Thanks for the prayers

I posted this on my facebook account, and I thought I’d paste it here for those of you that don’t have facebook.

I just wanted to thank you all for your wonderful thoughts and prayers after my recent gall bladder surgery. 

The surgery was successful in that the gall bladder was removed, but the surgery took much longer than expected and the gall bladder ended up having hundreds of stones, many the size of 1/2 inch in it.

The surgeon decided that it would be unwise to give me the clotting factor, so I was admitted for approx. 36 hours to the hospital, where they put the cuffs on my legs to increase the circulation, and monitored my blood pressure, heart rate, temp, and breathing every hour.  This was a precaution to avoid blood clots and pneumonia.  I was released into my parents’ care, where I stayed for two weeks.

I’m back at my own home now, but still in pain, unfortunately.  This means that I won’t be going on the family cruise to the Virgin Islands in a couple of weeks.  It was a little sad to put my pirate costume away (we’re taking a Disney cruise) but hopefully I’ll go next year!  The doctors are still monitoring my breathing and lung action very carefully for any sign of clots or pneumonia, and also for any latent infection.  These doctor visits could go on possibly into June.  They want to watch me for about 8 weeks. -I didn’t realize I was that interesting

So again, thanks for all of your wonderful thoughts, they really helped!
-karen marie

Dictionary.com to the rescue

My cousin Staci and I are always teasing each other about our love of books, reading and the obscure.  So here’s a fact dear cousin.  A note on the word Appendix (as in the body part which I still have and is working fine, thank you!)  I looked it up at dictionary.com and it says that you can use the word appendices as the plural for the word appendix, although it is used mostly in academic settings for the things that are found at the back of books.  Isn’t this interesting?

Here’s the direct quote:

ap⋅pen⋅dix

  /əˈpɛndɪks

Spelled Pronunciation [uh-pen-diks]

–noun, plural -dix⋅es, -di⋅ces 

 Spelled Pronunciation [-duh-seez]

1.   supplementary material at the end of a book, article, document, or other text, usually of an explanatory, statistical, or bibliographic nature.

2.   an appendage.

3.   Aeronautics. the short tube at the bottom of a balloon bag, by which the intake and release of buoyant gas is controlled.

4.   Anatomy.

a.   a process or projection.

b.   Vermiform Appendix

 

Origin:
1535–45; < L: appendage, equiv. to append(ere) to APPEND+ -ix (equiv. to -ic- n. suffix + -snom. sing. ending)

 

Synonyms:
1. addendum, adjunct. Appendix, supplement both mean material added at the end of a book. An appendix gives useful additional information, but even without it the rest of the book is complete: In the appendix are forty detailed charts. A supplement, bound in the book or published separately, is given for comparison, as an enhancement, to provide corrections, to present later information, and the like: A yearly supplement is issued.

Usage note:
Appendices, a plural borrowed directly from Latin, is sometimes used, especially in scholarly writing, to refer to supplementary material at the end of a book.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.

 

So there, and yes, in case you were wondering many of my family members have had their appendices out.  :p

Flu Shot

I got my annual flu shot yesterday and I’m not feeling so hot.  I know that getting the flu shot is controversial, but because of the probability that I could get really sick and go back in the hospital if I get a bad case of the flu, I decided that getting the shot was worth the risk.  So I’m just going to wait it out.

Happy Birthday Grandma

Today would have been my Grandmother’s birthday.  She died a couple of years ago of the complications that result from Alzheimer’s.  Every now and then it hits me… the enormity of it all.  Helping to be her care giver for over six years, watching her fade away slowly day after day.   She was an incredible woman and along with my grandfather, made a huge impact on every life that they touched.  Many people said that my grandmother was the woman behind the man.  But with my grandmother’s help, my grandfather worked on desegregating the Omaha, Nebraska schools, trying to bring equal education to everyone.  And in 1992 the Omaha school district named a high school after my grandfather.  My grandmother was so proud on that day!

The Saddest Day

Today, June 24, is one of the saddest days of my life.  It was four years ago today that my friend Betzi lost her brave battle with breast cancer.  She left behind her husband and her daughter Addie.  I was absolutely devastated when I heard the news, because I always thought that Betzi was going to beat the cancer.  Now she’s become one of the angles that I know is watching over me.  Sometimes I can even feel her presence.  I was thinking about how I could celebrate her life today, and it turns out that I didn’t have to do anything.  Betzi let me know that she was thinking of me.

