Post Surgery Musings

Coming out of anesthesia is no bueno

Even if one hasn't eaten in 17 hours, his body will still find something to projectile vomit

Adding percocet makes the vomit chunky

Offering up a plate of cafeteria steak and gravy for dinner should come with a warning label

Perhaps If you haven't eaten real food in a while, don't start with this

His nurse just smiled and said Go Ahead, it's fine to eat!

        really?  really???

I kinda laughed when he called her a moment later to wash out the bucket

I love nurses and we had some great, kind, smiling nurses while we were there (for almost 24 hours!) This nurse was not my favorite.  Her attitude, Oh we always start patients on real food as soon as possible.  Well if that's what you always do then I guess you can predict what will come next

The next 18 hours was a steady rotation of crackers, jello, chicken broth and more crackers.  With lots of washing out the bucket in between.

What finally got rid of the bucket washing?

           not the anti nausea meds

The statement:  you have to stay here until you can control your pain with pills

           not the IV drip that gives you happy juice

Mind over Matter is a powerful thing

Many different shades

I've heard that as we age our skin rejuvenates less quickly

I've heard this means one who gets tanned will keep their tan longer

I'm hoping this is true 

I'm hoping to use this to my advantage

I really like my skin when it is dark and brown

a moment of brilliance

Setting the stage:
Grownups are really good at staying in line and following the leader.  Instead of thinking for themselves.  Instead of noticing the lunchroom full of kiddos trying to clean up their tables and get out the door.  Instead of offering to help or I don't know move out of the way! 

Instead the 50 plus grandmas and grandpas decided to stand in a lineish spread out across the front of my lunchroom, out the door and up the stairs that we need to go up.  Stairs by themselves are challenging enough.

Have you ever tried wrangling a 5 two year olds through a crowd of very tall, much older grownups?  Let's just say it's not pretty.  We put on our best smiles and said Excuse Me!  very, very loudly and kinda just pushed our way through.

But in the midst of this scene there was a moment of brilliance.  A moment of This is why I teach.  A moment of wishing moms and dads could be here to witness instead of all the very tall, very older grownups in our way.

The problem:
We needed to get a bucket full of sponges and soapy water back to the front of the lunch room.  Past where the line of grownups were congregating.
       On a normal day our odds of dropping the bucket and watching soapy water run across the 
       floor are about 20%.  That is once a week we spend a few extra moments and use a few 
       extra towels cleaning up.  What do you think the odds are today with our tangle of grownups 
       to navigate past?


The solution:
Alright oldest/most responsible kiddo at the table, it's your turn to carry the bucket!  You see all those grownups (that are still in your way)  I want you to hold the bucket very carefully, put on your biggest smile and say Excuse Me!  really really loudly.  They'll move out of your way so you can go through (finger's crossed that they have their hearing aids turned up)  Be brave, you can do it!

She nods very seriously and picks up the bucket ready to embark on the mission.  She takes 2 steps and turns back, eyes full of tears.
     My tummy is nervous


The moment of brilliance:
Her best friend sees her tears and jumps up to help.

He holds her elbow and they begin walking together, just like the lil old grandpas and grandmas that are causing our problem at the front of the room.  Slowly they navigate through the treacherousness line of grownups smiling and chanting Excuse Me!  Excuse Me!

The bucket makes it back to its location and I breathe a sigh of relief.

The kiddos come running back to our table faces flushed with pride over what they accomplished.  High Fives for everyone!  Bucket Carrier:  I'm so proud of you, you were so brave!  Best friend- I'm so proud of you, you saw a friend who needed help and you helped her!  You both are so brave!


This is what I want to teach my toddlers.  That you can be brave.  You can take a deep breath and do scary things.  And if the situation is too scary- look to your friends for help.  Moms and Dads and Teachers won't always be around.  Rely on your friends.  And if you see a friend who is scared- jump up to help them.  Be brave!  Be a good friend!

these are a few

more of our favorite things

Friday

Jesse: Hiking the Pololu Valley and the amazing views

Carri: Seeing Orion's Nebula even though the wind chill was 27*

Saturday

Jesse: Arriving at the Tree House

which is now referred to as Jesse Dream Home

Carri: the random detours along the Highway to Hana

Honorable Mention: Whales! From the plane!

