Does Blogging Count as a Hobby?

"So, What do you do for fun?" I dread that question. I often avoid filling out those email questionnaires just because I have no idea what to put in that blank labeled "Hobbies: _______". Am I really that boring?

I love having the summers off! I could probably go the entire 2 months filling them with sleep, watching TV, and shopping - but how embarrassing to report back in the fall and have nothing accomplished! I wouldn't go as far to say I'm bored because Mom always took that to mean I needed a chore! Truth is, I have PLENTY I could be doing around the house. I could organize the office and work on filing that I've been putting off for the last 3 months, I could touch up the paint in the house, I could prep the outside trim for new paint, I could work in the flower beds, I could work on lesson plans or my syllabus for next year, I could go on for awhile....

However, all of these options have zero appeal to me. I feel like I need a hobby other than watching TV. I really don't have one! Sometimes I wish I could knit or crochet, but I don't know what I would make. I wish I was more of a reader, but it's hard for me to get motivated to sit and read "for fun". (Although I've heard people rave about the Twilight series.) I enjoy skiing, but that hobby requires major travel and expenses. I like crafting, but making jewelry and such has quite a start up cost as well. I'm interested in photography, but I'd have to buy a camera! Is anyone beginning to think I'm cheap?

Maybe the issue is that I'm too lazy to do anything about my desire for a hobby! I seems to have a lot of "buts" included with my listed ideas. I just have that desire to be good at something. Any suggestions for this hobby-less girl? Or just tell me about your hobby!

Dogs Are So Perceptive

I was nervous about coming home to the dogs - don't get me wrong I missed them so much! I was just afraid they would be so excited to see us and jump all over Cameron in the celebratory process. I forgot how perceptive dogs are. They just sense when something is not quite right with you and learn their boundaries quickly. They stay out of his way when he is using the crutches from room to room. They know to stay by his left side to snuggle. Molly has learned that when she plays fetch with Cameron she has to put the toy in his hand because he can't bend down to pick it up. Dougie in particular has been watching Cameron closely with concerned eyes. He has noticed that Cameron sleeps with his leg elevated now and so he has also made the sleeping adaption!

I'm so glad we have dogs to keep us laughing!!

My Bionic Man

Here is the latest x-ray with the fixed hip! You can barely see the three cuts they made, probably harder to see on such a small picture! You can clearly see his new hardware as well as the staples along his side. I counted 42! After they made the cuts in the hip bone, they rotated the hip to fully cover the ball of the femur. They also shaved some off the femur ball to give it a more rounded shape. His hips look crooked, but he had to stand with most of his weight on his left leg during the x-ray. He is on his way to healing!

Pictures From Our Surgery Vacation

Here is a pic of the hospital. This is just one small part of this HUGE facility! Cameron was on the 7th floor. Before he went back to surgery, he had to put on these tights to prevent blood clots. Unfortunately, he has to keep wearing them for another month as he is still at risk... good thing he'll be out of the heat! It was several hours after the surgery was over before we were able to go back and see him. He was all set up in his room when we got there and was awake, just a little loopy! The second and third days were rough as he started with physical therapy and sat up for the first time. That made him dizzy and light headed, but he was tough! Obviously he never lost that sense of humor... He was moved to a new room for his 4th and 5th night stays. It had a much better view! On Friday, he made his first trip down the hall to the PT room where he practiced going up and down stairs (like we have at home up to our front porch.) Then finally we got the okay to go home! Getting into the car was tricky the first time, but we have it down to a fine art now. He did great on the trip home- slept most of the time.

There's No Place Like Home

We finally arrived home yesterday afternoon and it feels GREAT to be home! We got Cam all set up in bed and we have a chair set up for him in the living room- all places now featuring a great TV view. The dogs are glad for us to be back but were well taken care of while we were gone, thanks Jeremy!