Like the rainbow showing up over the Kennedy Center after the Tim Russert memorial, where the final song that was played during the memorial was “Somewhere over the Rainbow.”  Betzi sent me a sign to let me know that she was thinking of me and that she approves of the role that I am playing in Addie’s life.  Earlier this summer I bought a rose bush and several small purple flowers.  I bought a huge round planter and a rectangular planter that goes over the deck.  I put the rose bush in the big round planter with special potting soil, and I put the purple flowers in the other planter.  I wasn’t sure if the rose bush was going to grow this season.  But sure enough the branches began to sprout green leaves and the branches themselves began to turn red (which led me to believe that the roses were going to come soon.) 

I’ve been checking on my rose bush every single day for a couple of months, and even through the rain that came today, my first flower appeared.  It was my sign from Betzi, who was a wonderful gardener and loved planting flowers and different kinds of gardens.  As soon as I saw the red bloom and my first rose, I began to cry , because I know that my angel is watching over me and she’s reminding me that I really am doing a good job being in Addie’s life!  I love you Betzi and miss you!

Prayer Shawl

After a horrible day yesterday.  (In addition to having one of my back teeth break in two (I think I swallowed the half that broke off! And of course it’s a holiday weekend so I can’t see a dentist until Tuesday) I cut my left thumb while cutting up a tomato for a sandwich and it still hurts!)  I decided that making it to church had to be a top priority today.  We started on our summer schedule, which is one service at 9am, which I absolutely love.  I can get up for 9am.  8 not so much, and the 10 service goes on and on and I sometimes don’t leave until noon, so this 9am is great.

Unfortunately the father of our Associate Pastor/Minister of Music had a stroke this week and Pastor Pat is with her family (prayers for the Potter family please.)  So we got a treat today.  Our regular Pastor, Pastor Julie played the organ and her husband, also a Pastor, Pastor Hans filled in as the presiding minister.  Pastor Hans delivered a great sermon on God always being there for us and that we don’t need to worry so much.  I almost started to cry a couple of times, especially when he talked about being sick and worrying about getting better.

After the service, Pastor Julie said that she had something for me.  My mom (who also goes to the same church as I do) and I went to Pastor Julie’s office and Pastor Julie gave me this absolutely beautiful handmade knitted shawl.  We have this wonderful ministry at Immanuel.  Many people get together and knit these prayer shawls for people in the church and the community who are going through tough (and also good like marriage) times.  The church has been praying for me and they wanted to give me something tangible to remind me that I am not alone.  I was so overwhelmed that I started to cry and was at a loss for words (which for me is a shocker!)  Pastor Julie said that each shawl ends up having some special meaning between the knitters and the recipient.  When I unfolded the shawl, I immediately noticed the colors, the two outer panels are gray and the middle panel is red.  The colors of my hometown in Wisconsin.  In high school we were the gray hounds and our colors were red and gray.  I said this to Pastor Julie, and she said she was getting goosebumps, and one of the knitters who had joined us, heard this as well and Sandy got goosebumps.  It’s an incredible link.  No one here in Massachusetts could know the importance of red and gray in my life… except God. 

For those of you who have doubts about the existence of God, this could not be a cosmic coincidence.  Or luck of the draw.  It is God and I am so thankful.

Here is a picture of my prayer shawl.

Here is the prayer that came with it.  By Sandy Mann May 2006

“Prayer for Healing

Guided by God’s love for us, this shawl is knit for you.

Healing, strength and peace, to bless upon your spirit true.

Wrap yourself in warmth and love, entwined in every stitch.

Prayers said to God above, please heal, mend and enrich.

Father, Son, Holy Spirit, intoned throughout the shawl.

Triune blessings knit within it, best wishes from us all.”

How to use an Epipen

Due to the fact that I was going into anaphylactic shock this past weekend, I had to use my Epipen for the first time.  I was surprised at how it worked.  I’ve been carrying an Epipen for years, so I knew to take the pen out of the tube, and then to take the top off and then shoot the pen part into my thigh hard and hold it for 10 seconds.  The part that surprised me was that you take the CAP part off of the Epipen, not the pen part.  I probably wasted 20 seconds figuring this out.  And that was 20 scary seconds of not being able to breathe.  (At least I had called 911 and new the rescue squad was on its way!)

