Mom, Mother, Moeder, Mutter, Madre, and Maman!

"My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it."

Mark Twain

No matter how you say it she is my mom and I am thankful for her.  She has been my best friend and a rock for my whole life and now I get the pleasure of seeing her as a grandmother and being able to share her love with my children. I always get a little smile on my face every time Jude asks if we can go to see his Arizona Grrmama.  I am glad that my children love her as much as I do!

My mother had a lot to put up with as I was growing up, I know this comes as a surprise but I was a little bit of a headache growing up and we went through many, many, many growing pains together.  The best part of it is that no matter how much I may have tried to push them away or no matter how bad I screwed up my mom was always right there standing by my side loving me and supporting me.  

My mother has been there for me when I would wake up in the middle of then night crying because my legs hurt so bad from growing pains and she also was the one walking around with me outside in the middle of the night because I had croup so bad that we had to try to get out in to the cold air.  My mother dealt with me coming home in jeans that were so big you could have smuggled a family in them and also my multiple, multiple hair colors, piercings and tattoos.  Still no matter what my mother always came to me and told me "I Love You!"

We have had yelling matches in high school about how mean she was and how I was never going to live up to her expectations but here I sit today thankful that she never gave up and had such high expectations for me because I am the man I am today because of my mom.  She is one of the first people I call when things are going tough and she is always there with an open ear and allows me to vent and also will try to make me laugh. I remember when I had my Ostomy surgery in January my mom sat next to my bed and rubbed my arm while I was running a fever and was in pain so I could go to sleep, see even at 31 I needed my mom.   I would not be half the man I am today without my mother.  You can call me a mamma's boy all you want I will always be thankful and attached to my mom.  

Its funny I was listening to a song by Slim Cessna's Auto Club the other day "Children of the Lord" it takes a part from the Sunday School Song.  It has a part in it that goes "Rise and shine and give God the Glory, Glory" and I had to laugh some while singing this because I couldn't do anything but think of my mom singing this to me while I yelled at her to go away while I was trying to sleep!  Thank you mom! I love you more than I could ever tell you!  

How Am I Supposed to Go Swimming?

When I was told that I was going to be getting a permanent Ileostomy I had many questions.  One of those questions was how am I going to go swimming?

I mean really think about it I have a "Bag" attached to my stomach with just adhesive and lets not even go into what it is full of:)  I was so nervous about how am I going to go swimming again.  This was a big thing for me I love swimming and my parents live in Arizona so we go swimming every time we are down there.  Lets be honest who wants to be in Arizona in July and not be in a pool, not this guy!

When I was first told about my Ileostomy I began doing some research on different types of wraps and things that people use to have what they call a "normal" life.  I do wear a wrap every day to keep my Ileostomy closer to my stomach so it doesn't show as much and also makes it easier to wear dress pants but think of this wrap as a tube top that I wear on my stomach.  It more or less holds it there but doesn't do much else from there.  

This is when I stumbled upon an AWESOME company called Stealth Belt (www.stealthbelt.com).  This belt is amazing.  It holds my Ileostomy in a little pouch that is held very tightly against me by Velcro straps.  So it doesn't just cover my Ileostomy it actually holds it while I am doing active things.  Also it is made from the same material as swim suits so I can wear it to go swimming.  How awesome is that.  The other thing that I love about this wrap is that it is much smaller than my day in and day out wrap so when I do have my shirt off for swimming it is not as big of a deal.  

They do make the Stealth Belt in a variety of different styles and also patterns so one can wear it no matter the occasion.  The other thing that I love about my stealth belt, especially as I am now hoping to get back to working out, is that because of its design it also is a hernia support.  This is a huge deal when you have an ostomy.  The Stealth Belt can be found at www.stealthbelt.com and it is easy to measure yourself for it and get it ordered right away.

 

Here is a picture me wearing the Stealth Belt prior to going swimming with Teagan for her swim lessons.  This is an amazing belt and it has made me feel comfortable enough to go swimming again.  I cannot wait to put it to good use this summer when we go to Glenwood Springs with my family and Jude and I go down the water slide together.  

Please pass this information on to anyone you know that has an ostomy or my be facing a future with one.  The more we know the more comfortable we are.  I know this was something that scared me at first when thinking about having a permanent Ileostomy.  

Disclosure:  I was provided with a FREE Stealth Belt in exchange for a product review. However, all the opinions expressed here are my own.

The Things That They Can Do with Surgery Amaze Me!

