Wedding Pictures

Working on getting our wedding photos printed (finally). There are around 2000 to go through, but condensing down to 200 or so (I hope!). Currently you can see some unedited pictures from one of my bridesmaid's and my uncle under my links!

Final pics will come soon....I hope.

The "other woman"

So it's 3am and I am awake. Again. Since I've been off my sleeping has been a bit messed up as I sleep when I'm tired, which often means afternoon naps. Rich was on nights the last couple weeks and early Sunday morning he got home around 4:30am, and I was still awake. We both slept till 1pm and then Rich was back in bed at 9:30pm trying to get some sleep as he had to be up at 4:30am Monday morning for a day shift. He was up sometime after midnight - just as I was getting ready to go to bed. He couldn't sleep, and we watched some of a movie. We then tried again. Neither of us could sleep. As a result Rich got almost no sleep before work. I was able to go to sleep around 6am and forced myself up at 11am hoping to get turned back around. No naps all day! By close to 10pm I was asleep. By 12:40am I was awake, and I still am, so I thought I'd blog.

Rich and I haven't been married too long but I have had to make room for Rich's other partner. Someone else he spends time with (some weeks more than he spends with me), and confides in. That other person is Darren. Darren is Rich's partner at work. They have been together about a year and a half now. Darren and his wife Melissa were at our wedding, we eat at their place, they eat at ours.

Darren is great as the other woman in Rich's life. He's on Rich to mow the lawn and do yard work, do handy stuff around the house. When Rich can't do it, he has Darren to call. I never have to mention to Rich the lawn needs mowing. Darren does that for me.

Having a work partner is normal. Most paramedics do work with the same person every shift. Darren and Rich however are a bit of a different case. Now every 2 weeks they work 84 hours. They are with each other exclusively for many of those hours. Even 2 women would have time to talk about everything in the world with that kind of a schedule, and you'd think after 18months they would have. Not these boys. This is what I find the most amusing. That 84 hours is worked over a 7 days. One week he works 5 days, the next 2. I would say out of every 7 days the boys have off, AT LEAST 5 of them (often more) they are on the phone at least once during the day.

One night when Rich and I were at the movies in Ancaster we decided to go to dinner at Montanas. We were parked right at the front and walked back to the Montanas instead of moving the car. As we're walking Rich spotted a truck. He circled it and peeked in the windows (which was making me slightly uncomfortable....was he casing it?) and then he said "that's Darren's truck!". Almost like Darren was out cheating on him. So he called Darren and invited him and his wife to Montanas with us when their movie let out. What are the odds without discussing it, we were at the same theater, on the same night, seeing shows that ended around the same time, and that in that big parking lot we would walk right by Darren's truck, and Rich would notice it?

Those two are meant to be together. I am confident if anything happened to me, Darren would take good care of Rich.

Spacefoam and Reality TV

Recovery is still sucky. Not progressing like I should be. On to more fun topics.

Those who know us know about our Chewie. Shortly after getting Chewie it was determined that Rich is a cat person who likes dogs, I on the other hand, am a dog person who tolerates cats. So what is frequently heard at our house from Rich are things like "Chewie you are Daddy's little girl aren't you....such a good girl...." and other mushy things like this that he thinks I don't hear. When she's bad however, it's "Jac YOUR dog did (insert most recent infraction here)".

On our bed we had one of those space foam thingys that are a couple inches thick. We loved it. It was a gift and we have now become accustomed to it after using it for the past 8 months or so. Chewie loved it too. Too much. She had taken to disappearing into the bedroom and when we would realize she was gone and search her out, she'd be sitting proudly in front of the small chunks of foam she'd ripped out (which of course means she's ripped the sheets). Up until yesterday the damage although frustrating, was salvageable. Yesterday was a different story.

Yesterday Rich was out, and Chewie and I went to the backyard for a few minutes. We came back in, I settled back onto the couch, and less than 10 minutes later Chewie came out with a chunk of something in her mouth. Spacefoam. I went to the bedroom to survey the damage. Not only had she chewed right THROUGH the foam this time (a hole the size of my hand right through) she had managed to pull this very heavy foam up and flipped half of it over. I called Rich to warn him.

Rich got home and we sat on the edge of the bed accessing the damage and trying to decide if we should spend the money to replace it. As we were sitting, the bed moved. The frame broke. So now it was tilting considerably to one side of and sloping down at the bottom. We were incredibly frustrated.

So today we trekked on a search for a cheap bedframe. We hit the thrift stores (slowly mind you - I do everything slowly right now) and tried to find one. We didn't succeed and we ended up at Sears. Over $90 later we had a bedframe. That sucked. Then we went to Costco to get the Spacefoam as Rich had determined his back is MUCH better on the foam. The foam is very heavy and Rich got the foam and frame into the house.

Rich is on nights, and before he started his routine to get ready for work he got the foam all ready on the bed as it has to settle overnight. He didn't bother to move the pillows, just flopped the foam on top of them. So much for lying flat like the directions said. While he was in the shower I noticed this and moved the pillows so it could lie flat.

