8/19-20 - No looking back...

Mon 8/19/13
Two weeks before the surg I went & cut my hair really short. Last thing I want to worry about in recovery is my frizzy hair! We had gotten all my meds. Dr. Lee had mentioned I will need to wear loose clothes such as dresses. I found a few cute, light, long cotton t-shirt/tank top like dresses. I found inexpensive crutches at Goodwill (yes, I have no shame in admitting, I love that store) that I cleaned & disinfected (OCD & germs are one of my worst nightmares). Also found one of those medical chairs to sit on in the tub. (oh joy!) I was going through a mental check list the night before. At 850pm I was smoking my last cigarette. At 9pm I was cleaning our shower. Laid out my clothes & it was off to bed. I was very excited, I think it goes with out saying, & still in disbelief. 4am would come soon. 11pm & I'm in denial about the surgery. The more I thought about it, I should've gone in the pool. I may not have another chance because I'll have the cast on for a while. 
THE DAY OF!!!!!!!!....
Tue 8/20/13 <<DAY 1>>
We had an hour drive & couldn't stop looking at the moon all the way to the hospital..it was beautiful. This pic doesn't do it justice. It was big & low & yellow but then it turned bigger & orange..also called the Corn moon. It was like a tiny zen moment right before going under the knife :)  .....
Woke up at 4am. Out the door by 430am. Got to the hospital, smooth check in with Larry, he was great. Got my gown, my bed, my IV, & ready to do the damn thing. I got a wrist band with my picture on it! Everyone was friendly. I had asked if I could be awake when they wheeled me in the OR. (Have my assoc in Surgical Tech & never got a job in it & love the OR) The anesthesiologist said no...but asked for my phone & took pics of it! I thought that was the coolest thing ever.

 

Everyone made sure to mark the foot I was doing the procedure on (couldn't miss it if you asked me!) I got a little emotional when it was time to go. I hugged my husband & teared up. Anesthesiologist asked why I was crying, told me not to worry, that everything would be ok. What ever she slipped me in that moment knocked me out..in seconds! I don't even remember leaving the area, let alone entering the OR. Now Brian was left to wait for 4 hours...to be continued!