weasey253
Okay, this is the MOST unbelievable story
Oct 09, 2007
Doesn't have much to do with my surgery and weight loss, but I just have to share, cause I am sooo excited. It is kind of a long story, but well worth the read (I think)
When I moved to Virginia Beach to help my son (a quadriplegic) attend Regent Law School, he researched different churches in the area and picked one in our 'denomination' (which is a non-denominational Christian Church) to go to the first Sunday we were here. When we got there, we both changed our minds and wanted to go somewhere else. Erica (my son's girlfriend) was driving, so she patiently drove down one street after another as we searched for a 'suitable' church that started at the right time (as it was getting late by this time) We finally found a Presbyterian church in Kempsville and decided to be Presbyterians for the day.
We all loved the worship service, the speaker, the music, just everything, so my son and I filled out visitor cards and went back the next Sunday. On my visitor card, I asked someone to call me. No one did. We went back the next Sunday, I filled out another visitor card asking someone to call me ..... but no one did. The third week, I wrote on the visitor card "Does anyone actually read these things.?" and on Wednesday night, a lady called me finally. She was actually a new member of the church and had been asking one of the staff for weeks if she could help out by calling new visitors. That week was the first week they had actually given her names to call.
We talked for almost an hour and during that time we found a commonality in that she had placed a daughter for adoption 43 years before and I had been adopted as an infant 54 years ago. She told me she had searched for her daughter ten years ago and found her and that was who had led her to the Lord. I asked how she found her and she said she had gone through an agency. I thought, Hmmmm, maybe I should try that. I had searched myself in 1984, and even had my birthmothers maiden name, married name and address at the time of my birth, but did not find her and dropped it.
I signed on with an agency Sept. 19 and a week later, they had found my birthmother. Unfortunately, she had passed away in October of 2005. I did find her obituary then and discovered I had 2 half sisters and a half brother. I wrote a letter, enclosed a picture of me with my family and sent it last Tuesday (oct 2) On the evening of Oct. 4, my youngest half-sister called me and we talked for an hour and a half!
She was soooo sweet and warm and welcoming. She had sent me an email too, but I hadn't opened it yet. She answered all my questions and is sending me an email everyday with a story about our mother. AND she is coming HERE to see me on October 30!! She will be here for my son's 28th birthday, which is so neat because my husband and older son can't make it. Nor can my son's girlfriend Erica, so we were going to have to celebrate it all alone, until my sister and her husband decided to fly down from Chicago. My other half-sister, who is only 2 years younger than me, called me from Minnesota on Friday evening and we also talked for over an hour.
Isn't it just absolutely amazing how God works?! I was sooo homesick here without my husband, my older son and my two golden retrievers, and all the time He was planning on leading me to my half-sisters and now I have all this excitement and joy and reunion to look forward to. God is good.
When I moved to Virginia Beach to help my son (a quadriplegic) attend Regent Law School, he researched different churches in the area and picked one in our 'denomination' (which is a non-denominational Christian Church) to go to the first Sunday we were here. When we got there, we both changed our minds and wanted to go somewhere else. Erica (my son's girlfriend) was driving, so she patiently drove down one street after another as we searched for a 'suitable' church that started at the right time (as it was getting late by this time) We finally found a Presbyterian church in Kempsville and decided to be Presbyterians for the day.
We all loved the worship service, the speaker, the music, just everything, so my son and I filled out visitor cards and went back the next Sunday. On my visitor card, I asked someone to call me. No one did. We went back the next Sunday, I filled out another visitor card asking someone to call me ..... but no one did. The third week, I wrote on the visitor card "Does anyone actually read these things.?" and on Wednesday night, a lady called me finally. She was actually a new member of the church and had been asking one of the staff for weeks if she could help out by calling new visitors. That week was the first week they had actually given her names to call.
We talked for almost an hour and during that time we found a commonality in that she had placed a daughter for adoption 43 years before and I had been adopted as an infant 54 years ago. She told me she had searched for her daughter ten years ago and found her and that was who had led her to the Lord. I asked how she found her and she said she had gone through an agency. I thought, Hmmmm, maybe I should try that. I had searched myself in 1984, and even had my birthmothers maiden name, married name and address at the time of my birth, but did not find her and dropped it.
