I am very happy to let you know that things are getting better and better each day! 

Thank you so much for all your prayers for healing, my mind and my head throughout this allergy season - your prayers have been felt and are being answered!  I have had a few allergy headaches that have taken me out this season, but not nearly as many as usual.  I am VERY faithful to wear my mask anytime I am outside. And I mean, any time...coming from the car to the house, I put it on. It is such a drag, but it helps significantly so I will continue to wear it (and for the record, I was wearing a mask before masks were a thing...I think it was the year before Covid that I started wearing a mask during allergy season. 😅).  

As for healing, I am doing significantly better.  For several weeks I had a burning/pulling sensation near the incision that I have not had before.  It had me terrified that something was not healing right and I was in for more bad news.  I was in a pretty dark place mentally during this time, but as the sensation began to go away I began to perk up a little more each day. I would say I am in a good head space, but physically, ugh...my body is beaten down. It was not until I was having to recount to the dentist all the surgeries that I have had since the last time I saw them, just 6 months ago, that it really settled in my soul that dang....that was A LOT.  I have also come to accept the fact that for right now, I am unable mentally, emotionally and even physically to think about having another surgery anytime soon.   Originally, Dr. Davoodi said, we would take the implant out, let things heal for a month and then go back and place a new implant.  I asked Dr. Davoodi if it would be detrimental if I were unable to go back in a month and he said no and then said that maybe the implant would not be the best route anyway. If and when I am at a place mentally, emotionally and physically to have a final surgery it will be for the best route then and for the long term....but who knows when that will be? 

I had a very cool conversation yesterday as I was volunteering at school.  I had the privilege of volunteering with the sweetest, smiliest 3-month-old baby girl and her mama.   The mom is on maternity leave from Johnson and Johnson, where she is a scientist working on stitches and studying the shelf life of antibiotics on stitches and how quickly stitches dissolve etc etc. I was fascinated to learn that you can ask for particular stitches! And I was curious to pick her brain because my stitches never seem to fully dissolve! We looked back in my surgery notes, and I did in fact have her stitches in my body and as a matter of fact, I still have what appears to be the whole stitch that hasn't dissolved at all from this past surgery.  I went to the RR and took a picture of the stitch and she was like "yep, that is our purple stitch!"  Cool, why is it still there???? Her response, "I have not known any to last this long." Great, it is so great to be me... Geesh!  I covet your prayers for protection of the incision since the stitch is still there, because it made think...what if it truly was just a "stitch irritation" that became infected last time. Don't want to do that again, I gave it zero stars the last time, no need to repeat.  

On a much brighter note, Sunday is coming! On this day, we remember the crucifixion of Jesus, but we remember with Hope and Thanksgiving knowing that the grave could not hold Him and that on Easter Sunday we celebrate Him rising from the dead! Our Savior, Our Redeemer! With His life, he paid the price for our sin so that we may live forever in eternity with Him! Amen! Happy Easter!