Left Shoulder Subacromial Decompression

It’s taken me almost 18 months, but I finally got my shoulder fixed yesterday!!  I put it off last summer because I didn’t realize what the random impingements pains were.  I tried PT all last fall and ended the year with a cortisone injection. 3 months later I got my second injection which last only a few weeks. I haven’t slept in weeks because it aches almost all night long. Putting on a bra or deodorant or shaving my arm pit was near impossible and painful. My range of motion should return now (hopefully). She took out my bursa sac, shaved down my 2 bone spurs, shaved some of my acromium to make more room in there, and cleaned out some scar tissue. It was the best surgical experience I’ve had.  My IV was pain free, barely felt.  Then I was given 3 citrus nose swipes. I was given Versed and then the Shoulder Block was performed in pre-op. I don’t remember much because the Versed really worked. I think I passed out. I remember the electrical stimulator jerking my arm about. I remember them showing me a picture of the Ultrasound showing me the numbing agent around my nerve. But I don’t remember the actual injections into my neck- AWESOME.  They said I’d stay numb 6-8 hours, it lasted 18 hours!!!  My arm was literally like a dead arm, no feeling and just flopping about! So weird!! 

My biggest complaint is that I spent 7 hours yesterday sneezing frequently with a very runny nose. I tried cold medicine, then Benadryl, then saline spray. At midnight I took Afrin which worked and allowed me to sleep some. I woke up at 4am starting to hurt and have been up since. 

Jason has big meetings today so I’m waiting for a child to wake and help me with breakfast. But it’s still only 9am. 

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Jaylee made me yummy French toast and then Meg brought over a delicious chicken, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans and gravy meal.  YUMMY!  We had it for lunch before PT and we’ll have it for dinner too, after JB’s soccer game.

PT took off my bulky dressing and had me do passive ROM.  I’m not allowed to move my arm on my own yet.

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I spent the weekend recovering at the Dombach Cabin.   It was wonderful!  The pain pills helped me relax and enjoy it.  Who knew?  The kids kept busy while I rested and read a book (and watched deer eat).

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Post-Op Day 6 

I headed back to PT and she was very pleased with my ROM. Me too! I think I lifted my arm higher than it’s been in 18 months- passively- I’m not allowed to use my shoulder muscle yet. 

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 Post-Op 2 Weeks

I was having muscle spasms a lot this weekend. Luckily, I had Valium left from my second brain surgery, which helped a lot. I think letting my muscles rest over night has made a huge difference.

I saw my Dr yesterday and she seems pleased. She says that my shoulder was a lot worse than my MRI showed. She said that when I was under anesthesia, she tried to put my arm straight up 180’ by my ear. It wouldn’t go past  135’. So... she PUSHED my arm FORCIBLY to my ear. She said my shoulder was full of adhesions that needed to be busted. That, literally, makes me want to vomit.

She reviewed my photos with me, that show a bright red very inflamed bursa, as well as the bone spurs and adhesions that she needed to clean out of there. Apparently, there shouldn’t be anything red in my shoulder, so everything red had to come out. My X-ray yesterday shows that the bone spurs are gone and that there is much more room in there, now.

I’m off work for four more weeks, until I see her again. I’m allowed to start driving when I feel it’s safe.

No more stitches!

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December 15, 2018

I’m back to work and mostly feeling good. Bed time is actually when I experience most of my discomfort bc I can’t get comfy, especially when I roll over. I have full ROM.

JB is Growing Up, Beautifully

Jennibelle is 13 and growing into a lady. She was allowed to get a bikini this year, merely because the one pieces this year were scandalous while the high waisted bikinis were still rocking it. 

We went back-to-school shopping yesterday and went from thrift shops to Foreber 21, which is basically a really big expensive thrift shop. She found her beloved “Mom Jeans” that she’s been wanting. Then she and Jaylee went downtown for a photo shoot...

Hidden Blessings

I initially was annoyed by all of the extra cups that I had to add to the dishwasher after dinner...

Then I realized...

My kids are so lucky to have such sweet friends. 

And I am so lucky that they want to hang out at my house where I know they’re safe.

Before I know it, there will only be two cups needing washed everyday:(

So, I’m going to smile when I do the dishes tonight.

Boba Fet Pig

Jimmy earned his guinea pig!

(My house has turned into a zoo.)

He’s so grown up about it.

And so so so cute.

Honestly, I don’t care if he helps Jenni feed and clean it at all, I’m just wrapped around his finger. He’s too cute. 