I signed on with an agency Sept. 19 and a week later, they had found my birthmother. Unfortunately, she had passed away in October of 2005. I did find her obituary then and discovered I had 2 half sisters and a half brother. I wrote a letter, enclosed a picture of me with my family and sent it last Tuesday (oct 2) On the evening of Oct. 4, my youngest half-sister called me and we talked for an hour and a half!
She was soooo sweet and warm and welcoming. She had sent me an email too, but I hadn't opened it yet. She answered all my questions and is sending me an email everyday with a story about our mother. AND she is coming HERE to see me on October 30!! She will be here for my son's 28th birthday, which is so neat because my husband and older son can't make it. Nor can my son's girlfriend Erica, so we were going to have to celebrate it all alone, until my sister and her husband decided to fly down from Chicago. My other half-sister, who is only 2 years younger than me, called me from Minnesota on Friday evening and we also talked for over an hour.
Isn't it just absolutely amazing how God works?! I was sooo homesick here without my husband, my older son and my two golden retrievers, and all the time He was planning on leading me to my half-sisters and now I have all this excitement and joy and reunion to look forward to. God is good.
Almost forgot....
Sep 24, 2007
My son's book just came out!! He received the first shipment from the publisher on Friday. I am so proud of him, and it looks really great to see his name in print. If anyone wants more information, here is the website of the publisher: www.wipfandstock.com The name of his book is "By Any Other Name" and can be found under their new publications!
Wow - it has been a month since I posted!
Sep 24, 2007
Here's the latest scoop....
I have lost a total of 55 lbs now, gone down from a size 22 pants to 16 pants and size 20 tops & dresses to size 14 tops and dresses. I am finally in the regular size clothing stores and departments! Of course, now I can only find size 20 WP everywhere!!
I have had 3 notable WOW moments - the first was that my diamond necklace was too long! Within a week of surgery, I noticed my diamond on my necklace was not showing above my blouses anymore -- even the V-necked ones!!! I still haven't replaced it with a shorter chain, though, I am too busy trying to keep up with clothes.
The second WOW moment was really two, I guess, having to get my wedding rings re-sized, and my shoe size went down a half-size.
Then yesterday, my third WOW moment was in church as I -- get this -- CROSSED MY LEGS AT THE KNEE!!! I haven't been able to do that for at least 15 years, maybe more. Of course, now the orthopedists and circulatory specialists say you shouldn't cross your legs at the knee anyway, cause of bone problems and varicose veins, but oh well.....
I am finally settled in VA Beach and have found a wonderful church family and become part of a great Life Group there. There are so many connections with different people in my group it constantly amazes me. One man attended Culver Military Academy, just miles from my hometown, a woman who attends is close friends with a very special friend of mine back in Cincinnati that worked with me at the Pregnancy Care Center, and th e list goes on.
I feel like God is not only changing my "outside" drastically, He is working wonders on my "inside" also.
I have lost a total of 55 lbs now, gone down from a size 22 pants to 16 pants and size 20 tops & dresses to size 14 tops and dresses. I am finally in the regular size clothing stores and departments! Of course, now I can only find size 20 WP everywhere!!
I have had 3 notable WOW moments - the first was that my diamond necklace was too long! Within a week of surgery, I noticed my diamond on my necklace was not showing above my blouses anymore -- even the V-necked ones!!! I still haven't replaced it with a shorter chain, though, I am too busy trying to keep up with clothes.
The second WOW moment was really two, I guess, having to get my wedding rings re-sized, and my shoe size went down a half-size.
Then yesterday, my third WOW moment was in church as I -- get this -- CROSSED MY LEGS AT THE KNEE!!! I haven't been able to do that for at least 15 years, maybe more. Of course, now the orthopedists and circulatory specialists say you shouldn't cross your legs at the knee anyway, cause of bone problems and varicose veins, but oh well.....
I am finally settled in VA Beach and have found a wonderful church family and become part of a great Life Group there. There are so many connections with different people in my group it constantly amazes me. One man attended Culver Military Academy, just miles from my hometown, a woman who attends is close friends with a very special friend of mine back in Cincinnati that worked with me at the Pregnancy Care Center, and th e list goes on.
I feel like God is not only changing my "outside" drastically, He is working wonders on my "inside" also.