I was also given some very valuable information that you should always have two Epipens available, because if you are at a place where 911 can’t get to you in 1/2 hour after using the first Epipen, you should use your second Epipen.  (Note, this is not official medical advice-always talk to your doctor.)

Hope this helps!

So here are links to how to use the Epipen:

http://www.epipen.com/pdf/ord.fm.pdf for written directions

http://www.epipen.com/howtouse.aspx for a video on how to use an Epipen

Staying on the sofa

Well, I’ve decided never to leave my comfy sofa ever again, because when I do, bad things happen.  Like getting an allergic reaction to something (have NO idea what!!!), and having my face blow up like the Pillsbury Dough-boy (you couldn’t even see my ears, and my chin extended all the way down to my chest.)  After a stay at my local hospital (again…) I’m back at home resting, and I’m never, ever going to leave this room.  (OK, I’m lying, but really, to have an allergic reaction so bad to admit you to the hospital is really scary.)

Here’s the e-mail I sent to family and friends today:

Hi All

Sorry to send out a mass e-mail, but that’s about all I can do right now.  As many of you know I was in the hospital for almost a week for pneumonia, the first week of April.  Well, I was put in the hospital again over this past weekend weekend because I began to go into anaphylactic shock, where my throat began to close up and I couldn’t breathe.  Luckily I had an Epipen, so I shot myself up and called 911 to take me to the hospital.  I had two more episodes of not being able to breathe in the ER, so they decided to admit me.  After some tests, the doctors think that I had an allergic reaction to something, unfortunately we couldn’t pinpoint exactly what triggered the attack.  After careful monitoring, oxygen and drugs, they released me and I’m back at home, although I’m so swollen in my face, hands and feet, it’s really uncomfortable really even to move. 

 So right now, I’m just resting at home, taking my meds and trying to get better.  Nothing too stressful.  (Unfortunately, I missed two parties over the weekend.  Addie turned 8.  I can’t believe she’s that old.  Wow!  And a friend of mine, Loretta, graduated from Rhode Island College, and I missed her graduation party.  Again, I’ve known Loretta since she was about 11, and to see her now is amazing!)

But I just wanted to thank all of you for your prayers and concern during this stressful time.  I really appreciate it!  (Oh and they did discover that the pneumonia has cleared, so that at least is good news.) 

Allergic Reaction

I woke up this morning not really being able to swallow, thinking that we’ve had such weird weather- from 70’s and sunny to 40’s and rain- that my allergies were acting up, or that the pneumonia infection is acting up, until I looked in the mirror.  Nope, I was having a full blown allergic reaction to something.  My face was huge and swollen like a balloon.  In fact it was so swollen, you couldn’t even see my ears!  My eyes wouldn’t open and I had no neck.  In addition, my fingers looked like I was wearing plastic gloves with air in them and my feet were twice the size as normal.  I called my doctor, who said there was nothing really that could be done, because I was already on the steroids to treat the pneumonia.  I would just have to wait it out (with a little help from Benedryl.)  If things got worse, I was to use my Epipen and call 911.  I called my mom to let her know what was going on, and we tried to figure out what caused the allergic reaction, and you’ll never guess.  Last night I made those pop open biscuits from the refrigerator case.  I’m allergic to the yeast that’s in them (which makes sense, since I have a really severe mold allergy.)  Mom has the same allergy to this yeast, so she identified it right away.  Well, I’m going to have to watch what I eat even more closely now

Wrist Braces

I saw my doctor today and she wants me to start wearing hand/wrist braces on both of my hands when I do things like cook (don’t do that too often,) play sports like tennis (again, not that often) and yes, while I’m on the computer.  Do you know how hard it is to type and move the house with two wrist braces on?  Especially the kind with a metal brace up your palm?  I have to sit like Frankenstein’s monster with my arms in front of me, with my hands on the keyboard.  This stinks.  The purpose is to try and get the hand pain from the Fibromyalgia under control.  Gotta go, (I’m not wearing the braces, and I’d better put them on before the brace police come after me!)