and held her, comforted her, and one day, she pulled herself to her feet and walked. Each step she took in her life, has brought me so much joy. She was an amazing baby, and has grown into an amazing woman.

So imagine my wonder, when Amanda called me one day to tell me she was pregnant! I was thrilled! However, never having been a grandmother, I had no idea, how it would feel.

Then on the 31st of May 2012, I held Savannah Rose in my arms for the first time. I looked into her tiny face, and then looked up into Mandy’s face and I realized that my child was feeling the same new mother feeling’s that I had felt when she was born. And I was feeling something I never knew about. The feeling of watching my child have a child, and of life going on. A grand continuation of love and joy!

I watched Savannah grow. Each day, each time she grew, my heart grew and deepened. The first time she called me Oma I welled up with tears, and the first time I drove up, got out of my car and had her run into my arms calling my name, is a memory I will hold close all the days of my life.

Then I was staying with Mandy and she took an at home pregnancy test, and yes she was expecting again! On March 7th 2016, Quinn Wallace was born. I raced with Savannah and her other grandmother, Mary,  to the hospital, and after Savannah met her brother (which I happily got to watch), I held my grandson for the first time. (I even got to change one of his first poopy diapers!)

Knowing that Mandy had had a somewhat rough time, made me hold that little guy even tighter, and feeling the warmth of his body and hearing the little baby sighs, filled me with such love and joy.  I looked at my daughter, and my eyes and my heart were filled with such love for her and such joy.

Over the last year, she has somehow juggled being a Mom, career woman, daughter, and friend. And I am in awe. She is raising two bright, beautiful and healthy children, and she ensures that they know they are loved.

Quinn is much like his Mommy, in that at 7 months, he stood up and started to walk and has never looked back, and like his sister, has a happy and gentle nature.

But here is the thing. I never expected any of this. I didn’t know how wonderful it could be to have grandchildren. I never thought it could come close to having my own children. But, here I am, head over heals in love with both of my grandchildren.

I think it is wrong if you say that certain days, are the best days of your life. You know, you never really know. Life can turn on a dime. And it can also slowly, happily and lovingly change, into the best days of your life, again and again…

I’m trying to get things in order before the surgery. I amaze myself at what I have been able to get done. The biggest thing was to be able to sit and go through clothing and items around the house to donate to our local Charity shop. You should see how much I have to go, but oddly my closet, and house shows no sign of having been gone through! I just have too much crap!

Next week is getting my hair done, then my pre-op, and then the dackels go to the Vet’s for their shots. After that we will do a big shopping for dog food and doggy treats. Little by little we will get things taken care of.

I decided to get out our GPS last night and update it. It took forever, but hopefully all the maps are updated. I need to sit down with Hubby and show him how to recall different addresses and favorites. I am usually the co-pilot and I do the programming, map-reading, and follow along with directions. While I am in the hospital in Boston, it will all be on him.

Hubby is staying just outside of Boston, with our friends, so he can be with me each day, while I am inpatient. I’m glad about this, because last time, I was alone and had no one to advocate for me. Let’s just say, things did not go well.

We have a dog/house sitter coming and so the pooches will all be cared for. I am very happy about that.

Have a great weekend everyone!

First thing on Monday I called our oil provider and asked for a delivery. We were down to a quarter of a tank, and we have an ice storm arriving tonight. Our driveway is 500+ feet downhill, with our house at the bottom. An oil truck trying to get down has no problem, but on a slippery surface, those trucks really have a tough time getting out. As soon as they knew it was for us, they made sure we got oil today, as their drivers really hate our driveway.

Later, I had a list of things I needed to do, and I asked for help with all the driving. So just after noon today we set off to the Pharmacy for cough drops, the grocery store for their great sales on Brussel Sprouts, Eggplant, Liverwurst and soups, the bank to order more checks, and the Post Office for the mail. By the time we got back, I was a little tired, but still had two things on my list. Dinner and laundry.

I had two loads of tough stained laundry, but this wonderful washing machine cleaned them right up with their soak and second rinse cycle. Sweet!!!

Dinner is Unstuffed Cabbage, which is cooking in the oven right now in my Dutch Oven. It smells amazing! After dinner, I just need to do the clean up and then collapse in bed! But I did get a lot done.

Tomorrow I plan to watch movies and enjoy the weather. Since it is supposed to be a combination of ice and snow, I plan to go no where! Quite happily so!

I have decided to go back to being a strict Weight Watcher. Since I have 6 weeks until my surgery, there is nothing that says I cannot go to class and count points and hopefully get a few pounds off.

