Finally some zzzz's.

 I slept.  Ahhh.  So much better.  It feels a bit like my brain has calmed down. 

I woke at 12:30 and made it to the toilet.  Massive achievement here.  I went downstairs to brag about it to Eric and Jia.  Plus get a popsicle ;) Earned it, being a big girl and getting to the potty on time.  

Recovery is hard.  

It's nice out and I desperately want to take the pups for a walk.  I'm no where near getting far from home. Ya'll know I have no patience.  

I have some paperwork problems and a computer issue to deal with today. This afternoon I have a phone appointment with the new g.i. Doctor. At least I'm not bored, just a bit frustrated.

Not sleeping.

 

Rough road here too. 

Fecal incontinence is no joke.

My butt still has freezing.  So no pain yet.  

It is extremely daunting to imagine life in diapers full time for months.  Camping, cruising, shopping, Jeeping, hiking.  Aahhhh.

And let's all collectively pray that it is indeed only months and not forever.

I have reacted badly to the drugs from yesterday.  Lili said it was like my adhd went wild.  Haha.  Except with poor balance and horrible memory loss.  They told me to expect to feel drunk for a couple days.  Nope, just off balance and forgetful.

I'm not intending to take any pain meds, I'd rather have the pain.

To be clear, I haven't been diagnosed with adhd.  I will admit that in reading about the kids it's pretty clear that both Eric and I have a LOT of markers.  I see it as a super power though.  Haha.

So, of course, while I'm working on very little sleep a whole lot of phone calls, emails, texts,  paperwork, computer and printer issues popped up today.  It's been a stupid busy morning.  I got some finished.  Some not.  

I did get a call today from the adjudication person for the disability cpp.  She said they normally send a letter but she wanted to ask me how the hell I worked so long.  We had some good laughs together.  I told her I was a tough bitch.  Anyways....approved.  a bit more paperwork to muddle through.  I have to prove the kids are legally adopted.  Fei gets to make a claim on my disability too because she is back in school and living here.  Nice wee bonus for her.  The forms are being mailed so I get a few days off before figuring those out.

Retirement is sure busy.  Haha.

My Mommy keeps my toes on track by treating me to spa days with her and Poppy.  These were done in time for surgery.  Yes, they were noticed ;)

Orange for our Holland America cruise in a couple weeks.

Our ship was in the Victoria port when we were there on Friday.  The first port day of the year.  I didn't realize until later that it was 'our' next ship.  I was soooo looking forward to the hydro pool.  I might not be ready for water, I might be stuck with the rock beds.  Sigh.

Poppy is such a good girl.  She just sits calmly the whole time.

I got to spend the day with Christine for her 60th Birthday on Saturday.

We went to Superior Farms for the petting zoo.  We weren't allowed to pet the cows.  They lost their manners over winter and their horns are a concern.

So, sadly this little guy was the only critter that cared to be touched.

This guy spit at me and walked away quickly with side eye.

This is Annie, she is infertile.  We bonded with some chatter and eye contact.  I did get to hug her last year.

This is Bruce.  He is neutered. 

This is Dragonfly.  Her baby was the one we met last year and he was adopted out to Porters Farm.  He is very loved and has a friend coming from somewhere else so he won't be alone.

So sweet.

The petting zoo was a bust overall but we enjoyed just being together and visiting.  Then to Red's in Nanaimo for cheesecake.  Yum.  

I don't know how we got to be 60.  That's just crazy.  My mind is still a teenager.

When one can't sleep they shop.

I wanted red crocs to stay in Onyx for camping slip ons for the middle of the night.  Then I wondered if Temu had dragon shoes.  They do.  Thousands of them.  It was the beach towels all over again.  I had 15 pairs in the cart and finally whittled it down to these.  Can't wait for them to come.

I also booked camping for Mother's Day weekend.  Canada Day and Eric's Birthday.  With fingers crossed we won't have to cancel.  

Update on the barefoot shoes.  I LOVE THEM.  The ones I have are a bit loose around the ankles.  Now I want sandals too.  The shopping has begun.  I still don't know what makes them diabetic shoes but it really is fabulous to walk in them, even on pavement.

Eric went to town to get our personal taxes from the accountant.  He  brought them home for me to sign.  He took Jia with him to drop the signed papers back and they brought me home a ramen.  It had too much garlic for me so Eric scored a bowl of soup.

I'm a bit nervous to nap, I think I should attempt staying awake at this point so I might get some sleep tonight.  

Recovery sucks but is easier in many ways than the uncertainty of waiting and wondering.  

Survival

 

Just home from surgery.

Up at 3am, did a 2nd enena and surgical scrub shower.  Checked into Royal Jubilee at 6.  Went to sleep at 8.  Woke up at noon.  Home at 2:30.

Dr McPhearson told me just before I went to sleep that he was planning to cut, biopsy, close and cauterize the two open fistulas.  I am in support groups for anal cancer, chrones, short bowel syndrome, colectomies and fistulas.  Plus cecostomy for Luk.  I have never heard of a fistula being cut out and closed.  So that's wild.

He called Eric at 9:30 to say he excised the entire area.  Wow. Yikes.  Holly Cow.  He thought things looked good.  He's put in for urgent results and perhaps in a week.  Finally that I should expect total fecal incontinence for a couple months.  Sob.  

