Back from DC

We had a great trip to DC. The weather was nice most of the time and when it wasn't, we just headed inside to one of the millons of museums there. My only complain in going during a break week was that it was extremely crowded & we weren't able to fully enjoy all the sights as much as we'd like. We did the easter brunch cruise on the Potomoac with the easter bunny & that was great, they had the hugest chocolate fountain we'd ever seen! We loved spending time with Nessie, the kids first babysitter, and Andy & I put her to work on night we were there so we could go out to a nice dinner. We went to a Wolfgang Puck restaurant (the source) in the new Newseum. We were there 3 hours doing the 7 course tasting menu and trying every flavored martini they had. I was partial to the pear martini while Andy liked the Cherry Blossom. We walked alot and for 5 days saw almost everything. We didn't make it inside the White House, but we did congressional tours of the Library of Congress, The Capitol, and Mount Vernon, which were all spectactular!

So, back to the real world now. Rex has started baseball, Ruby is back to horseback riding. They both seem to cut back on activities as the nice weather draws near as they like just hanging with the neighborhood kids & playing. They both just got their report cards and did well the 3rd quarter, yeah kids!

Next surgery for me is set for June 18th & that is just an in and out procedure and I should be done. I am feeling good and have started back with light exercise. Taking my time and getting to know the new girls and any restrictions I might have. Just had a complete physical last week to make sure the rest of me is doing OK. Andy's shoulder is doing great & he is back to working out!

Currently Ruby & I are enjoying some girls time while the boys are camping with the boyscouts this weekend. What a great, sunny, hot weekend it has been so far. Andy is going to be so pleased when he returns from the woods as I tore apart the grill, cleaned it, and got it working again. It was a messy job, but he wasn't doing it anytime soon and my dad, who did it last time, said he was never doing it again, so what was a girl, who wants to grill, do?

On a sadder note, it has been a rough week for us. Our Mr. Lou passed away last weekend. We met Lou 11 years ago when he became our accountant , but since that time he had become our close friend, advisor, & we often joked our adopted Skaneateles family. His girls babysat our kids from birth on and when the girls went away to college, Bev & Lou started watching our kids like their own grandchildren. Holidays, parties, kids games & activities, Mr. Lou & Ms. Bev were there. Here's just a few of our memories with Mr. Lou. I only wish I had a picture of him helping us clean up after our New Years Eve party.He always had a champagne bottle in hand, his hips were a moving, and he was happy!

I hope you are happy now. We miss you already!

Sherie

We're Back & almost off again..

So, these are my two favorite pictures from Florida. The weather cleared just as we arrived and was sunny and 80 the whole 4 days we were there. The Red Sox won both games, Pedroia was back after his injury in the World Classic, and we met Delcarmen (again), Smoltz (newly traded from braves), and Coach Francona (again). Rex also got his first Major League foul ball when he was on a food run. It literally dropped right at his feet with no one else around! This is better than the guy who got hit in the forehead 2 rows away from us and was taken out by paramedics!

The Everglade trip fell through as they didn't have enough people to go out on the boat, so we spent some time at the beach instead. The kids said the water was still too cold to go fully in and they weren't big fans of the seaweed on the shore, they are much more pool kids and spent alot of time there! We spent some time with my aunt and uncle who live there and we slept in and stayed up late.

Since returning we've been busy with home & school projects. We actually got the whole lawn raked and deleafed on that nice afternoon we had. Got most of the winter stuff put away and have started spring cleaning. Rex is working on the egg drop project right now and Ruby just finished her first communion banner. Rex is finishing up indoor soccer and gearing up for baseball. there is a rumor, from his classmates, that he is on the red sox team, but we've got no official call yet. Ruby is taking a break from martial arts and has started riding again.

Rex "crossed over" from cub scouts to boy scouts with his arrow of light award(highest award given to cub scouts)

Ruby had a Powderpuff (pinewood derby) race and par for the course, the Ramsgard car didn't do so well, but it looked good!

Andy saw his surgeon and got the OK to start exercising again, as tolerated, so he is busy getting back in shape. He has also been working like a dog! waking up at 3am and working through until 6pm, then after dinner, working more from home. Needless to say, on the weekends, he sleeps alot to catch up!

I talked again with Dr. Gil. My next surgery may be more like June/July now. He has two big conferences and an army reserve trip to Puerto Rico! Oh well, I am in no rush, who needs nippples anyways? I am feeling much better and have hardly any pain these days! I get to start exercising in 3 days. Now that my boobs are nice and firm, we need to get the rest of me to match!

Shout out to Lance Armstrong and Matt Lauer! Andy is starting a new club for people who flip over their bicycle handbars and break ribs and collar bones. It's going to be called, "what boys will do to get attention! " Andy's been upset ever since he found out Lance got 4 more screws than him.