I’m not happy being overweight and this is the time to start a new game plan. I’m going to suggest to Hubby that we go shopping today, and get the things I need to make the program a success.

In the past I have used the New Year to start WW and always resolve to lose all the weight in one go. This time, I simply want to learn how to eat, so that I can drop the weight, and then keep it off.

I don’t mind being 58. It’s a good age. But I really dislike the fact that my metabolism has slowed to a snails pace, and that even one or two cookies, magically turn into 2-3 pounds!

So this is the plan. I admit, it will be nice to go to class and see everyone again. I’ve certainly missed them all. I think it will be good for me.

It’ll be a good start for 2017

I heard from my surgeon in Boston that surgery on my cervical spine will take place February 16th. They have decided to remove all the hardware that has been inserted, and then also remove the bone graft (as it has not grown) and then redo the fusion between C6-C7 and also fuse C5-C6 with my own bone. Apparently the C5-C6 fusion has needed to be done since the start of this problem (November of 2015).

One might think I would be a mass of nerves about this surgery, but actually I am quite calm. You see, I knew I had pain, and I was concerned that I was overreacting. To have confirmation that I actually have major problems, makes me feel vindicated.

No, the surgery will not be easy, but quite frankly, after everything I have been through, I’m ready. I now have 6 weeks to get the house in order, do some meal cooking and freezing, and buy Hubby a new book to read. He will need it for when he is in the waiting room. This surgery will last three and a half to five hours. I sure hope that they also have TV in there too. Maybe it’s time to teach him how to use my cell phone.

So my friends, life goes on, and I am hopeful that this surgery will be the last and provide the pain relief I have been searching for.

My appointment yesterday with Dr. G. went very well. He is a kind man, who I believe is very brilliant. He did my exam, took a full medical history and then went through my MRI’s and x-rays, frame by frame, showing Hubby and I where the problems were.
I knew that the disc from C5-C6 was bulging, but the other doctor told me it was not pressing on anything. Dr. G. showed me that in fact, that disc is pressing against the spinal cord and is causing much of my pain.
He also looked at the C6-C7 area, where the other doctor had operated twice, and said it will all need to be redone and I will need a major repair done, as that screw is pressing on nerve endings in my spine.
He wanted me to get a CAT Scan before I left and today he will call and give me the results. But he expects to operate very soon, probably in February.
He was very agreeable and arranged for me to have the CAT Scan right after I saw him. I was given the scan on one of their newest machines a 128 bit CAT Scan machine and the test took just 6 minutes.
Anyway, the weather yesterday was terrible. Heavy rain, dense fog, and also heavy traffic. Poor Hubby was exhausted when we got home at 7:45 PM!
So, that is the news from New Hampshire. Although I need more surgery, I also feel postive about things. Dr. G. is the top Neurosurgeon in Boston. I believe he can help me get well once again.

So today I am off to see the Neurosurgeon/Spinal Specialist down at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.  I admit to being a little nervous, but I am also filled with hope that this doctor, at one of the finest hospitals in the country, will be able to figure out what is happening and help to relieve my pain.

On Tuesday I got all my records, discs with my MRI’s and x-rays and put them in a brief case, along with the GPS, cell phone, and charging cords. Hubby is driving me and once again, we are presented with inclement weather. Oh well, nothing can be done about that, but to soldier on!

Our house/dog sitter is coming to be with the pooches, and I told her to pack a bag and stay the night if it looks dicey.

But I have hope, and this is so important.

It’s a pretty day today. Cold, and we have about 8 inches of snow from the storm yesterday, but I think that the blue skies and sunshine are lovely.

As I sit here waiting for the next chapter of my life to begin, I am trying very hard to remain positive and happy.

You see, the surgery in November was a failure. I’m actually in more pain now, than I was before the very first one a year ago. I sort of live on Tylenol and Motrin, as I wait for an appointment with a new surgeon down in Boston.

Yes, I will need another surgery. I expect it will be a big deal, in order for me to get my spine not only fixed, but back in alignment.

I try not to dwell, but I would be lying if I said I am not furious that the surgeon not only blew the operation, but then tried to tell me I have brittle bones. Which I know is crap because I had a bone density test a few years back and I was told that I had the bones of a 20 year old.

But, it’s the Christmas Season and I am watching all sorts of Christmas movies, that help remind me of the reason for the season, and also put me in a better mood. My favorite being “It’s A Wonderful Life”. Yes, that movie speaks to me deeply.

My life has not been perfect, it has not been pain free, but when I look at those around me, and see the beauty and love of my family, I realize that it is, indeed, a very good life.