Picked the Card "Go Directly To Hospital, Do Not Pass Go!"

Go Directly To Hospital, Do Not Pass Go! So this is where I have been for 10 days! lol...I'm on the mend but sure don't want to go through this again.

The Lord is always good in the opportunities He gives us! A friend called or texted me (can't remember which as things are still fuzzy) and told me that I was a medical missionary. I said I was ready for some furlough big time! hahaha...

I had an abscess in my pelvic region. Local ER thought it was appendix, but then transferred me up to the big city where my wonderful colorectal surgeon and infectious disease doctor (saw him due to antibiotic allergies) took great care of me. There was blood between my right ovary, right side intestines and appendix. I've pretty much always had an accumulation of fluid in that area, which always turned out to be nothing. It happens to lots of women each month, they get ovarian cysts and don't know it, they burst and the fluid is absorbed by the body, nothing happens. Well some turn into infections and mind did. I got my PIC line installed and will be on IV antibiotics. Then if all goes well I am done (could happen again though), if that is not the cause of it all, then they will have to go in and scope me to see what is going on. I had a CT, MRI and ultrasounds this week. It's very hard to see that area of the body as all those organs are squished together (no better way to explain it) and are in a very tight space. So this is why it's hard to get an accurate diagnosis. They are also concerns about if I have to have another abdominal surgery, due to scar tissues that may have formed. So prayers on several fronts would be great. Praising the Lord that I had opportunity to pray with a nurse and I was totally bless to have been on the same floor as last year in Jan/Feb and when several nurses & Techs heard that I was back in, they came and paid me a visit. Many told me what a sweetheart of a patient I am. Now I am not saying these things to brag on myself, trust me I have bawled my eyes out over the way the Lord has used me in all of this. But what I am trying to say is, let your light shine in the good and in the bad times. Don't hide the fact that you are hurting or suffering, but give all honor and glory to the Lord. The nurse I prayed with shared with me that she knew of doctors that could SEE a visible difference in a way that patients/families dealt with crisis or death, and that doctors had come to faith in Jesus based on what a patient exhibited during a health crisis. I keep going back to the verse from
1 Corinthians 3:6 "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase." Much to be in prayer about the watering aspect!! The Lord is in control, I stilled cried though :)

I found some really cute Lego figures that are doctors and surgeons. I bought a few on Ebay and plan to hand those out with thank you notes to the doctors and take some snack goodies to the nurses and Techs.

My surgeon & ID doctors were wonderful as usual, they told me that there was nothing that I could have done to cause this or keep it from happening, it was just bad luck on my part. I told him I don't believe in bad luck
;-) What I do believe in is divine appointments and I am pretty sure that the Lord has had a few for me.

Moe

Time For A Celebration!

Time For A Celebration! We have celebrated my 1 Year anniversary after having had my 2 handed lap assisted Sigmoidectomy with full mobilization of the splenic flexure (AKA Sigmoid Colon removed). Which turned out not to laparoscopic...lol and then I had an Anastomotic leak and infection. Yes, I am pretty much the patient that gives a doctor nightmares...lol.

 

These are made with Better Batter's Yellow Cake mix and just some icing I made with corn free powdered sugar & soy milk. YUM!

For those that know my story you can stop here at the cupcakes, grab one and enjoy! They are gluten free, corn free and dairy free too!! (with the exception of the chocolate heart on top). If you don't know my story read on below to learn more.
Hugs,
Moe

For those that don't know me, Jan 23, 2014 was a year since I had my surgery, a foot of sigmoid colon removed, I had done well got out in 3 1/2 days, then spiked a fever on day number 6 and ended up back in the hospital for 9 days due to a leak at my anastimosis. My recovery lasted from January until about the end of March before I could do much of anything at all (surgeon told me first of summer I would be up and running). I think I did well and had a GREAT surgeon and infectious disease doctor so that helped a ton! Having the Lord on my side was a major factor too :) So things have been going well in the year since surgery, I will tell folks that I still have weird sensations down by my large incision, sometimes it feels hot, cold, wet etc (even though it is not), I figure it's nerves healing, I have been told it can take more than a year for that to straighten out. I still feel slightly bruised when leaning into things, such as being short and having to reach into the bottom of the washing machine to get clothes out, once in a while I have a sort of stitch pain (like when you run too fast for too long you get that stitch in your side) on the left side behind my ribs, I think that is from the splenic flexure that I had done. Surgeon told me that they really moved stuff around in there...lol...YEAH! I could sure tell that. I guess after they cut out your bad colon, they have to carefully move it down and re-route it sometimes so that there is enough length to reattach you. YES!! I would have the surgery done again EVEN with everything I went though!! I will say the surgery was almost more emotionally hard than physically hard (even with the leak and infection). After the years of suffering, life is good! I've not had any of those weirdo slight fever/chills illnesses I would get every 6 weeks or so, in a full year. I would pick the same doctors too! Search out a GREAT colorectal surgeon, not a general surgeon and not a gastric surgeon, but a colorectal one if you need this type of surgery. It is so key to have a surgeon that has done many of these and is competent. 
Hugs,
Moe

