RPAO Round 2!

My Husband and I on one of our last adventures before surgery!

Well, here we go again.  Next Friday, August 26th, we have scheduled my Right periacitabular osteotomy. (visit HERE for a blog post about the beginning of my journey.)

Please visit my gofundme page to donate to help with costs.  I'm kind of excited to get this one over with a just pretend 2016 didn't even happen.

A few quick reviews! I LOVE ASHEVILLE THEATRE

Last weekend I had the pleasure of seeing "Much Ado About Nothing" directed by Scott Keel at the Montford Park Players. My boo thang, Devyn, is in this one as the PERFECT Beatrice... along with an equally stellar cast!  Check it out if you get a chance. Runs the ENTIRE month of June, and it FREE and amazing! :-)

Another one I saw this weekend...Brief Encounters at Magnetic 375.  5 short one act plays written by local artists. I am proud to be from this awesome town where weird theatre is embraced! Ya'll should for sure check this one out and stay till the VERY end for my favorite of the five.

Also had the fine opportunity to check out the newest musical at ACT... and its so so wonderful. Bradshaw, I love you.

This weekend... checking out Legally Blonde (again... yes its that good... DAMN TAYLOR!!!) and also Mountaintop by Katori Hall starring my love Kirby Gibson!

PAO Journey Through Facebook Updates

So, my best intentions of blogging daily during recovery flopped for various reason, but ya'll know I updated my facebook status! So I have screen shotted my progress, In case anyone is interested in seeing how things progressed over my weeks of healing.

THE PAO Shopping List

So, as I was prepping for Hip surgery, I had QUITE a bit of shopping to do. Below is my original list with some notes... So grateful to Mom, Dad, and others who came through and helped me get these items :-)

Pillows of all shapes a sizes

This was essential. Oh my gosh, sleeping is such a booger when you have a shark bite in your side!

Heating Pads

I read on all the websites to get heating pads, but was actually cautioned NOT to use them because it doesn't help with swelling. I definatley needed them for my lovely monthly visitor during recovery. Period pain is way worse when you are recovering from hip surgery!

Ice Packs: Gel or super soft, Large and small sizes

This is probably the one thing I couldn't have survived without. When the pain pills wear off this is the only way to go for relief. It is important to have lots of sizes because random places hurt.

Slippers

Screw shoes.

Socks with "grippies" on the bottom

Again, screw shoes.

Very large full butt panties

OR no panties.  My scar was covered by the steristrips for 3 solid weeks but I just didn't want anything touching it. Its a lot easier to pull on granny panties too! 

Very large drawstring shorts or pants

Or no pants. So many nightgowns and dresses during recovery! Thankful for nice weather during my surgery. Can't imagine if it had been super cold or super hot!

Scar Gel

A friend of mine gave me Defining Gel from It Works and it really does well! I have never used any other product so I don't have much of a comparison, but this stuff works well and smells yummy!

Vitamin E Oil

I never bought any and I'm still here... so.....

Grabby Extender

Essential! especially for easily frustrated fools like me.

Cleaning Body Wipes or Baby Wipes.

Very important! Liked have some with and without alcohol because your skin does weird things during recovery. My normally dry skin was oily a bunch because of less showering and the alcohol wipes made me not have to shower as often.

Face Wipes

YES YES YES. MUST.

Dry Shampoo

I used this less than I thought I would, because it turned out that I gave no fucks about what my hair looked like.

Swatches of different textured fabrics (this is to rub on my leg/hip to stimulate the nerves and help healing)

Didn't do this, but am making one now for my RPAO. Still having some weird nerve numbness and tingling at 10 weeks post op.

Walker Organizer

We ended up finding me a walker with a seat, so this wasn't necessary. I LOVED this walker though.... it really made me be able to live life a little!

Backpack

Again, super important because of all my accouterments I must always have.

BONE BROTH

Didn't stick with this as much as I wanted and ended up healing just fine.  But this was all I ate for a few weeks while the pain pills were messing me up!

Low Carb, High Protein, High Fiber Foods

Oh yeah. So much protein! So much fiber. Pooping is near impossible without the fiber, and my energy level was always SUPER low. 

Another important thing that was not on the original list....

RECLINER! It was the only way I could sleep and I didn't transition back to my bed until week 6 or so.

Hope that my little list will help any hippies out there who are starting to pack. Happy Shopping!!!

New Gig in the Works! Greek Myths!

Very please to announce that I'll be joining Attic Salt Theatre Company for some Children's Shows! See the article here.....

http://mountainx.com/arts/attic-salt-extends-family-theater-series-through-december/

Videos of Our Rental Disaster

For those who are interested.... a bit of live footage of our recent rental debacle. 

Post-Surgery Life and beyond.

One week ago today, I was packing my bags and doing last-minute research about having a life-changing surgery. I always Google everything too much :-) but in this case it is really helps me. I really wanted to be more diligent about writing a blog about my experiences, but I've had a really rough time in recovery, so it has been not so easy to write down my thoughts every day. I'll do my best to upload more photos and explain my journey with my LPAO. Bottom line is that I've done quite well. It's been difficult as hell, but no more difficult that expected. Thank you universe, for loving me!

              ...Me and mom at the pre-op waiting room at Charlotte Mercy Hospital.

Oleanna Reviews!

As we approach our final weekend.... just wanted to share some of the lovely press we've had over this run. Thank you all for being so amazing! Love to Kier, Crack, and Connie Bonnie!

Our amazing poster by Rodney Smith and Charles Mills...

 

The ACT Website!

 

The Laurel of Asheville Preview Article

 

Jim Cavener's Review in the Asheville Citizen Times

 

Kai's Review in the Mountain Xpress

 

"... this show is a winner, all around."

 

"The role of Carol is interpreted by Asheville native and Mars Hill College (now University) musical theater grad Chelsea Lee Gaddy, who has performed widely among the area's various theater companies. This is a tour-de-force role for Gaddy, and she gives terrifying life to Mamet's rare leading female role. "

 

~ Cavener

 

 

 

"However, this production belongs to Chelsey Lee Gaddy who plays Carol. In the beginning, she sits before us like a young and meek Toni Collette but is soon chiseled into a towering Tilda Swinton. Gaddy’s icy and bitter portrayal drives nails into the coffin of John’s future. When Carol nearly opens up about a secret, we witness Gaddy’s face flush and we feel the tremors inside her body. This kind of acting is what up-close stages, such as 35below, were meant for. Gaddy’s performance alone is a must-see — her character is a true radical who will stop at nothing to win a battle of wits. Gaddy is sensational and, thankfully, gives the show a much needed electrical surge.

In fact, the utter strength of Gaddy’s character makes this particular production feel one-sided. In this case, that is OK. She’s so spellbinding that we catch ourselves rooting for the relentless Carol — right or wrong. It makes us feel good (and a little dirty) when she uses John like a tool and he becomes defenseless. We side with her malice, which makes us question our own morals when John cracks."

 

~Kai Elijah Hamilton

 

3 months....

 

It's been about 3 months without ya, Gracie.  We have a new friend for your brother Lui now, and he is precious and wonderful, but he's no Grace.  I'm surrounded by boys now. 

 

Groovy and Cooper still sniff around your gravesite.  They miss you I think, as we all do.

 

Please visit me in my dreams.

 

Love you, angel dog.