Elbow Surgery

So, I had to have elbow surgery.  I got a call from the surgeon who told me that I had two options.  1) I could make an appointment to meet him and we could schedule surgery from there.  2) I needed the surgery SOON and he could go ahead and schedule it without an office meeting.  I opted for #2.  The last surgery I had was when I had my last baby - 21 years ago!  I was awake for that and had no idea what it was going to be like to be put out.  The morning of surgery was stressful, to say the least!  I was told I could go home that afternoon.  I wasn't too concerned about the kids as a result.  The chaplain who had helped us when Daddy died came by to see me and was able to calm me down with kind words and prayer, so I was ready to go.  No counting backwards from 100, nothing to let me know I was going under.  Just talking one second and getting yelled at the next to wake up.  Such a strange experience!

My bionic left arm.

Different view of bionic left arm.

I didn't get to go home that night.  They made me stay in the hospital.  What does a knitter do when stressed?  Well, she knits!  What does a one handed knitter do when stressed?  Stays stressed!  We watched a lot of lousy television and slept when the pain subsided enough to allow it.  I was so proud of our kids/adults!  They managed all by themselves and reminded me that they are both in their early 20s so they are not totally helpless!  I was now the helpless one and they both kicked in to take excellent care of me.  Whew!  And talk about helpless.  You just don't realize how much you do for yourself until you can't anymore.  No more brushing my hair, no more contacts, no dressing or bathing myself and no driving.  But, the #1 thing, no knitting!  ARGH!

The funny thing about all of this - I didn't want to go on that bike ride.  I was almost finished with a pair of socks I had been working on for a while.  I told RL that I needed to finish them.  She said that if I was unable to finish them, she would do it for me!  Well, what do you know - I wasn't able to and she was true to her word.  Sweetest pair of socks I own!