Good evening all!
I know it's been several months since I last wrote, and as I always tell my kids, "no news is good news".
Today marks my 2 year anniversary of my surgery. In talking with my best friend tonight, it some ways it's feel like an eternity, and than other moments it feels just like it was yesterday. I will admit, that I've had many different emotions throughout today. Feelings of relief that it has been two years, and that I'm not laying in the hospital. Feelings of sadness, in that even though I have come so far, there are days where I feel I'm back at square one. Feelings of praise and thankfulness to my husband Tim for being there at every step forward and backward. Thankfulness to my family and friends who so selfishly gave their time or services to anything that was needed. And of course to my Heavenly Father who gave me the strength to keep moving on when I just felt I couldn't do it.
I have come so far! That's not to say that there are not days of nausea and stomach spasms that keep me in bed for the day. But the good days are definitely out weighing the bad at this point. Since I last wrote, I am now a different concoction of meds, and they seem to be helping a little more than in the past, and I'll take that!! My kids still make fun of my pill dispenser, and still make fun of me when I'm popping my 8 pills with every meal, but hey whatever works, right? My motto still stands, "one day at a time".
I hope this finds you all well! I thank you again for being with me, and praying with me through this journey! I am blessed!
Love,
Lisa
Monday, October 29, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Happy Spring!
Hello dear friends!! I know it's been awhile since I have wrote to you all, but in this case no news is good news.
Yes, I am happy to report things are going well. I do have days that I would rather do without, but I think everyone has those days one time or another. I still battle the bowel spasms, and unfortunately deal with nausea. We are trying another trial of medications, and I do think they are helping more than the previous meds, so that is promising. My kids still laugh at the amount of medications I take on a daily basis, let alone with each meal. Good thing for those pill dispenser's.....yes, I have the one that has breakfast/lunch/dinner/bedtime slots, and I would be lost without it. I will never again make fun of people who have their pill dispensers.
Since I'm having more good days than bad, I was able to travel to Lawrence, KS where our son Zach is attending college (Kansas University), if some of you are confused and thought he was at a another college, well he was. Last fall he as at Arkansas, and now he is at Kansas. Even though it is farther away from his family, he is happy and that is all that matters. We had a great weekend seeing the school, his apartment (and cleaning), and of course a visit to the local Super Target to buy his month worth of groceries. He'll be home in a couple weeks for spring break, so we're looking forward to that. I'm also able to attend most of Kaitlyn's soccer game this year, so that has been wonderful too. I missed many the last couple years, so it's good to get back to them. Hard to believe it's already the middle of March and she's about done with her first year of High School!!
Thank you again for all the friends out there still praying for me, I still need them, and I still covet them. God is SOOOO good!! Please say a little prayer for my mom, she caught another bug is battling pneumonia again. Hopefully this time, they can get it under control and won't last as long as last summer!!
Love to you all!
Lisa
Yes, I am happy to report things are going well. I do have days that I would rather do without, but I think everyone has those days one time or another. I still battle the bowel spasms, and unfortunately deal with nausea. We are trying another trial of medications, and I do think they are helping more than the previous meds, so that is promising. My kids still laugh at the amount of medications I take on a daily basis, let alone with each meal. Good thing for those pill dispenser's.....yes, I have the one that has breakfast/lunch/dinner/bedtime slots, and I would be lost without it. I will never again make fun of people who have their pill dispensers.
Since I'm having more good days than bad, I was able to travel to Lawrence, KS where our son Zach is attending college (Kansas University), if some of you are confused and thought he was at a another college, well he was. Last fall he as at Arkansas, and now he is at Kansas. Even though it is farther away from his family, he is happy and that is all that matters. We had a great weekend seeing the school, his apartment (and cleaning), and of course a visit to the local Super Target to buy his month worth of groceries. He'll be home in a couple weeks for spring break, so we're looking forward to that. I'm also able to attend most of Kaitlyn's soccer game this year, so that has been wonderful too. I missed many the last couple years, so it's good to get back to them. Hard to believe it's already the middle of March and she's about done with her first year of High School!!
