Well folks, it's 21-gun salute time. After over six years on this blog, we're moving to another site. You will be able to access Life's Little Adventures as always - it's a history of our life from August 2006 through November 2012. However, we will no longer update THIS particular blog.
Now, it is time to move on to bigger and better things (let's just hope I can figure out how to use the new blog!).
To keep up with us, go to:
Life's Little Adventures 2.0
http://chezlupotwopointo.wordpress.com/
Bookmark us. Follow us. This is the story of our life (picking up in December 2012).
Sunday, December 09, 2012
Sunday, December 02, 2012
On Hold!
Well people, the time has come to figure out the next steps for our family blog. Apparently, we have reached capacity with pictures and I can no longer upload pictures unless I pay - which I really don't want to do. So, I have to do some research and poking around and see what our options are. Never fear...the blog will continue in some form. It's a journal of our family and very important to us. In the meantime, bear with us as we figure out what's next. It may not happen until over the holidays as I'm swamped with work, dealing with the shoulder, and educating the children.
Saturday, December 01, 2012
Surgery
I am recovering from shoulder surgery. It's so different than my last one. First, this one was very minor. Second, I actually knew what happened. Third, I feel pretty good.
Here's the story - my surgery was scheduled for 3:30pm with a report time at 2:00pm. The doctor told me I could eat until 6:30am and have clear liquids until 10:30am. He also said there was a chance he'd be running ahead of schedule and I might get a call to come in earlier. Indeed, that is what happened. I had stopped eating at 6am and had my last clear liquid at 10:26am. At precisely 10:30am, the nurse called to see if I could come in at 1pm with surgery at 2:30pm. I said sure and then told her when my last meal/drink was. She had to check with the anestheseologist to make sure this was ok. Turns out this would go on the rest of the day and everyone freaked out when they found out I had eaten.
Frank took me to the hospital and I was called back pretty much right away for the weigh-in, blood pressure, heart rate, etc. Then, I got in the gown and they started right away with the IV. I had about five different nurses and each one freaked out about the food. By the time the aneestheselogist came, I was starting to feel the sedation and was also getting fairly sassy. The dude, who was super nice, wanted to talk about Penn State. I nipped it in the bud by saying, "No Penn Stater wants to discuss this and has very strong feelings about it." That was the end on that one. Frank was back with me at this point. Then, the last nurse looked at my chart and started to make a big deal out of the food. I looked at him (as best as I could as I couldn't see him very well without my glasses) and said, "Listen up...take it up with the doctor." At that point, it was time to go. I was salty. Frank was giggling.
They wheeled me back to the operating room and that is the last thing I remember. I woke up and Frank was there again. My left eye was droopy - very normal when coming out of the drugs. The doctor had talked to Frank and told him that everything went as planned. My rotator cuff was fine, the labrum was fine although it is anatomically abnormal - but did not need repair, and the end of my collarbone was removed. Three scope holes. Done and done. No surprises. I was in a giant sling, managed to get dressed, and we were home by 5pm.
I had had a scalene block so my whole arm and all of my fingers were totally numb. This is a totally weird sensation but helps with the pain and recovery. Later in the evening, we watched the DVD of the surgery. It was awesome to see this. The doctor was talking to me on the DVD and explaining everything that he was doing and what he saw. We decided my doctor is a total bad ass. I feel I need to post the surgery on youtube - it's that cool. Anyways, I wasn't much for the rest of the evening. I took some drugs and passed out. The doc said to take the drugs before bedtime as the nerve block would wear off. Sure enough, around 2am, I could move my fingers and that was the end of the nerve block. I woke Frank up to get me some more drugs and then passed out again.
Yesterday, I felt pretty good. We did a lot of errands, took the kids to the playground, and just hung out. But, by mid-afternoon, I was feeling rough (and evidently looked rough as Frank told me). I went to bed early last night with the assistance of drugs and slept until 7:45am this morning. I'm feeling pretty good today. I'm sore. I have pretty good range of motion. I can actually lift my arm over my head, put a jacket on, and little things like that that you take for granted. The doc told me that by my last post-op check up next week, I should have almost all of my range of motion back. I don't have any restrictions on activity other than to listen to my body. I'm not going to hurt anything the doctor did - he said I might hurt though. So, based off of what the doc said, life will go on. In 3-4 weeks or so, all will be normal. I'm so grateful to have this out of the way and my shoulder will feel so much better. I'm also so amazed that this is so much less painful and severe than my other shoulder. Seriously. I can't even explain how painful that other shoulder was. Anyhoo, life goes on. I'm sore but it will pass. I'll get my range of motion and strength back in the coming weeks. My three holes will heal. Soon, I'll forget it even happened.
