Deck the halls (and the Schneiders!)

I love this picture of Larry with his mama and brother and sister. 

Even though my heart is just not in it yet, Larry and I finished the tree and decorated this past weekend.  

The tree is pretty much Kizzi proof, bedecked with soft, stuffed ornaments and things that won't break.  We're trying to teach him but he is SOOOOO enamored with that tree.  We've gone with a sort of vintage red truck Christmas for our "theme" this year and I like it.  I bought this tablecloth and a buffalo red and black check runner to use in the dining room and a couple of pillow covers for the living room.  There's also a red truck flag to go outside.  

The Super Fabulous Schneider Christmas Tree of 2018

(Wonky star on top courtesy of Kizzi)

Three weeks

Today is three weeks since my surgery and while the incision pain is better at times (but at night, OMG), I still don't feel much difference in the nerve pain.  My foot still burns and my toes still feel like they have electric current running through them (and they "crackle" when they are touched!  Ow!).  My toes also have a sharp biting pain at times, too, like something with really sharp teeth is biting them.  And it's not Kizzi!

I have bouts of sadness, tears and a general feeling of self-pity, and then sometimes I'm okay with it.  I wish I'd never had the surgery, that's a fact, Jack, but I did and I have to live with that decision.  This whole experience has been a nightmare, physically, emotionally and now financially, since Worker's Comp has not paid me yet.  They owe me $2,300!  

My doctor was not able to take out the staples last week because my foot was still badly swollen and there's a huge hematoma underneath the incision so he put me in a cast to wear for another two weeks.  Notice I said staples and not stitches.  I have 17 metal staples in my foot and it looks HORRIBLE.  

I chose pink for my cast color.  Of course I did.  I've been watching tons of holiday baking shows and Hallmark Christmas movies.  Sigh.

I'm halfway through the initial healing period so I'll just see what the next three weeks bring.  I'm going back to the doctor next week so hopefully I can get these staples out, get in a boot and in another two weeks, be able to walk around on it.  My knee scooter has been a Godsend as far as my mobility goes and I highly recommend them.  It makes getting around so much easier and helps me to be more independent.

But waaaaaah.  And stuff.

Things that are keeping me sane right now

After you've had surgery, you need a few things to indulge in to make you feel less icky and more like yourself.  Here are some that I've been using and love.

Avocado Honey Rich Water Balm Cream.  I got a sample in my ipsy bag this month and oh my goodness, it was right on time!  I love anything avocado anyway but this stuff is amazing.  It smells good, it goes on smooth and leaves your face (or anywhere, really) soft and moisturized.  We just turned the heat on in the house for the first time this fall and this stuff keeps my skin super hydrated.  A+++++

Brazilian Bum Bum Cream.  I've been using this cream since early summer.  It's a wonderful body cream that is supposed to tighten skin (on your bum! They pronounce it "boom boom" in Brazil, btw).  I don't know about that but I have used it all over because I adore the scent!  Pistachio, almond, vanilla, salted caramel.  I mean, it smells so good, you'll want to eat it.  Don't, though.  Put it on your booty instead!  And your arms, your legs, everywhere.  I took mine to the beach in September.  LOVE!

99% Mermaid Shea Butter Hand Cream from Bath and Body Works.  I picked up a tube the last time I was in there and I absolutely love it.  

Unfortunately, they're all about Christmas right now so you might not be able to find it in the stores anymore.  

Sunlit Apple Blossom scent.  It's like buttah.

I'm really loving the Olay Whipped Body Wash, too!  It makes bathing really easy when you're having to sit astraddle the tub with one foot in and one foot out.  I know, you could have gone all day without that visual.  Larry helped me with all that at first but now I can do it by myself.  Yay for progress!

We had to let our housekeeper go just before I had surgery, which caused all kinds of stress for me.  If you know me, you know I keep a clean house.  I didn't want all that extra work put on Larry and what terrible timing to have to do it now.  But she took money from me for work she didn't do and I can't abide that.  I use the Nextdoor app to stay in touch with our neighbors and the goings on in our neighborhood and I was able to find a lady to replace her!  She came over yesterday and met us and she'll clean for us tomorrow while we're gone to Columbus to the doctor to get these blankety-blank stitches out.  She only charges a dollar more an hour, too.  AND she brings her own lavender-scented cleaning supplies. My favorite scent. Thank you, Lord, for all of your blessings!!

I've been doing some Christmas shopping online, too.  QVC is my Santa! 

Recovery

Today is ten days since my ankle surgery.  Except for the horrible burning nerve pain that I'm still feeling, my foot really feels no different than before.  The pain at night is so bad that I can't sleep and only muscle relaxers knock me out.  My doctor in Columbus told me going in that there were no guarantees but I still had to try.  I had to TRY. 

During the procedure, he discovered the cause for my nerve pain.  Two layers of scar tissue was crushing it so he clamped the nerve out of the way while he scraped the scar tissue off and he also repaired the two torn ligaments and reattached a severed tendon (that we didn't know about) with anchors, sewed me up and then a couple of male nurses picked me up and body slammed me to the floor.

The first four days after my surgery were pure hell.  I had this unbearable muscle pain in my stomach, neck and shoulders from the anesthesia.  All I did was cry.  I took just about all of my Percocet but they didn't even help.  It was misery.  I couldn't move.  Mama and Daddy came to stay with us the Monday before my surgery and I don't know what I would have done without them and Larry taking such good care of me.  Larry helped me with my baths and Mama cooked and cleaned and did laundry and helped us take care of our boys.  Banjo loved going outside with Paw Paw!  

This is me before my surgery.  All fresh-faced and full of hope.  

This is me after.  Coming off of Propofol and ready to fight.

Ain't that the stuff that killed Michael Jackson??!!

The boys have kept me company and Kizzi is starting to find his place in our family.  And in our Christmas tree!  Tabbie Hoffman never touched a tree.  Kizzi has been up close and personal six times.  He's so much different from Tabbie.  Tabbie Hoffman is laidback and cool, just like his namesake.  Kizzi is a hurricane.  Climbing and biting and scratching and tearing up the place.  I feel like somebody just put him out in the country where Larry found him.  They couldn't deal with his bad little self.  He just needs to learn the rules.  Mama will teach him.

He better be glad he's so dang cute.

The boys and I have been binge watching "Game of Thrones", too.  Larry watched it earlier this year but I didn't so now I'm watching.  I'm getting hooked!  I want to freakin' kill that Joffrey punk, though.  Or at least take a good old-fashioned switch to him.  He's what??  13??  I'd beat his ass.

I go back to the doctor Monday to get the stitches taken out and I guess they'll put me in a boot of some sort.  It is extremely hard to be non-weightbearing for two weeks and I've done the best I could.  I was using a walker at first but I got my knee scooter yesterday so I'm more mobile and can get around the house.  It feels SO GOOD to be out of bed and in my kitchen again.  

Dear readers, please pray for healing for me.  Pray this nerve will calm down and I'll have a normal life again.  

Kizzi

We welcomed a new member into our family yesterday!  

Larry found this sweet baby at a job site.  All alone, starving and scared to death.  He sent me a pic and then called me.  I said, "bring that baby home!"

After stopping to get the little feller something to eat (which he devoured!), that's exactly what Larry did.  We gave him a flea bath and then made him comfy in the garage last night but today, we moved him to one of our bathrooms to acclimate.

We named him Kismet Rain Schneider.  It was a rainy day when Larry found him and kismet that he found Larry.  

We're head over heels already!