Thank you again for all the friends out there still praying for me, I still need them, and I still covet them. God is SOOOO good!! Please say a little prayer for my mom, she caught another bug is battling pneumonia again. Hopefully this time, they can get it under control and won't last as long as last summer!!
Love to you all!
Lisa
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Another milestone
Hello friends!
I've reached another milestone today. It was one year to this day, that I developed the bowel obstruction and had the 2nd surgery. I have to admit, some days it seems just like yesterday, or that I just remember it like it was yesterday.
We can laugh about the day now, not the surgery or bowel obstruction, but some of the incidents that happened. My mom was here with us, as Tim had to be in Iowa for business. It started like any other day, Mom doing her usual fixing breakfast, lunch, cleaning, and laundry, and trying to decorate my house for Christmas. By late afternoon, things definitely took a change for the worse, as the usual stomach pain, turned into something I had not felt before. It didn't take long to know that I needed to go by ambulance to Baylor, and boy is that a fun ride....NOT! Don't get me wrong, the fireman were kind, and compassionate, but they really didn't want to take me down to Baylor,a 45 minute drive, let alone in rush hour traffic. So my mom, being a mother, put her foot down, and said "get her there, and don't argue". Mom's, what would you do with out them. Well, we learned real quickly why they didn't want to go down to Baylor Dallas....they didn't the way. Can you believe that ambulance's don't have GPS systems, go figure. So on the way down, my tells them to ask me how to get there, yes me! I tried, but between the pain, and getting the pain medicine, I'm sure I wasn't real helpful. They made a few wrong turns, but eventually made it there.
After about 3 1/2 hours in the ER, they determined I needed another surgery to fix the obstruction. By this time, my friend Jena was with us, and I was so grateful. We cried, we prayed, and we laughed some too. When the orderly was transporting me down to the surgery center, he got lost (yes, I said lost, again), as we had to go to a different surgery center due to the heat breaking down in the usual surgery center. We arrived at the surgery center, and the nurses there were amazing, they were so sweet to me, my mom and Jena. They gave them extra blankets, as it was freezing down there, I'm not sure that the heat was working down there either While waiting for the surgeon, (it's 1:00 am at this time, and surgeon's don't just hang out at the hospital) I had to use the bathroom, and once again, we got lost trying to find a bathroom. By this time, we're all laughing so hard, I think we could have peed our pants right than. Poor Tim, was in Iowa, trying to be as helpful as you can on the phone, and I was so grateful just to hear his voice on the phone saying "it's going to be ok, I'll be there when you wake up from the surgery", and there... he was!!
I do look back at that time and cherish how lucky I am to have my wonderful husband, my mom and my dear friend Jena. My mom laughs when she tells people that was her first all nighter. Wow....I won't tell her about my first all nighter, but than that was so long ago, I probably don't remember much about it.
So much has happened in the past year, good, bad and anything in between. The one thing that has remained constant is God's love, and his presence at all times. He is so good!!
Thank you again to all that have prayed, and been there for me and my family! We will be forever grateful! Here's to a healthy and happy new year! Merry Christmas to you all!!
I've reached another milestone today. It was one year to this day, that I developed the bowel obstruction and had the 2nd surgery. I have to admit, some days it seems just like yesterday, or that I just remember it like it was yesterday.
We can laugh about the day now, not the surgery or bowel obstruction, but some of the incidents that happened. My mom was here with us, as Tim had to be in Iowa for business. It started like any other day, Mom doing her usual fixing breakfast, lunch, cleaning, and laundry, and trying to decorate my house for Christmas. By late afternoon, things definitely took a change for the worse, as the usual stomach pain, turned into something I had not felt before. It didn't take long to know that I needed to go by ambulance to Baylor, and boy is that a fun ride....NOT! Don't get me wrong, the fireman were kind, and compassionate, but they really didn't want to take me down to Baylor,a 45 minute drive, let alone in rush hour traffic. So my mom, being a mother, put her foot down, and said "get her there, and don't argue". Mom's, what would you do with out them. Well, we learned real quickly why they didn't want to go down to Baylor Dallas....they didn't the way. Can you believe that ambulance's don't have GPS systems, go figure. So on the way down, my tells them to ask me how to get there, yes me! I tried, but between the pain, and getting the pain medicine, I'm sure I wasn't real helpful. They made a few wrong turns, but eventually made it there.
