Sunday, November 30, 2008
Thankfulness Day 7
How appropriate that my 7th day of Thankfulness lands on the 7th day of the week, the day of rest. This is what I am thankful for today! It was great being in church this morning, worshipping and being filled. And the rest of the day was spenting doing just that - resting! I took a bit of a nap, and we played Chutes and Ladders with the kids, and just had some good family time. Especially now, I am very thankful to even have the opportunity for this - God is so good!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Thankfulness Day 6
It's Saturday, and it snowed yesterday - enough to leave a coat of white on the ground. We got just a little tiny bit of snow on Thanksgiving Day, but yesterday around lunch time it really started to snow good, and actually stayed. It's kind of pretty! I still need to get Austin snow boots, though - I got Daniel's and Gretchen's, but need to get some for Austin.
We found out yesterday at the doctor's visit why there was an overnight delay in reading the MRI and why I had to call to find out results. Apparently, the imaging office were under instructions to do the MRI stat and call immediately with results, but they didn't. And the doctor that ordered them didn't follow up either. Thanksfully, God had His hand of protection on me, and there was nothing bad that happened due to the late read, but steps are being taken that it shouldn't happen again.
Today, I'm thankful for a warm house and lots of toys for the kids to play with! It's too cold (in my opinion!) to go outside, but the kids are having fun running around the house, playing in their pretend kitchen and playing hide-and-seek. It's laundry day for me, so hopefully by the end of the day we can have the laundry all caught up and have fun playing in between loads!
We found out yesterday at the doctor's visit why there was an overnight delay in reading the MRI and why I had to call to find out results. Apparently, the imaging office were under instructions to do the MRI stat and call immediately with results, but they didn't. And the doctor that ordered them didn't follow up either. Thanksfully, God had His hand of protection on me, and there was nothing bad that happened due to the late read, but steps are being taken that it shouldn't happen again.
Today, I'm thankful for a warm house and lots of toys for the kids to play with! It's too cold (in my opinion!) to go outside, but the kids are having fun running around the house, playing in their pretend kitchen and playing hide-and-seek. It's laundry day for me, so hopefully by the end of the day we can have the laundry all caught up and have fun playing in between loads!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Thankfulness Day 5
It's Black Friday - anyone going shopping today? I have to go to the doctor for a check-up after my surgery. I'm hoping to find out today why there was a delay in getting the MRI read. We'll see what happened. Then we are going to hit a couple of stores just to look at some stuff, probably not buy a whole lot.
Today, I am thankful for my Gram. She is babysitting the kids today while James and I go do our errands. She has been a blessing in our life. She loves to watch the kids, and they love her, and she is always eager to help out. She also cleans my kitchen every time she comes over! Without Gram, I think I would go nuts! She gives me the breaks I need every once in a while, when I just want to listen to nothing!
Today, I am thankful for my Gram. She is babysitting the kids today while James and I go do our errands. She has been a blessing in our life. She loves to watch the kids, and they love her, and she is always eager to help out. She also cleans my kitchen every time she comes over! Without Gram, I think I would go nuts! She gives me the breaks I need every once in a while, when I just want to listen to nothing!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Thankfulness Day 4
Happy Thanksgiving Day! What a great day to share our blessings! I am thankful today for family! My mom and dad and gram are coming over for turkey day, and I don't have to do any of the cooking! I am thankful for family that are there when you need them, and for the love and support they offer.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Thankfulness Day 3
On the day before Thanksgiving, I am thankful for my church family. We just got home from our annual Thanksgiving Eve service at church, and just to be surrounded by so many that care for us, pray for us, love on us - no matter what. It is a beautiful thing to have a huge support network. My church family is a wonderful blessing to us!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thankfulness Day 2
Today, I want to express my thankfulness for meals provided by friends. Since going into the hospital and coming home, we have not had to cook hardly any meals. We have had dear friends & family members bringing by meals for our family this whole month. When trying to deal with being in the hospital, then trying to recuperate at home, and fight off a cold, it is such a huge blessing to not have to worry about and plan and think about cooking. The most I have had to do, or my husband for that matter, is pull something out of the fridge and put it in the oven. And not just meals - but yummy snacks and desserts! Our friends thought of everything, and it has been such a huge, huge blessing!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Thankfulness Day 1
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17
There is so much in life to be thankful for! I am starting a 21 days of Thankfulness posting to my blog. This month of November has really secured in me how much I have to be thankful for, and how much God is truly protecting my life. I know He has a plan for my life, and a purpose for my life, and I need to trust Him that it will be good!
