It's been a long road

After my double mastectomy, I started reconstruction. They put in expanders and I was expanded until I was at my correct size. I got to pick my correct size. I like my new size. My expanders were not meant to be permanent.  Permanent would be implants. 

I wasn't sure if I could get my implants during this COVID time. I had made the appointment to get my implants. I had a preop appointment a week before my operation. Now they take my temperature when I get to the office. So I get in and he measures me. Did you know the type of implants they are going to give me are called Gummies. Yes you read that correctly, Gummies. 

He also ordered a couple of different sizes. I wondered why he would need different sizes. I mean, I picked my size. Shouldn't he just be able to measure and get the correct size.  Then he explained why. Apparently he makes sure they look good on the outside and are the same size. My chest might be somewhat concave and he would need the correct size to make sure I look the same on the outside. I never knew that. I have learned so many weird and strange facts during this journey. 

I did get some really good news. Now I don't need to self isolate for four days before my procedure. I can take my COVID test the day before my procedure so I will only have to self isolate for 24 hours. 

So I had to take the COVID test. Same place, same process, and it hurt this time when she stuck the Qtip up my nose. It was not fun. But it didn't take long and I was on my way home to self isolate. I understand why I had to do that. I know we have to make sure everyone is safe. I want to make sure everyone is safe. Again if I got a phone call, my test was positive and I would have to wait to get the procedure. I was thankful my phone didn't ring. 

The person I talked to at the hospital told me I had to buy a special soap to wash the night before. So I went to the store and bought the special wash. I think it was suppose to kill any germs. I am now germ free and my bag is packed. I'm not spending the night. But I have a book to read to keep my mind off of the surgery.

 

I had to get to the hospital at 5:30am. Yes in the morning. Really early in the morning. I was nervous about not waking up in time, and oversleeping. I didn't sleep much that night. I kept waking up to see if it was time to wake up. 

I have some amazing friends. I had to have someone come to my house at 5:30 am to pick me up and drop me off at the hospital. I am so thankful God has put such great friends in my life. 

There was a line to register when I got there at 5:30 am. I didn't expect that. And we all had masks on and were social distancing. I also had to wait to be escorted to my room. Because of COVID many of the operations were put on hold and some hospital workers were furloughed. And they don't have the volunteer force they had, so the people working the desk had double duty. Everyone was very nice. 

I was taken to my room. It was the room I would have the entire time I was there. My nurse was very nice. She had a ton of questions to ask me. And again my allergies to MSG came up. Which includes cheetos. She had a good laugh about that. So did I. 

I had to go into the bathroom and use special wipes to wipe down everything. 

She was really good about putting my IV in.  When I get an IV in my hand I really really really don't like to move my hand. It freaks me out. It really does. They have to put the IV in my right hand because I had lymph nodes  removed from my left side. everything is on the right. Which makes them put a bracelet on me saying there is a limb alert. I also have the allergy alert. 

I remember the person coming in and talking about putting me under. Then they gave me something to make me tired. It worked. Then again I was tired to begin with. They came and wheeled me down the hall. While they were wheeling me down, I fell asleep. I don't remember going into the operating room. 

When I woke up I had a bra on and new gummy girls. I wasn't sore, I felt good. And the best part was no drainage tubes. 

I had to wait for someone to take me downstairs to my ride. I had a very good friend agree to help me after this. She was going to spend the night to make sure everything was ok. Have I mentioned that I have been blessed with some very good friends. They are amazing. I had so many friends message me to see how I was feeling. 

Actually, this operation was pretty good. I wasn't sore, I could raise my arms. The only big restriction I had was that I couldn't lift more than 15 pounds. So I could still lift Jovi. I made sure the stroller was in the garage so I wouldn't have to lift it. 

I actually felt good, so my friend and I took Jovi for a walk. Then we got take out at Fox Harbor. I really like Fox Harbor. They have good food. We were able to enjoy the nice weather and sit outside. I really enjoy sitting outside. 

The night was ok I was suppose to sleep on my back. I really can't sleep on my back, I'm more of a side sleeper. Well, sometime during the night I turned on my side. I didn't realize that until I woke up. 