HELP! Can't get a surgeon in my new location!
Aug 19, 2007
Well, finally got moved into my 'new' apartment in Virginia Beach. And got my son moved into his new apartment at Regent Law School. Just suffice it to say one of the most traumatic moves in my life!! (And I have been through tons of moves!) My apartment had a terrible smokey smell nothing could get rid of, my husband and his helpers left about a week too soon and my son's girlfriend came to stay for a week before I was even settled in and had a routine set up. I didn't eat right, take my vitamins or supplements and had to lift and carry heavy stuff all over the place. Also, the roads in VA Beach are SO bumpy that I had to go back to wearing my binder to keep my insides from jarring out. I am now having some issues - pain, constipation, weakness, etc. etc. and can't get into the surgeon here because somehow my records got lost between Cincinnati and Norfolk. My son starts law school next week and I am his sole caregiver, so it is extremely important that I stay healthy. I am trying to get back on track with the vitamins and protein. and drink more water, but am still having to do a bunch of "move-in" type things... mainly finding shopping areas and stocking two apartments and getting a routine established. We did find a great church, however, so as long as I can keep focused on God and the reason I am here everything will turn out okay, right?? Pray for me.
Past 10 days....
Jul 22, 2007
Well, it finally happened... I had my first dumping syndrome! And what a place to do it.... here's the story....
I drove to Indianapolis last Tuesday (the 17th) -- a 2 hour drive -- to visit with my lifelong friends, Kaye and Linda and go to the Beef and Boards dinner theater on Tuesday night. At the dinner theater I did two no-no's... both inadvertently - I drank CAFFEINATED iced tea from a STRAW! I realized it about halfway through my glass and stopped, but I think the damage was already done. Also, I had this yummy cheese they put out before the buffet on a cracker, and I think it probably had too much fat in it. Anyway, about 20 mintues into the first half of the show I was in pain.... felt like a heart attack and nothing would relieve it... I even took a pain pill and when it went to work, then I not only felt bloated, gassy and like I was having a heart attack, I felt dizzy and light-headed. Finally I had to get up and leave the theater and walk around in the lobby for 20 minutes. Eased up enough to go back in and then drive us home from the show. Slept relatively well and got up the next morning and even walked for about 40 minutes.
On Wednesday, after having a lunch of chicken velvet soup (probably too much fat there, too) with my friends, I had to drive another 2 hours to my Mom's house in northern Indiana. Unfortunately, I left my food at my friend's house so I had to eat some chicken noodle soup at my Mom's house which had been made with her well water, which has always affected my adversely.
On Thursday, my Mom and I picked up my mother-in-law and we all headed back to Ohio for their postponed fourth of July visit. We stopped in Indianapolis to pick up my cooler and then, just outside of Indianapolis I started having bad cramps. We made it another 20 minutes to the Cracker Barrel where we were going to eat lunch, and when I lifted my Mom's wheelchair out of my trunk.. uh oh ... you guessed it.... diarrhea big time! Luckily, my suitcase with my clothes was right there in front of me and I got another outfit out and rushed into the restroom at C.B. to clean up and change. But gross, nasty, ugh, horrors. Honestly, 3 weeks constipated, then have an accident on the ROAD!!!!
Okay, well, it was not a good idea to do all that travelling at 3 weeks post-op, and it wasn't a great idea to have company for 4 days, especially when James' morning aide had decided to take her vacation those 4 days, leaving me with double shifts on top of company. And I have decided not to do the move to Virginia in one day like originially planned - it would be 11 to 12 hours in the car... so we are going to split the move up into two days. I have been feeling overwhelmed today about the move and going back to helping James full-time, and moving to a strange new place and leaving my husband and my dogs and living by myself. The only bright spot right now is that I have lost 30 lbs. , so I guess part of my plan is working!
I drove to Indianapolis last Tuesday (the 17th) -- a 2 hour drive -- to visit with my lifelong friends, Kaye and Linda and go to the Beef and Boards dinner theater on Tuesday night. At the dinner theater I did two no-no's... both inadvertently - I drank CAFFEINATED iced tea from a STRAW! I realized it about halfway through my glass and stopped, but I think the damage was already done. Also, I had this yummy cheese they put out before the buffet on a cracker, and I think it probably had too much fat in it. Anyway, about 20 mintues into the first half of the show I was in pain.... felt like a heart attack and nothing would relieve it... I even took a pain pill and when it went to work, then I not only felt bloated, gassy and like I was having a heart attack, I felt dizzy and light-headed. Finally I had to get up and leave the theater and walk around in the lobby for 20 minutes. Eased up enough to go back in and then drive us home from the show. Slept relatively well and got up the next morning and even walked for about 40 minutes.
