On being a pin cushion

Let me start this off by saying I am fine now.  I am on the mend and will be good as new in no time.  


On Monday I was scheduled for a minor surgical procedure much like the one I had last summer.  Since that procedure went so easily I really wasn't concerned about this one and was really just annoyed by the inconvenience and timing since work is so crazy right now.  


I should have realized things would not go as smoothly when the nurse was starting my IV for the procedure tried and failed twice and then had to call in another nurse to finally get it in.  It doesn't hurt a lot in the scheme of things, but it doesn't feel good either.  


Next thing I knew I was waking up from surgery and getting ready to go home.  That part is a little fuzzy.  However, I was definitely in more pain than the last time.  The pain continued the next day.  Pain killers helped and the doctor said the pain I was experiencing was probably a side effect of the anesthesia.  By Wednesday morning I was sick and couldn't keep anything down and I was directed to the ER where I was admitted, cat scanned, and pumped full of IV antibiotics -- once the IV was inserted after 2 attempts.  I was told that I may need more surgery and that they wanted to keep me for observation.  Re-scan revealed that I could go home after a full night and day of observation.  


If you've ever spent a night in the hospital you know there is very little rest involved.  It was a long night that included one more IV insertion when I accidentally pulled mine out in the hour of sleep I managed.  I finally got home Thursday night.  Yesterday I felt better, and today I feel better still. However, I look like a heroin addict so I have to be a careful not to get arrested this weekend.  


Let's not forget poor Zoe.  This was an awful week for her.  She was scared of me going in for surgery to begin with and seeing me so unwell was really hard for her.   My mom and Rob were scared too and I hated seeing all of them so upset and worried about me.  It is my job to worry about them.  There were a lot of things I hated about this experience like the pain, like interrupting everyone's life, like needing to be cared for, but I hated that part the most.  


I am grateful to my family who have taken such good care of me.  My mom has been simply amazing and I know am incredibly lucky.  

How Boys Plan

Rob, my brother, and a friend are planning a camping trip for next weekend.  They waited until the last minute to try and reserve a camp site at a campground and since it is Memorial Day weekend, there are no sites available.  Instead they've decided to scope out a friend's property in Massachusetts somewhere to see if it will be suitable.  Below is an email conversation I was able to appropriate on their plans for scoping the site.

Cast:
Gregory = friend = Bluedog
Jon = my brother = TheBoy
Rob = ZoesDad = Lunchmeat

I've re-created it in chronological order and certain details have been deleted to protect the innocent and/or unknowing.

Enjoy.



Subject:  Recon Sunday

On May 18, 2012, at 6:57 PM, Gregory wrote: Can you do a recon run on Sunday to Doug's place on Sunday? Spoke w/Rob - he is in. 2.5 hr drive, hoping to find somewhere out in the copious nearby woods to make camp. I'm thinking we park at his place and make NE towards Ford Brook - looks like it's only a few hundred feet from his property. Google this address:

On May 19, 2012, at 12:06 AM, Jon wrote: I'm up in NH this weekend, but we're coming down on Sunday so I could potentially met you there and ride back with you. Let me know what time you'll be there and I'll try to synch up. Love the idea of camping near Doug's place. Will it be OK to use their bathroom?

--- On Sat, 5/19/12, Rob  wrote: I'm picking Zoe up from a sleep over girly party then in ready to go, I would prefer to drive if thats ok.

On May 19, 2012, at 5:42 PM, Gregory wrote: I'm driving, bitch. What time do you want to be on the road, and where do we meet? See attached pics for recon info. I am not sure how far back Doug's property 'officially' goes, but I'm pretty sure they are out in the sticks enough that it does not matter. Unless Ellie has a problem with it, because we know wives exist solely to destroy our fun.

From: Rob Subject: Re: Recon Sunday To: "Gregory Cc: "Jon Date: Saturday, May 19, 2012, 8:26 PM It looks ok, I'd like to be closer to moving water but otherwise it's great. Next year Navaho country!

