The Nipples have landed

So when I was thinking what to title this entry, I thought about missiles because when I came out of that operating room that is what they looked like. Apparently you have to make them longer than you really want them in the end because they naturally shrink down to a normal size after time. Well, ok, they have shrunk down some, but people definitely know I am coming and everyone thinks I am either cold or happy to see them! Sorry, I hope they continue to shrink down just a little bit more so I stop scaring all the kids. The nipple protectors are off, so careful with those hugs for awhile, there are still some sutures holding on in there and the last thing we need now is to bust a nipple off! So last I left you, the left one was abit concerning with a blackness to it. Well @ my followup Dr. Gil assured me that was just scabbing and to continue to keep it moist and it would be fine! I am happy to report the right one lost the last of its sutures and it looks fabulous. So you are probably saying I know she isn't going to post a picture of it, but what does it look like? well, take a look at yours and believe it or not, mine look exactly like that. It is amazing how real they look. So now my biggest challenge is to not pick the black scab on my left one. As Ms. Bev said, "you can pick your friends, you can pick your brain, but you cannot pick your left nipple!" I am a picker and a grinnner! (heehaw reference)

Here is an illustration of what they do to create the nipple for those of you who want to ask, but are afraid. There are actually several different techniques and each doctor has their favorite, but you get the idea (see there is a missile stage):

So, I get the next three months off to heal and then I go back in on October 9th for what Eric in the office has now dubbed "the tit tats" or as it is known in the medical community "areola tattoos". Now most people don't have to wait this long, but my Doctor does not have the tattoo machine in his office, so we have to go through one day surgery again and my insurance only allows one operation every three months. Isn't that special, lets make this girl wait alittle longer to feel whole again. I guess it gives me more time to become better acquainted with the new nipples.

July 4th holiday was exciting. Here is a picture of the kids lighting flares on the lake on July 3rd.

These pictures come after an hour in the ladies bathroom applying pressure to Rex's bleeding head! Yup, I was standing @ the club talking to friends when I see Rex walking towards me with what looks like blood dripping down the front of his face all over his clothes. I say, "rex, is that real?" cause at first it looked like maybe he was playing with friends and they put fake blood on him to scare me, but when he looked at me and started to cry I realized it was real, so I went into nurse mode. I put down the three drinks I was holding (I had just gone to bar to get drinks for three people, not me) without spilling a drop, ran to him, applied pressure and got him into the bathroom. Once I was able to clean away some of the blood I was able to see the horror scene in front of me was all from a half inch gash in his forehead. Apparently he was going out in his kayak and had just left the dock when a rock came flinging @ his head. (only inches from his eye, I might add) There were some kids skipping stones at the shore some 200 feet away and apparently one took a wacky turn into Rex's head. My boy, who hates blood, was able to apply pressure with one hand while he paddles kayak back to dock with one hand. then he was able to find a friend to watch the kayak while he found me. truely amazing he didn't flip over and drown, ok, maybe a bit dramatic, but it could have happened. Neighbor & good friend Doctor Mike was there within minutes to take over so I could go back to mom mode. Doc. Mike went to his office & got glue & stitch kit and came back to the ladies locker room. he was able to close it with just the glue which was a big relief to rex because the first thing he said to me was, "mom, I don't want stitches". Rex did awesome, Doctor Mike did awesome, & we went on to lighting flares like nothing ever happened.

2 days later Rex & Andy left for a week long boyscout camping trip. Here is one of my favorite pictures Andy got of Rex hiking in the Adirondacks.

Both my boys had a great time and can't wait to do it again next year. This is the same camp Andy use to go to every summer when he was a boy and he said it is still pretty much the same. What a great experience for father and son to share.

Ruby was home taking a theater camp and had a show at the end of it. The show was awesome and Ruby did great. Here she is afterwards getting flowers from her daddy.

So I think that brings us up to current day. O guess I should blog a little bit more frequently so these aren't so long. I will try harder next time to save you all from having to read such a long entry.

peace out

Sherie

New & Old Friends

These are my new "breast" friends!

