The GF House

This past weekend was pretty crazy for us. Two of our friends got married in Salt Lake on Friday, and then one of my good friends from high school got married in Great Falls on Saturday. We made the trip up on Saturday morning and drove back Sunday. Although we weren't there for every long, we had to go by the house and see if anything had been done to it. The last I heard, it was supposed to be auctioned off in April. I don't know that it was, but there is someone doing something inside! You can't really tell from the pictures, but all the walls were taped off in the living room, and all the curtains were tied together in the windows of the bedrooms. And like always, the lawn was a disaster. It's a pretty sad sight...thought you all would want to see it for yourselves :)

The Real Deal

This picture was taken immediately after removing the steri-strips late Thursday night.

This picture was taken about 24 hours later.

I guess I should probably explain for those who don't know what happened. In the beginning of February I noticed a large lump in my throat, and after going to the doctor several times and have all sorts of tests and ultrasounds done, I was told I had a complex cyst (sack of fluid and tissue) and a nodule on my thyroid. The test I had done was inconclusive as to whether the nodule was cancerous. After 3 different doctors told me I should have surgery to remove the cyst and nodule, I went ahead and scheduled it. So May 7 I had the surgery, and the surgeon removed the cyst that was the size of a golf ball! The nodule was non-cancerous, and they only had to remove about a quarter of my thyroid. I still haven't gone in for my post-op appointment, but as far as I know, everything is great, and I'm recovering well. Although the incision isn't my favorite, I think it looks pretty dang good just two weeks after surgery. It becomes less noticeable every day. I can't wait to start using the Mederma Kim bought me!

Humorous Hospital Moments

A few funny things that happened to me during my short stay at the hospital...

Considering my little knowledge of how things work in hospitals, I was not aware of the line of authority that exists between nurses, nurse's aids (aka CNAs or PCTs), and all the others that work in patient care. So how was I supposed to know that soon after my surgery when my nurse mentions "when you need to go to the bathroom, we'd like to help you the first time" she didn't mean she would be helping me?

A few hours later when my nurse, Janet, came in to shoot more morphine into my IV, I said, "while you're in here, can you help me go to the bathroom?" She gives me a somewhat surprised look, then says in a rather disgusted way, "I'll get someone in here to help you." And she sent in the CNA. Apparently I offended her because I didn't see her the rest of her shift. Every other time I needed morphine another nurse came in because Janet was apparently "at lunch". A little fishy if you ask me...

And for my next story, late Wednesday night (and by late I mean maybe 8:30 or 9) I was lying in my bed with most of the lights off when this woman wearing a sweat shirt and jeans sticks her head into my room and says "Hey, how are you doing? Can I get you anything?" Being drugged up and a little confused anyway, I just answered, "I'm doing okay. No, I'm fine."

There was a pause, then she said, "umm, I'll be right back," then ducks out of the doorway and someone else in the hallways asks, "was that her?" I just kept laughing to Matt that this strange woman thought I was someone she knew. Turns out the person she was looking for was in the room next to mine.

Check this out

I know you've all been dying to see the incision, so here it is! I'll be sure to post another one as soon as the steri-strips come off. I'm feeling okay today--just hopped up on Percocet. I'm only eating soft foods, which works out because now I have an excuse to eat lots of ice cream :)

I was released from the hospital yesterday around 2 PM and I haven't done much other than watch TV, sleep, and eat when it's time to take a pain pill. Oh, and my voice is almost back to normal! I'm hoping to be feeling well enough to go back to work by Monday or Tuesday next week.

That's all I've got for now, but I'll post again if anything new happens.

The Big Trip

I'm finally blogging about our trip to Portland! Sorry a lot of the pictures are kind of dark. I'm a far shot from Megan and her photography skills. We had a lot of fun and stayed busy! And I tried not to take as many pictures of myself...Jill always makes fun of me! :) Enjoy!