Lets try this again

I got the official word that I get to go home today. They are trying to get everything together so that I can get home by 2 so home health can come in and give me my afternoon IVs. I really need to go buy food so I hopefully we will have time to make a wal-mart stop first. The biggest trick will be not to come back till my final surgery and to get out fast after that...we will see :)

Not Today

Melissa doesn't get to go home today. Her White cell count has gone up a little. They are giving her antifungal meds now. Perhaps tomorrow.

Good News

Melissa is starting to do better. They changed the antibiotic and the white cell count has started to drop. It has gone down 5 points each of the last two days. They want it down some more before they will let her go home but perhaps in a day or two.

She is having a pic line put in today because the antibiotic is so strong it is hard on the veins. She may have to come home with it to finish the meds. the doctor told her she will need to take it for longer than she would be in the hospital if she gets to go home soon. We can handle that with a home health care nurse. We did last year.

She is eating alot, like every two hours she is hungry. She is always talking about food. She even took a trip to the cafeteria last night between 1:00 and 3:00am.

I'm back

I finally got bored enough to get out my computer on my own. I have been running a low grade temp today. I think I have probably had it for a while but the thermometer in my room has been broke and they just got it fixed today.

The Doc said that if I wasn't feeling any better in the morning they would do another CT and see whats going on. He asked me if I wanted to go home and I told him I did, I just didn't want to have to come back so they kept me.

Like mom said, eating is no longer a problem for me. I have been eating between meals like crazy. For some reason I have been craving salt and cheese so logically nachos sounds good all the time so if you come to see me bring taco bell :)

One Month

It has been one month since Melissa's first surgery. She is doing ok after the last procedure. She thought she was going to get to go home today but she is in some pain and her white cell count is up and her hemoglobin is down. The doctor wants to keep her rather than sending her home and her coming back.

She is eating well. In fact it seems like it takes a lot to feel her up.

Melissa had her procedure done this afternoon. They drained the abscess and put in a larger drainage tube that is draining to the outside. The tech said the ultasound of her gall bladder looks fine but haven't heard anything from the doctor.

Her appetite is back. She is feeling pretty good. We have no guess as to how much longer she will be in the hospital. They want to make sure this works.

Melissa will have a procedure done again tomorrow. They did a CT scan today. The doctor doesn't think the abscess is shrinking like it should. He also thinks there is some thickening around the gall bladder. That may be caused by an infection or inflammation. They are going to do an ultrasound for that tomorrow also.

otherwise she is doing ok except for the pain that they think is more than it should be.

Repeat record. Melissa is still in the hospital. She is eating and drinking better now. She does have some back pain and belly pain.

Melissa had her third surgery today. Although perhaps the last two are more like procedures. They drained the abscess again and put in a stitch to hold the drain tube in place. It was quick and she was back in her room by 10 am when she got some pain meds and hasn't had any since then. She is eating well.

The surgeon says this shouldn't change the time line for having the reconnect done but we shall see. She is very ready to have it done.

Back to the hospital

Melissa is back in the hospital. She was in a lot of pain and running a fever this morninig so she called the doctor. He sent her to the hospital for a CT scan. Short story is they kept her and are going in tomorrow to drain the abscess and put in a larger drain.

She loves the pain killers. That is what is getting her through things right now.

Please remember her in prayer that God will guide the surgeon's hands, give him the knowledge of how to treat her, help Melissa to heal and regain her strength. Also pray for Ronnie and I. It is hard to see your baby hurting and feeling miserable day after day.

Here we go again

Melissa got to come home today, but is already feeling bad. We only made it as far as Kingdom City before she felt a little sick. At Wal-mart she started feeling really bad. She plans on calling the doctor's office in the morning if she is not feeling any better.

She had been eating well before this. The drive home didn't bother her like previous drives had.

It just seems like it is one step forward and two steps back. We know it is in God's time but sometimes I wish He would hurry up. I hate seeing her miserable.

Pain Levels Are Down

I am going to give up saying when she is coming home. She is still in the hospital because her hemoglobin count was down to where they were starting to think transfusion. They did another stick this afternoon and it is back up. She is still bleeding but they think it is partially from the abscess draining through the j-pouch. They put in a drainage tube. She should pass that later.

Her pain level is way down and she is feeling much better.

Update

Melissa is not coming home today. The doctor wants to keep her because she has some rectal bleeding. It is not much and he is not real concerned but enough to want to keep an eye on her.

Thank you for the prayers, cards, visits and phone calls. They are much appreciated. We do know that God answers prayer.

ER and Surgery

Melissa went to the ER this morning (Sunday) after calling and talking with the surgeon. She was running a fever of 101.9. After blood work and a CT scan the doctor's suspicions was confirmed. Melissa had an abscess behind her J-pouch. She was taken to surgery and had the abscess drained. It only took about 15-20 minutes. She woke up and said that her back did not hurt as much. She does have a really bad headache but they think it is caused by the anesthesia. Her stomach area has started to hurt and she will talk to the doctor tomorrow about causes. She should come home on Monday if all goes well.

Update from Mom again

Melissa stayed with us a couple of days and then went home on July 4 declaring her independence. A friend came and stayed with her a couple of days.

Melissa is still not feeling very spry. Her back and hips have been hurting her since before surgery. She went to the chiropractor Thursday where they tried something called FMS since they cannot do a manual adjustment on her. She has run a fever the last two nights which is apparently not uncommon. She can't tell that it did her back any good but her stomach is not hurting.

She actually hasn't had any pain pills in over 24 hours. If she can stomp her foot without it hurting she can drive. I think she is starting to get a little bored but doesn't feel like doing anything.

Hopefully she will soon feel like getting on and let you know herself how she is doing.

Home Sweet Hme

Melissa has been home now for over 24 hours. She is having trouble being comfortable. She has had two blowouts for some reason today and had to change the whole bag system. She is getting quite good at it. She commented that she is also losing the water weight she put on. Her legs do look skinny now. She is having some gas pain but sleep and the pain pills seem to help.

She hated the ride home yesterday. She felt every bump in the road, especially the gravel road, which I took very, very, very slowly. On the way home she had a Junior McFlurry and then had her pizza for supper. More food than she had eaten in a long time. Today she didn't hardly eat anything.

I know that we will look back on this time and think it went very quickly but right now it seems very slow. God will get us through it. We just have to walk through the rough times with Him at our sides or carrying us as the poem "Footprints in the Sand" says.

It's really Happening!!!!!!

Melissa is going home.

She is pooping well which is part of what they were waiting to happen. She is having some problems with gas pains today but is up and walking. They are going to take out her central line and her 14 staples before she leaves. She will not need to go back to the doctor for a month.

She is more interested in food than she has been. She just doesn't eat much at a time. She did have Drew bring her some chicken nuggets and fries last night. She was able to eat 4 nuggets and a few fries. Her first meal at home is a cheap Totino's pizza with added cheese. This is what she is requesting.

It is so good to see her finally feeling better. She is not nearly 100% but she is working her way there. An answer to our prayers.