When we pulled up in the driveway, we noticed the "lawn angels" had come to mow the lawn! Jeremy and Mandy came and brought us pizza- it was the first meal that actually sounded good to Cam. Jennifer was sweet to coordinate people to bring us dinner for awhile. We are well taken care of around here!

So I'm in the "pact" to lose some weight this summer. I dropped 2 lbs. in St. Louis, mostly from not eating! My appetite us back now that we're home so I've got to start eating healthier. Any good recipe ideas?

I'll try to get some pics posted soon from our hospital vacation!

We're Free!

"Cristina" (see previos post) came in this morning and hesistantly gave us permission to go home. Really, she was nice but just didn't want us to get home and have to turn around if there was a problem. We got the okay to go home around 8:30, but we didn't actually leave until 2:30. Discharging a patient is no quick order!

We headed to Walgreens and it started pouring down rain followed by a heavy sprinkle of hail! It took awhile to get his meds so before we got out of town Cam had to get out and walk around. Dr's orders! It just so happened that White Castle was a convienent parking lot to walk around so we felt we should honor their pavement service by purchasing one last meal before we left. Did I mention we need a White Castle in Norman?

We made it halfway home and are looking forward to getting back. My puppies miss me!

Recovery Day 4

Today was another busy day. Luckily, Cameron was able to be in a room without another patient last night. We moved across the hall where we actually got a pleasant view of St. Louis rather than the back of an old building! I was able to stay in the room too so we both got a good night's sleep.

This morning, the resident (whom Cameron refers to as "Cristina") came in for Dr. Clohisy (whom Christie and I refer to as "Dr. McDreamy") to change Cameron's dressings on his incision. She is very matter of fact and dry and you can tell gets irritated from time to time with the interns.... the parallels are hilarious! Well she noticed that his incision was oozing a bit and seemed concerned, but said she would talk to Dr. McDreamy, I mean Dr. Clohisy, to see what he wanted to do. (By the way, these doctors work LONG hours. They have come every morning around 6:30 and sometimes come back to check after 7:00pm. I could not do what they do!)

Well Cam ate breakfast then was whisked away to have a scan to check for blood clots. I think the elevator took us through a time warp because they recorded this scan on a VHS tape. Seriously? (As Meredith would say)

As soon as we got back, Cameron was sent away again for x-ray. The radiologist was nice enough to let us take a sneak peek before we left! He is now bionic man! He has 4 large screws in his right hip. This will make metal detectors fun :)

After a few minutes of rest and lunch, the physical therapist came in to work with Cameron one last time and to train me (his home health PT expert!) Cameron blew me away today. I was so stinkin' proud of him. He used the crutches all the way down the hall to the PT room and back. That is HUGE considering he hadn't made it past his hospital room door before. We also practiced going up and down a couple of steps. His competitive nature chimed in and he kicked butt! Of course, he was exhausted afterwards.

"Cristina" came back around later to tell us that "Dr. McDreamy" wanted us to stay another night. He was concerned about his incision (which I also learned how to properly dress today). After a long sigh, we said okay and convinced ourselves it is really for the better. Honestly, we just want to make sure EVERYTHING is okay before we step foot out of here! It's not an easy journey to turn around and come back if we find out something is wrong. He just got another roommate a little while ago. Hopefully he's a quiet sleeper! Cameron is a trooper and is trucking through one more night.

Now if only the Cardinal's would straighten up and win tonight it might make his experience more enjoyable! How do you lose the whole series to the Royals at home?

Seriously...

Recovery Day 3

We are wireless! Cam got all of the bells and whistles removed late this afternoon so we are now mobile and free standing. Hopefully he will sleep better tonight without all the tubes. He didn't sleep too well last night. Because he is in a semi-private room with another patient, I was not allowed to stay the night in his room, but I slept in the waiting area and came in to check on him throughout the night. When I came in around 2:30, he was watching Cosby Show reruns on TV. He turned up the volume during my favorite part of the show. I married a good man :)

Getting out of bed was easier today then yesterday. He also used crutches for the first time to the door and back. (Still no trips down the hall). Tomorrow we are going to practice going up a couple of steps with crutches because we have 2 steps leading to our front door. They think of everything around here!

