owww...that hurts

I'm having a hard that deciding what hurts me more.

I am now at home after what seems like a very long day at work. In reality, I worked eight and half hours. That's less than my typical work day. Ouch.

And now I'm beat. I ache all over.

Ouch.

But compare that to what Amara said to me yesterday. I asked her to put away her socks that I just folded. They were so fresh out of the dryer they were warm.

Her response?

"Yes your majesty."

Hey little princess! Owww, that hurts.

vacation is over

Good news! I received a pseudo-clean bill of health from my doctor Monday afternoon.

Recovery is going well. I'm healing as well as can be expected.

So my nearly month long vacation medical leave is over. I'm going back to work on Wednesday.

And if it wasn't for this blasted winter storm warning, I'd be headed to the gym. I got the green light to workout again too.

It's kinda been like going on a cruise.

You lay around doing nothing.

You eat foods high in fat.

You wonder when and where you'll dock and can get out.

Sure I was in a lot of pain for the first two weeks.

But it could have been worse.

I caught up on podcasts. I watched TV. I knit. I read books. I flipped thru magazines.

And now, vacation's over.

what's wrong with healthcare today

The phone rang last week. I didn't recognize the number.

"Hi is this Mom2Amara? This is your doctor's office. The doctor recommended surgery to you some time ago. Are you still interested in going through with the procedure?"

Was this a joke?

I calmly asked the woman on the other line why I waited half a year for their office to call.

Silence.

I explained this wasn't the first time my requests went unnoticed.

No response.

See, six months ago, my doctor said his people would call my people. I needed surgery.

And I waited.

This wasn't the first time the nurses and assistants neglected to call. In the past, I would have to pester his office about his orders.

No call ever came. And my health declined.

So I went to someone else. Within four days, I was scheduled to go under the knife.

My doctor may have seen me as more than a patient. But his office saw me as just a number.

Is that what's wrong with healthcare today?

Forget the sky rocketing costs. (I'll save that for another post.)

Why do so many medical professionals employ office staff who have daggers through their hearts and could care less for the patients?

I may be the only woman in America to say this: I heart my OB-GYN.

I've gone to this doctor for years.

He delivered Amara.

So I had to be loyal.

Right?

Then I realized, no. I don't have to be loyal. I don't have to stay with this doctor just because.

I have to take care of me. Take care of my family.

Because nothing else matters.

Sorry about the rant. There, I feel better now.

random thoughts

I'm nearing the 5,000 mark on reasons why I need to get better.

1. Fat Tuesday falls on Super Tuesday. Coincidence? I think not. Paczkis are super.


2. Perspective. Target looks a lot different when you're riding around in a motorized scooter cart thingy. Those racks are so dang high.


3. How did "Eat, Pray, Love" become a #1 New York Times bestseller?


4. I heart the Design Happens blog.


5. I hate purling.


6. Even with all the drugs in the world, I still can't get 8 uninterrupted hours of sleep.

How's your day going?

the healing power of makeup

Talk about self esteem in a bottle. Or at least in a jar of Bare Minerals.

For the first time in nearly two weeks, I wore makeup. And used haispray. And put on jewelry. And wore a bra.

I entered the land of the living again.

Sure, I have literally no cosmetics on as I blog to start the week. And I've talked about how exhilirating, how liberating it feels not to wear makeup.

But dare I say I felt normal this weekend.

And not only did it help my emotional well being, but I felt like I could tackle the world. Yes, I'm a bit conceited.

I admit I overdid it yesterday running errands (rest assured, Dad2Amara drove everywhere). I felt rotten by day's end.

But dammit. I looked good.

reason #4,987 I need to get out of the house

I cried at Kelly and Zack's wedding.

I was channel surfing this morning and found the last episode of Saved by the Bell.

You know the one. It's when Kelly Kapowski and Zack Morris get hitched in Vegas.

I think I actually shed a tear watching the Bayside gang together again.

In case you missed it, here's a peek:

small victory

I walked to the mailbox today. Hooray!

I noticed three things.

1. I hurt after walking just a few feet down the driveway.


2. I look like the Hunchback of Notre Dame, hundled in pain.


3. It's freaking cold outside.

Wow, lots has changed in the last nine days...

home not-so-sweet home

I am home.

And I wish I could say I'm glad to be here.

I mean I am.

But then again, listening to Amara whine. For something to drink. Now. That's not so fun.

Or having Dad2Amara roll his eyes because he offered to get me a magazine and I accepted. Yeah not so fun.

Not quite home sweet home.

But it's good to sleep for longer than an hour at a time.

And it's good to lay in my own bed.

Doctor says surgery was a success.

I needed two blood transfusions.

I'm in a lot of pain.

And I will most likely be away from work for longer than the two weeks I had expected. (Um, Taawd, they don't know that yet so let's keep that on the down low...)

But I wanted to blog and thank all of you for your kind thoughts while I was away!

I'll post more when I can. But I'm getting tired just looking at my laptop.