12 Day past surgery

Day 12, I'm doing pretty good - my foot seems to be healing very nicely. I can get around quite well with my "moon boot". I plan on going back into the office tomorrow afternoon - I managed to come home Monday at lunch and stay home each day until tomorrow. But it's ok, I need to get out of the house for a while. Besides, I have meetings with my project team, so I need to be there.

Glad that I went to Dr. Roof - I go see him Friday morning - hoping for good news!!

"...And in the end
The love you take
is equal to the love you make."
---The Beatles

Thanks for reading my Heavenly Thoughts

Surgery Update

So a week has gone by and my foot is so much better. Went to the Dr. on Friday. He changed the bandage and my foot looked pretty good. I can't wait until the swelling goes down. Now, it's going to take some time to heal.

But as of yesterday I'm off pain meds, in a moon boot/walking boot, am allowed to return to the office part-time. I still have to prop my foot up, keep it iced down, and stay off as much as I can. Might as well get used to the newest fashion accessory! I'll take some pics and share :)

The recovery has been swift, exponential improvement!! I'm so glad. So I've spent a week in a recliner, relaxing, working, watching movies, reading books, and playing games on my computer. The dogs have been cuddling up with me, watching me, walking with me, making sure I get where I'm going ok. :) They have been so good.

So today, we dropped them off at the groomer, they got baths, brushed, massaged, teeth brushed, nails trimmed and had a generally good time. They came home smelling sooooo good - like pumpkin spice - just in time for Halloween!!! They are cuddling up on my lap and keeping me warm.......mmmmmm

I highly recommend my podiatrist: Dr. Rodney Roof @ the Cincinnati Center for Foot Care.

"...And in the end
The love you take
is equal to the love you make."
---The Beatles

Thanks for reading my Heavenly Thoughts

The simple things in life

Yes, you know, simple things can give the most satisfaction sometimes. For example, how about a pair of shoes. It's a very simple thing, everyone has a pair of shoes, most people have multiple pairs of shoes. Some shoes are black, brown, tan, red, orange, rust, white, and more. They can be embellished with gems, beads, leather strips, bows, laces and just about anything you can think of! High heels, flats, pumps, clogs, athletic, sandles and boots. I have lots of shoes and love many of the them!

But when the Dr. doesn't allow you to wear a pair of shoes it really is a treat when you can finally give up the orthopedic shoe!! This past Monday, that happened. FINALLY - THREE MONTHS of wearing a cast, then a special ortho boot, then a regular ortho boot and now an athletic walking shoe. THANK GOODNESS!!

I am very happy with the results, so far so good. I think I will have a very functional and painfree foot. The shoes are a little tight because my foot gets swollen, but it's getting better every day. I am totally JAZZED!!

The weekend is here

I'm so glad that it's the weekend. It's been tough going to work with my foot hurting. But I made it an entire week, I stayed all day every day and that's whats important. I tackled some big projects, got quite a bit done and am well on my way to leading a few teams to successful delivery. I have some hard deadlines to meet and some of the teams are VERY hard to "herd" - but I will drive drive drive if I need to!!

The one thing that's fun for me over the weekend is that I use my DVR and record many of my favorite TV shows and then watch them early Sat morning, while he's doing laundry. Of course, once we move, the laundry will be in the garage and can be done as needed :) but until then, he's been going by himself because of my foot. He does a great job, so I don't fear everything coming home "pink"!!!

Speaking of my foot, it continues to "look" better, but of course I can't see inside. But I believe that whatever is going on inside my foot will be reflected outside. So, I'm being very optimistic, claiming the healing and waiting to see what happens when I go to the Dr. Wednesday. I would like to be told that it's "all good" and I can soak my foot or something to help ease the pain in my big toe joint. You would think that I'm used to it, since it always hurt before the surgery and I walked on it anyway. But not now, I am still following EVERYTHING the surgeon said to do because I want to come out of this with a wonderful looking and functioning foot. :)

We have no big plans for the weekend: running out to the farmer's market, taking Tamara out to fill out applications, get a Rx filled, cook ham and bean soup with cornbread, watch football, keep packing boxes. Pretty soon the apt will be full of packed boxes!!! All ready to move out starting 2/5. Geez, it seems so far away but I know that it's not.

Hope you have a great weekend!

"Here's all you need to know about men and women: Women are crazy, and men are stupid. And the main reason women are crazy is that men are stupid."

