Waking Up

This week has gone by in a vicodin induced haze... I have stopped taking the major pain killers today and have switched to regular over-the-counter meds, and suddenly the world is a bright and sunny place again.

The surgery on Monday to fix my flexor tendons was a success. Instead of giving me general anaesthesia and putting me all the way under, they gave me a nerve block in my right arm and just gave me a sedative for the surgery. They went in through my right armpit and deadened the nerves until my whole arm fell asleep. The nurse gave me something to help me "relax" and I thought the whole process was hilarious. I had absolutely no feeling or control from the shoulder down; it was a very weird "phantom limb" experience.

 The surgery went perfectly and both flexor tendons in my pinky are reattached. My arm was dead to the world for the next 15 hours or so, but that meant there was no pain. Once the nerve block wore off I had to start taking the heavy stuff. Wonderful ward members took my children while Alan was at work all week and I spent my time on the couch sleeping and watching "Once Upon A Time". That show is already a little out there, but on vicodin it is pretty trippy.

The kids stayed home with me yesterday while my friend Jennifer came over to help. They have been doing well being farmed out to different people's houses, but I could tell it was wearing on them. It was good to have them home. Today I am flying solo, and it's going ok so far. Now that my head is clear it makes things a lot easier. My hand still hurts, but I'm managing most things one handed. It may be 1 o'clock and we are all still in jammies and their hair isn't done, but they've been fed, loved, and are down for naps. I'll take my victories where I can get them.

I started Occupational Therapy on Wednesday. My hand is now in a removable splint and I have exercises to do with my finger every hour. It doesn't feel good, but it is nice to be able to move it. I have an appointment on Tuesday with my doctor to (hopefully) get the stitches taken out.

And that's what's going on in my neck of the woods. Life is moving on. Alan will probably drag out the Christmas decorations this weekend. We made Christmas Countdowns out of the kids Halloween candy last night. Things may happen a little slower with one hand, but we're still trucking along.