Saturday, January 31, 2009
So it's been a while...
Grandma had her second surgery on January 26. This time, she is experiencing more postop pain and had some more trouble coming out of the anesthesia. Her CT scan is scheduled for February 11, so we are really sitting on pins and needles waiting for the results of that scan. Hopefully this will bring good news for Grandma...it will be the first time in a long time that she's received good news about her health.
Brittany also got some pretty crummy news about her situation...the surgeon that her doctor referred her to is not willing to operate. I'm not sure what her plan is or who else she has appointments scheduled with, but I do know that this is very hard on her. I'll post any new information on her situation as it comes my way...
Here's to high hopes of February bringing good health our way! Please continue to pray for us all including my parents as all our situations and their associated stresses are starting to take their tolls...
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Another Health Update
Brittany's situation hasn't really changed since last time. We are still in limbo until she speaks directly with her surgeon about setting up a date to remove the scar-tissue mass in her liver and her spleen, which they estimate to be about 10 pounds by now. As a comparison, the average adult human spleen is about half a pound. She is still in a lot of pain and is very anxious to visit with the surgeon, so please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
As for myself, I had an appointment with a dermatologist on Monday. My surgeon was worried about one spot on my back, which turned out to be fine, but the dermatologist did find another one which she chose to remove and biopsy. I was so proud of myself because I did not pass out when they numbed me up with the injection! However...I certainly did pass out as soon as I got up. I made it through the needles and the razor blade and patching me all up...but when I got up to leave...I only made it to the front desk. Then, I had to be carried to a room where they gave me a bed to lay on and wouldn't let me leave for about 30 minutes which is when my color finally came back. That was probably the most action that dermatologist's office has seen in quite some time! The poor girl behind the front desk was pregnant and had just had minor surgery, so she was doing well just to be at work. I probably scared the daylights out of her! Ryan (who absolutely hates blood and guts and stuff) is having to change my dressing everyday because it's on my back...poor guy. But I'm healing up nicely and he only has a few days left. We should find out the results of the biopsy next week sometime. The other thing is that I have my lumpectomy on Friday, and I'm totally freaked out. I have a pre-op appointment on Thursday afternoon at which they will be drawing blood...at least these guys are at a hospital and it's not too out of the ordinary when I pass out. Then there's the anesthesia/surgery thing...I'm not a fan, but know that I really have to do this. At least I get to take a few days off work, right? Sorry, I crack jokes sometimes when I'm uncomfortable. Please pray for me! I do want to thank everyone who has offered to help us during this time and thank mom and dad for going to the hospital with us that day...it really means more than you know. Hopefully it will go smoothly and as planned. I'll be much better once it's over and I'm back home!
For each of our situations and for those not mentioned, we just have to keep our faith strong and be grateful for the good people in our lives to help us through these situations.
Happy Birthday!
Our Future Olympic Gymnast
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
A Relaxing Weekend...
Sunday, we went to church and to lunch. We had planned on going to the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, but were sadly mistaken and it doesn't start until NEXT weekend! Upon that sad news, Ryan and I went home to tidy up a little, then he headed back to the golf course for some more practice and I took the pups on a 4-mile walk, then spent about an hour at the dog park with our Husky/Wolf mix friend named Kota. Goosey got scared when some dogs started getting a little too rough, so she was actually the one to tell us that it was time to go home! Normally Mav gets tired or Ryan and I are ready and we have to nearly corner Goosey in order to leave, so this was a welcome change of pace. We had dinner brough in again that evening and just watched a little TV until it was time for bed...oh how relaxing it was! We were definitely ready to get the week started off on a good, rested note. Hope everyone has a good week!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
A Health Update
On Tuesday, Ryan, my mom, and I had a meeting with my surgeon to set up my own lumpectomy for later this month. I'm very blessed by the fact that my tumor is not malignant, but nonetheless, the surgeon still highly recommended that it be removed as soon as possible. The surgeon did also find another much smaller mass, but it appears to be either internal scar tissue or fibro-cystic, so it will not need to be removed-thank goodness!
Brittany is doing all right, but she is in quite a bit of discomfort and the people in her household seem to be either passing around pneumonia or just coincidentally coming down with it at the same time, so please continue to pray for her health.
Please also keep my mom in your prayers-she has a lot on her plate at the moment!
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Brittany and Grandma Update
It was nearly unbelievable when my sister called the other day and let us know that the biopsy showed that the mass in her liver was not malignant. They are not going to have to put her through chemo/radiation (her health is already in a fragile state) and they're not going to have to do a liver transplant. That was just absolutely wonderful news! They're still going to remove her spleen as it swells and causes her a lot of pain, but that is most certainly better than having a liver transplant. Please continue to pray for her as she goes through the consults with her doctors and gets her treatment plans set up.
As for Grandma, her mastectomy is tomorrow, so please keep her and my Grandpa in your prayers. I will let you all know how she is doing later this week.
Ringing in 2009
Ryan would prefer not to share his resolutions for the new year, and I don't really like to make "resolutions" for the new year, but maybe "goals" instead. Here are my "goals" for 2009:
1. RELAX! Last year, we had the wedding (and showers, rehearsal, honeymoon, etc.), a trip to the ER with a certain cooking incident and consequent days home in bed-rest, my college graduation, both of us got new jobs, we moved from Austin back to Dallas, and really tried to do anything and everything that we could once we got back. I want to sit back this year and enjoy life and all the blessings we've been given!
2. Pay closer attention to the way I treat my own body. Whether it's the foods that I put in my body, the amount and types of exercise I am getting, or the way that I am treating myself in a more spiritual/emotional way (including the way I let stress effect me), I want to pay better attention to what effects these things are having on me. I think this will encourage me to make more time for myself and to treat my body better.
3. Keep up with this blog and/or a scrapbook!