Staples are gone-I can blow dry my hair now!!

Hi everyone!!!  I am doing great with a trip to San Diego this week on Tuesday for a check up with my staples removed.  The incision is healing well with no swelling at the site like last go round.  We packed up the family including Mimi (my mommy-Lynda) and headed down Tuesday.  We had lunch at our favorite Mexican food restaurant that we ate the night before my very first surgery.  A little bit of Dejavu.  I figured why not celebrate the first and hopefully last visit to the hospital eating the same good eats.  It was a beautiful day and we walked around ole town.  The visit went great and the staples were removed effortlessly.  The docs were thrilled that I was doing so well.  I think they were really concerned about me or a possible lawsuit.  I am definitely headed on the road to a complete recovery.  I can feel it!!  I don't have to go back for one year to get a follow up MRI unless problems arise. We spent the night in San Diego and took the kiddos and Mimirs to Sea World the next day.  I did really good and made it through the day with periodic breaks of sitting down.  The shows were really awesome and the kids had a blast.  Maddie wants to live with the dolphins, Mimi wants to ride Shamu and Mason was a mad man at the giant jungle gym.  What a great trip!  Mimi is graciously staying another week to visit and help with the kids.  We are playing scrabble  and I am getting back to word combat mode. I am now just today off the steroids and hoping that my appetite will take a hike.  I am tired of eating, but always so damn hungry.  Everything still taste a little metallic, but improving with time.  I have gained about 13 lbs due to the steroids and not being able to work out.  I can not wait to get back on the tennis court, but have to wait an additional 2 months.  Don't want to blow another gasket. But I CAN SMILE-and eat evidently yahoo!!  I still need about a 2 hr nap in the afternoons and I am only on motrin for headache pain.  I feel really blessed to not have nonstop headaches like some post op acoustic neuromas.

I am heading back to Houston July 19-Aug 2.  I cant wait to see everyone.  I miss my family and friends.  We are still trying to get Arty's plane ticket, so we have not planned a date for a reunion at Juanitos.  We will keep everybody posted.  I want to thank the prayer group and Mrs. Gloria Mills in Pearland.  They knitted a beautiful shaw and bookmark heart for me.  I just love them!  So much thought and care went into making it.  It is getting really hot already and was 107 today.  We thought about moving to Arizona last year and I was asking myself what were we thinking.  The heat is unbearable especially after being in cool San Diego.  I will download a pic of Sea world soon as I get a hold of Art's camera.  Art is doing fantastic and back into the full swing of work mode.  He really loves what he does and I am really lucky to be able to stay home with the kids.  Pics to come soon-Lots of love to everyone and thank you for all the love and prayers, Dara