Hi Everyone,
I will keep this very short and sweet because it is still extremely hard to find a comfortable sitting position in which to type. Hopefully as the days go on, I will be able to write more and more as I have a lot to share.
First off, a HUGE THANK YOU! Words can't express how much your blog posts, emails and phone calls helped me get through the last 10 days. Surgery is often a very solitary experience...you are so single-mindedly focused on the task at hand that the days become a blur ("today I need to walk", "today I need to drink"). It's very easy to feel that you are "alone" in the process. Your words gave me great strength.
Lots to share but in the interest of my comfort, I will quickly answer the trivia questions:
1) What did Jen do today for the first time in 8 days? Eat Solid Food! I went 7 days with nothing more than ice chips. Thanks to everyone for being delicate with the "bathroom talk" but yes, there were a lot of milestones in that category that the doctors celebrated as well.
2. Which 9-time Grammy-award winner did Jen chat with today? Sheryl Crow! That's right...she came to visit the patient lounge and talk to us about her cancer experience. She was very eloquent however, I would have been more inspired if she just played a few tunes! Regardless, she was beyond friendly and supportive and was wearing the most awesome 6" stilletto heels I have ever seen. It will take me months to even get up the nerve to try to wear heels like that!
Extra credit: what happened in Jen's room in the middle of the night last night (hint: apparently Dave has some competition). An old, sweet man named Andre snuck into my room and insisted on being my roommate! Around 8:30 at night, another patient mistook my room for his and was halfway across the room before a nurse convinced him that he was trying to climb into the wrong bed. About 3AM the same thing happened! He was on a "middle of the night stroll" and came into my room and tried to climb into the other bed in my room (luckily, no one was in it). However, Andre couldn't seem to get into the bed so he paged the nurses to help him. They came to get him and explained again that he was in the wrong room. Jury's out on whether he was senile or whether he was a very smart man who was looking to hook up with a woman 50 years his junior :)
And with regards to my wonderful "vanilla" husband, I will plagiarize what my good friend (and NY Times best-selling author), Bruce said, "Vanilla is loyal, steadfast, heart and real, and a necessary foil to chocolate chips. Glitz and glamour are nothing without without bedrock vanilla to make them shine. So here's to a great partnership of vanilla AND chocolate chips! We should all be so lucky." I couldn't have said it better myself!
I promise to write in the next day or so. And please keep the good thoughts coming my way. This surgery is the most invasive of all 5 I have had (details will follow in upcoming entries) and the recovery will be long and hard. As you all know, I hate to be pent up so the recuperation process can be rather depressing. Thanks for continuing to cheer me up!
Comments
Did you ask Cheryl about
Did you ask Cheryl about Lance??? LOL.
Jen - how can you possibly
Jen - how can you possibly look that good in all those hospital shots! We are sooooo happy you are home. Had some chocolate chip ice cream last night in honor of you! (My hips are NOT thanking you) All our love - Jeanne and Team JENesis
Jen - So glad to hear that
Jen - So glad to hear that the recovery is underway. Even if you never trade slippers for 6 inch stilettos (I NEVER would!) I'm hoping you'll be back in your spinning shoes soon. Cheryl Crow may play a rockstar at work, but you ARE one. All me best wishes! xoxo Carrie Lascell (Brown)
Hey Jen,Glad to know you're
Hey Jen,
Glad to know you're getting a bit better every day and just wanted to say thanks for taking care of us, too. Ya know, the people who worry about you... Dave's entries, your smile while holding the morphine dispenser button, your smile with Sheryl, your humour etc... though I'm sure there's lots of pain, it makes us all feel better to see you smile. Thanks, rock star.
Cheering for you as always,
Em x
Jen - so glad to get your
Jen - so glad to get your update... you look like the rock star! you are such an amazing woman!!!
love you!!! Laura Broderick
Hi Jen, a few songs you need
Hi Jen, a few songs you need to add to your iPod are: Run Like an Antelope (the short version) by Phish, Love Generation (by Bob Sinclair & Gary Pine), I'm Coming Out (by Diana Ross), Blitzrieg Pop (by the Ramones), All the Wine (by The National), and Dog Days are Over (by Florence + The Machine). I wish you the best of luck in this valley. Good luck, a friend of Justine's.
Dear Jen,I think about you
Dear Jen,
I think about you every day and am inspired by your strength and fight. I am wishing you only good thoughts for a continued recovery. Love you. Best to Dave as well. xoxo Deb Curtis
Dear Jen, Thinking of you and
Dear Jen, Thinking of you and Dave all the time. And, of course Sheryl didnt sing because she was humbled in the presence of the REAL rock star* xoxo, Sira
Hi, Jen,I was thinking that
Hi, Jen,
I was thinking that you could probably teach Sheryl a thing or two about recovery, but that was sweet of her to stop by. You are in our prayers and thoughts and are so glad that you are out of the hospital. Looking forward to hearing more updates.
