Gardening December 30th of 2013

Some of my tomatoes. This picture is actually on it's side. 

My cherry tomato plant with so much growing.  

Broccoli plants get huge with a thick stem. The flower head starts out so small. These do really well in the winter here in Arizona. When it gets too hot the flowering heads turn into a bunch of yellow flowers. You can't eat the broccoli then. Also it attracts bees like crazy. 

Radishes. See the varying sizes. All planted at the same time. Their growth depends on the fact that... a) some were too close together b) How much sun c) The amount of water. These were all grown in different beds.

I have two pots with radishes. The one that is visible did pretty good. For now I will leave them in the pot. They will survive. In the near future I will transplant the small ones in my garden.

Radishes are so easy to grow. Hardly any effort. I have been exploring ways on how to eat them. Last time I made a roast I added radishes along with potatoes and carrots.

Speaking of carrots and potatoes, I have carrots growing. I love to eat carrots. I also love potatoes. I have several yellow potatoes that have sprouted pretty good and soon I plant on planting them.

I am limited at the time at what I can or can't do. Since it's only been two and a half weeks since I had surgery. Technically I shouldn't even be gardening. Yet this morning I woke up and had a huge desire to check on my garden. I didn't do much, just picked some radishes.

My Hysterectomy

Last Friday I had a hysterectomy. It was a planned laparoscopic hysterectomy that ended up being an abdominal hysterectomy with a bikini cut. The definition is here: Abdominal Hysterectomy – This method is usually chosen for large pelvic tumors, adhesions or cancer. The uterus is removed through a 15-20 cm-long cut (6-8 inches) in the abdomen, either as a midline or bikini cut. An abdominal hysterectomy is associated with a longer hospital stay and recovery time, as well as greater discomfort following the operation. 

The doctor said when he opened me up he found a lot of scar tissue/adhesions. He also said he's having the scar tissue checked for cancer. He told me that hopefully it is just scar tissue. I hope so too.

I had planned on being in the hospital less than 24 hours, since my insurance approved of 23 hours unless I needed more. When I awoke from surgery I was told I will be there at least a couple of days. I ended up coming home Sunday night. The doctor came in late Sunday afternoon and said I will get discarded the next day. I asked her to let me go home today. She agreed, thankfully.

I threw many times. Once I didn't grab the container fast enough and got it all over the floor. It was just liquid, so an easy clean up. I got to take a shower since it was all over me and I got clean linen since part of my bed was soaked. 

I was given three prescriptions to fill and one was a nausea med. Since they were not going to be filled Sunday night I took two pepto bismol pills and Benadryl and went to sleep. I was very sick to my stomach, but was so tired. Yet I felt wired and that is why I took the antihistamine. It did the job. I woke up feeling pretty good on Monday morning. I also was not nauseated any longer.

I woke up the girls for school and my step dad Glenn drove them to school. I was told not to drive for two weeks or at least until I have my post op appointment. That apptointment is scheduled for tomorrow.

Monday I felt really good, with minimal pain. But the next two days I hurt. Especially when getting in and out of bed or moving in bed. I have been writing down times of when I take my medication so I don't skip out on anytime I could have pain relief.

I am looking forward to tomorrow to my doctor and get more details of what happened and what I can expect for recovery. Google helps, since there is a lot of info on the different types of hysterectomies. Yet I want to hear what he says since he has done the surgery many times.

It concerns me about what he said about the scar tissue. Two months ago he performed a diagnostic laparoscopy. One of the incisions was made in my belly button. When he said Friday that there was a lot of scar tissue underneath my belly button I was surprised. Could it of grown in two months? Anyways I have some questions. I should write them down because I always forget.

Life changes all the time and this change is for the better. I had endometriosis and he did find scar tissue on my uterus. I have suffered a lot of pelvic pain. 

Update: My doctor had my uterus tested and the report came back that I had had Adenomyosis. A condition in which endometrial tissue exists within and grows into the uterine wall.

My doctor said to me, "No wonder you were in so much pain!"

Cars made of wood

Whenever I see wood cars I think of my Grandpa Robert Crowe. When I was a young child he made wooden cars for all his grandchildren.

When I was painting them I took off the wheels and to paint them I used a small screw driver to hold them up and my blow dryer to dry them quickly. 

I love to paint wood.

Heart necklace

I painted 3 wooden hearts red. Put them in string to make a necklace.

Hearts on a string

Just something I made today. 

I have a bunch of these hearts and 

so today I painted some 'Blue Jean' blue.

The Riparian Preserve At Water Ranch

On Friday the 29th my daughters and I went to the Riparian Preserve. It has been a few years since I have been. We had a lot of fun.

In this field there was a Coyote hunting the big white birds. The birds were too fast and eventually the coyote gave up. We thought the whole thing was awesome. Many people watched too.

We saw a lot of little Desert Cottontails. They were all so fast. I was lucky to get this picture.

This daughter rarely lets me snap any shots of her. That day she wanted me to take pictures. 

Funny girl...she could of smiled more.

At the Dinosaur Dig.

That little waterfall was so relaxing and peaceful. I thought something like that would be great in my backyard.

While we were on the bridge we saw two logs and a turtle on each one. 

Star Apple Pie

I made this apple pie yesterday and I wanted to be creative, so I used a couple star cookie cutters to make the top layer. I was glad too to use my new stoneware pie pan.

I think I'll do this more often. It was fun and a hit for the family. 

Mesa Arizona Temple

Here are some pictures of this beautiful Temple...Mesa Arizona Temple

I always loved the pictures engraved on the outside of the temple. I am thankful for a digital camera to get a closer look.

Solomon Ward Relief Society Retreat

Having fun at the Jones cabin in Forest Lakes just past Payson, Arizona

Mad Libs sure got us laughing hard 

There was 15 women who sure had a great time. Laughing and bonding! Oh, wait we were freezing too! 

Evening of Excellence

This last Wednesday was the Solomon Ward Evening of Excellence. Kallee is in the middle with the red glasses and my twins, Kendree is holding the balloon and Kindsey is to the left.

This group of girls has a lot of talent.

Kallee had Divine Nature and she made cookies for everyone.

Kindsey and Kendree did artwork.

Each Young Women displayed their talents/projects. The artwork was made of balloons.