We saw Whales! From the plane!!!

Sunday

Aside from our ring exchange...

Jesse: Hiking up to the great big waterfall (400 foot waterfall)

Carri: Surviving the stream crossing in icy cold waters, across slippery rocks to

get to the waterfall

Monday

Jesse: Stripping for a random woman for my breakfast

Carri: Relaxing drive in the convertible down the back side of Maui

Tuesday

Jesse: Swimming with/stalking the sea turtles

Carri: Not getting dressed till 7pm yay for swimsuits and quality time in the ocean

Wednesday

Jesse: Well I have to say sunrise

yes jesse, yes you do...waking me up at 2 am

Carri: Waiting in the "bar" for our table at the big fancy dinner. And by "bar"

I mean patio, overlooking the ocean. in big comfy chairs with a fire pit. and

cocktails. They know how to wait for tables in Hawaii

Honorable Mention: 2 naps in a day

courtesy of the 2 am wake up call

should sunrise and sunset be witnessed in the same day?

Thursday

Jesse: Driving the convertible for 9 hours

yay for stealing an extra day in the sun

Carri: Stumbling upon the sea turtle resting spot

and laughing at the bug the stole a ride in our car driving Jesse insane

Toddler Quote of the Day:

Carri, did you get a haircut?

Why yes I did. What do you think?

No comment, just stares at me as if she's trying to figure out complex

mathematics. So I decide to get a bit rambly and throw in some

encouragement for independent thinking and individuality

I decided to get my haircut because I thought it was too long. It was itching my back. I like the way it feels when it's short like this. Then I throw in a bit of head tossing and a smile. The message I'm hoping to convey: Choose your style cause it makes you happy and makes you feel good. The dreaded 3rd birthday is fast approaching this little one and with that comes comparing oneself to friends

A few more moments of staring then the response:

Carri, you look silly

ohhh toddlers

a running list

At the end of each day
or a few days later
We wrote down the highlight of our day
with several honorable mentions thrown in for good measure

Sunday
Jesse: People watching at dinner. Especially the little kiddos flipping off the

trampoline into the sand
Carri: Strolling along the beach at sunset
Honorable Mention: Arriving in Hawaii with each other...awwwww!

Monday
Jesse: The doors off helicopter ride over the lava and feeling the heat from the

volcano
Carri: Landing successfully after the helicopter ride

and not puking

Oh and all the detours and pulling over for scenic views and the farmers

market and tasting all the fruit

Tuesday
Jesse: Kona Brewing Compnay, the Pacifier IPA and its high IBUs

and then explaining in much too great detail what high IBUs are and

what they mean for a beer
Carri: Snorkeling

once I got past the hyperventilating part

and wandering through parking lots trying to find a good view for

sunset on the beach

the last picture: taken in a pool...Have you ever tried to take a self portrait while snorkeling in the Pacific Ocean- no bueno

Wednesday

Jesse: Hiking through that awesome caldera/god dam caldera where we

almost got lost as the sun was setting and it would be dark soon and

OMG are we going to be stuck here all night?!?!

Carri: Driving down Crater Road and seeing all the old lava flows and the cliffs and arches into the sea

Honorable Mention:

Roadside Farmers Mart with old hippie farmer

Southern Most Restaurant in the US and the waitress who LOVED Jesse's

Haiku shirt- the beginning of a theme

Seeing the lava glowing up through the crater after sunset

Thursday

Jesse: Seeing a black sand beach

Carri: The adventure of finding the black sand beach. Driving down the lava "road" and scampering across lava rocks for 20 minutes to get to the beach

In true us fashion

We took a moment together

to say a few words

exchange rings

and kiss on the beach

No officiant

No crowds

No planning

No family drama

Just him and I

a moment celebrating our relationship

on our anniversary

in the middle of an incredible vacation