Days In The Trees....Views of Recovery

My medications have lessened  and I am more cognizant of my life the last few days and these days in the trees have been immersed in tranquility.  We have had a couple of rainy days, but mostly the days have been a delightful dose of sunlight filtered through the swaying branches of these Giant Sequoia's.  Such straight, tall trees that sway in the wind.  The wind which builds in an echoing roar through the branches as the it climbs the hillside and wanes away into the sky.  The beauty and solitude of the surrounding nature is overwhelming.  The simplicity of the quaint, comfortable house is very healing.  I will let the rest of the words develop in your own mind through the pictures of the different views I have had.  When my Dad arrived, he brought my sister's chair which is a reclining lounge chair which allowed me to relax outside and soak up some of the surroundings.  So from my seat I have taken several shots of the surrounding view.  You will never catch the scope unless you are here in person though, as it always is with me, I can never capture exactly what I long to on the camera.

My first venture outside... all bundled.

This is the side deck.....

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 The view from my bed...

 My views are mostly looking up!

 the road going past the house...

 Out front... Whitney walking up the drive...

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The view from the back deck...

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 On the brick patio...

A grateful mention....

I can not say enough about this recovery time away from home.  There are many facets to this time that bless me to my deepest fibers.
Let me list some:
family going out of their way to take care of my home while I was gone and my precious daughter, Kaylee, friends taking time out of their week to spend time with Kaylee and help with my house, family taking time out of their busy lives to spend time nursing me back to health, the constant outpouring of prayer and encouragement of friends from all over and the immense and indescribable beauty of God's creation.

I have very little memory of the first week after surgery.  I know that Jason's Mom and my mom, Miriam and Diane, paired with Jason and Whitney, took care of my every need.  I was carefully lifted from bed to get to the restroom or the sofa, a detailed list of pain med.s and dietary med.s were kept and dosed to me on a religious schedule, I was fed with the utmost care each day, all day, and I had to be walked to keep my body functioning properly, but not too much--- and every aspect of my life was not in my control.  I wanted for nothing.... and although I don't remember much of that time, as I was VERY medicated due to the radical nature of the surgery, I do remember the acts and the impressions of cushions of care and layers of love that were surrounding me during that time frame.

(Again...not many pictures taken during this time.)

Then the Moms left, after Easter and my care was left to Jason and Whitney.  I am so grateful to my husband who saved up every ounce of vacation time to arrange to be with me before, during and after surgery for as long as he could.  Jason has been my rock and my constant encouragement that God's hand was on this situation.

Jason was relieved by my Dad, Jerry, who arrived on Wednesday or Thursday of last week.  My Dad has carefully doted on my every need.  My dad has carefully meal planned and feeds and logs my meds,  Even as he has very pressing matters at work, he came up here to finish off my recuperation time and take me home in the most comfortable vehicle available to me, the Expedition.

Whitney has been my constant source of company and entertainment.  I am thankful that she so willingly gave up her time to hang out with me.  I have enjoyed hours of time in her company.

In the Hospital....Surgery #4

When I researched hospitals, Good Samaritan did not have good ratings via the computer, and I was disappointed when I found out that I would have to have surgery at that location.  I can tell you that from admitting all the way through, I had really good care.  The admitting nurses were my favorite, mainly because I remember them more clearly, as my surgery was delayed several hours.  They kept me comfortable hooked up to a gown that had a warm air blower attached via a tube.  It was crazy, but super comfy.

All of my family showed up, just about, all that could be there.  Dad (Jones) and Kaylee (and William) stayed home to hold down the fort.  It was nice as they kept rotating visiting with me before surgery.... and possibly after surgery, which I just don't remember.  Although I hear stories of me singing "I feel pretty, oh, so pretty" after surgery, so I think I am glad that I don't remember!

 (other people there but not pictured were Jason and my mom, Diane.)

 God provided me with an unbelievable peace going into the surgery and leading up to the surgery.  Other than some requests for encouragement from my wonderful husband, that I can make it and everything will be fine, I was very much at peace.  By the way, I don't know how my husband escape photos, but he did, I didn't catch any photos of him on the whole trip!  Anyway, back to God....  I am very grateful and don't know how it is possible....although I do know.... God promises His Peace that passes all understanding.  And that is what was granted me.  I am a fearful person by nature and I was entering into the biggest surgery of my life.  ON TOP OF the fact that I was told the day before that my uterus was diseased and may or may not be symptomatic after surgery.... so I had to rest in the decision we had made to remove the uterus, and how much of it to remove.  It is crazy to think that the smiles in those pictures are not just drugged manifestations of bravery... those smiles were genuine.... there was joy and laughter on my lips as I waited.  Now...to be honest, I was given some oral medication when I was admitted, but I stand by the fact that I handled the event with peace.

"2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation.  The Lord be with you all."