Jealousy

My left elbow was feeling left out and sulked for over a year.  If the right elbow could ache and get attention then so could the left elbow.  *sigh*

I wonder if the gal in registration recognized us from the week before.

He better not cut open the WRONG arm. . .

I have no memories of the following pictures being taken.

I got my milkshake.  I just don’t’ remember drinking it.

Nothing hurt at this point. . . that would change.

I did take the following pictures.  It’s when I was feeling pretty good.

A good friend dropped off a card.  Maybe there was more but I can’t remember.  I blame it on the drugs.  (I sure appreciated it!)

I sure wasn’t fixing sinks the next day like Paul did.  My arm/hand were so swollen that I resorted to using frozen vegetables in addition to my ice packs.

In addition to that, my tummy wasn’t feeling so good. It turns out the pain pills were too strong.  We got that fixed quickly.

I hope to never have another elbow surgery in my life.  I’m so glad that we only come with two arms.  I’m not sure I could handle doing this again.

Nine Days Later . . . Plus Four

Our van had developed a mystery ailment.  My theory was the shop wanted to fix things we didn’t ask them to fix.
Each day, when Paul would talk to them, he was told what they “thought” the problem was in addition to how much it would cost.  And each day, they discovered that was NOT the solution.
We got so fed up that Paul told them after nine days that they could try one last thing and then we would pick it up that afternoon.
I went in the pay the $$$$$$ bill and pick up the van.  They started it up for me and let me get in.  My plan was to pick Paul up at work with it and then we could pick up the car.
Before I could even get out of their parking lot, I knew something was not right.

Not only was the “service engine soon” light on (that happens a lot with this car) but the brake light was also on.  After all that money?  But I wasn’t about to go back to THAT shop.  So I kept going.
That’s when the “service engine soon” light started flashing which even I know is NOT a good thing.  *sigh*
Because I was thinking more clearly than I had when we originally dropped off the van at a shop we knew we didn’t entirely trust (but it was close) . . . I was no longer sick . . . we decided to drop the van off at our normal mechanic’s. 
Finally we did something right.  Because we hadn’t made an appointment, we were at the end of the line.  But four days later, we had our van back where it belongs.

I asked our mechanic about our previous repairs and he told us it was an easy fix and it could have all been taken care of for under $200.  It’s not fun feeling like someone has taken advantage of you and probably loads of other people.

Sometimes You Have to Pay the Price

As previously noted on this blog, I hurt my arm a while ago. . . pesky tennis elbow.  But this time it was determined not to heal.  I missed tennis a lot, but I also missed being able to sleep at night (it would wake me) and doing every day things.
So I went back to my regular doctor who sent me to a different orthopedist for a second opinion.
First things he did were to prescribe an arm brace to keep me from straightening my arm at night and a round of physical therapy.
The arm brace made a big difference!  Hurray!  PT was painful, as it is supposed to be.  When I went back for my follow up appointment with my doctor, he jumped straight to recommending surgery.  In less than two week’s time! Wow!!!!
He knew everything I tried.  Our insurance year was about to end and the new insurance is pretty horrid so . .. . I scheduled it.
I just wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do.  The timing wasn’t ideal as Paul would be out of town.  So I didn’t tell anyone because I hadn’t decided.
But I started making preparations to live life one handed for a while.
I knew I wouldn’t be able to tie my shoes. . .

so I bought springy shoe laces so I could slip them on.
Because tennis would be out of the question for a while and I wanted to do SOMETHING, I went shopping. . .

I cleaned my house. . .

The day before I was in full blown panic attack.  My man was not available to calm me down so I turned it over to the Lord.
David was home from school, so he was able to take me in for my surgery.
before

after

Truthfully, I don’t remember much of that day other than being drugged up.
I spent most of my time here

and a friend (who found out) brought me these

David was there for me.  He fetched me things and took care of me . .  at least that first day.  I suppose he thought it was enough.
After this was the really hard part.  It is hard not being able to care for yourself.  Life one-handed is difficult and even more so when it hurts.
I had never realized how many things it takes two hands to do.  I could not open a water bottle on my own.  I could not bath or brush my teeth.  It was so humbling to be dependent on others and even worse when they didn’t feel like helping you.
I couldn’t really cook so how was I supposed to do the dishes left piling up?

I could not go grocery shopping by myself because I couldn’t push a cart. 
My hand starting swelling up A LOT.  I was not handling it very well at all.  I hated my bandaging and not being able to do anything.

(it’s also hard to take one handed pictures much less type on the computer!)
But I was determined to find independence however I could.  I asked for help.. . and I was so blessed.  I needed some milk but knew I couldn’t do it on my own.  So one of my angels brought me milk and a treat (and put it away for me).
My hair was so disgusting and I was tired of wearing a ball cap so I asked another friend (my hairdresser) if she would wash it for me.  And she did countless times, including giving me an easy to care for style.  And she didn’t charge me a thing.

I still tear up when I think about the difference these two ladies made to me.  I went for about as low as I could sink to feeling so loved.
And that was just the first week. . .

Ex(Re)ception(al)

A week went by with no word from the honeymooners (as it should be) until they contacted us for a ride from the airport.
We had a RECEPTION to put on!
These things needed to be transformed. . .


With a flash of brilliance, I asked some friends to help me out because so many things about this reception are not in my skill set.  But I do know how to delegate!
The day before we set to work.  All the food was purchased, the punch bowl (okay, it was a fountain) was rented, so it was on to the set up.  The cultural hall was emptied. . .

We cleaned up all the spills. . .

dealt with the disgusting bacon that was forgotten in the oven and had stunk up the entire building) . . .

so it was time for some magic!
Tables and tablecloths are the foundation. . .

removing the bacon helped too!

all the little touches were meaningful. . .


We had prep to do at home too.  Family came and helped with the fruit-kabobs.

The bride and groom made the root beer!

The bride needed a fancy do (that her mom is not capable of do-ing) so off we went to a good friend (who does know how to do).

I returned to a transformation!
The arch was built for this occasion.

The tables were set beautifully and it just awaited the food and the people!

What a spread!

root beer fountain. ..
the cake (they wanted cheesecake, but you have to cut something, right?)

The candy buffet. .. what a challenge to find sweets in their wedding colors!  A friend loaned all the jars, another friend decorated all the bags. . .

Ready?  Let the festivities begin. . .

Reception Guests VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

They greeted and posed. ..


They even ate. . .

With cameras and video cameras documenting it, they enjoyed their cake. . .


Jennifer threw her bouquet once again (Allie couldn’t come so she couldn’t catch it again)


So much in a little over one week’s time!

It was a wonderful, PACKED time, but it could not have happened without so much support from family and friends.  These two have a bright future in front of them. .. may they always remember how loved they are!