Hello, Winter.

14 hours post-surgery. Finally awake enough to eat. Sore, my voice is rough, but I'm fine.

12-13 inches of snow at home and 7 inches here. I wonder if Jay will be able to bring me home tomorrow. And I'm glad I shooed him out of here early afternoon. I'd hate for Mom to be snowed in with the girls solo.

My ear doesn't hurt anymore, and I haven't had the spiky headache yet today, so I'm hopeful the lump was causing those things. Still waiting for the swelling to go down so I can swallow with ease.

I miss my girls! I wanna go home!

Mama said there'd be days like this

This morning, Lainie threw up at daycare, after I was headed to Manhattan to work. I turned around to get her from daycare and screwed up, didn't realize the school zone time had kicked in, got a 30-in-a-20-in-a-school-zone, $85 ticket. Got yelled at by Jay, not because of the ticket, but just because of his frustration of having to take another sub day. (He had to take off work this time, because I had to get to work by 9 to finish my first aid/cpr class, so I can take the classes I want to in the spring. If it took it this morning, it was $22. If I had to wait, it'd be $50 or more.) And, then I had to get to our bank and deposit money before we had an overdraft, and call the electrician to come out because our furnace didn't work on the coldest morning yet this year.

Exhale.

The way I see it, all my prayer-vibes got exhausted on the "please-no-cancer" wish. That, and Lainie threw up but didn't have a seizure. I got a ticket but didn't hit a deer. The bank needed money, but we had the cash to deposit. The furnace was broken, but it got fixed and was only $65 instead of replacing the entire unit. And Jay? Well, he got to stay home with Lainie, hopefully get a nap and get some things accomplished at home. Lainie didn't throw up again, so we're still going out with friends tonight. And it can only get better from here.

I wonder if any stores still sell Calgon?

Getting ready

In my freezer, I have:

• lasagne
• meatballs
• turkey casserole
• turkey enchiladas
• beef enchiladas
• taco meat
• cooked sausage for pizza
• fajita in a bag
• 2 pizza rolls (bread stuffed with pizza filling)
• meatloaf
• pork stir fry

In my kitchen, I also have ingredients for:

• Chili
• Broccoli cheese coup
• Cream of tomato soup
• Tuna sandwiches
• Tuna casserole
• Waffles & pancakes
• Corndogs and hotdogs

As far as Christmas shopping, I have three more gifts to get and wrap, plus pushing Jay to get the two he is responsible for. Then, Christmas obligations should be done. Well, that is except for the probable school and daycare gift exchanges and other last minute "ooops-i-forgots".

My mom's coming up to take care of the girls and get them where they need to be, so Jay can go with me to the hospital. Then a wonderful network of friends and family are in place to help shuttle to and from school or religion or speech and all that.

I feel better already! At least emotionally, that is.

How do you spell relief? B-E-N-I-G-N

My good news, my very excellent news, my happy-happy-joy-joy news is that the thyroid nodule is benign. I'll still have surgery, probably next Tuesday, to remove the lump and half the thyroid. But no radiation or follow-up needed. Can you hear the exhale?

So, now to prepare the family for "the mama" being unavailable for a day or two, and recovering after that.

But first, celebrate with me!

Second verse, same as the first (we hope)

In November 2007, I had an ultrasound-guided needle aspiration, aka biopsy, done on a thyroid nodule. Immediately after the appointment, we drove to Wichita to spend Thanksgiving with my family. Unfortunately, we did the same thing this year.

I have a lump/nodule/tumor on the left side of my thyroid. Three weeks ago, it measured 3 cm by 2 cm by about a cm. It looks like an adam's apple when I swallow. If I lay on my right side to sleep, it pushes against my throat and makes it hard to breathe. The rest of the time, it just feels like someone is pushing against my throat. It's also compressing a nerve to my ear and into my head; at least, we hope that's the cause of that pain.

The biopsy was to check for cancer. If it's malignant, I will have my entire thyroid removed and probably radiation. I'm assuming that is NOT the case. If it's benign, which I think it is, I will have surgery before Christmas to have it removed as well as the left side of my thyroid. It will be at least an overnight hospital stay. I'm hoping the recovery is simplistic, and I hope the surgery doesn't cause me become hypothyroid. I mean, who has time to be totally wiped out exhausted? At Christmas? With four kids?

So, I'm preparing the house for it. I plan to spend this weekend putting away a handful of meals. My mom said she'll come stay to give Jay a hand with the kids for a few days. (That, and she yelled at me for not telling her about the lump in the two months since I first noticed it.) I'm trying to finish all my Christmas shopping and get everything wrapped before Friday. And Friday, I have the second half of my First Aid/CPR class, so I don't want the schedule the surgery until the following week.

What am I forgetting? What else can I do/should I do before I'm down for the count for at least a few days?

Grouchy girl, Happy feet

Future ballerina?

Difference of opinion

Dear Natalie:
While you may feel that 8 months of being the "happiest baby in the world" entitles you to a spell of grouchiness, we feel that you are taking this entitlement to the extreme levels. We do understand that the potential of new teeth can be irritating, however we ask that you find a way to manage this irritation a little quieter. If you fuss while being held or being laid down, please be advised that you will be laid down at some point in the evening. Also, we suggest any future nights-of-screeching be reserved for evenings when both parental units are in the vicinity.

Thanks,
Management



Dear Natalie's Teeth:

Come through already. Or leave her alone. In the words of Dr. Seuss, "I do not like this, Sam I Am."

Sincerely,
The Mom

Edited to add:

Dear Hyland Teething Tablets:
You are my superhero.