Book Releases

Holding On (Colorado High Country #6) —
The Colorado High Country series returns with Conrad and Kenzie's story.

A hero barely holding on…

Harrison Conrad returned to Scarlet Springs from Nepal, the sole survivor of a freak accident on Mt. Everest. Shattered and grieving for his friends, he vows never to climb again and retreats into a bottle of whiskey—until Kenzie Morgan shows up at his door with a tiny puppy asking for his help. He’s the last person in the world she should ask to foster this little furball. He’s barely capable of managing his own life right now, let alone caring for a helpless, adorable, fluffy puppy. But Conrad has always had a thing for Kenzie with her bright smile and sweet curves. One look into her pleading blue eyes, and he can’t say no.

The woman who won’t let him fall…

Kenzie Morgan’s life went to the dogs years ago. A successful search dog trainer and kennel owner, she gets her fill of adventure volunteering for the Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue Team. The only thing missing from her busy life is love. It’s not easy finding Mr. Right in a small mountain town, especially when she’s unwilling to date climbers. She long ago swore never again to fall for a guy who might one day leave her for a rock. When Conrad returns from a climbing trip haunted by the catastrophe that killed his best friend, Kenzie can see he’s hurting and wants to help. She just might have the perfect way to bring him back to the world of the living. But friendship quickly turns into something more—and now she’s risking her heart to heal his.

In ebook and soon in print!


About Me

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I grew up in Colorado at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, then lived in Denmark and traveled throughout Europe before coming back to Colorado. I have two adult sons, whom I cherish. I started my writing career as a columnist and investigative reporter and eventually became the first woman editor of two different papers. Along the way, my team and I won numerous state and several national awards, including the National Journalism Award for Public Service. In 2011, I was awarded the Keeper of the Flame Lifetime Achievement Award for Journalism. Now I write historical romance and contemporary romantic suspense.

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Friday, August 06, 2010

Thank you!


It’s five AM, and I can't sleep, so I thought I'd pop on and say thank you to everyone for your prayers, kind wishes and encouraging words.

The surgery went well, but keeping my pain under control that first night did not go so well. I was getting IV morphine, plus percocet, plus muscle relaxers and felt like I was getting nothing at all. I really had to focus on relaxing like during labor just to keep from getting very upset about it. Then at about 4 AM the drugs seemed to kick in.

They've given me steroids, which wear off today, so my pain is supposed to peak today, i.e., be at its worst. I'm still taking two percocet every four hours plus muscle relaxers. And I'm doing pretty well that way. But we'll see how today goes.

Bless my mom for being with me! She and my dad were at my side at the hospital every moment they could be. My mother is a very skilled registered nurse (she was head nurse of an intensive care unit, so we're talking creme de la creme of a nurse here), and she was able to help the excellent nursing staff.

She stayed awake with me that first really rough night and got up with me last night, bringing me my meds. It has helped so much to have her with me.

The surgeon told my family that the operation went well but that the impingement had been severe. He wasn't sure how much nerve function I'll get back. He had to take out a lot of bone and ended up putting some kind of artificial vertebrae back in. So now I have two titanium plates plus eight screws in my neck (I think that's what hurts the most).

But get this: the purple screws weren't the right size, so they had to use gold screws.

I got some serious bling on up in my skeleton now. That's right.

I took a photo of my incision, which is cool, but I don't have the energy to post it now.

So now my entire focus is on staying in control of the pain, getting my 30 minutes of walking in a day (I can't walk by myself due the danger of falling but have to hold someone's hand), and getting sleep.

My mom and I wanted to see what would happen if I took only one percocet at bedtime. Well, what happened is that I woke up at 2 hurting a lot and have only drowsed a bit since then.

But I wanted to let you all know that your e-mails, messages and posts have meant so much to me and to my family.

The paper sent a big bouquet of pink cabbage roses, and my agent sent lilies and roses. So pretty!

OK, I'm rambling and fighting to keep my eyes open.

