Operation Svava's wire-removal: A success !

Yes ! It's over and it went really well. No ill effects from the anesthesia, unlike the past 4 times (yes, this was my 5th surgery in 3 years !). I must admit this was not a pleasant experience though. Even though everybody in the operating room were really nice I felt very uneasy. It is also a creepy feeling when your body starts to feel the effects of the drugs being pumped into you. Ugh... weird sensation. And then poof ! You wake up in recovery, dased and confused. Nurses asking you if you are alright and it's difficult to answer them because you tongue is still heavy. The operation was at 10:30, over at 11:00 and I woke up at 12:15. Then it took until 4 o'clock before the effects of the anesthesia had worn off enough for me to keep my eyes open for more than 10 seconds :-) The leg feels just fine, I feel almost no pain and can return back to work on Monday. I can remove the bandages on Sunday and the stiches on the 13th of September. So, at the end of the day, I am happy. And very, very relieved :-)

Operation time !!!!!!!!!

ARGH !! Can't sleep, the bed is on fire... no, just me that can't sleep because of butterflies in my stomach. Must be at the hospital at 8:30. I hope everything will go well and I'll be back on my feet in no time. I know this is not a big deal but still.. am really nervous ! More news tomorrow...if I survive :-)

Taking a stroll :-) 

Cute guys :-) 

Svanhildur and the boys :-) 

Relaxed weekend with wee Steingrímur

Steingrímur was staying with me the whole weekend. On Saturday we visited Svanhildur and co. and dined with them at my mother's place. We did a spot of shopping in Kringlan and Smáralind but the rest of the time was spent relaxing at home. For photos and news check his homepage (link on the left). 2 days until my operation ! Yes, some pins will be removed from my ankle on Wednesday. Not looking forward to that one ! Wish it was still weekend...

Mega Carcassone ! 

The mood got weirder as the evening progressed.. 

Björg playing with a determined look :-)

Mr. Isaac Abdulson Rastagar 

Hand feeding the rabbits, that's life ! 

A tiny rascal escaping from the house :-) 

Summerhouses in S-Iceland :-)

I had Steingrímur Páll last weekend, for the first time since the accident. Friday night we spent here having a cozy time, then on Saturday we went to Ölfusborgir by Hveragerði where my mother was staying in a summer house. My sister Helen joined us with a girl she was babysitting. Steingrímur had fun exploring the house and the veranda, me and Helen played scrabble and relaxed in the hot tub. The highlight of the day was when our mother got locked inside the bathroom. Muahahah. There were wild rabbits all around (and under) the house, much to my delight. I fed them with all kinds of goodies :-) Sunday night we had a game club reunion. A member that had strayed from the flock has returned to the country for a visit. Björg left sunny California to come and play with us and of course show us her tiny son. Maybe also to visit her family...neeeh. We had a wonderful time, and we played....CARCASSONE all evening ! Surprise ! So, two summer houses in S-Iceland visited, two tons of fun :-)

Happy birthday the 18th of August Óli !

Ólafur Steinar 2 years old :-)

News flash-update on Svava's exciting life :-)

Zo, waz have I been doing since I came home ? Hmm, lemme see.. Friday the 11th of August I went to a grill party at my friend Ágústa's place. It was a get-together arranged so the gang could meet Huld, our friend visiting from USA and her two adoreable children. Me, Sif, Gunnella, Gunna, Ella, Júlíana and Harpa were all there, and of course the hostess and the guest of honour :-) We all brought our children so there was a lot of action going on. It was so fun to meet again and do some serious catching up :-) Saturday 12th of August I went to a birthday bash in Akranes. My friend Gurrí turned...about 32 and threw a great party :-) I went with my sisters Magga, Steinka and Helen and we managed to get through the day without seriously misbehaving. Did I mention the yummy refreshment ? Sluuuuurp ! I then spent some time babysitting my nephews. Pure pleasure, of course :-) Then Sunday I went with my mother, Steinka and Magga to a market in Leirársveit, near Akranes. I bought me some hand-knitted mittens and a necklace :-) After the weekend I've worked and worked and then meditated on Wednesday, as usual. Met my friend Björg with her gorgeous little baby (It was basically Björg who ? after I got him in my arms). He is 3 months old and already stealing hearts :-) Then yesterday a birthday party for Arna Ösp that turned two, and today I went to see my darling Óli that turned two to day. Happy birthday babies !

