My Day So Far ....
Tuesday 5 November 2024
Chihuahuas & Granny Whiskers
Monday 4 November 2024
Double Hip Replacement
This experience was a few years ago now, but never made it further than Facebook until now....
So the big day arrived yesterday with an early morning wake up call at 4:45. I figured nothing the surgeon could throw at me would be worse than that. I so hate it when I'm wrong. We made it to the hospital in record time and after Rob nearly tipped me off the curb in my wheelchair, we discovered the admissions dept wasn't open for another half hour. Once they did, they ushered me into a small room where the nurse gave me the pre-requisite robes and then turned and said "Here is a BIG pair of pants" Yes really. I was so not impressed. After I changed into the robes, BIG pants, booties and with my hairnet at a rakish angle, Rob decides to capture it on film - and no I wont be sharing that. I decided my husband had far too much fun at my expense and sent him off to pick up Lindsay in Guelph. Next up was the IV - which took three people three attempts. Somewhere through that ordeal I passed out. I guess that is a big no no in hospital, as I was suddenly surrounded by a bevy of concerned nurses. The one who had been filleting my hand with the IV needle was stroking my face asking if I was still with her. I swear if someone told me not to go towards the light I was out of there. From there I perfected a hop step dance to the OR desperately trying to hold up my BIG pants. As soon as I entered the OR, there was a chorus of cheerful hellos and how are yours, as if they weren't about to slice and dice me. My next ordeal, was the spinal block and epidural. Two anesthesiologists worked on me, stabbing me five or six times to find the right spot. That wasn't so bad until one of them asked for the 5" needle. FFS if you going to stick that in me, at least use a code name for it. Next up the surgery, very enlightening hearing the buzzing of the bone saw and the hammering of the spikes in my femur. I say spikes, because he tried a few sizes based on the amount of hammering. Unfortunately my bone cracked and had to be wrapped in wire for support. I see many a TSA pat downs in my future. Because of that unsuspected development, the surgery took twice as long and the freezing was wearing off by the time to do my second hip and I could feel the surgeon drawing on my leg with a sharpie. I explained that to the cheery chap looking after me, and he told me not to worry, he'd sedate me. That must have worked because the last thing I remember is asking him if i could take my sawn off joints for Grady. Apparently not, who knew they were a bio hazard. In recovery i was introduced to a very chatty nurse. I asked for a cup of water. She spent the next half hour telling me about her ex-husband, his new wife, her estranged children and her mortgage situation. I never did get the cup of water. At least Lindsay and Rob were able to visit me while a waited for a bed. Once in the room, Rob trekked off to the van to retrieve my bag. Whilst he was gone Lindsay proceeded to regale me of the trips her dad took her on around the hospital, in preparation for her visit today. "I'm 20" she told me huffily, why does he think i will get lost". Rob arrived back a few minutes later but without my glasses. Lindsay offered to go back and get them. Five minutes later, Robs phone rings. You've guessed it, Lindsay is lost and hasn't made it out the building. Good job she is studying Hospitality and not cartography. So there are good days and there are bad days, and then there are days that could only happen to me
The Spelling Bee
For what ever reason we all decided to go to bed around the same time, so first there is the mad scramble for one of the two bathrooms. Grady beats Lindsay by seconds and proceeds to dither around and take twice as long as usual just to annoy his sister. Meanwhile, she is on the other side of the door hissing threats and calling him unmentionable names. Sid had already gone to bed half an hour earlier but now with the commotion is awake and adding to the general noise level.
Grady finally finishes in the bathroom, dodges a well aimed blow from Lindsay and heads to his room. Then the long good nights start, it's like an episode from the friggin' Walton's. Everybody has to say "Goodnights" and "I love yous" to everyone else. First time around it is sweet, but by third time I've had enough and my "Good night, I love you" has become "shut the fuck up and go to sleep".
By now, it is now past 11:00 and the kids are still calling back and forth, while my threats fall on deaf ears. Lindsay decides she is going to shower - why now when she has had all evening is beyond me. Doors are opening and closing, lights flashing on and off, music playing and cupboards are rifled through, as she searches for god know what.
Finally silence, and I'm finally drifting off when the overhead light flicks on and Lindsay announces she is going over to her girlfriends house because said girlfriend has had fight with her boyfriend. Seriously at 11:30 ? By now truthfully I don't even care. Off she goes, slamming front door on her way. Immediately Grady starts up, "What was that ?". "Lindsay went to friend house". Questions continue "Why". Me, Don't know, don't care. Shut up and go to sleep" .
Quiet once again, and then I get a nudge from my husband. "I heard something downstairs" he whispers. "You should down and check it out" he continues. Are you fucking kidding me ? If I go downstairs now I'm just going to keep on going and not look back. Good night.
Worst Idea Ever
Friday 6 March 2015
Homework Trials
His homework is to determine definitions and then write sentences for his spelling words. One of these word was "nefarious" so he gleefully wrote down "My sister is downright nefarious". Sid was quite proud to be the topic of the sentence, but then she doesn't know what nefarious means. I hope for Grady's sake she doesn't find out.
This morning when he finally sat down to work, he had a huge cardboard box on his head, and no I didn't ask the reason why. I did however ask my husband to take a picture so that I could post it on Facebook in order that his teacher could see how studious he is. Grady immediately whipped the box off his head and complained vehemently "No, don't take a picture. Every time you post something on Facebook, it makes me look like an idiot." I might suggest that one of his spelling words next week be "irony".
Tuesday 3 March 2015
Fun Family Game Night
Game Day dawned bright and sunny, no indication of the black clouds that were to later form under our roof. Grady starts the ball rolling by declaring he doesn't want to take part. Too bad, he is family and therefore must suffer alongside the rest of us. Zach arrives, full of youthful anticipation of a fun filled evening. Poor bugger doesn't have a clue. Grady continues to express his reluctance, only to be thoroughly scolded by his older sister. Round 1 to Lindsay.
We can't postpone the inevitable any longer and finally sit down to Dr. Who Monopoly. This is the game Grady bought a month ago and has been wanting to play ever since - except for this day of course. Rob is muttering under his breath, and Lindsay has another go at her brother. Round 2 to Lindsay. A few minutes in and we realise just how cutthroat our family is. Grady refuses to throw the dice and Lindsay smacks him upside the head. Game, Set & Match to Lindsay.
No matter how much we cajole, bribe or threaten, Grady refuses to take part. Rob removes him from the table to the sounds of Sid's sing song "Someone's in trouble". It is finally dawning on Zach what he has gotten himself into. We divide up Grady's spoils and continue the game. Ten minutes later, by mutual consent we declare Zach the winner and toss in the game. Throughout this Sid has been enjoying herself, so much so that she announces we are now going to play Moustache Smash. Will this torture never end ?.
With the latest game we all have to hold a moustache on the end of a stick and as the cards are overturned you smash the end of the stick down if the card matches the colour or shape of the moustache you are holding. There is a little suction cup on the end of the stick that allows you to grab the card. Person with the most cards, wins. Simple right ? Wrong. I am at the end of the table so I don't have a hope in hell of even reaching the card, which is probably just as well as 5 different sticks (Grady has relented and re-joined us) smash down on the card and any fingers that happen to be in the way. Everyone takes to this with the enthusiasm of Gladiators in a Roman arena and it isn't long before cards, moustaches, and sticks are flying through the air. Gone is the pretence of collecting cards and it quickly becomes a free for all, as my children begin wailing on each other with the sticks.
Another game night bites the dust. Norman Rockwell has nothing on our family.