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its over!!

Last wednesday, my parents and I got in the car and started our trip to New York around 3am.  It took just about 3 hours to get there so we arrived by 6:00.  My pre-op appointment wasn't until 7 (arrival time 6:45) and the doors to the building didnt open until 9:00 (didnt really make any sense).  Anyway, I ended up behind a doctor who could get in so we managed to get into the building.  We went to Dunkin Donuts and got some breakfast and wasted time until I could check in.  By 7:00, I was heading in for pre-op and didnt really know what to expect because they said it could take 2 hours but last time it took less than an hour.  They did all my vitals, asked about my medical/surgical history and sent me to the lab for blood work.  It all took about a 1/2 hour and then I didn't have my appointment with Dr. Pilitsis (the surgeon) until 9:15. We wasted some more time then went to see her.  She explained what was involved in the surgery, about how long it would take and what she was going to do.  She was going to bring me into the OR around 8:30 and said she should be done by around 5.
We were out of her office by 10 and had the whole day to kill before the big day.  We went to 2 malls and had a lot of fun laughing and just spending time together.  We got to the hotel around 3 and all crashed!!
The next day came quick and I had to be at the hospital around 7.  They gave me an IV and I met everyone who was going to be in the OR with me.  They finally came and got me and gave me something to relax around 830.  I remember quite a bit from the surgery since I had to be awake for most of it.  They shaved my head, attached the frame, brought me for a CT scan then started.  I remember them programming it and I had to keep saying "its a sunny day in albany" and try opening my hand.  They were making sure it helped my hand but didnt affect my speech.  They had to program it almost all the way up for my left hand to open but my right hand opened much quicker! 
When I woke up I felt pretty good.  I kept asking for my parents and it seemed like forever before they came in.  I didnt sleep that good that night because they woke me up every hour to do a neurological exam,  It was kind of annoying.  The next day, I had to have another ct scan to make sure everything was ok.  I got sick after that, I think just from moving around and stuff but then I felt much better and my parents brought me some lunch from panera! yummy!!
Friday afternoon, they discharged me but said I had to spend the night in a hotel near by in case anything happened.  I got sick again Saturday morning but other than that I felt pretty good and we were on our way back to MA by 730 am Saturday morning!  I got to see my wonderful family for Christmas eve and spend christmas day with my beautiful daughter and amazing fiance (who proposed christmas morning)!!!  It was such a special day.  :)
Im heading back to NY friday to have my staples out and hopefully the programming will start shortly after!!

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