Rich went to the bedroom to get dressed and I had just settled back on the couch. He calls me. "Jac?" I said "Yes?" hoping to not have to get back up. He said "you better come see this". Expecting to see Chewie doing something ridiculous I head to the bedroom. He says "I put the spacefoam out and it expanded already while I was in the shower! It pushed the pillows right up against the wall out of the way!". I almost hated to burst his bubble. I said "really? it pushed them all by itself?" He said "Yes I swear I didn't move them". The look of dejection and realization on his face when I told him I had in fact moved them, and he realized we did not have magic spacefoam was priceless.

I can't give him too hard a time or he won't feed me and I'm still a bit helpless. But hopefully, that endeth the spacefoam saga.

On the topic of dogs, I read the book Marley and Me this week. Highly recommend it. It's written by a journalist in the US. It's very well written. Within the first 8 Chapters I had already laughed outloud several times and cried. It's one of the best books I've read in a while. If you like dogs, or any animal, get the book!

On a completely separate note, as is my life lately, I am watching a lot of TV, and I have these comments:
a) LOVE Big Brother, so happy it's back on. I know it's a dumb show but I love it.
b) So You Think You Can Dance - Love Donyelle and Benji.
c) America's Got Talent - Weird. Too much Regis is annoying.
d) Very happy Lost is rerunning so I can catch up.
e) Canadian Idol still sucks
f) Love Last Comic Standing. Josh Blue is my favorite. Chris Porter is a close second. Did anyone see the guy last week that looked like Pernell?

Off to bed.

The day after the day after "Today"

Back to the surgeon. I was told last week he was full up till Thursday but he fit me in. Rich and I were talking. Do you think there are any unattractive plastic surgeons anywhere? Mine a good looking guy. Not the "wow you are shockingly hot" good looking, but the once you start to think about it you realize how good looking he really is. The on call guy I saw I didn't remember, but Rich tells me he was good looking also....hmmmm.....but I digress.

Back to see him. He said what was going on is not "normal" however it's not anything he's alarmed about. There is no infection as we thought, just "necrosis" (ewwww) which is common with breast reduction surgery. It will eventually heal over. For now it's uncomfortable and at times painful. So to sum up, one boob is good, one is not. So half of me feels like I'm ready to join the rest of the world, the other half wants to crawl back into bed. Hopefully now I can stay out of the hospital and doc's until the 29th which is my regularily scheduled appt.

Poor Rich got home from work and had a late call so was in bed around 8 - very late for him. Then he was up at 10 to take me to the doctor. Normally when he's off at night he'd be up by now (3:30) but he's still sleeping away. Him and Chewie. Too cute.

All my friends out there I am requesting you keep my friend in prayer. Her Mom who she was very close to died very suddenly early in June. Although it was a peaceful passing for her Mom, the family of course is still reeling from the shock. Please keep them in your prayers.

Off to....well watch tv yet again I guess. Hope the thunderstorm here is finding you all well! Miss seeing everyone.

Laura thank you for the awesome banana bread. It was yummy!

Today

Today is not a fun day.

Healing is still being slowed by something - we're not sure if it's infection or what but it's very frustrating. I have my surgeon's pager number and I actually used it last night to talk to him so we have some new things to try. I'm tired of trying things though, I just want to be better. I just got home from St Joes emerge yet again. I have to see the surgeon on Monday. The emerge dr looked like a younger Henry Winkler and was very nice. He took a quick look and said he'd call the plastics on call surgeon (who happened to be my surgeon). Rich said this was a good sign - meaning it was worth going in. If it'd been nothing he would have sent me home. So my surgeon is actually in the OR right now and he's expected to be there for around 8 hours. So I will go back in to see him on Monday. I was supposed to see him June 5th, then not again till June 29th, but I've been in to see him June 5th, in to see another surgeon June 8, in again today, and now the 19th. I'm getting tired of St Joes.

Today was supposed to be a fun day.

A few months ago my best friend Karyn called me to tell me about her annual birthday party BBQ at her place which would be happening today. Needless to say we are not going to her birthday party. Sorry Karyn!

Second was the Freeway BBQ. Being outside, and again that Rich is sleeping and I'm not overly comfortable driving yet, I won't be at that either. I'd probably be fine to just go and sit, but I can't carry a lawn chair, get there, and I wouldn't last long. Even if I hitched a ride with someone I'd have to leave so much earlier than everyone it won't work.

Third, I have a wedding to go to in July and the bridal shower which is a surprise is tonight. So again, missing out on that. Have fun Sharon!

Fourth, my family is having a Father's Day BBQ for my grandfather in Toronto that again, I can't go to.

Finally, I am so stir crazy I'd be happy to go just about anywhere right now, but I am home. So if anyone else is stuck at home like me, I hope you have a good day!

For all those going out, have fun for me! I hope to be joining the rest of the world soon!

For my wonderful husband, thank you for taking such good care of me, for giving up your sleep to take me to the hospital, for going to work tired so we can eat and pay rent and all those good things, and for being so understanding. I love you.

Recovery

May 30th I had my last dinner around 11:30pm. Chocolate covered strawberries. Yummmm. I couldn't eat after midnight and I didn't know when I'd have an appetite again so I made it count.