Surgery Anniversary Date! WOW!! And Some Updates

WOW!! Surgery Anniversary Date! It has been a year ago today that I had my surgery and I feel amazing! I still have some weirdo ache in my side, but I think I can live with that! Feeling totally blessed by all those that prayed for me and took care of me in my time of need. You are all so AWESOME! Keep praying 1 Corinthians 3:6  "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase." Because I passed out a lot of Bible tracts and has some opportunities to share the love of Jesus Christ, those opportunities will need to be watered and God can give the increase through prayer! James 5:16b "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." What an awesome thing it would be to know one day that YOU were the prayer warrior that allowed Salvation to happen for one of these dear people!

My hubby asked me last month "Was your surgery last year or the year before?" LOL...I think that it really took it's tole on him emotionally and it's just now catching up to him. He is the kind of guy that just plows through everything when it is going on, acts like nothing is wrong and then later it hits him like a ton of bricks. I think God made men to be somewhat like that, so that they can carry on when times get tough. So prayers for him would be appreciated.

Bio-Chem lesson

Some updates for you, our school year is going amazing for the second semester, first semester always seems a bit off, but we go like crazy in the winter time! I must say that I am all for buying
pre-made science kits, save some $ for these at convention to save on shipping, so worth it in the end. We have done EVERY experiment so far and a few extras! YOWZA that is a real accomplishment for this homeschool science phobic Momma!

I learned to make a high school transcript this year, since I had to turn one into the college. I am so thankful for the records that I have kept.

The medical school program for the homeschooled young man is going very well, he is learning so much and having such fun! The program is really run well. He was so sweet at the last meeting, he had gotten ink pens that look like medical syringes and some intestinal shaped bubble gum in his Christmas stocking this year, he took some with him and shared with the other kids in the program. They loved it! He also went to the medical school library and bought some used textbooks. So he is stocked up on summer reading.

Still working on getting the house de-cluttered of papers and such that somehow accumulated over the past year. It's coming together, though slowly.

I've got 25# to lose by my doctors appointment in July...lol. And I've gained some during my laying around recovering for 3 months time period that I have yet to lose. So as you will see in another post I am working on that goal. My doctor says he will high-five me in the office if I lose 25#...LOL...if you only knew this doctor, he is so laid back, he ranks right up there with my husbands family, so it will be a real treat to witness this! Got to love a doctor who gives a challenge and a reward for completing the challenge  ;-)  The homeschooled young man has said he wants to come to the appointment just to witness such act!  LOL!!

Take care,

God is good all the time!

The statement "God is good all the time" can be a hard pill to swallow at times. Much of 2013 has been a hard pill for me to swallow.

 

But I keep in mind that God is good all the time. Because He has my best interest in mind. He knows what is best for my life. He also knows how all the puzzle pieces fit together now and in the future.

 

As I sit here waiting on my final medical test that will be done on August 13, I think WOW all the opportunities that the Lord has allowed into my life to bring Him up and talk about His sovereignty with so many that do not know Him. Oh, they know about a God, they know about a Heaven, they know about the book the Bible exists, but they do not know the one true God, Jesus Christ and sadly they do not have a relationship with Him. Others are hiding their salt and light under a bushel.

 

Sadly, often times true Christianity is a secret life for many, a hidden treasure that they keep for only themselves. I hope you will not keep your faith hidden from others.

 

In sharing my faith with those in the medical profession who have cared for me over the last few years, the Lord has blessed me richly. Take today for instance, just another ordinary school day, nothing too exciting besides textbooks and meal prep (my current mission field). The mail arrives and an excited teenager appears with an envelope and starts yelling "OPEN IT OPEN IT!! It's a note from Dr. X." I thought what on earth is Dr. X doing sending me a note? It's probably a bill! Dr. X is a busy colorectal surgeon with a practice, he is teaching faculty with a major university, has a family and lots more on his plate than taking time to write me a note.