So, we are off to DC this week for 5 days over Easter break. The whole family has been busy researching and planning where we are going and what we are doing. Should be great. We have tickets to see "Chicago" on Andy's bday(4.10). We have a congressional tour of the Capitol and Mt. Vernon. We are waiting to hear if we got the tour for the White House. There will not be a lack of things to do, that is for sure!

So tonight Andy & Ruby are attending the Sweetheart dance while Rex and I go to the Auburn Hospital production of "Hospital Idol". We are all excited for our dates.

Wishing now I hadn't put the coats and hats away as it is snowing out, but I am keeping them away and willing this snow to be gone.... NOW please, it's April!

Here's me and Andy in Florida, big hair I know, but my butt looks so good in these pants I had to share it! My Boobs have been getting so much attention that I thought we should show some love for my other parts now!

Enjoy your weekend

Sherie

we're off

Here are our last two years at Red Sox Spring training. We are off today for a long weekend again to Fort Myers to see 2 Red Sox games (Pirates & Phillies), a lunch with 3 Red Sox players (we've seen Pedroia, Lugo, Cora, DelCarmen & Coach Francona the past few years), and to soak up some sun (it is suppose to be sunny & 80 the whole time we aer there). We hope to see some family & friends again and we also booked an Everglade half day adventure! The rest is just time to relax!

Had a follow up with Dr. Gil this week. He said everything is "looking good". He took his progress pictures, I smiled nice! (the funny part about that is he always says to smile, but he is only taking a picture of me from the next down, my face is not in the picture!) So, I can schedule the next & hopefully, final surgery(we'll call it project nipples) anytime after 5.19. I can start exercising gently after 4.6, but he said he didn't want me jiggling around and doing any high impact stuff for awhile. He wants to give his stitches time to settle in! AS long as I have my motrin with me, I am fine cause it still does hurt alittle and I still have to lie perfectly still when I sleep, I want to squiggle around like I use to!

So, we'll get through Andy & my birthdays, Ruby's first Communion, and then it'll be surgery time, but not before I squeeze in a quick trip to Vegas, just An
dy & I. Yup, that's my latest cockamimi plan. I got an email from the Jason Mraz fan club (I know I am 42 going on 16), but you get important information about concert dates and this just proves it. Mr. Mraz, my newest favorite singer, is going to be in Vegas for a midnight show all his own (he is also opening for 2 of Dave Matthews shows too) He has been in Europe most of the last 3 months and is going back for the next 3 months, so this Vegas show is one of the only opportunites to see him right now. I checked flights and they are only $200 each roundtrip, how can we not go? I have never been and Andy needs to research all the restaurants out there. Andy & I usually try to get away sans kids atleast once a quarter, but our illnesses have prevented that, so Andy agreed we should go and we are! can't wait. We leave the day after my bday and come back on mother's day.

Oh, it's time to go, we gotta leave for the airport.
Have a great weekend and I'll blog when I get back,
Sherie

The difference a "E" can make!

You didn't think I was going to show you the real thing did you? This is a family blog and I think the real unveiling of my silicone valley should come when I am complete with the cherries on top like the picture above! The metaphor above came to me at dinner the other night and I knew it had to be the next blog.

So the silicone does feel just like real, Howard Stern was not lying about that. Yup, that was Andy's reference point for saying we should go with silicone over saline. Andy said to me, "Howard Stern swears by silicone" Now I have loved Howard from the beginning, so who was I to say different, after all, Howard wouldn't lead me a stray. I wonder what Howards' thoughts on the whole nipple reconstruction are? tatto and pucker or tatto, graft and pucker. Now it is starting to sound like the ingredients of one of Andy's martini's and it is too early for a drink as I write this, so lets move on...

The bandages are all gone. the top incision is healing well with no pain. The "sinching" incisions in the fold underneath (alittle something extra to keep them up and perky) are still sore and prevent too much movement as it hurts when I do. I am down to just Motrin for pain coverage and that is working fine. I am attempted to sleep on my side at night, but it gets uncomfortable, so its back to lying flat on my back and very still all night if I am to sleep without pain. I am a squirmer and I miss it, Andy doesn't and is sleeping much better since I can't move!

I am still on a "no exercise" restriction and that is killing me since we are headed to Florida for a long weekend and there are things that need the spring firm up. I had to get rid of 5 bathing suits that don't fit right with the new girls, so it's time to go bathing suit shopping too. again, not a pretty thing when one has not exercised in a month.

I have a follow up appointment next week and don't anticipate it will be anything too exciting. Maybe we'll discuss when the next surgery is, now that this one is wrapping up. I am hoping for end of April, beginning of May. just in time for my birthday!