May 31st Rich took me to St Joes to get ready for my surgery. There was a lot of waiting. There was a lot of sitting in an uncomfortable chair that made my back hurt. It was one of the few things that made me stay and not run out of there - thinking back pain may be a thing of the past soon. So after 45 minutes of sitting surrounded by 5 men all in those sexy robes they give us, she finally called me. This nurse was nice. Then the surgeon came in and made a bunch of markings on me. I felt like a connect the dots. Rich came in to say goodbye and then the 2 worst things pre-surgery happened. 1. Rich left. 2. They took my glasses. I can't see anything without my glasses/contacts so I feel very helpless. Then I was wheeled into the room where the staff was getting impatient - apparently my anesthesiologist was off having coffee or something and was late. Why are the operating rooms all green? The nurse said supposedly it was soothing. First, I'm having surgery - a color will not soothe me. Second, I will be asleep for 98% of the time I'm in that room so does it really matter?

They put me to sleep and next thing I know I've got an oxygen mask on in the recovery room. They nice ladies there gave me morphine. I liked them. That's all I remember about that other than my first experience with a bedpan. That was fun.

Next thing I know I'm in a room. Rich is there and so is a nurse. This nurse is mean. She was rough and made me get up quickly. She also tied the gown at the back and then would pull on it at the front to check the dressings, forgetting she had tied it up. I wasn't happy with her. I was getting sick due to either the anesthetic or the morphine - the nurses weren't sure which.

Shift change at 7 and I now had 2 nice nurses. I also had a semi private room with no one else in it and a tv. That was nice. Rich left at 8 which I felt bad - I slept the whole time he was there. The nice nurses came and gave me drugs and a back rub. At midnight though I was still getting sick periodically so they took me off the morphine. Mean ladies. By 6am I needed something so they brought me some Tylenol 3's. I took them and immediately threw up. Weird thing though they pills stayed down. How does that work?

Anyway in came the surgeon around 9am and brought in his team of residents and colleagues - all men of course. He wanted to check my dressings and by that time so many people had seen my chest - really what was 6 more? The new nurse I thought was a bit mean but she ended up being quite nice.

They released me and Rich took me home with instructions to take me back to the surgeon on Monday. This was Thursday. So home we went. Friday he picked up my sister and brought her to visit and help out. She leaves today but she's been a big help.

Monday I saw the surgeon again and he took off most of the bandages and said I was looking better than many of his patients do at that stage. I felt sorry for the other patients cause I thought it looked awful. Monday I was finally able to shower again yaaaaay! It was a very difficult thing to do. Lots of pain and nausea and I had a long nap after the whole ordeal was done.

Tuesday I experienced some normal aftereffects the doc warned me about. By Tuesday night though I was worse, so Rich called in to work and said he wouldn't be in the next day.

Wednesday I woke Rich up 3 times between 6 and 8 I was bleeding so much. This was both frustrating and stressful.

Thursday morning Rich called in again and we were back at the hospital as the bleeding hadn't stopped. Thursday night fight with stupid Sunlife about benefits. Friday morning still fighting with Sunlife, hopefully have it straightened out now.

Still bleeding though. It's very frustrating not healing properly. For both Rich and myself.

Rich has done a wonderful job taking care of me. Talie too. Rich has cooked so well since I've been off (lasagna, baked shells, etc) that I think I will quit cooking all together and let him do it even when I'm better. I felt kind of unnecessary this week - I couldn't do anything. I was quite happy today when Rich needed me for a "wardrobe malfunction" (he got pancake mix on his black shirt and didn't know what to do).

So now comes the waiting process. Waiting to stop bleeding. Until the bleeding stops the rest of me can't heal properly. Waiting for the pain to go away. Waiting for more energy. We went for a small walk around the block yesterday and that was exhausting. I'll be pretty much stuck at home for another week at least, then maybe I can get out for short trips.

Thank you to Peggy and Kerrie for helping take care of me while Rich went out. Thank you for the fruit basket it's awesome! Thank you to Mom and Dad for all your phone calls and gifts and prayers. Love and miss you. Thank you to Natasha and Abby for the flowers and for bringing Rich dinner - it was very thoughtful of you! Thank you to Laura for coming to check on me and coming and watching a movie with us - and not being offended that I feel asleep. Thank you to Margie (and Pernell for checking in) for coming to visit and for the gift - and for Sam for coming as well. Thank you to Kelly for coming to hang out last night and for all the gifts - it was very thoughtful and so useful! Thank you to everyone else who called and emailed to check up on me - all were noticed and appreciated.

Thank you to Talie for giving up your vacation to come spend time helping me out but mostly keeping me company. We really appreciated you being here.

Thank you to my wonderful hubby Rich for being so attentive and helpful, and not making me feel guilty for not being able to do really anything. I love you.

So I am still recovering. Even with a break sitting doing this blog is draining so I will be heading back to the couch, but at least I'm able to get off the couch for a bit. I don't return to work until July 3rd so it will be a while still before I can get to see people. Pray the bleeding stops. It's not fun.

Back to recovering!