Surgery Scheduled

Wow...this is all happening so fast! I'm having back surgery on Thursday! As many of you know, I've been battling some back issues since Mary Ellen was born. Well, long before that, I guess. Anyway, after a back spasm, my leg went numb and completely weak. I've had 3 epidurals to attempt to shrink the inflammation around the herniated disc. This has helped immensely w/ pain and has taken away some of the numbness, but I'm still not 100%. I went to a surgeon yesterday who said people who usually wait 3 months to have the procedure done still have some nerve damage, people who wait longer (a year, longer, etc.) usually have permanent nerve damage. I asked, "What would you do?" He said he'd have the discectomy. It's the least invasive, and the healing time is quicker than other surgeries. He makes an incision in my lower back and shaves off the portion of the disc that is on the nerve and cleans up any other fragments around that area. He tested my strength in my left leg, and I cannot stand on my tip toes. He said my left leg is significantly weaker than my right. My leg is still numb along the back and side, and my last 2 toes + the bottom of my foot and heel are completely numb. It has effected my balance and ability to walk. I hope this works!!!

I know another SAHM who's had the surgery and simply said Don't push it. She knows of people who push it too hard too soon and then injur their back again. So even though people are saying, "The recovery time is only a couple of weeks," I want to say, "Do you know how physical my job is?!" I was told I can't lift Sam for 3 months. :( And technically I can't lift over 10 pounds, and Mary is almost 12 pounds and getting chunkier by the minute. :) SO....needless to say, Jason and I are trying to hire SOMEONE to help w/ the kids on a regular basis for a few weeks. We have the first week covered w/ friends and family. And I suppose we should hire someone to clean, too. Even lately, I've been vaccuming and lifting it to the stairs thinking, I really probably shouldn't be doing this. SO...don't judge. :) Why do I feel like I need to justify hiring help for longer than expected? I don't know. I guess I've always felt like an I-can-do-it-all type of person. But I know in the long run, if having help for a few weeks helps me heal better and more thoroughly and prevents further injury, then I'm taking it easy for a few weeks.

Please pray that God will provide the right people/person to help w/ the kids.

Please pray for a spirit of peace within our home, as this can be a stressful time w/ mommy being out of commission.

Please pray for full healing.

Please pray for Jason as he'll be doing alot...helping w/ Mary's late-night feedings, etc. (which he's already been doing...love you honey!)