We head to Florida next Thursday for Spring Training with the Red Sox. We are there for 4 days and besides taking in two games (Pirates & Phillies) we also have a BBQ schedule with some of the players. On the one day we don't have a game we are going to take an airboat ride through the Everglades, Ruby is not happy about that, but Andy really wants to do it.

So really, that is it. I have been taking it very slow and resting as I have been quite tired this time around.

Andy's shoulder is doing great. He had a follow up last week and the Doctor is pleasd with how it is healing. He has started exercising again and is happy to be doing that. the mystery dot disease seems to have resolved and he miraculously has not come up with anything new yet!

Rex had a successful Boyscout Pinewood Derby for which he came in second with his submarine car and he is busy working on a volcano project now. Ruby finished up her "Manners" poster for school and is now busy working on her pinewodd derby car for girl scouts. I don't remember all these projects when I was young, but the kids seemto love them!

Hope all is well with everyone in blog land.

Oh what a feeling...

I got the OK to shower yesterday and let me tell you, a shower after a week does a body good. I'd also like to thank my friends at Becon Skiff Orchard for their awesome apple cidar which finally got my bowels moving for the first time in a week! I am like a new woman! I think my irritability is getting better, but Andy would be the better judge of that, I've been quite unbearable lately, but he started talking to me again yesterday, so I took that as a good sign.

So, my follow up yesterday was short and sweet. He removed the chest strap noted below. Wasn't really sure what this was about, but it was tight and confining & I am glad for it to be gone. He said it was to help move the girls up and center! All the bandages under & on the boobies covering the sutures are still in place. He wants those to stay another week. There is still tenderness there and most of my discomfort at this point seems to be rib pain. I don't know if he bruised them when he was moving the girls in or if it is just sympathy pain for Andy's previous rib pain, but it is quite sore. OK, I should have been more sympathetic to Andy's pain, I get it, I am sorry, it really hurts! and I know, I don't even have 4 broken ones, I just have a few bruised ones. Maybe it's the 500 cc's of saling pressing on them, just thought of that.

MD orders: finish out the antibiotic, & pain meds (easy). No exercise, no lifting, pushing, or carring anything heavy, rest(not so easy) I don't like moving slow or appearing to take it easy! that's for whimps, but for the sake of perky breast, I will try and obey!

So now I am sitting here thinking what to do with myself that fits into all those restrictions and I think I might be scrapbooking soon. I am a year behind and if I could just get started again, I think I could get caught up. I did finally finish the Twilight series and have now started on Wally Lamb's new book. What is up with these 700 page books? My Ipod had a hardware failure so I am also working on transferring what I really need from that to my iphone and seeing if I can survive with just one "i" appendage.

Time to rest, gravity is pushing down onto the ribs and they are yelling supine sherie, supine!

new meal schedule!

(click to enlarge)

email Helen for information or to get on the meal schedule.

THANK YOU!!

The Big Reveal

Everyone keeps asking when the "big"reveal is. Well I haven't even seen them as they are still bound tightly under all the bandages, but I suspect they will look just look this! Yup, that is what boobs with no nipples look like, a barbie doll! Pretty appropriate that my college nickname was Skip, after Barbie's exercising cousin, Skipper! Some foreshadowing on my friends part back then?? I may have Skip's perky boobs, but I certainly don't have her spunk right now. I continue to be sore and move slowly. The bandages are wrapped so tightly that I sometimes gasp for a breath. If I sit up too long, the gravity hurts, so I have been finding comfortable supine positions with lots of pillow and blanket supports.

I have a follow up apt. on Tuesday with Dr. Gil. So I will try and be a good patient until then. Nurses typically are not good patients, but I am trying.

Sherie

I'm out!

So as not to be out done by Andy's blue cap surgery piture, here is mine. I got thirsty and though I would have a saline martini too!


So, surgery went well. I was in for four hours and ended up with 500cc's in each side, can' t see a thing yet as I am all bandaged up, but the Doc said they are just about the same size as I was before all this, just perkier and no cancer in them! He improved my inframammory fold, so he had to cut and sew under neath and that is my only discomfort now. I am going back to rest now and take more of the pain meds, but wanted to let you all know it went fine.




Here is a picture ofmy lip too, apparently I was talking too much and the surgeon punched me..... just kidding, not sure what happened, but I thought it was funny! Andy wants to call this one
Lip Sevice.


Thanks again for all the well wishes. As I expected, this one seems the worst of anything I have had thus far!
Sherie

My turn

Andy thinks I should go Green with my imPlants!
He's a funny one that hubby of mine. Whenever we are shopping now and he sees 2 big round things he wants me to hold them up and take a picture and then he comes up with some clever saying to ut on the blog. He technically doesn't know a thing about bloggin, but he likes the creative picture and saying part of it, so Thanks Andy for another clever one!

