Last week, the very first Tracy Area Headlight Herald
paper published since April 1, 2019, that I hadn’t read most of it. Even when I’m gone on vacation or out of town for another reason, I am usually bringing copies of the upcoming pages with to proof on the way, in the car, hotel room, at a game, etc.
If I don’t have the hard copies, I am logging in digitally to proof the pages before anything goes to print. Last week, that didn’t happen.
Instead, I left my laptop at home Tuesday morning when I headed to surgery.
And I have been, for the first time in many years, taking time off and recuperating.
This has been a hard thing for me because sitting still isn’t part of my daily life. In addition, sitting in the same recliner for hours on end when you know other things should be getting done can really mess with your head.
The good thing is, I’ve had great nurses.
First off Molly, my dear friend, accompanied me to surgery. I asked if she was sure she could give up the hour in pre-op, the twohour surgery and the hour or so in post op from her busy schedule. However as a mom of three kids, it was like a mini vacation because she couldn’t leave for anyone else.
The kicker was, it turned out to be a lot longer. The time got pushed back. The surgery took longer. Recovery didn’t go smoothly. Despite being in-and-out and having a lot more pain than I had prepared myself for, Molly was there.
She was my advocate, putting into words to the nursing staff what I needed and when. She asked questions, kept track of information, kept my kids and Per informed as they worked at the paper. When she finally left my hospital room Tuesday night, it was 8:45 p.m. Despite the many, many things on her to-do list, she was right there when I needed her. That’s a friendship that I will never take for granted.
I had great staff nurses while at Avera. My overnight nurse, Meghan, was so attentive and caring every time she came in. One of the day nurses, Bob, was one of the best nurses I have ever had. His humor was what I needed during the periods of walking and waiting on pain meds.
He constantly just stopped in and checked on me or would check if he saw me trying to take my lap in the hall. While I know the standing and talking to me was a way for me to build a little more strength and stamina, it was done with a caring manner instead of a medical necessary one.
Then, when I finally made it home Wednesday night, I had an entirely new team of nurses take over. And they are the best I’ve could have asked for.
My kids have all stepped up to make sure Mom has what she needs. They’ve refilled water bottles, brought me snacks, and helped arrange pillows, blankets, etc. so I’m more comfortable.
Saturday was Ben’s 17th birthday. Instead of spending the day doing something fun, he was home with Mom, and he finished a huge project in the backyard that we only had half done. Brady picked up a birthday cake. We played board games in between mom’s naps.
The kids have also been fantastic on making sure I’m getting my walks in. At first we’d just go down the block a couple houses and back. Then we made it to the end of the block. Finally, I was able to make it down the block, cross the street and back home. I’m sure I’ll be running a 5K in no time!
While the kids kept me well taken care of during the day, my at-home night nurse stepped in during the evenings. Per has been a saint for the past week. He’s slept in the recliner across from me despite the fact I keep my air conditioning set much lower than his house.
He has been the one getting up at 3 a.m. when I need assistance trying to get out of my reclined sleeping position when pain meds have worn off. He’s adjusted pillows numerous times. He’s gotten up to refill my water bottle or handle some other task, sometimes just after he had sat down.
I’m not surprised my home nursing staff has been so fantastic, but they are doing this in addition to all their other stuff.
They are putting out the paper. Per spent the first couple days I was home racing to as many area 4th of July events that he could cover and then dealing with me at night. Ben has been helping cover the office in between mowing lawns. Brady and Natalie have been doing extra at home while still working and Natalie spending late nights at pageant practice.
As a mother, I know how tiring it can be when you’re taking care of someone else. Now, the shoe is on the other foot and they are doing an amazing job.
I’m back to the office after a quick six-day break. I laughed when the doctor said six weeks. But I’m not here much. I come in in the morning to do what I need to do or things I can’t do at home and then I leave.
The first thing I do when I get back home is nap. I never realized how exhausting sitting around can be!
I do try to keep up with as much work as I can at home, but I’m not able to do everything.
Eventually it will catch up with me. But for the first time I’m actually putting myself before the last-minute projects that come in —I have no choice. It’s hard for me to tell a customer I can’t do that on their timeline, but it’s more justifiable when I physically can’t work that hard.
Sometimes it takes something like this to make us slow down. I feel like I’m catching up on six years of sleep and overall rest ± with amazing nurses whp make it that much easier!
Second quarter Withholding Tax returns due July 31
Second quarter (April-June) Minnesota Withholding Tax returns are due July 31. Deposits are due according to your semiweekly or monthly deposit schedule.
You can make your deposit by July 31 if:
• You withheld $1,500 or less of Minnesota withholding tax in the first quarter, January through March 2025.
• You filed your first quarter withholding tax return on time.
