Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Hospital Stay




Things have been a little crazy in the Clark house this week.  The Ferns came to visit from Iowa and we had plans to vacation with them in Pagosa Springs for a few days.  Ben and Sarah and family left for the condo Sunday morning; we were to meet them there Monday at lunch.  I started feeling sick by Sunday lunch, and 'got sick' over the next 30 hours - we finally went to the emergency room Monday late afternoon.  Thank God for good friends who could watch the girls overnight Monday while Graham supported me through a quick (20 minutes under the knife) open appendectomy.  I was out of surgery by 11 pm and admitted to Avista Med/Surg - the floor where I work.

Can I just say... it is unbelievably difficult to go from being a nurse to being a patient!  As I sat writhing in misery in the emergency room, all I wanted was to be knocked out.  I didn't want to get a CT scan, then wait for results, then go to ultrasound, then talk to the surgeon, then anticipate general anesthesia.  No, after puking for 30 hours I was DONE.  In CT, there is a point where dye is injected into your IV and you feel like you're peeing your pants.  I wanted to cry.  Then I had to raise my arms and hold my breath (for only, like, 10 seconds) and it just seemed impossible in the exhausted, nauseated state that I was in.  After that, I was signing consent forms agreeing to things like, 'blood transfusions' and 'serious complications' and 'you might die'.  I grasped my neck when the words 'general anesthesia' were uttered by my surgeon.  He then said, 'you've got the best anesthesiologist', and I managed a smile.  (Secretly I was thinking of all the ridiculously rare and overly broadcasted stories of young people coding during surgeries like mine.  I decided against discussing these fears with Graham.)

The next thing I knew I was being wheeled into the bay (remember that I work here, which adds another dimension to this experience) where a fellow colleague ("hi, Michael") prepped me for the OR.  Anesthesiology came and talked to me (I was so cold, goose bumps all over, teeth chattering) and then versed.  And the mask.  The next thing I knew I was back in my bay, a little groggy, but feeling...good!  "Everything went well Marie" the surgeon said.  Graham was there, and soon I was on Med/Surg getting morphine and zofran from another colleague.  Sweet flowers and a note from the supervisor were waiting in my room.  I wasn't puking anymore!

I am amazed how quickly I got the care I needed, here in little Louisville, Colorado.  Aside from my own personal misery, the hospital experience was excellent.  And I can't say how thankful I am for a supportive husband, friends to watch our children, bring us a meal, visit me in the hospital and bring magazines, family who called and texted and prayed for me, encouraging emails and texts, kids who crawled and jumped all over me when I could go home (although yes, ouch.)  What a spoiled human being.  I am blessed.

Monday, July 22, 2013

Audrey's Book Review

I just finished reading Audrey her first chapter book, "Little House on the Prairie".  Who doesn't cherish this one?  More than a few times, Audrey would say "READ mom!" and I'd realize that I had stopped reading out loud and was reading ahead to myself.  Oops.

Below is Audrey's 'review' of Little House:

Name:  Little House on the Prairie
Author:  Laura Ingalls Wilder

What was your favorite part?  When they got the cow and the calf.

What was the saddest moment in the book?  When the Indians said that terrible noise.

Who was your favorite character?  Mary and Laura, and baby Carrie, and Ma and Pet and Patty.

What did you think when Laura and Mary got very sick?  I didn't like that part.

What did you think when Mr. Edwards brought gifts from Santa?  That was a GREAT part!

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Neve said...

"Yee-haw on!" (meaning... play the SonWest Roundup CD for the 79th time, mom)

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Telluride Bluegrass 2013

This was our third trip to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival.  It's a treasured time of year for us as we pack up and head into the San Juan Mountains for a long weekend of family, friends and bluegrass.  

Look at that view!

There is no lack of talent on stage, and hearing those mandolins and banjos ya can't NOT dance!






This is what I get from my girls when I ask for a smile...


Amelia was happy to pose for a picture.

Annika and Asher

Naomi and Alison holding Sarah



Emily flew in to watch all seven (!) kids on Saturday night,

so the adults could have a nice, relaxed evening sitting, talking, and just being lame...




...I mean having fun!  We were six happy parents-without-the-kids!


Graham hiked on Sunday with some of the group.  He loves a good hike!

Audrey, fresh off of a four mile hike last Sunday, was a rock star!

And the highlight of the trip for Graham was Jackson Browne on the main stage.  


Ah, beautiful Telluride, we shall meet again next year.