So last weekend I went to Albany to meet 4 fabulous ladies I met through the internet that have been my support group through this whole breast cancer journey. All of us were at the new stages of being diagnosed with breast cancer last year when friends of friends, and even more friends, put us all together to navigate along this long and scary road. Half way through the journey in the midst of the January dull drums we decided we should all meet in June because most of us would be through the worst of it and it gave us yet another positive goal to reach for. So, here we all are, we made it! We are all alive. We all have new boobs which readily showed each other within five minutes of meeting each other. (we had been swapping photos back and forth all along, so it wasn't like we hadn't already seen it all) We all are thriving. OK, for those on tamoxifen, sometimes you don't feel like a thrivor and some of the ladies are still finishing up chemo. & reconstruction, but the worst is behind us and we are moving forward. we have left the breast cancer behind, but we have gained new friendships that can't ever be replaced. We drank, we ate, we flashed, we laughed, i don't think we cried, but some of us came close to peeing our pants! thank you ladies for all your love and support and guidance through a rough year!

These are my Old college friends from 20 years ago:

As I was going to be in Albany with the breast friends, I called up some old college friends and we had a bit of a reunion too. Can't believe it was 20 years ago that we were all in college. I brought 4 photo albums full of pictures from school. It seems we drank alot! It was great going through the pictures together because frnakly I didn't know who half the people in those photo albums were. Age, drunkiness at the time, not sure why, but it was fun recalling the "old" days.

Now the funny part about both these old and new friends is that one of my college friends lives within walking distance from one of the breast friends and their daughters are friends and they go to the same church, how crazy is that! They actually realized ond day over donuts at church that they both knew me.

So, It was a busy weekend and I was exhausted after returning on Sunday. Remember now, I am only 10 days post nipple reconstruction and suppose to be taking it easy. I continue to wear the nipple protector, but cut it down a bit so my Madonnaness wasn't so obvious. Of course one friend today said, if I wouldn't immediately say I had them on, she wouldn't have known, but the minute I say it, she feels the need to look down and see. I figure everyone can see it and they don't want to say anything, so If I get it out of the way right up front, it is all good. I guess I cuold just wear loose tops too, but honestly I don't have any and I don't not want to look my best when I go out! I have a follow up with Dr. Gil next Tuesday to see how the nipples are doing. I am concerned about the left one. It is discolored as compared to the right side. I called to inquire about that and Dr. Gil felt it was probably just bruised still from surgery. I hope that is it because I think the graft might not be taking on the tip, but what do I know, I am a Psych. Nurse. So I will use my Psych Nurse skills and remain positive until I hear otherwise.

I confronted Dr. Gil on what Ruby had discovered was one of his other more famous clients.I told him I knew due to HIPPA laws he couldn't confirm it, but Ruby, after reading " Sponge Bob goes to the Doctor" had discovered that Sponge Bob's doctor was also Dr. Gil!

I think Dr. Gil put the Patrick costume on to keep his identity hidden, but Ruby has exposed all!

Well, I am tiring again, that is still the one residual effect I have from all these surgeries, I get tired alot more than I use to. I am going to go be a good patient and rest!

Happy Fourth of July weekend all

Sherie

Post Surgery

No those are not my new nipples! My new nips are safe and sound under the "nipple protector"! That is what you can see here in this picture, but I wanted to clear that right up front because I don't want to run into any of you and have you think that they are that big, it is distracting and I apologize. The protectors are only temporary to ensure the nipples get a safe, healing environment. Most of you that know me also know that I do occcassionally run into things and fall down for no reason at all, maybe I should have a full body protector?

Anyways, the procedure was about an hour and a half. I was sedated by IV sedation and could hear most of the surgery talk, but felt nothing, it was kinda weird. I was worried I would say something inappropriate under sedation and even though the Docs told me, "what happens in the OR stays in the OR", I decided to not chance it and kept quiet, atleast from what I remember! I came out of procedure well and was home by 2pm. I did manage to take a nice long nap when I got home despite the fact that my family and friends were "de-cluttering" and cleaning my house for the photo shoot.

So yesterday was the first day of the shoot, you didn't really think they could do it all in one day, did you? I have seen Andy & Jim (the photographer) work before and they are meticulous, but the price is the best pictures you'll ever see. So they were shooting until 7pm and are finishing up next week. I was able to re-clutter all the rooms they finished today! In a slow and leaisurely manner of course, per MD orders!

Speaking of MD, I went back and saw Dr. Gil yesterday. He had to change my dressing because it was bleeding (which he said is a good sign because it shows the tissue is healthy) and because I was having an allergic reaction to the tape they used. Along th edges of the tape I got a whole bunch of blistering sores that itched and hurt. He had to put on paper tape for my sensitive skin. I remember now that I had the same reaction to the tape last time, but darned if I could remember when they asked me if I was allergic to anything.