Right this second I am still very frozen and very swollen.  There isn't any pain yet.   Eric picked up meds and popsicles for me.

Time to nap.

Miniature World

Lili drove me and Mom to Victoria to visit Miniature World.

Ist stop vegan cookie dough for us and a cinnamon bun for Mom.

Interesting fact.  The wood bricks in this alley in Chinatown were supplied by B&L Forest Products Ltd.

She claimed this the best dessert ever.  Maple cream, apple and pecans topping the cinnamon bun.

Tulips are up in front of the Empress.

The circus is still my favorite part.

Time to kill before dinner so we hung out in the Bay Center for a bit. 

Poppy is exhausted.  It felt like a lot of walking today but Lili's counter said only 4 kms.

This was the funniest display at miniature world.  If you zoom...there are nekked peoples in there.  Haha.  Made me laugh.

The displays are a lot of fun.  Very cute.  Worth a stop in.

Lastly we tried Burger Crack.  The vegan milkshake was amazing.  The fries were good.  The burgers were ok.  The price was decent.  

The old folks are tired.  Lili dropped us off and then skedaddled to go hang out with friends.

It was a fun wee tiny holiday away from home and all light hearted.

Children's

 

Luk had a couple more cow photos.

We still haven't heard if, when or how they were rescued.  They belong to our neighbor behind us.  He had them a fair distance from home.

It was sibling appreciation day at Children's again.  Lucky us.  We stayed and played after Luk's clinic.

Ellie.

She is soooo mild mannered.  So sweet.  Always the best part.

We've met a few of the therapy dogs now.

The boys had shopping bags and went table to table taking what they wanted.  Kai only takes what he genuinely likes.  Luk had to be pushed to take anything.  He grabbed me a sticker and pen.  A mini teddy, bubbles and a fidget for Jia.  Candy for himself.  He wouldn't grab anything until I explained that the program won't continue if they don't hand out the things.  We then looked at some of the other kids who were really enjoying the shopping experience and he then gracefully tolerated the rest of the experience.

So many appointments, plus an ultrasound.  We skipped occupational therapist and orthotics today.

Luk did great.  All is going well for him this time. No major changes.

The social worker team was really pushing transitions to adult care.  Eric and I sent the boys out and talked to the team in charge today.  Explaining that it's hard to talk about Luk in front of him.  That we don't see the kind of ability, growth and maturity they seem to be expecting.  Like....we are NO where near reaching the goals on their lists.  They are going to take our concerns to the board and request better testing on his learning challenges and executive functioning. 

Kai likes traveling, he likes road trips, the ferry, hotels and he loves eating out..  He didn't care for four hours of sitting and waiting with constant talking about Luk.  Haha.

Our hotel night was great, there was a better than usual breakfast provided.  Such a beautiful day.  Such a shame to be stuck in a city.  

We had time to kill before checking into the hotel so we hit Tswassen Mills.  We played in Cabelos, wandered the whole mall, let the boys pick out snacks for the hotel and explored the duck museum.  I know ya'll will be shocked by this but I did NOT buy any ducks.  

Eric looked out and laughed.  Nothing like a gorgeous sunset over Costco.  

Lili caught Esmei outside yesterday!  

Zoom in on her eyes, she looks petrified.

The trip went well.  All good for all of us.  The ferry was great there and back.  The drive home from the Victoria route was hard.  Two hours and forty minutes!!  We definitely didn't save any time.

1/8th of a tank there, 5/8th to get back.

I was online at 7 this morning to get a site for Eric's 60th Birthday and I hit reserve exactly 1 second after 7, I got two sites in the cart and still didn't get one.  I think we need something more exciting than camping to celebrate.  I did suggest today a standby cruise to Alaska, he likes that idea.  There is an inside passage leaving on his bday and the rate is $99 a day.  We like the gamble part.  If we don't get picked, we would be left with no plan in place.  It's so hard to plan anything when we just have no idea what is next for me health wise.

Cows on the loose.

 

It's so hard to leave them sometimes.  Even when it's only a couple days.

Obligatory ferry shots.

Enjoying the sun, the view and the pirate paks.

Luk's picture.

16 pregnant cows on the loose.

These are out of order.  Most of the cows ran down this driveway.  The old holly farm.  Eric closed the gate.  We drove back to let the farmer know where they were but he was gone so we went to a house that had come out at the scene.  She said she would call and let someone know where they were. So we thought perhaps they were found.  However, an hour later I read on Facebook that the search was still on.

Cars weren't pulling over.  People are dumb.  Soooo dumb.

We watched these girls break through the fence.  Eric pulled over and we both got out.  I was trying to get them towards Eric who was trying to direct them back home.

An idiot driver flew up and scared them.  Eric was waving for him to stop but he was determined.  Then there were lots of words.  Eric let him know clearly what a total jackwod loser he was. 

They ended up running down the road on Lakes towards Herd.  Oy.

And....this is why....I always leave a buffer time on ALL road trips.  We weren't late for the ferry.  

I thought I was very brave getting so close to the big girls.  Luk said I looked like a 6 year old out there.  Haha.  Probably.  

If anyone hears how they are please let me know.