So…here’s the email I get from my dad this morning:
Mandy,
If you haven’t reported, you are in contemp of the court. They could possibly have a warrant out for you (not to scare). You need to call first thing in the morning and explain how you have been moving and that your husband had an operation…and beg!
Good Luck,
Dad
Umm…and do you want to know what he put in the subject line of the email: “Striped Jumpsuit!” Thanks, Dad, I appreciate that!
Umm…yeah…that might have been something worth remembering.
I had jury duty mid-January and because of the move, I forgot to report.
I need to call them before they call me. I think it looks better that way.
Can anyone out there be honest with me? Am I going to jail?
Ok I forgot to share the details of my very rotten day earlier this week, but in a condensed version:
I was headed to a Valentine’s Day playgroup party at a ranch way outside of town. It was deserted and there way little to no cell phone service. Thank the dear Lord above that our group had caravaned and two friends were in front of me. Simon had been crying most of the way and I figured he was tired and close to falling asleep. At one point, he quieted down so I turned around to see if he had gone to sleep. In that split second that I turned around, I veered off the road into a ditch filled with boulders (I mean, seriously, they were huge rocks) and blew out two of my tires. I keep trying to think what I would have done had I been alone and, honestly, I just don’t know. Luckily, the husband’s of my friends were already in town and picked up the tires and changed them for me for free! What a blessing!!!
Fast forward to this morning:
I was headed home from the gym around 7:30 and it was very cold. I had scraped the ice off my windshield before I headed to the gym and it still appeared to be clear as I left the gym. As soon as I pulled out it immediately fogged up/iced up/whatever- I don’t even remember. My rationality at the time was “Hey, I’m only a block away so I’ll just look out my window til I get home.” Bad idea. I came to a stop sign that I couldn’t see well and so I, well, rolled through it and guess who was at the other stop and almost hit me? The police department! He so kindly ushered me on through the sign although I am sure his intention wasn’t to give me the right of way…it was to turn on his lights and pull me over at one of the busiest intersections in town so that the whole town might see the youth pastor’s wife run in with the law.
I got a ticket (I have never had a citation in my life!) for running a stop sign (that’s why I failed my driver’s test the 2nd time) with an obstructed view (the whole icy windshield thing). He was very mean and made me cry and when I got home from the gym I was MAD. Not mad because I felt I had been treated unjustly. I was mad because I was humiliated and I knew what I did was wrong. Ugh! I hate consequences. But I suppose I have learned my lesson.
I had resolved to start eating salad…and I have an update: I have been successful! I have had a salad 3 times in the last week. Not big salads, mind you. Just a couple bites. But I am eating more with each one. Any good dressing ideas? I think the key to me loving salad will be a signature dressing LOL. Here is proof (again, sorry for the lighting issues!):
…especially if you are a woman and know the pain of losing baby weight. I joined the gym on 3/30/07 and since then (2.5 months) I have lost 13 pounds and 10 inches! WOO HOO! Can you tell I am rather elated. I am back in my “skinny jeans” and my bridesmaid dress that I bought in April already has to be altered again=)
Can you tell I am having a good day?
P.S. If you can tell that my posts are rather shallow and not well written or thought out this week, it is because it is VBS and I am up to my eyeballs in crafts and Pre-K LOL=)
P.P.S. Noah is in Pre-K!!!!!!!!!!!! He is so precious! He made a lanyard today and a banner.
Can’t you almost hear The Beach Boys singin?
That’s exactly where I went about a week and a half ago! Can I just tell you that my heart’s desire is for the Lord to lead us to California for our next ministry position?
But seriously I had a great. Aside from a post surgery gallbladder flare up (did you know you can have a gallbladder attack with out a gallbladder?) that results after lots of fatty foods at Disneyland, I had so much fun. My friend, Nicole, and her family are a blast and I am dying to go back again. We hit Disney (as I already said), got to see the Crystal Cathedral and Angel Stadium), went to Los Angeles and saw all the sites (we tried to see Celeb homes but those maps are too hard to read!), and went to John MacArthur’s church (www.gracechurch.org). What a blessing! My husband loves John Macarthur and it was so neat to be at his church when I hear him on the radio all the time and David uses his Bible LOL!
Anyway, I feel so blessed to have been able to have a relaxing weekend to spend with a dear friend. David never gets to take trips like this and I hate that, but his job prevents it. I feel like sometimes people think it is wrong of me or not fair to go without him, but when I sit at home with 3 children everyday (don’t get me wrong, I know that is the life I chose for myself) and never have a sitter or a break bc we hardly know anyone here, it is really nice to be able to have a weekend to myself (well Simon was with me but he is easy!)
Many blessings for a great sunshiny beautiful day!,
Mandy
P.S. Here are a couple pics!
