One step fwd...two steps back...

HiYa'll...
Here's the latest. Primary Dr. did blood work and chest xray. I have fluid in my lungs but not enough to be classfied as pneumonia. But enough for me to have labored breathing so I'm back on oxygen again. He referred me to a Pulmonologist also. He also questioned why my spleen was not removed when the Dr. went in to "clean out the infection". I'm thinking that this might be next step because I'm still in so much pain to be a month out on all of this. I've finised 4 bottles of Hydrocodone (don't worry I'm taking as directed as to not get addicted.) So, from here my Vascular Surgeon wants to check the filter he put in my groin the day my spleen surgery took place and I cannot find a Dr. who will even touch me about the existent spleen pain. Looks like I'm going to snuff it up and go back to the same medical group who messed this all up in the first place. I am going to request a partner take a look at me this time. I cannot stomach (no pun intended) seeing the previous Dr. who's almost killed me twice. Long story short, I am still in quite a bit of pain and am still needing help with most simple things. Thank you Jesus for my husband, family and friends. Luke is doing good he just doesn't understand when mommies boo boo is going away and he thinks popcicles are mommies medicine. More when I know more. I'm currently in a non talking mode because it takes so much energy and breath to say much if you could respect that for me right now, I'll try to keep this blog updated.

Thanks,
Heather

Feeling lots better...

I'm finally starting to come around. Sat. I actually got out to go look at Christmas lights albeit in my pj's, robe and slippers but at least I got out of the house for an hour.

Christmas Eve we spent with Jason's family (our tradition) and today we'll spend with my family. Wish we could all be together this year but maybe next year.

I'm up in the middle of the night to take my pain med's and to walk a little bit. If I stay on my med. schedule it's amazing how much less pain I have to deal with.

Luke is so excited to open up his present that Grandee put in the big "Santa Cwaus" sack. He got lots of neat stuff at Nana and Poppa's. It was so funny he didn't want to sit and open his presents he wanted to pass them out to everyone. It was too funny. That boy is just the most precious little angel. He's into repeating everything you say. He always goes to the pantry and gets out the mac n cheese box an says, "Mac n cheese yeah, wanna hold it, Lukey's box, it's mine". Just little things like that are so precious. We're savoring every minute. He also likes to look at mommy's boo boo belly. Then he wants to look at daddy's boo boo belly which he does not have. Then he wants to show you Lukey's boo boo belly. I don't think he totally get's it. He does know not to climb on mommy's lap because "Mommy's sick" "boo boo belly". I love that boy.

All in all, I'm on the up and up....regaining strength slowly but surely. I have a Dr's appt. with my regular primary Dr. on Tues. to do bloodwork to get my blood sugars under control again. The hospital never put me back on my med. to keep my sugars low and it's wreaked havoc on my body. Don't even get me started on the list of deficiencies I can cite for Baylor Hospital Dallas. Another day, another conversation.

Well...hope you and your's have a very Merry Christmas. Thank you Jesus I'm home from the hospital during this holiday. I pray for all of those who aren't and for those who are lonely, sad and have no one to spend this special day with. Please comfort them and ease their pain. I know that there are lots of people hurting out there that we just pass right by every day. Touch them in a special way.

Counting my Christmas blessings.

Heather

Greetings from getting better-ville..

Had an enormous breakthrough yest. The grape flavor that I was having added to my pain med. is chock full of sugar which is why I've been SO lethargic because my sugars were 208 when I awoke yest. So, I had a new prescription filled sans grape and it makes a HUGE difference in the way I feel. I am trying to be semi active today....definition: laps from front door to back door several times throughout the day to rebuilt stamina and lung capacity. I think I'm on the up and up. By no means am I up to par, but I keep quoting the verse, "I can do all things thru God who strengthens me".....Please pray my spleen would stop hurting that's what really pains me these days. More later, gotta go walk. P.S. Luke's tests came back negative for RSV, Praise God!

Another day..another bit better

Still in pain, but taking my med's. I'm slowly making progress. Night time is hard because I have to sit straight up to sleep. Not real comfortable, but I'm making it. The oxygen is helping a lot, I get short of breath when I get up and move around just because I've been so homebound. It's nice to have that stomach tube out. Thanks for all of you who are continuously praying. Please keep em' coming. My insides have been feeling better. The only thing that that consistently hurts is my spleen/diaphragm area. When I cough it just strains it more. Please pray for that pain to go away. Tired and must go sit down now. Thanks friends/family for your help and prayers.

Heather

It's been a crazy rollercoaster...

