And since I'm posting...

Lexi, one of the animals I care for when Mommy's gone.

Gallstones it is!

So I'm having my gall bladder removed next week. I'm not scared. Maybe I should be, but I've researched it to death on the internet and the doctor answered all of my questions and gave me all the reasons why I'm not a candidate for other options that might be taken.

Maybe I should be scared. I've never had surgery. In spite of all the abuse I've heaped on my body over the years, there's never been anythng wrong enough to have to cut the flesh. I think the biggest worry is anesthesia, but I don't think there's too many drugs out there that'll kill me given my history of substance abuse. In fact they may need to really dope me up!

• 
  Gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) is done while the patient is under general anesthesia, unconscious and pain-free. It is most commonly performed through 4 small incisions, using a small video camera called a laparoscope.
• 
  In laparoscopic surgery, the abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide to provide more space for the surgeon to work. The laparoscope is inserted through small incisions. The vessels and duct going to the gallbladder (cystic duct and artery) are identified, clipped, and cut. The gallbladder is removed and the incisions are closed.
• 
  In complicated cases, an open cholecystectomy may be performed. A larger incision is made just below the ribs on the right side of the abdomen. As with laparoscopic surgery, the vessels and ducts going to the gallbladder are identified, clipped, and cut. The gallbladder is removed. The incisions are closed.
• 
  Laparoscopic surgery often has a lower rate of complications, a shorter hospital stay, and better cosmetic results than the open procedure.

Maybe I should be scared. The doctor has a good track record. Maybe too good. If he answered my question honestly, and I have no reason to think he did not, he's only had one complication to his credit and that was the second worst thing that could go wrong and the outcome was still good. Does that mean he's that good or does that mean he's overdue for a loss?

Maybe I'll wake up the morning of the procedure terrified (provided I get to sleep the night before). Maybe I should try to get into that research study in Oregon where the doctor is removing the gallbladder endoscopically. I called and called on Friday. The line was busy-busy-busy-no answer, busy-busy-busy-no answer, busy-busy-busy-no answer, busy-busy-busy-no answer, busy-busy-busy-no answer. I just don't know. But I guess I'm going to find out...

The Rose that would not die

This is the 2004 Habitat for Humanity rose. I thought I lost it during the late freeze we had, but it came back just as beautiful as ever.

Spring-ish Plantings

So this is how I spent my Sunday. I bought the plants almost two weeks ago and have been too sick to get them in the ground. Today I at least got the color pots done.

Just what we needed...

...another sexual orientation to confuse the mix...autosexual.

For some bizarre reason...

...I decided to poke around the Help section of Blogger. I, who prides herself on her grammar and punctuation skills, am apparently a repeat offender in the category of criminal overuse of the ellipsis:

I can also spot an overuse of the ellipsis at 50 paces. There are two reasons to use an ellipsis (and neither one is because you don't want to write a transition): Use an ellipsis to indicate words omitted from a direct quote or to trail off intriguingly. If neither of these are your intention, try a period. Dot. Full stop. Terminal punctuation can be your friend.)

Jennifer
Garrett

So I consider my self suitably chastised. I will go forth and sin no more...maybe.

Laptop good

I just love sitting on my deck with the laptop and the dogs. I hardly ever spend any time on my desktop anymore. It's just become one great big network storage drive.

Now that all the bitter cold weather is past, Kansas is starting to green up. I'm looking forward to seeing what plants recover and mourning the ones that don't. I think most of the roses are toast...

Testing Picasa

Just testing the blog this button in picasa. My new coverlet. Silk. Direct from China. Like the silk, but not too sure how I feel about China anymore...