Sweet Surprises!

Since my surprise appendectomy on Monday, I've been holed up in the house, on the couch, medicated and resting.  I realize that my health is bigger than my job, than my drive to get things done. And for the first few days, all I could do was rest, but now that I'm on the mend, I'm getting antsy.

Physically I'm in way better shape now than I was five days ago, although I still can't stand up all the way without my incisions on my stomach or the muscles in my back hurting, and I still can't lift anything too heavy.  But mentally I'm starting to break down a bit!  Indy's been a fabulous nurse, waiting on me hand and foot, but eventually he had to get back to his own normal routine of class and student teaching, and that left me alone for 6, 8, some times 10 hours of the day!  I had lots of check-in phone calls from family and friends, and even a few visits from my sister and my nephew, but after answering the same questions, or describing the same scenarios for the 100th time, it gets old.  I needed some change! Something fun!

Today I was awoken from a nap with a two quick knocks on the door.  At first, I panicked for a minute thinking, "I'm in my pajamas! I can't answer that!"  I just sat on the couch for a bit and waited.  Nothing.  That was the all-clear I needed.  Since we moved to our new apartment in May, I picked up on our UPS delivery guy's style- no doorbell ringing, no waiting for a signature, instead he always knocks twice in rapid succession, then leaves the package on the doorstep.

When I was sure he'd gone, I opened the door and found a huge package from "Shari's Berries."

My initial reaction was, "Huh? He's got the wrong apartment..."  I definitely didn't order anything from "Shari's Berries," and Indy is pretty good about sharing his online orders with me. (In fact, he's quite paranoid that some little punks will also catch wind of our UPS delivery guy's style and swipe our stuff when we're not home.)

I took it inside, double checked the address, and when I realized it was sent to me, personally, I ripped that baby open.

What did I find?

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Not one, but TWO sets of the cutest freaking cake pops I've ever seen!  Indy's best friend and his wife (whom I've become very close with over the last 6 years, and can now call one of my best friends) send me two sets of these "Get Well Soon"chocolate cake/vanilla iced pops with a note reading, "Everyone knows you can't heal properly without some sweets! Get well soon!"

How adorable?!  I was so genuinely surprised I actually teared up a little!  They could not have come at a better time, and let me tell you, the are delicious!  They lifted my spirits and made me feel so loved.

I'm definitely saving "Shari's Berries" as a go-to for the up-coming holidays.  They do all kinds of beautiful sweet treats- and not just cake pops!  They do all types of dipped fruits, cookies, pretzels, and candy.  Even chocolate-dipped cheesecake!  They do cupcakes, truffles, even sugar-free treats.  Baked goods and baskets galore!  So many ways to send an up-lifting treat with a personal touch.  I can't wait to enjoy these babies over the weekend!

I'm Just Like Madeline!

My second grade teacher, Mrs. Santos, loved reading the Madeline books to us.  She had a ton of Madeline dolls and I remember when it was my turn to play with them, the first thing I did was lift up her dress to see her appendix scar.  I remember thinking, "That's so cool!"

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Two days after having an emergency appendectomy, I can tell you, it's not really all that cool.  In fact, it's much more painful and gross than I dreamed it would be when I was 7 years old.

On Saturday night we had Indy's family over to celebrate his father's birthday.  We had a big 'ol traditional Greek dinner with lamb, orzo and tzatziki.  I made my first birthday cake, ever, and we had a wonderful night!  After they'd gone and we'd cleaned up for the night, around 11:30ish, upon getting into bed, I started to feel a dull twinge in my lower, right pelvic area.  I passed it off for some gas from my big Greek dinner.  But as the night went on, I was tossing and turning, and the pain got a little sharper and more regular.

In the morning, I was sore, and after all I've been through with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, I'd convinced myself that the pain I felt the night before wasn't gas, but instead a burst ovarian cyst.  The pain was different from the last two burst cysts I've had- usually it's a very sharp, intense pain for about 20 minutes, followed by a throbbing soreness for most of the next day.  But still, I was pretty confident in my self-diagnosis- especially since all of the internet stuff I was looking up seemed to confirm my suspicion.

I spent most of Sunday relaxing, getting some light house work done, but by 5 in the evening I was getting really concerned.  The pain was back, and more consistent, and after some convincing, Indy got me to agree to go to the local ER to double-check and be sure.

I had never been to any ER before, and was kind of embarrassed to go with a little bit of pelivc pain, but it wasn't so bad.  There were only a few people there, and in about an hour I was checked in, had a bed, and was talking with a nice young doctor.  Based on the description of the pain, my symptoms and my history, agreed that I'd probably had an ovarian cyst burst.  He would've given me an ultrasound that night, but of course, the ultrasound people weren't around.  He mentioned a CT scan, but didn't want to make me go through the whole radiation thing if he didn't have to. He discharged me with some extra strength Motrin, and told me I should follow up with my regular gyno a.s.a.p.  We were home in time for the series finale of Breaking Bad. (Perfection, by the way- pure perfection.)

However, early Monday morning, around 2am I snapped awake with crazy, intense pain.  It was too strong to ignore, and once Indy realized how bad it was, he was dressed in two seconds, again, coercing me to go back to the ER.  I got dressed and made it out to the car and started doubting it.  "Maybe it's just gas- it's probably just the cyst..." but Indy wouldn't take no for an answer- and thank goodness he didn't.  Every bump in the road zapped my pelvis like nothing I'd ever felt before, and luckily, just like the first time, the ER was empty.  I was booked and in a bed immediately.  I drank a jar and a half of that nasty luke-warm berry smoothie so they could do a CT scan, and 10 minutes later we had our answer: Appendicitis.

The doctors were all surprised, because I didn't have any symptoms (fever, loss of appetite, nausea) other than physical pain.  They booked me and around 1pm that afternoon put me under and took it out!  And not a moment too soon, either, because apparently when they took it out, it literally fell apart!  The doctor told Indy an my older sister in the waiting room that they literally had to "suck out" all the bad stuff that got lose when it fell apart, and because of that, I had to be really diligent about checking my temperature and reporting any flu-like symptoms.

I spent the night in the hospital, and it was a little rough.  Indy was a trooper and slept by my side all night, missing there classes in the process.  He's been the best nurse anyone could ask for- comforting me, feeding me soup, but also playing Nurse Ratched when he had to (like when I was refusing to eat or drink, because I was feeling sick.) 

The first night home (last night) was a rough one, too.  I didn't sleep much at all- had a lot of gas from when they pumped my belly full of air for the laparoscopic surgery, which was super uncomfortable.  I raced to the toilet a few times because of overwhelming nausea, but never actually puked (which I'm so happy about, because even the tiniest giggle makes my already sore stomach jolt with pain.)  But a hot shower at 3am followed by some more TLC from Indy made this morning much better.  I've been eating and drinking an napping the pain away and I feel like a totally different person.

I'll be out of work for this entire week, and most if not all of next.  My kids have been sending me messages via my co-workers, that they miss me and want me to feel better, which always makes me smile.  I can't wait to get back there and see them all, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't need this time to rest up!