So many roads to recovery

Yesterday I underwent surgery to reverse the tram-flap breast reconstruction which has caused me so much pain since I had it done in January 2015.  It was ambulatory surgery lasting only two hours, but since I have diminished lung compacity, and experienced acute respiratory failure after the original reconstruction, I worried terribly that I'd wake up intubated again, and have to be admitted.  To my great relief, everything went well, and I woke with no tube, and was able to be discharged a couple of hours later.  Yay!
My sister, of course, accompanied me, waited for me, and then took me to dinner before going home.  She is a great source of strength for me, and I am so thankful.
Had I just had my double mastectomy back in October 2013, I would have have been left basically flat-chested and scarred.  As it is, I had the reconstruction AND basically the deconstruction, leaving me quite a bit more impacted.  It is only the day after the operation, so I'm hoping it will improve some once I've healed a bit, but for the most part I think I will remain fairly deformed.  Quite dented in some places, protruding in others.  Ugh.
I am in qutie a bit of new pain from being cut open again.  Extremely sore and tight.  To be expected for a while, I guess.  It will take a while before I can adequately assess the overall pain experience.
Its been a long hard road since I was first diagnosed with breast cancer two and a half years ago.  I hope this is the last of my operations, and that the pain will dissapate or at least be tolerable.  That is my primary focus.
The range of motion in my arms has lessened even more with this procedure.  After some recovery time, when I am able to do light exercising of my limbs, this may improve.
I've had good moral and emotional support from my friends and family, and am very lucky in that respect.
The visual deformity will take some time to overcome, emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually.  It is, though, secondary, to the aspect of pain which has been the most debilitating during this past year or so.  I just have to be gentle to myself, and try to accept, with grace, what has transpired.
Of course I have drains in place again... two of them, and am really hoping they can be removed after a couple of weeks, and not have to remain for the six to eight weeks I had them after the first two operations. They are just an annoyance, and pretty disgusting to have to deal with.
Having lost my mom, just shortly after the reconstruction last year, has been one of the hardest things to deal with.  There is something inside of me that just so needs to share with her what I have been going through.  Of course I do "talk" to her, and trust that her and my dad are watching over me.
On another note, Spring arrives shortly, and with it we are expecting another snow storm here in New York City. Predictions are ranging from a possible  eight inches, though some readings say it may just move out to sea.  Personally, I'm hoping for the snow, as I'm not exactly ready to say good-bye to winter just yet. I'm really not that impacted by it, since I'm mostly staying home anyway.  I kind of like the cozy quiet feel of being snowed in for a little while.
So, I am on the road to recovery yet again.  Going to try my best to regain some normality to my life once and for all.

short update

A little update on me.

I finished my 8 courses of chemotherapy this past monday, the 24th.  These are my down days following the infusion.  But when these aches/pains/fatigue pass this time, there is no having to go back and do it again.  I'll start feeling more myself, hopefully.
I've been holed up inside for the most part over the months. Feeling weak to walk. Cold weather.  Snow.  More snow expected in a couple of days, and it will be March.  Coming in like a lion, it seems.
In less than 3 weeks I start radiation.  5 days a week for 7 weeks.  The process itself is short, maybe 10-15 minutes, but oye, everyday.
I am worried about my extensive lymph node involvement ... 17 positive out of 22 removed is not such good odds, and is what bumped me to Stage 3 cancer.  I just hope the chemo/radiation kills the damn shit off.
By my 60th birthday, in May, I want to celebrate being cancer-free.  Get the Jack Daniels, and roll another one.

Haven't been out (or in) with the camera, so nothing of mine to show.  But here's a pic that Mel took of Logan on "picture day" for this pre-K class.

one haiku

wind whistles this way

the frosty air bites your nose

winter is coming

(photo by j. raty in Lapland, Finland)

buried cars

I post some of my pics on the WeatherUnderground (wunderground.com) from time to time, and this one got chosen as an Approver's Choice yesterday.  I thought that was pretty neat.

(click to view larger image)

snow like butterflies

Yesterday, there was a wildly wonderful snow shower in the morning. The flakes were huge, and looked like white butterflies swirling against the window. Was this winter's last hurrah, happening at the precise moment of the Vernal Equinox? It was so beautiful!

Today, the sun is out, in the low 40's. Spring is here, despite slightly below average temps.

Seems like a big spring cleaning is due at my place! I could use a few helpers!

For the equinox yesterday, me and ev decorated some Easter eggs... she painted hers, and I did 2 egg-shaped gourds covered with polymer clay. I'll post pics soon.