Feeling Better

Each day this week I have felt a little stronger and better.  My plumbing seems to all be in good working order which surely makes me smile.  It has become so delicate that I worry about every little thing.  But the Lord makes me strong in my weakness.

Dana, our daughter, had a postpartum problem and had to spend a night in the hospital.  She is home now and we are all enjoying the baby.

This is our oldest Texas grandson; he's almost four.

Adrien Wolfgang Hodges

Followup

After posting yesterday, I had another attack--more pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.  It continued until midnight.  Misery!  But after midnight I was able to sleep and this morning I feel a little better.  I ate a piece of toast an hour ago and so far so good.  Hopefully today will be a better day.

On a brighter note, the baby is doing very well and settling into the family.

Setback

I had been feeling so good since the week after my last surgery, and I do appreciate every good day.  But this morning at 4:30 I woke up to terrible abdominal pain.  You know that means "blockage" to me.  After 3 hours of this pain, I did vomit twice and have diarrhea a few times.  I took a pill under my tongue that was prescribed for the first blockage and it helped ease the cramping.

It is 12:30 now and I just got out of the bed.  I am weak as a kitten and still feeling a little "funky" but not in pain.  I ate a small slice of watermelon last evening and that is getting the blame. 

Baby's Here

Our daughter, Dana, had her 4th child yesterday morning.  I was blessed to be in attendance.  It had been less than two weeks since my last surgery and I hadn't been sure if I could make it to the hospital or not.  But God is good and gracious and I was able to be there and feel good.

The baby is a boy, John Harvey, who weighed in at 10 lbs. 9 oz.  Yes, that's 10, 9; you read it right.  She had a natural birth and is doing well.  He doesn't even look like a newborn with all the fat wrinkles and pudgy limbs.  We had the privilege of bringing the other children to the hospital to see Mommy, Daddy, and baby, and that was a lot of fun.  They are fascinated and have so many questions.



Optical Illusion

Well, I didn't do a very good job of photo editing the picture in yesterday's blog.  There is no way my stomach is as big as it looks in that picture--it is bigger!  I hope not; surely it isn't that huge.  I know I don't look like a teenager anymore but gee I have lost 15 pounds since March 23.

At any rate, I'm proud that the scar is there and the stoma is gone.

Ileostomy Takedown

Well 5 days after surgery, and I am feeling better.  I didn't say good just better.  I slept good last night for the first time in months!  That was truly wonderful.  My appetite is a little better and hopefully tomorrow will be even better.

Still waiting for the baby.



Home Again

Well, the surgery was Thursday afternoon and I stayed in the hospital until Sunday.  I expected this surgery to not be as bad as the last, but it has been.  I am weak, nauseous, and generally lousy.  Maybe each day will be better.  I'm just tired of feeling so down. 

We are still waiting for the baby.  I'm hoping to feel like going to the hospital, so I'm trying to walk, etc. each day.  The no appetite is a drag also.

But everything is starting to get back to normal after the tornadoes.  There is still lots of damage, but power has been restored and everything is up and running.

Power, Sweet Power

Power--of the electrical sort--is wonderful.  We got our power on last night; Dana's came on early Tuesday, and Scott's last night.  So we are all picking tall cotton again.  There was no damage for family residences and we were so blessed.  The more we get out the more tragic damage we see.  It was been a terrible week, and we all have to thank God for his protection.

We had no power or water (we have to pump our water up the mountain), so on Friday we got in the motorhome and headed out looking for utilities.  We ended up driving about 4 hours into Mississippi.  Friday and Saturday were good, but Sunday morning I started having abdominal pains.  Around noon, we decided we needed to head back to Huntsville in case I kept getting worse.  And sure enough, I had at least a partial blockage again.  While Gary drove (too fast I'm sure), I moaned and groaned on the sofa.  I had terrible pains for almost the whole trip with vomiting.  But prayer pulled me through, and I was able to not have to go to the ER at least.  That is such a nightmare that I just didn't think I could stand it.  "I cried out for help, and He said 'Here I am'."  Isaiah 58

I am going to the surgeon's this afternoon so more tomorrow.