So I am going in for another surgery on December 12^th, 2013 at 7:30am to have a reconstructive surgery done.  I have been going to the doctor almost daily since January 9^th due to having a wound post-surgery that would not heal.  We have tried EVERYTHING to have this wound healed but my body is saying Nope I don’t think so! 

My body has been acting this way for a while now so it is not a surprise that it would go ahead and decide to do it now but we gave it a lot of time.  This week I hit my 300^th doctor visit this year.  That is a lot I know the nurses on a first name basis and I bet if you ask them they have seen way more of me than anybody ever wants to see.  

When they do a proctocolectomy they remove the rectal stump because you do not need it any more they give you as we in the ostomy call it an action figure butt or a Barbie butt.  You know the kind that is there but completely closed up and serves no function?  Well that was supposed to happen to me, you have no idea how happy I was to have a GI Joe butt, come on my wife would love a GI Joe butt right?

Well my body decided not to heal the wound so instead of GI Joe butt I went back to a complete dysfunctional butt that would not heal.  I have a six inch by 1.5 inch cavity that will not heal or close up. So that means going in daily to have the wound packed with gauze to try and keep it from closing up too quick and causing an abscess to form.  So not only do I have to go in daily what they do to me is not pleasant by any means.  Luckily I have had some very amazing nurses and doctors who have been trying to provide the best care for me possible.

So with this surgery I will be a human jigsaw puzzle as I like to call it but I am so thankful that they are doing it so that I can hopefully be healed and moving forward.  They are going to use the two small muscles on the inside of my inner thigh the Gracilis Muscle to pull through the wound and fill the cavity and then allow my body to just heal the outside wounds.

Here is a wonderful write up about it on Wikipedia:)

 

The gracilis muscle is commonly used as a flap in microsurgery. According to the classification of Mathes and Nahai, it presents a type II blood supply, allowing it to be transferred on its artery derived from the medial circumflex femoral artery. This artery enters the muscle about 10 cm from the pubic symphysis. At this point (or 1 cm proximal) the nerve also enters.

Gracilis muscle is widely used in reconstructive surgery, either as a pedicled flap or as a free microsurgical flap. Both pedicled and free flaps can be muscular or musculocutaneos (the so- called "composite flaps"). As a pedicled flap, gracilis muscle can be used in perineal and vaginal reconstruction, after oncological surgery, in the treatment of recurrent anovaginal and rectovaginal fistulas as well in the coverage of the neurovascular bundle after vascular surgery.^[3]

As a functioning pedicled flap, the gracilis muscle can be transferred for the treatment of anal incontinence. This technique called graciloplasty was described in the 1950s by Pickrell and was revolutionized in the late 1980s by the introduction of chronic muscle electro-stimulation. The gracilis microsurgical free flap is commonly used in the reconstruction of upper and lower limbs, in breast reconstruction and – as a free functioning flap – to restore forearm function or in dynamic reconstruction of facial paralysis.Gracilis Muscles Clinical Role

So I only have 20 more daily visits to get through and then we will have surgery so please keep my family in your prayers as we go through one more but hopefully this will be the last one!

Daddy why do you have a bag?

Dad you have a bag?  This is a question that I hear pretty frequently now a day from my son Jude!  He knows that I have an ileostomy and that I now wear a bag on my stomach.  He always asks why do you have a bag?  I have to explain to him that daddy was sick in his tummy but that this has made daddy feel better.  He then goes into to explain to me that I have poop in my bag.  I am glad he at least knows what is going on with itJ

 

These are the things that you have to deal with sometimes when you are an ostomate and a parent.  It has been a pretty large life change for the past 6 months.  I went in to the hospital on January 9^th for my surgery and I have been living with my "bag" ever since, and will be living with it for the rest of my life. 

 

Physically I have been feeling better up until recently.  My wound had healed to the point that I didn't have to go to the doctor daily anymore on May 16^th, but then in the first week of June I had problems with it. They just thought that it was something minor but I went in on the 12^th of July and the wound has reopened.  We are not sure why but I have to go in daily again to have a nurse pack the wound with dressing.  Let me tell you it is a BLAST!  Not only did this take a hit on my physically but I would say more so emotionally and mentally.  It is hard dealing with this wound that does not appear to be healing.  Overall though physically I am much better.  I am able to go out and do things with everyone without having to worry about being sick.  I do have to worry about bags coming off or leaking oh and the fun alien noises it makes but so far those have been far less common then when I was really sick and in a flair.  It is nice being able to plan to use the bathroom besides having to run to the bathroom while squeezing your butt cheeks together praying to all that is holy that you make it in time!