On Wednesday, after having a lunch of chicken velvet soup (probably too much fat there, too) with my friends, I had to drive another 2 hours to my Mom's house in northern Indiana. Unfortunately, I left my food at my friend's house so I had to eat some chicken noodle soup at my Mom's house which had been made with her well water, which has always affected my adversely.
On Thursday, my Mom and I picked up my mother-in-law and we all headed back to Ohio for their postponed fourth of July visit. We stopped in Indianapolis to pick up my cooler and then, just outside of Indianapolis I started having bad cramps. We made it another 20 minutes to the Cracker Barrel where we were going to eat lunch, and when I lifted my Mom's wheelchair out of my trunk.. uh oh ... you guessed it.... diarrhea big time! Luckily, my suitcase with my clothes was right there in front of me and I got another outfit out and rushed into the restroom at C.B. to clean up and change. But gross, nasty, ugh, horrors. Honestly, 3 weeks constipated, then have an accident on the ROAD!!!!
Okay, well, it was not a good idea to do all that travelling at 3 weeks post-op, and it wasn't a great idea to have company for 4 days, especially when James' morning aide had decided to take her vacation those 4 days, leaving me with double shifts on top of company. And I have decided not to do the move to Virginia in one day like originially planned - it would be 11 to 12 hours in the car... so we are going to split the move up into two days. I have been feeling overwhelmed today about the move and going back to helping James full-time, and moving to a strange new place and leaving my husband and my dogs and living by myself. The only bright spot right now is that I have lost 30 lbs. , so I guess part of my plan is working!
Tuesday, July 10
Jul 10, 2007
Hurray! Two weeks post-op! Except there aren't any big changes for this stage - still on a pureed diet for at least a week - ugh. Today I felt kind of yucky all day. I think I may have overdone things yesterday - I went shopping for almost 2 hours, carried a bunch of stuff and then walked the dogs about a mile and a half at night. I took a pain pill last night and slept amazingly well, but didnt want to take another pain pill today and took an advil instead. By 9 p.m. I was really hurting so i took a pain pill and a shower and now I am feeling like my old self again. I don't know why I wait so long to take a pain pill, I guess I think two weeks after surgery I shouldn't be having any pain?? That is kind of crazy... So tomorrow I won't go as long before I take one.
I am still having trouble getting all my meals in. Have only had 4 today instead of 6 and it is 11:30 p.m. I made it on my fluids and proteins, though, so don't feel too bad about it. I ran some errands this morning which threw off my eating schedule. Then I had a nice visit with a friend which delayed my 'lunch' even further, so I got way behind. I had some pureed meat loaf with mashed potatoes for dinner and it made me a little nauseated, so am worrying about dumping tonight now. Haven't yet, and don't want to! lol
Monday, July 9, 2007
Jul 09, 2007
My shoulder pain eased up a lot during the night!! Praise the Lord! I even went from 2 a.m. this morning until 2 p.m. today without a pain pill, only took one advil around 4 a.m. and one Advil at 10 a.m. But my stomach is feeling really sore, my back hurts and I seem to be exceptionally tired today, so I went ahead and took the pain pill 2 p.m
Last night, when I looked over my eating/drinking for the day, I realized I was not getting enough meals and snacks in. Also, my protein was low for the day and even my fluid intake was only 60 oz (I had been getting between 64 - 80 oz a day in !) So I decided I needed to MAKE myself adhere to an eating schedule from now on.
I have to make myself eat, cause I am never hungry! I am doing better today. I am now eating my 'lunch' - my second meal of the day... and it looks awful!! however, I it tastes pretty good! It is 4 oz. pureed cottage cheese with 1 tablespoon of fresh (made yesterday, anyway) watermelon/lime puree. YUMMM. The only fly in the ointment is I have to wait 2 1/2 minutes between bites (annoying little beeper!)