Thanks again, everyone! Blessings to all of you!

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've been thinking about you and wondering how you are. I really didn't expect us to get an update so soon!

Be well.

Beanbag Love

Ronlyn said...

You've been in my mind since [before] the surgery. I'm glad your mom has been able to be with you throughout the process.
Rest up girlie! and keep ahead of that pain.
xoxo
Ronlyn

j3nny said...

I'm glad everything is going well. Hopefully the pain goes away fast so you don't have to deal with it as much! Wishing you a fast recovery!! :)

Crystal said...

So glad to know the surgery is behind you and that your Mom is there with you.

As always, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

RitaSV said...

So glad to hear the surgery is behind you and that you have somebody that loves you providing good care.

Gold screws, eh? Don't let them go to your head. *giggle*

Hope you heal very quickly so you can get back to enjoying yourself.
I'm keeping you in my prayers!

I'm so happy to hear that things went well, though I wish you could get that pain under control!

Now, don't overdo, ok? Take it easy, let your mom help as much as possible so that you'll be back at your computer writing Connor's story... ummm... errrr... I mean, so that you'll quickly be feeling good as new!

I'll keep sending healing thoughts and prayers your way!!

Hugs!

UM :)

I'm glad to hear everything went well and that you've got your Mom and Dad there to help you through. Don't get off the pain meds too quickly. Good pain management helps the healing process.

Take care!

Mary G said...

Hi Pamela
Thanks for the update. You've been on my mind all week. So glad you're in good hands. LOL the gold screws. We always knew you were a treasure.

Jane said...

So glad to hear things went smoothly. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

CarMS said...

Glad to hear that you are progressing well. I read your blog all the time (and enjoy MTM!) and kept checking this week to see if someone might post an update on you. Was very surprised that you had posted. Hope your recovery continues to go well. Stay on top of the pain.

JennJ said...

Bless your heart hon I do hope that the pain will subside totally for you very soon. Still praying for you and thinking of you all the time. BIG HUGS you rest as much as you possibly can and I know we will see you up and better than ever in no time. :)

Carolyn said...

Will continue to keep you in my prayers and have added you to the prayer chain at church. We love you!

Kara C said...

Always knew you were solid gold!
Years and years ago when I had to have surgery, I know I felt SO much better having my mom there. Not only because she was my mom, but also a great nurse who knew her stuff. Oh yeah, and she did a perfect impersonation of Shirley MacLaine's 'give my daughter her pain medicine' scene from Terms of Endearment at one point. Very memorable. :)Hope you feel better really, really soon.

Rachel said...

You're still in my thoughts, Pamela! Here's hoping the pain is finally getting better. Bless your mom for staying with you, my mom would have done the same in a heartbeat and I know how comforting that feels. I'll keep dreaming up my own MTM and in the meantime keep hoping you're getting better every day!

Hope you'r starting to feel better, Pamela. Take care!

Mariam said...

Hi Pamela!!

I'm glad to read things go on smoothly. I hope you feel better very soon.
Big hugs! Rest as much as possible. Take care.

Mariam

Lori said...

So happy to hear that things went well. Hoping that your pain will be more controlled as the days go on and that you make an excellent recovery.

azteclady said...

My prayers are with you, Ms Clare

Diane W. said...

That's wonderful that you're able to have your mom there to help you out!

And, wow, gold screws in your neck! You'll impress the heck out of the security teams in the airport when you go through the machines now. ;) And, what's gold worth these days? $2,000 an ounce? You have a seriously valuable spinal column. ;)

Prayers and good wishes for your continued recovery and for a better than predicted outcome for a pain-free future.

Wishing you lots of restful zzzzzs.

Diane :)

king said...

Very glad to hear from you! Glad to know you are well enough to post. All I can say is 'WOW'! Not to many people can post after that kind of operation. (I'm a nurse also. So I know) You are definitely made of tough stuff. Hang in there! It will get better!!

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