 

The handwritten note was thanking me for keeping him up to date on the Mayo Clinic results as well as how I am progressing. He also congratulated the teenager on winning a Blue ribbon, getting an A rating and state fair for his 4-H Health project entitled Diverticular Disease & Prevention. The teenager was blessed by this too.

 

So, who can you bless today with a note? Think on it, it only takes a few minutes to jot down a few sentences and mail off a note. Who can you encourage today?

 

I am not a big fan of the Message Bible, but sometimes I like the way that version explains things. Such as this one...

"I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." Jeremiah 29:11

God is good all the time!

 

Homeschooling Math When You Have A Major Illness

I had written this post way back in March and never posted it. So here goes, I hope that it encourages another homeschooling mom that is struggling.

Now lets do some homeschool math here peeps.
Illness + surgery + anastomotic leak + infection [people asking if the child is behind in school to the 10th power] I can't figure out how to do Exponents on my keyboard. = X

 Here is how you solve for X.

Illness = preparing our child/children ahead of time by teaching them to work on their own.
Surgery = having GREAT doctors like my wonderful GI doc that saw me in the hospital in 2011 and my WONDERFUL and AWESOME Colorectal Surgeon that knew just the right time to get that bad boy out of me. I had time plan school around the surgery, we skipped Christmas break so that school did not have to be done during my surgery and hospital stay.
Anastomotic leak = fever, chills, pain & a visit to the ER & then my surgeon calling us at 6:55am to say that I needed to pack a bag and get to the hospital by 4pm that day. to start IV antibotics.
Infection = always a possible complication, but I figured it would never happen HAHAHA!!!
School = people asking if we are behind in school (to the 10th power.)
X = Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

 

Stop by my blog

http://adoptivemomhomeschoolinganonlychild.blogspot.com/

Computer Science for Kids Review

 

As a member of The Old Schoolhouse Review crew we were honored to be picked to review Computer Science For Kids computer programming software. We decided to try out Computer Bible Games for Microsoft Small Basic. It's on sale until July 4th, so it's the perfect time to order now and be able to look through the E-book before your 2014-2015 school year starts in the fall.

Single User License

Digital E-Book Download Only

Item #104-DL $59.95

Sale Price!

$34.95
 

First off let me say that this homeschool Momma, is totally clueless when it comes to computers, I can type and send an email, but that is about it. Even when I was in college we did not have computers, I had an old Brother Typo Graph Typewriter for my college term papers...lol.

When we found our name attached to this review my son was jumping up and down and wanting to call his friends and invite them over to play with his Bible games that he was going to be making.

The software is designed for Middle School students, which I think was right on target for self directed learning, I believe that younger children would do well with parent directed learning while using Computer Science For Kids.

 

Before I give you our thoughts on Computer Bible Games for Microsoft Small Basic, lets first talk about customer service. In this day and age, we hear so much about CUSTOMER NO SERVICE! As Clark Howard would say.  But in the case of Computer Science For Kids, the customer service was outstanding and I really do not think it had anything to do with us being on the TOS Review Crew. Philip Conrod (the author) was AMAZING and did not make me feel like a totally dork when I was clueless about how to get this set up on my computer. I had a major computer issue when I downloaded the software and everything seemed to go crazy on my computer. Philip emailed me a couple of times and then called me on the phone. He spent about 20+ minutes with me, walking me through a few things on my computer to see what the problem was. Well in the end the problem was with my computer, I did not have WinZip downloaded on my computer. So Philip stayed on the phone with me and walked me step by step on how to do that and he chatted easily with me while it was downloading. I think that he must have checked out my blog, because he chatted with me about adoption and how the Lord blessed them through adoption when they had not even considered adoption before. Their daughter brought up the subject and things fell into place and they added a little girl to their family through International adoption. Once WinZip got added to my computer the Computer Science For Kids software worked perfectly! We were blessed to have this really cool computer program to play with and I was blessed as an adoptive mom to hear the story of another adoptive family coming together.

So here is our review...
What the student liked...
1) It was fun!
2) It was easy!
3) I liked how you could do the programs & all the different variations.
4) I love the games!