I was going to walk my dogs today, but it is about 95 degrees out, and I am feeling really tired so don't think I would make it. I thought I might go into the neighbor's above ground pool for some exercise, but there is no one to watch and see if I am okay, so I guess I should wait until someone is around before going in for the first time since surgery. Also I just took a pain pill and figure swimming is operating large machinery!!
Last night, when I looked over my eating/drinking for the day, I realized I was not getting enough meals and snacks in. Also, my protein was low for the day and even my fluid intake was only 60 oz (I had been getting between 64 - 80 oz a day in !) So I decided I needed to MAKE myself adhere to an eating schedule from now on.
I have to make myself eat, cause I am never hungry! I am doing better today. I am now eating my 'lunch' - my second meal of the day... and it looks awful!! however, I it tastes pretty good! It is 4 oz. pureed cottage cheese with 1 tablespoon of fresh (made yesterday, anyway) watermelon/lime puree. YUMMM. The only fly in the ointment is I have to wait 2 1/2 minutes between bites (annoying little beeper!)
I was going to walk my dogs today, but it is about 95 degrees out, and I am feeling really tired so don't think I would make it. I thought I might go into the neighbor's above ground pool for some exercise, but there is no one to watch and see if I am okay, so I guess I should wait until someone is around before going in for the first time since surgery. Also I just took a pain pill and figure swimming is operating large machinery!!
Friday, July 6, 2007
Jul 09, 2007
Well, everything was going extra smoothly until today... I woke up with a pain in my left shoulder/upper chest area which got worse as time went on. I figured it was just some more of that irritating gas they fill you up with for laparoscopic procedures, but wondered why it had gotten so much worse so long after my actual surgery! I tried walking, heat, exercising my left arm (as much as possible, since it killed me to move that shoulder!), even took a pain pill which upset me cause I was down to only 2 pain pills a day - one at bedtime and one early morning.
When the pain pill didnt even seem to lessen the pain, I called the doctor and he said for me to go to Deaconess' Emergency Room to get a cat scan of the abdomen. My hubby was mowing the lawn (finally, after having catered to me all week!) so I didn't want to bother him and drove myself the 30 miles down the interstate to the hospital. Needless to say, my blood pressure was higher than it had been since before my pre-op diet by the time I got down there!!!
After I got checked in they asked me to drink over 6 ounces of nasty contrast material. I said "My stomach pouch only holds 3 ounces!" and they said, yeah, they knew, that the doctor ordered this amount specifically to 'stretch things' I knew the sooner I got it down, the sooner we would know something, so I chugged away.
Well, the good news is that my surgery site looks fine! No leaks anywhere! AND all my blood tests were A-OK, stone cold normal. The bad news, of course, is we don't know what is causing the pain, and, therefore, don't know what to do about it. My surgeon suggested staying on the pain pills, but adding liquid gel Advil capsules in between the pain pills to help with the possible irritation caused by the operation gas. So, guess I am back on the 1 pain pill every 6 hours again. Hope it controls the pain.
When the pain pill didnt even seem to lessen the pain, I called the doctor and he said for me to go to Deaconess' Emergency Room to get a cat scan of the abdomen. My hubby was mowing the lawn (finally, after having catered to me all week!) so I didn't want to bother him and drove myself the 30 miles down the interstate to the hospital. Needless to say, my blood pressure was higher than it had been since before my pre-op diet by the time I got down there!!!
After I got checked in they asked me to drink over 6 ounces of nasty contrast material. I said "My stomach pouch only holds 3 ounces!" and they said, yeah, they knew, that the doctor ordered this amount specifically to 'stretch things' I knew the sooner I got it down, the sooner we would know something, so I chugged away.
Well, the good news is that my surgery site looks fine! No leaks anywhere! AND all my blood tests were A-OK, stone cold normal. The bad news, of course, is we don't know what is causing the pain, and, therefore, don't know what to do about it. My surgeon suggested staying on the pain pills, but adding liquid gel Advil capsules in between the pain pills to help with the possible irritation caused by the operation gas. So, guess I am back on the 1 pain pill every 6 hours again. Hope it controls the pain.
About Me
OH
Location
42.4
BMI
Surgery
06/26/2007
Surgery Date
Jun 29, 2007
Member Since
