Hi all!

Well, I survived the surgery!  It went well, and the hearing nerve responded 
well to the testing before I woke up.  The worst part was when the nurse was 
trying and trying to find a cooperative vein to put the IV in.  Ouch, ouch, 
ouch!  Finally I had her look for one on the other arm, and I believe she 
was successful the first time.  Judy was with me, and she wanted me to think 
about how many chocolates, one a day, she should give me until the processor 
is activated while I was being poked, but I'd already estimated it before it 
happened. :)

the anesthesiologist told me that they would stick a tube down my throat, 
and I'd feel it coming out of my mouth when I woke up, which I did.  My 
throat was sore, but not as bad as I feared.  ironically, I felt the most 
pain on the opposite side of my forehead from the surgery area.  Part of 
that may have come from the dressing being tight.  Later after eating Jello 
and pudding, I definitely experienced a little nausea, but they gave me 
something for it, and I also took some morphine and pain pills.

Judy and my parents came in to hang out for awhile and make phone calls.  I 
was able to use the phone when it was put up to my free ear's hearing aid. 
I had talked with Judy's daughter Blanca before the surgery, and was able to 
speak with her again.  I also talked a little with my sister Donna.  Later 
my brother Dale and his wife Dianna stopped by, bringing Santa Claus!  they 
brought Santa again.  from them, I got two boxes of chocolates, a 12-pack of 
diet coke, and a CD of the Manheimer's Steamrollers!  I was also given some 
nice balloons.  I suggested to some that they should use helium balloons to 
hold up IV's. Haha!

My night was restless, and they had to help me a couple of times, but I was 
able to sleep some.  When I got up for the first time to go to the bathroom, 
I felt the floor moving, sort of up and down!  I had to be supported, and 
still need some today, but I feel more confident.  I worked on a word search 
to help me settle down and eventually go to sleep again.

This morning I was able to eat a heavy breakfast, and was eventually taken 
to Judy's house, where my parents stayed with me until awhile after lunch. 
It had begun to snow, and they needed to get an early start for home, so 
they brought me back to my house!  The funny thing is that, after looking 
around in my hospital room, they missed seeing my cane, so it was left 
behind.  Oh well, I guess I need something sturdier than a fiberglass cane 
that is only for guidance anyway? :)  We were going to go back to get it, 
but because of the snow, we decided not to.  I'll get that later.  At least 
I have the gifts my family gave me!

I am now wearing a hard cap over my left ear and incision.  They want me to 
have it on as much as I can, and always when I sleep, which must also be 
kept dry for maybe ten days.  So if I stink when you read my messages, 
you'll know why. Hahaha!  Someone will also need to put 3 drops of 
antibiotics into my ear, and I must also take some orally.  I have more pain 
and nausea pills, but so far I haven't needed them since I left the 
hospital.

And that's the news from Lake Woebegone, where I may not be good-looking but 
am strong!

Thanks again for all the prayers and support!


I have something to share with you.  Please visit:

http://www.mypowermall.net/cgi-bin/pd/pd.cgi?showmpmcard=11941260560.55096435546875.card

Sharon