When Life Happens

I've been wondering for days how I would start this blog post.

"Don't anybody panic!" is what came to mind most often. Mainly, because the details will sound a little scary to current and potential clients at first ... but it all ends well.

I'd also thought a good sub-title might be "Why you shouldn't wait until the last minute to do your Christmas shopping." Which is exactly what I did! Hopefully, I've learned my lesson!

I was on my last portrait appointment before Christmas last week when I started to have some difficulty seeing out of my left eye. It got increasingly more difficult to see as the appointment progressed. So, instead of leaving the appointment to start on my Christmas shopping as planned, I drove straight to ITEC where they graciously worked me in (could it be my panic-stricken face?). They sent me directly to a retina specialist who also graciously worked me in. By the end of the day I was diagnosed with a torn retina that needed immediate surgical repair.

So much for the last minute Christmas shopping.

I came home and quickly uploaded the last wedding of 2010, arranged for sweet Lori Mercer to cover appointments that could not be rescheduled, called my wonderful children and told them they'd have to plan for Christmas dinner without my help, arranged for last minute orders to be picked up, gave my strong husband a detailed list of needed Christmas presents and where to get them, and cried. a lot.

The surgery went very well (Dr. Parma rocks!) and the nurses and staff at Baptist South could not have been more wonderful! When I left they gave me a little survey on a card to fill out. There isn't enough room on that little card to tell you how special every single person I encountered that day made me feel. I know I was tacked on to the end of a long, hard day of surgery. But everyone ... the admissions counselor, the nurses, the doctor, the scrub nurse, the anesthesiologist ... every single person treated me like I was their most important patient of the day and they'd much rather be there with me than doing their Christmas shopping! I was amazed. I cannot say enough wonderful things about every one of them! They kept saying, "You look like you need a hug!" and then they'd give me a big hug and say, "It's all going to be fine. We do this every day."

My husband and I both are A.MAZED at how well I made it through the surgery. God was so good to give the strength and (relative) calmness that was needed each step of the way. Dr. Parma was very pleased when I returned the next morning for the post-op exam and the prognosis is very good.

The mixture of anesthesia and adrenaline overload pretty much wiped me out for Christmas celebrations, but I still have good memories of the day. One of my granddaughters snuggled up in bed with me to watch movies most of the day. I kind of faded in-and-out of them, but she stayed right next to me. At one point I had three grandchildren, a son and a daughter-in-law all in bed with me watching a movie. That will always be a special memory. My kids and daughters-in-law are wonderful people. I really don't deserve them but am so blessed to have them in my life.

As promised, the end of the story is good. The sight in my left eye is improving every day. While still not good enough to drive or return to work, I can already tell that everything is going to be fine when the gas bubble (used to hold the retina in place while it heals) dissolves and I can stop using the dilating drops. Dr. Parma says I'll be good to go by mid-January. So here's where I need to say again, "Please don't panic" to my 2011 clients. I would never leave you stranded or give you anything less than 100%.

In the meantime, I am watching WAY too much of the Food Network Channel. It's sad. really. I've gone from someone who rarely watches TV to someone who knows all the chefs by name. I also know that the secret to a great buttermilk biscuit is using cold ingredients. And I need a pastry bag, and a lot of other kitchen gadgets. Sad. Sad. Sad.

And now for my first picture since my surgery and my first picture of 2011. I didn't plan to pick up the camera today, but how could I not when I saw this on my living room floor:




He was "helping" my husband take down the Christmas decorations! It looks like he's getting over a long night of partying on New Year's Eve!

With all this time on my hands I've had a lot to think about concerning all that was accomplished in 2010 and the goals for 2011. I will blog about those in the near future. Right now, I need to close so I can see who is going to get cut from "Worst Cooks in America." (I love Chef Anne! She does rock a skirt in the kitchen!)

Have a blessed 2011!