Changed into her gown:
Emma and Me
After surgery before her uvula started to swell:
Getting ready to get in the car (isn't she pathetic?!)
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Before and After
Emma before surgery (see post below):
Changed into her gown:
Emma and Me
After surgery before her uvula started to swell:
Getting ready to get in the car (isn't she pathetic?!)
Changed into her gown:
Emma and Me
After surgery before her uvula started to swell:
Getting ready to get in the car (isn't she pathetic?!)
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Emma's surgery
Emma had surgery last Friday to do a biopsy of her esphogus, stomach and upper intestines. We are awaiting the results. She had a hard time after surgery with her uvula swelling and the pain being very intense for her. She was hurting and scared and that made for a difficult recovery. But she made it through and is doing well now. It's amazing how little kids bounce back so easily.
It was a long week last week and this week hasn't been easy already but we are hoping for a quiet end to the week. Once this month is up we'll have had 17 doctor appointments, including 2 dentist appointments. I will be very glad to see January head out the door! I am hoping that we find February to be a very quiet, boring month. So far there are only 3 appoinments scheduled for the month. I am hoping to keep it that way. I'm really burnt out on going to doctors and would love to say that we are stuck at home for once!
Everyone has had pretty severe colds on top of what else has been going on. Bella had an ear infection, Anna and Emma sinus infections and Savannah bronchitis. Ben has continued to run fever and had gone through a couple different rounds of blood tests. They told us today when we were in that he tested negative for mono. We still can't figure out what's going on but I imagine he got an infection shortly after his biopsy and we are just fighting that. I have found that once they get run down that the little things tend to affect them so much more. So this cold that everyone has had might just be harder on him since he's been down anyway. It stinks having immune systems like they do.
So, it's more hurry up and wait. I am praying that these latest tests tell us something, anything really. I just wish I could fix what's going on. It's hard to be patient sometimes.
It was a long week last week and this week hasn't been easy already but we are hoping for a quiet end to the week. Once this month is up we'll have had 17 doctor appointments, including 2 dentist appointments. I will be very glad to see January head out the door! I am hoping that we find February to be a very quiet, boring month. So far there are only 3 appoinments scheduled for the month. I am hoping to keep it that way. I'm really burnt out on going to doctors and would love to say that we are stuck at home for once!
Everyone has had pretty severe colds on top of what else has been going on. Bella had an ear infection, Anna and Emma sinus infections and Savannah bronchitis. Ben has continued to run fever and had gone through a couple different rounds of blood tests. They told us today when we were in that he tested negative for mono. We still can't figure out what's going on but I imagine he got an infection shortly after his biopsy and we are just fighting that. I have found that once they get run down that the little things tend to affect them so much more. So this cold that everyone has had might just be harder on him since he's been down anyway. It stinks having immune systems like they do.
So, it's more hurry up and wait. I am praying that these latest tests tell us something, anything really. I just wish I could fix what's going on. It's hard to be patient sometimes.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Quote of the Day
Said by Emma this morning:
"I think I'll go do school on the toilet."
One of the better perks to homeschooling... doing your schoolwork on the toilet. It doesn't get much better than that!
"I think I'll go do school on the toilet."
One of the better perks to homeschooling... doing your schoolwork on the toilet. It doesn't get much better than that!
Sunday, January 21, 2007
National Sanctity of Human Life Day
President Bush Proclaims National Sanctity of Human Life Day, 2007
Full text of proclamation follows:
America was founded on the principle that we are all endowed by our Creator with the right to life and that every individual has dignity and worth. National Sanctity of Human Life Day helps foster a culture of life and reinforces our commitment to building a compassionate society that respects the value of every human being.
Among the most basic duties of Government is to defend the unalienable right to life, and my Administration is committed to protecting our society's most vulnerable members. We are vigorously promoting parental notification laws, adoption, abstinence education, crisis pregnancy programs, and the vital work of faith-based groups. Through the "Born-Alive Infants Protection Act of 2002," the "Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003," and the "Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004," we are helping to make our country a more hopeful place.
One of our society's challenges today is to harness the power of science to ease human suffering without sanctioning practices that violate the dignity of human life. With the right policies, we can continue to achieve scientific progress while living up to our ethical and moral responsibilities.
National Sanctity of Human Life Day serves as a reminder that we must value human life in all forms, not just those considered healthy, wanted, or convenient. Together, we can work toward a day when the dignity and humanity of every person is respected.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Sunday, January 21, 2007, as National Sanctity of Human Life Day. I call upon all Americans to recognize this day with appropriate ceremonies and to underscore our commitment to respecting and protecting the life and dignity of every human being.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-first.
GEORGE W. BUSH
Full text of proclamation follows:
America was founded on the principle that we are all endowed by our Creator with the right to life and that every individual has dignity and worth. National Sanctity of Human Life Day helps foster a culture of life and reinforces our commitment to building a compassionate society that respects the value of every human being.