Here's the latest. I'm still very weak, try to use my oxygen whenever I can. It just makes my breathing easier. In minimal pain because I'm staying on my pain med. schedule. I got my stomach tube out today, praise God. I've lost 23 lbs. already since my surgery (per the Dr's scale today). Please pray for strength for me and for Luke's tests today to come back negative for RSV. Nana took him to the Dr. for me and they did chest xrays etc....I'm praying my boy is not sick, he hasn't been feeling well these past few days. Sorry if I still haven't returned your phone call, I just don't have the energy to talk these days. Never thought I'd say that. It takes ALOT out of me to carry on a conversation because of my oxygen issues. Yest. I had to go down the big Baylor and have a doppler on my arm because it was hurting. Sure enough, I have another clot. It is in such a small vein both my Dr's. have said it's nothing to worry about. But it hurts, so please pray for that. I'm starting back with my 81 mg. aspirin a day as per my gastric Dr.'s instruction. That should help with all this clotting business. I wish I had some better news, but this is what our worlds been like for 3 wks now. It can always be worse...I've been worse. I'm trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel and keep things simple and pray for God's healing. Please pray with me. Thanks.

It's been a blur....easier to type than talk.

Hello friends...it's been awhile I know. That's because I had some life-threatening complications post gastric surgery on Nov29. I ended up having a pulmonary embolism, abcessed spleen and raging subsequent infection in my body. I've never in my life been in so much pain as I've been for the last 8 days. I've been hospitalized since Dec 5, until 1am this morning when my oxygen tank finally arrived so I could go home. To say it's been a rollercoaster is an understatement. I know that not everyone knows what all transpired and it's going to stay that way because the whole ordeal has been so tramatic for me and my degree of pain was so intense that I cannot even revisit it in my mind. I am so blessed with a great support group. Family, friends, extended church family. If people had not been praying I firmly believe I wouldn't be here right now. I know that Jesus was hearing those interceeding for me even when I could not utter any prayers. Jason's been juggling childcare for Luke every day and doing quite nicely I must say. He's sure had more of the "in sickness and in health" part to deal with with me over the last 10 years of our union. God could not have found me a more perfect match. I love you so much baby. I missed Lukey and Jason so much while being in the hospital. Because of the decreased lung capacity from the pulmonary embolism and the immobility I've had I'm home on oxygen which really helps. I also have a stomach tube that is still draining the abcess stuff. Sorry to be too graphic. I may get to a point down the road where all of this will be easier to talk about, for right now please understand if you don't get a call back right away. For one, it's hard to breathe, therefore hard to talk, plus I hate having to retell the whole story to everyone. I know you love me. Please keep praying for a speedy recovery because I'm not back up on my feet again, although so thankful to be out of Baylor Hospital. In good news...my sweet niece Em is home and is doing awesome. She's just as cute as a button. I love you sweet Em.

Heather

Greetings from Hermitville...

I need some relief from being home. I feel like a complete hermit since Wed. I've been trying to slowly call people back in between pain medication rounds. Sometimes I'm just so out of it I can't even talk. Mom is staying one more day with us so hopefully tomorrow I'll make a really quick recovery. Luke seems to not be feeling good. He's been really cranky and coughing at night. I've been giving him Triaminic cough and cold every night. Nana, I think the Dr's. office spread something to him on Fri. Mom and Jason have been taking good care of me. I've eaten more popcicles and mugs of chicken broth than I want to remember. Next week I "graduate" to mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, sugar free pudding. Whooooohooo! I'm really not hungry at all but you have to keep up your protein and carbs for energy or its not a good thing.

Guess what, my sweet niece gets to finally come home tomorrow. She's 4 lbs. 8 oz. and drinks from her bottle like a big girl. I'm so happy for my sis and Mike that they get to bring home their sweet girl after 3 mos. in the NICU. Thank you for all your prayers for sweet Emery.

Rabbit...trail...today Luke started singing a church song out of the blue we were amazed. They must have sang it this morning in church. It was Ho, Ho, Hosanna, Hah, Hah, Hallelujah, He, He, He he saved Me, I've got the joy of the Lord.

Well, my energy is out....gotta go lay down. More tomorrow.

Heather

Turkey Day pic's from the ranch...

Well friends take a good look because this is the last "fat" picture you're going to see of me. It was taken Thanksgiving Day at our families place in Martin's Mill (near Canton).

We had a good time. I also got to eat the last of a big turkey and dressing meal.

Home again, home again, jiggity jog....

I'm home from the hospital. All went well. Will post more tomorrow. Thanks for all your prayers.

Heather