Here's the story - my surgery was scheduled for 3:30pm with a report time at 2:00pm. The doctor told me I could eat until 6:30am and have clear liquids until 10:30am. He also said there was a chance he'd be running ahead of schedule and I might get a call to come in earlier. Indeed, that is what happened. I had stopped eating at 6am and had my last clear liquid at 10:26am. At precisely 10:30am, the nurse called to see if I could come in at 1pm with surgery at 2:30pm. I said sure and then told her when my last meal/drink was. She had to check with the anestheseologist to make sure this was ok. Turns out this would go on the rest of the day and everyone freaked out when they found out I had eaten.
Frank took me to the hospital and I was called back pretty much right away for the weigh-in, blood pressure, heart rate, etc. Then, I got in the gown and they started right away with the IV. I had about five different nurses and each one freaked out about the food. By the time the aneestheselogist came, I was starting to feel the sedation and was also getting fairly sassy. The dude, who was super nice, wanted to talk about Penn State. I nipped it in the bud by saying, "No Penn Stater wants to discuss this and has very strong feelings about it." That was the end on that one. Frank was back with me at this point. Then, the last nurse looked at my chart and started to make a big deal out of the food. I looked at him (as best as I could as I couldn't see him very well without my glasses) and said, "Listen up...take it up with the doctor." At that point, it was time to go. I was salty. Frank was giggling.
They wheeled me back to the operating room and that is the last thing I remember. I woke up and Frank was there again. My left eye was droopy - very normal when coming out of the drugs. The doctor had talked to Frank and told him that everything went as planned. My rotator cuff was fine, the labrum was fine although it is anatomically abnormal - but did not need repair, and the end of my collarbone was removed. Three scope holes. Done and done. No surprises. I was in a giant sling, managed to get dressed, and we were home by 5pm.
I had had a scalene block so my whole arm and all of my fingers were totally numb. This is a totally weird sensation but helps with the pain and recovery. Later in the evening, we watched the DVD of the surgery. It was awesome to see this. The doctor was talking to me on the DVD and explaining everything that he was doing and what he saw. We decided my doctor is a total bad ass. I feel I need to post the surgery on youtube - it's that cool. Anyways, I wasn't much for the rest of the evening. I took some drugs and passed out. The doc said to take the drugs before bedtime as the nerve block would wear off. Sure enough, around 2am, I could move my fingers and that was the end of the nerve block. I woke Frank up to get me some more drugs and then passed out again.
Yesterday, I felt pretty good. We did a lot of errands, took the kids to the playground, and just hung out. But, by mid-afternoon, I was feeling rough (and evidently looked rough as Frank told me). I went to bed early last night with the assistance of drugs and slept until 7:45am this morning. I'm feeling pretty good today. I'm sore. I have pretty good range of motion. I can actually lift my arm over my head, put a jacket on, and little things like that that you take for granted. The doc told me that by my last post-op check up next week, I should have almost all of my range of motion back. I don't have any restrictions on activity other than to listen to my body. I'm not going to hurt anything the doctor did - he said I might hurt though. So, based off of what the doc said, life will go on. In 3-4 weeks or so, all will be normal. I'm so grateful to have this out of the way and my shoulder will feel so much better. I'm also so amazed that this is so much less painful and severe than my other shoulder. Seriously. I can't even explain how painful that other shoulder was. Anyhoo, life goes on. I'm sore but it will pass. I'll get my range of motion and strength back in the coming weeks. My three holes will heal. Soon, I'll forget it even happened.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Surgery Day
Today is surgery day. I went to my pre-op meeting with the doctor yesterday. He body marked me - just like before a triathlon. This way, there's no question about which side. We talked about the procedure, recovery, etc. He was sort of vague about recovery until after I see him at my first post-op appointment tomorrow morning. He did say that I'll be rid of this very fancy high-tech sling in a day and by next week, I should have most of my range of motion back. This is WAY different than my other shoulder which took months of painful, tearful physical therapy to get range of motion back. I remember it like it was yesterday.