-- George Carlin

Foot update

Just a quick update on my foot: went to the Dr. yesterday, he was not too happy about the infection in my foot and the instructions I received to go to Urgent Care of Primary Care. But all in all, he's definitely keeping an eye on it, and today is the first time that I can honestly say it looks better! THANK GOD! If the antibiotics don't clear it up, then surgically removing it is the last resort. I really don't want that.

My instructions are to still prop it up, stay off of it as much as I can, take the rest of my antibiotics and rest as much as I can. So, following Dr's orders, I'm working from home this morning, propping it up when I do go in and limiting how much I'm on it.

Appreciate your thoughts and prayers on this. It would totally suck if I had to have another surgery. YUCK

"Here's all you need to know about men and women: Women are crazy, and men are stupid. And the main reason women are crazy is that men are stupid."

-- George Carlin

still fighting the pain

The foot doesn't seem any better or any worse. I don't know what to make of it really. I guess Tuesday will be the deciding factor.

Also, today it became apparent to me that I have to move a little quicker on therapy for my oldest. She has been out Wed, Fri, Sat, and today. And she's only been here since Tues night. I don't mind if she goes out, but this is a little much. Then today she went out to watch the Chargers game and then came home and wanted to go somewhere else just because it is early. I'm not too happy about that at all.

So, I know tomorrow is a holiday for most people around town, but I will find the number for my EAP benefit and get calling. It's too important to wait.

"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure."

-- Colin Powell

Surgery Recovery

It's been a ride this week!!

Monday, 1/8: got the pins removed, taken out of that bulky ortho boot and into a reg ortho boot which is much nicer, was released to drive and work starting Wed, allowed to take a shower on Tuesday night without a plastic bag! Wow, what a great recovery........

Tuesday, 1/9: can't walk, totally swollen, suffering in excruciating pain just like the first day of my surgery. Called Dr's office, attributed pain and swelling to trauma from pin removal. Was home alone all day, couldn't even get out of bed to get a drink. I stayed in bed, slept through the pain.

Wednesday, 1/10: swelling down a little. showered but wow, the water was like pins and needles on my foot. I stayed in bed again all day, worked from home. that night, the "scab" didn't look right and upon cleaning it, it opened and oozed (sorry, it's gross) some gross yellow stuff. when I pushed a little on my foot, the pus was oozing out. GROSS!!

Thursday, 1/11: called the Dr office as soon as they opened. Then the following course of events ensued:

1. went to work, got a call back, explained my symptoms, was instructed to get an urgent care or primary care appt.
   
2. Blood pressure was high - wonder why? Temperature was high - gee, can you say "infection"?
   
3. One Dr and Three Nurses took a look at my foot individually. Funny, their reaction was the same, they GASPED loudly and said, "OH MY GOD!" Great.........just what I wanted to hear. They must have missed that part of the class about "BEDSIDE MANNER".
4. Dr cleaned up my foot with Betadyne
   
5. OUCH! - antibiotic shot in the hip
6. Wrap up my foot - nothing personal against the nurse, but you should have seen this wrap job. OY!! while wrapping my foot, two nurses were saying these things to me, "Oh, Dr. Pfeiffer wouldn't want you here today with us. Oh No, he wouldn't want us touching your foot. He would not be happy. You should not have come here." WOW!!!
   
7. OUCH! - blood draw in right arm elbow bend for CBC
8. picked up TWO antibiotic prescriptions from the bitchiest Pharm-Tech on the planet!!
   
9. 2 HRS LATER!! Got the hell out of there and went straight home
   

During my drive home, I decided to call the nurse in the surgeon's office back since those other nurses made such a BIG DEAL about my being there. Here's the events that followed that decision:

1. Talked to Penny, she seemed to start back-peddling and telling me that I should go to the ER and see the Ortho Dr. on call. OR maybe I should wait, go to the nurses clinic in the morning get my wound checked and then go down to the Dr's main offices at Zion (like Clifton in Cincy) for their opinion. But, maybe I shouldn't wait, yes, definitely go to the ER tonight. blah blah blah.....
2. Went to the ER, prayed all the way there, scared shitless, expected the worst
   
3. Saw the Ortho guy
4. OUCH! got an IV in my left arm elbow bend
5. OOOH, got a morphine shot in my IV - wow, that was VERY different than in the hospital. The Dr said it was because of the level of pain I was in. Morphine just makes the pain bearable but not for everyone, It was such a weird feeling - like a huge bag of flour, breaking and dumping on my chest all at once - but not hurting, definitely soft, but all over at once. OOOH!
6. NO Ouch - drew blood from the IV for more CBC's and other tests
7. Dr was pressing and squeezing on my foot - good thing for the morphine - nothing would come out
   
8. They ordered a bed for me and I really thought I'd stay, get IV antibiotics, possibly have it opened in a surgery room. SCARED!!
   
