My Mom is recovering...

[chochiyo_sama]

I am back at school after taking a couple of days off to deal with my mom's surgical issues.  I headed to Ellendale immediately after I got my shit together for a sub at school for Wednesday and Thursday.  I had to make a word search and a crossword for my Misfits, Outcasts, and Monsters class.  I had no sub for Wednesday, but Renee was in for me on Thursday.

Now, I have a crapload of correcting to do.  sigh.  It never ends.  I would like to stay at school until i get it done tonight, but unfortunately, I gave Susan a ride in, so I will have to leave at about 3 pm to take her home again.  I hate brining my school work home with me as I can't focus on it there.  I'd rather do it at school, as everything is right  there, convenient to file and put away things.

Anyhow--I wanted to talk about Mom and her surgery.

I called mom when i was on the road and asked if she wanted me  to bring anything home for her.  She said Tammy (my little sister) was hungry for mashed potatoes and gravy, so could I please stop and get Kentucky Fried Chicken for supper.  Well, yeah, i could do that.

So I got an 8-piece bucket-o-chicken with sides of potatoes and gravy and cole slaw.  I am not a huge fan of Kentucky Friend as it is soooo greasy, but I can choke it down.  LOL.  For a treat, I also got the small box of honey-bbq wings.  They are not as good as they used to be.  I used to just LOVE those.

After we ate, we adjourned to the basement where we watched Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (voices of Mickey Rooney and Fred Astair.)  When that was over, we watched The Punisher, which was a lot more violent than I remembered it being.  Still, the guy who played Frank Castle was gorgeous.   I am quite disappointed that he is not playing the role for the new version that is coming out.

I sewed on my doll clothes, Tammy read a book, and mom played her hand-held yatzee game.  The unknown creature that is living in my mom's basement croaked at us quite a lot that night, and Tammy said she was awakened by him croaking at her at about 4:45 am.  It has to be some sort of frog or toad.  Jack is still freaking out and wanting her to get an exterminator for the poor little guy.  Tammy's husband Bert instructed her to put out a bowl of water for it as it might be thirsty.

Mom has enough spiders and centipedes in the basement for the little critter to feed on, so I am not too worried about him.

We were on the road to the hospital by 5 am.  She needed to be there by 5:45.  The bad thing about the trip was that the roads were pretty icy.  (We saw a semi in the ditch on the way in.)  The good thing about the trip in was that there was hardly any traffic at all.  The hospital parking lot was almost completely empty, so I got a good close spot.  I dropped Tammy and Mom off at the front doors and then hobbled across the parking lot myself. 

I was a little worried about how far i would have to walk on my own gimpy leg, but it wasn't very far at all.  i was thankful.  Mom went into surgery at about 7:30 am, and Tammy and I sat out in the waiting room.  Tammy read her book and I sewed on my doll clothes.  i completed all the fabric with the cute summery flowers and orange/lime slices motif that I had cut out.  I had one little summer frock, two pairs of capris pants, one spaghetti strap blouse, and one pair of shorts.  I had one other summer frock, but i didn't have the pieces for the bodice lining, so it is waiting for that--the shoulder seams are sewn.  When that was all done, I worked on this blue fabric that had multi-colored flowers and pinwheel motifs.  I also didn't have a lining for the halter top I'd cut out of this, so that has to wait.  Of that fabric, I made a pair of capris, a pair of shorts, and i hemmed all the edges for the spaghetti strap blouse.  I hadn't brought any extra fabric to make the straps for that.  (Pictures will be posted when I have time to take them.)

Mom's surgery lasted about an hour.  The doctor (Dr. Eckhart) was very nice.  He called us in to the consultation room and told us that there were no surprises except that she had another small tear in the miniscus on the other side of her knee.  They repaired everything and said that she was in the recovery room waking up.  Mom opted to be put completely out rather than be awake for it.  I think I would do that too.  A shot in the spine would hurt like a mother fucker, and who wants to lay there listening to them drill in your leg for an hour?  NOT ME.

Tammy and I went back to her room as soon as they had her out of the recovery room.  We laughed and chattered away while mom sorted drifted in and out of sleep.  Michael called me shortly after they had given her some vikodin, and we both giggled about the time he had called me in the middle of the night, higher than a kite on vikodin after his surgery, and professed his everlasting love for me.  "I love you" *sniffle*  "No, you don't understand...I really, REALLY love you"  *sob sob*  "You've made me a better man."  *voice crack*  "I lo-o-ove you."  *sniffle sniffle sob sob.* 

He was so embarrassed the next day, and I thought it was the sweetest thing EVER.  When you are "under the influence," and your subconscious mind is speaking, a person KNOWS you are telling the truth.  So, for me, his drugged up confessions of love were so sweet.  

I do love my little buddy Michael.  He is my sweetness.

Mom doesn't have the same reaction to being given some vikodin.  She just went to sleep.  LOL.

After a while, the nurse came in and said we could get her dressed and the PT would come in and teach her the exercises she had to do for her knee.  That was a bitter sweet moment for me, because I recalled my sweatpea Mitya working with the exercises for my own knee with me, and I wanted to call him so bad and say, "Guess who's in my mom's room!  A PT, just like you!!"  But, I was strong.  It was sweet because I have nothing but sweet and loving thoughts for my good friend.  My heart soars like an eagle whenever my mind wanders in his direction.  I still feel his love and affection for me wrapped around my soul.  Just as I feel mine for him, warm and rich and full, pulsating in my soul like a heart beat.

I helped my mom dress while Tammy went to buy her new crutches.  After the PT worked with her, I went to get the car.  (I stopped on the way to see if her new glasses were in, but they were not).     She was pretty perky at that time, and was able to get into the car with very little help. 

She and Tammy were both starving, so we went through the drive-thru of McDonalds where we all got Big and Tasty burgers, fries, and diet cokes.  The guy who served us was a sweet and friendly grandfatherly type, but the dumb shit forgot to give us straws!!

The roads were much better on the way home--but we could see lots of spots where those who thought there was no reason they could not go 80 mph that morning found out why they shouldn't go that fast.  *snark*

We got mom in the house, and we all just chatted until Tammy had to head for home at about 2 pm.  Then mom said she thought she would take a nap.  My intention was to wait until she was asleep then go down  to the basement to mess around on her computer and finish my laundry.  Instead, I fell asleep.  i woke up at about 5 pm when Kari called me for an update. 

Mom and I watched Ghost Hunters together--well, I watched it.  She dozed.  I sewed.  I was working on my 3 fairy print "English Garden" pattern.  The pattern is a little fussy, but it turns out so cute every time.  I have all the pre-sewing stuff done--the sleeves are hemmed, the bodices are lined and top stitched, and the skirts are hemmed on three sides.  All that is left to do is attach the sleeves, sew up the bodices, and gather and attach the skirts. My gathered skirts are looking a lot better since i have started gathering and sewing on the skirts a forth of a skirt at a time.  They are much more balanced now than they used to be. 

My doll clothes sewing skills have improved immensely.

I'm so happy with the way things turn out.

I am making a little care package of marley things for my doll collecting friend Doris because she sent me a Gene doll that I hope  to repaint one of these days when I have a moment of time to breathe.

My mom and i just hung out on Thursday.  I had intended to be home by 3:30 pm on Thursday, but I never left my mom's house till about 4:30.  It was dark when I got to West Concord.  It was pretty slick in Owatonna.  I stopped and got myself a hot chocolate at Starbucks because my throat was dry and scratchy.  When i got home, i took my meds and went to bed.  I was tired.