When it Rains it Pours--but it could be SO much worse!!

I just wanted to give a quick update as to why I haven't posted in so long. I almost hesitate to do so because it is really going to seem like I am being very negative. Here it is--the latest at our house. Most of you already know that because I lifeguarded throughout college and refused to wear sunscreen, I am paying the price now. I struggle with skin cancer. Fortunately it is NOT melanoma. I have developed a really serious anxiety over anything dealing with dermatology after a botched surgery in 2000. All this being said, I was working my way past the anxiety and finally came to the realization that ignoring suspicious spots does not mean they will just go away, and that the sooner I go get them looked at, perhaps the less invasive the treatment. In February I went and had my dr. look at a spot on my forehead (right near my hairline). She referred me to Houston to have it removed (by the same Dr. who had taken a spot off of my nose last year). No big deal--right?? Jason took off work to take me to Houston for the procedure last Monday. They do NOT put me under, they just inject me with numbing medicine. All went well, they stitched me up (30 stitches on the forehead might I say) and we were on our way. We made it home, I slept and then things went CRAZY. I began to be sick to my stomach from the pain (because--oh yeah--did I mention that they told me Tylenol for pain??) --I mean why not sugar pills? (I should insert here the fact that I have an incredibly LOW pain tolerance.) It does not bother me at all to admit this, because in a day where we can practically clone a human, any procedure and recovery should be able to be made painless--RIGHT?) So--I am sick to my stomach for a couple of days. Jason called the Dr and asked them to call me in something for pain. Enter Darvoset!! WHATEVER!! Even more violent vomitting. Did I mention I have 30 stitches in my forehead?? We finally get some medicine for nausea. Basically I think it might have been glorified sleeping pills (not really)_ but the sleep was WONDERFUL. By Thursday I was finally thinking I might survive! Then Thursday night I woke up several times feeling like I had something in my right eye. (My incision is on the top left of my forehead). In my sleep I was just thinking I would wake up with pink eye and I could just feel the goop. (Nice--I know!!) When I woke up Friday morning and looked in the mirror, there was nothing in my eye, but I looked like I had been in some kind of a fight. My whole face was swollen--my eyes nearly swollen shut. When I removed my bandage I discovered something that let me know it indeed was infected. I will spare you the ymuuy details. After several calls to doctors, we went to see my regular doc in Bryan. He had to remove some of the stitches and DRAIN it!!!! Then he gave me 2 different very strong antibiotics and sent us on our way--but not before telling Jason that my incision would need to be drained at least 2 times a day!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? So--my sweet and wonderful husband gets the LIFETIME Husband of the Year Award. He was wonderful to do all of this in addition to taking care of the kids, the house, the laundry and all of the other "stuff" that I normally do. As I write this, it seems as if the infection is cleared. I will continue on the antibiotics until they are finished--which is a nightmare in itself--they don't make enough yogurt to combat this stuff!! TMI--I know!! Anyway--that is how things are here. I am really feeling better and am hoping to be back to regular blogging soon!!

I'm Still Here

I know I have been a terrible blogger. Things have been crazy to say the least. I am posting this for 2 reasons. First so you can know why I haven't post in so long, and secondly to ask you to pray for our family. On Wednesday, Feb. 25th, I got a call while I was at Church that my grandmother had suffered a stroke. I wasn't that worried at the time, but decided I would head over to see her. She was also having seizures--which she has never had before. I was unprepared--to say the least--to see her. She looked terrible. It was a LONG night. The doctor told us it was a massive stroke and she wouldn't be surprised if she didn't survive the night. Well--here we are a little over a week later and she has done much more than just survive. Initially it seemed as though she would be paralyzed on her left side and that her speech would be permenantly affected. She has surprised everyone. She now has movement of her entire body and has regained her speech. She remains somewhat confused, but even that seems to be progressing. This has been very hard on everyone. She and my grandfather will celebrate their 62nd wedding anniversary on the 14th of this month. As you can imagine, this is hard on him as well. Yesterday they moved her to a nursing home. There she will receive therapy and hopefully regain her strength enough to return home. Will you please pray for our family? More than anything, I do not want her to feel alone, or that we put her in a nursing home to die. I will post again when things calm down somewhat!