After about 3 1/2 hours in the ER, they determined I needed another surgery to fix the obstruction. By this time, my friend Jena was with us, and I was so grateful. We cried, we prayed, and we laughed some too. When the orderly was transporting me down to the surgery center, he got lost (yes, I said lost, again), as we had to go to a different surgery center due to the heat breaking down in the usual surgery center. We arrived at the surgery center, and the nurses there were amazing, they were so sweet to me, my mom and Jena. They gave them extra blankets, as it was freezing down there, I'm not sure that the heat was working down there either While waiting for the surgeon, (it's 1:00 am at this time, and surgeon's don't just hang out at the hospital) I had to use the bathroom, and once again, we got lost trying to find a bathroom. By this time, we're all laughing so hard, I think we could have peed our pants right than. Poor Tim, was in Iowa, trying to be as helpful as you can on the phone, and I was so grateful just to hear his voice on the phone saying "it's going to be ok, I'll be there when you wake up from the surgery", and there... he was!!
I do look back at that time and cherish how lucky I am to have my wonderful husband, my mom and my dear friend Jena. My mom laughs when she tells people that was her first all nighter. Wow....I won't tell her about my first all nighter, but than that was so long ago, I probably don't remember much about it.
So much has happened in the past year, good, bad and anything in between. The one thing that has remained constant is God's love, and his presence at all times. He is so good!!
Thank you again to all that have prayed, and been there for me and my family! We will be forever grateful! Here's to a healthy and happy new year! Merry Christmas to you all!!
Saturday, October 29, 2011
One year today
Hello friends! I know it's been a long time since I've posted anything, but today being the 1 year mark from my surgery, I thought it would be a good time.
Yes, it's been 1 year. Some days it feels like forever, than other days, if feels like it was just yesterday. I can say that through it all, God is patient, God is loving, and most of all God is good. He has blessed me with a wonderful group of friends, and a wonderful family that have carried me this past year.
I saw my surgeon yesterday. As we approached the hospital,(where Dr. Levey's office is located), I started to cry. I thought back to the morning Tim and I pulled into the hospital, and walked hand and hand to the surgery center. That morning I was at a peace I didn't know how to explain, except that it could only come from our sweet heavenly Father. I really had no idea what I was in for, and if I had, I'm pretty sure I would have ran the other way. I thought of how waiting to be taken back into surgery, Kaitlyn and Tim sat with me. We laughed, we cried, we prayed! How precious that was to me!! Unfortunately I thought of the pain, I endured. I knew it would be painful, but was not fully prepared for what it really was going to be. I also thought of all the kind nurses, techs, and Dr.'s who cared for me, and my family. My tech "TJ" who would make a shake for me everyday (you know hospital food) and the student nurse who prayed and shared scripture on a day that I really just wanted to die. I remember how Tim sat with me each day, and held my hand and comforted me, or my mom and sister who slept in that awful chair/bed at night, just so I could have someone with me. I am truly blessed.
It has been a long year, and yes I'm still dealing with the effects of the surgery. I'm still battling the bowel spasms, and the nausea, however, I do have some really good days in between! I've been able to attend parents weekend at my son's college, see my daughter on the homecoming court, and watch her walk out the door looking so beautiful for her first homecoming dance. I've been allowed precious time with my husband, time that I probably had taken for granted before. Yes, there are days that I stay in bed, and sleep it away, but I've got my wonderful family and friends who help me get through it.
