My surgery went well and I am now home. I have a 3 - 4 month recovery - no lifting above 5 pounds, no strenuous exercise (I can walk), making sure everything holds together this time! I did come home with two drains, but I am not sure how long I will keep them. I see my doctor tomorrow for more info.
Thanks for your prayers.
Jan
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Prayer for Surgery
This is the last night at the beachhouse, and we will travel home tomorrow. Sunday I will help Katie get ready to go on a retreat for a week with Fern Creek Christian to Myrtle Beach, and then Monday I see the doctor and prep for my surgery on Tuesday to repair my abdomen. I covet your prayers. The power of so many people praying has helped me do so many things during this past year that I didn't think I could do. Thanks so much! I will report about the surgery as soon as I am able.
Jan
Jan
Monday, June 16, 2008
Update on Dad/Beach/Mom
Several have asked about my dad, and in all the flurry of events the last few weeks, I have neglected to post an update. Dad is home, starting to feel better from the last bout of pneumonia. He felt well enough to travel to Bowling Green alone in one of his street rods for a show there. My mom felt that it was safe to leave him home alone for a week while we are at the beach. He doesn't care to come along on this beach trip - too many women - 5, and too many grandkids - 24, 20, 17, 16, 13, 9, 7, 6, 4, 3 are the ages, and there is no peace or quiet in the beach house!
I ordered a huge sun umbrella that is supposed to block 100% of the sun's rays to protect my arm, and it seems to be working. The sleeve is hot, but I try to get as close to the water as I can for the breeze, and I take a spray bottle of water to stay cool.
My big excitement for the day yesterday was that I got into the pool - I am allowed to remove the sleeve if my arm is underwater - the pressure from the water works as compression. I actually was able to swim freestyle - about six laps across the pool, not lengthwise - but it was very encouraging to me to be able to do this. I plan to begin swimming in earnest again about three months after this next surgery.
Swimming is the one exercise that can be done without the sleeve, so I plan to spend lots of time in the pool year round - it will be my exercise of choice, in addition to walking again.
Thanks for your prayers while I am traveling. I feel that I have been given a burst of energy just at the right time to do these things!
One other health note: my mom is going to have surgery on her knee the day before my surgery, so Emily will be my caretaker for this surgery. Katie will be away for the week. Please pray that Mom will have a successful surgery and quick healing, and that Emily and I will be able to handle the drains, etc. that follow my surgery. Thanks so much for many, many prayers!!!!
Jan
I ordered a huge sun umbrella that is supposed to block 100% of the sun's rays to protect my arm, and it seems to be working. The sleeve is hot, but I try to get as close to the water as I can for the breeze, and I take a spray bottle of water to stay cool.
My big excitement for the day yesterday was that I got into the pool - I am allowed to remove the sleeve if my arm is underwater - the pressure from the water works as compression. I actually was able to swim freestyle - about six laps across the pool, not lengthwise - but it was very encouraging to me to be able to do this. I plan to begin swimming in earnest again about three months after this next surgery.
Swimming is the one exercise that can be done without the sleeve, so I plan to spend lots of time in the pool year round - it will be my exercise of choice, in addition to walking again.
Thanks for your prayers while I am traveling. I feel that I have been given a burst of energy just at the right time to do these things!
One other health note: my mom is going to have surgery on her knee the day before my surgery, so Emily will be my caretaker for this surgery. Katie will be away for the week. Please pray that Mom will have a successful surgery and quick healing, and that Emily and I will be able to handle the drains, etc. that follow my surgery. Thanks so much for many, many prayers!!!!
Jan
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Graduation and Vacation in England/Scotland
Katie's graduation went well - it was really a great evening. It is hard to believe that we are finished.
Our trip to the United Kingdom was wonderful!!! I was able to keep up, and it was fun to experience it together as a family. We visited London, the Lake District, and Edinburgh.
We saw:
The Tower of London
Buckingham and Kensington Palaces
Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament
Westminster Abbey
The British Museum
The Churchill Museum and War Rooms
The London Eye
Shakespeare at the Globe (King Lear)
The National Gallery
Beatrix Potter's Hill Top Farm and the villages of Hawkshead and Windemere in the Lake District
Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile
Holyrood Palace and the Abbey ruins
The National Museum of Scotland
Holyrood Park
Bryan learned to drive on the left side of the road, which was very interesting.
Our favorite English meal was fish and chips.
Our one difficulty was in getting home. Our final flight from Philly to Louisville was cancelled last night, and we had to spend the night there, take an early flight this morning to DC, and then to Louisville. Our luggage did not arrive with us, so we are still waiting for that to be delivered. Other than that, it was the trip of a lifetime!!!
I will spend a week at the beach with my mom, sisters, and most of our children before my surgery on the 24th of June to repair my TRAM flap surgery. I would appreciate prayers for a successful surgery. I am hoping to shed the binder and pain medication in a couple of months.
Jan
Our trip to the United Kingdom was wonderful!!! I was able to keep up, and it was fun to experience it together as a family. We visited London, the Lake District, and Edinburgh.
We saw:
The Tower of London
Buckingham and Kensington Palaces
Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament
Westminster Abbey
The British Museum
The Churchill Museum and War Rooms
The London Eye
Shakespeare at the Globe (King Lear)
The National Gallery
Beatrix Potter's Hill Top Farm and the villages of Hawkshead and Windemere in the Lake District
Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile
Holyrood Palace and the Abbey ruins
The National Museum of Scotland
Holyrood Park
Bryan learned to drive on the left side of the road, which was very interesting.
Our favorite English meal was fish and chips.
Our one difficulty was in getting home. Our final flight from Philly to Louisville was cancelled last night, and we had to spend the night there, take an early flight this morning to DC, and then to Louisville. Our luggage did not arrive with us, so we are still waiting for that to be delivered. Other than that, it was the trip of a lifetime!!!
I will spend a week at the beach with my mom, sisters, and most of our children before my surgery on the 24th of June to repair my TRAM flap surgery. I would appreciate prayers for a successful surgery. I am hoping to shed the binder and pain medication in a couple of months.
Jan
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