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What's in my hospital bag! (with packing tips)
Packing bags is my specialty, you guys. Anyone who travels with me will tell you I over pack, but also that I'm Boy Scout level prepared for everything up to and including the apocalypse. And that I'm ridiculously organized about it. Old pin. Though, it's extra ID for my bag (everything you bring in will get a sticker or tag linked to the MRN on your hospital bracelet, for ID purposes), it's not incorrect exactly, and I don't mind if I lose it because I could use some updated
Jan 49 min read


The final 36 hours of pre-op: a checklist.
And we're in the home stretch.... I'm waiting for a dryer load to get to the freshly clean and sanitized new panties and silk sleep bonnet in there, and once they're in my bag I am fully packed and ready to go. So, the checklist is as follows: ✅ MyChart e-check in & Pre-registration. ✅ Everything I'm wearing to and immediately after the hospital needs to be laundered and sanitized. ✅ Hospital bag is packed and ready to go. ✅ Walker is tricked out with the cup and phone holder
Jan 32 min read


I also did not expect this bonus meal-planning post.
So... I've had the panic pukes all this past week, which means I'm eating very blandly and sparingly, and the extra brown rice I made for the meatloaf didn't get eaten. And since the family dinner tonight was very allergy-unfriendly, I decided to turn it into Sardine & Brown Rice Croquettes and freeze whatever I don't have for dinner tonight. If I have two per serving, I have seven meals worth in the freezer. I didn't talk myself out of the binder this time! And it adds plan
Jan 32 min read


Let me tell you about my Owala water bottle...
Well. "Owala." It's the "Freesip" design, but I have no idea if it's "real" or not. Nor do I particularly care. The Freesip bottle seems to be number one on everyone's "What I'm Not Buying in 2026" lists. I didn't buy mine! [ cue lil' Miley Cyrus singing the Hannah Montana theme song ] I'm at my Surgical Optimization Appointment a few weeks back, and my Nurse Navigator comes in with all my goodies - the itchy af pre-surgery wipes (they're basically off-brand Hibiclens), the E
Dec 29, 20252 min read


Finally starting to meal prep! For real this time!
I have a sauteed pan of mushrooms and onions on the back of the stove, and brown rice in the instant pot. That'll all get mixed with the pork sausage I thawed last night, a few flax eggs, and some herbs and be baked in the cast iron bread pan I got for Christmas. When the meatloaf is cooled, I'll slice it down, freeze it on a sheet pan, and store the frozen slices in a bag, so I can grab one and microwave it with a pricked and oiled potato, that'll bake in the time it takes t
Dec 27, 20251 min read


Updated!! Behold, my post-op meal planning menu.
I have finally figured out my meal plan, hallelujah!! Edit: I had a great initial plan, at least. This is exactly what I want to avoid if possible while healing large bone. The initial plan: Steak & Pinto Beans with Cornbread Marinaded & pan fried chicken breasts with a recipe I just realized never made it on my blog - cornbread dressing with lentils for added plant protein. Kofta-spiced meatballs with chickpea flour as my binding flour for the plant protein, with a recipe
Dec 18, 20252 min read


Checklist Check-In
I'm at 2.5 weeks to New Hip Day! Officially the halfway point of pre-op. I have today and tomorrow left on The Pill, and one more week with anti-inflammatories. Knowing this, I was trying to front-load my pre-op, so I can spend as much time in bed with a heating pad as possible once the pills wear off. post-op be like... So, how am I doing with the pre-op checklist? ✅ Parking Placard procured. ✅ Surgical Optimization completed; walker, pre-op wipes, and glucose drinks procure
Dec 18, 20252 min read


Putting up personal care products (with recipes!)
I just spent the last 3 hours making the personal care products I do make - namely coffee-infused scalp oil, chebe butter, and deodorant. And my phone was on the charger and not taking photos or video 😅😅 That’s okay, I’ll give you recipes instead, probably more useful! Why do I make these three products, specifically? Cost and ingredient control, mostly. Wild Growth Hair & Scalp Oil is what got me on the scalp oil train to begin with, it’s a wonderful product… but $10 for 4
Dec 15, 20253 min read


Surgical Optimization Appointment, Calendar Updates, & TMI about lady stuff.
Yesterday morning was my Pre-Op appointment with Surgical Optimization, and I don't remember one of these being so difficult to personally process. If you've never done this before, you go in to meet with a bunch of RN and NP's to go over general health and fitness, get fitted for your mobility aid, get your pre-op instructions for carb drinks and itchy body wipes, and get told when to stop taking what medications before you go under. I told you this would veer pretty quickly
Dec 10, 20253 min read


Paralyzed by choice 😭😭
If only. I need to start meal prepping. Yes, this early, I want to make sure I pace myself so I don’t wear myself out - my battery drains real fast right now. I’m aiming to put up 4 portions of 3 meals, for a total of 12 meals… I don’t need to put up for the entire recovery, my family does know how to cook to my diet, but I want to have some convenience comfort meals ready anyway. If you follow my other blog , you know that I can’t eat dairy, egg, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, or
Dec 8, 20251 min read


Checking things off the check list…
Hey, look! I actually went to the Secretary of State and got my handicap hang tag this morning despite having the application paperwork from my doctor in hand since August! 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️ Bob displays my snazzy new parking hang tag. Yeah, that ADHD is something sometimes. I fully could have benefited from having the tag in the intervening months, yes. Anyway, that’s a big one off my pre-surgery checklist! ✔️ Here’s the rest of the checklist, for those of you playing along at
Dec 5, 20252 min read
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