Thank you to each and every one of you who have prayed for me and my family! I am so grateful to everyone. Please continue your prayers, as they are still needed. I hope you all are doing well, and if you ever need a prayer warrior, please call on me!
Love to you all!
Yes, it's been 1 year. Some days it feels like forever, than other days, if feels like it was just yesterday. I can say that through it all, God is patient, God is loving, and most of all God is good. He has blessed me with a wonderful group of friends, and a wonderful family that have carried me this past year.
I saw my surgeon yesterday. As we approached the hospital,(where Dr. Levey's office is located), I started to cry. I thought back to the morning Tim and I pulled into the hospital, and walked hand and hand to the surgery center. That morning I was at a peace I didn't know how to explain, except that it could only come from our sweet heavenly Father. I really had no idea what I was in for, and if I had, I'm pretty sure I would have ran the other way. I thought of how waiting to be taken back into surgery, Kaitlyn and Tim sat with me. We laughed, we cried, we prayed! How precious that was to me!! Unfortunately I thought of the pain, I endured. I knew it would be painful, but was not fully prepared for what it really was going to be. I also thought of all the kind nurses, techs, and Dr.'s who cared for me, and my family. My tech "TJ" who would make a shake for me everyday (you know hospital food) and the student nurse who prayed and shared scripture on a day that I really just wanted to die. I remember how Tim sat with me each day, and held my hand and comforted me, or my mom and sister who slept in that awful chair/bed at night, just so I could have someone with me. I am truly blessed.
It has been a long year, and yes I'm still dealing with the effects of the surgery. I'm still battling the bowel spasms, and the nausea, however, I do have some really good days in between! I've been able to attend parents weekend at my son's college, see my daughter on the homecoming court, and watch her walk out the door looking so beautiful for her first homecoming dance. I've been allowed precious time with my husband, time that I probably had taken for granted before. Yes, there are days that I stay in bed, and sleep it away, but I've got my wonderful family and friends who help me get through it.
Thank you to each and every one of you who have prayed for me and my family! I am so grateful to everyone. Please continue your prayers, as they are still needed. I hope you all are doing well, and if you ever need a prayer warrior, please call on me!
Love to you all!
Saturday, July 16, 2011
God is in control
Hi friends!
I'm writing this today, not for myself for an old family friend and his family, Rodney Lamfers, who went home to our Heavenly Father last night at 11:00 pm. I believe I've asked to keep him in your prayers before, but if not here is a link to get familiar with him and his family. I have to believe that God is in control, and Rodney is no longer in pain or suffering, but my heart aches for this wife who has lost the love of her life, and the 3 little girls who have lost their daddy. I think of my own family, and can't even begin to imagine the heart break they must be feeling. I was reading some scripture last night and Deuteronomy 33:27 was put out there for me, and now I know why....it gave me some peace when I heard of Rodney's passing...." The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms".
My daughter Kaitlyn and I are flying up to Sioux Center to visit my Mom for a long weekend. She has been ill with pneumonia, and has been in the hospital. Not sure how much I'll be able to care for her, so we'll let my sister Sherri be the boss. Wait...we're going to my Mom's, no one is the boss except her. I'm still having good days and bad days, but I'm alive and I have a very loving, caring family around me.
Thank you for all your support, and all your prayers. I know the Lamfer's family will appreciate them too!
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/rodneylamfers
I'm writing this today, not for myself for an old family friend and his family, Rodney Lamfers, who went home to our Heavenly Father last night at 11:00 pm. I believe I've asked to keep him in your prayers before, but if not here is a link to get familiar with him and his family. I have to believe that God is in control, and Rodney is no longer in pain or suffering, but my heart aches for this wife who has lost the love of her life, and the 3 little girls who have lost their daddy. I think of my own family, and can't even begin to imagine the heart break they must be feeling. I was reading some scripture last night and Deuteronomy 33:27 was put out there for me, and now I know why....it gave me some peace when I heard of Rodney's passing...." The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms".