What the student did not like...
1) Mom would not let me spend more time each day playing with this! lol. Ya know, I had other school work to complete.

What the homeschool Momma liked...
1) Easy to install (once I got the WinZip on board).
2) Simple for our son to understand and use.
3) AWESOME for me as a post-op homeschool Momma who spent her days during this review in a recliner recovering from having my Sigmoid Colon removed, an anastomotic leak and subsequent infection and 13 day hospital stay. This was a wonderful tool to get school moving along, so that my son could 'play' on the computer...hahaha...actually LEARN on the computer with  Computer Bible Games for Microsoft Small Basic but it sure did not feel like learning, it was a fun time that he looked forward to each day.
4) This opened up a whole new world my son, this was all totally new to him.

Here is a sampling of what you get with the Computer Bible Games for Microsoft Small Basic

1. Noah’s Ark
2. Daniel and the Lions’ Den
3. Elijah and the Ravens
4. The Good Shepherd
5. The Prodigal Son
6. The Lost Coin
7. Bible Scramble

"The "learning programs" include a unit conversion program, savings calculator, a sub-sandwich builder, a cardwars game, a number guessing game, a state capitals game, a times table program, a stop watch, a simple drawing program, fun logic games and a fun video game. Finished programs can even be published on-line to share programs with others. " Quoted from the Computer Bible Games for Microsoft Small Basic website.

Yes we would buy this and use it again, and guess what? It's on sale!! What homeschool Momma can pass up a sale on curriculum? Normally $59.99 it's on sale for $34.95. That is a savings of over $25.00!!! Hurry over and order now for the coming school year! A minimum of Windows XP is needed to run this and we used it on our Vista system. It takes about 10 weeks to complete, but if your child understands the material well, they can move through it at a faster pace. This product is for ages 10+.

   

GOTCHA DAY! Adoption Day!

This week we celebrated our son's adoption day, we call it GOTCHA DAY! In our home when it's your special day (birthday or Gotcha Day) you get to pick your meals. Our son picked cold cereal for breakfast, we normally have hot breakfast so this was a treat. Lunch was a favorite buffet restaurant and dinner was Subway. In the past we have spent the night at a hotel swimming,  gone to the zoo, played board games all evening long or find other fun stuff to do for his Gotcha Day! We had planned a fun field trip to tap maple trees for syrup but those plans unraveled. We got on the road by 7am with my sister in law (AKA favorite Aunt of the child) in tow and headed toward the forest of maple trees.

About an hour into the drive husband calls to say the field trip was cancelled due to weather. From the backseat comes a yell to head to the children's museum instead. OK, foiled plans are now made in to more fun plans!! It was cold (33 degrees) anyway and I think we were all a bit glad it was going to be an inside day. We decided to take a side trip to look at the baby chicks at the feed store, always a fun time. We now have BABY CHICK FEVER! lol. We will need to go to the doctor for that cause I ain't got no energy to care for baby chicks right now, though we only have about 4 chickens left in the freezer. We did buy a chicken hutch that was $119.00 on sale for $89.00. When I am up on my feet again we will get some meat birds to fill that up. YUM!!

Then we headed off to the museum, we get in free with our son's AOPA membership so that is pretty cool! Since I am not up for much in the way of walking around and expending energy since my surgery/leak/infection, I rested on a bench, then sat for a few hours in the lunch room. I brought the Kindle Fire along with me to watched an episode of the Duggars show 19 Kids and Counting, if you want to know exactly what my only child is like, he is a carbon copy of the Duggar boy that is interested in cameras and photography, I will have to ask our son what that boys name is. If anyone knows post the name, I know it starts with a J . . . hahaha, but I can't come up with it, post it on my blog please. Josiah is his name!

After the children's museum we headed off to the mall since I needed some new pants, none of mine fit anymore since the surgery, my stomach is still swollen, though this morning I did see a bit of my large incision, so the swelling is going down some. We walked around the mall and sat down a few times. Son treated his Aunt to a chair massage, they both liked it. I thought it might be too much for me so I just watched. Did not buy any clothes, but got talked into being a model for a fashion show and I will get 40% off my purchases that day. I'm thinking it was the pain meds that made me do it!  Otherwise I would NEVER consent to being a fashion model. But for 40% off everything that I buy, well I'm thinking I can do this. And the child was going nuts about it, so I said "YES!"