Here's me yesterday in his office. Got a little botox and fillers while I was there. this is the

numbing gel all over my face . Not pretty durning, not so pretty now as I had some bruising at the injection sites, but it is going to look fabulous in a few more days.

So now I rest as I find my eyes slowing closing as I try to come up with soemthing else that is witty.

no more wit, just well wishes that you are all enjoying the rain!

Sherie

Surgery Tomorrow, again!

So tomorrow is the second to last reconstruction procedure. The boobies will have nipples tomorrow by this time. I must say as creepy as that once sounded, I have come to love my nipple-less boobies. Yesterday when there was a breeze at SeaBreeze Park, I didn't have to worry about anything down there. When I wear those low cut shirts I often wear, no worry here about any Janet Jackson slippage. Am I just asking for trouble going through with this surgery tomorow?

If that is the case, you all know I love trouble and here I am in my post surgery wear above! That's right, no pressure is to be placed on the new nipples. That is why these bras actually exist. It wasn't some new fashion trend started by Madonna, it was a necessisty for us breast cancer thrivors going through reconstruction! When Dr. Gil said "no bras or clothing that put pressure on "the surgical area" I said, "am I to go topless, cause I think that is against the zoning regulations (architects wife) or something" and then I said, ahhhh, I gotta get me one of those Madonna bras" When I mentioned my concern to the yoga girls Monday morning, Shell reminded me I could probably wear one of those bras that doesn't have material over the nipple area and I remembered Andy had gotten me one of those years ago and I didn't understand then what it was all about, I thought bras were to hide the nipples, but I guess he figured I might need it in the future, so when I need a change from the cone, I have the purple "no nipple" bra too! Thanks Andy for thinking ahead!

So I was a crazed woman today trying to get everything ready at home so I could chill after the procdure tomorrow. Of course, my lovely husband husband waited until today to do the monthly invoicing for the business which took up all last night and all this morning, but it is done. So all you customers reading this, your bill is on the way! Laundry, groceries, cleaning, & weeding filled the rest of the day. Rex had his playoff game tonight and while he and his team did awesome, they lost by a few (10 pts). His regular baseball season is over, but he made the all-star team, so we will be there Saturday in hopes for a big win! Once I got home I found my house is chaos. Chris the painter was there painting away, Andy was up in the bedroom pretending to be a mason and "laying rock" on the fireplace in our bedroom fireplace. It's as good a time as any to get the house ready for a photo shoot on Friday, dont'cha y'all think? Yup, surgery tomorrow for me, and my husband decided we need to do a photo shoot on Friday. Now remember, I am married to Andy Ramsgard and a photo shoot to you and me is not what Andy Ramsgard thinks of! He needs to complete ever project in the house that isn't done and it needs to be finished before the first photo is shot! I guess if it means my house finally gets finished, I will just roll with it. CNY Magazine is doing a "spread" on Andy in the August edition. The reporter has been here and gotten what she needs, so now it time for the pictures. I OK'd the house pictures, but when he said he wanted one of the family, I had to say, "what?, a day after surgery, no showers for 3 days, cones covering the surgical area? I don't think so Andy Ramsgard" (Momma won, no family picture until next week!)

So, as I sit down to write this blog I get this email from my Father in law:

I have always believed people find people who are like them and need them in their lives and as you can see from this, my father in law needed me to share his irreverent sense of humor! Thanks Bill, wouldn't want any of that gushy, "you'll be fine, it's not a big surgery" type thing the night before I go in for this!

Well, I better go chow down on some food before my midnight deadline, that is actually the thing I hate worst about surgery days, I get so darn hungry! I sit there the whole day crazing Mcdonlads and then when I finally am done and able to eat, I just want to go home and go to bed. So, leave me alone tomorrow afternoon, I am sleeping, but if anyone is near a MckeeDees on Friday, I love quater punders with cheese!

I will get something out tomorrow and let you know how it all goes!

Thanks for all your love and support!

Sherie

PS. When I was thinking of the cone bras, I then immediately went to ice cream cones. I love ice cream and I could protect the nipples and if I got hungry or faint, I could just bite alittle off the end.

I am here, I am here, I am here!

I hope you all have enjoyed your break from me & the family. We have been so busy the past month, I didn't have time to blog & I figured living life was better than writing about it, but I didn't want to keep you all hanging, so I stopped long enough to catch you up.
Andy & I both celebrated our birthdays and turned 43! Our friends threw us a nice party, we got a new umbrella!

