Medical update

I've been home from the hospital for a little over a week. During that week we were without power so having a stress free recovery (or hot shower) was a little difficult.

I was so optimistic when I left the hospital. For the first 3-4 days, every day I saw improvements in my health. The last couple of days I have hit a plateau. I have a scar from an incision that is not healing as quickly as it should, so I have to deal with changing the dressing for that. Luckily I go to the Dr. tomorrow and my nurse comes on Tuesday.

Mornings are definitely the worst. I get up around 7:30. At that time my intestines start to stir causing some cramping. A bit uncomfortable. After that settles down I get the right mindset to shower and dress. This process takes about 2 hours. Needless to say that after two hours I'm ready for a rest. I then spend the next 3-4 hours recovering from the morning.

When I was in the hospital the Dr. said I needed to take at least 4 weeks off. This week is the beginning of my third week. If things don't improve a bit more quickly I will not be returning to work in two weeks.

Putting my needs first is something that is very foreign. I am learning to ask for help. I will say that through all this Dan has been wonderful. Because of the ice storm he was able to be home with me all last week. I am a bit nervous for Monday -
Dan goes back to work and I am on my own.

insides out

I'm sure there are some people out there who are just thinking I'm being lazy with my posts. That is absolutely not true. Here's the story:

Dan and I went cross country skiing at Garland February 4-5. We had a great time, but the entire time we were there I was having some abdominal pain. Got home Sunday night and got ready for the week just like always.

On Monday I went to school not feeling great - but decided to tough it out. I made it two hours. The abdominal pain was excruciating. My plan was to go the the hospital ER and get meds. I was in the ER 7 hours before the admitted me. The last time I was in the hospital I was having Nathan.

I met with a surgeon (who also happens to be one of the team doctors for the college football team.) He told me that my diverticulitis has turned into diverticulosis (or vise versa) and that surgery was quite possible. He admitted me to hopefully contain the illness without surgery.

I had a very good day on Tuesday - I really thought the meds were working. Well Wednesday was not so good. I woke up extremely sick. Apparently I had developed sepsis. Next thing I new I was in surgery. I don't remember much this day. Dan tells me that all the hospital staff was extremely worried.

For the next week I had good days and bad days. Things did improve when I was allowed to eat and drink again.

I have been home for two days. Dan has been wonderful. I cannot even put my own socks on. I am home for at least a month. I will have a visiting nurse come over at least once a week to help me learn the ins and outs of my ostomy bag. (There is a lot to it)

The plan is that when school ends I will go back to the hospital to have my intestines reattached. While I am excited about that the surgical procedure and recovery is similar to what I am experiencing now.

Thank you to all of you who have sent notes,cards,flowers, prayers and thoughts my way. I an extremely touched by the outpouring of support by friends and family.

Rocky

Dan and I thought when the kids outgrew toys we would be able to have a nice finished basement space. Well the kids room has turned into the workout room. Matt's latest purchase is a heavy bag. He hung it up today and began to get his swell on. I will admit I have been wanting one of these. I want to try kickboxing.

545 miles

For the last two years I have been diligent about going to the gym. For about the last 18 months I have recorded every workout in a notebook. Well today I took out the notebook and added up all the miles I traveled - either on the treadmill, the bike, the elliptical or on the road. The grand total = 545 miles. When I figured out how far that was driving, I would be between DeMoines Iowa and Lincoln Nebraska.

What a bunch of Smarty-pants

Named to the 2010 GLIAC All-Academic team from Hillsdale College for football:

Mike Blanchard Sr. Biology Hillsdale, Mich.
Eric Burke R-Fr. Undeclared Indianapolis, Ind./Heritage Christian
Evan Duey Sr. Economics Northville, Mich.
Steven Embry R-Fr. Chemistry Clinton, Mich.
Daniel Gaines R-Fr. Biology Simpsonville, S.C./Hillcrest
Nick Hixson Jr. Chemistry Remus, Mich./Chippewa Hills
Ben Jones R-Fr. Undeclared Muskegon, Mich./Muskegon Catholic Central
Reid Meador Jr. Chemistry Whiteland, Ind.
Anthony Mifsud So. Accounting Dearborn, Mich.
Kam Mueller Sr. Biology Oxford, Mich./Oxford
Brad Otterbein Sr. Business Hillsdale, Mich. Ridge Riebold Jr. Financial Management Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty
Tyler Sandner Jr. Marketing Grand Rapids, Mich./Catholic Central
Joe Vear Jr. Biology Hillsdale, Mich.
Ryon Wiska Jr. Chemistry Northville, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central

Also named All-Academic and receiving the new GLIAC Academic Excellence Award for players with GPAs 3.5 or higher:

David Bakker Jr. Biology Holland, Mich./West Ottawa
Evan Jacobson Jr. Accounting Walled Lake, Mich./Walled Lake Northern
Ed Hojnacki Jr. Physics Commerce, Mich./Walled Lake Northern
Aric Geerlings Jr. Biochemistry Norton Shores, Mich./East Kentwood
Nate English Jr. Math Hillsdale, Mich.
Phil Doerfler Sr. Biology Allen Park, Mich.
Ron Bedway Jr. Accounting Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich./North

Congratulations Nate

Nate is the big winner of the family football pool. We predict 26 college bowl games. Nate knew a few days ago that he was in the running. After every game he figured out his win/loss percentage and what his odds were of winning based on that information.

He also knew that him winning was dependent on Alburn winning. After the win he calculated out all kinds of stats and arranged our family sheets in ranked order. I guess that's what math majors do. I'm just happy he has some discretionary income so he won't ask me for any.

knit-one-pearl-two

My mother is always either looking for a deal or looking for the latest and greatest cleaning product. This little rag is THE BEST washcloth I have ever used.

I was in Detroit a few weeks ago and saw my mom knitting. She was learning how to knit homemade washclothes because, "They are the best." I listened to her rave on and on about these things and nodded my head in agreement - all the time thinking this woman is crazy.

Well, after Lord knows how many hours of knitting and reknitting, she is finally able to bang out a washcloth. She sent me home with one at Christmas. And yes I agree it is the best washcloth I have ever used.

I hope that when she reads this she takes the compliment and the hint and makes more.