Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Just Heat and Serve!

I am less than two weeks away from going under the knife. On Monday, October 8, I’ll be having a myomectomy to remove the 7 or so fibroids that are making my life less than stellar. I will spend two to four days in the hospital and then recuperate at home for anywhere from six to eight weeks. We have spent the past couple of weeks periodically making arrangements for this time – mapping out medical leave (Sweet Dub will take one week off), arranging for my in-laws to take Viva the night before, etc.

One of the reasons I am having the surgery is to eliminate the back pain I’ve been having, which is fairly constant at a dull roar but likes to flare up with screaming meemies every now and then. The past couple of nights I have not been able to get comfortable enough to go to sleep. So last night I was channel-surfing and came across this show, about a family with 8 kids – first a set of twins, and then sextuplets. I missed the first part of the show, but was intrigued because the mom was preparing to have surgery with a long recuperation and I was wondering if she was having something similar. Er, nope – she was having a tummy tuck. But she went shopping with her 5-year-old twins to buy enough food to prepare two weeks’ worth of meals. Sweet fanciful Moses! It took her 24 hours to cook all the food, and then she was on to packing clothes and diapers and the kitchen sink for all her kids as they were preparing to drop them all off with various friends and relatives.

Let’s stop right there for a second, because I’m still floored by the food (and let’s face it, laundry? For 8 kids? Yes, that gives me nightmares). The mom, Kate, explained that she wanted to cook all the food for her kids ahead of time because they had never yet tasted junk food and she wanted them to have organic food as much as possible, which is admirable, and I can see where she’s coming from. And her husband, like mine (love you, babe!) is not all that skillful in the kitchen. But let me tell you, the second I found out I’d be in bed for at least a week, two words came to mind: Trader Joe’s.

Trader Joe’s, sweetie. It won’t kill you. I intend to stock up on as much frozen food as possible and try some new things I’ve never had before. It’ll be an adventure!

10 comments:

Liz Dwyer said...

Amen for Trader Joe's! I am a big fan of all their very easy to prepare foods that are also fairly healthy. And my three year-old is addicted to their brand of Oreos.

I hope you get to live it up before your surgery. That's a long recuperation time but I know you'll be so relieved to not have that back pain.

And dang, EIGHT kids??? I might have to go for the tummy tuck too!

Cee in SF said...

Yikes! I'll have a good thought for you and your recovery.

Please note - you must get the beef taquitos from TJ and their Salsa Authentica. I have 3 bottles of the salsa at home at all times. It's so yummy!

Good luck!

Lisa Blah Blah said...

liz: Okay - now you got me craving Oreos! :) I am going to try to live it up a bit before my surgery. What's sad is that I almost look on this as a vacation...

cee: Duly noted. I'm making a list. Thanks for the good thoughts - look at it this way, I may actually blog more often over the next few weeks. I'll be forced to!

Lydia said...

YOU have to be better...best! And your best. ,may or may not be somebody else's best. We all dream of the totally organic, well planned meals and menus, but have to do what we can. Sometimes "frozen broccoli" is what it is.

I am happy that you are taking care of YOU! If you can't do that then "lovey hubby and baby" don't have a chance!

It's about balance and how to acheice that with you on the "BALANCED" end. I have 6 kids and I have to make sure at every moment that I am teaching everyone the skills they need to make me feel loved and balanced. (they would not do this on their own)

You do what YOU can do, in peace and harmony. NO negative feelings here. You need to be healthy and happy. This is why we have "Sweet Dubs: in the house!

Lisa Blah Blah said...

janie: thank you so much for your sweet words! Speaking of "taking care of yourself," why were you posting at 3:23 AM?! :)

I like this part: "I have to make sure at every moment that I am teaching everyone the skills they need to make me feel loved and balanced." There's that old saying, "If Momma ain't happy, nobody's happy." I do believe that if I do take the time to take care of myself, I do better at taking care of my family. Thanks for the reminder!

Anonymous said...

All the best to you on your surgery. I was shocked to read your post because I have to get a hysterectomy and possibly one ovary removed (10-16). I'm looking at the same recovery time as well. Ugh. I don't have any pain however so it seems sort of weird (fibroids? what fibroids?). I'll be thinking of you! PS I'm making my husband go to Trader Joe's himself.

Liz Dwyer said...

Just thinking of you because I know this is coming up for you in a couple of days. Saying a prayer that all goes well.

The Trebs said...

I meant to leave a comment a week ago, and I'm glad I got back in time before your surgery to wish you well! Rest up, and heal quickly.

And cee in sf is my people... Salsa Authentica is incredible! I drive out of my way to go because they won't put a TJ back in my neighborhood, darn it! And I make all my friends in the midwest stop there when they drive through Chicago. Love TJ!

Happy Recovery!

Lisa Blah Blah said...

bridget: ouch. When are you having your surgery? Maybe we can compare stories...

liz: aw, how sweet. Very very thoughtful. Ah, I'm all verklempt and I don't know what to say! Thank you.

Trebs: Thank you, thank you. Okay, with two such recommendations I don't know why I still don't have any Salsa Authentica in the house. I'll have to harrass Sweet Dub into picking some up!

Anonymous said...

Tuesday, 10/9

Hope your recovery is going okay. I'll be in the same boat next week (Oct. 16th).

Thinking of you, sending healing thoughts.