All is Well !

Well I cannot believe how remarkably well I am! My life is almost back to normal..... It will be 4 weeks tomorrow since I had my stomach removed. A lot has happened since then, and every new day has certainly been better than the last. I met with my surgeons last week, they were just delighted with my recovery so far. I had the J-tube removed (yay!). I won't be needing any tube feeding anytime soon; I am eating so very well! My pathology results were clear; although I can't remember all of the details so will request a copy of this soon.

I have been to a couple of work meetings, although this only involved sitting down for most of the day, I managed just fine. I have been out for dinner and did a little bit of dancing! I've helped out at a BBQ Fundraiser, spent a full day out at Willowbank Raceway, been to a fair, and done grocery shopping. I started driving again about a week and a half ago, with some little trips to start with. I do know my limits and find myself taking that 30 minute nap in the afternoon if I feel like it. But that is not everyday.

Sometimes I wonder if my 'bubble is going to burst' and I will crash all of a sudden one day soon...I have just exceeded my 'recovery expectations' so much! It took mum such a long long time to get to where I am at the moment (14-15 months) and she suffered terribly with dumping syndrome, not being able to eat a large variety of foods and dramatic weight loss. To date I have lost 8 kilos, 4 of those whilst in hospital. I am eating whatever I like; just smaller portions. I find that breads, pastas and rice fill me up quicker than they used, or maybe its just that they are taking longer to break down than before. Not sure. I haven't had any alcohol, nor do I have the desire, and I haven't gone back to coffee. (I missed it for the first few weeks). But I do enjoy a half a cup of tea every now and then.

I find it difficult to drink water and consequently had a mild urinary tract infection strike me at the end of last week. I can drink my glass or two of sustagen each day with no worries, but water just doesn't go down well. Will keep practising. Ice cream goes down well!

My kids have been great....Cooper is such a compassionate, caring soul. He kisses me goodnight and tells me 'I hope you feel better really soon mum'. I caught him singing a song to himself the other day, it was very tuneful...some of the lyrics were, 'and my mummy had her stomach removed...and grandma and grandpa came to look after us when mummy was in hospital....and grandma did mummy's jobs...'. Its very cute (for a 4yr old) and makes me laugh and feel very loved. Zara is more into the technical side of things, throwing out comments like 'did they take your belly out mum?' and 'but I can still see it'. A very inquisitive soul, who has also tried to take advantage of mummy and got out of going to day care because of comments like 'but I neeeeeeeed you mummy' (tears included). I am so very glad that I have been so open and honest with my children, as young as they are.... And so my life now goes on, with swimming lessons for the kids tomorrow morning, a business meeting for me tomorrow night and an all day sports day at Cooper's kindy on Wednesday! And tomorrow I shall feel better than I did today........