Sunday, June 6, 2010

Time to Update Again! Finally!

I just checked my blog - been thinking lately that it's been a long LONG time since I updated it... and I realized today that it's been exactly ONE year since I updated it! June 6 of 2009... wow! I sure never intended to go that long!

A lot has happened in the past year. Last August, I became very sick and found myself in the emergency room one Sunday morning, deathly ill... by that afternoon, I was in the OR - for SEVEN hours! Almost two weeks in the hospital... whew! by the grace of God and lots of prayers from family and friends, I made it through that ordeal!

As "luck" would have it, I find myself facing another surgery now - in just under four weeks - due to a complication that arose from last summer's surgery and has not healed on its own during these many months... so I'm going back in the OR on Friday, July 2 to have it repaired. Many have wondered what my problem is, precisely, and why I need another surgery.. seems I developed a fistula as a complication from last summer's surgery... and it's causing some uncomfortable and painful symptoms.. most of the time I'm pretty good, but I do have not-so-good days when the symptoms flare up. The doctors like to give these things at least six months from the outset of the problem, number one, to see if it will heal on its own, and number two, to make sure everything is healed and in good shape from the last surgery. So when I go in the hospital on 7/2, it will be 11 months exactly since my surgery.

I had hoped this would heal on its own and I would not require surgery... but that didn't happen, so we'll deal with it and take care of it however we have to. I know I have a LOT of people thinking about me and praying for me - so I can't go wrong. I'll get this thing over with on 7/2, come home from the hospital after a few days, and spend the rest of the summer (6 to 8 weeks) recuperating comfortably at home - won't have to get out and carry my equipment around and travel around the state and work in the 100 degree heat! So I'd say that's good timing! By fall I should be great - good as new - and ready for football season!

SO much has happened in the last year since I updated this blog. I've made numerous changes in my life... I realize that last summer, my life (even before getting sick) had become toxic... I had a lot of things in it, a lot of commitments, obligations, demands on my time, and a lot of PEOPLE in it that were toxic - and not good for me. I got out of several things, got rid of several commitments, cut a few negative people loose, and have been much happier and at peace since then... How LIBERATING to get rid of so much "clutter" - I decided at the beginning of this year that 2010 was the year I do things for ME. and make time for MYSELF.

One of my favorite things in this world is my Girls Night Out group - which is the group I started a few years ago with a few friends.. and wow, how it's grown! I look forward to our outings every month - and spending time with my friends and just catching up... It's one of the best things I've ever done, starting that group. I've also gotten involved in a couple other groups that I've really enjoyed, and met some awesome people in the past year that I've been very happy to call my friends. I've also devoted much more time to spending with my husband and family, and just making time for myself, without tons of of commitments and demands on my time. For the first time in years, I've learned what it's like (again) to have free evenings, evenings at home, evenings that I can go out and just do what I want - OR stay home with a good book or a movie and cook dinner with my husband - instead of running to and fro to one thing or another. Wish I'd made these changes in my life sooner - but at least I've made them now!

Another huge change in the last year was church - Dennis and I spent 11 years in the Lutheran church, and although we liked our church, for years, there was a part of me that just wasn't fulfilled. I longed to go back to my religious roots, and return to the Episcopal church. I made the decision that that was precisely what I was going to do while I was lying in the hospital last summer. So once I came home and had recuperated for a little while, I wrote the necessary letters removing us from the membership rolls of our current church and placing us back on the rolls of the Episcopal church we left in 1998. Been back at my old church ever since, and feel like I've truly "come home."

I really feel, in the past year, that I've made a lot of changes in my life that have brought a sense of peace, contentment and happiness into my life. I have to say, I'm not at ALL looking forward to going in the hospital in 4 weeks and undergoing surgery again - but I'm sure looking forward to AFTER - and truly getting my life back and being free from these problems I've been having - and boy, am I going to celebrate once that's all done! I've already told Dennis we ARE taking some kind of vacation in the fall, going somewhere, just the two of us, and having a good time! I just have to start thinking on where I want to go!

We did manage to get to the beach in April for a few days - it was really nice, relaxing... and for Mother's Day weekend, Mom and I headed up to the NC mountains.. first to Asheville, where we spent the day before Mother's Day shopping.. then having dinner out.. then on Mother's Day, we headed to Cherokee, to the casino! We played the slots, I treated Mom to Mother's Day lunch at the hotel, and then we played the slots some more! On Monday, the day after, we went back to Asheville to the Farmer's Market, then headed home.... I think we just may make that an annual Mother's Day tradition!

In the next four weeks, I feel like I have a lot to "cram" in to my life - I'm trying to do a few things, see friends, see several people, before I got into the hospital, because I know I'll be out of commission for a little while. This coming week looks to be pretty busy - Girls Night Out on Monday, a wine/cheese party a friend is having on Tuesday, and an outing with a few friends Wed. night to a wine tasting and to see the Sex and the city movie! I'm also planning a pre-surgery get-together/birthday get-together for Dennis, with friends in a couple weeks - so busy busy! Lots to do in the next month!

Will try to be better about updating more regularly - I've actually missed doing it.. but one thing and another has happened in the past year and time just gets away from me before I realize it!

Now, onto the week ahead!

1 comment:

Melanie said...

Glad to see you are updating again!!