Among the most basic duties of Government is to defend the unalienable right to life, and my Administration is committed to protecting our society's most vulnerable members. We are vigorously promoting parental notification laws, adoption, abstinence education, crisis pregnancy programs, and the vital work of faith-based groups. Through the "Born-Alive Infants Protection Act of 2002," the "Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003," and the "Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004," we are helping to make our country a more hopeful place.
One of our society's challenges today is to harness the power of science to ease human suffering without sanctioning practices that violate the dignity of human life. With the right policies, we can continue to achieve scientific progress while living up to our ethical and moral responsibilities.
National Sanctity of Human Life Day serves as a reminder that we must value human life in all forms, not just those considered healthy, wanted, or convenient. Together, we can work toward a day when the dignity and humanity of every person is respected.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Sunday, January 21, 2007, as National Sanctity of Human Life Day. I call upon all Americans to recognize this day with appropriate ceremonies and to underscore our commitment to respecting and protecting the life and dignity of every human being.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-first.
GEORGE W. BUSH
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Yankees
Today Emma and I were talking about the letter Y. She was saying some words that started with "Y" and we'd spell them out. Yoyo, you, yellow, yes, etc.
Emma: Yankee starts with the letter Y.
Mama (surprised): Yes it does. Do you know what a Yankee is?
Emma: I think so.
Mama (feeling like I need to explain what a Yankee is to this Southern belle): Well, a Yankee is someone who lives up North.
Emma (matter-o-factly) : Oh. Well, a Yankee is also the things you pull on to tie your shoes.
That explanation ticked me. I couldn't stop smiling. I agreed that she was right and that you could indeed call shoe laces yankees and left it at that. :)
Emma: Yankee starts with the letter Y.
Mama (surprised): Yes it does. Do you know what a Yankee is?
Emma: I think so.
Mama (feeling like I need to explain what a Yankee is to this Southern belle): Well, a Yankee is someone who lives up North.
Emma (matter-o-factly) : Oh. Well, a Yankee is also the things you pull on to tie your shoes.
That explanation ticked me. I couldn't stop smiling. I agreed that she was right and that you could indeed call shoe laces yankees and left it at that. :)
Monday, January 08, 2007
God is Merciful
We have been struggling so much lately. We have been assaulted on all sides it seems... my health, the children's health, our finances. When it seemed to be the bleakest and would have been easiest to give up I found comfort in prayer. Not only my own, but in yours as well. I thank you for that.
While we are still having major medical issues it seems as if our financial burdens may become a little lighter. It's not completely gone, it never will be, but for now the major stress (the fear of losing all we have) has been lifted. It will require work on our part but we've never been afraid of that! I am just so very thankful that while we concentrate on healing we don't have to worry about where we will live, how we will pay for food, etc. God is very merciful indeed.
On a side note, I go for another xray today. I had the stent taken out last week but have failed to be able to pass the remaining remnants of my stone. They have tried but I believe they aren't even able to make it out of my kidney. They just get stuck at the top of the ureter. When they have tried to move it's been miserable. I'm worried that I won't be able to pass them on my own. I will find out today exactly where they are and what we need to do (if anything) to help them along.
As I lay in bed last night praying I thought of all the pain I was in. I realized then that what I was feeling wasn't anything compared to what Our Lord suffered for us. Moaning in pain I couldn't imagine feeling worse but to know that Jesus suffered so much more for ME put my pain and what I've been going through in perspective. My trials are so minute comparitively. I thank Jesus each day for the pain he endured for us, for me. It's amazing to think about.
Please continue to pray for us. God is listening and He is merciful.
While we are still having major medical issues it seems as if our financial burdens may become a little lighter. It's not completely gone, it never will be, but for now the major stress (the fear of losing all we have) has been lifted. It will require work on our part but we've never been afraid of that! I am just so very thankful that while we concentrate on healing we don't have to worry about where we will live, how we will pay for food, etc. God is very merciful indeed.
On a side note, I go for another xray today. I had the stent taken out last week but have failed to be able to pass the remaining remnants of my stone. They have tried but I believe they aren't even able to make it out of my kidney. They just get stuck at the top of the ureter. When they have tried to move it's been miserable. I'm worried that I won't be able to pass them on my own. I will find out today exactly where they are and what we need to do (if anything) to help them along.
As I lay in bed last night praying I thought of all the pain I was in. I realized then that what I was feeling wasn't anything compared to what Our Lord suffered for us. Moaning in pain I couldn't imagine feeling worse but to know that Jesus suffered so much more for ME put my pain and what I've been going through in perspective. My trials are so minute comparitively. I thank Jesus each day for the pain he endured for us, for me. It's amazing to think about.
Please continue to pray for us. God is listening and He is merciful.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Quote of the Day
While I was making tea for supper tonight:
Anna, 2, tugging at my pants: Mama... Mama... Mama!
Me: What baby?