Happy birthday the 17th of August Arna Ösp !

Arna Ösp 2 years old :-)

Jökulsárlón, glacial lagoon

Hallormsstaðarskógur, Iceland's largest forest !

Me and Cyndi having some tea :-) 

Hilda outside Skriðuklaustur

Hilda goofing around with her friends at the tournament opening 

Hilda running the 100m dash,she is the one number 191 

A falcon on a road marker on the way to Selárdalur

Mother and Marie, her brothers wife, in Marie's house at Refsstaður

Hilda by Goðafoss on the way to Vopnafjörður

Cute little Steinar in a closet :-) 

Prince Charming in the summerhouse 

Óli and Hilda playing in the hot tub

A trip around Iceland :-)

So, last Wednesday evening me and Hilda returned home from our trip around Iceland. It was great, needless to say :-) Here is the whole story:

Munaðarnes 29. - 31. july: We spent the weekend in a summerhouse in Munaðarnes with Svanhildur and family. We played Scrabble, ate good food and enjoyed watching Óli and Steinar :-)
Vopnafjörður 31. july-3. august: We stayed at my aunt Svava's place, enjoying her great hospitality. Then we visited relatives, went to dinner at my cousin Pála's place and just enjoyed ourselves in company of our funny family :-) We went to the swimmingpool at Selárdalur just outside the village. That was very nice, the surroundings are beautiful and one get's hot coffee free by the poolside :-) On our way there we saw 3 falcons and two of them posed for me and Hilda by sitting on road markers. We also went to Sandvík, the large black sand beach at the end of the fjord. There we saw the remains of a sandcastle competition. All in all, a great time in a beautiful village.
Laugar 3. august-7. august: We arrived on Thursday evening at Laugar, the day before the start of the yearly Youths athletics tournament. Hilda competed in the tournament and did just fine. Her best was a fourth place in ball throwing, but she did well in the other events as well. There were over 40 girls competing in her age group, and she was usually in the top ten :-) The weather was great on Friday but a lot colder the rest of the weekend. We both had a good time socializing with other kids and their parents and going to the arranged events in the evenings. Monday morning the sun shone so we stopped at the thermal baths by Lake Mývatn where we basked in the warm water in the sunshine.
Hallormsstaður 7. august-9. august: We drove from Lake Mývatn to Egilsstaðir and then to Hallormsstaður, Iceland's largest forest where my friend Cyndi lives with her family. We stayed with them and had a great time. The family dog was an instant hit with Hilda, so was the cat when he turned up from an excursion into the forest :-) We took walks with Cyndi and the dog, went to Egilsstaðir for a swim and a museum visit, chatted and ate great food. Luvely :-) We also visited Skriðuklaustur, a house where Gunnar Gunnarsson, a famous author, built and once lived in. There is an archaeologigal digging site by the house and we looked at that as well. Cyndi also showed us the school where she teaches and the Housekeeping school that my mother attended 1950-51 :-) We had such a wonderful time in these great surroundning, thanks a lot Cyndi :-)
Driving home 9. august: We said our goodbyes to Cyndi and family and headed back to Reykjavik. We took the mountain road Öxi to shorten our trip and that road offered some lovely scenery as we enter Berufjörður, one of the most beautiful fjord I've ever seen. We stopped at Djúpivogur and had some lunch, then drove to Höfn and took a swim in the tiny swimming pool. Next stop was at Jökulsárlón lagoon at Breiðamerkursandur where we stopped to look at the floating icebergs and watching a playful seal that was posing for the tourists :-) We had dinner at Kirkjubæjarklaustur and then drove on without a stop to Hella, where we had ice cream. We arrived home at 22 in the evening, after 10 hours of travelling and almost 700 km ! We have now officially driven around the country :-)