Much love,
Melissa Ruby Banzhaf
Hi Jen,Sending you lots of
Hi Jen,
Sending you lots of love and strength for a speedy recovery. Me and the kids pray for you every night. Feel good and keep smiling!
Beth Jeskey Smargiassi and Family
Wow! I'm a Sheryl Crow fan!
Wow! I'm a Sheryl Crow fan! Glad you're back on the blog! Tell Vanilla Man he did an awesome job filling in. -Ken
Only you could look
Only you could look absolutely RADIANT from a hospital bed! I hope your recovery is proceeding well.
shari
Hi Jenn,I don't know why I've
Hi Jenn,
I don't know why I've started reading your blogs now but they are making me think and I think of you often throughout the day and whenever I'm Spinning.I don't really know what else to write other than,obviously,I wish you a tremendous recovery as only you can.
Rick
Ps.I just thought of some words that I think my friend Johnny G might say "go slow now so you can go fast later".Yeah,that fits! Be strong. xox
Jen, You are so not 'alone'
Jen,
You are so not 'alone' given the network of family and friends who care about you and Dave, so much!! We're all recouperating with you! We're never much farther than a thought away, a prayer before bedtime, a keystroke....
If you get schpilkes (how does one spell that?) just visualize being stuck on the tarmac at LGA and all of a sudden running Jen's Command Central from home won't seem all that bad.
xoxo
Judy
She was wearing six inch
She was wearing six inch heels, and she still is just as tall as you. See, you should have been a supermodel (still can happen)!!
Wishing you health and the fulfillment of all your goals. A day at a time, cuz! :-*
Love,
Deb and Gary
Six inch heels?!?! How does
Six inch heels?!?! How does anyone ever walk in those things? In any event ... so glad to hear you are eating and recovering! Nice try by the old man. Can't blame him for being ambitious, I suppose. Better lock your door at night :)
- Marc
I wish you didn't have to
I wish you didn't have to have such invasive surgery, Jen, but I'm so glad that you were able to find a good surgeon who was able to do the surgery you needed.
I have been thinking of you regularly and sending lots of good thoughts and prayers your way.
Hope you don't mind my posting this here, but I thought some of your friends and family might want to help vote for this foundation which is trying to get a Pepsi grant related to using sound waves as an alternative to chemo and radiation. Apparently early research has shown it can be effective.
http://www.refresheverything.com/kanziuscancerresearch
Hope you feel better as each day passes.
Gail
Jenn. So great to read you.
Jenn. So great to read you. We continue to include u in our prayers... We look forward to your future posts. As far as vanilla is concerned I'd like to make everyone aware that it was first imported from Mexico to the US. So it ain't that plain :) Your Puerto Rican friend knows. Xo Gary
Even if your steps are
Even if your steps are slow-and u wear flat shoes for the next couple of mos. (how does Sheryl manage-go her)-u do it with such beauty determination and grace!! :)
I hope all the love u receive-makes those days of recovery and recuperation a little easier.
Big Hugs-and your smile-still radiates-during ur recuperation-love the photos-:)
Love, NINI
Jen, I am a friend of your
Jen, I am a friend of your mom's Sheila Cole from Franklin School. I continue to keep you in my prayers.
May God
"raise you up on eagle's wings, bear you on the breath of dawn, make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of His hand"
(Song - On Eagle's Wings based on Psalm 91)
6" heels! I'd fall down just
6" heels! I'd fall down just looking at them! I can't even imagine - I gave up wearng more than 1" heels about 30 years ago.
I'm so glad you're back home and feeling better! Go, Jennifer, go!
By the way, Cynthia Gormezano, the physical therapist who shares an office with my acupuncturist, and most of her staff, took part in the last Cycle for Survival in NY! All sending good thoughts your way.
As, of course, do I. We have you on the Mi Sh'beirach list at my temple - couldn't hurt.
Big hug,
(the other) Sandy
You're looking foxier than
You're looking foxier than Sheryl, and taller to boot. Too bad she didn't sing a few (a little feedback never hurt anyone)...and, btw, NO criticism of Dave in this corner. He did a totally acceptable job...clear reporting, and no attempt at stealing your column.
Sleep tight, Jen, and talk (digitally for now) soon,
xo
anne
Hi Jen. Glad to hear that
Hi Jen. Glad to hear that you are on the mend. I've been thinking about you ever since Cycle, and am so glad to have just found your journal.
You are an absolute inspiration. I'm sending all positive & healthy vibes your way.
Randy Lebowitz Roth
randylroth@gmail.com