Thank you

I want to thank everyone again. How overwhelming and humbling to know that many people are reading this blog and even more importantly, praying for my family and I! We are just amazed, grateful and humbled by the support that so many have shown us through prayers, bringing so many meals, visiting, sending flowers and many other gifts and encouraging words. I have received so many encouraging cards and emails as well as very encouraging comments on this blog.

The Lord has given us a difficult path to follow but we are thankful and grateful for the provisions that He has given us along the way. We have been incredibly blessed by support by so many friends, relatives and through people that we don't know. I wish I could thank each one of you individually for your kindness to us and even more importantly for your prayers. Since I can't do that, please know that I really appreciate every single one of you!

Now to answer how I am doing. It seems that I have a few pretty good days and then a few that I don't feel as well. Yesterday and today haven't been as great. I suspect that might just happen as I continue to move forward, but I think I am still going forward. I continue to really try to focus on appreciating the moment and day that I am in and I don't let myself dwell much on the future because that is rather daunting. I have been able to get out a little more and that is a blessing. Small things really tickle me! :)

Musical and 2 more weeks. . .

I think I turned another corner yesterday in the right direction. I have been able to reduce my pain meds quite a bit and am feeling better! I still have a long ways to go, but each little improvement seems like such a milestone!

Yesterday I was able to go to Tanner's musical and it was awesome. I was so proud of him and all the kids and so very, very thankful that I was able to attend. I will admit that it was exhausting and I'm not moving much this morning, but that's ok.

I am feeling very hopeful that this most recently surgery will "work." However, the next 2 weeks seem critical to me. The first shunt I felt very good but started getting a glimmer of a headache at about 3-4 weeks post surgery. I was three weeks post surgery on Monday and am still doing well and feeling that if I can get another 2 weeks of feeling good behind me that it is more likely that this will be a longer-lasting fix. The doctor said I really needed to get 4-6 months to feel that I was going to be relieved indefinitely so I know that I won't be out of the woods yet in two weeks. I will have more confidence in it, though, and will feel a little more hopeful about making plans beyond the day I am in.

The ringing in my ears and occasional abdominal pain continue to bother me.

Church & Three Weeks

I made it to church last night and what a blessing! I think I cried through nearly half of it. We started with a song service and sang "Great is thy Faithfulness" and "What a Friend we have in Jesus" and then to top it off my favorite "When Peace Like a River". I hadn't thought of the emotions of going until we started singing and then I couldn't shut off the faucet. :) Until the privilege of worshipping together is taken away I think you often don't realize what a privilege it is. Enjoy and appreciate the privilege!

By the time the service was done I was pretty tired, but it was very well worth the tiredness. Tuesday night Tanner is in a musical and I hope to attend that as well.

Today it has been 3 weeks since my most recent surgery. This is a time of concern because I did really well for about 3-4 weeks after my first shunt was placed before I started going downhill. Please continue to pray that I continue to improve and not have a recurrence. Thanks! :)

Snowy day!

It is sad to say that it is a snowy day in April, but the good thing is it can't last long. I had hoped to attend church this morning but it was cancelled due to weather so we are having a quiet day at home. Maybe tonight?

Yesterday was a difficult day. I became more nauseated and was felt "headachey". Terrifying! Today I am feeling better--for which we are thankful. This is the second time since my most recent surgery that I have had a day like that when a storm was moving in so I am beginning to wonder if that is affecting me. We are going to start tracking barometric pressure for a while and see what we find.

I want to just mention again that I appreciate so much the support and kindness that so many have shown our family. Thank you! I pray that each of you enjoy a rich sabbath blessing.

Quick update

More of the same today but I think the nausea is gradually improving! The spring weather is so wonderful--hard to believe we are supposed to get around 14 inches of snow tomorrow! I can't say I am too ready for that!

My ears are continuing to ring and sometimes seem like it is getting a little louder. That by itself is something I can easily deal with but it does really make me nervous. That has just never been a good sign for me--but the headaches are still gone so I need to rest in that. Most of the time I can do that but I do have moments of sheer terror, wondering how I could live in that headache again.

Another day. . .

Today has really been more of the same. It seems that the pain in my lower abdomin is a little more frequent and stronger, but I really think that will go away with time. The nausea is still bothering me but not quite as much today. I can tell that I am getting better, though, because I am starting to think more about things--like the office. I am not nearly well enough to get back into the swing of things but yet it is bothering me that I am not doing all the things that I normally do both at home and at work. Last night I tried to iron a couple things and pretty much layed me out flat the rest of the night--miserable. I thought that would be a non-strenous job! :)

I would really enjoy visitors if anyone has a few extra minutes in their days ahead. So far I am not able to do much yet but my mind is working much better which makes it more difficult to be here by myself so much of the time.

Better

I am feeling better again and am so thankful. The nausea has continued to plague me again but whatever struck Sunday evening seems to have ebbed away. I have been taking it very easy, though, and not doing my normal walking through the house and little exercises that I had started doing a few days before. Maybe my body needs a little more time before it is ready for that. It is always a fine line between how much to rest and how much to push to start strengthening again, but I am erring in the rest side again for a short time.