Small Success Thursday: One hour at a time

J.M.J.

This week has been such a blur, all I can really remember is the last 7 hours (I am writing this at 11:09am).  So without further ado, these are my hourly accomplishments…

5:00 – 6:00am

I actually opened my eyes!  I am notoriously lazy – therefore waking up at this time was quite an accomplishment all by itself.  So impressive, in fact, that if I didn’t actually HAVE to get out of bed at that time, I would have just buried myself back under the covers and called it a day well lived.  But alas….

6:00 – 7:00am

I managed to put on a little makeup and brush my hair.  Jay (husband), CJ, Fulton and I got dressed and headed out the door to the hospital, where we checked in and dozed briefly in the waiting room.

7:00 – 8:00am

Settled into the recovery room, where we waited to hear what the plan was going to be for the day for Fulton’s surgery.  Jay took over the dozing duties for me while I sat quietly with a very grumpy Fulton.

8:00 – 9:00am

Slowly moved from vegging mode to surgery mode.  Changed Fulton into his medical gown and did some serious snuggling while watching the Cat in the Hat.  Unfortunately for Fulton the woman from Child Life came in and started explaining a few things about the surgery to him just as the episode about giraffes was about to get interesting.  We ALMOST found out whether giraffes actually eat monkeys or not.  Jay thinks they do – why else do they have such long necks and always have their faces in the trees?  Fulton, on the other hand, seems to think they eat leaves.  Perhaps another time we will finally learn the truth…..

9:00 – 10:00am

Watched a new show called Peg and Cat.  That was a new one to me, anyway.  And I thoroughly enjoyed it!  It was decided that Fulton did not have to take his ‘nose medicine’ (drugs that knock him out fairly quickly) and that he would only take the oral anti-anxiety meds.  He was a trooper.  But even with the meds, Fulton continued to sport the grumpy face, so we did some more serious snuggling.  CJ discovered the Wii set in the recovery room and we haven’t seen him since….

10:00 – 11:00am

Moved to the ‘launching pad’ – a waiting room in the surgical unit where we received more instructions and watched Dinosaur Train in the hospital bed.  Even Fulton was feeling a little sleepy by this time.  At 10:30 am, per Fulton’s request, I donned a surgical gown, mask and cotton candy blue surgical hat and was able to walk with him right into the operating room.  He wanted me to put the mask on him, so I stroked his head and held the oxygen mask on his little face until he fell asleep.

Lord help me, that was so difficult.  I can't even ponder the heaviness on my heart.

 Mother Mary, be with him for the remaining hours he will be in surgery.  Please guide the surgeons’ hands and hearts, and bestow upon them the wisdom they need to see this surgery through to the end.  May their God-given talents bring about the help Fulton needs and may the healing hand of God pass over my son and bless him.  Amen.

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Small Success Thursday Episode #2

J.M.J.

What can I say - this week has been like most others.  Full of business and nothingness, sometimes at the very same time!  But despite to random whirlwind that is my life, I did manage to get a few things done:

#1
I made real, organic, all natural sunscreen!  And it was easy, too - you have to try this stuff!  I used it on Fulton's scars today since he is having a Track and Field Day this afternoon.  We shall see how well it works...

#2
We made it to Mass on time and fully dressed.  TBTG.

#3
I managed to get my raspberry plants out to the garden instead of sitting on my pantry floor (my apologies to Thomas - they are almost there, though - I promise!)  Mind you, they are not IN the ground yet, but at least they are outside...

#4
I finally found my manuscript I had been wanting to finish editing.  I am a paper girl at heart and do my best editing with a pen, so losing the printed version with weeks worth of edits scribbled on it was a big deal.

#5
I received 4 of the 5 nightgowns I ordered in an effort to look more feminine, even when I sleep.

"What?!" you say, "Snoring with your mouth wide open and hair all over the place, wearing an old painter's T-shirt and ripped sweat pants is not feminine and pleasant to look at?"

I was shocked - SHOCKED I tell you, to find out that this is not the sort of look a husband appreciates.  I mean, really!  It was his T-shirt and sweatpants - you'd think he'd be kind of like, "Hey, girl, you make this homesteading homeboy's work clothes look pretty appealing!"

After a few chats with Colleen Hammond, she set me straight and we decided to dump the frump and to use a little tax refund money for this splurge.  Mind you, there is nothing "eye popping" about these nightgowns - they are full length and 2 of them even came with beautiful matching robes for proper, modest cover-up.  In order to make this change, though, I first had to get rid of such things as my ratty old Tweety Bird nightgown (much to my husband's delight)  I liked Tweety Bird.... but even the children complimented me on my matching nightgown and robe this morning and I actually felt pretty, even before I brushed my hair (which, I might add, I still haven't done yet...)

#6
I bought a rustic looking 3 drawer nightstand to go beside my bed.  The pile of 'stuff' was getting so bad, Marialina was able to use it to launch herself onto our raised bed with no problem.  Now it is much more organized in our room, and I have to completely wake up and sit up to help my toddler onto the bed to snuggle instead of just drowsily giving her a little help.  I guess this one is kind of a trade off....

#7  Since my new doctor prescribed diet and accidentally losing about 8 pounds, Shannon and I have decided to start a daily walk each morning to continue this positive trend.  Today was the first day.  We walked 2 houses down and jogged back home because of the lightening and the neighbor's loose German Shepherd.  Not very impressive, I know, but it is a start anyway!

And that, my dear readers, is my week.  What have you been up to?  Curious what others have been up to this week?  Go to this CatholicMom.com link and take a peek!