From Kara!

Good morning! After a good night sleep and some good news this morning I feel like  blogging a bit!

Hasn't my sweet husband done a great job keeping this up for ? I love hm so much for it. 

I am having to type one fingered because my right hand isn't quite that coordinated yet. But it is gaining strength.  In fact I am really happy that my upper body, belly button up, is mostly normal and capable.  I anticipate nothing but full use and recovery there and probably very quickly.

My lower body is another story.  I have great motion and muscle use (so they tell me!). GOOD!  I have discovered, however that being able to move my legs is great, but, when you can't feel what or how you're moving them it makes the process of doing anything on you own impossible.  I have had two Physical Therapy visits.  Each difficult and each painful and somewhat scary.  When they do eventually get me up on my feet they have harness around my waist and attached to them and then they lift me up.  They tell me I am using my muscles to hold me up but I can't feel that and I certainly don't feel like my feet are on the ground. I feel like I am literally floating in mid-air and upright. It is by far the weirdest thing I've ever felt.  The 1st time they got me up my blood pressure dropped and I almost passed out. The other times I have been able to not feel that so much.  When they sit me on the side of the bed before standing I can hold myself there...can't feel my rear but can hold myself anyway with someone spotting me close by.  I have a bright yellow arm band that says "fall risk" on so everyone knows...HA!...I'm pretty sure they'll figure it out or I'll tell them before they get too far!  So. Sometimes I feel nervous that it may not all return and that I am going to be a numb walker forever...but I am grateful for time and hope and the many priesthood blessings and prayers that give me confidence! 

This weekend, upon quick enough insurance pre-approval, they will move me one floor down to in-patient rehabilitation where is will stay until they are confident i can be at home...with help from family.  It could b e few days to a few weeks.  It will all just depend. There I get 3 hours of PT a day on their different equipment and it's broken down into sessions so not too much at a time.  My neuro doctors are all close by here too for help and they are well staffed with all of their doctors too.   I am really hoping a private rehab room though...I heard there were some shared ones.   I feel very uncomfortable about that.  I will get to wear normal clothes...if we can get them on!  I am still cathetered and bed panned (kind of humiliating!)  Upon returning home I may still need a walker, chair or cain for a while...but it's all just time.  I think it would have been much harder to wake up with less use of my upper than my lower body....I am so gratefully counting my blessings!

We had a good quick visit from one of the Resident doctors early this morning - he was in on the surgery.  He said the xrays of the hardware in my neck look great and that the MRI looks good too! TUMOR is ALL GONE!  No results from pathology yet. I've asked to see those pictures though ...I'd like my own before and after pictures to keep.

They also removed my bandage and the incision is very nice looking.  They didn't have to shave any of my hair!  WOO HOO! The haircut worked and, yes...I am being a little bit vain...wondering how I look!

I fully plan on running a marathon in a year! Better yet...playing soccer  in the back yard with my babies!

I have been able to kiss and play with Levi a bit! So wonderful! Too much hospital time is hard on a baby.  I'll be sad when he leaves for a time and can't come smile at me everyday.  He brings me a lot of joy!

I have spoken to Emily and Andrew twice since surgery and it's been great and bitter sweet.  The 1st time Andrew heard my voice he immediately started to cry and say, "Mommy, I want to come home."  That was hard and broke my heart. He snapped out of it though, hugged his "Mommy hugs and kisses puppy" and went on to tell me the fun things they've been doing.  They have been sending me a lot of picture texts of the kids throughout the days and I can see their cute faces each moment I request!