A Milestone Day

Today is a milestone day in my life and one I couldn’t ignore if I wanted.  Not only did Elvis die on this very day, August 16, 1977, but 168 months ago today I was stripped nekkid, draped in lovely green cloths, swabbed to a beautiful shade of orange and laid out in a sterile room to wait.  I was about to be sliced diced and filleted like a fish and absolutely scared to death. 

On this day, 5114 days ago, Dr. K placed her skillful and gloved hands inside my abdomen and removed a rather large mass that had been bothering me for some months and was growing larger by the day, hour, and minute.  There was no way around it.   It had to be removed.

I was very unpleasantly numb from the waist down.  I hated that feeling.  I felt so helpless and I couldn’t imagine being that way the rest of my life which is what I was fearing at the time.  Doctor Anesthesiologist was perched on a little stool and hovering close to my head, all the while talking to me quietly and trying to calm my fears.    I shared with him a secret.  It’s my birthday.  The doctors and nurses all exclaimed and asked how old I was.  I told them……..I’m 38 years old today and this is not how I imagined spending this birthday. 

All went well with the surgery and I felt a great deal of relief after having the mass gone from my body.  However, because of the removal of this mass and what it consisted of, my life was forever changed.  I’d been given a chance for another chapter in my life.  Not a chapter I voluntarily chose to open but nonetheless, a gift thrust upon me by fate.  An opportunity to right some wrongs and do lots of things differently.  A chance to view the world with a whole different perspective and I was scared at what my future held but also excited at this journey before me.

On this day, 122736 hours ago, a 7 pound 9 ounce wiggling crying mass of cheese covered arms, legs, and fuzz covered head was removed from my body.

Here is the first picture of the beautiful mass that was removed from my body on this day, 7364160 minutes ago. 

Dr. K has him by the waist pulling him out butt first.

This event certainly changed the course of my life and created many new and exciting and some not so great adventures for me to carefully navigate during this middle-aged period of my life. 

Hawaii baby!! 3-95

Happy 14th Birthday, Son!  I miss the days I could hold your plump wiggling little body and breathe in your clean baby smell.  Now you barely stop long enough for a hug and most of the time you are sporting the sweaty kid No.5 scent.  I’ll admit some days I don’t even like you, my youngest son, but I’ll always love you and I hold on to hope that someday you’ll grow up and realize the depth of love that is in my heart just for you.  I can’t imagine a better birthday present than the one I received 728 weeks ago today but you readers could make it a good by day by leaving me a nice comment telling me how great I look for my age.  Ha!

HAPPY TRAILS, Y’ALL