Hi from Patty

[PattyInAK]

I am up at the family cabin, so I am able to check in and say hi to everyone.  Will be up here until Tuesday afternoon.
The surgery was a success even though the doctor said it was "difficult".  It took longer than they expected and they had to do more cutting than what is normally routine, but they got the job done.
The anesthesiologist was very good looking in a Keanu Reeves sort of way.  When I was wheeled into the operating room, he told me when he gave me the "I don't care shot" before he "sent me out to sea."  I tried to pay attention to going under, but next thing you know, I was being lifted off the operating table and onto my bed.  Seemed like I had only dozed off for about three minutes but it was 2 hours later.  I was wheeled up to my (private) room (woooo-hooo!), and Dan was there.  He said I looked like I was dead.  I was in pain and they put me on the morphine with the push-button.
Pain killers make me sick, and the morphine was no exception.  Thursday morning they had me get up and my whole world was spinning.  I walked a little ways down the hall.  Thankfully, the pain killers also made it easy for me to sleep.  I was taken off the morphine and put on a much milder pain killer and by the afternoon I was feeling much better, good enough to eat a cup of ice cream.
I was on a liquid diet until I could "pass gas."  So three meals a day consisted of broth, tea, juice and jell-o or a popsicle.  Finally, Friday afternoon, I produced!!!  The doc said they would feed me a real meal for dinner, and if I kept it down, they would take out the staples and send me home.  Dinner was spaghetti with all the trimmings and I ate most of it.  It tasted SO good, I was starving!  Kept it down, and they took my staples out and Dan took me home.
My incision is 8 inches long and I had 22 staples.  Yikes.
At home Dan set me up on the hide-a-bed couch in front of the TV and near the woodstove.  I was very comfortable, but it was very difficult getting out of bed.  At times I felt like a turtle stuck on its back unable to move.  I finally figured it out.  You just don't realize how much you use your abdominal muscles for everything.  I have to be so careful as I have internal stitches as well.  No lifting anything over 5 pounds.
I have spent the past 2-1/2 weeks mainly watching movies.  I am not bored at all!  My life is normally so busy that I am enjoying this forced down time. 
I feel better everyday, have lost 8 pounds, should lose more as the swelling goes down.  The doxies have been great company, so willing to just hang out and watch movies or curl up for a nap.
Last night my sister Joan flew in from Juneau, and she and my sister Mary picked me up for the trip to the cabin.  Joan will be here for 10 days.  We went out to eat and everything tasted so good.  I have not had much of an appetite even though I feel hungry.  Nothing has sounded or tasted good.  I am at the cabin for a few days, then I have a doctors appointment in Anchorage, and will be back to the cabin again next weekend.   Its nice being up here around people, and good square meals cooked by someone else. 
The doc said I should plan to be out of work for 3-6 weeks, and she wasn't kidding.  I can see my leave of absence being closer to 6 weeks.  My short-term disability kicked in and is good for 12 weeks.  Sure takes the edge of the worry of paying the bills.  I don't plan to go back to work before November 1st.  I just have to take it real easy and let my body use all its energy to heal.  My doctor said that I will still get real tired easily even after the pain is gone. 
If you have any good movie recommendations, please let me know.  I then just have to make a list and send Dan to Blockbuster.
Thanks you all for all your good wishes.  I have really missed you guys.  I will be reading the posts and trying to get caught up. 

[PattyInAK]

Almost forgot..........had a treat the other day........a mama moose and her twins came into the yard to graze, right outside my big windows.  The twins were last spring's babies, about 6 months old now.  They were perfect!  Dark brown, beautiful coats that looked like velvet.  The twins grazed while mom kept a watchful eye out for any danger.  They stayed in the yard for about 30 minutes then disappeared into the woods.  They came by again a couple days ago.  I never get tired of seeing the moose.

[Brekkesmom]

I am glad you are getting the wienerful dachsie nursing, and moose visitations!   How about the Peter Sellars Pink Panther movies - or do you want to laugh?  I am very fond of the Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Star Wars sets.  Perhaps the Remington Steele seasons 1-3, or the "Lost" seasons from tv?  How about the Diana Rigg Avengers?  Maybe "The Bone Collector", or "Kiss the Girls"?  Could be a great time to see the original Alfred Hitchcock "The Man Who Knew Too Much" - a dachsie in the opening scenes!

[Roberta]

So good to here from you I was getting worried, we had not heard, and just take your time.
Movies The Pacifier, The full series of Frasier,Mrs Henderson presents(has Dachie in it)and on the 11th  the da vinci code is out.
Glad the boys are looking after you.
Hear from you soon.
Warm gentle hugs from Australia
Roberta

[Barb]

Patty- so glad to "see" you here !!!  You deserve the R&R girl - go for it !!!!  I am sure it is SO nice to have someone cook for you - that is a treat in itself !!!  Sounds like you are doing as the doctor ordered and progressing nicely !   Sending you big hugs and rays to keep getting better !!!  I bet the puppers are in heaven with mom home all day.  Take care of you and check in when you are able. 

[Kelly]

Sooooo glad you're doing better! How's the babies enjoying having you home?
A card and letter on the way soon with a picture of the boys and myself. 

[Teresa]

I'm so glad you are healing nicely. The hardest part is over and now its just a matter of resting and building up energy. I seem to think of you everyday I'm at work. We have a DVD of Alaska that we play for our patients, so I see your wonderful state at least once, if not twice a day. I've learned so many facts about it and I love tossing them out at Randy every now and then!
If you want a great, feel good movie rent Akeelah and the Bee. We have just finished watching it and it is wonderful. Definitely one I will purchase and have in my collection. I'm going to try to think of some others that aren't listed here and I'll post them tomorrow.

[Delia and girls]

Hi, Patty. Glad everything is going so well. As Teresa said, the hard part is over and each day will be better than the one before. I know what you mean about the use of the abdominal muscles. My legs got quite the workout during my recovery period.

[TerriL]

It is good to hear from you Patty!  So glad that your recovering and that you have all of the help that you need.  Continue to take it easy, it does take time.  Take care and let us know how your doing when you can!

[Krista]

Glad to hear you are doing okay Patty and healing up well.  I've been wondering how you are.  I haven't seen any good movies of late.  I can't stay awake through a whole movie at this point anyways.  If I'm sitting down that long, I'm bound to doze off.  However, I did just purchase the newly released disney's "The Little Mermaid" on DVD.  I figure Brooklynn should have it.  I plan on buying "The Fox and the Hound" too as I see it's being released on DVD too.

[doxielady5569128]

Hey patty-  Glad you are feeling better!!  Had to take a few days to think about some good movies.  All around good movie- Akeelah and the Bee, Funny movie- RV, sports movie-Glory Road, um....An unfinished life is pretty good too, minus all the cussing.    hope you are able to find some good movies.

[Dee Dee and Hallie]

It's so good to hear from you Patty! I have lost your email, my hard drive crashed  :thinik: and I lost all my contacts. Would you mind emailing me so I have it again? I've been thinking of you a lot and I am so glad to hear you are feeling better.