Going home!!!

Mom just got the clearance to go home tonight! We are so excited and thankful! I started doing my dance again! He has "turned our mourning into dancing!" I will update more later tonight.

An update and a special request

Dear friends and family,

Sorry I didn't get a post on the blog last night. We didn't get home until very late and I only had enough energy to eat a quick bite and fall into bed. Mom stayed here at the hospital without us last night because she felt well enough to be alone. During the night, she didn't seem to get much sleep because she became very nauseous and the nurses were in a lot trying to help her with this. Mom's nausea is better today.

The doctors told her yesterday that there was a possibility that she could maybe go home today. I sang a song and did a dance as soon as the doctor left the room... but I probably should have waited for today to do that. Mom continues to be doing very well today, but they are beginning to give her a couple of new things in her IV. The surgeon is supposed to be here soon and should be able to give us some more information about Mom's current progress and the possibility of her going home sometime soon. He was very encouraging yesterday, so we are hoping he will be that way again today.

While our family has been here at Santa rosa, we have met and become friends with a lot of different people- nurses, doctors, transporters to x-ray, other patients' families,etc. We have all really enjoyed meeting these people and learning their stories. We have learned a lot about suffering and how many people go through things much, much more difficult that a bowel obstruction. While we have been loved on beyond measure during Mom's stay in the hospital, we have thought so much about how other people live through hardships without prayers or support. I just can't imagine.

We met a family like that this week. We would like to bring their names to this incredible group of prayer partners and ask you to pray for and support them in the same ways you have for us. While Kasey and I were on the elevator a few days ago, there was a little two year old riding on it with her dad. She was as cute as they come! I started talking with her and quickly fell in love with her. She told us that her name was Faith and that her little brother, "Zacky," had a "boo-boo.". Her dad said that he actually was a 7 month old who was very, very sick. We told him that we would keep him in our prayers as they got off to go to the pediatric ICU on the 7th floor. We took Faith a balloon yesterday and then met up with them again this morning in the main floor waiting room. We got to sit and talk with them for a long time and learned more about their story. They had been stationed in the Army in Germany when their son, Zechariah, was born. He has had multiple health issues, including heart disease, since he was born. The Army sent them here for their son's care and he has been in the hospital since May. The dad comes to the hospital every day with Faith and sits in the waiting areas while Zechariah's mom sits with him in ICU. We asked the dad about what their family is needing, and we hurt so badly for them when he told us that their family all lives in California and that they don't know anyone here. While I know there are probably a lot more families here like them, we felt so touched by their story. We ask you to pray for the Reese family as you pray for Mom. We want them to feel God's loving arms around them in the same way that we have felt them around us.

If you are able to pray for or somehow encourage this family, please take a moment to do this. We have been thinking about how this sweet family can be supported. The dad told me this morning, "I know God has a purpose. I just don't know it yet." I guess that is how we all feel at some point (or many points) in life. We continue to be thankful that He loves us and is in control.

Kelly (for all of us)

Blessed beyond measure

What a great morning! Mom is sitting here (in a chair and not the bed!) eating little bites of a cinnamon roll. She fought hard to get what she wanted! The doctors just left the room and said she is making progress in "leaps and bounds." What a wonderful way to describe her progress! There was even a good bit of discussion this morning about when she may get to go home. We are so excited! She still has a few more tubes/iv ports/ etc. to have removed before she can get to that point, but we are so thankful that it is even on the radar.

Her pain level this morning is at a 2 on a scale of 1 to 10. I haven't heard it that low (or even close to that!) since I got here 11 days ago. 8's and 9's have been much more common. I am more thankful than I can put into words that Mom is finally feeling some relief from pain. She said she is able to be attentive to the surgical pain now, since the ng tube was removed. That had been causing Mom a great deal of pain, discomfort, and distress. She has felt such relief with it out, and is continuing to progress as the doctors had hoped. Mom drilled her doctor with questions this morning and we talked about how glad we were that she was able to drill them herself today...instead of us being the ones to drive the doctors crazy this time :)

Mom just told the doctors she is "blessed beyond measure." We definitely all feel that way. Kasey and I were discussing yesterday how we have been so encouraged this past few weeks just knowing we were in people's thoughts and prayers. It has been such a support to all of us.