My daughter Kaitlyn and I are flying up to Sioux Center to visit my Mom for a long weekend. She has been ill with pneumonia, and has been in the hospital. Not sure how much I'll be able to care for her, so we'll let my sister Sherri be the boss. Wait...we're going to my Mom's, no one is the boss except her. I'm still having good days and bad days, but I'm alive and I have a very loving, caring family around me.
Thank you for all your support, and all your prayers. I know the Lamfer's family will appreciate them too!
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/rodneylamfers
Monday, July 4, 2011
Happy 4th of July!
Wow, hard to believe it's already July 4th! Some days feel like they can never end, yet when you realize that we're already half way into the year.....Wow!
It's very hot in Texas this time of year, so we're very thankful for our pool. Hate to admit, that I'm not able to sit out there like I used to. In the past I could lay in the pool for hours and play with the kids, but now, it's about an hour and I'm ready to sit my bottom in the air conditioned house, than in the pool. I don't want to blame it on age, but will use my illness to cover it up.
Speaking of illness, I'm hanging in there. Some days are really good, no nausea, no spasms, and food is good, but unfortunately I'm still having those days where life is pretty tough. I'm trying different medicine concoctions to see if any improvements can be made. Unfortunately, Gastric Dumping Syndrome will not correct it's self, so hopefully we can figure out meds to help, or we may have to defer to surgery. But, as I've told them from the start, I'm not physically or emotionally ready for another surgery. So...here we are, in a trial and error mode. I'm thanking God for the good days, though.
I do have couple prayer request, one for my Mom. She is still battling her Pneumonia, she is gaining some strength, but I know this took more out of her than she will admit. My other prayer request is for our daughter Kaitlyn. She was in the ER last about a week and half ago for what they're calling a ruptured Ovarian cyst, and Mecenteric Adenitis (inflammation of pelvic lymph nodes). She's only 14 years old, and my prayer is that this will not be an ongoing problem. She's in the process of follow up Dr. appointments, so we hope to have more answers in the next few days. Yes, there is not a dull moment in the Zeigler house hold.
We hope you are all doing well, and will have a wonderful 4th of July! Thank you to all those in the service who fight for our freedom everyday!! God Bless America!!
It's very hot in Texas this time of year, so we're very thankful for our pool. Hate to admit, that I'm not able to sit out there like I used to. In the past I could lay in the pool for hours and play with the kids, but now, it's about an hour and I'm ready to sit my bottom in the air conditioned house, than in the pool. I don't want to blame it on age, but will use my illness to cover it up.
Speaking of illness, I'm hanging in there. Some days are really good, no nausea, no spasms, and food is good, but unfortunately I'm still having those days where life is pretty tough. I'm trying different medicine concoctions to see if any improvements can be made. Unfortunately, Gastric Dumping Syndrome will not correct it's self, so hopefully we can figure out meds to help, or we may have to defer to surgery. But, as I've told them from the start, I'm not physically or emotionally ready for another surgery. So...here we are, in a trial and error mode. I'm thanking God for the good days, though.
I do have couple prayer request, one for my Mom. She is still battling her Pneumonia, she is gaining some strength, but I know this took more out of her than she will admit. My other prayer request is for our daughter Kaitlyn. She was in the ER last about a week and half ago for what they're calling a ruptured Ovarian cyst, and Mecenteric Adenitis (inflammation of pelvic lymph nodes). She's only 14 years old, and my prayer is that this will not be an ongoing problem. She's in the process of follow up Dr. appointments, so we hope to have more answers in the next few days. Yes, there is not a dull moment in the Zeigler house hold.
We hope you are all doing well, and will have a wonderful 4th of July! Thank you to all those in the service who fight for our freedom everyday!! God Bless America!!
Monday, May 23, 2011
Happy Spring!
Hi friends!
Yes, it's been a long time, but with nothing much new, and the fact I couldn't find my info to get into the blog for the longest time, has lead to very few updates.