Ruby made her first communion, she looked so pretty
Andy & I went on a 5 day trip to Las Vegas. It was our first trip alone since all the craziness began last fall. Ultimately, the trip was planned around seeing Jason Mraz @ The Palms and it was well worth going all that way, who knew how long it would be before he came close to us? As fate would have it, as soon as we got back, it was announced he is coming to Canadaigua Performing Arts Center in August! Isn't that funny. Hey I got a trip to Vegas out of it and I get to see the Mraz man twice in 3 months. I would suggest anyone who is within an hour of the performing arts center to get tickets, he is pretty awesome! Here I am before the concert in Vegas.

We also took a helicopter ride into the Grand Canyon, we were the co-pilots. We actually landed in the Grand Canyon and had a picnic lunch, it was 103 degrees! It was a great experience.

Here we are in the Canyon.

How about Dining in the Sky? Yup, we did that too. We were lifted 180 feet into the air by a crane, table, chef, servers, and all. This picture doesn't do it justice, so you should visit the dining in the sky website. they have them all over the world and one is coming to NYC soon, it was a blast.

We also went to some other great shows while we were there: Crazy Horse, La Reve, & Zumanity. Had some great meals: Red Square, Cat House, Shibuya. and relaxed at the Palms pool. Andy got to experience "Ditch Fridays" @ the pool which was like Spring Break, but only for pretty people. We got in because we were hotel guests and I know all those pretty people were looking at us saying, what are those old people doing here? Funny how you can feel great about yourself and then go to something like that and totally feel like an old foggie!

So because we left on my birthday (which is also Cinco De Mayo) and returned on Mother's Day, My children decided to throw me a party! Here is a picture of me, my parents and the kids @ 10pm when we returned.
The whole house was decorated, I had my favorite, vanilla cake with peanut butter frosting, it made me cry. My mom said Rex was crazed all day shopping for everything and decorating, she said I would have been proud & that he has my party planning gene!

Wow, I am tired just recounting this all. Next we headed to Toronto for a weekend to see the Red Sox play the Jays. We went up on a bus saturday morning and were back sunday evening. We got two games in, a hippo tour of the city, a visit to the Art Museum, and shopping on Queen Street. Here are the kids @ the game, so cute when they hang together without fighting, granted the fighting started after I took the picture, but I can dream!

So now we are in June and all the end of the school year stuff is hitting and we are busy, busy. Ruby is riding again and started guitar lessons. Rex is in the playoffs for baseball and just found out he made the all star team! yeah Rex, that probably means summer baseball is in our future. Our nephew Matt is visiting from Nebraska. He is 15 & thinking of becoming an architect, so he is staying with us for the month and working @ Andy's office. I realize having a teenager that isn't mine is much easier than if he was becuase so far it has been great having him here!

So all seems back to normal and then today I had to go for my preop visit with the Doctor and the hospital for next weeks surgery. yup, I have another one. Time to put the cherry on top so to say. It is an in and out procedure. I am sedated through the IV, so no intubation like the others. It takes about an hour and a half, so I will be home the same day. alot of stitiches, so I am on limited movement/no exercise for atleast 3 weeks, again(and I was just getting into yoga & tennis pretty regularly). and get this, no bra, bathing suit, or anything that will put pressure on the new nips. I guess I am suppose to move to a nudist colony the next month because I can't figure out what clothing won't put pressure on that area???? So, once this all heals up, I go back for an in office tattooing of my areola, I suspect that will be in about a month. When is all said and done, it should be time for my one year anniversary of being diagnosed. My how time flies!

All joking aside, my story is just one of many, and I hope in some way following me through this has encouraged you to get your mammogram, do your monthly self exams, and be better educated when you or a loved one hears those dreaded words about having breast cancer, but I also hope you can see that life goes on, treatments are getting better and better everyday, and you can thrive with the love and support of your family and friends and a positive attitude! Which leads me to my other point, open yourself up and let it out because the more you let out, the more that comes back to you! Thank you all for helping me/us through this, We couldn't have made it through this without each and everyone of you, and you know who you are!

oh I suppse you want to know how Andy is doing? Andy is doing great. His surgeon said he is healing very well! no bicylcle riding yet, but he is running and lifting weights again and feels like he is almost back to where he was last year.

Much love,

Sherie

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