So we had a long weekend away in Rochester for mid winter break, So what if our other friends are going to Disney, to Vermont skiing, or travelling down the Nile. What do they have that Rochester doesn't? We swam at the hotel pool, we slept in everyday, we ate room service and watched movies, went to museums and shopped and we didn't have to worry about any plane excitement, we just drove 60 minutes in our car and we were home! It was nice and now we are back!

I am in a frenzy getting everything ready before my surgery this week. If you have a choice on when your surgery is, don't do it durning a break from school. Having the kids home just adds to the mayham! I am trying to do this and they are mommy this and mommy that and I am bored and I want a friend over and lets go do this and blahblahblah! So, now that they are in bed, I can do all the things I was suppose to do today instead of swimming, skating, helping with projects, etc... I know they are only young once, enjoy them now, the other stuff can wait. I am a psychiatric nurse, I spew that stuff to my crazed patients all teh time, doesn't mean I have to listen to it. Maria is coming tomorrow for my pre surgery massage, I will be fine after that and my next gin and tonic tonight!

So, anyways, I go in Thursday morning @ 7am. I will get "marked up" and be in surgery about 8am. It should take about 3 hours. perfect bouncy silicone boobs take time! . 2 hours for recovery and I should make it home for dinner. My mom will be with the kids, Andy will be @ the hospital, most of the time, I think he is ducking out for a meeting once they kick him out of the surgery room. So, I should be able to send a blog that evening on how it all went. They say it should be easier than last time, but I don't want to expect that, cause I'll be disappointed if it is not. I plan on trying to rest through the weekend and should be good to go by my follow up on Tuesday. I have 2 party invites Saturday and Sunday and I said maybe, we'll see how I feel. I could have done it last time!
Well, wish I had some more humor in me, but this wonder girl is tired out and going to bed.

Since Shelly is floating down the Nile River, Helen wanted me to let you know she has another calander started for meals. I think I'll be fine and don't think it is necessary, but apparently y'all don't care what I think and want to cook for me, so thank you again for being so kind and generous with that and give Helen a call or shoot her an email if you are feeling the need.
Thanks for all teh love and support, I promise to be done with all this drama soon!
Sherie

Mystery Solved!

So I was going to title this one, "it's a mystery", hence the picture, but Doctor Michael, AKA, the smartest man from Weedsport & our snow shoveling neighbor, solved the mystery in the wee hours of the morning today. So you are like, What the hell is she talking about, well here is the newest Andy saga....

It all started, we think, a week ago. Andy was complainging of groin pain. Certainly wasn't from exercise or S-E-X, but groin pain none the less. Then came the red, pimple like bumps all over his body. OK, he's got sensitive skin and gets pimples once in awhile, so we didn't think anything of it. Then last Friday, at Casino Night, a fundraiser we were at, I look over from the dance floor I was lighting on fire with my moves, and see Andy sitting down on a couch bending forward in what looked like pain to me. I, in the middle of a great dance move, lept across the dance floor running to the aid of my husband. He had his socks and shoes off and said he could barely walk. He had reddness and swelling all around his ankles. So, being the kind and caring nurse wife that I am I forwent the next hour of dancing and took him home.

Now for those of you who live in town, this ailment came 2 days after the MRSA note we got home from school stating that there was a case in the school system and they start out like pimples. Dr. Michael took a look the next morning and ruled out MRSA, phew, he's not going to die of that, but what Dr. Mike, what is it?????? best guess at that point was a strep infection and best way to rule that in or out is to treat with antibiotics. Due to pain being caused by this, Andy had to miss standing in the cold with his cubscout den at Winter Fest & the task fell to me, thanks Honey for planning these illnesses so nicely! So, antiobiotics started, feeling a bit better during the days, but still pretty bad at night. Back to Dr. Mike, we even went to the office this time. Bloodwork and xrays taken. Consultation with other Docs and nurses at the office and then this morning at the bustop I get the official diagnosis, Erythema Nodosum. Now I know erythema means redness and swelling and nodosum looks like "i don't know" so in lay person terms it is redness and swelling we don't know about! and after reading more that's about it. They aren't sure what really brings it on, can be food allergy, strep infection, other preceding illnesses, but it is an infection in the subcutaneous fat anywhere you have it in the body. No real treatment, other than pain meds and steroids to help calm symptoms, resolves on own, sometime taking up to 3mos. can reoccur down the road. Usually occurs in people ages 30-40, ok Andy is 42, but his Wii age is 38. Usually occurs more in woman then men, we all know Andy is a metrosexual with lots of female qualities. All the accounts I read on line are dead on to what Andy is experiencing, So Good job, Doctor Mike, but yes, it is poor Andy again. and isn't if funny that once again, it is 2 weeks before my surgery, just like the last accident. I get the feeling he is feeling left out from the sympathy I start to receive about now and feels he has to go do something to get some of the love going his way. Well OK, maybe not consciously, but come on, this is to weird.

