Post surgery update

"C-sections are the way to go." or NOT. I've heard several people say this before and now I'm thinking they were on crack. I did have Madison vaginally and it was a really rough recovery due to some complications, but this being cut open business is horrible. Let's back up and I'll tell you about the surgery. I went in on Thursday knowing all of the possibilities: losing one ovary or both, hysterectomy, death, etc. I was dreading getting an IV in because I have horrible veins. I know a lot of people say this, but mine really are, just ask any nurse at Ochsner. They had to stick me 7 times for my D&C in June. This time it only took 5!

I don't remember the surgery, except the moments before and the waking up process. Have you ever been under anesthesia before? I think it's a really awesome thing, but I hate coming off of it. You go in and out of consciousness. First you can hear. After a while you can open your eyes. But even these actions seem to take a lot out of you and back to la la land you go. Anyway, I remember waking up in recovery and Keith was there with me. I asked him how the surgery went and he said "It went really well honey, the doctor said it couldn't have gone any better." I said "do I still have my ovary?" pause. pause. (please note the next phrase was said with great sympathy & compassion) "no, honey they had to take it." I think at this point I conked out again. I must have prepared for this possibility more than I thought or either the Holy Spirit was preparing me because I'm really okay with it. I think I'm really just glad I don't have cancer. Later the doc explained that when he went in, he couldn't even find the ovary b/c the cyst engulfed/killed it. So he took out the whole thing. There are several bits of good news: 1) the cyst was completely ben

ign 2) None of the stuff inside the cyst leaked out, which was a big concern. If it did, it could have caused major issues. 3) the other ovary is '

perfect' (in the words of my doc) and will take over the job of the other one, which means I won't have any hormone issues and such. When I woke up fully from surgery I had the same thought Mom did after her hysterectomy: "This hurts way worse than I thought it would". I'm healing a little more each day and figuring out ways to move around that don't hurt as bad.

It's definitely hard when Maddy is standing at my leg crying holding her arms out...breaks my heart. Fortunately she shouldn't remember this :)

I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of prayer, visitors, phone calls, emails, texts, facebook messages, meals, etc. I really can't begin to thank you enough. I am blessed. The Lord will receive glory through this. Feel free to call or email me, I have lots of time on my hands! And who wouldn't be blessed to see this smiling face every day? I'll throw in one of me too, I guess we do look alike :)

Surgery Day

My surgery is at 7 (central), it should last around 2 hours. If you want an update after that, just give Keith or my parents a call! Thanks for praying.

Medical Update.

I’ve been putting this off for a little bit. When Keith & I went in for our ultrasound back in June and found out we’d had a miscarriage, the doctor called back the next day and told me they’d found a cyst on my right ovary. Which was just like putting sulfur in an open wound (which I have done via sulfur water in Alaska; totally a different story). They said I’d have to come back in 6 weeks for a follow up ultrasound to see the status of this cyst. 6 weeks came and went, had the ultrasound and I was pretty prepared for what came next (at least part of it). I had been having some pain in the right ovary area, so I knew it was still there, the doc called and confirmed my suspicions that it had grown. He told me they think it is a dermoid cyst, which by nature are mostly benign, but don’t go away on their own. So he told me I’d need surgery. I was okay with that until he called me a few days later and told me the cyst was too big to do laparoscopic. Now I’m getting sliced opened, c-section style. That is TOTALLY different. It requires at least one night’s stay in the hospital and 4-6 weeks of recovery. How do you explain to a 1.5 year old that her Mom can’t pick her up for that long? I will also admit that I HATE asking for help to do things. I’m prideful….and stubborn when it comes to this. I’m going to have to get over myself. Needless to say it’s been an eventful summer on the medical front and is now continuing into the fall. I have 3 more doctor appointments next week, including a stress test, and then the surgery is Thursday the 27^th. I need your prayers desperately, I’m not looking forward to this at all.

