Sunday, November 27, 2011

Pre-Surgery Psycosis: Preparing for Craniosynostosis Surgery

{There is a very real reason why it's taken me nearly two months to write these posts... to re-account some of the most emotionally painful experiences of my life thus far. It's been hanging over me every day since - the need to write about the experience. But I just couldn't muster up the energy to do it. So much so that I almost abandoned my entire blog. The blog I've built steadily since 2009. I seriously considered throwing it all away just so I wouldn't have to write these posts. But I knew I couldn't do that. I couldn't throw away something I love so much. So here goes... one last journey into those days and weeks, hours and minutes that I never, ever want to live through again. It's not healthy to stay in such a fragile place for too long... Mama's got to keep it movin'. I'm going to write, hit "Publish" and never read them again. At least not for a very long time. Please excuse any typos - I'm not going to edit because I really don't want to re-read it.}

Need to catch up? Here are links to all the Cranio posts in chronological order:

In the two weeks leading up to Deacon's surgery, I had a major mental meltdown. From the moment the diagnosis was confirmed, I knew it would happen - I just didn't know when - because I had become pretty great at pushing down the emotion of it all. But then it happened... the pre-authorization letter arrived from our insurance company with the all caps, bolded words "FULL CRANIOTOMY, MAJOR SKULL SURGERY, BONE GRAFT" right smack in the middle of the page. And like an avalanche, I lost it. Lost what? My mind. Right then and there, I moved into pre-surgery psycosis {self-diagnosed, of course}. The two weeks which followed receiving that letter are a complete blur. I know I saw people, had conversations, went through the motions of life... but nothing stuck. All I could think about 24/7 was the idea of my tiny, precious, smiley baby boy getting his skull removed. I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep. Life moved in slow motion.

A week before the surgery we went to Children's Hospital for D's pre-op visit. A CT scan, blood work, meetings with the doctors, and a meeting with the anesthesia team. And of course I smiled and nodded my head like I was taking in all the information being thrown at me about the surgery and recovery. It was like an out-of-body experience. The lights were on, but no one was home. But the important part was that we made it through the 4 months of waiting. And in just a few short days, everything would be fixed.

Smiley guy at his pre-op visits
CT scan to determine the extent of the situation

Daddy taking care of business

Mama "smiling"

They took a lot of blood, but that won't hold me down!

Finally able to catch some ZZZZZ's in between appointments



The 12 Days of My Hiatus

Oh where, oh where has Sweet Leigh Mama been? EVERYWHERE! I haven't posted for over a month... but I'm back in action. And I thought I would give you a glimpse into the craziness I call life with a little song {to the tune of "The 12 Days of Christmas}. Feel free to sing along : )

On the first day of my hiatus, my crazy life gave to me... a baby with a craniotomy.

On the second day of my hiatus, my crazy life gave to me...
*...100 dissolveable stitches, and a baby with a craniotomy.



On the third day of my hiatus, my crazy life gave to me...
*...utter and pure exhaustion, 100 dissolveable stitches, and a baby with a craniotomy.

On the fourth day of my hiatus, my crazy life gave to me...
*...a smiling & happy Deacon, utter and pure exhaustion, 100 dissolveable stitches, and a baby with a craniotomy.

On the fifth day of my hiatus, my crazy life gave to me...
*...one positive pregnancy test {WHAT?!}, a smiling & happy Deacon, utter and pure exhaustion, 100 dissolveable stitches, and a baby with a craniotomy.

On the sixth day of my hiatus, my crazy life gave to me...
*...an appointment with my O.B. {How exactly did this happen?!}, one positive pregnancy test {WHAT?!}, a smiling & happy Deacon, utter and pure exhaustion, 100 dissolveable stitches, and a baby with a craniotomy.

On the seventh day of my hiatus, my crazy life gave to me...
*...a "fun" hystrosalpingogram {OUCH!}, an appointment with my O.B. {How exactly did this happen?!}, one positive pregnancy test {WHAT?!}, a smiling & happy Deacon, utter and pure exhaustion, 100 dissolveable stitches, and a baby with a craniotomy.

On the eighth day of my hiatus, my crazy life gave to me...
*...a negative HCG test {PHEW!!}, a "fun" hystrosalpingogram {OUCH!}, an appointment with my O.B. {How exactly did this happen?!}, one positive pregnancy test {WHAT?!}, a smiling & happy Deacon, utter and pure exhaustion, 100 dissolveable stitches, and a baby with a craniotomy.

On the ninth day of my hiatus, my crazy life gave to me...
*...two of three NY houses under contract {YIPEE!}, a negative HCG test {PHEW!!}, a "fun" hystrosalpingogram {OUCH!}, an appointment with my O.B. {How exactly did this happen?!}, one positive pregnancy test {WHAT?!}, a smiling & happy Deacon, utter and pure exhaustion, 100 dissolveable stitches, and a baby with a craniotomy.
 