One of the doctors was here earlier and told Mom that she has handled this horrible illness with such grace and that the whole team has been honored to be a part of her care. Mom said that this has been a very humbling experience, and that it is not such a bad thing to be humbled at some points in our life. I am continually amazed at Mom's attitude and am so thankful that I have such an incredible mentor to watch and learn from.

Kara is headed out to Madrid in the morning to finish the work she has for her Master's degree there. I am headed to back to Abilene in the next couple of days to be a mommy again. I think my little ones and I are starting to really miss each other. I will continue to give thorough updates, even as I am away from San Antonio for a little while. Kasey is going to stay here for a bit longer to help Mom get transitioned back home.

I have had several requests for Mom and Dad's address. It is: 6519 Pemwoods, San Antonio, Texas, 78240.

Thank you all again for your care and concern,
Kelly (for all of us).

(By the way... I got a new phone- well actually i had to get two new phones because the first one was broken out of the box! My new phone erased all of my contacts... grrr! This phone situation has been a quite long and frustrating process! If you are one of the people I normally talk with... Or if you have my number in your own contacts, send me a quick text and tell me who you are so I can plug your number back into my phone. Thanks!!!)

Afternoon Update

We are thanking God for answered prayers this afternoon. Mom was able to get her ng tube removed this morning! She cried tears of joy and thanked the doctors and the Lord for her relief. I know many of you have been praying specifically for that today, and we thank you.

The doctors continue to watch her blood levels to determine whether a transfusion is needed. The doctors do not seem overly worried or surprised that her blood levels are low- due to the number of procedures she has had the past 14 days (including 2 major surgeries!).

Mom is sleeping comfortably right now. When she wakes up, she should be able to take a few sips of clear liquid. She has been really looking forward to this. (Well, what she is really looking forward to and wanting is a cinnamon roll!)

We continue to read comments to her as well as people's names who have commented on facebook about her. Thank you for those. She is amazed at the number of people who are lifting her up in prayer. If you have a scripture of encouragement you would like to leave (or a song- she has us sing to her when things are difficult), that would be very encouraging for her as well.

Thank you for checking on her,

Kelly (for all of us)

Day 14

Mom is having a very hard morning. She was in a great deal of pain throughout the night, but they were able to somewhat manage this with medications so that she could sleep. She is in extreme pain this morning and very frustrated to still have her "ninja tube" in her nose (down to her belly). The doctors came in the morning very early talking about a possible need for a blood transfusion. This was the first time we had heard about this possibility. Our specific prayers right now are:

1) That Mom is able to get the ng tube removed today. This is causing her a great deal of pain and anxiety right now. As soon as this is removed, she will be able to eat...which should aid in healing her body.

2) That Mom's hemoglobin levels would increase and she would not need a blood transfusion.

3) That Mom's pain would decrease.

Please keep her in your prayers today,

Kelly (for all of us)

Thankful

Today was filled with some new positives. Mom has done well following surgery yesterday and seems to be (hopefully) on the road to recovery. We fully expected her to be in a lot of pain and asleep most of the day, but we were pleasantly surprised when we were wrong. Mom talked to us a good bit of the day and seemed to be in good spirits. We worked a good bit of the day trying to figure out some of her pain medications, but as of tonight, we think that is all settled. We have been amazed at Mom's strength. She is incredibly tough. I think I have always known this, but it has been amazing to be reminded of this as she has been in the hospital these past 13 days. Mom has been poked and prodded, cut on and stuck, but she takes it all without complaining....usually with a smile on her face as she tries to ask the nurse or doctor about his or her family. Mom currently has an ng tube in her nose helping with some pressure in her belly. (She is calling this her "ninja tube".) This is really, really bothering and hurting her. We are hoping things look good enough for this to come out tomorrow. We met with the surgeon this afternoon and he was very pleased with the results of the surgery and her condition today.

