sus thyroid nodules

 Ok so let's take it back to a couple of weeks ago - I believe it was like 2am. I was laying in bed probably trying to fall asleep. It was an early Sunday morning so I started reading dad's weekly email. All is boring and well until I read "Im having surgery to remove half of my thyroid due to some suspicious nodules" Then he proceeds to update us on the happenings of the village kiddos. Literally one sentence in the middle of a paragraph that was talking about completely other things. So I immediately text dad and say what the freak dude. Well just like the one sentence stated... he had surgery this last week. A partial thyroidectomy which was sent to pathology to check on the suspiciousness of the nodules. Well the day of surgery actually worked out pretty perfect because I was given a random week off between shifts so I headed straight to stg and spent the week trying to enforce recovery on dad haha. 

But first I had another infusion. this is what an 8am appointment looks like after working all night. I slept pretty much the whole 2.5 hour infusion then continued the next four hours of my sleep at home in my bed before I headed to stg. OH but I did stop in Provo for dinner at blackwater with dremma where they told me they are pregnant!!! Imma be an auntie!! Im stoked. Then finally hit the road and got to stg late that night. 

Thursday was surgery day, but we first spent our early afternoon by the pool - hence me looking naked in my towel. Grandma stopped by with some custard and homemade bread for dad after surgery. The stake presidency wives also dropped off dinner for that night - it was super nice of them. I think mom and I were both thinking we didn't need anything. We didn't need help or food or whatever, but I will say the food ended up being much appreciated. I think it's hard for many people to accept help, especially when we really haven't ever needed it. Usually we are the ones helping others, but I think it's important to allow people to serve us. Anyways we were very grateful for the food and thoughts and prayers that day. Dad actually worked that morning in mesquite since he wasnt needed at the hospital till 2:45pm originally I think. Well they were running ahead of schedule so him and mom headed over an hour or so early. 

I met up with mom a little bit later. I made her leave the hospital for a little to go shopping, then we made it back in time to talk to the surgeon and get the thumbs up that everything went well. It was about an hour and a half surgery. Mom had her temple shift so she headed out after she knew dad was good. 

A little bit later I was walked back to recovery and saw dad munching on a grape popsicle. He had very little pain and was doing well. Other than his low HR beeping every other minute... haha. 

He even got a visit Dr./Pres. Lewis. Pretty quick he was unhooked from everything, got up and dressed and we were outta there. Being a floor nurse I was just happy he didn't have to stay the night in the hospital. 

This is where we were really grateful for all the food at home. Dad figured he would go ham while he was numb... so 2000 calories later haha. We had baked ziti, custard, homemade bread and cookies. He wasnt nauseous, thank goodness. Anyways - his recovery went well. We were prepared to eat yogurt and creamies for days and do nothing but watch movies - nah. I swear I forgot he had surgery almost immediately because he was chillin. Shout out to journavax. Well thats about it - He biked next to me and mom on our walk the next morning and by Saturday he was lifting that bike in and out of his truck to ride next to me on the mayors loop.

Thats enough about dad for now... as for me I lowkey killed this run. I mean it was tough, but for good reason. My goal going into it was just to drop my avg pace compared to the week prior which was a pace of 7:43 for 10 miles. I didn't have a goal of how much I wanted to drop the pace by, but I just figured I needed to quicken up my first half. Last weeks first half of the run was all over 8 min pace with my first warm up mile being 8:40. This past Saturday run started out with an 8:04 mile and I don't believe I ever went slower than 7:40 after that first mile. So yeah... definitely dropped my pace which I definitely felt the last 4 miles. Gritty for sure, but I enjoyed it. Ended with an avg pace of 7:22. Glad dad was there, played some music for me the last half and helped push me. Im honestly just so stoked to love running again (now that I'm not slow as crap). I actually look forward to waking up early and running. 

The whole weekend was pretty much just laying out by the pool. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday - pretty sure we were all out by the pool. Monday was Memorial Day and I decided to do a little three miler and hit the stairs. I love being able to see and feel my progress of getting back in shape these last few months. A few months ago I think I did 2 laps of these stairs and was literally bout to pass out. Monday I did 8 laps in under an hour and I felt super good. Are my calves still sore... Yes. But not as debilitatingly sore as the first time doing these dang stairs. 

Tuesday dad and I hit up an endowment session after the pool and before his evening of stake responsibilities. I love life in St. George. 

A random pic seeing if we look alike. 

Dad after crushing a 5 miler with me less than a week after surgery haha. Now you can see how it was easy to forget that he even had surgery. What a beast. Life is good. I think we are all happy to have surgery out of the way, plus we found out yesterday that the nodules came back benign so yay. No cancer and no more surgery! and no more having to lie to everyone about being at a week long family reunion. I mean if you know us you know thats a lie... who goes to a family reunion for a week?? haha I don't think anyone questioned it though. All is well with the fam. It was a good week. For the record we did still watch plenty of really good movies - Dad showed me Green Book and Black Hawk down which were great. The barbie movie on the other hand... worst. movie. ever. biggest waste of 2 hours. I think dad, mom and I were in awe how incredibly awful it was, but we watched it. Ok I think thats all. Im currently at work. I have three great patients and nothing to complain about. Ok bye.