9. got X-Rays - they were fine, looked good, NO Bone Infection
10. blood tests came back and everyone was perplexed - NO INFECTION ANYWHERE IN MY BODY - What the heck!! The infected area was at least 5" x 4", red, squishy white and you could easily see it. EVERYONE agreed it was infected EXCEPT the blood tests.....that could lead me to only ONE conclusion!! THANK YOU FATHER, GOD!! I prayed that he would just take this infection from me and by the time I got to the hospital the tests proved that he took it away. I still have symptoms, improving, but no infection!!
    
11. Got released for the night!!

Whew!! All I had to do was go to the Nurse's Clinic today and have them "look" at my wound and make sure the infection is receding. And it is.

Seeing my surgeon Tuesday morning - wow! what a week!! TGIF!! HEHE!!!

worked from home today

Still don't know why, but my foot is so swollen that I can't put any weight on it. It's a total bummer, so I worked from home today, but would have preferred to be in the office. I know my presence is required, sure makes life a little easier. I managed to shower, do the toe exercises the Dr. suggested and walked around the apt a little, but that's about it. BUMMER! Hoping tomorrow will be another day of less pain!!

I am hunting for a bed for Tamara's room, have plenty of time to find one - need it after Feb 5th when we have the keys to the new place. I'm trying to get rid of stuff that we don't need to move that we don't use. Including my stereo. I would like a small unit - something that uses my iPod as the music input, like the Bose system. I'm going to look around and try to come up with something like that. Then I guess I'll buy my music from the iTunes store.

Hoping to move into the new place the weekend of 2/10. Some of our Marine friend's are going to help us, so I have to be sure they know the date. I'm going to supply beer and food for them! And a truck that we have to rent from UHaul, I guess. It's going to be a good time getting moved in and settled into our new digs. I'm going to hang everything on the walls, unpack everything I brought from Cincinnati-some of it I haven't laid eyes on since I packed it "oh so long ago"! I didn't keep much, but the things I did keep had special meaning to me.

I'll post pics of the new place when I can get in there to take them.

If you can pray for my foot, I would appreciate it. I have two prayer requests: the immediate - swelling and pain to decrease quickly, long-term - that the "memory" in the cells is forgotten and it doesn't try to go back to it's old self. turning inwards.

take care, more later. Should I post pictures of my foot? I'm still afraid it might gross people out.

worked from home today

Still don't know why, but my foot is so swollen that I can't put any weight on it. It's a total bummer, so I worked from home today, but would have preferred to be in the office. I know my presence is required, sure makes life a little easier. I managed to shower, do the toe exercises the Dr. suggested and walked around the apt a little, but that's about it. BUMMER! Hoping tomorrow will be another day of less pain!!

I am hunting for a bed for Tamara's room, have plenty of time to find one - need it after Feb 5th when we have the keys to the new place. I'm trying to get rid of stuff that we don't need to move that we don't use. Including my stereo. I would like a small unit - something that uses my iPod as the music input, like the Bose system. I'm going to look around and try to come up with something like that. Then I guess I'll buy my music from the iTunes store.

Hoping to move into the new place the weekend of 2/10. Some of our Marine friend's are going to help us, so I have to be sure they know the date. I'm going to supply beer and food for them! And a truck that we have to rent from UHaul, I guess. It's going to be a good time getting moved in and settled into our new digs. I'm going to hang everything on the walls, unpack everything I brought from Cincinnati-some of it I haven't laid eyes on since I packed it "oh so long ago"! I didn't keep much, but the things I did keep had special meaning to me.

I'll post pics of the new place when I can get in there to take them.

If you can pray for my foot, I would appreciate it. I have two prayer requests: the immediate - swelling and pain to decrease quickly, long-term - that the "memory" in the cells is forgotten and it doesn't try to go back to it's old self. turning inwards.

take care, more later. Should I post pictures of my foot? I'm still afraid it might gross people out.