After all this they wanted to go to a bookstore, I conceded and headed out to the car to recline. I napped and ate some egg salad (what other type of sandwich would you eat when you raise chickens?) and chips. They enjoyed themselves and Auntie thought she would never get the child out of the bookstore...hahaha, she was getting tired and there are no chairs in this particular book store, I guess they don't want you to sit around and sample the books before you buy.

We arrived home around 10pm, I was pooped (pun intended after my intestinal surgery. . . LOL), the next day I did NOTHING but breathe, sleep and eat. I am for sure not ready for a day out like that again for awhile.

There is a silver lining to all this.
After all the stress of my illness and added responsibility that the child has had over the last 6 months, remember I broke my foot, ended up on bed rest with it, then was hospitalized in December (Diverticulitis), then again in January (surgery), then yet again in February (infection). Now my recovery phase (should be back to normal by summer, but really what is NORMAL. . . hahaha.) It's been a really long ride for all of us. So this comment from our son really threw me for a loop, it got me thinking WOW I guess love is what it's all about (the love of the Father first and foremost) and you just do what you have to do to make it through. I think this has all been a HUGE learning experience for our son, in watching how Daddy takes care of me and how our marriage vowes really come into play with something like this, especially when your spouse is not able to function for months on end, you have to take on household responsibilities and new financial responsibilities (my medical bills just for 12 days in the hospital + all the extras of tests, co-pays, prescriptions etc. are well over $100,000.00 and insurance is fighting $48,000 of that saying it was not medically necessary for me to be in the hospital for the infection and IV antibiotics. Prayers would be appreciated in this area. I am thinking that there is an insurance coding glitch or something since I was very ill and I don't think I would have fared very well at home in the condition I was in, there is no way I could have functioned at home.

I pray that our son will remember us getting through these times when/if his wife or children should ever become ill. I look at this as a time of growing for all of us, and WOW what opportunities I had to share through the course of my illness, to God Be The Glory is all I can say! As I feel up to it I will share more things that I encountered through my illness.

Visiting Mom in the hospital. I look much better now!

I will leave you with the comment from our child the night before his Gotcha Day, he says to me "Mom, I am so glad that you adopted me." I said "Why?" He says "Because I get to grow up in a Christian home, I get chickens and I get to have a dog." I told him "Thank you and also be thankful for your birth parents, they made a really hard decision in placing you for adoption."

How does your family celebrate Gotcha Day!?

 

Stop by my blog

http://adoptivemomhomeschoolinganonlychild.blogspot.com/

How I Spent My Day & An Update On Me

After being in the hospital for 13 days (4 for surgery and then 9 for an infection after surgery) I got to know some of the staff and many of them had taken care of me both times I was in. I decided to fix up some treat bags for the staff that I could remember by name and also took a few large boxes of microwave popcorn for the rest of the staff. I would have made up more treat bags but many of the staff wore name badges backwards where you could not read their names :O(      So they missed out. My dear sister-in-law that is an RN brought in a big tray of cookies for the nurses one night during my stay. I was really shocked when I was walking down the hospital corridor when one of the nurses looked up and recognized me from a distance with street clothes on and a heavy coat. I've been out of the hospital since I think Feb 6th or 7th it's all a blur to me. She said "Well hello stranger!" That was a blessing to be recognized, again I NEVER felt like a number with this staff! As our son and I were leaving to head to the elevators I just cried, it is still very overwhelming to have gone through all this and to still be weak and not up to par.

The treat bags had gum, candy, suckers and chocolate in them, the black bag is special for one of the nurses that has Celiac Disease along with her children having it, so it's full of Hodgson Mill products and some other goodies. Hoping these treats are a blessing to them.

So our day started out like this I took our son to Chuck E Cheese since he had 90 tokens to use up from the past and present school year, I always check the coupon section of the website for when they have token specials, usually 100 tokens are $20 which those last a long time. I give them for doing well on math speed drills or pop quizzes. Sometimes if work is done really well with no complaints I will surprise him with 1 or 2 tokens. He keeps them in a baggie so he can just grab them when we are going to be near a Chuck E Cheese and he can spend them. Sometimes he likes to save them up and spend a few hours playing, other times he wants to run in and play a few games of Skee-Ball. Chuck E Cheese also has Chuck E Cheese Rewards Calendars that you can print out and get 10 free tokens for turning them in, they have chore charts, homework charts and more.