Time is my friend, trust me. Now that I am a wee more cognizant and a little more medicated, I can expand upon yesterday’s happenings.
My surgery was at 2 p.m. They did not start until 3:15p.m. I was a spazz. Majorly. I told the anesthesiologist multiple times that I really enjoyed being alive and that my babies needed a mommy and to please not let me die. Yeah- as if people walk into the OR and say “you know, I figured this would be one heck of a way to go. If you don’t mind, could you please be extra sloppy with the care you provide me with?”
I was given versed (I think that’s how you spell it?) before they did the anesthesia. Has anyway heard of this nice lil’ amnesia- inducing drug? It is just that, I tell ya. I have no recollection of being put “under.” I just remember asking how quick the versed would calm me down and them saying “rather instantaneously.” They put one of those sticky little heart monitors on my chest and that’s the last thing I remember.
Then I woke up. At first that was okay. I was super sore, but it was bearable. They gave me two different drugs. One was demerol. The other was Torodol or something like that. I was shaking pretty bad. Within the hour I was begging for more pain meds and got one percocet, which did nothing. Absolutely nothing. I begged for more (and I am not the type to beg for pain meds) but much to my disappointment only got 600 mg of Ibuprofren. I could have cried. I would have cried. But it would have hurt too bad. This experience made all three of my child births look like days at the park. I guess that’s not saying much though cause my labors were (and I mean this in the most humble way possible) just that- a day at the park.
The pain only intensified as I got home, especially since our driveway is pure mud and rocks. The curves in the road did NOTHING to help my nausea, might I add.
My mommy hooked me up with some excellent pain killers when I got home, along with a phenergen. I had it pretty rough until around 1 this morning, but then it calmed down some. The gas from them filling my belly up with CO2 was pretty painful, but that has subsided a lot. When I absolutely did not want to get up and walk around, I made myself cause they said it would help.
So…in conclusion, I hope that my story does not frighten anyone who has to have this procedure done. I know I probably have, but almost everyone else I spoke to said I just had it rough with this one. Everyone responds differently. My 80-something year old grandma had it done a few years ago and had NO complaints what so ever. Lucky woman!!!
I’ll update ya’ll later with my progress LOL=)
cho·le·cys·tec·to·my 
[koh-luh-si-stek-tuh-mee, kol-uh-] Pronunciation Key
–noun, plural -mies. Surgery.
| removal of the gallbladder. |
May I add one more?
2. Would not wish it on my worst enemy “new kind of hell” pain.
Sorry I said hell, but I was referring to the location. Prayers please!
First order of business: I am having my gallbladder yanked from inside me on Monday. Do I sound frightened? Cause I am. I have NEVER been under general anesthesia and the term “endotracheal tube” just lights a new kind of fear inside of me. And did I mention it’s never fun when the doc fills you in on the fact that some people go under anesthesia and never wake up? Of course it helps when he follows that statement with “…but you’re young and healthy so I am sure that won’t happen to you.” If anyone reads this, please, many prayers for a safe surgery and speedy recovery.
Secondly, my parents fly into Denver tomorrow. My dad has never flown, my mom hasn’t flown in 20 years, and my sister is scared to death of it. Needless to say, it is good that we are their ride from the airport cause I am pretty sure they will be medicated=) Prayers for a safe flight!
Lastly, a youth thought it would be okay if she rubbed my husband’s back on Tuesday night. David said the very act made him “nearly vomit” and he immediately approached her after services to remind her in a very gracious and Godly way that “only my wife touches me that way.” I thought the poor gal was gonna cry. Pastor told me after the “confrontation”: “Mandy, you gotta start watchin’ your hubby more closely.” He’s probably right. Some of the girls have already told David that they’re not coming to SS unless he teaches their class=)
More to come (perhaps with or without a gallbladder)
Mandy
P.S. The surgeon told me that 3 pregnancies in a row prob did this to me. He said they (doctors) usually have 3 stereotypes for gallbladder problems: female, fat, or forty. He said “you’re not fat, you’re not forty, but you sure are fertile.” I made my own “F.” YAY!
As my profile so aptly says, my name is Mandy. I am almost 26 years old and have been married for almost 5 years. My husband, David, is the minister to youth and children at a small Southern Baptist church. We have three sons. Noah is 3. Samuel is 2. Simon is 5 months. This is our first ministry position.
This blog is a special one to me. I have numerous blogs. One that goes to family and friends to serve as updates. One that many of my high school friends use to keep in touch. And one that I share with other mommies my ages. The reason I am so excited about this one, however, is that I don’t plan on sharing it with many people I know. I can think of a select few friends that really understand what kind of “boat” I am in right now and the many ups and downs of this new journey my family and I have found ourselves on. Other than that I hope to get some support, some advice, and hopefully form new friendships with others who can relate to where we are in life right now.
