tuesday evening

Well, we have made it to our final evening.  It's hard to believe but the trip actually went pretty fast.  For all the planning and  mainly all the anxiety- it just flew by.  We went back to the hospital in Bogen this morning for our final postop check.  Once again, I got to get naked other than my ted hose with everyone around and take some x-rays- apparently Germans aren't quite as modest but then again, I can about imagine what they had to look at!  We visited with the surgeon afterward and she said the discs are in "perfect" place.  Can you believe it.  Finally someone is calling my  back perfect for a good reason!  She said everything looks great and I am healing well.  I continue to have alot of swelling in my feet, legs, thighs and stomach.  I have a large hematoma on my back and under the incision on my stomach which helps give the swelling a little more "odd" shape.  She said this is normal for some and will heal with time.  Mike continues to give me heparin shots every night and hopefully we can stop on Thursday after talking with our doctor in Grand Forks.  We also discussed what doseages of pain meds we can safely take tomorrow.  She OK'd me to increase them by quite a bit. I do believe the flight will go well for me, I'm not sure about Mike.  I have been known to get a little confused at night when I take a little extra pain med. We did get wheelchair assistance again as I tend to have a hard time walking long distances and tend to be extremely stiff after sitting for too long.  Oh well, one thing is for sure.  There will be little to no pain meds after 3pm as I WILL recognize my children and be the mom they remember.  I am tearing up now thinking of the smiles on their faces.  This trip has been way too long but thank GOD it was worth it.  I have no reason to believe that everything shouldn't be back to as normal as possible.  I regained a little feeling in the bottom of my foot- didn't really care but yeah!  All I wanted from this trip was to regain the ability to work and play with my children with at least 50% less pain.  I KNOW I have met at least that right know at this moment.  In reality, I will probably always have some sort of lasting pain or minor disability- but nothing like it was.  I will let my voice be heard on the benefits of this surgery and the BS that we are not allowed to have this option covered in the states when I return home.  I will now be in debt for many, many years because the only option my insurance could offer was to fuse me enough times to become a disability applicant, or take enough narcotics to care less who or what I was.  I thank the lord every day for providing me the contact info to Dr. Bertignoli and his staff and the care we have been shown here.  We had everything set up for us from the airport right down to hotels with discounts near shopping and historical areas within walking distance.  I do have one regret- I was unable to see the sights that were on my list.  I had 3 places that I have always wanted to see, but due to my post surgical condition- we decided to stay around here.  There is always the next time we come- right kids and dad!  Oh, I forget to tell everyone that Abby informed us that we HAVE to come home tomorrow because she is just so "sick of the grandmas".  Oh, do I love my daughter, she takes after Mike so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And as for my loving husband.  He started rambling with the pharmacist while filling my prescription and started talking about some German hockey player that used to play at UND that he knew.  I think his name was trew or something, anyway, the pharmacist was good friends with the publicist for the hockey team and gave him a call.  Somehow, Mike ended up with free VIP tickets to the hockey game tonight- he didn't even ask my opinion- as if it would have mattered! Last night in Germany and I am watching reruns of the office alone in the hotel room while he is at the hockey game.  For those of you who know us well- we are actually doing our favorite things!  I am so happy he received this opportunity to go. We have truly been blessed with surprise opportunities with this whole trip.  My husband has done nothing but stand by my side and cater to my every wish for the last 15 days- I hope he gets to meet this guy in person and shake his hand.  I only wish I was there to tell this hockey player how honored HE should be to be shaking my husband's hand.  Catch you all tomorrow.  Fargo at 6:33pm- The Flaagan's are coming home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!