Getting Ready for Chicago...

MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!!  Today is Christmas Eve, and tomorrow is my first Christmas.  We leave for Chicago 3 days from now, with my first of four surgeries over the next year just 6 days away.  Anxious?  I guess we are.  But more so about getting there and getting started, and about my recovery, than about the actual surgeries.  I know we have the most spectacular surgical team we could ever have been blessed with, and they will take excellent care of me.

We did have a little hurdle though, when my doctor found a double ear infection at my pre-op physical appointment last week.  She put me on an antibiotic, and thank God my ears cleared up beautifully.  I still have the slightest bit of congestion, and as long as it doesn't progress into anything, we will be good to go.  But we're all on pins and needles just waiting.  Don't worry, I am not sick.  It just happens that my teeth decided to start popping out -- in just one week, I got my THREE first teeth!  So that is the culprit, and we think it should all be ok.  The plane ride is probably more of a risk, but I am taking a back-up antibiotic to help protect me and keep me healthy until next Thursday.

So, what's the plan?  We will get to Chicago on Monday, which will give us a day to get acquainted with the city and get settled before meeting with Dr. Bauer on Wednesday.  On Thursday, I'll go in for surgery, where he will be place two (I think two) expanders in my body.  I believe they will be around my waist, but we'll find out more when we meet with him on Wednesday.  He will also be removing one of two little lumps I have on my bottom.  The other one will be removed in the second surgery.  We will go back to Dr. Bauer's office about 10 days later, and they will "fill" my expanders once before we come home.  In general, that's what we're expecting.  We will definitely update you when possible during our trip. 

Until then, enjoy the holidays, wish us luck, and please pray with us.