Countdown.....

According to a countdown timer, I have 5 days, 6 hours and 15 minutes until I report for surgery - not that I'm counting. Actually, I am not counting down the hours or days but trying to get as much done as I can beforehand. Some days are not long enough and when I close the blinds in the evening, I think, "now, another day done...did I use the hours wisely?" Probably not because I start late due to sleeping late the night before which puts me behind all day.

What is the deal on insomnia?

“O sleep, O gentle sleep, Nature's soft nurse, how have I frightened thee. That thou no more will weigh my eyelids down, And steep my senses in forgetfulness?”
― William Shakespeare

 

It's not like I am worried about this surgery. Worry and anxiety are not the cause. I just lay down and suddenly my brain comes alive with the activities, conversations, and jobs done that day. Things I would like to do for Thanksgiving, Christmas, getting back to work, going to Antigua, supper tomorrow blah, blah, blah.....

Sometimes, I will get up in the middle of the night and play some solitaire or even watched a movie. I have taken some meds to sleep but then I don't wake up until almost noon. A day wasted again. My Dad would never approve! 

Speaking of Dad, he is moving at the end of the week into an Assisted Living Apartment. It happened faster than I was expecting but after looking at respite care while I am out of commission, a room he liked was open, just four doors away from the respite room. "Why wait?", he said so we decided to take the room and will spend the rest of the week moving in. He will still have the house to go back to when he wants, so it'll be a period of adjustment for both of us. We'll call the studio apartment his autumn cottage for now.

I had a few days of discomfort this week so surgery can't come fast enough. A few hours of critical pain caused some passing of blood but that is finished. The specialist has the week off but his assistant said that if it doesn't happen again, I should wait for the surgery. You never realize how intricate the human body really is. When you can feel a tube deep inside that you wouldn't normally feel, it brings it home. We have a lot going on every minute, every second even if we are just a couch potato watching a hockey game. (BTW, Mark has the Leafs/Senators game on while I write this).  

 My heart has beaten approximately 2,156,000,62021 times in total. I have taken approximately 469,240,3534 breaths in total during my lifetime. I found this bizarre birthday page online that tells you all sorts of weird information about you and your birthday. I am still continually amazed at the human body. 

Surgery is scheduled for Monday at 6 - well, that is "check in time". Probably won't get into the theater before 8 but whatever. Thankful for friends who have said they will sit with Ray during that time. I won't feel the length of time although  I have been told it might be a few hours of surgery 4 or 5 hours. If successful, time in recovery and then up to a week in the hospital. They have also given me the possibility of problems which could result in time spent in Critical Care and so on. Guess they have to always give the worst case scenario. They give a booklet of what you need to bring which resulted in a bit of a spending spree. Night clothes: my daughter in law bought me a lovely nightshirt. I knew I had to have something a little decent as an old, torn Knights T-shirt might not look so good. Then, non-skid slippers - who has slippers still? I'm bringing flip flops. Granny can keep her bunnies.

 

 

Just thought this cartoon was too funny!

Housecoat - check. Nothing fancy but it'll keep the backside covered if I am still in hospital attire. Lastly, personal care items: toothbrush etc. (Guess it's not a hotel with little bottles of shampoo and soap)  I was just wondering about the list for books and stuff. I felt justified in buying a few new books (got money for my birthday) for this convalescence period. I don't know where to fit them on the shelves but I bought the book "The Tattooist of Auschwitz" plus the latest Max Lucado and three other light reads (or was it four?). I am also looking forward to diving into a yet unpublished book written by a friend that he asked me to read. I read a few pages and found it hard to put down but knew I couldn't give it my full attention right now, so it waits.

On Sunday, Ron deSmit (cousin in law) said he & Harmina were going to be in the hospital with Ray (along with others) but Ron told me that his face was going to be the first face I will see, when I wake up from surgery. I guess he thought it would scare me awake but I was thinking later......After surgery, I will have two places that I could potentially wake up in. In Heaven, and seeing the face of Jesus or in the hospital, seeing the face of Ron. This could be a pickle because I just hope I can tell the difference!!! Could be awkward.

So this week of countdown is speeding onward. I will be busy getting Dad moved and settled. I have also been getting things done that need to be done before I am down for the count. Just trying to get everything settled and into place. This is probably the cause of the insomnia.

Pray for calm and peace during the few days left. Pray with me for my family, the medical team, and all those involved in this surgery. I also ask that you remember my Dad as this is going to be difficult for him both in his move and my surgery.

Talk after the surgery!💖