Hi

On Thursday 10/13 I went back to LA to see 2 of my 3 doctors, and Mom made a herself a doctor appointment with our primary physician, so it was a busy day for 2 gals hobbling around. My appointments were routine check-ups; for Mom she was there to discuss that she has two bone spurs in one of her heels. OUCH! Yea, we are quite a pair. Screw the Kardashians, you all would laugh your ass off lately if we were being filmed.

So my day started with seeing Dr. Robert Cole, my general surgeon. I am just past 4 weeks of recovery and that was the first time he had seen me. And he said (and remeber he IS a surgeon and remarkable at what he does), "If my jaw wasn't already hinged it would be on the floor." He couldn't believe how good I looked and what my plastic surgeons were able to do. I asked for a few more details. He said he was working on me for about the first 4 hours. From then on, Dr. Orringer and Dr. Granzow worked on me the rest of the time. I told him how bad my clavicle and shoulders hurt when I woke up. Did you all know that your breast tissue goes all the way up to your clavicle? He said my tissue was dissected. I say it was scraped. Whatever the term, all of it was removed.

Dr. Orringer and Dr. Granzow began working. In all they tightened up the muscles in my chest and abdomen. They cut my abdomen (a 26" scar) and used my own tissue to remake my new boobs. Then they re-routed blood vessels from my abdomen to give the tranplanted tissue a good blood supply. Amazing, right? This took from the 4th hour to hour 15. At that point they got a messgage to my Mom that the surgery went great and now they were going to make me "pretty." This took the last 3 1/2 hours. Only God and those doctors know what I must have looked like...All the more reason why Dr. Cole was so amazed.

Next was Dr. Orringer. He removed my tape again and replaced my abdominal scar with a new gel-like bandage that feels really good and it moves with me, which is nice. He then removed the tape from my new boobs and we discussed my next procedure; making nipples. But since we were talking I never looked in the mirror. It's hard enough sitting or standing there all naked in front of these guys as they examine me. I know, least of my worries, right?

The tape that I had on this entire time was flesh colored, so after another exhausting day I got home and changed my clothes. My first look in the mirror is what I had been afraid to see this entire time. These white circles, nothing else, with stitch marks on these new foreign boobs. I just stood there and cried.

I went to Mom's today and told her about last night and cried again. I know it'll all get fixed, in time. Once again, patience; not my strong suit. I know I just have to pull on my big girl pants and just deal with this; and I will. I mean, I am. Aren't I?

I woke up this morning at 5 a.m. with that burning down the right side of my torso. Didn't want the dogs to get up so rather than getting water to take a pill, I just burned for about an hour then fell back to sleep. Jack woke up around 8 and we started our day. I think I'm still waiting to simply wake up one day and I feel "normal." But I know it's a process. That tightness that I feel is also getting better. Doctors say I can resume physical activity at week 6 or 8. We all know I've been doing far more than anyone expected at this point, but I think I am going to wait; exercise, lifting Jack, doing more physical activities. Hell, I tried opening a water bottle last night. After using a rubber mitt, then an oven mitt, I thought I may have popped a stitch. Couldn't open it so I put the damn thing back in the frig.

As for Mom, she's going to therapy at the foot clinic 3 days a week. Between me in my new industrial strength bra and tummy band and Mom in her Uggs with her $70 heel inserts, we are plugging right along. Don't count us out yet. Not sure what the situation was but the other day Mom asked me, "How did you get so stubborn?" Hmmmm, I don't know? What do you all think?

Thank you for your love, support and prayers. It really does help me and my family.

"Be kind to yourself and appreciate having the strength and courage to go through such an incredible adventure called LIFE." -James Van Praagh

Be well, Janeen

P.S. Jack, your having an over night at Anni's. You better be asleep and not sitting in her bed saying, "Let's party," like last time. Good night monkey.