So today, to start off this series, I am thankful for Life! I am thankful that I am here, and with no residual defects from my burst aneurysm. I am thankful for God's protective hand over my life.
Friday, November 21, 2008
I've already lost half of November!!
So, the month of November didn't quite start out how I intended. Let's see - Monday November 3 - spent the day doing normal SAHM stuff - basically, busy all day. It was my hubby's first day back at work after a month off. I spent the morning at the eye doctor with Daniel - what should have been no more than an hour appointment lasted two hours! Then I picked up the other two kids from my Gram's and all four of us headed to a friend's house for a craft project. Then it was back home for lunch, naps, cleaning, etc. We got the computer table and computer stuff all moved into the new office. Busy, busy day.
Fast forward to 11:30 pm. I'm in my jammies, crawling into bed. Hubby has been sleeping for a couple of hours already. Suddenly my head explodes - the worst headache I've ever gotten, and it came on out of nowhere. I was seeing stars, and circles, and blood was pulsing through my head. The pain was horrendous. I even woke James, and said "something is not right here". But we both decided I had probably done too much that day, and pulled a neck muscle, and in a couple of days I would be ok.
However, the headache wouldn't go away. Tuesday I was so sick from it, couldn't keep anything down. Wednesday I went to the chiropractor, thinking he could snap my neck back into place and I would be fine. Thursday I still couldn't get rid of it, so called my family doctor for an appointment. He didn't like the sound of how the headache had come on, so he booked me an MRI/MRA appointment for 3:30 that afternoon. Friday, I still had not heard the results, so I called my doctor's office. I went to my foster parent/adoptive parent Donation Station event, and had stopped at my church first to drop off the items for our Silent Auction that night. My gram was watching the kids until 3 pm, when James was to get home, and I would be gone all day at two different events.
However, at 11:30 my doctor's office called, and gave me some not great news. The MRI showed two brain aneurysms, and the one behind my left eye had burst, which was why I was in so much pain that week. I was to go to the ER of the hospital ASAP, and the neurosurgeon would be waiting for me. I was in shock, and scared to death. I took care of things at Donation Station, had a friend drive me across the street to my church to tell them I wouldn't be able to run the auction that night, and James met me there to take me to the hospital. I made a dozen phone calls on the way down - family, friends - to let them know what was up.
I got to the hospital, and you know your case is important when they rush you past the 20 people in the waiting room to start preparing you for surgery. I was just so dumbfounded - apparently, the death rate for burst aneurysms is 85%, and the neurosurgeon was pretty amazed that I was functioning as highly as I was on Friday. He said my case was already pretty miraculous, but you know, I serve a Big God, and He must have some pretty Big Plans for me, because He kept me very protected!
I had a CAT scan and cerebral angiogram on Friday, then consulted with two surgeons about the best way to take care of my issue. I had one aneurysm behind my left eye that had burst, and a second one elsewhere in my brain that had not done anything yet. After hearing our two options - clipping or coiling - we chose the clipping. Even thought it was more invasive - they would have to cut through my skull - it had a higher success rate and more control during the surgery. I had the surgery Saturday morning, and pretty much don't remember from late Friday night until I think Monday afternoon. I was in ICU from the 7th to the 14th, then in a regular hospital room until the 17th.
I have some amazing family and friends - they really took care of my kids and husband while I was in the hospital. My MOMS Club made and delivered lunches and dinners for the entire time I was in the hospital. Friends and family came and stayed at the house with the kids so James could be in the hospital with me. Family, friends and pastoral staff came to the hospital to pray and visit. I have received three deliveries of flowers at the house, to beautiful Christmas Cactuses while in the hospital, gift baskets and numerous cards and notes. I have never felt so blessed and loved!
And now, I am home. I'm tired, and I seem to have caught a little cold bug that had been in the house. But I'm glad to be here, home from hospital, and alive and kicking! The only real problem I'm having is going to sleep at night - I have this fear that if I go to sleep, I won't wake up. I'm praying against that fear, but it lingers.