I couldn't shower for forty eight hours after my operation. You know when you can't shower, that is when you really miss showering. I also couldn't remove the bra they put on me until the forty-eight hours were done. 

As everyone knows, I don't like medical things. Taking off the bra and the gauze they put on really freaked me out. It did. But I did it. I was really proud of myself. 

 

Its a Whole New World

Masks, How to wear a mask 101. I wear a mask when I go into a store. Many people wear masks in stores. Many people don't know how to wear their mask. I see masks below their noses, I see masks on their chin. I also see people touching the front of their masks. From what I was told the bad germs are on the front of the mask if you tough the front of the mask you put the nasty germs on your hands. Then your hands touch your face and you have the nasty germs on your face. So the mask didn't protect you. Wear your mask correctly! 

                                                                 

Speaking of masks. I made more masks along with some other sewing projects. As I have told you in other posts. I am part of the Daughters of the American Revolution. or DAR. Their mission is to preserve history and to honor and help veteran's and people serving in the military. Last summer when I was going through chemo I knit hats for our soldiers. This summer I sewed masks. I only sewed 50 masks. But all together the Daughters have made 500,000 masks. I'm so proud to be part of this organization. 

With COVID 19 it is a whole new world. Wearing masks. You can't get close to anyone. Lots of hand washing, no sports, 

My conference that I love to attend is now virtual. I'm sad I won't see my dear friends in person. but at least I will be able to attend the conference and "see" them. I was really excited to get an email from the people who organize the conference. They asked me to present. Wow, an international conference and I am being asked to present. I was so excited and nervous and flattered that I was being asked to share what I know. The educators who attend this conference are educator rockstars. The bar was set high for what I have to do. 

The other conference I had offered to present at is also virtual. I have to record my presentations for this conference. I actually have two presentations for this other conference. 

Well making a virtual and recorded presentation will keep me busy the next couple of weeks. I better go, I have some work to do. 

I have my operation to get my expanders out all scheduled I go and see them before I go for surgery 

Screen time

When everything shut down. Schools went virtual. And that meant a lot more screen time for teachers and anyone who works in a school. I sat at my computer more than ever. 

Everyone laughs when I say I was tired of looking at my screen. I wanted to see people in real life. The safer at home order was starting to take a toll. I had worked so hard at staying healthy last year and now I couldn't enjoy it because I had to stay at home. At least the weather was getting nicer and I could sit outside. 

As school was starting to wind down, but that didn't mean my meetings were. I still had a ton of meetings to attend. Some of the unknowns became known. We were told who our new principal was and we knew when the safer at home order would come to an end. That didn't mean everything would return to normal. It did mean that things would begin to open up. I was so happy to hear that. 

We were finally able to go back into the school buildings. We had to sign up for a time and had to wear a mask and fill out a form. But we were allowed in the buildings. I was so excited to be back. I had a big job ahead of me. I had to pack up one of my libraries. And by pack up I mean put every book on a cart and everything behind the desk on a cart. Luckily my clerical could come in when I wasn't there and put books on carts. The new furniture was in the hall and it looks amazing. During summer they will be painting and new carpet. Then Yes you guessed it, all that was taken off the shelves need to be put back on. Ugh. but it is worth it to get a pretty cool library. 

We had a drive through come and get your things and drop off anything you had at home. Everything that was dropped off had to be quarantined.  I was really impressed with all the thought that went into making it as safe as possible to gt things and drop things off. 

It seemed odd the last day of school didn't feel like the last day of school. Last year at this time I was getting ready for my next chemo . This year I was sitting at home looking at a screen (Again). How I miss saying good bye to everyone. talking to people about summer plans. Looking forward to what the summer will bring. 

What will this summer bring? More sitting at my house? My summer conference is now virtual. How sad I won't see my friends at the conference and spend time with them. Will we be able to travel? Should we travel? There is still so many unknowns. There is one known. My God is faithful and good. He is always watching over me. 

I have been watching a couple of recorded services. How good it is to hear the message. I love that I can watch not only on Sunday, but other days of the week.  That screen time was a blessing.