We were very encouraged today that Mom seemed to desire food. Over the past week or so, Mom has been extremely turned off by the smell and even the mention of food. Mom had been very specific about what foods she wanted since nothing sounded or tasted good to her. We were driving all over town to get barbeque pizzas from Lifetime Fitness, steak brazos from J.Alexanders, biscuits and gravy from Cracker Barrell, etc. just for her to get a few bites of something that tasted ok to her. She had even mentioned the fact that everything smelled differently than it had before. Now that they have cleared her body of that awful infection, Mom is ready to eat again! We had donuts this morning and Mom told us that they smelled so good to her. She said food sounded appetizing to her, though she still isn't able to have anything to eat until at least tomorrow...and then it is only clear liquids...but still! We are thankful for small victories!!!

Mom was in a great deal of pain this evening. Please pray that she is able to get some rest tonight. Kasey and I are staying at the hospital with her tonight so Dad can get some rest. He has been an amazing caretaker and needs a night of good sleep in his bed. Kara is taking care of getting us dinner (yes, dinner at 11---you kind of lose track of time here!) and clothes for the morning.

A couple of nights ago, our family sat and watched Evan Almighty on TV. Strange choice, I realize, but there wasn't much of a selection. It was a timely show for us though. In one of the scenes, God (played by Morgan Freeman) said that when people pray for patience or courage, they aren't just given those things....They are given opportunities to be patient or courageous. When a family prays to become closer, they just don't automatically become that way...they are given opportunities to grow together in love. Now, I'm not sure who it was in our family who was praying for all of these things (I will have to investigate that!), but our family has certainly been given opportunities the past 13 days to grow in courage, patience, and as a family in love. As frustrating and long as this ordeal has been, it has been such a blessing to all be together. We have spent time in prayer and in song, laughing, reading scripture, eating, talking, drilling the doctors with questions, playing Scrabble on our iphones, giving each other a hard time, taking turns holding Mom's hand, giving her ice chips, or wiping her head with a cool cloth, etc. It has certainly been a time of growing closer. While I in NO way am happy that Mom is having to endure this awful illness, I thank God that He is using it to strengthen our family in new ways.

Thank you for your constant expressions of care and concern for us, and for continuing to bring our sweet momma's name to the Lord to ask Him to heal her. We love her so much and want so badly for her to be well again.

Kelly (for all of us)

Post-Op (#2)

Mom is back in her room following her surgery. She still hasn't come fully out of the anesthesia yet, but she has been able to talk well enough to ask about the surgery and ask my dad for a kiss. We were hoping for a definite answer and fix from the surgeons, but did not get that. We did, however, feel encouraged by the surgeons and felt like the surgery was a success. Mom's surgery took about two hours. During her surgery, we were surrounded by sweet friends who brought us food, prayed with us, and even made us laugh. We are continually thankful for the outpouring of love that has been shown to us through this ordeal.

The surgeons were able to go through Mom's bowel inch by inch more than three times looking for a hole, tear, etc. They did not find one. Their only answer to this was that she had a perforation at one time that has now healed. We know that prayers have been lifted up for Mom's healing...and that He is answering those.

The surgeons were able to remove all of the infected fluid that has been building up in Mom's body. We are so thankful for this. As this fluid has been draining the past three days, she has been showing improvement. We are prayerful that by all of this infected fluid being removed from her body, she will not only feel much better, but be able to begin to heal.

In addition, the doctors removed Mom's appendix. They felt that the infection was beginning to affect the appendix and wanted to make sure there would not be any further problems that could arise from that.

Summary - The surgery gave us assurance that there is no tear or perforation causing new infection. They stated that the bowel looked healthy. Furthermore, they cleansed her body of infectious matter that should pave the way for healing.

So...again we wait. Max came and read Psalm 40 during Mom's surgery..."I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry." As we wait now to see our next step, we trust that God is hearing and answering prayers for Mom. We thank you all for offering those in her behalf. Over the next 24-48 hours, we will watch to see how Mom responds to the surgery and to see if the infected fluid returns. Our strong prayer is that it does not return.

Thank you again for your love and concern,

Kelly (for all of us)