Friday Favorites: Surgery Edition

Thank you so much for all of your kind words, messages, notes and texts this week!

I had surgery on Monday and everything went FANTASTIC.

I'm still in a little bit of shock.  

After my surgery on August 3rd did not go as planned, I was feeling anxious and discouraged about a follow up surgery two weeks later on August 17.  I was stressed about the whole process - traveling out of town for surgery, hoping and praying my new doctor could take care of everything in one surgery, that I'd get some clear answers and simple solutions, 3 young kids to take care of and both Olive and Kevin headed back to school the very next day.  I'm very thankful I got in so quickly, but it made for a stressful August.

My original diagnosis of an ovarian cyst was totally wrong.  I spent the last year plus thinking this is what I had and coming up with a game plan for taking care of it after Leo was born. 

I actually had a rare Mesenteric Cyst (large cyst in the mesentery attached to my colon). 

Thankfully, my OB did not attempt to remove it during either of my previous surgeries (csection & first cyst surgery) with her this year.  My surgery with the specialist this week took a little over an hour and he said the removal went perfectly without any harm to my colon (something we wouldn't know until the actual surgery).  My surgery ended up as our best case scenario.  Kevin said he almost hugged him during their post surgery meeting.  We'd been told this doctor was the best and he lived up to that.  We are really thankful that Kevin's dad connected us with him since they both work at the same hospital.  

I got to go home the same night of my surgery and be there for Olive's first day of school.  Olive declared, "It's a miracle!" God was looking out for me throughout this whole process taking care of all of the details.  I'm so thankful to be able to look back and see the disappointments and discouraging news at the time were actually blessings.  

A few favorite take aways from the week:

1. Having to have surgery during these crazy COVID times is so lonely.  Most hospitals allow no visitors for surgery and it can be really scary when you're facing unknowns alone.  For this surgery, Kevin basically dropped me off at check in and picked me up curbside after I'd been dismissed from recovery.  He had to wait in the parking lot.  It was hard on both of us.

2. Family and friends praying for you, checking in on you and doing nice things for you means so much.  Cards, texts, messages and drop offs are so encouraging. 

3. Sometimes when things don't make sense - keep asking questions, seeking help and finding a specialist to help you.  My whole game plan and care changed when I got the help of a specialist.

4. Ask for help.  My parents came in town to take care of the kids and my mom stayed all week.  I don't like asking for help and usually try to take care of most things on my own.  She was a total lifesaver.  She helped so much with Leo, with all the household things this week and made sure that I got to take it easy so I could heal. 

5. Waiting for COVID test results is stressful.  I had no reason to believe they'd be positive.  I haven't been out and about much and was extra careful in the days leading up to my surgery.  However, waiting on my COVID test results was so stressful because I knew it would impact the whole family negatively if my results came back positive.  Thankfully they were negative, but my heart goes out to people who are stressing about their own COVID results.

HOORAY for the weekend and I'm so happy to report that I'm feeling great.  I've got lots of incisions to heal all over my stomach and a follow up appointment in a couple of weeks, but I'm feeling super optimistic.  I feel like I can take a deep breath and really relax this weekend.  I hope you can do the same :)

Playing the waiting game.  Trying to be brave.

Mimi & Leo.  He has gotten super grabby and loves to help you do whatever you're doing.  The big kids loved having her here and had a great time.

Lots of Topher snuggles.

Pre surgery walk around the hospital.

Here's to hoping the rest of 2020 is uneventful and kind to my family :)