On the tenth day of my hiatus, my crazy life gave to me...
*...a booming Etsy business {Anyone need a wreath?}, two of three NY houses under contract {YIPEE!}, a negative HCG test {PHEW!!}, a "fun" hystrosalpingogram {OUCH!}, an appointment with my O.B. {How exactly did this happen?!}, one positive pregnancy test {WHAT?!}, a smiling & happy Deacon, utter and pure exhaustion, 100 dissolveable stitches, and a baby with a craniotomy.

 On the eleventh day of my hiatus, my crazy life gave to me...
*...glass shards in Paigey's big toe, a booming Etsy business {Anyone need a wreath?}, two of three NY houses under contract {YIPEE!}, a negative HCG test {PHEW!!}, a "fun" hystrosalpingogram {OUCH!}, an appointment with my O.B. {How exactly did this happen?!}, one positive pregnancy test {WHAT?!}, a smiling & happy Deacon, utter and pure exhaustion, 100 dissolveable stitches, and a baby with a craniotomy.

On the twelfth day of my hiatus, my crazy life gave to me...
*...4 dissolveable stitches {this time for Paigey}, glass shards in Paigey's big toe, a booming Etsy business {Anyone need a wreath?}, two of three NY houses under contract {YIPEE!}, a negative HCG test {PHEW!!}, a "fun" hystrosalpingogram {OUCH!}, an appointment with my O.B. {How exactly did this happen?!}, one positive pregnancy test {WHAT?!}, a smiling & happy Deacon, utter and pure exhaustion, 100 dissolveable stitches, and a baby with a craniotomy.


Like that sneak peek?! For the next few days I'll expand on each of these incidents. Fun times : )

xoxo,
Sweet Leigh Mama
aka Erica

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Anyone Looking for a House (or 3) in the NY Area?

My family's official migration to the South is almost complete. And I couldn't be happier! I started my migration away from the icy, snowy, freezing winters of New York in 2001 when I started college in Southern Pennsylvania. But it was still snowy there and still cold. So after college I moved to Washington DC for a short time. Lo and behold, it was still freezing : ) So as luck would have it I fell in love with a Southern boy and moved down to Atlanta in 2005. And I've been here ever since - happy as a clam. And as I built my life here over the last 6+ years, I longed for my family to be closer. And this summer my dream came true - my sister and her family moved to Atlanta!! My Grandma is also here now. And soon my Mom and Step Dad will be here as well. YAHOOOO! Which leads me back to the title of my blog post: Anyone looking for a house (or 3) in the NY area?? Yup - that's right. All three houses are still for sale at this moment in time. BOO : (  So I figured that out of 25,000 readers (can you believe there are that many of you following Sweet Leigh Mama? YAY!) a few of you may reside in the Hudson Valley area of New York state, or may know someone who is looking for a house in the area. So in an effort to make the official New York to Atlanta migration complete, here are MLS postings for all three houses up for sale. It's kind of like a real life HGTV House Hunters. Enjoy! : )

House #1:  Port Jervis, NY (12771)
$149,900
3 bedrooms / 2 bathroom

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION - Located on an oversized lot on a quiet residential street this three bedroom home is a great investment. This charming two story home features three spacious bedrooms, large living room, formal dining room, spacious eat in kitchen and two full bathrooms and laundry room. Home also features hardwood flooring throughout and a partially finished basement. Exterior of home will sport a new fresh coat of paint and also features a large yard with patio. This is a solid home located in a great area of Port Jervis and is priced aggressively to sell. Invest in your future and stop paying rent while the interest rates are at their lowest in history.



House #2: Montgomery, NY (12549)
$169,900
3 bedrooms/ 1 bathroom

Impeccable Village of Montgomery Ranch. This home features a beautiful kitchen w/stainless steel appliances spacious living room new thermo windows hot water heater interior doors and trim water conditioner new bathroom central air conditioning huge deck overlooking very lush landscaped backyard. Very large basement that can be easily finished. This home needs nothing just move in. Come see!



House #3: Slate Hill, NY (10973)
$279,900
4 bedrooms / 2 bathrooms

Absolutely stunning gorgeous sprawling ranch - Award Winning Minisink Schools - This beauty features large formal living room w/lot's of natural sunlight formal dining room beautiful gourmet kitchen w/granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Huge bedrooms w/oversized closets. Master Bedroom and Master Bathroom Suite. Both bathrooms feature granite tops and imported tile floors. Massive family room. 4th bedroom. 2 car oversized garage. Central air conditioning. Party Deck. All situated on over 1.1 acres of lush landscaping. Rocking chair front porch. All blacktop driveway. Don't miss this home. One of the nicest homes you will ever see!