RIP Boba!

August 26th he just did not wake up.

That pig was LOVED for his 15 days with Jimmy!

Loved everyday with hugs and kisses and crawling on Jimmy’s face. 

OCNJ 2018

Our beach vacation was a little different this year- we were without Jason and Jaylee. They cane just for the day on a Sunday. The rest of us stayed Sat to Weds. we rented a new house this year, 20 blocks down from our old place. It was much roomier, though the kids prefer “THE” beach house.

Saturday we arrived around 1. We were in no rush because it was supposed to rain all day. But it never rained after we got off of the AC Expressway!! So, we headed to the new inflatable park in OCNJ. Jimmy was not old enough and he was bummed! Jack was hesitant but after 10 seconds, he knew that he made the right decision...

Afterwards we hit the beach for 99 mins before dinner. My kids LOVE my chili cheese fries, Mandy’s family... not so much.

My Dad and I took the boys back down to play ball on the beach.  I had Jimmy hitting left handed, whoops.

Sunday morning I headed down to the Civic Center to rent a FREE wheelchair for Jaylee. They arrived around noon. After lunch, we packed her up.  It was a fun day. Swimming, sand castle building (even though it did NOT look like a castle, kite flying, and photo shoots. Jaylee even walked along the beach with me using a shovel as a cane. Dolphins were swimming the coast and Jenni was able get within 20 feet of them. I love her adventurous spirit now! She LOVES being in the water, and she doesn’t even ride the waves in, she just goes out deep and stays there.

We headed to the Boardwalk that night for Mac and Manco’s (I can NOT bring myself to call it it’s new name, Manco and Manco’s). We rented a real wheelchair for Jaylee so we hit a few stores and ended with Kohr’s ice cream cones- surprise, surprise. And then, they were off to PA.

On Monday I drove the kids to Stone Harbor do that Jimmy could experience an inflatable Water Park. When it’s only 2/3 of us, we can afford to do so much more stuff!  We had to wait 2 hours, so we walked down to the beach, which absolutely beautiful. The water was much warmer and calmer. 

Jimmy was extremely excited but nervous at first. He very carefully got through the first obstacle and at the second, he fell in the water. He popped right up with his life jacket and exclaimed “I didn’t die!!!” And then was relaxed and enjoyed the rest of the 45 minutes. Jimmy was even jumping off of the inflatables, doing 180’ turns and then swimming around. Jenni was very attentive to him.

Jackson was a wild man. His favorite part was running as fast as he could around a bend and trying not to fall in. He’s amazingly lumber and athletic. During the last 5 minutes he found the courage to climb up the 10 foot wall and jump off, which became his favorite part.

Around 3pm we headed back to the beach in OCNJ . We tried 44th street, instead of 46th. The water was awful... cold and crashing right in the kids (crashing hard). My boys are much more fearless now that they know how to swim. They are big enough to help carry stuff too. 

On the Boardwalk, they picked swords as their souvenirs. They played with them the entire time we were there. 

We ended the night with s walk to Aunt Betty’s got ice cream with Nan and Poppop. And then one final sword fight.

On Tuesday at 0500, Jennibelle and I headed to the beach in the dark. We had high hopes of finding some awesome shells. We struck out. Totally struck out. We got to see the sunrise though.

We headed to the Surf Sack at 11(after a long nap) for French toast. Then we strolled the Boards for a while. At 2pm we climbed aboard our Pirate Voyage. Poppop came along (like always😁). Jennibelle hung out with the adults during the ride.

The boys were hesitant at first. When it was time to fight off the bad pirate with water cannons, Jackson was 100% invested. Jimmy was frantically running between cannons. I found out afterwards that in his beautiful, innocent, creative, five year old mind, that he was terrified because he believed that the “bad pirate” was going to get onto our ship and turn us into skeletons- for the rest of time!! Oh my! I highly recommend the voyage, for kids under 10. 

Here, they are pretending to be dead.

We spent hours on the beach afterwards, with Mandy’s family. My favorite time on the beach is after 3, when you don’t bake in the sun and it’s not so crowded. 

After Mandy made ziti we headed out for ice cream, again. This time, we had a dance party while eating it. 

 

Weds was our big family vacation day. Meg’s clan joined us. She’s pregnant, by the way. 

We celebrated Cole’s 8th birthday with cake and a glow party right before we headed out to PA. 

My boys cried nearly to the PA/NJ Bridge. They were heartbroken. When I asked their favorite part about the vacation “being with my family”.