So, I am in narsissistic withdrawl and need to talk about myself now. I had my 2 week preop appointment yesterday with Dr. Gil and did my preadmission screening(PAS) @ the hospital. I am getting good at that routine after the third time. Nothing new with the PAS. Dr. Gil and I signed all the papers and went through the procedure and consents. believe it or not, there are alot of options for silicone implants. Dr. Gil's biggest concern is getting them back to the size I want while creating nice clevage and "projection"(the number of inches the girls protrude from my body) I keep telling him I want the smaller amount of cc's in them, but his point is, that from his experience, when you change out the hard expanders for the soft silicone, it looks alot different. The expanders look hard, and they are, and because of that they creating a big, full appearance. the silicone is more natural, like normal breast tissue and as you can see from the picture above, is squishy. So while 450 cc's in the expanders looks huge to me right now, 450 cc's in implants will not. So, he is going to order 3 different sizes for me (ranging from 390cc's - 440cc's) and he is going to see what looks best at the time of surgery. Yup, I am leaving my boob size in the hands of another man, but I trust him and know he will do right by me, and more importantly Andy. So the surgery is Thursday 2.19. I go in @ 7am and will be home that evening. My mom will be here with the kids as they are off school for winter break. Recovery is the same as before, if not easier, but he wants me to be more mindful of no lifting or exercise for atleast 4 weeks to let the sutures heal.

Kids are home and need me, so that's it for now. By the looks of the length of this, that is probably a good thing.

Sherie

He's fine!

So I have been taking alittle heat from some friends who are mad cause I haven't blogged in awhile. Apparently they are all worried about how Andy is doing and don't want to see the picture of him and the staples everytime they check the blog, so to appease Ellen, I mean the friends, here is a new shining picture of Andy with the staples removed 20 days post op. He is alert and oriented and continues to feel better each and everyday. He is doing some shoulder exercises and still using the bone stimulator every night. That is going to be hard to get rid of when Dr. Marc takes it back, it is like his binky now.You will also notice from this picture that he got a new red striped hat. He lost his last one at an appointment and was quite upset, he loves this hat and says people just seem happier to see him when he wears it. (I told him they were laughing at him cause it is so bright and out of context for him) My sister found this one and a black and white striped one at the same shop in Lake Placid where he purchased the last one, it apparently is a classic Adirondack gift that never goes out of style. So I hope you all are as happy as we are that he has it back.

So, I am in a stretching pattern now. All the saline is in the expanders and they are doing their job to stretch my skin and chest muscle. To my surprise and delight, it isn't that bad. I am able to sleep on my back or side comfortably, and I have even been lying on my belly 1 hour a week to get massage! I just did yoga and have been exercising again and it is all doable. I have twangs of stretching/discomfort at my inframammory fold (under my boobs and side) once in awhile, but not often. So I have just been busy being a mom and getting kids here and there, helping at school, getting house back in order, and helping Andy with the businesses. It keeps a girl busy. That and I am back cooking meals for ourselves and the break where you all filled in was good, not only cause it freed me up to rest and heal, but it has made cooking fun again, so thanks for that added bonus. So, I think I already mentioned it, but my next surgery is Feb. 19th. It is a one day surgery where they will take the expanders out and put in the implants. They say it is easier than the last surgery, so I should be up and about in an hour or two once they are done.

So that's it, not too exciting and we'll take it.

Pictures: Ruby & I at the Me and my gal brownie activity. I won, but I waited until the last frame to crush them all! I think it was the bowling shirt that helped. Rex & I at one of his many fun class parties, he has alot of them. Frosty & I at the North Pole, it's winter and we all need to see the friendly side of frosty!

Blog resolution: I promise to try and blog once a week and not spend so much time on Facebook.

Sherie

1 Day Post Op

Here Vanna, I mean Andy, displays his battle wound. He has 20 staples, I know, I zoomed the picture in and counted! I have a closer picture that I think is much better, but Andy said it was too gross, so here is the sen sored one for all of you. So let's get this straight, 1 plate, 6 screws, and 20 staples! It's all about the numbers and hardware for the men!

So, we, I mean, I drove through lake effect snow and ice, again, to get to our 8:15am follow up appointment in Syracuse. We were only 5 minutes late and it wasn't my fault, it was all those silly people going so slow! Geez, ya'd think they'd never seen snow before. The Doctor said everything went well and looks good. Andy can start some light exercises for his arms, but needs to rest through the weekend. He'll get the staples out on the 19th! I get to change the dressing once a day. Years of nursing school finally pay off! Andy said he slept well and his shoulder feels 100% better already. The doctor said if Andy would have fallen or hit his shoulder before, the broken bone could have popped through his skin, so under the advise of Kim, hairstylist/therapist, I recant saying in a previous post that Andy was dramatic when he said he felt like it was going to pop out. Whatever!

