Ouch! Back to the recovery basics...Day 71

Thanks so much for the outpouring of voicemails, text messages, and check-in emails. As Raj and Sherry reported on Friday the surgery went well, and I'm back to the grind of recovery.

Health Update:

• The procedure was laparoscopic, it was outpatient, the incisions are small - but make no mistake - these factors do not mean it doesn't hurt. I have a very very sore tummy, but I'm down a hernia, about 5 pounds from the liquid diet, and am the proud owner of some type of mesh substance that will now live in my stomach.

• CALL to ACTION: DONATE BLOOD! There is a nationwide shortage - and I am very grateful for the several bags of A+ the blood bank had to give me on Friday after I lost a little more than planned during surgery. So all who are able, let's give blood so there's some there for the next person who needs it! My amazing friend Sward gives regularly. She's also A+, so I like to think I ended up with some of hers!

• The pain is slowly subsiding - and today I resumed my walks after a weekend firmly planted on the couch. Rebuilding from the beginning on distance all over again. Made it to the mailbox and back - a far cry from my 10,000 steps, but I'll get there!

• My ANC (white blood cell count) is nearing 800, and I get another check on those tomorrow.

• I gave myself Dose 2 of O-O-Ozempic this morning, and tomorrow I'll meet with the diabetes specialist to understand what the heck is really going on.

What's Entertaining Us:

Lots of time these past 72 hours to catch up on some serious content consumption.

Movies:

• West Side Story (WOW!!!! - Didn't expect to love this as much as we did - every detail was incredible, hats off Mr. Spielberg)

• Drive My Car - Might be my pick for best Film of the year (Oscar Predictions to follow in a near-future post)

• The Fallout - Intense and all-too real HBO MAX movie about the trauma of a school shooting on students. Worth a watch if not to remember that this is the reality for American students.

TV Series:

• First three episodes of Season 4 of OZARK - I feel like I invested a lot in this series and I want to see it thru, but am not blown away by what this season is offering so far...

• Finally finished Season 1 of Gilmore Girls - and my mom and are delighted to be moving on to Season 2 where the wedding planning focus is quite relevant for all the wedding planning happening here!

• Station Eleven -

• The Righteous Gemstones - The perfect ridiculous laugh to break up a lot of the intense shows we are watching, and my all -day cable news consumption

• The Gilded Age - I have missed Downton Abbey in my life - and this is hitting the spot thus far!

On the menu:

PHEW, Raj and I have managed to find a GREAT Indian restaurant in Milwaukee! I'm a bit ashamed to say it took this long...however after a few misses - I think we found our spot.

Cafe India in Walkers Point! Raj generously drove 35 minutes each way to pick up some of our favorites: Dal Mahkni, Chana Masala, Paneer Tikka Masala, Samosa! DELICIOUS! Its nice to be eating again :)

What I'm grateful for:

• Sherry (aka mom) moved back in on Friday to help with recovery for the weekend. I couldn't really even get up and sit down without help. Needed my socks put on and taken off - THANKS MOM for being caretake extraordinaire!!!

• Raj - still here, by my side, 77 days since he arrived. Along for every milestone, every set-back, every moment. We have yet to say those words - in sickness and in health, but Raj has shown he's in for it all. LOVE HIM VERY much.

• Jim (aka Dad) for holding down the fort at home, for bringing Milly for visits, for being interested as I get back into the swing of work, for a willingness to go anywhere, and pick up anything to make things just a little bit better here!

• Molly - the recovery nurse from Friday who really made the whole afternoon feel just a little less surgery-focused! I vicariously was living through her planned Happy Hour margaritas at a favorite Mexican restaurant of mine (even if it does freak me out a little that my nurses and doctors are out in the covid world!).