I <3 books!!!

As I mentioned, I am on a mission to read all of the many numerous books that I have accumulated over the years.  On Sunday I completely organized my bookshelves and weeded out books that I need to get rid of.  This included books that I have read and don’t need to keep, books I have that I am not interested in reading, books I have started and don’t care to finish, and my now out-of-date school textbooks.  I’m not sure why I have held on to these textbooks for so long – medical/drug information goes out of date so quickly and nearly everything is available on the internet now. 

I didn’t get a before picture, but here is an after picture:

Is it strange that I have kept all of my English/literature textbooks from college?

These are the books that I am selling or giving away:

A few years ago I bought a book on ebay and the seller sent about 25 used paperbacks with it.  All of them are classics and most of them I have not read.  Since I secretly regret the fact that I did not get a degree in English, like my college English teacher tried to persuade me to do, I have decided to read through and study these classics on my own.  There are plenty of study guides on the internet.

I am also going to focus more attention on studying the Bible and Christian theology and less on other sorts of Christian advice/experience books.  Besides this being a subject that I am very interested in, there is NO excuse for me not to have read the Bible completely through at my age.  No excuse!

Books I am reading or have read recently include:

• Start Here by Alex and Brett Harris of The Rebelution.  This is a book for teenagers, but I think their message about “doing hard things” is applicable to all Christians.  It is very inspiring!  Kourtney, you must read this one!  I read it in two days (it is very short).
• The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.  Great, great fiction.  Such a wonderful story so far!!!  I can’t wait to see how it turns out.
• Closer Than Your Skin: Unwrapping the Mystery of Intimacy with God by Susan D. Hill.   This is a well-written book, as in I like the prose, but it is definitely more of a memoir than a book about God.  I think the author makes many good points, but I am just wary of  focusing on knowing God through Christian “experience” or learning to “hear his voice” about personal matters that are not in the Bible.  There is a lot in this area that I am not sure about. I don’t want to judge the book (or author) prematurely, because I have not finished it and I plan to.
• Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas.  I like books on marriage.  I was drawn to this one because of the question on the front: “What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?”  I like that.  I think our culture in general is so obsessed with being happy and it is easy to bring unrealistic expectations into marriage.  So far this book is Biblical and excellent and really makes me think.
• Taste and See: Savoring the Supremacy of God in All of Life by John Piper.  This is a collection of 140 meditations by my hands-down favorite Christian author/thinker/pastor, who wrote my favorite book, Desiring God. He makes you see that there is so much more to life in Christ than you could ever imagine. Although I don’t cling to every word he writes or agree with every thought he has, he is a godly man that is so incredibly satisfied and blissful in God.  He has the attitude and outlook that I hope to develop.  He is also an excellent writer and his work always makes me think.
• Daniel: Lives of Integrity, Words of Prophecy: This is a Beth Moore 12 week Bible study of the book of Daniel that I am currently working through.  I am on week 4 and it is good (if you are a Beth Moore fan).  I am downloading the video lessons from Lifeway.com.  I have mixed feelings about some of her writing/teaching but I usually learn a lot from her studies, even if I don’t necessarily agree with every single thought she has or application she makes.

And finally, not a book, but I am currently listening to the Faith Works series by David Platt of The Church at Brook Hills (in Birmingham).  It is about the book of James and it is fantastic.  This pastor is so honest about the hard things in the Bible.  Actually, this is the second series I have listened to from him.  The first was Radical and quite honestly it has changed/is changing my life, especially the way I think about my life,  Christianity, and the “American Dream”  in the context of all of the poverty and suffering in the world.  I pretty much made Brent listen to the first lesson again with me last Sunday, because I think this message is so incredibly important, even essential, for everyone who claims to be a Christian.  I sincerely encourage every single person who is a Christian or is considering becoming a Christian to listen to it.

Playing House

Confession: I must say that I have enjoyed my brief role as Brent’s handmaiden/caretaker.  I feel like a real wife.  I think women in general (and me in particular) need to feel needed.  There is just so much satisfaction to be found in taking care of people and things.  I just keep saying: we didn’t think that a knee scope would be this big of a deal, but it has been huge as far as Brent losing his ability to fully function on his own! Yesterday we ventured out and had lunch at Mr. Bill’s, which is the Tuscaloosa equivalent of The Country Patch. It was a major ordeal just getting to and from the restaurant, finding an accessible table, and finding a comfortable seating position for Brent.  The leg needs its own chair at the table, apparently.

The pugs have enjoyed it also:

During this 6-day recovery period, we have watched all kinds of movies, including:

• Up (very cute!)
• Up in the Air
• Sherlock Holmes (really good, surprisingly, and made me miss London)
• Frailty
• Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve, and Thirteen
• The Hurt Locker

While I haven’t been getting up and down and up and down to fetch things and adjust the air and take care of the pugs and make runs to the grocery store, I have cooked, cleaned, organized my books (I am determined to read more/all of my books), and read.  There have been many, many goodies consumed, which is okay because sugar is mandatory for proper surgical recovery (in my opinion).

Today I learned how to use the grill!

It is perfect grilling weather, so we had chicken, shrimp, Alexia tater tots, rolls, and corn on the cob.  So good.  I didn’t get a close-up of the chicken, but Brent said it looked “like grilled chicken is supposed to look.”  Whatever that means!  I was pretty proud of it, honestly.  Liquid Smoke is the best food seasoning/condiment ever.