On May 19, 2012, at 11:32 PM, Gregory wrote:

SITREP 19 MAY 2012: ALL RECON UNIT LEADS NOW IN FREE-FIRE TRAGET ACQUISITION MODE. GUIDELINES FOLLOW: 1: LANDING ZONE (LZ) FOR RECON IS: ***2050 HAWLEY ROAD*** ADJUST NAVIGATION GEAR ACCORDINGLY FOR TARGETING. 2: BLUEDOG SQUAD DEPLOYS FROM NORWALK 20 MAY 2012, 0830 (give or take). ETA TO LZ 1145. 3: LUNCHMEAT SQUAD DEPLOYS FROM FAIRFIELD  20 MAY TIME TBD POST ZOE WAKEUP. ETA TO LZ 1200 HRS. 4: THEBOY SQUAD ENGAGED IN ONGOING CROSS-BORDER ACTIONS. MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OFFER FIRE SUPPORT UNTIL 1500 HRS, 20 MAY. 5: ALL UNITS TO MAKE BEST EFFORT IN COMM MAINTENANCE DURING TRANSIT TO LZ. USE ALL AVAILIBLE OPTIONS. BE ADVISED COUNTERMEASURES MAY BE IN EFFECT. COMM LEVELS MAY BE UNPREDICTABLE. 6: UPON ARRIVAL AT LZ, WIN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE LOCAL POPULACE, THEN BEGIN SENDING PARTIES OUT IN A NE DIRECTION SEARCHING FOR A RIVER, WHERE WE WILL THEN BEGIN COLINIZATION OPERATIONS  25 MAY 2012. BLUEDOG SQUAD TO PROVIDE TACTICAL RECON VIA GPS. 7: FORCE RECON  OF PROPOSED COLINIZATION ZONES EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY LUNCHMEAT AND BLUEDOG SQUADS BY 1500 HRS. THEBOY SQUAD TO MAKE DETERMINATION FOR SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS BASED ON COMM WITH OTHER UNITS. In other words: Let’s keep in touch and drive separately – probably the easiest. Michael and I will hit the road ASAP in the morning. According to Doug it is a 2.5-3 Hour drive. Address is above, see ‘LZ’. Rob, you get Zoe, do your morning stuff and strike out on your own. Let’s plan on a Noonish arrival at Doug’s I looked at the maps I could find, and there is some type of brook a couple of hundred feet NE from his yard. I am hoping there will be a good spot or two out there – does not seem to be any ‘civilization’ in an area fanning out from his lot. I’m hoping to set up a low-impact tent zone out there someplace. We’ll see. Jon; Rob and I will be ahead of your schedule. Let’s try to keep a cell/text line open to determine if you need/want to detour on the way back from NH. Until Ops Commence: Bluedog Out.

Subject: Re: Recon SundayFrom: Jon
Date: May 19, 2012 11:48:17 PM EDT
To: Gregory
Cc: Rob 

Roger that Bluedog, over and out.

Sad, Sad, Sad

Sad fact #1:  I missed my blogiversary!  April 13, 2012 marked the 7th anniversary of ZoesMom.  That's pretty significant and I'm very sad I missed celebrating.  I'll mark the occassion now by linking to a post from about 7 years ago.  There's not much to it, but it is something I would still write today.  May 12, 2005

Sad fact #2:  Here it is May 15 and I haven't posted since April 20.  I didn't even realize it had been that long.  I have been so busy with work that by the time I get home and get a chance to sit down I can't usually keep my eyes open long enough to think of let alone type a blog post. 

Sad fact #3:  I am having serious trouble with the work/life balance thing as well as the mother/person thing these days.  No doubt I have mentioned this enormous project I am working on -- it is definitely the biggest project I've worked on and it is all-consuming.  As a result my mothering has really been sub-par.  I've tried to explain to Zoe that it is temporary.  It really is only another 7 or 8 weeks, but when you're 10 that is a lifetime.  I know that.  The part that makes me feel the worst is that when I do get time away from work in the evenings or on the weekends, I crave being alone.  No Zoe, no Rob, no one.  I should take the time I have and give it to Zoe when possible, but at the same time if I don't take the time for myself, I am awful to be around.  It is a tough call.  Luckily (hopefully) I have many years to make this up to her. 

On the bright side this enormous work project has been opening up some cool opportuities for me and it really has been the the most interesting thing I've ever worked on.  I feel like if things do all go well and are well-received this could mean even more interesting things come my way. That's exciting.