Thursday, November 30, 2006

This is Going to Hurt Me More Than it Hurts You...

Here we are on the 3 week anniversary of Jo's surgery and, magically, she is almost as good as new. She is cruising all over the house with just her cane, she says she feels great and it's as if the last 3 weeks were just a dream.

I asked Jo, "Do you remember waking up in the middle of the night and begging me for more pain medication?"

"Nope."

"Do you remember going to Swedish Hospital in the ambulance."

"Not really."

"How about getting me up every 2 hours to help you out of bed and then back into bed."

"Hmmmmm........no."

These days, Jo sleeps peacefully. It is I who wakes up with the cold sweats, worried that if I close my eyes again I'll be back in the jungles of Vietnam, the bombs going off all around me. The Viet Cong are closing in on my location, while I lay beneath the waters of the river bed, breathing through a straw, hoping not to get caught...okay, maybe I was still in diapers when Vietnam ended, but I could have nightmares about Desert Storm, although I never did leave the comfort of my engineering office during the entire campaign.

Anyway, it's funny to look back over the last 3 weeks and realize that Jo remembers very little of it. Just today, she asked Emily who got her the get well balloon and bear. Emily had to remind her that she had gotten it for Jo herself.

Most of my concern centered around how much pain Jo had, but 3 weeks later she has almost no recollection of that pain. It makes you wonder...if Jo can't remember it, did it actually happen? In Jo's mind, or you might even say that in her perception of reality, it actually didn't happen.

Bring on the right hip!!!

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

God is IN the MIRACLE business! Isn't it great to be a reciever???

WHOOOOOO, HOOOOOOOOOO.

I am so excited for you guys!

Cousin Paula

Anonymous said...

Like the guy on Myth Busters says, " I reject your reality and substitute my own". No need for her to remember all that. Just so thrilled she is doing so well and hope it all continues.

Fred

Anonymous said...

The mind is a wonderful tool and the drugs are enormously helpful in alleviating the remembrance of pain. We all went thru it with Jo - Thanks to you Tim! I am so relieved to know that she is doing well. Maybe now you can start to relax a little and enjoy every minute. Thoughts, Prayers and Love, Judy and Gib

What ever happened with the Pussycat Dolls and the Dr Alvarez anniversary?

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you needs some meds, Tim, if nothing else, for a good night's sleep! I have enjoyed these updates and so thoroughly TICKLED that Jo is doing amazingly well and doesn't remember the pain. Sadly, men don't go through childbirth from our end. Trust me - God has a plan - or we would ALL be done with children after the first (for other reasons that the obvious ones - like for me - that a second pregnacy was dangerous - but you get the drift).

Thank GOD things are settling down!

Please give Jo a hug from me and let her know all of my college student have her on their prayer list :)

AMJH

David & BeLynda said...

Hi all - Ya'll are in our thoughts and prayers. We are crazy busy with three two year old that now have an opinion. But we think of you often and wanted to let you know we care! Love ya, David, BeLynda, Zander, Kaden, Addison and Montana (the big black dog)

Anonymous said...

Hi Tim,
Tell Jo we are dancing "Once Upon a December " again!!!
Have a lovely Christmas, all of you and we do hope next year will be a lot less painful for all of you,
Best wishes, Val. XXXX