I saw Dr. Levey today (he's my surgeon) and he is quite pleased with how things are progressing. I'm still maintaining my blood sugars, so I haven't had to take insulin since the first of the year. I would say that I have more episodes of hypoglycemia, but they feel that is due to my gastric dumping syndrome more than anything else. He is still quite impressed with my scar, even with having the 2nd surgery. If you know a surgeons, you'll totally understand how they are. He asked me today if the surgery was worth it, and for the first time I said "yes". I think he's come to resolution that my weight is probably going to be my "new normal" and decided to quit bothering me about it.
The bowel spasms have decreased some, but still battling with them at least 3-4 times a week. Between the meds and the diet that I'm trying to follow has helped,so very grateful for that. I see Dr. Schiller (he's the GI dr. for the bowel spasms) next week, and will hopefully get some clearer answers and solutions next week.
My appetite is a little better, especially with my Mexican food. I'm learning by trial and error what foods agree and what foods don't. Sorry to say...ha ha... that vegetables are too hard on my stomach, so won't be eating them. Isn't that every kids dream? Funny enough, salsa doesn't bother me. I guess the Good Lord knew better than to take that away from me, He is GOOD!
Zach is home for the summer, and Kaitlyn will be done with school next week. It's so good to have them both home, even when they're fighting. Life is too short, I have definitely learned not to take anything for granted and to enjoy every minute of it. I've also learned not to sweat the small stuff. God has made it very clear, that through Him all things are possible.
For my fellow prayer warriors, please keep Rodney Lamfers in your prayers. I've mentioned him before, and how he is loosing his battle with Leukemia. Please pray for strength and comfort, especially for his wife Kerry and their 3 little girls. If you want to follow him, here is his caringbridge info. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/rodneylamfers
Thank you for all your continued prayers, emails and cards. God is Good, and I know he sends you my fellow believers to pray for me. Thank you, thank you! Hope each and everyone of you are doing well, and have a wonderful summer!
Love,
Lisa
Yes, it's been a long time, but with nothing much new, and the fact I couldn't find my info to get into the blog for the longest time, has lead to very few updates.
I saw Dr. Levey today (he's my surgeon) and he is quite pleased with how things are progressing. I'm still maintaining my blood sugars, so I haven't had to take insulin since the first of the year. I would say that I have more episodes of hypoglycemia, but they feel that is due to my gastric dumping syndrome more than anything else. He is still quite impressed with my scar, even with having the 2nd surgery. If you know a surgeons, you'll totally understand how they are. He asked me today if the surgery was worth it, and for the first time I said "yes". I think he's come to resolution that my weight is probably going to be my "new normal" and decided to quit bothering me about it.
The bowel spasms have decreased some, but still battling with them at least 3-4 times a week. Between the meds and the diet that I'm trying to follow has helped,so very grateful for that. I see Dr. Schiller (he's the GI dr. for the bowel spasms) next week, and will hopefully get some clearer answers and solutions next week.
My appetite is a little better, especially with my Mexican food. I'm learning by trial and error what foods agree and what foods don't. Sorry to say...ha ha... that vegetables are too hard on my stomach, so won't be eating them. Isn't that every kids dream? Funny enough, salsa doesn't bother me. I guess the Good Lord knew better than to take that away from me, He is GOOD!
Zach is home for the summer, and Kaitlyn will be done with school next week. It's so good to have them both home, even when they're fighting. Life is too short, I have definitely learned not to take anything for granted and to enjoy every minute of it. I've also learned not to sweat the small stuff. God has made it very clear, that through Him all things are possible.
For my fellow prayer warriors, please keep Rodney Lamfers in your prayers. I've mentioned him before, and how he is loosing his battle with Leukemia. Please pray for strength and comfort, especially for his wife Kerry and their 3 little girls. If you want to follow him, here is his caringbridge info. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/rodneylamfers
Thank you for all your continued prayers, emails and cards. God is Good, and I know he sends you my fellow believers to pray for me. Thank you, thank you! Hope each and everyone of you are doing well, and have a wonderful summer!
Love,
Lisa
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