So to those that helped our family out during this time - thank you! And for those that prayed - thank you! You are all such a blessing to me!
Here are some photos from the ordeal:
On Thursday, before my second angiogram to check the surgery.
Lovely bruising from the surgery.
At one point, my whole left eye was swollen shut.
The stitches that go halfway across my head.
My lovely welcome home signs from my kids!
Fast forward to 11:30 pm. I'm in my jammies, crawling into bed. Hubby has been sleeping for a couple of hours already. Suddenly my head explodes - the worst headache I've ever gotten, and it came on out of nowhere. I was seeing stars, and circles, and blood was pulsing through my head. The pain was horrendous. I even woke James, and said "something is not right here". But we both decided I had probably done too much that day, and pulled a neck muscle, and in a couple of days I would be ok.
However, the headache wouldn't go away. Tuesday I was so sick from it, couldn't keep anything down. Wednesday I went to the chiropractor, thinking he could snap my neck back into place and I would be fine. Thursday I still couldn't get rid of it, so called my family doctor for an appointment. He didn't like the sound of how the headache had come on, so he booked me an MRI/MRA appointment for 3:30 that afternoon. Friday, I still had not heard the results, so I called my doctor's office. I went to my foster parent/adoptive parent Donation Station event, and had stopped at my church first to drop off the items for our Silent Auction that night. My gram was watching the kids until 3 pm, when James was to get home, and I would be gone all day at two different events.
However, at 11:30 my doctor's office called, and gave me some not great news. The MRI showed two brain aneurysms, and the one behind my left eye had burst, which was why I was in so much pain that week. I was to go to the ER of the hospital ASAP, and the neurosurgeon would be waiting for me. I was in shock, and scared to death. I took care of things at Donation Station, had a friend drive me across the street to my church to tell them I wouldn't be able to run the auction that night, and James met me there to take me to the hospital. I made a dozen phone calls on the way down - family, friends - to let them know what was up.
I got to the hospital, and you know your case is important when they rush you past the 20 people in the waiting room to start preparing you for surgery. I was just so dumbfounded - apparently, the death rate for burst aneurysms is 85%, and the neurosurgeon was pretty amazed that I was functioning as highly as I was on Friday. He said my case was already pretty miraculous, but you know, I serve a Big God, and He must have some pretty Big Plans for me, because He kept me very protected!
I had a CAT scan and cerebral angiogram on Friday, then consulted with two surgeons about the best way to take care of my issue. I had one aneurysm behind my left eye that had burst, and a second one elsewhere in my brain that had not done anything yet. After hearing our two options - clipping or coiling - we chose the clipping. Even thought it was more invasive - they would have to cut through my skull - it had a higher success rate and more control during the surgery. I had the surgery Saturday morning, and pretty much don't remember from late Friday night until I think Monday afternoon. I was in ICU from the 7th to the 14th, then in a regular hospital room until the 17th.
I have some amazing family and friends - they really took care of my kids and husband while I was in the hospital. My MOMS Club made and delivered lunches and dinners for the entire time I was in the hospital. Friends and family came and stayed at the house with the kids so James could be in the hospital with me. Family, friends and pastoral staff came to the hospital to pray and visit. I have received three deliveries of flowers at the house, to beautiful Christmas Cactuses while in the hospital, gift baskets and numerous cards and notes. I have never felt so blessed and loved!
And now, I am home. I'm tired, and I seem to have caught a little cold bug that had been in the house. But I'm glad to be here, home from hospital, and alive and kicking! The only real problem I'm having is going to sleep at night - I have this fear that if I go to sleep, I won't wake up. I'm praying against that fear, but it lingers.
So to those that helped our family out during this time - thank you! And for those that prayed - thank you! You are all such a blessing to me!
Here are some photos from the ordeal:
On Thursday, before my second angiogram to check the surgery.
Lovely bruising from the surgery.
At one point, my whole left eye was swollen shut.
The stitches that go halfway across my head.
My lovely welcome home signs from my kids!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
A Great Blog to check out!
Take a look at what is Happening over at Overwhelmed with Joy, one of my blogging friends. She's got a great holiday recipe exchange and a giveaway. Go take a look and see!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
