California Dreamin'

Home! I'm home! The flight was difficult. Free advice: don't take a long bumpy flight after spine surgery and if you do bring your pain meds 'cuz you're gonna need them! When I got home there were some beautiful balloons waiting for me (thanks Ali <3) along with lots of other cards that I have yet to open. As soon as we got back all I wanted to do was eat something that wasn't airport food! Luckily Mom and I are smart enough to get Dad to have dinner waiting for us since the flight was five and a half hours (and was delayed by an hour too) and the drive from LAX back to Newport is an hour.
Right now I'm sitting in my own bed, in my own room. It is an amazing feeling. Dad is the best and got flowers to put in my room, roses of course (my middle name is Rose), tulips, and gardenias. They are all so pretty and smell really good! My room is upstairs and guess what....I made it up the stairs!!! I was clenching my jaw and muttering explicits most of the time going up, but I did it and that's all that counts. I'm getting stronger but I won't be allowed to BLT (bend, lift, twist) for at least 6 weeks, doing squats to get my clothes off the floor is okay though since I was really worried that my parents would have to do that for me :). I have to be careful for at least 3 months with my back. My neurosurgeon said  "Please just give me three months of good health to let your back heal. I'd prefer six, but with you all bets are off!" He knows me too well.

I miss everyone in Virginia and Maryland so much, but I'm glad to be home! I definitely want to go back sometime for a vacation not a 'medical vacation', but an actual vacation. As much fun as partying in the PICU (go to my mom's blog to see pictures) was, maybe next time we come to town we can go to some museums instead. Thanks to the wonderful staff at VCU for taking such good care of me. And a special thanks to Dr. Tye for being willing to take a chance and do this surgery on me, you've changed my life for the better in so many ways.
Now it's time for bed since I have a long day tomorrow!
Lots of Love ~ The Sic(k) Chick