We still have another day in the hospital tomorrow, but should be on schedule to discharge late in the afternoon. He still has to do x-rays and yada yada.

Today was a busy day. Between the physical therapy visits, Cameron managed to get a quick nap. (It never fails that right when he falls into a deep sleep, someone comes to wake him up!) We had received a bill from the hospital right before we left town from the radiologist who did his initial x-rays at his consultation appointment a couple of months ago. Instead of wasting a stamp, I figured I would just pay it when we got here. So Christie and I went out on an excursion today to find where I could make that payment. We go down to the information desk on the 1st floor of the building and the lady informed us that the office was 3 blocks away. We decided we would walk and started to head outside. Oh no, it's 3 city blocks of HALLWAYS. This facility is mind-boggling enormous. Sure enough, we walked inside all these connecting tunnels (beautiful by the way) to get to the building we needed!

Off to go eat Cam's leftover dinner!

Recovery Day 2

Today was a little tougher, but we were told it would be the hardest day. If this was the toughest part of recovery, then we are going to do fine! I'm sure going home will bring on a whole new set of issues, but Cam is being very patient and learning his limits.

Well the "walk down the hall" was more like a walk to the door and back today! I misunderstood what PT said yesterday. There have been several of those misunderstandings with different nurses and therapists, but I think we are getting it all figured out.

Tomorrow they are going to take out some more tubes and IVs so we can be more mobile. Maybe we'll make it down the hall tomorrow...

Lori

Recovery Day 1

Cameron is halfway through the first day of recovery. He is doing great. The doctor described the surgery as "excellent" and said that everything went as planned. His surgery was actually moved up a couple of hours due to a cancellation. That worked out well because he hadn't had anything to eat or drink since midnight. His "last meal" of choice was White Castle double cheeseburgers. He feels very strongly that we need a White Castle in Norman. We haven't tried their burgers from the freezer section at the store, something about that just seems wrong.

Anyways, when we got to the surgery check-in on Monday morning, they had his file marked with a "rush" stamp. We were kind of caught in a whirlwind as he quickly checked in. Then he went back for some blood work and then up to pre-op. When I went up with him for the pre-op stuff, I didn't realize that's what we were doing! His parents did not get to hug him before surgery because it all moved so fast. That did not make mother-in-law happy and I don't blame her! They let me stay with him until they put in the epidural -then I was off to the waiting room! It was a bit tricky finding my way back down stairs. I'm still not sure what secret passage way they took me on when we went up.

In an effort to avoid tearing up when I left Cameron, my philosophy was to just keep moving. So I took the nearest elevator and followed a doctor down - mistake. That led me to some other secret floor that I'm pretty sure I didn't have clearance to be on. So back on the elevator to a familiar floor. How about 2? Sure. Unfortunately the hospital has like 4 sets of elevators and not all of them service all the floors. So I got off on the second floor and I knew I was looking for M (aka the first floor - had to figure that one out too). I rounded a corner and luckily I found the central elevators which took me to the right place.

What I didn't realize is that one of Cameron's doctors was frantically following me in my twisted path to give me his glasses. Poor lady! She said when she saw me get on that first elevator she thought "Oh great, I'm never going to find her". But she did and all is well.. Sorry Madeline :)

I sat with mom- and dad-in law back in the far corner of the waiting area. I could not have done this without them (and my parents were ready to travel if they weren't able to come!) After many hours of staying occupied with computers and puzzle books, we finally got the page that Cameron was out of surgery and headed to recovery. Thank you God! I managed not to cry once while waiting - I had packed LOTS of tissue, I guess it's like the umbrella theory. I literally felt all of your prayers draped over me while I was waiting. The only thing that made me want to cry was realizing how many friends and family were thinking about us and praying for Cameron during the day. I cannot thank you enough.