He's doing great. A lot less whiny and more self sufficient than after the original injury.

Yeah, now, in 3 months when he can lift more than 5 pounds, we;ll be in good shape. After my last fill up at my doctors office I am sure each breast is probably more than 5 lbs., so I guess he on't be fondling them anytime soon! poor neglected me! Sherie

Surgery Update

Before Surgery

You can all rest, Andy made it in and out of surgery with no problems. His weeks of relaxation training really paid off and he said, "it wasn't that bad" His pain level is currently at the level it was when he arrived at the surgery center, but as the nurse said, "it is unrealistic to think he'll have no pain for awhile"

The Details are this. He was in surgery for about an hour. There was no healing at all at the site and the surgeon noted the two ends of the broken bone where just flapping away, which is what Andy said it felt like! It would have never healed on it's own without surgery, so it's good to know he made the right decision about that. He went under and came out of anesthestia fabulously. He said when he woke up he didn't realize he was done, he thought he was still waiting to go in. So they put in 1 plate and 6 screws, yup, he got screwed out of the 7th one he was hoping for. The incision is about 2-3 inches long and they already took the drain out, so he just has a nice bandage over it now. We go back tomorrow morning for a bandage change and check up @ 8:15am! What is with these early hours these surgeons keep, a girl can't catch a sleeping in day!

So he is resting quietly in the recliner. We realized we had premature recliner return last night and had to go borrow the Everdings recliner again, thanks guys! He is taking his meds and icing his shoulder, Rex is watching him now while I get the word out to everyone. I am working on his medication chart and hope to get a nap in myself before taking Ruby to riding, that'll be nice and warm!

Peace out

Sherie

Andy's last meal

Here's what I made Andy tonight for dinner before he's "nothing by mouth after midnight"

Since I can only exercise my lower body right now, my legs are getting in real good shape as you can see here!

After yesterday's "fill up", the upper torso is pretty accurate too, I never thought of using ketchup for that anatomically missing part of me, interesting. I guess this is what they mean when they say display on a bed of lettuce!

Thanks to my Mom and sister for finding this one! Cute!

Sherie

A plate & seven screws

So tomorrow @ 7:30am is Andy's surgery and that is what he is getting, A plate and seven screws! He hasn't had that many screws since his college days, at least not in one day. Come to think of it, that is probably more than he has got in the past few months combine. So when you think of him tomorrow, don't fret, he is having the most action he has had in months!

Seriously, He has been preparing himself for surgery and listening to his relaxation and mindfulness tapes for 2 weeks. I even downloaded them to his new Iphone so he'll have them on there whenever he needs them! His shoulder was hurting quite a bit with the cold, rainy weather, so he is excited to be going under the knife in hopes that will all get better!

It is a one day surgery, so we should be home by the evening and I will certainly get a quick blog to let everyone know how he is doing.

I had my last "pump up" yesterday. I am full to the brim now. It wasn't too bad at the office as I had taken my 800 mortin, but I woke up in the middle of the night in some discomfort. That heavy feeling pushing on my chest has arrived, but I was able to find comfort on my side, which is better than most can do. I was a bit whiny at the hair salon today, but Kim got me back on track and atleast made my hair look pretty. My "change out" surgery is scheduled for Feb. 19th. just 6 short weeks! It is in and out and suppose to be easier than the last surgery. Should be a breeze in that case.

The year finished uneventfully, which is a good thing in our house these days. We had a nice time at a NYE party and were home in bed by 1am. Quite a change from the 6am we usually get to bed on NYE. Here we are doing nothing but having fun at the party.

So, Happy New Years to all and here's looking to a healthy 2009 !

Sherie

Snow People

I kicked the kids out of the house for the afternoon and they froze, oh no!

Just kidding. They had some fun in the snow cause Rex says, "a busy day goes quicker and then xmas is here sooner"

Here's the tunnels they are building to your house!

Happy Snow play to all!

Sherie, Rex, & Ruby

Twas the night before christmas

No it is not St. Nick laying a finger aside his nose, it is Andy shushing Sherie, again! The story of our lives and now it is a kodak moment.

The meal calander is nearing a finish and while we experienced lots of great meals and were so overwhelmed with all your generosity of taking the time to prepare some pretty outstanding meals, the time has come that I re-enter the kitchen and cook again! I have stepped up and cooked 3 great meals this week already! (pork tenderloin/spagetti bolanese/chicken taco soup(thank you Kristi P) I had to call Helen the first night for moral support and a few cooking questions, but I feel it is all coming back now. Thank you all again for all the meals, sweets, and treats. Andy, on the other hand, is troubled by the weight he gained from it all and blames you all for it. I tried to be the psychiatric nurse that I am and point out that he didn't have to have 2nds and eat all the treats, but he is still pointing the finger. Seems he is always doing something with that finger! I guess when you have a bad shoulder you use the body parts that work in excess!

