January | 2015 | Tablescapes at Table /Twenty-One

Hello, friends! I am still recuperating from my January 8 spine surgery without much good news to report. The searing pain has persisted despite going under the knife and following all post-op instructions, and I am back on the walker…again! In fact, post-op has been more difficult than anything I have ever experienced. I was readmitted for 5 days the day with ghastly reactions to some of the pain medication I’d been on. Shoulder surgery was a breeze compared to this nightmare!!! I have an MRI and another visit with the neurosurgeon for Tuesday afternoon. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that he has nothing but good news for me!
(Click on any photo, then click again to enlarge/enhance it.)

Meanwhile, I found out the day before surgery that the January 2015 issue of Kansas City At Home magazine in which some of my work is featured was on newsstands and online. I was interviewed along with two Kansas City floral designers whose work I have long admired. Not for nothin’, I was quoted the most, two of my original tablescape photos were used (as opposed the stock photos used for the rest of the article), and my “fail-safe entertaining tips” are exclusively featured online! If you’d like to take a look, just click HERE! Who’d have thunk it, y’all…I’m a tastemaker! 🙂

The posts from which the two photos were taken for the 4-page magazine spread were “Rolling Fields of Green” from 2013 and “Diamonds Are A Material Girl’s Best Friend” from 2014.

This offers a clue as to just how freaked out I was just prior to surgery. Look at the look on my face!!!!!!!

This offers a clue as to just how freaked out I was just prior to surgery. Look at that look on my face!!!!!!!

My neurosurgeon, Dr. Hylton, at least loosened me up a bit with his dry wit.

My handsome neurosurgeon, Dr. Hylton, at least loosened me up a bit with his dry wit.

Walking for the first time the evening of surgery. I don't even remember taking this. Apparently, my son was keeping me from "mooning" everyone!

Walking for the first time the evening of surgery. I don’t even remember this. Apparently, my son was keeping me from “mooning” everyone! I can’t walk like this now. I’m hobbling along on the walker, dragging my right leg behind me. Things are no better than pre-surgery. 😦

Posting is difficult because I’m still unable to sit for more than 30 minutes at a time. I hope to get things fixed once and for all so that I can get back to Blogland sooner than later. As you might guess, I am bored out of my skull!!! I’ve been a pinning fool on Pinterest, though, so you might want to check that out and follow some of my boards!

Have a fun Super Bowl weekend, and I hope to see you again soon!

The look on my face says it all: My back has finally pooped out on me, and I am scheduled for surgery Thursday morning, January 8. I knew this would all eventually catch up with me, and the pain has reached a point where I can no longer independently function. So…check-in at 9:30 a.m. (CST) with surgery at 11:00. I’m told it should take about 1-1/2 hours.

Patiently waiting for the horrors of the EMG and myelogram to begin.

I have no good veins in my arm, so they went for the hand…AGAIN!!!

The neurosurgeon will focus on a nerve that is trapped in a canal due to a hideous bone spur that has developed between L4 and L5 of my spine that looks kind of like this:

We’ll worry about the discs – a whole different issue – another day. Meanwhile, what does this feel like? Think perpetual root canal across the lower back and down your leg, AND being stabbed, AND your leg feeling like everything in it is being stretched to the point of popping, AND being unable to feel your foot much of the time.
In other words, it hurts like hell!!! 🙂

My Mommy served me a lovely breakfast in bed while “babysitting” me New Year’s Day. (Isn’t my hair just lovely?! 😉 )

Mom also whipped up a wonderful New Year’s Day dinner with blackeyed peas and collard greens for prosperity. Check it out…SHE EVEN SERVED IT UP ON A SILVER CHARGER!!!

Mom playing “Nurse Ratched/Dr. Jekyll”. She’s helping me to maintain my sense of humor. 🙂

I hope you will think good thoughts on my behalf so that I can sail through this. Quite frankly, I am scared out of my wits. Needles, blood, and incomprehensible multi-syllable Latin words are my Kryptonite. They leave me weak and confused! 🙂

Alycia Nichols, Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One, www.tabletwentyone.wordpress.com, “Down, But Not Out”

Hobbling along with my trusty walker. I need some PINK tennis balls!

Back at home on Tuesday night, awaiting surgery on Thursday morning.

Back at home on Tuesday night, counting down the hours ’til surgery on Thursday morning.

I hope to return to tablescaping in time for Spring inspiration. I hope you’ll hang in there with me. Laying around these last few weeks has given me nothing but time to create in my head, so I hope to come back strong in body, spirit, and creativity.

It will all be just fine! I’m putting my trust in God. I will also be in the capable hands of my patient, sweet husband who has been a gem these past weeks, my sweet and loving Mom, my best friend who has promised to come as soon as they wheel me out to slather moisturizer on my face and feet 🙂 (can’t have any lotions on during surgery…or I might catch on fire!), and my incredible neighbors.

Happy New Year! Nichols…..OUT!!!