What a difference a day makes...

Okay. The very worst part of the entire ordeal is behind us. Hoooray!!!!

Charlie was taking pictures for me and I knew he'd turn that camera on me, but I was ready with the hood!

I know I have said about 3 million times how much I LOVE my doctors and Good Samaritan Hospital... it just doesn't get any better than that! This picture (above) is from my hospital room window. That is Palm Beach across the waterway. So... all in all, I have to say... that I hope I NEVER have to go in there again or have any kind of surgery again, ever. Never, ever. LOL! Who does, right?

Everything went as planned. They popped me open and took out all sorts of stuff. Literally took everything out, that they can physically be removed and combed through me, covering every square inch looking for bad stuff hiding in there. They removed the whole baby making apparatus, a mass in my lower abdomen and the spleen and I don't know what else... stapled me shut and sent me on my way.

I was in the hospital for 5 days and on the fifth day, I got up at 3 am and began getting ready to come home. (I am moving sort of slow) I wanted to be ready when the doctors made their rounds. And you cannot sleep in a hospital anyway. When they finally came in around 2 pm, I had my bags packed and my clothes/make-up on and was ready to go so what could they do?? I had done really well, only running a slight fever for a short time... and I was ready to beg if necessary. Thankfully, they released me. I can be pretty pathetic... : D

Home. Oh my Lord, home was never better and just what I needed. I have never been more tired. My home is based almost entirely on comfort. I worked in the furniture business for several years and collected some wonderful, down and feather filled, poofy furniture that will just swallow you up and it was exactly what I needed. That and a bunch of really old, corny movies. I have hardly moved in two days. Sitting at my desk is not so comfy so... I will cut this short if you don't mind.

Can I also say right here.... that all the single ladies... ya'll can just hang it up, okay, because I have the single most awesome husband ever. Sorry.

Charlie barely left my side and gave love and support through some pretty gruesome shit. I won't go into any further details here... but trust me, he is the very best man in the Universe!

I love him so much and I would not have been able to get through it at all without him and his loving support.

My heart breaks for lonely and forgotten souls lying in their hospital beds with no one to make them laugh or get them up to walk, even if it is only 15 feet... or bring them Burger King milk shakes or the 10 ga-zillion things he did for me.

My cup runneth over.

Thank you all so much for the prayers. I really feel it all coming together.

The next step... three more rounds of chemo and more tests...

Bring it!

a spa in w palm...

With permission from Billie, I am adding some info to bring you all up to date . . . don't expect any snappy repertoire - "Just the facts, ma'am" !
From the "Hubby" . . . . . . .

The surgery was successful in the sense that it accomplished in one day what 4 to 5 months of chemo could do. She still has a ways to go (3 more chemo's) before we have a clear picture overall.

Good Sam is a great hospital and she has a great bunch of docs and nurses. She is doing fine. She is motivated to be up and walking around and does so every chance she can. She seems to be recovering ahead of schedule thus far and we expect her to be home by Tuesday at the latest.

Billie is a remarkable woman with a positive attitude and she constantly amazes me. She will write to you all to let you know of her experience as soon as she can. She just asked me to give you all a heads up in case you were wondering how she was doing.

Thanks for the prayers and support!
Charlie

Next Thursday

My surgeon is three doctors rolled into one. He is a surgeon, he is an oncologist and he is a gynecologist. That is a lot of school, can't even imagine how much time and not to mention, brains. I have another doctor, my oncologist and he has the greatest respect for my surgeon. I have yet another doctor, my family doctor whom I adore and he has the greatest respect for both of the a fore mentioned docs and he considers me to be more than a patient, but a person he genuinely cares for... I couldn't ask to be more surrounded with everything I need.
I am going to spend a couple of nights at Good Samaritan Hospital in W. Palm on the 7th. They will remove some things I totally do not need anymore and have a close look around while they are there. I am confident in having a perfect outcome.
Soon, this will all be behind us and I can get busy with the holidays around the corner. I love having tons of people gorging themselves with food at my home with twinkle lights everywhere. You're all invited!
Do me a huge favor and don't even think about coming to the hospital or sending flowers and cards. I know you are all with me and I thank you, I truly do... I have plenty of people to help and all I want to do is rest and get out of there. And put on my make up and cover up my bald head. : D Call me vain. Okay, whatever.
Instead.... send flowers to your wife or husband or aunt... send a note , by a bottle of good wine and snuggle up around a fall fire. (preferably outside, in the woods with fall leaves, mountains and marshmallows...). Smile, be happy and don't worry about it. Its all good.