Bunionectomy Surgery. . . .

You are probably wondering what exactly a bunionectomy is...well briefly it's a surgery performed where your bunion is literally sawed off and a screw is placed in your foot. Now that sounds pleasant right? No! When I was around 15 years old I noticed a bunion on the side of my right foot starting to grow.  I loved running and this put a damper on my track meets and cross country meets to the point where I was almost in tears because of the pain this irritating bone caused me. As the years went on the pain progressed.  Candy-sale was a nightmare, after a long day of walking and selling candy my bunion would be swollen and bruised and I would be in a state of immense shooting and throbbing pain.  

Now four years later I had the surgery performed on Tuesday! I have had surgery one other time when I was four years old to have teeth removed, but I don't recall it.  I wasn't really nervous about the surgery just worried about the after affect and how I would manage with one foot.  Early Tuesday morning my parents and I drove to St.Anthony's hospital; as I sat in the back seat holding a boot and anxiously awaiting the surgery procedure.  

This is my beautiful foot before surgery. :)  Notice the lump on the right side, that is the bunion. 

Once at the hospital I changed into their lovely gown, and sat with my parents until the procedure was to begin.  I am so happy I had my amazing parents with me.  Dad made sure to crack jokes the whole time to ease my fear of the procedure going wrong and waking up to not only a missing bunion but a missing foot.  Mom was the caring one who made sure I wasn't cold, or hungry and took care of all my needs.  

This picture right here is the IV in my arm.  What it really should be is how large my eyes got when I realized where and what the nurse was putting in my arm.  I didn't realize the IV was staying in my arm and was frightened to move my arm in fear of ripping it out of my vein and causing a giant hole in my arm.  BTW I am not a hypochondriac! :)

The surgery lasted 2 hours and was successful, no toes or feet had to be amputated. Shew. . . :) 

I was physically drained after the surgery and was dying of thirst.  A nurse came in and showed me how to use the crutches and what not and soon we were heading home.  

Took me a while to actually fully wake up, I was a sleepy girl! 

Now it has been 3 days since my surgery and I am not in too much pain.  I had a Dr.'s appointment today and was excited to see my foot with the bandages off.  I was kinda worried that my foot was going to look like Frankenstein's foot or something but it did look just a "little" better than that.  

Have a blessed week! :)

Pictures from the last month. . . .

This past month has been beyond busy. The finals are completed, the college students are home, and there is utter silence in the school building, Christmas Break has begun! :)  And now. . . you are about to enter picture over load! :) 

My sister, Nicole, posted a wonderful post of Thanksgiving day! The day after Thanksgiving my parents, Brooke, Matthew and I put up the Christmas decorations. We enjoyed ourselves greatly! 

Matthew and I put up the "charlie" brown tree. 

Mom and Brooke putting together the large tree.  

Dad placing the star on the tree! :)

After decorating the tree we went to the local Christmas parade, downtown Chesterton. It was freezing but we managed to watch part of the parade, sipping hot cocoa, and laughing and talking with chattering teeth.  

  

Mom and Brooke all smiles in the frigid cold! 

Matthew and I sipping Dunkin Donuts cocoa! 

Fairhaven's band float, of course the best at the parade! :) 

A few weeks after this the college took the very notorious Christmas Lights Activity to Chicago! I had the best group ever, consisting of two other couples and Matt and I.  We ate at a wonderful Italian restaurant called Osterio via Stato, walked the beautiful lit streets of Chicago, and ended out the night at the Walnut for dessert! It was a fantastic evening! 

On the bus ( sorry for the foggy picture, my finger was covering the flash) 

Beautiful Chicago!

Matthew and I at dinner.  

Stephanie, as junior high and high school buddies, little did we know that we would one day go on a double date to Chicago! :) 

Mmmmm. . .yummy cheesecake at the Walnut! 

Making wonderful memories! :) 

Very large Christmas tree. . .

Loved this large wreath!  

On this same week Matthew and I went to the Handel's Messiah concert in Hyde Park, IL.  This night was also amazing, and I thoroughly enjoyed the glorious music! 

Rockefeller memorial chapel. 

Than this past Friday was our churches Christmas Banquet, Matthew and I had a splendid time serving together! I saw Matthew off yesterday afternoon and now Christmas break has begun.  This however is not going to be the usual Christmas break for me, I have foot surgery on Tuesday, but that is saved for another post! :)  That's all for now folks! :)