Cameron has done pretty well today. He's still really groggy from the anesthesia, but is eating a little better and was able to sit up at the end of the bed for a few minutes. Tomorrow we're going to take a walk down the hall! Wahoo!

Hollingsworth and the 3 Hotel Rooms

Well, it was an adventure searching for a hotel room last night. I felt like Goldilocks! This one was too tiny...



This one was too smokey...





Finally, this one was just right! Ahh...



We laughed a lot which kept our spirits high and our minds off of the surgery.

We are in the waiting room now trying to keep technologically occupied! That's what Cameron would want afterall... We got a page at 12:17 saying they started surgery and would get an update every 2 hours. The surgery shouldn't take more than 3-4 hours so we should be getting an update soon. Cameron was in good spirits, just ready to get this over with!

I will have to give a plug for Barnes-Jewish hospital... they have got their ducks all in a row here! We have been well taken care of and they are great about keeping us informed. If only I had cell phone service down here....

On the Road Again...

We're off (finally) to St. Louis. Leaving town is always more complicated than expected. No matter how much you plan ahead of time, something unexpected always arises! For instance, this morning while loading the car, my father-in-law (Phil) got stung by a wasp on the back of his head. Really God? Today? Poor guy!

Then Cameron had his hopes set on eating at Ozzie's before we left town. We pull up and walk in to see people backed up to the door waiting for a seat. Seeing as how we were already behind schedule, we opted for Waffle House instead. Never been to the one in Norman, but it seems to be the regular Hot Spot for the locally famous. Rumor has it that Bobby Stoops is a frequent diner - but today we sat two booths from Ashley Paris and the gang!

We filled up the tank before we left town at the West Side Wally World. It doesn't mater what time of day you choose, that place is ALWAYS busy. And if you are out and about looking to be annoyed, go ahead and stop by to use their new automated cashier at the pump... Sigh.

But now all is well, all buckled in and toodling down the road. Cameron already pulled out the PSP and we're not even through OKC yet!

I think we're all finding something to do to keep our minds from dwelling about tomorrow. Surgery is at 2 tomorrow. Pray for steady hands, alert minds, and peace for us in the waiting room!

More updates to come...

I Love My Life Group

.. and I'm not just saying that because I know they will read this! Tonight our Life Group met us for a "surprise" dinner at the Mont. We had the best time telling stories (thanks for the nursing stories, Karen) and just chatting. They all came to hang out with Cameron and I before we leave for St. Louis.

Out of the blue, Cameron and I were presented with the biggest bag/cooler of candy I have ever seen (it's one of those bags that is insulated!) Our friends know us well because they understand our obsession with candy. When I lived with Kristen, she witnessed several "candy runs" to the store. They got us a gift card to help with gas, an iTunes gift card (so Cameron can FINALLY download the Steve Miller Band album he has been patiently waiting for), some must have Dr. Pepper for the trip, a variety of puzzle books, and much to Cameron's glee - a PSP loaner equipped with games. He will be one happy camper in that hospital bed!

It's times like this where I feel truly blessed. Not because of the material gifts, but because I know we have friends that really know us and want to take care of us in a time of need.

Pictures from Painting

Cameron showed me how to get pictures off my phone onto my computer! Here are the before and after pics of our weekend project.

BEFORE:

IN THE MIDDLE:



FINISHED!

The "Must Haves" for a long night of painting

• Someone to talk to (otherwise you start talking to yourself or the dogs)
• Classic Rock music station on TV (least likely to replay a song in the 6 hour time period)
• A ladder (I'm not as tall as I think I am)
• Painter's tape (it's expensive but worth it, and no, masking tape will not do)
• Caulk (no matter how much you try, the paint will not stay in the nail hole by itself)
• A curious dog (inevitably they will get paint on their face and it will make you laugh all night)
• A wet rag (as it gets later, the drips on the floor get bigger)
  
• And last but not least, a Route 44 Diet Coke with Lime!
  

