I decided I wanted to walk around a bit and see how I do. So Graham and I went to Costco to picked up a few things and it went well. I was slow on my crutches, and it's throbbing now that I'm home, but it doesn't hurt nearly as much as I thought. Of course that could be because the I got the bejesus scared out of me and that fear is overriding any pain I have. OK, so we got back to the car and Graham unloaded our stuff and then before he took the cart back he grabbed a handful of dog treats and threw them on the ground. About .0056 seconds later at least 20 ravens swooped down to fight over the food. These aren't blackbirds or crows, these are huge ravens. Well I was sitting in the passenger side and all of a sudden I hear whoomp, and standing on the hood of our car was one of those huge ravens looking at me! It got right up to the front windshield then started walking back and forth from the drivers side to my side, but it was staring at me the entire time. I felt like he was a mob boss and if I valued my windshield wipers I better pay up. And, like the mob, these birds don't scare easy. Saying "Shoo" or "get" or knocking on the windshield and saying "goawaygoawaygoawaygoaway" doesn't scare them at all. So I folded to the pressure, I grabbed a handful of dog treats and opened the door a crack and throw them onto the ground. Again, there was a feeding frenzy, but Graham was back by that time and we drove away before that raven could come and intimidate me again.
Alright, I'm a big sissy and now I can add one more animal that lives in Alaska that I'm afraid of. Here's the list so far:

• bears (goes without saying)
• moose
• whales
• porpoises
• seals
• walruses
• sea lions
• porcupine
• otters
• wolves
• bald eagles
• ravens
• people from Wasilla (just kidding)

no rumors yet

It's getting close to the time that we start hearing rumors about the next set of referrals from China. Hopefully this week we'll hear something. Thinking about referrals reminded me why I had knee surgery in the first place. I wanted to have enough time between the operation and our trip to China so that my knee would be back 100%. I was doing it for Mia, and that made me feel a little better.

Surgery Update

So I had the big knee surgery last Thursday. Everyone at the hospital was great! My biggest decision was did I want a spinal or to be put under. While talking about the options with my anesthesiologist, he mentioned that if I had a spinal I could watch the operation on the closed circuit TV. Well that did it, General Anesthesia it is. I did not want to watch my own surgery. Who would?? I guess some people.
They found two loose bone chips the size of molars under my patella. They thought there was just one, but there were two. They let me take them home in a jar.
Well, I woke up without a problem, no nausea. The nurse told me that I was given a lot of pain killers, so I won't feel too much pain, but to keep up on the medication. Keep ahead of the pain. Even set an alarm so I could take the pills in the middle of the night. She also said to take my pain meds with food or I'd get sick. Easy directions which I totally ignored. Because I'm brilliant! By Friday night I was in so much pain I was throwing up. By Saturday I realized I really did need to take my meds with food.
So now things are a little more under control. My knee hurts, but it's not nearly as bad as when I injured it. I need crutches to get anywhere and there are time I move it wrong and yell out in pain. Which brings me to my dogs. Well, dog. My Tessa, my herding dog is extremely concerned. Everytime I yelp in pain she's right there by my side. She doesn't know what my crutches are and she's not sure she trusts them. She follows me everywhere. Even in the middle of the night and she's dead asleep, I'll go to the bathroom and the next think I know she's coming through the door to check on me. She is also checking my breath. She does this when I'm sick with a cold or the flu. She puts her little nose by my mouth and sniffs my breath when I breath out. She'll do this for about 30 seconds to a minute then walk away. I'm not sure what she does with that information, but it's interesting. She also smells the bandages over my knee and whines. She's such a sweet concerned little dog.
Fred on the other hand, well, I don't think he's noticed anything different.
He's so pretty.
I'm out of school until after Thanksgiving and then hopefully I'll be good enough to go back to work. I'll be on crutches, but it'll be nice to get off this couch and see my co-workers and students!
Oh, and Graham has been beyond wonderful. He's gotten me everything I need and has been supportive and sweet. He's been almost as good as Tess.
:P

I'm back

I made it through surgery. I"ll post all the gory details later.

Pre-op

I just got back from my pre-op appointment. It went surprisingly well. Things have changed a lot in the last 20 years since my first surgery.
First, I talked with a really nice nurse who told me that I'll get my own room with a TV and I'll be wrapped in warm towels and can listen to my iPod or bring DVDs if I want. I'll have that same room the whole time I'm there, before and after the operation. The nurse said sometimes things run late and this way I'll be comfortable and preoccupied so I'm not too nervous. But if I am too nervous, they have many wonderful drugs that will put me at ease. Those were the words I wanted to hear.
Wow, I don't have cable or any broadcast TV at home, I'm kinda exited about that part.
Second, I may not even have to have P/T which is great news. Last time I had to go through 6 months of Physical Therapy hell.
So good news all around.
I'm starting to relax a little.

Just keep rubbing

Now I understand why people tip their massage therapist. I always wondered why they did that. I mean, I wouldn't tip my dentist or my doctor after he gave me a flu shot. Why would you tip someone after causing you so much pain?
I just had my first relaxing massage. Now I get it.
I have scoliosis and it causes pain and burning in my shoulders and neck. I have a prescription from the doctor to get therapeutic massage to help with pain management. And it does help, but the massages hurt like hell. The therapists use their elbows and the heels of their hands with all their weight behind it. I'll often make a little whimper or say "Ow, that pressure's a little hard" and I'm often told to "just breath through the pain". But the next day the burning and pain is gone and I can turn my neck again. That makes it worth it.
But I have my surgery Thursday and I decided to get a relaxing spa-like massage and Oh My God!! First of all, I paid for it myself, I didn't bill my insurance for it. And it just felt so good. She worked on my feet and hands and back, neck, head. I almost fell asleep. I didn't want to get up off the table when it was over. I don't know how I'm going to go back to my other massages after this.
And yes, I tipped. I tipped well!

knee surgery in three days...

...aaaand let the stress eating begin.

I want lights!!

It's so dark and gloomy in Juneau. Even though technically the sun is up here more than Fairbanks or Nome, it feels much much darker with all the mountains and clouds and gloom. So I want a tree full of colorful lights in our living room! And tomorrow we're putting up the Christmas tree! Plus, when I'm recovering from knee surgery it will be pretty to look at! And don't tell me it's too early. I DON'T CARE!!

Ouch

Yep, it turned out that China matched two days.
But let's move on to more cheery things, like the knee surgery I'm having next week! I tired to back out of it a couple of weeks ago. I told Graham, "I'm just not comfortable doing this, I'm calling it off." He talked me out of it and now I'm stuck getting this stupid surgery. It's next Thursday and I took Friday off. I was hoping to go back to work on Monday, but I took it the next two days off in case I need them. I plan to get lots of movies and magazines to keep me entertained! There might be some ice cream involved as well.
I've been doing really good working out and watching what I eat. I've lost weight and have gotten stronger, so hopefully my recovery time will be fast.
Arrgh I don't want to do this!!

Two Days

China matched two days. There's no way we'll get our baby in the spring. Maybe summer or fall. Maybe.