"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure."

-- Colin Powell

Night of Pain

Not sure if I did something wrong last night or not.

As I reported after I left the Dr. I was able to walk on my foot - it was awkward, but I was allowed to walk on it in the ortho boot. It wasn't that bad, just a little slow and deliberate. When we got home, Roland dropped me off so he could go to dialysis and I was fine. I mean, it hurt where he removed those pins and I'm sure my foot was experiencing some trama. But I was able to walk around the house - fix something for dinner.

By the time I got off the phone, relaxed for a while, ate dinner, my foot was really hurting. But I could still walk - it just sucked because it hurt. When he got home around 9pm I was in pretty much pain. I hung on the couch, kept it up and tried to feel better. I finally came to bed around midnight and only got a little sleep.

By the time I came to bed it was ridiculously hurting. Pain, big time. I made it to bed, and didn't get much sleep, even with all the drugs. When I woke up this morning and actually had to get out of bed - take 3 or 4 steps to the bathroom - WOW! I was in PAIN!! Big pain, really hurting pain, so much so that it is making me sick to my stomach. I need to eat something but I can't get out of bed.

This sucks.

I'm not sure what's going to happen, but Rollie can't get home today fast enough for my liking.

I'm going ot try to sleep while I'm waiting for the nurse to call me back. Maybe I did or didn't do something I was supposed to do.

So Cool - Home from the Dr.

no problem, I went to the Dr and much to my surprise he decided to pull the pins out of my toes. Well, I kept saying toes, but when I saw the pins and the X-Rays, it is more like my foot. On all toes except my big toe - the pins were 6 or 7 inches long - helping my bones heal straight. The big toe was smaller, about 3 inches.

I didn't know what to expect, but when he pulled them 2 didn't hurt but the other two hurt like hell. Kind of felt like I was being turned inside out or something. AAAGGHH!! But then he bandaged them up, showed me what to do and I was able to walk out of there with a different ortho boot and not have to use my crutch. Wow! Didn't expect that for quite some time. In fact, I can head back to the office and I can drive starting tomorrow. My expectation was 3 months, March, before I could drive. Now, I go back to see him in 4-5 weeks and get to the next level of healing.

He told me that the worst is behind me. Now it's just a matter of keeping propped to help the swelling go down - which is no problem, I do that all the time anyway. I can finally take a shower without a plastic bag on my foot. It's all downhill from here!!

Dr. Today

I am heading to the Dr. today to see him for the first time since the surgery. He's a great surgeon and when I do post pictures you will be soooooo shocked!!

From what I can see so far, the scar is very very thin on the top of my foot. It's great! I don't have much pain, just shooting things from time to time and the occasional ache if I've been on it too much. I hope he takes out the pin in my big toe - it's starting to move, change the pointing direction, that kind of tells me it's ready to be taken out. Plus, it bugs me, kind of hurts. And I can't wait to find out how long I have to wear this ortho boot. It's different from others I've seen and it's like walking on a wood plank which isn't very comfy. Besides, once I get the pins out of the other toes and can quit wearing this boot, I can start driving. It's getting to be a pain not being able to drive.

Well, I'll check back in later on with a "Dr. Update".

QUICK UPDATES

1. Am still falling a little short on money for Teri's rent. Have about $400 committed already, need another $100, would prefer $200 so we have a buffer.

2. glad my daughter traveled on Tuesday, through JFK with a delay than through Denver to become stranded. My heart goes out to approx 5K people who are stranded in Denver, plus all the others that can't get there or get their connecting flights to get home for Christmas.

3. going to see the Nurse today to get my bandages changed. Will update you later on my foot after the appointment.

4. planning a Christmas Goose Dinner this year. It's a first for both of us. I'll give it a try. Putting the dinner plans together today. Going to make an upside-down Cranberry cake to compliment the goose dinner.

Hope these last few days before Christmas are Blessings for you and your family!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure."

-- Colin Powell

Recovery - Day 11

Back at work!

Day 11 of recovery became Day 1 back at work. It wasn't too bad. I read tons of emails, still have more to go. I let people know I was back at it, catching up and everything was falling into place. Alot of people let me know that they missed me, my boss teased me about "the place falling apart" without me! All of that made me feel wanted!!