Anna: You soooo pwetty!!!
And then as fast as she came into the kitchen, she left. Leaving me with a smile on my face and a boost to my ego.
Anna, 2, tugging at my pants: Mama... Mama... Mama!
Me: What baby?
Anna: You soooo pwetty!!!
And then as fast as she came into the kitchen, she left. Leaving me with a smile on my face and a boost to my ego.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
A New Year
Hopefully the new year will provide us with some medical relief. I know it's not going to be immediate but I am hoping that maybe January will be the last of the big stuff. Here's an update on what's going on.
Last week we had a rectal suction biopsy for Ben to check for Hirschsprung's disease. We got a call on Tuesday saying the test was negative. Great news in one way, but it puts us back to square one. The doctor has had the flu this week so we aren't sure what direction we'll be going in now. On a positive note though he witnessed the mucus that I have been talking about. He said he's never seen something like that in a baby before. It's got him stumped. I guess we'll just have to keep looking to try to figure it out. I'm sad for Ben though as he's been through so much.
Emma is going in next week to do a lactose breath test. While I don't believe it will be positive it would be nice to have her problems be as simple as a lactose problem. I think it's more on the lines of Celiacs but we'll have to see. She tested earlier as a very weak positive for it but I think her weak positive is enough to give her major problems. We'll see though.
Me, well I got my stent out on Tuesday. It brought immediate relief however it also helped the stone try to move. I spent yesterday in bed, unable to move except to go to the bathroom and throw up. It was not a fun day. I think the stone was trying to move but ended up back in my kidney as I have not had any blood passed or any evidence of the stone (and I am having to strain my urine so I know I'll see something when it passes). So, the only thing I can think of is that it went back into my kidney. I am still in pain but can definitely function. The pain now is more like before when the stone was sitting still. The pain yesterday was very much like when I went to the ER and ended up in surgery. If it doesn't move and pass we'll have to go back in to see if they will break it up even more. To be honest I don't know what I want to happen. I can't stand the pain but really the medical bills are killing us. To say it's been hard is an understatement.
I am hoping that 2007 sees a lull in medical problems. I'm hoping we've had our fill. I know I have! I'm not praying to come out ahead, I'm just praying to stay afloat. I'm not sure that's going to happen yet. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we still need them!
Thank you for being great friends and confidants throughout the year! I owe Angi for getting me started blogging. I orginally started just so I could read at her site but over the last couple years realized what a great release it is for me to write down not only what's going on but also my thoughts and feelings about it. It's helped tremendously. I also never thought it would be important to me what those reading my blog thought of me or my situations but I was wrong. I have made some wonderful friends through blogging and I appreciate your friendships. Thank you for helping me get through 2006... I look forward to making through 2007 with you as well!
Last week we had a rectal suction biopsy for Ben to check for Hirschsprung's disease. We got a call on Tuesday saying the test was negative. Great news in one way, but it puts us back to square one. The doctor has had the flu this week so we aren't sure what direction we'll be going in now. On a positive note though he witnessed the mucus that I have been talking about. He said he's never seen something like that in a baby before. It's got him stumped. I guess we'll just have to keep looking to try to figure it out. I'm sad for Ben though as he's been through so much.
Emma is going in next week to do a lactose breath test. While I don't believe it will be positive it would be nice to have her problems be as simple as a lactose problem. I think it's more on the lines of Celiacs but we'll have to see. She tested earlier as a very weak positive for it but I think her weak positive is enough to give her major problems. We'll see though.
Me, well I got my stent out on Tuesday. It brought immediate relief however it also helped the stone try to move. I spent yesterday in bed, unable to move except to go to the bathroom and throw up. It was not a fun day. I think the stone was trying to move but ended up back in my kidney as I have not had any blood passed or any evidence of the stone (and I am having to strain my urine so I know I'll see something when it passes). So, the only thing I can think of is that it went back into my kidney. I am still in pain but can definitely function. The pain now is more like before when the stone was sitting still. The pain yesterday was very much like when I went to the ER and ended up in surgery. If it doesn't move and pass we'll have to go back in to see if they will break it up even more. To be honest I don't know what I want to happen. I can't stand the pain but really the medical bills are killing us. To say it's been hard is an understatement.
I am hoping that 2007 sees a lull in medical problems. I'm hoping we've had our fill. I know I have! I'm not praying to come out ahead, I'm just praying to stay afloat. I'm not sure that's going to happen yet. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we still need them!
Thank you for being great friends and confidants throughout the year! I owe Angi for getting me started blogging. I orginally started just so I could read at her site but over the last couple years realized what a great release it is for me to write down not only what's going on but also my thoughts and feelings about it. It's helped tremendously. I also never thought it would be important to me what those reading my blog thought of me or my situations but I was wrong. I have made some wonderful friends through blogging and I appreciate your friendships. Thank you for helping me get through 2006... I look forward to making through 2007 with you as well!
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