So, The kids are watching A Chritmas Story in preparation for this evening and tomorrow. They have been pretty hyped. They are having a sleepover in Rex's Green Monster bed tonight, I wonder if they will actually sleep. My parents and Auntie Bonnie are spending the night tonight so they can be here bright and early for the excitement! We are going Mexican tonight for dinner, hence the Chicken taco soup. We are heading to our adopted family, The Everding's, for christmas dinner & celebrations tomorrow (beef/shrimp/salmon), we have Friday off to play, to my parents house on Saturday for Turkey dinner & celebrations, and then to Andy's parents on Sunday for Ham & celebrations. So, it seems after my 3 days of cooking I will be getting a small reprieve.

I am done with everything and now able to relax and enjoy the holiday. The champagne is chilling, the pomegranite liquor has been purchased, and the pomegranite seeds await! My favorite part of the holiday is late tonight when the kids are in bed, the presents are all under the tree and all the lights in the house are out, except the christmas tree ones. Andy & I usually sit there and enjoy a cocktail, a kiss, and enjoy the moment. Here's what it looked like last year.

So, Merry Christmas friends and family. No talk of pain, surgery, or boobs today. Life is good and we send our love to you all this holiday season. Thank you for all the extra tidings of good cheer that you sent our way!

Sherie

Andy's Surgery

Andy's surgery has been confirmed for Wed. January 7th. It is an outpatient procedure, so he'll be in and out same day. It will be at the Harrison Surgery Center in Syracuse and Dr. Marc is going to be in there with our boy making sure everything goes as planned. From what Andy understood, I wasn't able to go to the surgeon appointment, they will "cut him open, put in plates and screws and close him up" those are his words, I told you earlier in another blog he was dramatic. By doing this, it will help bones fuse together and then next year they will go in and take it out. He will be in a sling for about ten days and unable to lift more than 5 lbs. for 3 months. That's all I know at this point. He is nervous, hasn't had surgery since he had his appendix out when he was 10 and he doesn't remember that being a good experience. I am working with him on meditation, mindfulness, and relaxation techniques to turn his negative thoughts into happy ones. So far, he has been a very good student!

Tonight is Andy's Xmas office party at the Brewster Inn in Cazenovia, Rex and I just finished working on part of his secret santa gift. His staff go all out and do 30 minute presentations of their gifts, it is hilarious. Yes, the kids are off school due to the BIG snow storm. It is coming down steady, but they are small flakes and we are hafl way through it! Pretty if you ask me.

Me and my expanders are well. I have felt more skin/muscle expanding this week as evidenced by sharp pains around the folds of them when I move certain ways. Nothing a little motrin 800 won't fix. I have the last expansion on January 5th. I am still awaiting confirmation of my next surgery date.

So, one more xmas party with friends tomorrow, xmas brunch at the club on Sunday and then the kids xmas parties at school on Monday and Tuesday and then it'll be the big day! shopping all done, lots of wrapping to go, but I can kick that out with a good 6 hours of focus!

Stay warm, oh, I almost forgot my funny thing for this blog. As Rex and I were working on the project for Andy, Rex asked me what I wanted for christmas and I sang, "all I want for christmas is my two fake boobs, my two fake boobs, my two fake boobs (obviously sung to the tune of my 2 front teeth) I laughed more than Rex and he said, "blog it! "

Happy snow,

Sherie

Party, Party, Party

So we are half way through the holiday parties and we are still looking pretty good. Granted we have been home from all of them early, but we put on a good face while we were there. This weekend was "the" party to kick off the holiday season according to all those there. It was fun from what I can recall. Yes, it's another one of those silly Sherie stories, but this one does NOT end in a split!
So, as if the party itself wasn't enough, we started at a preparty (a lovely event hosted by the Marshalls. thanks to them for opening their home to us all) @4:30pm. I drank only minimal champagne, but apparently the hydrocodone I tool at 2pm was still going strong and intensified the effects of my alcohol. I know, you are saying Sherie is a nurse practitioner and she warns other patients about this, well everyone also knows nurses are the worst patients and we don't listen to ourselves! So yes, I shouldn't have done it, but I didn't want any pain and I didn't have any! so that logic worked. So, for me, hydrocodone and champagne makes one very happy and very talkative Sherie! and you thought I was bad enough with nothing. Apparently I talked through the whole performance (sorry Laura, I really enjoyed what I heard), flitted from person to person spreading joy and cheer, and well I still haven't heard the rest of the stories to know what else.
Thank you to my body guards, Shell & Larisa. They followed me around the whole evening to ensure I didn't get into any trouble or do anything inappropriate. They also got me to sit down and eat.
Thank you to my lovely husband, who presented me with the beautiful necklace I was wearing that evening, for appropriately trying to cut off the wine at the table (I still had a few sips), and for getting me home by 11pm. It was a beautiful time surrounded by lovely music and entertainment, fabulous holiday decorations, and so amny of my dearest friends.