It's a great place to work. I like my job, I like our products, I like my co-workers and my teams. It's pretty much fun which makes working super nice!!

Well, things are getting better day-by-day with my foot. I am following the Dr's orders to the letter and seeing improvement daily.

Tomorrow we're going to see some of the Christmas lights in neighborhoods. That will be fun!!

"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure."

-- Colin Powell

Recovery - Day 10

Had a Dr. appt today to see the nurse and have the stitches taken out of my foot. It was like something out of a 50's horror flick, I swear! I had stitches all down the side, in the middle, across the toe knuckles at both joints. YIKES!! And she had to take them all out - which freaked me out so much! There was one stitch that gave her AND ME some trouble. It was 'ouchy" to the max. But once she got that done, it wasn't so bad, so maybe it was good that it was toward the beginning. I don't know how many stitches there were, but I could guess over 100.

Plus I got to see my toes - pins sticking out of the ends of toe #2, 3, & 4. The pins go through my toe, through the joints to help the joints heal straight and proper. Then in toe #1 (big toe) there was a pin in the toe by my joint of the toe and foot. That one came by surprise, I thought I'd have a screw in that joint, so maybe there was less damage in my joint and he was able to fix it with only a pin. I'll be sure to find out when I see him in January. That pin will come out in January, the others will stay in until Feb/Mar timeframe, I'll find out in January.

So after the stitches came out, she wrapped my foot in gauze, leaving my toes exposed. Then an ace bandage went on over the gauze. That will stay on until I go back to see him in January. Well, with one exception, I'll go back in a week or so (before Christmas) and have her remove this bandage and put on clean after some more of the swelling goes down and the stitches are healed.

In the meantime, I thought I was getting a cast BUT I was surprised! He decided to order a special boot for me to wear. It's designed so all the weight goes on the heel of your foot and your toes don't even touch the ground. Now my foot's still bruised, swollen, but as the swelling goes down and the bruising gets better, it won't be so bad to walk on that. So in the meantime, I can use either one crutch with the boot, or my walker with the boot and still use the wheelchair to go out in or hang out in the living room.

All-in-all, I didn't know what to expect, so here's what I saw:
1. straight toes - don't remember when I ever saw that on my foot
2. still a hump where my bunion was, but I suspect it will go down as the swelling goes down
3. pins in 4 toes
4. still don't have all the feelings in my foot and toes everywhere, but it will come back as it heals
5. swollen foot, ankle
6. bruising, but not as bad as I suspected

So far, so good! Thanks Dr. Pfeiffer!!

Surgery - Day 9 - It's amazing!!

I have to say that I am blown away by how quickly I am feeling ok. I mean, my foot does tingle, I do get pains in it, but it's nothing like I was worried it would be. I've been very careful with it, I've followed the Dr's directions to the letter. Elevation, keep it totally dry, no direct pressure on my foot only using my heel for balance from time to time. resting, staying in bed (which I am quickly becoming to hate), using all of my mobility helpers - crutches (haven't used yet too much), the walker (it's been my lifesaver) and my wheelchair (another lifesaver, it has allowed me to actually go out of the house and enjoy a little outing or two or three!!).

I've taken my pain meds, and so far, so good. I have weaned myself down to just a little each day, I'm not even taking them every 4 hrs now, just when I need them. So, I'm really proud of my progress. In fact, tomorrow I go to the Dr's, get the stitches removed and I think I get a hard cast put on, right now I have a soft cast/splint up to my knee protecting my foot, not allowing it to bend at all. That's been a good thing!!

I have been out of the house thanks to the use of a wheelchair and my loving family taking me out - it's kind of hard - almost like taking a baby out by the time I get all of my "stuff" together. Pillows, jacket, purse, wheelchair, heave wheelchair in back of SUV - that takes a little muscle! But they have been wonderfully kind in taking me out just a "Little".