 

I am able to wrestle around with Jude but he knows that he has to be careful of my tummy because I have a bag.  It is an experience trying to potty train a little boy and living with an ostomy because things are done so much differently than how he does things.  He is just very curious about it but is not shy about telling people about my bag or wanting to see my bag in public, yeah that’s a fun one!

 

Mentally I feel that it has been harder than anything else.  If you have spent much time with me you know that I can be a little obsessive compulsive but I am constantly checking my back to make sure it is not leaking.  It can get annoying for others and for myself.  I also have not been dealing well with the self-esteem pieces. This will come and I know it and I am working with a counselor for it but it is a hard thing to deal with having a "shit bag" attached to your stomach every day.  There are days that I am angry at having to have it but I am trying to remain positive and remember that I am healthier with a bag than I was without one.  Overall the past six months have been an up and down roller coaster at times but I am glad that I can smile with Jude when he walks up and wants to see my bag or says why do you have a bag?  I want a bag too daddy! And I can smile at him and say I hope he doesn't but knowing that love makes it worth it!

Trying to Get Back in a Routine!

How is it April already?

 This month was supposed to be my first month back to work after my surgery!  I had all these grandiose plans of getting back into a routine and just moving forward, we all know how well that has been working! 

 

I went back to work for two weeks and then ended up in the hospital for another week which mentally set me back and we had to keep moving forward at this point.  I went in for another surgery for them to clean the wound and then was discharged thankfully and able to return home.

 

So I decided to start again this week and we were going to get back to a routine.  Luckily I survived this week despite some saddening news at this point in my recovery.  So I have been meeting with my regular surgeon every week and he told me that at this point he is seeing limited healing in the wound, the wound looks good but it is not healing as well as it should be.  Last week he talked to me about meeting with a plastic surgeon.  He said that they were talking about removing muscle from my leg and then filling the wound with that muscle.  This is how it has been described to me thus far.  I am meeting with the plastic surgeon Thursday of this week.  My doctor told me that I would be looking at another 3-4 day hospital say.  As Censie says we all know how my body responds so we will plan a week.  I have mixed emotions about this on one hand it would heal the wound then the other hand it is another surgery and another hospital stay.  You know what is another hospital stay when you have spent 26 days in the hospital over the past four months!!!

 

Luckily this week I got to be home and was able to go to Jude's first soccer practice.  He had a great time and did so well for one of the youngest kids out there.  Now he is not the smallest kid out there but is one of the youngest.  It was nice to be able to get out and play with him, however running for the first time with my ileostomy was a little weird and is going to take some getting used to. 

 

 

Then on Saturday after my daily visit to the nurse, yes those are still going on I have no idea when it is going to ever end!  We went and did Easter Egg Scramble.  Jude had fun even though we only came home with one Twizzler and one empty egg.  He did really good being patient.  This is one of my favorite pictures!

 

 

Then on Sunday we went to church and then hunted for more Easter Eggs.  We had a great time playing and eating candy throughout the day, whoops daddy has a sweet tooth.  Then later in the evening he crashed, I got to cuddle with my little boy, not something that happens very often any more.  It was nice being able to have a day where I didn't have to worry about my ileostomy or having to go the doctor.

 

I am really hoping that I will be able to have more days like this but I will know more on Thursday.  I will make sure to keep everyone up to date on what is going on and if I am going to have to have another surgery.  Thank you all!



World Meet Gustav, Gustav Meet the World!

Drum roll please..............................

 

 

Ladies and Gentleman..........................

 

 

I am pleased to introduce to you my Ileostomy and Stoma that I have named Gustav!

 

As many of you know I had to go in for a proctocolectemy in January and at this point I have a permanent Ileostomy. 

 

This is something that I am still coming to terms with but I have named it and Gustav just seemed to fit.  A long time ago I had a kid introduce me to his Gerbil who's name was Gustav Thomas.  So when I thought of a name Gustav just came to the front of my mind. 

 

I think that the hard part for me has been the healing, sad to hear huh?  I am still healing and we are almost two months past surgery, and to be honest I was not really prepared for all the healing that I am dealing with but we are almost there.

 

Since having my Ileostomy I have joined many groups on facebook and it seems as though one big step for people is to post a picture of them with their bag.  I get it, we are no longer hiding and we want people to know that this is who we are, and in my case will be for the rest of my life. 