We were up early Sunday for a trip to Rochester to see Momma Mia, what a great show. Te kids had a blast and the cast was phenominal. I would encourage people to go, but that was their last night in Rochester. Go if you are ever anywhere it is! Those Sweds know how to write some great songs! Home that evening to massages. I was finally cleared for them again and it was like heaven. My boobs have been getting so much of the attention that the rest of my body was desperate for some of its own!

Woke to a sick Rex X. he said he felt nauseous and was warm, so he stayed home today. He watched the entire first season of pushing daisies. He seems to be on the mend now. Ruby is off at brownies right now and then her and I are off to martial arts, she got her yellow belt last week!

Andy got into see the specialist today, they had a cancellation. He put him through the ringer with shoulder movement and he is pretty sore and resting now. The verdict is this: he can do nothing and have this pain the rest of his life or have surgery and it should get better.(he said the doctor was realistic that there are always those that don't end up the way we want them too, but mostly they do) They actually have a surgery slot on New Years Eve(I thought he was kidding, but he is not). I guess it was a wise thing that he had already determined to not do the party. My big boy is scared of surgery, but he is also tired of the pain and the restrictions it has put on his life, so he is pulling up his big boy undies and going to have the surgery. I already gave him a book that a friend sent me on mindfulness/relaxation techniques specific to surgery. Now I just got to get him to read it! Thank godness it came with a DVD too cause he is a slow reader! So, guess it is also good I didn't but that new dress I saw the other day for new years.

Off to see how my patients are doing upstairs.

Sherie

It's snowing....finally

I am a Lake Placid girl at heart and I like the snow! The holidays are just not the same without it! Let it Snow! but not enough for a school snow day though, that would ruin it! I like some alone snow time too.

Andy had his apt. with Dr. Marc this week. The collar bone is still not healing and they are referring him to a specialist. We don't know what that will mean yet, but Andy has been experiencing more discomfort with the cold. wet weather. Yesterday he was home for lunch and he screamed out in pain. He was having a muscle spasm, but said it felt like part of his broken bone was coming through his skin, he is very dramatic, he must get that from Ruby. So, if we see you out at parties this holiday season, don't forget, it is the Right shoulder! Lots of people have been hitting/squeezing it when they see him.

I had a "pump up" on Wed. with Dr. Gil. He said my skin is very pliable and stretching well. (Those are compliments you want from the plastic surgeon)I told him I was pretty happy with the current size, so he just did a bit more and then has me scheduled for one more pump in a month. Remember they have to inflate you a size bigger than you want so they have skin to work with in surgery. His office is also working on my "change out" operation(removing temporary expanders and putting in real implants) and we are shooting for end of February. Just in time for Red Sox Spring Training in Florida the following month. That is just a one day surgery and apparently much easier than the last surgery. If that is the case, I'll be home in a few hours!
So Dr. Gil gave Andy an early xmas present. He gave a MD order that I have to massage each breast, in all four quadrants, 5 times a day.Think about that, that is 45 times total for both sides! Does he know it is the holiday season and I am busy being crazy with that, how do I have time for that much breast massage? When I brought that up, he said I didn't have to do it alone! Andy perked right up and proceeded to whine about how this would be the first time since the kids were born that he would have that much action with my girls. So, maybe that will help his shoulder. The massage is suppose to help the expander stay pliable and to prevent adhesions and the such.
So, the expanders are hard and now proceed into my artpits, as warned by others, but they arent too bad. They are sore the day or two after the expansion and I get muscle pain in and around them when I over stretch certain ways, but otherwise I have full range of motion and I am able to do what ever I want. I have even been sleeping on my side, but I so miss my belly sleeping.

So off for a pedicure in Bijou's new Rinalto chair! You should check them out! It's my one attempt thus far at relaxing!

I finished all the inside and outside decorations, we are getting the tree tonight.
Most of the cards are out, but I keep thinking of others I fogot, so don't feel bad if yours arrives late, I did alot this year trying to thank everyone that has been so supportive to us. You had to know I would find a loop hole in that whole I don't have to send thank you rule!
I started wrapping, I have lots more. I only have a wee bit of shopping left.
Nice event at Hobbit Hollow tomorrow night to benefit the Skaneateles Festival, it is my favorite event of the holidays, and I am looking forward to that. Maybe I'll see you there!

Talk to you next week, if I don't run into you sooner.
Sherie