First, sorry about not posting an update yesterday after surgery, but it lasted about eight hours and I was really out of it afterwards. Second, the surgery was successful (thank Dog for robotic pull through!) but I needed two small skin grafts. Which means I’m confined to bed rest and as little movement as possible until Tuesday afternoon, a full five days, to give the grafts their best chance to “take” and begin healing. Third, I’m not in too much pain now unless I move the “wrong” way or I cough or sneeze. Those actions are definitely unpleasant, oh yeah. Otherwise pain is mild. I’m even able to sleep okay except when I’m woken for medications, taking vitals or emptying my various drains. Something that seems to happen every half hour to an hour. Fourth, thank you all for the wonderful and kind well wishes. They mean so much to me. Unfortunately, it’s not easy for me to respond personally to them now as typing this message on my phone took waaay too long. So please know that I love and appreciate you. 🤗🥰💖

ONE MORE DAY! Aaaand... I'm surprisingly calm. No I idea why. I still have some prep work to do today, but I'm not going to let it consume me. I plan on taking time for a long walk and playing some video games, too. Priorities. Also celebrating. Celebrating? You know, a personal celebration of International Men's Day while I might even be able to still pass as one. With my clothes off, at least. 😊 This one-girl party will, of course, include commemorative selfies of my junk. 😁 And, no, I won't be sharing any of those. For the archives only, my darlings. 🥰 Anyway, I hope you're all enjoying Transgender Awareness Week. I know I am. And I'm not oblivious to the fact that my surgery date falls of the Transgender Day of Remembrance. So don't just think about me tomorrow. Think about all our wonderful siblings who we've lost too soon. Their lives mattered. That's what's important. 🏳️‍⚧️✊

THREE MORE DAYS!!! Calm down? No, *you* calm down.

Yes, it's now only *ONE* damn week until "genital origami" surgery on November 20. And your girl here is freakin' the fuck out! I've been distracting myself as best I can to keep the scream building in my throat from escaping. (Although, I must say it will be a very femme sounding scream if it does. I mean, why not take the win when you can.) What have I been doing? Mostly it's been a blur of racing about trying to get my home prepared for recovery. Which includes turning my storage room into an actual bedroom for the full-time caregiver I hired. Who will only be with me for two weeks after I'm released from the hospital. And there have been soooo many things to buy! A crate of maxi pads, of course, but new gowns, new underwear, new furniture, protective covers for *old* furniture, ice-filled cold packs, freezer cold packs, pain killers, peri bottles, douche bottles, gauze pads, protective pads, so much goddamn lube, etc. It's a lot, really. Then there's learning all those exercises to keep your muscles from atrophying, diaphragmic breathing for relaxing to help pass the pee test, various stretches to prevent cramping without popping your stiches, etc. And I'm panicked that I'm doing a real shitty job at that learning! But thank Dog for video games and cringe comfort TV! They've been my refuge for the last few weeks and will likely continue to be that until it's time for the actual surgery. Also, thank Dog for Mastodon and all of you. I know you'll be here to tell me it's gonna all be okay. And know that I really appreciate that even though I don't always believe it. 🤗💖🤗💖🤗💖🤗💖🤗💖