Wow...

I apologize for taking so long to make this first post-op blog entry.  Needless to say the surgery has been an experience.  At a future date I'll go into details of the surgery, recovery, etc., but for now I just wanted to let everyone know that we came home on our earliest possible release date, which was Christmas eve, so there were no complications, and I got to be with all of my family on Christmas morning :)  The surgery went as well as we could have hoped for.  I had a lot of difficulty keeping pain meds and muscle relaxers down, most likely enhanced by the pregnancy, therefore I was sick somewhat frequently.  We finally settled on Tylenol and Flexeril; not the strongest pain relief, that's for sure, but it's pretty much all my stomach can handle.  I definitely miss my morphine button!  I'm in a lot of pain, I basically feel like I not only had my skull drilled into and a vertebrae removed, but also a jaw/face lift.  Everything from my shoulders up absolutely just aches!  Sleep is interesting, I set my alarm to wake up for medication because I don't want to think of going without it, even though it doesn't seem to do too much, but I usually see every hour of the night on my clock anyway.  I also spend the majority of the day laying down because sitting up is difficult.  The sutures are on the back of my head and it is painful to lean back against them, even on the cushiest of chairs.  It's also exhausting to hold my head up on newly reconnected neck muscles, so laying down on my side is the best option.
I can't say thank you enough to everyone who has kept us in their thoughts and said prayers for us.  Another HUGE thank you to those who have already brought or sent food, and to those who plan to.  Kevin is starting to realize how nice it is not having to worry about every meal!
XO for now..

Busy week!

My pre-op appointment went well on Monday, as far as I know.  We were able to avoid the chest x-ray and only had to do bloodwork and EKG, along with paperwork of course.  I arrived at my doctor's office at around 1015 and was heading home from the hospital a little before 2.  We then saw the OB on Tuesday for a final listen to the heartbeat before surgery.  Dr. Z let us know that she had talked to Dr. Bronec the week before about meds I would be able to take and she gave him her cell number so she could be reached at anytime while I'm in the hospital, she continues to amaze us with how much she truly cares. 
My poor Logan is under the weather so instead of snuggling him all week like I had hoped, I'm having to stay away so I don't get sick and jeopardize the surgery.  It's killing me :(  He goes to the pediatrician later today with Daddy to make sure he doesn't have an ear infection.  He's had a fever of 101-102 since yesterday afternoon but his only symptom is a cough.
We're spending the week trying to take care of everything for my parents arrival, Christmas, and the end of the year.  My parents should be here tomorrow evening and as of right now I'm the only one on Dr. Bronec's surgery schedule for Friday which means we should have a 730am start time.  It's going to be an early morning, but that gives us the best chance of being home on Christmas eve, as long as I 'kill it like a rockstar' as Joey, the PA, put it :)  We have a great anesthesiologist who came highly recommended and my friend Leigh's favorite nurse to the anesthesiologist, Greg.
Thanks so much to everyone who has signed up to bring food, sent food, and those who have gone out of your way to do so much for us during this time.  All prayers and caring thoughts are very much appreciated.  I'm guessing my next post will be post-op, hopefully I'll be up to it after not too long!  XO :)

Getting closer..

It's hard to believe that one week from Friday is my surgery..
My amazing friend Leigh created a Food Tidings website for our friends to sign up to bring meals, etc. after we get home from surgery.  The dates start on the 26th because that's the day my parents have to leave, and my total spoiling will end :(  I'm sure many of you saw the link on FB or received an email from Leigh, but if not and you're interested, here it is: http://www.foodtidings.com/SignUp.aspx?ScheduleGuid=0742b845-9378-444f-a6c9-e1aaebb2fe34   Anything at all would be greatly appreciated, even if it's just your favorite dessert, that is fine with me ;)  If you're not big on cooking, we plan to do a bit of carry out too so gift cards would also be much appreciated! 
I can't tell you how much of a relief it is that my parents will be here with Logan while Kevin and I are away at the hospital.  I will not worry about him for a second, which you fellow parents know is priceless at a time like this.  I don't know who is going to have more fun, my parents or Logan!  I just wish I could spend more time with them while they're here because it will probably be a while before we're able to get home again.  Hopefully my mother-in-law will also be able to visit later in January and spend some quality time with the boys.  I'll join in if I'm up to it! 
Our schedule for next week is getting pretty packed at this point.  Medically, here's how things look.  On Monday I have my pre-op appt.  I'll be spending quite a few hours in Durham I'm sure between my neurosurgeon's office, mostly for paperwork I believe, then just down the road to the hospital where I'll have my bloodwork and possibly a chest x-ray as a precaution for the anesthesia.  They're going to leave it up to the anesthesiologist as to whether or not the x-ray is necessary.  We of course would like to avoid it for the baby, but I do have asthma so once again it's a situation where we have to weigh the risks.  On Tuesday we'll see my OB.  She wanted to see me the week of surgery, I think just to hear the heartbeat and make sure all seems well before the big day.  Last but not least is surgery on Friday.  We're definitely going to be busy between now and then, but trust me, we plan to make the most of it.  I'm looking forward to date night on Saturday with Kevin, Logan's preschool church performance (singing 3 songs) on Sunday, and spending the rest of weekend finally decorating the house with the boys for Christmas!  Better late than never, maybe we'll leave it all up a little longer to make up for the late start :)
Thanks again to everyone for their love and concern, it's really been overwhelming, but in a good way...XO :)