 

My Ileostomy has saved my life and has given my life back to me as well.  I am trying to make sure that I never become ashamed of it.  I will do everything I can from here on out to wear my bag with pride and honor because the scars show the fight that I gave for so long before having this surgery.  So without further ado I present to you Gustav!

 

 



Recovery? This Is Supposed To Be Easy Right?

Recovery?

 

So I am finally getting around to writing this post.  I don't know why but this has been one of the hardest posts to write.  I think that it is because I am having to go through everything again and think about all that I went through in the hospital. 

 

Hopefully you have already read my post http://ibddaddyandme.blogspot.com/2013/02/proctocolectomy-whats-that.html about my proctocolectemy surgery.  The surgery was only supposed to last 6-7 hours, but I can never do anything as planned so I went for 9-10 hours.  After the surgery the fun began, well I guess from what I can remember.  They had to place me in ICU right after my surgery because my heart rate was going sky high.  Now this is all information that has been told to me because I DON'T REMEMBER ANY OF IT!!!!

 

So I spent the night in ICU and then the next day as well.  Censie has told me that my mother came in and was talking to me and I asked her what time it was. She told me that it was noon and I told her that People's Court was on, how did I know that and how do I not remember watching People's Court in the ICU.  The only thing that I really remember about ICU was that they finally got me a normal room.  The only problem was I was on an ICU bed so I had to move beds, remember I had only been out of surgery for about 24 hours.  Trust me there were plenty of choice words that were said while we were moving from bed to bed.

 

 

So I finally got up to my normal room and was trying to get going on everything.  The next day I started on clear liquids and was up trying to move and walk  My parents were impressed with how far I was walking right after surgery.  I thought wow we are doing well and we are going to have a smooth road ahead with this recovery, stupid brain!  I did not have that smooth road ahead sadly.  Saturday I was so excited because my kiddos were coming up to see me for the first time, after not seeing them since Wednesday morning this was going to be awesome!  Once again nothing can go as planned.  I had been working on eating clear liquid, Jude had brought me some balloons to make me feel better.  Luckily he was distracted because the clear liquids did not sit well.  I asked for a bucket but sadly no one could find one in time and I vomited all over myself. 

 

So sadly at this point we had to rush Jude out of the room at that point so I could get cleaned up and he had to go home.  Then later in the evening the right side of my face started to swell up.  So they were concerned with an infection or an abscess in my face.  All great things to think about while sitting in the hospital.  So they then had to take me down for a CT Scan on my face.  This was all fine I wanted to see what was going on but again had to change beds, and then when they were bringing me back they took me to the wrong room I had to remind them what room I was in!  So luckily it was not the scary things that we had been talking about but my saliva gland shut down, come on can I catch a break.  So at this point I was running a pretty high fever kept feeling sick to my stomach and felt pretty horrible.  I remember my mom sitting by my bed until almost midnight just holding my hand because I felt so sick.

 

So now we are to Sunday, see what I am talking about I had a great time.  Sunday was a sad day because my parents were leaving to head back home that day.  I continued to try and get up and walk so that I could do as much as possible and hopefully be able to go home as soon as possible.  The problem was that every time that I would eat something I would be sick to my stomach.  The had been giving me antibiotics as well to help with the swelling in my face and trying to get the saliva gland to start working as well.  I was told by my doctor that with these types of surgeries that the small intestine goes to sleep and has to wake up to start processing the fluids into my bag.  They were thinking that mine small intestine was still asleep, so again got up walking trying to make it wake up and start working.

 

Monday then came and I continued to try and eat items and continued to try and walk.  I was trying to be the model patient and was trying to do everything I could to make this work.  The doctors talked to me about putting in an NG tube, which is a tube that goes in through your nose and sucks all the fluid out of your stomach, fun I know but we decided not to do that yet.  However I continued to vomit and get sick to my stomach on Monday.  So then came Tuesday, I had a very small say in it but we decided to put the NG Tube in.  If you have never had an NG Tube placed please pray that you never have to have it done.  This was an experience that I never wanted to have and pray I never have to again.  So while you are awake you have a tube placed down your nose and you have to keep trying to swallow while the keep pushing.  So the problem with this is that I had a ton of fluid built up on my stomach from the prior two days with eating and drinking fluid.  So as you can imagine fluid on your stomach and being gagged does not work out well.  I feel extremely sorry for the two nurses, because I vomited twice all over them!  This was a little embarrassing.  They got it in luckily and started taking the fluid off, I felt a ton better but still shocked that this took place. 

 

So I have never shared this picture I hated it but you can see the fun of the NG tube and also the swelling in my face.

