It is cold now - takes about 10 minutes to bundle everyone up and get out the door to go to Ashley's school. It's been a busy Fall. Anthony's parents came out for 2 weeks and we did a lot of sightseeing. It was a good visit - the weather was nice for the most part - and Anthony and I finally got to see parts of Beijing we'd been waiting to see. We also went to Xian with his parents to see the Terra Cotta Warriors. That was very fun and very neat to see. We visited the Forbidden City, Silk Market and the Hutongs.
My parents just came out last week and visited for one week. It was very good to see them and we had a good visit, despite my falling and breaking my nose and despite the horrible nasty polluted days we had. For some reason, it was really bad while they were here (of course, as I write this, it's a clear day where you can see the sun!).
Ashley is busy in school, preparing for her Winter Performance in December (she'll be a swan in "the Ugly Duckling") and her choir performance. I am excited to see her in her first performances. Anthony will miss them both as he'll be traveling back to the States. She's doing great in school and is reading books on her own now.
Ryken is standing up now - while holding on to things and cruising around while holding on. He's getting into everything he can reach and having fun doing it. He has more teeth coming in, on number 6 now. He's eating lots of different stuff and loving food.
Liz is doing great too - although she's at a hard stage right now. She wants mommy a lot and wants lots of attention - she's started throwing tantrums and fits so we're working on preventing or stopping those right now. When she's in a good mood, she's so happy and such fun to have around.
We are celebrating Thanksgiving on Saturday with friends. Anthony doesn't get any time off for Thanksgiving holiday here in Beijing, so we'll wait until the weekend. One of my friends has a full size oven, so she's cooking the turkey and we'll all bring side dishes. Should be fun.
We are not coming home to the States for Christmas this year, as we are doing to Australia!!!! I have dreamt of going to Australia for years and years and years and now we are! We'll spend two full weeks traveling around to four different places. I am so excited and am just hoping that all is healed up with my nose so there won't be any issues with flying or snorkeling!
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Surgery in China!!!
Well, I never thought that would happen, but I've had surgery in China! I am ok - so no worries.
But, last Friday, after walking for about 3 hours in the Great Wall, we stopped to have lunch at a restaurant and I tripped going up some stairs - hit the bottom of my nose with full force. I have not broken any bone (thank goodness!) but have broken the cartilage in many places inside and at the end. I was about an hour and a half ride back into Beijing from the restaurant, with me trying to stay alert and keep an ice pack on my nose without causing myself further pain and misery. We just started with a new driver, Simon, and this was only his second day on the job! He did a great job driving as fast as he could and trying to take it slow over big bumps. The ER doc had to call in a specialist (the ENT doctor) and she did some really cool endoscopy up my nose, it was only cool to see on the screen - didn't exactly feel good! I was still bleeding 5 hours after the accident, so they needed to find the bleeding to stop it. They decided I needed to be put under and go into surgery so the ENT doc could examine it properly. I was very nervous, but going to sleep was rather easy. Anthony waited for about 1.5 hours till I was out of surgery. The doctor said there is a lot of damage to the cartilage and the bleeding was from one very large laceration in the nose - through the mucous membrane. She was not able to suture it due to the membrane - not sure why, but that's what she said - so she cauterized it - and another cut on the other side. I now have a badly deviated septum also. She said the surgery went well, but I will have to go back in about 2 months and have more surgery done to repair the cartilage. It was pretty swollen up - not up near my eyes, but the upper lip and nose area.
Fun, fun, fun :) Anthony said I looked like a different person, like a person from Whoville (in the Jim Carrey movie). Anthony, Ken and Carolyn were with me when it happened and were great helping out with the kids at home, along with the ayi. I went back on Monday for a checkup and for them to take out the "packing" they put up my nose. This packing made me feel like I had a sinus infection and was very uncomfortable. The doctor took it out, but there was still some bleeding, so more packing went back in - although not as much as before. I could actually breathe some air on one side of my nose. I go back again next week for another look to see how it's healing. It hurts quit a bit, and I can't really breathe through it yet. The swelling has gone done, I can actually smile now, and the bruising has set in - around my mouth and upper lip.
I saw my GP yesterday and she said I also have neck sprain - the front muscles in my neck along with some of my back muscles. Basically, I got whiplash from the fall. I also need to go to the dentist to have him check my front teeth and jaw. My teeth seem fine, they aren't lose, but the are a bit painful and my jaw hurts. So, I'll need to get that checked out also.
But, last Friday, after walking for about 3 hours in the Great Wall, we stopped to have lunch at a restaurant and I tripped going up some stairs - hit the bottom of my nose with full force. I have not broken any bone (thank goodness!) but have broken the cartilage in many places inside and at the end. I was about an hour and a half ride back into Beijing from the restaurant, with me trying to stay alert and keep an ice pack on my nose without causing myself further pain and misery. We just started with a new driver, Simon, and this was only his second day on the job! He did a great job driving as fast as he could and trying to take it slow over big bumps. The ER doc had to call in a specialist (the ENT doctor) and she did some really cool endoscopy up my nose, it was only cool to see on the screen - didn't exactly feel good! I was still bleeding 5 hours after the accident, so they needed to find the bleeding to stop it. They decided I needed to be put under and go into surgery so the ENT doc could examine it properly. I was very nervous, but going to sleep was rather easy. Anthony waited for about 1.5 hours till I was out of surgery. The doctor said there is a lot of damage to the cartilage and the bleeding was from one very large laceration in the nose - through the mucous membrane. She was not able to suture it due to the membrane - not sure why, but that's what she said - so she cauterized it - and another cut on the other side. I now have a badly deviated septum also. She said the surgery went well, but I will have to go back in about 2 months and have more surgery done to repair the cartilage. It was pretty swollen up - not up near my eyes, but the upper lip and nose area.
Fun, fun, fun :) Anthony said I looked like a different person, like a person from Whoville (in the Jim Carrey movie). Anthony, Ken and Carolyn were with me when it happened and were great helping out with the kids at home, along with the ayi. I went back on Monday for a checkup and for them to take out the "packing" they put up my nose. This packing made me feel like I had a sinus infection and was very uncomfortable. The doctor took it out, but there was still some bleeding, so more packing went back in - although not as much as before. I could actually breathe some air on one side of my nose. I go back again next week for another look to see how it's healing. It hurts quit a bit, and I can't really breathe through it yet. The swelling has gone done, I can actually smile now, and the bruising has set in - around my mouth and upper lip.
I saw my GP yesterday and she said I also have neck sprain - the front muscles in my neck along with some of my back muscles. Basically, I got whiplash from the fall. I also need to go to the dentist to have him check my front teeth and jaw. My teeth seem fine, they aren't lose, but the are a bit painful and my jaw hurts. So, I'll need to get that checked out also.
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