Anyhoo, I asked him my surgery time thinking I'd be the first patient of the day. Oh no. I'm not scheduled until 3:30pm because there are four right-side rotator cuff repairs before me and my clavicle resection is on the left-side. DAMN. My first thought was, "Good, I can get my run in in the morning." Warped I know. And then I mentally gave myself a slap on the wrist. I did continue to have a mental debate with myself about working out in the morning but the right thing to do is relax. DAMN again. My next thought was, "I'm going to starve." After I checked my warped workout desire and realized my hunger situation, I blurted out, "I'm going to starve!" He laughed. Usually the rule is you can't eat after midnight. He did the math and said I could eat until 6:30am and drink clear liquids until 10:30am. Even with that, I'm going to starve. And, we live in the high desert people. It's dry. I drink a lot of water. It's going to be a long day.
So, I got up at 5am - later than my normal wake up time anyways - and am making hardy pancakes - pumpkin, pecan with almond milk and flax. I'll eat a bunch of those and that should hold me for a while. I'll finish eating by 6am just in case I'm called early. I have to be at the hospital at 2pm and the doc said if they're running ahead of schedule, I may go in earlier than 3:30pm. We shall see.
I have to admit that yesterday, before I saw the doc, I was stressing. Surgery when you have kids is way different than when you are a 22 year-old, single, kid who only cared about one thing - rugby. I'm nervous. I don't want to be opened up like I was on my other shoulder. I don't want to go through months of rehab. After talking to my doc about this, he calmed me. Technology has advanced tremendously. If he was doing my other shoulder today, it would be total arthroscopy. For my current shoulder, it's a very minor thing. He is simply going to go in and cut off the end of my clavicle. He will take a look at my rotator cuff and labrum and if there needs to be repair, he'll do it. It will be arthroscopy. It will take 40 minutes tops once I get in the operating room. He said I will be over this in 3-4 weeks and can get on with life. So, after hearing all of this (again) and talking through some things with him, I feel better. Still nervous. But not stressed like yesterday.
My mom and dad came down yesterday and will stay through the weekend. I'm really glad they are here to help with the kids although I do feel guilty about dumping the kids on them. I pretty much do everything with the kids and we are never very far apart. I don't feel right about leaving them. But, it has to happen. Frank will take me to the hospital and wait for me. We should be home by 6:00 or 6:30pm tonight. I see the doc tomorrow morning again at 8:25am where he'll take a look at my scope holes and see how I'm feeling.
So now, it's time to eat. Pancakes here I come. My 6am cut-off (technically 6:30am) is coming quickly.
Anyhoo, I asked him my surgery time thinking I'd be the first patient of the day. Oh no. I'm not scheduled until 3:30pm because there are four right-side rotator cuff repairs before me and my clavicle resection is on the left-side. DAMN. My first thought was, "Good, I can get my run in in the morning." Warped I know. And then I mentally gave myself a slap on the wrist. I did continue to have a mental debate with myself about working out in the morning but the right thing to do is relax. DAMN again. My next thought was, "I'm going to starve." After I checked my warped workout desire and realized my hunger situation, I blurted out, "I'm going to starve!" He laughed. Usually the rule is you can't eat after midnight. He did the math and said I could eat until 6:30am and drink clear liquids until 10:30am. Even with that, I'm going to starve. And, we live in the high desert people. It's dry. I drink a lot of water. It's going to be a long day.
So, I got up at 5am - later than my normal wake up time anyways - and am making hardy pancakes - pumpkin, pecan with almond milk and flax. I'll eat a bunch of those and that should hold me for a while. I'll finish eating by 6am just in case I'm called early. I have to be at the hospital at 2pm and the doc said if they're running ahead of schedule, I may go in earlier than 3:30pm. We shall see.
