Hey Penny, love the new pic! It may not feel like it, but I think you're already over the worst part because you're to the point you just want it to get over with. And these last 10 days will FLY. And that's great because as you know all too well, that side of the mountain you're on right now is FAR worse than the other side.
Like the others, I think the best thing you can do is stay busy with regular life and getting things ready for when you come home. I had a huge list of "todos" my last 10 days or so I wanted to get done before surgery. I took off 3 or 4 days off work right before surgery to try to get some of this done. It included stuff I wanted to wait till the last minute to do (dusting, vacuuming, laundry, mowing, cut toenails, putting a coat of 'just for men' on my goatee, etc.) some things I knew I wouldn't want to worry about for a week or two (pay bills, stock up on groceries, etc.) some things I knew I wouldn't be up to for a while (get things lined up at work, get a haircut, clean out gutters, lose 10 lbs, etc.) some projects to spiff up the house figuring I'd have some visitors (plant flowers, paint the porch, clean the garage, put new kitchen floor in, get a new TV stand, etc.) and some other misc. and last-minute type things like getting a new recliner (thinking I'd be sleeping in it), last minute questions of my surgeon or the hospital (do they have wireless at the hospital, etc.), get a drawer ready for easy access to comfy clothes, and the last night was really crazy (trying to get as much of my list as I could done, putting out the garbage, saying 'see ya on other side' to facebook & myspace people, etc.). Oh, and of course, like always, keeping up on my apps on Facebook lol. The benefit of keeping busy is it tends to do what you're already doing - not let yourself think about the surgery. I managed to keep my mind largely off the surgery itself (except for a few relapses worrying about silly things like the breathing tube, how am I gonna pee, etc.) until the last night before surgery. And even then I didn't let myself focus on it much. I was busy that night with not only my todo list, but also all the pre-op stuff (take your meds, shower with that special soap, take one last look at your chest pre-scar, etc.).
If you ever start feeling like you're slipping a little (i.e. worrying about things) remember to visualize success! Which in your case is seeing yourself holding your new grandchild this coming Christmas!
If you can, try to line up someone to post updates here for you in case you're not up to it for a few days. We'll be in the waiting room with your family and other friends! Don't forget to post a "here I go" thread in the last day or two so we can all send our best wishes and prayers. And then get ready to join the party over on this side - it's a really fun party!