Friday - Beka took me out of the house, for the first time since the surgery. It was a beautiful day, sunny, warm, a little windy. We went to her college for an art fair. There were so many wonderful, charming pieces that students made and were selling. Blown glass of all shapes and sizes, pottery, knitted scarves, handmade nature greeting cards, ceramics in every shape and size and utility, and of course the ever popular jewelry. I bought a few things for the kids and a couple things for myself. It was fun just her and I going out and she was ever so mindful in taking care of me. :)

Saturday - Roland and I went up the street (drove this time) to the neighborhood movie theatre to see a matinee. We went to see "Deck The Halls" with Matthew Broderick and Danny DeVito. It was very funny, I caught myself laughing out loud several times. I totally enjoyed it - maybe it partly the percocets and partly just being out of the house, but it was fun!! Besides, there was only a grandma with her grandson in the theatre. So, it was kind of like a private showing!! That's why we LOVE the matinees!!

Sunday - Roland and I went to a co-worker's home for a lovely Christmas party. It was a little of a hassle in the wheelchair, getting in the house was an issue. We had to go thru the garage, hop up a little step and then in thru the house. The thing is here in California houses are not that big, so we pretty much had to rearrange as we went through the living room, to find me a spot that was off to the side and out of the way. It was nice to go though, and I had previously warned Sue that if I did come, I would be in a wheelchair. I got to meet quite a few people's spouses and children from work, so that was very nice. I think there was a lot of people there, I couldn't see everyone, of course from where I was. The food was lovely, I had some things that were quite different. Cucumber chunks stuffed with crab salad, that was delish. Then there were nacho chips (full sized) with guac, sour cream and chipotle chicken stuffed in them. That was good too. Lots of sweets appeared on my plate thanks to my adoring honey!! Such as: miniature cheery cheesecake in graham cracker crust EXCEPT it wasn't cheesecake it was a graham cracker crust, a dab of choc pudding the rest of vanilla pudding and a spoon on cherry pie filling on top. It was very good. There was cheese trays, lots of imported beer, some dinner food that was a little too exotic for my tastes, but nonetheless, there was something there for everyone and everyone was having a good time.

So, today, I rest, I might venture outside to sit in the sun later, I'm not sure. But I will rest, relax, and enjoy because I'm going to get back to work on Wed. I'll work from home, I can't go into the office, but I can help with some issues that have been going on while I've been out.

Thanks for all the well wishes from my kids, family and friends, glad they have been calling and checking up on me. Thanks for my daughter, Beka, for being a wonderful assistant, waiting on me when she is here to help out. And mostly for Roland's dedication to serving me, helping me and taking care of me. I couldn't have done this without you, sweetie! I love you every day more than the day before. (He's been off work the entire time to help me, I love that man sooooo much!!)

"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure."

-- Colin Powell

surgery QUEEN

OUCH!! Surgery!

Monday I had a little cyst removed from my finger. It makes typing a challenge, have to 3 finger it on my left hand. Lots of mistakes and lots of "do overs"!! But it was a piece of cake. Bandage on until next Monday, no big deal!

Now, I have had my pre-op appt with my surgeon. He explained everything that I will go through, what to expect during recovery and beyond. I am going into this VERY optimistic, as usual. I don't know how to be anything else. Positive and upbeat!!

So, over the next few weeks, I'm going to get out and walk as much as I can. I am going to enjoy my upright freedom until I'm home bound, bed bound and wheelchair bound for 5-6 weeks!! YIKES!!

I'll take before and after pictures and hope for the best!!

long awaited surgery

And I am soooooooo nervous!! I have a secret. Actually it's a deformity. I don't let too many people in on it. It's more of an embarrassment when others see it because they stare. I don't blame them, I guess I would look too. In fact, I look at other people's when they are exposed and occasionally I find someone with the same deformity.

The deformity is in my feet. My right foot is worse than my left, but regardless, they both have "issues". I even hate to admit it here. It's like somewhere in my head I feel like it's my fault, but my Dr. says it's not due to anything I have done - the only thing I'm guilty of is procrastinating, out of shame and fear, to have this procedure done. I have to have bunion and hammertoe surgery. There.....I said it! Man, it's hard to say.

Everyone wants their body to be perfect and for those of you who know me, already know my body is NOT anywhere close to perfect. But even people that have been close to me have never seen me bare-footed.

I have wanted this procedure done for a couple of years now. I wasn't really scared until now. Now that they have scheduled it for Nov 27th, I'm scared shitless!! I have been reading what others have gone through and so far I have only read the bad stories.

This is what is leading me to blog this topic - I would love to hear about successful surgery - recovery times, someone that says it was a piece of cake, anything positive! Please comment if you have had or know someone that has had either of these surgeries successfully.

"Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired."
- Robert Frost