 

So the problem with an NG Tube is that you do not get to eat or drink anything while it is in.  So from Tuesday to Saturday it was pretty much the same thing. Sitting around, napping, visiting, trying to walk as much as possible, and not thinking about eating or drinking.  I was lucky though the did give me a wet washcloth to wipe the inside of my mouth out because it was so dry but they would take it away right away so that I didn't suck the water out of it.  So with having this NG Tube put in I had a PICC Line put in which is an IV but goes into a Large Vein in my chest.  The reason that this was put in was because they then gave me what they call TPN, which as my nurses tried to tell me is steak in bag.  It gave me all the nutrition that I needed. 

 

Luckily they then did allow me to start eating lemon drops so that the sour would hopefully help my saliva gland would hopefully start working.  So then they turned off the NG tube and I was allowed to start drinking items again and the best part was that my stoma started producing and my Ostomy was working!  This was awesome news because finally the whole reason we did the surgery was beginning to work!  So then on Saturday they took the NG Tube out, this was not fun either.  I got very little warning they just took the tape off and then pulled, I could not believe what just happened to me but was so thankful to have it out.  I then started eating food and then by Monday I was getting discharged from the hospital.  I am amazed at how much the NG Tube helped my healing and if I had known it was going to do that then I would have done it sooner.    So this is my story of my hospital stay but in the end it worked out well and I was able to come home with "Gustav" the stoma.  Thank you for taking the time to read this as well as every one's ongoing support!

Proctocolectomy What's That?

PROCTOCOLECTOMY?!?!?!

 

So I know that I have been gone for a while but I am still trying to heal and get going on my feet again.  So I thought that I would try and get this post going through.  Many people have asked what exactly I had done.  I had a total proctocolectomy, that probably doesn't mean much to you but here is the description from www.webmd.com

 

 

In proctocolectomy, the large intestine and rectum are removed, leaving the lower end of the small intestine (the ileum). The doctor sews the anus closed and makes a small opening called a stoma in the skin of the lower abdomen. The surgical procedure to create the stoma (or any other artificial opening) is called an ostomy.

 

The ileum is connected to the stoma, creating an opening to the outside of the body. The surgery that creates the opening to the intestine is called an ileostomy.

Stool empties into a small plastic pouch called an ostomy bag that is applied to the skin around the stoma. You have to empty the bag several times a day.

So as you can tell they attacked me from both my stomach and also my bottom in a polite way to say it.  It has been a major change for my family and I and I am still trying to recover, yes even over a month post surgery I am still having to heal.  I will talk more about my hospital stay and all the excitement that came with that in another post.  I hope to get back into posting on a more regular basis.  Thanks for reading!

Let the Journey Begin!

So I know that I have been MIA for the last couple of weeks.  As many of you know my family and I have engaged in a huge journey.  I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in 2009 and it has come to an end here in 2013.

 

I am going to be doing a series of blogs about the proctocolectemy surgery that I had on 1/9/2013, the day I was cured of ulcerative colitis.  This is how I am viewing it, as you will hear throughout the next couple of weeks, as I am at home recovering from surgery and processing what has changed.  I AM going to remain optimistic about this process and will view it as I am CURED of this illness and I get my life back.  Now I know that this is going to come with many lumps and bumps, lucky you guys are the ones that get to hear about them, but I know that we made the right choice.

 

So this journey began on the weekend on January 5th.  This was my last weekend of solid food before I had to do the prep for the surgery.  Censie was great we went out to dinner a couple of times and spent some time with the kiddos.  It was a great "last" weekend, I cannot thank her enough for this because as you will hear the next couple of weeks were not the easiest.  I then went on clear liquids on Monday.  This is something that I have done many times due to having colonoscopies.  I have had 12 colonoscopies in three years, however I am done with those now.

 

I began eating jello and drinking Gatorade.  I am a huge food guy so this is hard for me but I knew that it was something that had to be done.  I was also able to clean my house and get everything ready that I could because my parents were coming out to help with the family after the surgery and to be here with me.  I felt that this was the least that I could do because I knew that Censie was going to have her hands full after the surgery.  I then had to begin the cleansing drinks on Tuesday. 

 

I like to call it the liquid flu because as soon as you start drinking it you get so sick to your stomach that you do have to stand there by the bathroom.  My parents came later that night and I was able to spend some time with them.  These are all going to be times that I am going to and have looked back on with happiness because of being able to laugh and have joy with them.  The next day we had to get up super early to be at the hospital so that I could have surgery.  I will be working on that post soon, it is going to be a lot of medical jargon stuff since I don't remember much, thank goodness!  Thank you for following this journey and like I said I have a lot to put down on paper.  Thank you all for following me on this journey and please if you have any questions please leave a comment or email me!  

