Tuesday, December 30, 2008

End of 2008 Questionnaire

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Been away from my sons for more than a few days.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I honestly don't remember if I made any resolutions last year & as of this moment I don't intend on making any for next year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Not that I know of.
4. Did anyone close to you die? Yes.
5. What countries did you visit? Lancaster County - does that count?
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? Great health.
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? August 11, Surgery #1, October 9, Surgery #2, November 15, Surgery #3 & December 31.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Realizing that I am NOT in charge.
9. What was your biggest failure? Not being able to do stuff for my husband & sons.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Multiple times.
11. What was the best thing you bought? Washing Machine.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Jerry - he has been amazing the past few months.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? My own.
14. Where did most of your money go? Paying everyday bills.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Eating.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008? Read A Book.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:a) happier or sadder? Sadder. b.) thinner or fatter? Thinner. c) richer or poorer? Probably the same.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Listening to my body tell me something isn't right.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Yelling.
20. How did you spend Christmas? With my husband, sons, parents & sisters.
21. Did you fall in love in 2008? Everyday.
22. What was your favorite TV program? Anything on Food Network.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? No.
24. What was the best book you read? Twilight - I just finished it. Also Nineteen Minutes, Salem Falls.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Harry Connick, Jr. - "What A Night!"
26. What did you want and get? A new coffee pot.
27. What did you want and not get? Life Applications Bible. Will have to get it myself.
28. What was your favorite film of this year? The only movie I've seen recently is Bedtime Stories. Good family movie.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? On the actual day? Nothing special. It was a Wednesday. I was 36.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Being healthy.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Non-existent.
32. What kept you sane? My mother.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Mike Sullivan - OMG - Dirty in the Sack HOT I tell you.
34. What political issue stirred you the most? Too many to choose from.
35. Who did you miss? My grandparents - always.
36. Who was the best new person you met? Tracey, Sara, Shelley.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. Life is unpredictable. Cherish each and every moment you have.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. Here it goes, here it goes again.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

UNBELIEVABLE!!

That is one word to describe the past month. If you regularly check our blog & have been wondering where we have been, the answer is recuperating - again.

On November 15, I began to experience excruciating pain in my abdominal region again & I wasn't able to keep any food down. I knew something wasn't right. I couldn't believe it, but nonetheless, knew something was wrong.

Jerry & I dropped the boys off at his sister's late Saturday afternoon & made our way to my home away from home - the Reading Hospital & Medical Center.

They take me to a room right away - like a standing reservation. I have not been able to keep any food down for over 24 hours now.

They think I may have a small bowel obstruction (I know - T.M.I., but it is what it is). Along with the fact that I am severely dehydrated & they would also like the bariatric surgeon to weigh in & see if they need to dilate the connection between my stomach & small intestine.

I seriously am about to melt down. They are talking about ANOTHER surgery. I cannot handle this. Thank goodness Jerry was there because he can at least stay calm while hospital personnel are talking to him.

So, yet again, I have a third major abdominal surgery to repair the confirmed obstructed bowel & dilate the connection between my stomach & small intestine.

I am in the hospital for 10 days where they fill my body with over 30 pounds of fluid & I begin the recovery process AGAIN.

I came home on November 25. My body hasn't been able to recover from three surgeries so close together. I am in the process of going to physical therapy to attempt to regain my strength.

Here is what their estimations are as of this past Tuesday as to when I will be able to resume some sense of normalcy:

Improve Strength - Arms, Legs & Trunk: 4-6 weeks
Independent Home Exercise Program: 2 weeks
Sitting Tolerance: Upright 30-60 Minutes - 4 weeks (I already can do this)
Standing/Walking Tolerance: 15 minutes - 4-6 weeks
Normalize Gait with no supervision or assistance: 4 weeks
Return to Work/Sports: 6-8 weeks
Independent Activities: 4-6 weeks
Dressing/Bathing
Cooking
Housework/Yardwork
Sit to Stand, Get out of Bed with no assistance: 4-6 weeks

So, as you can read, I need help doing EVERYTHING. During the week, Jerry comes home from work every couple hours to help me go to the bathroom, get me snacks & check on me.

I have no muscle tone between my hips & knees. It has been really tough. I can do everything the physical therapist says to make my physical self better, but mentally this is a real challenge.

It is so hard, especially during this time of year to be incapacitated. I have no Christmas shopping done, the decorations around our home are minimal & poor Jerry suffers my wrath on a daily basis - usually over something trivial.

Tricia is coming tomorrow to go Christmas shopping with Jerry. She is my rescuer. I cannot express to her how grateful I am for her help.

We will be going to Erie for Christmas. Hope that goes well.