This week was a wild one.  More than half of the week I was doped up on pain killas, which made the week even more…interesting.  I’ll give you the abbreviated version:

I decided to accept a challenge and quit Diet Coke.  For 30 days.  My husband didn’t believe I could do it, and we made a wager greatly in my favor.  I started Wednesday of this week.

Wednesday was also the day I was scheduled for surgery.  I finally got my lipoma taken out of my back.  I had hoped it would be a quick procedure.  Usually people just get local anesthesia and they are out of the hospital in a matter of hours.  Unfortunately, my lipoma had started to grow gracefully around my spine.  This meant I had to be put completely out during the surgery.  To save you from a lot of boring business….here is a pretty hilarious before and after picture.  [Left being before I entered the OR room, and the right…is the damage after.]

I know, right?  Pretty hilarious.  I honestly don’t remember anything.  I was just told that I was the “happiest” patient they have ever had coming out of anesthesia.  Apparently I was waving hello to everyone and telling all the nurses how “stunningly beautiful” they were.

Whatevs.  I don’t remember any of that.  I do remember waking up and my husband having to help me use the bathroom – oh the joys of marriage!

Apparently I also begged the OR nurse before I went into surgery to take a picture of my lipoma after they took it out.  In the recovery room, he showed me on his phone what it looked like.  I remember asking him to text me the picture, but apparently that is a breech of patient confidentiality.  I didn’t understand…besides that hideous thing was MINE anyway.  I made it.  In my own body.

I felt awesome right after surgery.  I even had visitors.  My sweet mother-in-law brought me gorgeous flowers.

And my mother brought me my beloved Coldstone for dessert.  She knows the way to my heart.

The rest of the week went as normal, but unfortunately not as comfortable once my morphine wore off.  I went into work the next day, and the following day.  Loratabs really make the work day fly by!

Friday came and we checked off on our summer list #47 – A night in Wendover.  My brother turned 21 the Sunday before, and we decided to throw him a little surprise party.  We planned to all ride the Fun Bus [Zach and I, my parents, my aunt and uncle, my cousins, and some of Blake’s friends] to Wendover on Friday night.  We all arrived early, and Blake’s friends brought him to the pick up point.  I am pretty sure he was embarrassed when he arrived in the Sears parking lot to my mother and aunt holding a banner for him.  The banner was just the beginning.  The night before, my parents came over to our house and we made grab bags for all of his party guests.  They were filled with his favorite things.

 Diet Pepsi, sparklers [he loves anything with pyrotechnics] and firecrackers, a squirt gun [because he loves to hunt], and even a packet of fry sauce.  He loves fry sauce.  We also duct taped them – because at one point, Blake believed anything could be repaired with duct tape.

I also wanted to get him a special cake, but couldn’t think of what to do.  Then it dawned on me.  So Cupcake in Salt Lake sells maple bacon cupcakes.  Blake L O V E S bacon.  Literally, he would go through a whole package of that Kirkland Bacon from Costco in a week.  It’s a miracle that he is not obese.  So…I ordered him and all his guests some cupcakes.

They were…really good.  I hate to admit it, but these cupcakes were like breakfast in cake form.  You could probably only eat one…a year, but they were really delicious.

[Blake and his darling girlfriend, Brittany – and my mother’s head]

And then we were off on the journey to Wendover.  Luckily, to entertain us, we got to play BINGO on the way there.  Zach was victorious and won this stunning patriotic bear.

[this is the face of a drugged individual – my pillz had skillz.]

I must admit, going on a 2 hour long bus ride was not the best idea two days after surgery.  Luckily I brought my special back pillow [that made me look 90-years-old] and sipped on my water cup [because, remember…no Diet Coke}.

Overall, the night was fun and successful.  Blake was surprised, we enjoyed a sketchy seafood buffet [free with the purchase of the Fun Bus], and Zach and I returned home winners!  Turns out I am not that bad at Black Jack.

The next day, we used our winnings to dine out at Market Street Grill.  Always a treat.

Zach also took me on a tour of their new hangar and his new office.  Pretty exciting!

 Sunday came, and after church we went to the Hendersons for Sunday Dinner.  We also got to explore Mark’s mountain in his back yard.  He has named it the “Rugrat Habitat” [rugrats are his word for grandchildren] and it is literally gigantic.  This picture doesn’t do it justice.

I can’t wait to see the kiddies on this baby.  They are already in heaven.  He’s the most fun Grandpa…ever.

Even though I was drugged half the time, this week turned out great!  Operation Blake’s Birthday was by far the highlight of my week.  I love my baby brother, and hoped he enjoyed his glamorous night in “Dover”.  He better have loved it, because he was a big winner too!

And…my lovely lady lump is gone.  I feel like a new woman!  I’m glad I finally fixed my Quasimodo situation, and I am extremely grateful to my sweet friends and family who offered to bring us meals and help us out.  Mad props to my husband as well, who had to bathe his wife like a child.  Nothing says true love like bathing your wife while she’s cray cray on Loratab!

I love you Zachary Mark.