They now carry GLUTEN FREE PIZZA too!! It comes pre-made and individually wrapped, so you know it's SAFE! What a blessing for our little ones as well as adults. I do not know the corn status of the pizza, you would have to check that out. They also have a GREAT salad bar too.

So on to my day, while our son was playing games and having fun, I was sitting at a table packing up treat bags for the nursing staff and doctors. I found some Gospels of John at the Christian book store, but they only had 2 on hand  :O(     I gave one to my surgeon, his first name is Peter and I wrote in the book that I would have given him the book of Peter, but John was so much more exciting to read  ;-)

I was totally exhausted from my day of being out and about, plus I did not sleep but 2 hours the night before since I had to take a double dose of steroid meds for the blood test. I slept in the car on again off again. I had to be in town by 8am for a blood draw, slept for about 30 minutes in the car after that, went to the Christian book store, napped in the car for about 15 min, went to Chuck E Cheese, that was good since I was just sitting and not up and about. Then went to the grocery store, napped in the car for about 30 min after that and then delivered the goodies to 3 different places and napped in between those. This is all perfectly normal after having the surgery and then the infection. I should be back to normal by Summer. I actually feel pretty well, though if I over do it I KNOW IT! lol. I told my guys that I am not leaving the house for the next few days and will be sleeping as needed. I am still sore especially when I make the 100 mile trips to the doctors, and I did that 3 days in a row last week and I was hurting, felt like I was bruised on my entire torso from the bumpy roads.

We have some great products to review for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Review Crew coming up so we will be working on those. School is going well, so glad that we skipped Christmas break so that our son could take a winter break while I had my surgery, it worked out well since I have had a longer recovery time. We started back to full time school this past week, while he was at Grandpa's house he dabbled in math, science, history and of course his favorite subject reading.

Stop by my blog

http://adoptivemomhomeschoolinganonlychild.blogspot.com/

Life is a Wild Ride!

Wow, hard to believe that I was in the hospital in Dec 2012, Jan 2013 and Feb 2013. It just amazes me how time flies, I don't really even remember celebrating Christmas or New Years. It's all just a blur. I am sure thankful that my Lord and Savior sees things clearly.

I am actually feeling pretty well, sore of course, they were not able to do the procedure lapriscopically since I am short wasted, there was not enough room to work in there, so they had to do it the old fashioned way. So I have a C-section like cut (not as wide as a C-section, but same spot & no baby to show for it though :*( 
and then 2 other incisions. I mainly feel like I am bruised inside. I can be up for around 15 min or so and then I have to sit down to rest. Sitting is fine, driving has been fine, but it's when I try to expend any energy to talk or walk that I'm wiped out. I was told that even if I tried to push myself it would not work, my body would just shut down........lol.. Saw this happen yesterday when I let our son check out some library books and I fell asleep in a chair, then we went to pick up chicken feed and I ended up falling asleep while waiting in the car. Just a nice catnap of around 20 min perks me up. But then I have to rest again pretty quickly. Makes me think that this is how my mom must have felt when she was on Chemo  :O(



I saw this online and just had to put it on my blog! Thanks to all my special girlfriends who have called, texted or emailed me to perk me up over the last few months. You have all been great, even when I was too tired to talk back, I just laid in bed holding the phone listening to what was going on with your families. Thanks gals!


I am on an all protein diet since my protein is very low. For some reason my body is burning up muscle tissues and turning that into glucose to burn, instead of burning fat. Protein is NOT really what I want to eat when I'm sort of queasy still, but I'm working on it. I go see the endocrinologist next week about some stuff that they are looking into. Not sure what to expect there and they have talked of another surgery for that.

Otherwise things are going well, I'm enjoying being on The Old Schoolhouse Review Crew and getting to try and play with new homeschool curriculum, our chickens have started laying eggs again, which reminds me I can make some Meringue cookies (egg whites are full of protein!) for my new diet I have to follow for the time being.....lol.

Prayers would be appreciated for my guys, it's hard on them, and it drives me crazy that I can't do anything. If I load the washing machine I have to sit down before I can add soap and turn it on.........lol. If I unload the dishwasher I have to unload, sit, load, sit. It just stinks all the way around. And we are looking at the start of summer before this gets better.

Surgery update on my Mom

Mom had her surgery Jan. 23 everything went very well and she got out in 3 1/ 2 days, while I was enjoying my time at my grandpa's house.