I have to admit that yesterday, before I saw the doc, I was stressing. Surgery when you have kids is way different than when you are a 22 year-old, single, kid who only cared about one thing - rugby. I'm nervous. I don't want to be opened up like I was on my other shoulder. I don't want to go through months of rehab. After talking to my doc about this, he calmed me. Technology has advanced tremendously. If he was doing my other shoulder today, it would be total arthroscopy. For my current shoulder, it's a very minor thing. He is simply going to go in and cut off the end of my clavicle. He will take a look at my rotator cuff and labrum and if there needs to be repair, he'll do it. It will be arthroscopy. It will take 40 minutes tops once I get in the operating room. He said I will be over this in 3-4 weeks and can get on with life. So, after hearing all of this (again) and talking through some things with him, I feel better. Still nervous. But not stressed like yesterday.
My mom and dad came down yesterday and will stay through the weekend. I'm really glad they are here to help with the kids although I do feel guilty about dumping the kids on them. I pretty much do everything with the kids and we are never very far apart. I don't feel right about leaving them. But, it has to happen. Frank will take me to the hospital and wait for me. We should be home by 6:00 or 6:30pm tonight. I see the doc tomorrow morning again at 8:25am where he'll take a look at my scope holes and see how I'm feeling.
So now, it's time to eat. Pancakes here I come. My 6am cut-off (technically 6:30am) is coming quickly.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Thanksgiving!
We spent the long holiday weekend up in the high country of Breckenridge. I skied three days. Mattie, Frank, and Ye Ye skied four days. The mountains are in need of snow...BAD. We were out when the lifts started and before the crowds came out. Each day we skied, we were home by about 11:30am or so. Mattie is skiing great. After 30 years of skiing, I have had a slice of humble pie. My almost six-year-old, in the beginning of her third ski season, now skis faster than me. I'm no slouch either. Her nickname is now Picabo. Tas got in on the action too. We took him out on the magic carpet so he could get the feel of having skis on. He kept saying, "Can I do it again?" The kid has amazing body control, core strength, and knows just where his center of gravity is. Both kids will go into ski school in December.
Over the few days, we went swimming at the Rec Center, took a few evening walks, played a lot, made the annual candy houses (this year, it's a campsite), had dance parties, and just played. Tom and Laura were able to come up over the weekend so we caught up with them as well.
Today, we're headed back to the ABQ. This week will be busy with school, work, and a sixth birthday and party. Nai Nai and Ye Ye are coming down on Wednesday and will stay through the weekend to help out with the kids while I have surgery on Thursday. Mattie's birthday is on Friday and we'll have her party - the mini Warrior Dash - on Saturday. It's going to be a busy week!
PS - I forgot the camera at home so no pictures this time around.
Over the few days, we went swimming at the Rec Center, took a few evening walks, played a lot, made the annual candy houses (this year, it's a campsite), had dance parties, and just played. Tom and Laura were able to come up over the weekend so we caught up with them as well.
Today, we're headed back to the ABQ. This week will be busy with school, work, and a sixth birthday and party. Nai Nai and Ye Ye are coming down on Wednesday and will stay through the weekend to help out with the kids while I have surgery on Thursday. Mattie's birthday is on Friday and we'll have her party - the mini Warrior Dash - on Saturday. It's going to be a busy week!
PS - I forgot the camera at home so no pictures this time around.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Worst Mom EVER
Well people, I may be the worst mom ever. As you all know by now, the end of the year is our busy time - both kids have their birthdays and then, of course, the holidays. This year, Mattie has decided she wants a birthday party. We have attended several of her friends' parties and wow...the bar has been set very high. This is all fine and good but I am not a party person. I don't like to plan them, I don't enjoy all the hoo-ha, and I think gifts are totally unnecessary. This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone as I'm the same person who despises such events as Halloween, Valentine's Day, and any other festive, fake holiday occasion.
But, the fact remains...my daughter wants a birthday party and that's what she'll get. Frank and I thought we had it in the bag and planned to have the party at the kids' gymnastics place. Turns out that we were late in the game and the gym is booked through January. Doh. My friend, Darlene, who owns the gym, is like me and doesn't like the party thing. She even suggested I try to talk Mattie out of a party. I thought that was hilarious! We agreed that we were the worst moms ever! Well, it didn't work. So, over the weekend, Frank and I spent some time brainstorming and looking at various places to have a birthday party. Let me also just say that I do not want 15 kids and their accompanying adults at our house. Last year, we hosted our science class every week. We only had 8 kids for that and the house was a wreck afterwards.
