Movin' on up!

Today, I am happy to say, I had my 3 week checkup and I am doing great!  I have had such a good day today and I could not be any happier.  3 weeks ago, I woke up at Northside Hospital in pain, groggy, stitched up horizontally across each breast, and with 4 Jackson Pratt drains (J-P drains) attached under my armpits with 2 on each side.  3 weeks ago today, I could not get myself up out of my own bed to move from one place to another and 3 weeks ago today I was unsure as to how long it would take to begin feeling more like myself.

Today, I feel like myself!  Praises and thanks to everyone who has given me prayers and love and encouragement throughout.  

3 weeks has come with some hiccups for sure.  Allergic reactions, and rashes, and stiff necks, oh my!  But, one thing is for sure, I have cried (more than I expected), I have laughed, I have gotten use to a metamorphic me, but I have not given up and I realize, I am a hell of a lot stronger than I would have expected.  

But here is the greatest thing of all, my drains are out, my drains are out, my drains are out (insert happy dance)!  For those that are unfamiliar with J-P drains there are no better words to describe them other than they S-U-C-K!  Yes, this is coming from an English teacher.  These drains are great for their purpose which is to pull excess fluid away from the surgical site to prevent infection and abscesses but they are the pits, no pun intended.  I felt like an octopus for 21 long days with these grenade-looking appendages coming out from my armpits.  Not only did I have these lovely extra attachments that openly showed all the draining fluid to anyone that walked by but I could not shave or wear deodorant while they were in.  When I was talking to my plastic surgeon before my surgery about what to expect never did she say, “Cara, you are going to have to walk around in 91 degree heat embracing your French heritage.  You not only get to sport hairy arm pits and smell oh, so, organic, but you get to wear a long sleeved shirt out in public so not to offend the “average” man with your fluid-filled grenades.”  Seriously, not that her telling me this would have been a make it or brake it for having my breasts removed but a warning would have been nice J  Most people have their drains out by two weeks but my mom always said, I liked to march to the beat of my own drum, so 21 days it was.  I was beginning to joke, if these did not come out soon, I was going either have to buy gauge earrings to place in the now permanent holes or change my tax information with from 0 dependents to 2 dependents (I mean they were sucking me dry)!  Okay, enough of the griping of my drains because they are gone!!!!

Overall, though, I am surprised at how good I feel.  I was able to get dressed up for the first time on Friday and meet a long time friend, Sean, at a restaurant he manages called the Atlanta Fish Market.  It was so nice to be able to go buy a new dress, put on some makeup, have Ginny do my hair (I still have trouble reaching up), and feel “normal” again.  Going out still wears me out and I cannot imagine how I would do this if I did not have summer break but I feel good.  I am even happy with what I see in the mirror.  My body has changed quite a bit but I am proud of it.  My breasts have a long way to go but the growing pains are manageable.  Life is good.

                                            My extra appendage that I had become less than fond of.

                                   Armed for battle! Had to hook my "grenades" onto a belt :)

                    As Garth Brooks sings, "IIIII'M drain-less!" I think that's how the song goes ;)
                                                                       Free at last!!!

My first outing (before my drains were gone)!! :) If you look closely you may see some tiny mounds!

Me and G at the Atlanta Fish Market

                                 G, myself and Sean.  Thank you Sean for making me feel like a queen!