Idle Time

It's been a little while since my last posting. I am about 98% healed up now from my hernia surgery. Very little to no soreness now, and the swelling has gone down a lot. I started swimming again last week after the surgeon said it was ok. The first few laps felt funny since I was stretching my abdomen during the strokes. But other than that, I'm back up to a mile with no problems.

Still working hard at getting things in place to attend school this fall term. I have registered for classes, and am working through all of the logistics. Here's what I'm taking this term:

• Spanish I
• Biology
• Speech
• Earth Science
  

I'll be going to school on my own dime for the fall term, and by the end of the term in December, my retraining plan should be approved by the Trade Act Representative. Please pray for everything to go well!

The summer is winding down now, and the weather has started to cool off a bit. DJ and I have been working on the shed for the past 2 weeks. The drywall that was installed a few years ago was really nasty. Mice had gotten in between the walls and made nests, doo-doo piles, etc. It was a mess, so DJ and I removed all of the old drywall and installed new stuff. This time we taped all the seams and mudded them. Today we're going to texture and paint the inside, so it's going to be nice and sealed up this time.

I have a few meetings this week, so I'm staying busy, but I'm getting a bit antsy about starting school. It's new and exciting, and I have a fairly long stretch ahead of me, so I want to get started; but, I want to focus on the JOURNEY as well as the GOAL.

All Patched Up

I had my abdominal hernia repair surgery yesterday. Everything went great! In the previous two surgeries, the Doctor put patches on the outside of the fascia, stitching the patch to the fascia. The first hernia (about 3 years ago) was quite small, resulting in a patch about 3 x 3 inches. The recovery time was about one week.

The second occurrence was larger, so the Doctor made a vertical incision about 6 inches in length, just above the navel, and inserted a much larger patch; again this time on the outside of the fascia. About 6 months ago a third occurrence began. This third hernia progressed to the point where it was almost 4 inches in diameter, and very ugly!

The Doctor decided to do this surgery laparoscopically, and insert the mesh patch from behind the fascia. I went in yesterday at 8:30 am for admitting to the short-stay at the hospital. My surgery took place at about 12:30pm, and I awoke about 2:00pm. This time I underwent a general anesthesia, and had a breathing tube inserted into my throat. I did not feel or remember any of that, but today my throat is a little sore and I am hoarse.

The most remarkable thing about all of this is that I have very little pain (well, I am taking Vicodin) but the pain is MUCH less than my second surgery. I should be good to go in a few days this time. Hopefully, this patch will take care of my hernia problem once and for all.

The short-stay staff was excellent, and a lot of fun (believe it or not).

Ding Dong the Witch is Dead

Funny title for this week's post, huh?

This past Friday (August 5th) was my last day at HP. I am no longer an HP employee; after almost 13 years, the ride is over. I have no regrets, and harbor no ill-feelings toward the company or the people I have had the pleasure to work with there.

It's a milestone in terms of getting on with the rest of my life too. I had to wait until yesterday and today (Saturday) to initiate various paperwork, like the severance agreement, unemployment, Trade Act Agreement stuff, etc. So now begins another period of waiting and watching.

I am still trying to nail down what I want to do for the rest of my working life. I am leaning heavily toward Nursing school. I want to do something with my life that has some impact, and in which I can work with and help people.

I personally will be having hernia surgery on the 15th of this month, so stay posted as to the results of that procedure. This time, the surgeon is going to patch from the inside of the facia, and not on the outside. With my history of hernia problems (2 previous ones) he said it's time when go from the inside out. (Sounds like a song, huh?)

I got my bicycle fixed up with new tires, pedals, mirror, etc. and began riding again this week after about 4 years of not riding. It feels great, but the old butt is sore today. I will be posting a weekly exercise and weight loss chart for the "fun" of it too.