15 days to go

2weeks from tomorrow I'll be having my surgery. I'm not so much nervous about the actual surgery, or the surgeon. Dr Lenke is the best! I am however nervous about the recovery. I'm just dreading the long summer of recovery. Recently I've been searching for other scoliosis patients that have gone through the same thing. I found a very similar case to mine. She has an awesome blog that has really helped me put my mind at ease. You can read it at http://thebionicachronicles.blogspot.com/2011_08_01_archive.html

34 days to go. St. Louis last week went well. I had MANY pre-op tests. I had a MRI, a CT Scan, an EKG, lots of x-rays, and plenty of blood work. All tests came back with good results. I am in good health; a prime candidate for surgery. We met with Dr. Lenke before heading home last Wednesday. He confirmed that he will have to fuse my spine from T-4 all the way down to my sacrum. He was originally hoping he could stop at L-4, but the tests showed by last disc already had started degenerating and I had some arthritis in it. So they will have to take the rods all the way down to my sacrum. :( So after being home the past week, I've really been second guessing myself. Am I doing the right thing? I've lived with this for 33 years, what's another 30 or 40?? Do I REALLY need this surgery?? And after spending a lot of time with God, asking him these questions, he has "answered" them. Ever since I asked God these questions I have had some of the worst back pain yet. Some days, the pain almost sends me to my knees! So when that happens I have to kind of chuckle, just knowing that God is reassuring me that I am doing the right thing. But now that he's been sending me these signs for over a week now, I'm getting irritated! I get it, God!! Enough is enough!! haha :) I sit at my kitchen table tonight, wondering about things; like what does the OR room look like? What will I look like after surgery? I am told my face will be swollen due to the amount of time I am on my face and at the angle my body will lie for 7 hours in the OR. I wonder how my 4 hour car ride home will be. How will I go to the restroom while on I-44, if it's just me and Travis. He can't go into a ladies room to assist me and I can't go into a man's --or would I EVER WANT to! Ewww!! Gross!!! I'm sure my wonderful sister, Chloe would just LOVE to help him get me home. I'm sure that's what every graduating senior wants to do over their summer after high school graduation! Right! All joking aside, she actually has volunteered to come home with us and help transport me. She has offered to come to the house and stay with me too. My mom will take off work several days and come sit with me. I'll have plenty of help at home. So many people have offered to help with the kids (which I will be calling you soon to set up those days!) My good friend, Julie Beatty has set up an awesome website at mealtrain.com to help coordinate meals for our family after we get home. And as I sit here tonight looking at the website, tears flood my eyes. I am just amazed at the number of people that have already signed up. I am in awe at the number of people that are willing to help us. It might be just a meal to you, but to me, it's a big deal! THANK YOU! ALL of you! THANK YOU for your generosity! Thank you for your prayers and thoughts! I know God will take care of me and get me through this. We started a Caring Bridge site this week. If you aren't familiar with it, it's a website designed for people with loved ones in the hospital or with some sort of medical need. Family members can update it as often as they'd like to keep everyone informed about the patient. Travis and my sister will be updating it after May 30. You can view it at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tiffanyfink If you are interested in the mealtrain website you can visit it at http://www.mealtrain.com/view/?id=xQvOeEJh6Jg%3d You will need to set up an account and a user name and password.

Pre-Op Appt

We are heading to St. Louis today for 2 fun filled days of tests. I will have several x-rays, an EKG, a MRI, CT Scan, blood work and a few other pre-op tests today and tomorrow before seeing my doctor, Dr. Lenke tomorrow.
Please pray for safe travels. Thanks!

63-65

63 Days to go...

Monday night we took the family to Shakes for dessert after dinner. Always love me some Shakes!! Mmmmmm-good!

65 things to do still :)

65 days to go/66 things to do

Travis and I took the kids to Kansas City over the weekend for a fun little "Spring Break vacation"
71-Kaleidoscope at the Crown Center
70--Experienced Cheesecake factory together, complete with Red velvet and Hershey's Chocolate cheesecake! :) YUMMY!!!!!
69-Swam together at the hotel pool
68- Took the kids to Disney on Ice at the Sprint Center. Toryn and I were the only 2 that thoroughly enjoyed it!! (Travis was not so thrilled to pay $12 for popcorn and $4 for a bottle of water!)
67-Went to a hockey game! EVERYONE loved it! Got to see the Tulsa Oiler's coach get thrown out of the game. Saw a bloody nose and some teeth get knocked out. Taegan caught a puck. Toryn and I were on the jumbo-tron screen!!
Good times had by all!!
Now we go back to school/work today with vacation hangovers. Do those actually exist? I say yes--I still have laundry to do. I wasn't ready to come home yet. I LOVE staying in hotels (especially on the plaza in KC). But, the time has come and we MUST go back to school today. On the bright side, only 8 more weeks of school til summer break (aka my surgery)! Well, 65 days to be exact.

4 Down, 71 to go

After school Friday we started Spring Break by playing at Cunningham Park. Then we went to Orange Leaf for some yummy fro-yo! Today we took the kids to Gentry, AR to the drive thru Wilderness Safari. Then we drive into Rogers and ended our day with some delicious ice cream at Coldstone!
73 days til surgery
4 activities done with kids, 71 left to go

The Countdown

In 75 days I will have my scoliosis surgery in St Louis. It's just now starting to hit me. I'm trying to cram in as much stuff with my family as I can. (little trips like to Kansas City, NW Arkansas with the kids, a Vegas trip with my husband and brother in law and sister in law, some park play dates, trips to Orange Leaf, pedicures,etc). Beginning in April I will start having pre-op tests (CT scan, MRI, more X-rays, blood work, etc). I know I still need to organize a schedule for child care, meals, house cleaning, etc.
Please pray for me. I'm extremely nervous. I know everything is in God's hands. He will take care of me and my family no matter what.
My goal is to do 75 things with my kids before May 30th! Today's plan: park time!
Cunningham here we come!