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Published: April 26th 2010
I haven't written lately, because it seems like things are just chugging along as they tend to do and I don't have as many new stories. That seems a reasonable outcome after almost 2 years of constant chronicling. We had some really dreary weather of late. Lots of rain and gray and for me that tends to result in hibernation. Luckily I have enough friends now and have signed up for enough things at school that I can't retreat into hermit land for too many consecutive days. There have been various activities and Girl Scout planning meetings and I helped with the used book sale at school a couple days. I've been busy enough.
I found out my thyroid levels were off again and have since had my medications increased--so that gives me hope for an improved metabolism and mood. I also had a minor surgical procedure on my leg. While "having surgery in China"was not on my China bucket list, I have now added another unique experience to the very long list of unique experiences.
I had this thing on my leg (looks like a bruise but is slightly raised). It didn't hurt but it was not attractive
and it caused many people to ask me "what is that thing on your leg?" I have no idea how I got it or exactly when but it was there. So I was at the doctor with my list of issues and I mentioned that this leg thing had changed a bit and she suggested I get it looked at by a surgeon. I made an appointment for Sunday of the same week--he comes to the office at odd times as he works at a hospital most of the time. He looked at it, agreed he could remove it without much trouble and so we walked across the hall to the procedures room and he did it in about 20 minutes. Maybe less. It was fast.
Emily was with me--Nathan was at home and Mark was in the US. In hindsight perhaps I should have waited for Mark to be on the same continent before doing this procedure but I was excited to have it over and done with.
I was on this table, with a big overhead light (just like in the movies) and the doctor and a woman (nurse or assistant, not sure) were with me.
While my leg was washed and prepared I tried to butter up the doc by saying I'd heard he was an excellent surgeon. I then asked the doctor if he was going to give me a shot. He said "no. I'm just going to cut it out!" He paused for my look of horror and then said "of course I'm going to give you a shot. I am this excellent surgeon and I'm not going to give you a shot?" We had a laugh. He was not the chattiest, and I like to know what's happening at all times--play by play, if you will--but he was chatting with the woman in Chinese the entire time and I got pretty much nothing. I was thinking about Emily and hoping she was okay, and then I was wishing I had my iPod to distract me. The shots were the only painful part of the entire thing. Then I was totally numb but I was feeling the activity on my leg and I felt the string being sewn in for stitches (my first stitches). I lifted my head up and tried to take a peek at one point and saw a lot of
blood and decided not to do that again. At the end, the doc showed me the thing he'd cut out and I said "ewww" and he said "it is your tissue". He sent it off to the lab for confirmation that it's not anything to worry about.
They gave me all the supplies I needed to clean and dress my wound. I had to go back once for a check and there is a final check two weeks post-procedure later this week. My leg seems great and I have no signs of any infection. It was an experience to be sure.
I also spent a lot of time organizing the daddy daughter dance which we held this weekend. I had a dress made for Emily and it turned out beautifully. $30 for a custom made silk dress. She looked stunning and I could tell she enjoyed being dressed up and on her daddy's arm. I negotiated our contract with the hotel where we hosted the dance by explaining that the dads were all foreign businessmen and this was a great opportunity for exposure to the expat community in Shanghai. The hotel was very accommodating and gave us a
huge discount. We had a great turnout and the girls and dads danced and bonded to a playlist of 80s classics. We also had a dance instructor from the school come do some lessons for about an hour. Mark said he was scared he'd step on Emily's feet--she was dancing barefoot. But he did great. We had boutineers and corsages and it was a lot of fun.
I am getting moving quotes for our return home in June. While we arrived with 6 suitcases, I don't think we can return home with the same plan. No matter our attempts to just say no to buying things, it's just not seeming possible after two years of life. The expat shipping business is interesting and clearly quite lucrative. We are once again on our own in figuring all this out--no relocation department to help us like many of our expat friends. I am the relocation department.
This is a short school week as the Shanghai government has extended the May 1 government holiday due to the grand opening of the Expo. In an effort to encourage local residents to leave town and not attend the Expo on opening weekend, the
entire town will have an extended holiday weekend. The kids are off Friday, Monday and Tuesday but for once, we are not planning on leaving town. We are not planning to go to the Expo, either. We have heard stories of crowds and unfinished construction, so we will wait a bit before checking out the scene.
The kids are doing great. We are focusing on the here and now as much as possible, but of course we are doing lots of imagining about our return home which means some sad teary goodbyes here and some happy teary reunions in our future.
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Geeze
non-member comment
Oh I am so glad you had that thing on you leg removed..no more guessing, whew! Take good care. I wish i could help you. xox