On Monday the 28th she started having a high fever and chills the doctor thought it was a UTI so he sent her to the ER. She had a slight UTI , not enough to cause a fever. They did a CT Scan that showed air bubbles outside of her intestines so she has a infection at the site of the hook up.

Me and my mom at the hospital. I had to wear a mask to make sure she did not catch anything.

They called in a Infectious Disease Control doctor because of all of mom's allergies to find the right mix of antibiotics. She was in the hospital for 9 days on IV antibiotics and she has a PIC line and is now home on IV antibiotics twice a day. She is very weak and sleeps a lot.

Your continued prayers are appreciated by my family.

Surgery tomorrow..............

Well, friends I'm signing off here for awhile. I have to be at the hospital tomorrow morning for my surgery. After years of being misdiagnosed with stomach issues, doctors had always told me it was nerves, depression or stress causing my stomach issues......well they were wrong. So now I have to have part or all of my colon removed. They will decided once they get in there and get a better look at things.

The one nice thing out of all this was when I had a doctor that saw my CT scan tell me that he was very sorry that I had suffered for so many years. I told him "Oh, so it's not really all in my head?" And he told me that he could see from the CT scan that it was definitely not all in my head. Another specialist had a good laugh when I told him that I was told I was depressed and that was causing my stomach issues. He said with much sarcasm in his voice "Well having chronic diarrhea many times a day for years might make a person a touch depressed." lol. The doctors also apologized for me being one of those "medical mishaps" as they call it. Where someone slips through the system and is not treated correctly. Glad there is a name for this.......lol. As our Pastor always says "Doctors practice medicine." It's all just practice........EEEKKK!!!

Fear not if things don't go well and I end up in Glory. I know that Jesus has gone before me to prepare a place for me, John chapter 14 verse 3. The book of 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 6 says "Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:" 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 55 says "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" Do you have this same view of your own future death? Or do you fear death? Having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ can remove this fear. To find out more ask me or go to NeedHim.org or call 1-888-NEED-HIM.

Love ya all,
Moe
p.s. I'm not even worried about our homeschool. We have gotten all the 4-H books out and plan to have our son read over those, sketch out his projects for the year and stuff like that. Lots of reading, cooking and enjoying time with his 80+ year old Grandpa. He plans to set up a tent in Granpa's dining room and camping out for the week.

Sorry to be gone for so long.........

I ended up in the hospital for 5 days with acute diverticulitis. Had an incredible ambulance ride when they transferred me to a larger hospital. Those 3 guys has me laughing all the way there!
I am to be home resting and healing up so that they can do some testing. My dh's family has been wonderful!! His sister has really helped me out tons with doctors, nurses and hospitals, it can all be so confusing when you are very ill and out of your head. My church family has been bringing meals in, how wonderful is that!! It's been a real blessing to see our son step up to the plate while I as gone. He did his school work and chores, made meals for himself and dad, he also knew where all the 'hidden' meals are in the freezer......lol. I always have some sort of chili, soup or casserole in the freezer for a quick and easy meal.

Well my point for being on here today was to share something that I found from the Bible that has been a  real encouragement to me today, as I know that I am not the only person on the Internet feeling poorly today. I was pouting around this afternoon, had a very bad day reflux wise, as I am flared up from my throat all the way down to my colon  :P      Ended up on the phone with the nurse 2x and finally think I will make it through until tomorrow when they want to see me again. So here it is.

Weakness in the Bible: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
It is a paradox of Christianity that true strength is found in weakness. Jesus himself embodied the world's idea of weakness, even to the point of submitting to an excruciating death. However, just as Christ's saving power worked through that "weakness," so God's power is often most visible in the midst of suffering, humility, and weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (KJV)
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
Gospel.com

I do have a few prayer requests:
1. No more reactions to antibiotics (had 3 in the hospital)
2. Antibiotics will be effective since I am on so many stomach drugs
3. No more blood thinners, these T.E.D. Hose are driving me crazy!
4. DH can concentrate on learning his new job, lots of reading and testing along with the stress of me being ill.
5. Insurance issues won't occur, our current insurance ends 12/31 and the new job insurance is to kick in 1/1.
6. Doctors and Nurses will be competent and know what is going on with me. Since I was told that what I have has been missed for many years and severe damage has been done. I have actually prayed that the doctors would be woke in the night thinking of my case, I pray that they will be milling it over in their mind and looking at it from all sides. This new doctors even apologized for the suffering I have endured, that in itself was a real blessing to hear.

Everyone have a wonderful week!