After looking at party locations such as bouncy places, ice skating, museums, and everything else you can think of, we came up with a brilliant idea. Our idea will save us a ton of money (most places that host parties are at least $150 to walk in the door...and that is on the low side) and will give the kids good fun and exercise. However, it will be a fair amount of work for me and Frank. Anyhoo, we are going to have a mini-Warrior Dash-esque party. We will put together an obstacle course and lead the kids through it. We'll also do some other activities that involve some teamwork and thinking. We are still in the planning phases but have pretty much outlined the activities we'll do. Now, we're collecting materials and need to map out the actual course.
We sprung this on Mattie yesterday and she was very excited. We're not sure how it will go with 15 kids. But, one thing is for certain...the kids will be very active, as will both me and Frank. Oh, and I'll be two days out of shoulder surgery so that is another interesting factor.
But, the fact remains...my daughter wants a birthday party and that's what she'll get. Frank and I thought we had it in the bag and planned to have the party at the kids' gymnastics place. Turns out that we were late in the game and the gym is booked through January. Doh. My friend, Darlene, who owns the gym, is like me and doesn't like the party thing. She even suggested I try to talk Mattie out of a party. I thought that was hilarious! We agreed that we were the worst moms ever! Well, it didn't work. So, over the weekend, Frank and I spent some time brainstorming and looking at various places to have a birthday party. Let me also just say that I do not want 15 kids and their accompanying adults at our house. Last year, we hosted our science class every week. We only had 8 kids for that and the house was a wreck afterwards.
After looking at party locations such as bouncy places, ice skating, museums, and everything else you can think of, we came up with a brilliant idea. Our idea will save us a ton of money (most places that host parties are at least $150 to walk in the door...and that is on the low side) and will give the kids good fun and exercise. However, it will be a fair amount of work for me and Frank. Anyhoo, we are going to have a mini-Warrior Dash-esque party. We will put together an obstacle course and lead the kids through it. We'll also do some other activities that involve some teamwork and thinking. We are still in the planning phases but have pretty much outlined the activities we'll do. Now, we're collecting materials and need to map out the actual course.
We sprung this on Mattie yesterday and she was very excited. We're not sure how it will go with 15 kids. But, one thing is for certain...the kids will be very active, as will both me and Frank. Oh, and I'll be two days out of shoulder surgery so that is another interesting factor.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Back to the Rat Race
And we're back! The rat race begins again. The Lupo Academy of Excellence is back in session. I'm slammed with work - as usual with a holiday approaching. Frank is ridiculously busy protecting public lands.
This week, we're playing catch up with everything...grocery shopping, preparing for Thanksgiving, winterizing the yard, and a lot more. I had one of my pre-op appointments for shoulder surgery. I go in on November 29. I'm expecting a simple, arthroscopic procedure. However, I learned today that, like my other shoulder surgery, I could wake up with a lovely incision. We shall see.
Frank saw his wrist doctor earlier in the week. His wrist is healing well. He still has some swelling in one of the tendons but that should go away with time.
Next week, we'll be on the road again. We'll head to Breckenridge for Thanksgiving. Then, we'll come home, I'll have surgery, we'll have Mattie's birthday, and then we'll be into December.
This week, we're playing catch up with everything...grocery shopping, preparing for Thanksgiving, winterizing the yard, and a lot more. I had one of my pre-op appointments for shoulder surgery. I go in on November 29. I'm expecting a simple, arthroscopic procedure. However, I learned today that, like my other shoulder surgery, I could wake up with a lovely incision. We shall see.
Frank saw his wrist doctor earlier in the week. His wrist is healing well. He still has some swelling in one of the tendons but that should go away with time.
Next week, we'll be on the road again. We'll head to Breckenridge for Thanksgiving. Then, we'll come home, I'll have surgery, we'll have Mattie's birthday, and then we'll be into December.
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