 

(Grilling weather)

My favorite subjects:

 

Brent is feeling much better – he is getting more used to maneuvering around with the crutches.  I am so grateful to have been able to stay home with him this week.  I went to work Monday and worried the entire time.

Everyone has been so nice.  We have received so many calls, cards, goodies, and visits.  Brent has such fantastic friends!

Surgery Friday

Here we go……

On Thursday night Brent marked the site.  I suppose this is the official pre-scope “before” picture:

He received a post-op get well gift basket from his friends, filled with magazines, DVDs, snacks, games, candy, coloring books and crayons, etc, etc.  Very sweet!

Ready to go:

   

Seriously, in this day of camera phones, no moment is sacred or private.  You can take pictures anywhere and everywhere.  I don’t even know if it is appropriate to 1.) take and 2.) post on the internet pictures like this.  You have my assurance that I had full compliance from the patient.

After about an hour in the waiting room, I was called back to talk with the doctor, then in about one more hour, I got to go back and see Brent.  The surgery went well!  They noticed during the scope that his meniscus was loose, so they reattached it. I really don’t understand the whole anatomy of the knee, so I’m just trying to repeat what the doctor told me.  We have some nice pictures of the inside of his knee (which look like they were taken underwater!). He is on crutches/immobilized for 4 weeks, but he gets to go back to work on Wednesday.  Hopefully the elevator in his building is working (it has been out of service this past week) because it will be a long haul to the third floor on crutches!

 

Just barely lucid enough for the thumbs-up.

Back home:

 

Sierra Mist + saltines + banana popsicles + cheesecake + Lortab = a recipe for recovery!!!

We had a good experience at the hospital. Since we are both “support staff” at work, it was nice to see what is happening out there every day with the patients.  Everyone was so friendly and professional and the whole process felt very efficient.  I have never been a patient’s wife before, so I' had no idea what to expect, but I expected a lot more waiting and a lot less communication.  They called me from the OR twice during the surgery to let me know he was doing fine.

I believe if I were going to be a nurse, I would want to work in surgery.  Not necessarily in the actual operating room, but maybe pre- or post-op.  We heard some pretty funny things today!  Some things were drug-induced, some were not. Some things were said by us, some by other patients. I will leave you with a sample:

• “Mr. Freeman, do you have any medication allergies?”
• “You know, I think the kids are saying bad words at school.” (the patient next door to us, speaking with her husband)
• “Hey, hand me my phone.” (who do you think?)
• RN asking a patient in another room about medication allergies: “Tell me about your allergies.”                             Brent, to me, under his breath and completely serious: “Yeah, this pollen has been really bad…”
• “You have nice-sized hands.”  (the patient next door to us, speaking to the anesthesiologist)
• “Maybe I should have gone into nursing…..” (me, to Brent, while looking at a nursing magazine)
• “Hey, will you hand me my phone?”
• “Mr. Freeman, are you allergic to any medications?”
• “Did he say how long until I can ride my bike?” (Brent, to me, barely lucid, eyes not fully open yet.)
• “Yeah, just forget what I said about me going into nursing.” (Me, to Brent, after watching the CRNA put  Brent’s IV in.)
• “I just can’t remember anything! I don’t even remember seeing the doctor in there!”  Brent, wincing and borderline tearful, just has he was coming awake.
• “Where’s my phone?”
• “No showering for 2 days?  Score!”
• “Yes, Brent, for the third time, I did get your work release from the doctor.  Would you like to see it again?”
• RN: “Mr. Freeman, you can leave if you are not nauseous.”  Brent: “I’m nauseous.  And in pain.”
• “Hey, Christen, wake up.  I’m hungry.  I’ve been dreaming about cheesecake.  Will you go get me some?” (us, after were were back home and napping)
• Brent: “Hey, Christen, I’m feeling sick.  But I could probably eat some saltines.  Will you go get me some?”  Me: “How much do you think I should get?”                       Brent (totally serious): “Probably about three boxes?”
• “I dare you…..”  (to mark funny messages on your body, shave your legs, to look at your armband when they ask your name and then say your doctor’s name, to take the Droid in the operating room……")
• “Honey, you’re going to want to put your food up.  Hurry! And where’s that bag you gave me to throw up in?” [insert vomiting sound-effects and the sound of the rest of my lunch going in the trash.]
• “Hey, Christen, I could probably eat some popsicles.  Could you get me some?”
• “Mr. Freeman, do you have any medication allergies?”
• “Hey, where’s my phone?  Will you hand it to me?”

Pugs Gone Wild

Well, look what we caught Milly doing tonight:

Smoking is such a filthy habit, Milly.

I thought that it was just a regular cigarette, but after looking at this picture, I’m not so sure:

I think I might like a little of what she’s got.

But she’s obviously not sharing.

THIS (below) is why I have such a hard time getting started in the morning.  I wake up, get out of bed, fix a cup of coffee, and head to my recliner for devotions/Bible study.  When I got up this morning, this is what I left:

 

I’ve tried to talk Brent into letting me be a stay-at-home mom.  So far he won’t hear of it. 

Next door flowers – our neighbor grows the prettiest roses.

More azaleas!