I am happy, (reasonably) healthy and home for the holidays.
First up, thanks so much to Steph for taking the reins of the blog while I was infirmed. I now feel I must up the witty factor of the blog, perhaps as a resolution for 2008.
I received countless, visits, notes, cards, calls and, yes, pressies, while in the hospital. I can't thank you all enough for your caring and generosity. It's times like this when you realize how many people you have in your corner. I am very grateful to be so loved and supported.
Steph was completely accurate in her telling of my medical tale. A tiny congenital cyst on my lung, of which my doctor and I were completely aware, awakened this fall and developed into a nasty abscess when I fell ill with pneumonia. When I was first admitted to hospital, it became clear surgery would be needed at some point, it was just a matter of when. The first thought was to bring me to reasonable health, send me home for the holidays and operate in the new year. The problem is that IV antibiotics don't tend to reach walled-off areas like abscesses, so getting me better without intervention began to seem unlikely.
On December 10th, I was sent to have the abscess drained, which unfortunately collapsed my lung and created the potential for the infection to spread within the chest cavity. Placement of a chest tube wasn't helping in draining things, so the tube was flushed with a medication to break up the mess within. Unfortunately, within 12 hours, I'd developed a full-body rash in reaction to one of my many medications.
Surgery took place on the 15th, where a very talented surgeon cleaned away the infection in its entirety. Being (reasonably) young and otherwise healthy, recovery was according to plan, and I was home to my family by last Friday.
I'm really none the worse for wear, just tired and a bit sore at the incision and my 3 chest tube sites. I can't express how happy I am to be home with my hub, little girls and visiting parents.
As for knitting, I was sick enough to do just about none while in the hospital. 18 days in hospital yielded nothing but the toe of a sock. My resting time at home has been barely more productive than that, but the mojo, I'm sure will return.
And if Cristi is right, I need to pursue a refund on this lousy boob job - STAT!
Here's to a happy holiday and excellent health in 2008.
Great news! Merry Christmas!!
Posted by: Irish Yankee | December 24, 2007 at 09:50 AM
Oh, I'm so glad to see you posted today! I thought I was going to have to call on the hospital to see if they had hidden you in a basement room!
Merry Christmas to you and yours. I hope that you all have a wonderful day tomorrow.
Posted by: Steph VW | December 24, 2007 at 10:08 AM
Yay!! Glad to hear you're home and (relatively) in one piece!
Posted by: Lisa | December 24, 2007 at 10:39 AM
Wow. Too sick to knit. Wow.
The mojo returns. I was not very knitterly post-op after my little surgery this fall, but gradually the knitting mania returned.
Prayerfully wishing you healing and wellness for the coming year! GLAD YOU'RE HOME!
Posted by: melissaknits | December 24, 2007 at 01:02 PM
Hooray - so glad to hear that you're on the mend. You were sorely missed at KOL, and I'm looking forwards to knitting with you in the very near future. Brownies are on me. ;)
Posted by: Deb B | December 24, 2007 at 01:06 PM
Home sweet home. The hospital is no place to be when you're sick! Hope you and yours have a lovely, restful holiday and all the best in the new year.
Posted by: Marti | December 24, 2007 at 02:16 PM
So happy you're home and doing better.
Have a great Christmas!
Posted by: Lesley | December 25, 2007 at 12:19 AM
Welcome home Deb, glad to have you back.
Have a great Christmas with your family.
Here is to a quick return of your Mojo
Posted by: Pixie | December 25, 2007 at 03:52 AM
=) Glad to see you home and well. Just in time for Christmas. Now that you'll have a healthy one, hopefully it'll be happy as well.
Posted by: turtlegirl76 | December 25, 2007 at 09:38 AM
Glad to see a blog post from you!
Happy to know you are home with the family.
Take the rest of the year off from knitting.
:)
Posted by: Catherine | December 26, 2007 at 03:58 PM
So glad that you are ok/home/healing. Your family must be relieved, as well - it must have been a bit scary for them (I know I was frightened when Steph told me the details).
Get some rest...
Posted by: Terra | December 28, 2007 at 09:34 AM
Goodness!
See what happens when I don't check your blog for a month?!
I am taken through a range of emotions... "Deb's sick? Oh dear!" TO "Deb's mostly OK, but in hospital? Get well!" TO "Deb's back? And what's this about a lousy boob job?" He he he! ;-)
Seriously, though. I am glad you're well, even though I missed the not-well part.
Had a great Christmas... And sounds like you did in the end, too! :)
Posted by: (Sisa)Lisa :) | January 02, 2008 at 05:17 PM