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.

One Week Plus

The time is passing (slowly) until my ileostomy reversal surgery.  It is to be next week (the first week of May).  I have an appointment on Thursday for the surgeon to check to see if everything is healed and ready to go. 

It has been a long time since March 23 (surgery).  It has been five weeks that seems like five months, at least.  I will really be glad to have this part of my treatment completed.  Now it is just a race to see if I can squeeze this surgery in before Dana's baby is born.

Stoma

Stoma!!  Gee, I didn't even know what that was a few months ago.  As much as anything, I wanted to post these pictures as a reminder to myself.  In future months if things get rough, I want to be able to look back and say: "Well, at least I don't have that anymore."  You'll have to scroll a little to see the promised stoma picture.  You can left-click for a close-up view.

The yellow noodles around the stoma are the surgical stitches (that freaked me the first time I saw it).  Of course, I don't look very often.  Gary takes such good care of me.  He changes the bags about every 3 days and massages the skin that is under the adhesive disc of the bag (the second picture}.  That feels so good to have it washed and rubbed for a few minutes. 

The quarter isn't adhered to my abdomen; it was placed there by the scientist in the family to show scale.  You can also see a couple of the laparoscopic incisions.

I have felt a little better yesterday and today.  Thank you, Jesus.  Two weeks or less now until I get reconnected.  Love you all.

Struggling

It has been 28 days since my surgery, but it feels like 280.  About 14 more to go, and I am struggling through each one.  This is the hardest thing I've had to do, and I need your prayers to get me over the hump here.  I just feel defeated and overwhelmed with "all the things I need to do" to keep things running to avoid another blockage. I feel so poorly I can't seem to have the heart or stamina to follow through.

Gary is being a rock in all this.  I know it is terribly hard for him to have to watch me moan and groan and not be able to make things any better.  Please pray for strength and endurance for him also.

Your support has made all the difference to me to making it as far as I have. 

P.S.  Tomorrow I'm posting a picture of the stoma.  So any weak stomachs need to skip tomorrow's posting.

Crisis

Unfortunately, I have spent the last 4 days at Huntsville Hospital.  Thursday I got a blockage of the small intestine with my ileostomy!  I have never been so sick in my life and sure hope to not go there again.  We were in the ER Thursday night--what a trip that was.

But the blockage did resolve itself with tons of IV fluids, etc.  I still don't feel good but back home (Sunday) and trying to make it to my surgery date the first week of May.

Gary took such good care of me during this crisis, again.  I can't say enough about how loved and valuable he makes me feel.  Dana and Scott helped so much by staying with me and letting him go home for a snooze.  The Taylor grandchildren came to see me yesterday afternoon, and they were such a breath of fresh air.

The Lord is my Shepherd and holds my hand through all these nightmares.

New Week

After my post on Sunday morning, I began to feel some better.  The heavy burden of despair was lifted and I am doing better.  Thank you all for your prayers.

I am still fatigued but the nausea is better and I have been able to sleep a little longer at the time.  I think that I am eating a little more also.

Tomorrow we have an appointment with my medical oncologist to discuss treatment options after the next surgery.  Pray that we can learn everything we need to and make the right decisions.

Give us your best smile...

Prayer Summons

On this Sunday morning, I am coveting everyone's prayers.  In the almost 3 weeks since my surgery, I feel like I have been slipping instead of gaining strength.  I feel miserable most all the time and am losing my will to fight.

Please pray for God's strength to hold me up and boost my spirits.  In 3 weeks +, I will have another surgery to reverse the ostomy and I don't want to be so weak and miserable when I go back into the hospital.

But I know that all things are possible through Christ who strengthens me.  You are all so precious to me, and I have no words to express how much I depend on you all and your prayers.

Never More Than We Can Bear

I  am so glad that the Lord promises to not give us more than we can bear, and that He knows I can't handle this ostomy for very long.  I admire people who can live with one for years but this six weeks is pushing me to the limit.

I did make it to the surgeon's yesterday and got a good report.  I go back on April 28 for a scope and then a few days later for a dye test and then surgery if everything is good.  So the first week in May should be the end of this.  He said 2 days in the hospital (which I'm taking as 1 night) for the reversal surgery.  I was hoping it would be a light anesthesic but no.  It seems like it took me a very long time to wake up after the last one, but it was a much longer surgery.

Besides the nausea, fatigue, and poor appetite, I have the problem of finding something to wear with this ostomy.  I am still in pajamas at home, but going out is a problem.  I wore a pair of Dana's maternity pants to my appointment yesterday, but even they pinched and squeezed the bag and drove me crazy.  I did manage to slink into Dillards and buy a patio dress.  It feels great (doesn't touch me anywhere) but the question is will I have the nerve to wear it away from home.  I'm not sure; I feel like a clown in it!

Sebastian, Cathy, Juliette, Wolfgang, Greg



Bumping 150 years of Wedded Bliss



I love these photos.  Relatives who are also good friends.  We have lots of experiences between us and conversation and laughs never slow down.  I think we were the most "fun" table at the reception.

The group shot is Gary and me on the left, then my brother and sister-in-law, and my cousin and her husband.  The second photo is Gary's brother and sister-in-law (who was taking the pictures).