I Am Scared!!!

I must admit at this point I am scared! 

 

 

 

Today is Monday January 7th, and on Wednesday January 9th I will be going in for a total proctocolectomy.  This is a major surgery, I have been told that the surgery will last about 6 to 7 hours. 

 

I am very excited to be able to get my life back and no longer deal with Ulcerative Colitis.  I am ready to start healing and moving forward but I am scared about the surgery.  This is going to be a major life change and I know it is going to be a difficult road ahead but I just need to get through the surgery.

 

I will be keeping everyone up to date from the hospital after I am done, they are telling me that I am going to be in the hospital for 7-10 days.  I will have my computer there with me because I am going to need some connection to the outside world.  I will be providing all of my IBD companions about the surgery and the recover from beginning to end so that if someone else is going through the surgery hopefully I can answer some questions.  I know that all the information that I have read on line helped me so much, so I am hoping to return the favor to someone else. 

 

Thank you again for everyone who has supported IBD, Daddy and Me! as we have gone through this journey together.  Thank you again!

Jeremy

Seriously?!?!?!?!?!

DAMN YOU ULCERATIVE COLITIS!!!!

 

So I made it out of the hospital through Christmas!  I was able to be there in the morning and see Jude's face as he opened his presents and then the awe and wonder of Santa and his fish tank.  I am thankful for that moment.  Sadly though I didn't make it long past that.

 

We were able to go get more fish for his fish tank last night, you know Santa told me he could go get more fish, and we got them all set up and they are doing well.  However 20 days after being discharged from the hospital I am back here again.  I had been struggling off and on since being discharged but was looking forward to having my surgery consult on the 2nd.  I started bleeding again and having a lot of urgency, which led to me having two accidents.  Yes that is where we are at, I have no control of my body which sucks ass literally! 

 

They told me that they felt that it was the best idea for me to come in to the Emergency Room so I did and now am admitted to the hospital again.  We are talking in the morning about the surgery and what we are going to do.  The scary things for me is I am afraid to be discharged again because I don't know how long I am going to make it through.  I just don't know but hopefully we can come up with a plan because I cannot live like this.  Thank you for your thoughts and prayers!  I will keep everyone updated!

Time for an Update

Time for an Update!

 

I was sitting her looking back at my blog and was thinking that it has been a while since I had written a blog post.  I know that this has been tough for those of you that are following my blog.

 

The last blog post that I wrote was a difficult one for me because it was about my grandfather's passing which still hits me hard every day.  I will find myself thinking about him and getting teary eyed because of the flow of emotions. 

 

Three days after my grandfather passed away I was blessed to welcome our daughter Teagan Evelyn into the world, I love the feeling of being a father.  It is something that I cannot put down into words that feeling of holding her for the first time.  I am so blessed to have two wonderful children in my life and one amazing wife! 

 

The week after Teagan was born my parents came out for the funeral, it was another wave of emotions going from being so happy about my daughter to having to deal with death again.  It was amazing hearing all the great stories about my Papa he was a quiet man but he had a profound impact on my life an who I am today. 

 

My parents then left and the next week Censie went into the emergency room because she wasn't feeling well and it was discovered that she had gall stones and that she was going to have to have her gall bladder out.  This was a shock to us as she had an attack a year ago but we were not told at that point about the gall stones.  We scheduled her surgery for after Thanksgiving so that she could enjoy the holidays, oh and a baptism, and then my parents coming out again.

We were blessed enough to have my parents and my grandma come out for Thanksgiving and the Baptism, Teagan's middle name is Evelyn from my grandma.  We were so thankful that they could come out for this time of celebration. 

While my parents were out here my body decided that we didn't have enough stress in life so a Ulcerative Colitis flair was in store.  I will be going into this into more detail later.  Censie had her surgery and it went well, I was a nervous nelly the entire time I am only used to being the sick one.  I now know what Censie has to go though every time I am sick.  I was able to help her as much as I could but then had to return back to work and then my body decided we were going to increase our flair. 

Needless to say this first six weeks of having Teagan at home has been a whirlwind but I am so thankful that I have a wonderful family to share this with.  I will be trying to blog a lot more and I appreciate any support from anyone.  I hope I can get this blog going and share my story with how I am doing at this point.  Thank you for sharing some time reading this.