Update W/O Pictures

Well, it's been a week since the last time I was able to update and I'm going to try really quick to give a rundown.  Since all of you who read this are also my friends on facebook you know that I made it through the back surgery alive, still able to walk and actually as of today I feel excellent.  Those first couple of days after the surgery were pretty painful, but by Friday when I had my eye surgery I was walking pretty well and was sleeping great too.  I am a firm believer that sleep can make any injury or sickness improve so I spent the rest of the weekend in and out of consciousness after the eye surgery.  Talk about painful!  I really thought the back surgery was going to be the thing I was going to need to recover from, but nope!  Mark and I both ended up having a procedure called PRK done instead of LASIK.  It turns out that I was borderline on not being able to have LASIK done because of the curvature of my cornea.  As in, on a 47 measurement, I was 46.325.  A little risky to me when 1.) we are talking my VISION!!! and 2.) we are talking about cutting a flap into my eyeball!!!!!  With the PRK they just remove the top layer of the cornea so that they are able to do the laser corrections.  This layer regenerates cells every 3-4 days from what I am told, but until they replace themselves it is like walking around with all of your eye nerves exposed.  They put a soft contact lens as a bandaid on for you to live in for the next several days until they are replaced.  I'm not sure how much that lens actually helps, but I was not interested in doing any experiments to find out how well it was helping.  Mark and I were both thankful for our hydrocodone as it was the only thing that made sleep possible.  I am happy to say that by day 3 we were both feeling pretty good.  Our vision is okay.  It will supposedly go through many changes and improvements over the next 4-6 weeks.  On day 4 we had an eye exam and we were seeing 20/30 and 20/40.  Considering we were both 20/400+ (legally blind) before the surgery, we have made a vast improvement.  I would say that there are times that I see clearly and others that it is pretty blurry.  If my eyes are well lubricated then that would be when my vision is the best.  Regardless, I am a bit frustrated as I wish I was seeing like I was with my glasses on or contacts in.  I know in time I will be ecstatic, but I'm getting antsy to be in tip top shape right now.  I am happy to report, Mark and I were both able to remove the bandage contacts without any pain or problems.  A bit of a dry eye, but nothing bad.

At one week post back surgery, I can say that I'm ready to dive back into things, which I know is a no-no.  I'm suppose to take it easy and not bend, twist or lift anything.  That is proving difficult as I feel well enough to do so.  I didn't realize how much I would miss picking up Macy.  It is killing me.  I spent yesterday laying on the ground so that she could come in when she wanted and cuddle up next to me on my pallet.  We cuddled while it snowed and that was awesome.  I was pretty sore yesterday, but thankfully my TENS unit was a lifesaver and helped me get through the day with all three kiddos at home.  I'm looking forward to being over this and back to running!!!!! I can hardly wait!!!!! :)

I was pleasantly surprised when some neighbors from down the street, trekked through the snow and knocked on my door with dinner for that evening.  I didn't even know they knew about all of my surgeries and was completely embarrassed at the state of my home when they came in.  That being said, I was more that thankful for their thoughtfulness to provide for our family.  Mark has had to go into work all this week and considering Abilene is unable to cope with this frozen state of our city, we have had to rely on others to get him to work after we got his truck stuck on our driveway.  This week has made us consider getting 4-wheel drive for random circumstances like this.

That's the quick update!  All I can say is how thankful I am for friends and family.  Without each and everyone of them I would not have survived this last week.  From the delicious meals to taking or picking up kids from school, I am forever indebted to your selfless giving.  God has blessed our family beyond measure and my heart is full from the love that has been shown to us.  Hope everyone else is staying warm and enjoying their family time!!  Blessings!