Lump Eck Toe Me #3

Yesterday, I had my third minor surgery on my left breast. It was the exact same procedure that was done as seen in my post here last year. The reason for the surgery is the same as last time; the test results from a biopsy showed "abnormal" cells. In fact my surgeon said she would be okay if I opted to forego the surgery, but still recommended it as a super precautionary thing.

Danny and I decided we'd better go for it. We are at an "easy" time in our lives and have good health insurance and he has the flexibility to care for me (just like last year). Plus this gives me a legitimate reason to pop percocet.

I knew God was going to get me thru just fine when my surgeon showed up in a UNC surgical cap (GO TARHEELS!). Then she asked if I wanted snickers or a kit kat after surgery. I love that Dr.!

Since I knew I wouldn't be able to wash my hair until Sunday or Monday, I made sure to wash and fix it Thursday night. I had several nurses tell me how pretty my hair was when they prepped me yesterday. Then I felt embarassed wondering if they thought I did my hair for the surgery. Vanity is a curse. And if for some reason I didn't make through surgery, it was probably important I still looked good, ..... well dead.

Surgery is so weird especially when they start to anesthetize you. This is my memory of it all. Danny was in the pre-op room with me. We were saying good bye as they administered the "I don't care juice" in my IV. The nurse said to Danny, "It will hit her in about 30 seconds when we go around the corner." And it did. But I was fighting it trying to concentrate on the signs I was passing as they rolled me to the operating room. I was trying to focus on the lights in the ceiling and convincing myself, "I'm okay."

The operating room was cold and everyone seemed in a good mood. It felt like they threw my body from the bed to the operating table with ease. There was a Lionel Ritchie song on and my surgeon commented on it and I remember saying, "Hey, I have this on my iPod." To which she retorted,"We played it just for you." And that was the last thing I remembered.

I slept on and off yesterday and was fairly comfortable. Today, the pain is noticable but I'm not in any major pain this morning. I have been surviving on Tylenol because I ended up throwing up my dinner last night. Probably due to the anesthetisia, but it could be percocet related too.
BTW, percocet makes you constipated. And even as I type this, Danny handed me some prunes, a metamucil cracker and water. I feel so sexy.

Thank You

Thank you to the men and women who have and do serve our great country. I am often saddened that as each new generation emerges, they seem less and less aware and down right ungrateful for the sacrifices our military men and women have made. I am saddened that there are men and women who have spent their entire lives serving our nation with integrity, and yet there is a generation of younger military service people who do not hold to living their lives with all the honor of this calling. I don't mean to sound like an old foggie!

Mostly I want to take a moment to honor my Danny for his 20 years of service to your country first as a marine and then in the Army National Guard. He served in two peacekeeping deployments: 1 in Bosnia and the 2nd in Kosovo. Even though they were peacekeeping missions, they were considered combat zones.

He will credit the military for many good things in his life and how it has shaped him as a man, father and leader. He has always served with enthusiasm and a deep respect for his responsibilities even though it took him away from his family.

One of the things I think is cool is how his service has affected Lauren. Because of Danny's example, she initiates thanking military personnel we might see in public.

We need to be raising a generation who fear and love the Lord, but who also honor and respect our military.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

Friday night there was a first in the Dulin/Bullock household. A teenage boy invited by Lauren came over for dinner to meet her family and then ask for permission to date her. His name is Elliot. Although the two of them had started their "romance" weeks ago, they were committed to not being "official" until Danny and I met and approved of him.

His parents dropped him off around 4:30. His dad driving the mini-van with his two younger siblings watching while his mother (a stay at home full-time mom/wife) accompanied him to the door. I'm not sure who was more nervous Elliot, Lauren or ME!

After simple introductions and light pleasantries, Elliot and Lauren went for a walk. BamBam was their chaperon. By the time they got back, Danny was home and chit chatted awhile as I prepared dinner. Elliot was nervous, sure but had a surprisingly mature, quiet confidence about him. This was a young man who had nothing to hide and was up for the task of "dealing" with Danny and I because he knew perfectly well Lauren was worth it and he is interested in honoring her. What a breath of fresh air!

Dinner was pleasant and where the real "grilling" began. Elliot was respectful and polite, with a laid back laugh. Danny was not shy about our expectations of how he expected Elliot to treat Lauren but also be responsible for leading Lauren. "So, Elliot, you already know Lauren has a phone curfew of 10 pm. I expect you to take the lead in making sure you both honor that."

We have been praying with Lauren about her heart and God's leading in this relationship. Sure, it could last all of 4 months, but all things are a training ground. We have told Lauren how excited we are about this season in her life with Elliot, but reminded her that we are just as responsible for training her as we are in our contact with Elliot training HIM as well.

After dinner, we headed downtown to the Krispy Kreme for free donuts because of the A's Lauren got on her report card. Then we headed to enjoy various art galleries. Elliot is quite the sport as he is a science/math guy who is not so artsy fartsy. He had good company with Danny :) After that, we came back home and the 4 of us hung out watching TV until Elliot's dad picked him up around 10. A good night was had by all! The momentous moment was when Lauren and Elliot were on the couch and changed their "status" on Facebook.

Top 10 Reasons We Approve of Elliot:

1. He claims to be a Christian and seems to come from a God fearing home.
2. He comes from an intact family that focuses on family --- they spend a lot of time together, and as older brother he seems to love and nurture his siblings.
3. He is very smart and extremely well spoken! We're talking Lauren kinda smart! This boy did two summer internships at Duke in a cancer research lab!
4. He has his priorities in place. When he and Lauren "knew" they "liked" each other, he told Lauren that he had to get his college applications done first before he could invest in time in a relationship.
5. He has such a security about who he is --- not because he is cocky or full of pride, but simply as a result of child with good, family upbringing. He is secure in who he is because he knows he is well loved and supported at home and seems to understand the importance of the authority of his parents in his life. He is not anxious to leave the nest or be independent of them unnecessarily.
6. He knows how to just "deal" with that Lauren streak of humor/sarcasm (yes, she gets it from me). He is laid back.
7. He is kind and not embarrassed to affirm her in front of us.
8. He likes sports but isn't a crazy fanatic fan who HAS to watch the game. He was a high level belt in Tai Kwon Do so he's not a pansy boy :)
9. He dresses well. No baggy pants down the butt cheeks. Very preppy.
10. Finally and maybe most importantly, despite his dad being a Dallas fan, he is not.

What new territory for me (and Danny)!!! No, this is not an engagement. No, this could or could not be anything significant. But it is still huge -- a demands of us to parent in an area with Lauren we have not before. I think what I would just like to praise God for is that He has shaped my daughter in such a way that it is the CHARACTER of Elliot that drew her to him. And in the same way, she recognizes it must be her character that honors Elliot before God.