It's Really Up to You

The bug has hit us again (no, not for kids) - it was home improvement weekend! That's right - the kind of weekend that takes 4 trips to Lowe's, 2 trips to Forest Lumber, 31/2 trips to Home Depot (once just to the parking lot to be reminded that they close early on Sunday), and 2 trips to Wal-Mart. We are exhausted, well physically obviously not mentally because I'm still up at 3am!

Cameron realized that this weekend is his last opportunity to put down baseboards in our bedroom before it gets cold outside. He will be basically non-bendable for the rest of the summer! First we had to decide what base to get.... this is where I use my coin term "It's really up to you". I have learned that no matter how many opinions I have about how we should remodel the house, it doesn't matter because I married a visionary who has his own grand plan already in mind. I do realize that most women thrive on the fact that they get to design their homes, but I've surrendered to my husband. He's really better at it than I am! Usually if I decide, it's just the easiest or cheapest way to design (thanks Dad).

Now don't feel sorry for me thinking that Cameron is overbearing or doesn't care about my thoughts. Truth is, he does ask me what I think - I just know that in the end he will do it his way, so why stick my heels in the ground about it? And, by letting him design the house with his "vision" I feel totally blameless if problems arise. It wasn't my idea! I'm guilt free. See the beauty?

As we were applying the 3rd coat of paint, we both decided that although it's really cool to get to design your house, it's A LOT of work! Next time I pick out base, I hope it's with a home builder who will install it all for us!

Somehow I don't think that's in my future. Cameron has too many tools that would get lonely without some frequent use :)

Of course installing the baseboards prompted several other projects that have been long overdue. Once you get out that saw, you just can't stop! Hopefully we will get everything wrapped up tomorrow... I am writing from my bed that is currently taking up every square foot of free space in our living room. I will try to post some pictures soon.

The Dryer Saga

So just as I was getting motivated to get the house clean and get caught up on laundry, I hit a major set back. I had some towels in the dryer and when I went to take them out, I noticed they were still damp. Not too unusual because they are thick towels, so I put another 20 minutes on the dial. Came back, same story. Huh... one more time. Nope, still damp. I realized that the dryer is running, but not putting out any heat.

Wonderful, now I'm mad - I hate it when things don't work. I come into the living room, interrupt Cameron's MLB baseball game (cardinal sin of marriage, I know) to throw my little fit about the dryer not working. He gives me this priceless look with his hands up in the air. "Um, Lori. I'm not an appliance repair man! What do you want me to do about it?"

Fix it, that's what I want - I want my husband to fix it! Well, he's right - he's not an appliance repair man and has no idea how to fix it. I'm just so used to him being able to fix everything! So finally I start calling around to different repair places to ask what the problem might be. We think it is the heating element that went bad. To Cameron's defense, he did take off the back panel of the dryer and at least attempt to find the problem :)

After contemplating whether or not to have it repaired or invest in a new dryer, we decided to have someone come out and fix it. Good dryers are expensive! (Especially when you want a pretty one!)

So the sheets that were in the washer waiting to be dried had to air dry and are now nice and crunchy...

I caved...

Just as predicted, I caved and we bought a new TV yesterday! I'm actually very excited now because when Cameron is playing video games I can watch a good TV. I know... I'm spoiled. Cameron says he just bought me an excuse to stay in bed all day. It will come in handy when he has his surgery because he can hook up the Playstation and his computer to the TV and do everything from bed!

Cameron went and gave blood again today. He is banking his own blood to be used during his surgery. Did you know you have to pay to bank your OWN blood? Highway robbery if you ask me. Hopefully insurance will reimburse us, but if not I feel better knowing he is getting his own blood back. One less thing to worry about during surgery.

We are starting to get everything ready to go to St. Louis in a couple of weeks. This sounds strange, but I am getting that "nesting" feeling most women get before they have a baby! I want the house to be perfect for when we get back. Not sure why, but I guess cleaning is my way of coping.