Maddy Dancing

Starting off a new week

Well, the past few days have been pretty eventful. I am recovering well from surgery. I've had very little pain, but am still taking it easy. I over-did it a bit yesterday, tried to pick up my 25 pounder, had to rest the remainder of the day. Jo is a super substitute mom for Maddy and doing a great job helping around the house. And we're also getting in some good laughs like we always do when we're together. Keith has not been feeling well for the past several days and I'm hoping he will return to normal soon! Maddy apparently has been sick for many days, we just didn't know it. Somewhere in our travels during the past week she has picked up hand, foot & mouth disease. (I can hear the collective sypmathetic gasp from mom's everywhere). She seems to be feeling okay, but the sores just look so painful to me. She should be getting over that in the next couple of days. Unfortunatley that meant we couldn't go to church today.....sad. Not a fun way to spend Father's Day. I think we'll go out for Snoballs later, that should make everyone happy!

Brokenhearted

At our ultrasound yesterday, we found out there was no heartbeat. Please pray for us as we are mourning for the child we never got to meet and for my surgery (d and c) tomorrow at noon. Keith & I covet your prayers.

On the way home from the doctor yesterday I saw a billboard which read:
"Jesus-the healer of broken hearts" and I was quickly reminded that even in this I can praise Him. No matter the circumstance, He is still the Lord and worthy of praise.

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

Pics

Put up some pics on Facebook from our trip. If you aren't connected to me there, follow this link: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2075763&id=41801150&l=a1cb7f5401

Home from Alaska!

We had a great time on our cruise w/ my fam, but I am glad to be home and back to a semi-regular schedule for my baby, who is not so babyish anymore.  BUT we have another little one on the way, so I'm sure I'll be getting a baby fix soon enough.  This one is due January 10th. I have my first ultrasound next week, so there will be pics soon! We are really excited.  I will post some pics from Alaska soon, between all of the cameras that went, I'm sure we have thousands of photos, so I need to collect them from other people. We told my parents via Maddy's shirt, but eventually I had to help matters along b/c no one was noticing what it said.  Everyone is excited though.  Except the part where we can't go anywhere for Christmas :( I'm really sad about that. Oh well, no dwelling on that now. Hope everyone has a great day! 

Our afternoon trip to the beach

Keith worked a half day on Friday because he was already over his hours and we decided to head to Gulfport, Mississippi, for a mini afternoon vacation!  We went to the beach for about an hour, then went to the outlet mall to pick up a few things for our cruise. It was a great time away from the city.  It was Maddy's first time to the ocean and I think she (like her parents) prefers the pool :)

Playing with the menu at dinner, the kids loves menus, I think b/c they resemble books? 

She absolutely loved this water ball, I'm sure we'll make good use out of those this summer

Eww, Mom I have something on my hand, get it off! 

Right before we went to the beach and one of the few pics we got with the hat on! 

Playing peek a boo with the laundry room door

Maddy loves straws, among other things (cups, bottles, napkins, menus, the list goes on).  She chews on them, but this was a new way to manipulate it, too cute! 

Can't believe it's been so long....

Sorry to those I've disappointed, including myself, for not blogging at least a little more frequently! We've been pretty busy lately.  Keith's semester is finally over and we are home free for summer.  Woohoo! In April we traveled home to Andy & Caitlin's wedding which was wonderful! I attended my first crawfish boil at the seminary and was pleasantly surprised. It is a lot of work to get a little tiny bit of meat out, but at least it was good!  Kevin, Amy & Ashton (Keith's twin brother & fam) came to visit a couple of weekends ago and we had a great time!  We hit up all the fun places: the French Quarter, good eatin', the aquarium, etc. I'm so thankful they took time to come spend with us, it was much fun getting caught up! We seem to be on the go a lot, I feel like I live from one trip to the next, this time we made it 4 weeks at home.... We're leaving tomorrow (Tues.) for Valdosta to Keith's parents house and are really looking forward to seeing his family! 

Maddy at the Aquarium 

Kevin, Amy & Ashton at Cafe Du Monde

Maddy with Dad at the Aquarium 

Ashton & Madison playing on the sofa

With Mom at the Aquarium 

So funny. I don't think he could have opened his mouth any wider! 

My first little crawfish....he was yummy.

The fam at Caitlin & Andy's rehearsal dinner!