Life and What's going on in Birmingham

Since I last post, I have done a yard sell and getting ready for VBS. I was so happy to get rid of some of the extra things that we have had since we got married. I sold a bunch of wedding gifts that we got and have never even used. Why is casserole dishes good gifts for newlyweds? I don't like casseroles and try to avoid them unless it's green bean casserole.
I have also tried a new recipe this week. I didn't think Andrew would like it, but it was pretty good. It's a recipe for chicken. You take your chicken breast rub it with sour cream then roll it in crushed tortilla chips with taco seasoning. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. It was so most and juice. I used some older chips, and it probably would have turned out better if I had used fresher chips. I know for next time.
I also got to spend time with my great friend Christina and her family on Tuesday. I was so nice to get to go swimming!! Like I said earlier, I haven't been swimming in over two years!! It was wonderful. I had a great time talking to her and her sweet family. Her mom and I got a chance to talk and to ask questions about what was going on last year. I love getting a chance to talk about what was going on with me last year. As I started telling her what was going on, I started crying. She help me to see that God was with me the whole time, and He never left me for a second. I couldn't have asked for a better time to realize this. She even asked how Andrew did during this time. This whole experience was an emotional toll on both me and him. She also told me that we all are saved by the grace of God, and read a few scriptures from Romans for me. I also told her that by the end of last summer I was really angry with God. I was hurt that He could allow something like to one of His followers. I didn't realize that I was a follower, but I wasn't on the path that he wanted me to be on. She prayed with me before we left and it was great to have someone there for me. I will be going back to swim with them, and enjoying a day with a very God fearing family.
Yesterday, I took Jake swimming at Mary Beth's. He actually got in and didn't cry much. He's not a baby any more!! He will be walking soon, and I know that when I keep him that I'll have my hands full then!! He such a joy to be around!!
Speaking of baby, Brooke's, my older sister, due date is Saturday. Her dr has told her if Jaylee doesn't come before Tuesday of next week, then he will put her in. He will more than likely do a c-section because both of them are running out of room. I will post pictures as soon as I get them!! I can't wait to meet my niece.
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This day last year, wow it's weird in how in one day your whole feeling can change. The day before I was told that I would get to go home today. I was so excited about getting to go home! By this time, I haven't seen home in over 3 weeks.
I was so excited that morning when the drs made their rounds and told me that I was going home. Well about about 10 that morning, my stomach started to really hurt like what it did before I had the surgery. I was scared to death. I looked at Andrew and told him was not ready to go. Something just didn't feel right. Purity, my nurse from Africa, was taking care of me that day. I'll get more in detail about her in a minute. They wanted to take my blood pressure and temp before they were going to let me go. I was running yet again another fever of 104. I was happy in on way and sad in another. I was not getting to go home that day and yet again I was 2 signatures to being discharged. They called Dr. Cannon and told her what was going on.
After lunch, which I didn't eat, Dr. Cannon came back by to see me and to schedule test for me. She order 22 tubes of blood and 2 blood cultures, CT scan of my stomach, and an X-Ray. I was very busy that afternoon.
Purity came in to draw all that she had to get. Keep in mind that I had my last blood transfusion the night before. She nearly killed me trying to get all that blood. They removed my pic just about 30 minutes before they checked my temperature. I was so mad!! I wanted to keep the pic because I was telling them that I didn't fell well. She and I were not on good bases to say the least. She couldn't understand me, and I couldn't understand her. I was not happy whenever she came to my room. She never did say that she was sorry for being so rough. She also was telling me that I couldn't have pain meds. I looked at her and told her that I was on two. She told me I wasn't. Dr. Cannon always told me when she was going to do something even taking me off something. I then called the charge nurse to come in. I told her what was going on and how she killed me earlier. I didn't want her as my nurse ever again. The head nurse told me that if I was here the next day that I would not have her! I was excited.
I went up and down for all my test. By the time I got back, it was time for shift change. My night nurse came in to check on me, and she had what I wanted in her hand. She said I noticed it's been awhile since you had this pain and nausa med. She asked who my day nurse was and when I told her she started to apologize. She said that there had been a lot of complaints on her that day. I was so happy to know that I was in hands that cared!
The next morning they made rounds again and told me the results from all my tests. She told me that the reason for my stomach pain was because I had an infection from the first surgery. She said that fluid had built up in my stomach. I was just like ok what do we do now. Dr. Cannon told me that she was going to try an antibodic and then if that didn't work surgery again. At about 8, my new day time nurse came in with the meds. I was feeling ok by then I guess you could say.
It was lunch time and Dr. Cannon came back by my room and asked me if I was ready. I said ready for what. She then told me that the meds were not working and that she was going to have to go back in to drain the fluid. I wasn't prepared for that all. I wanted to cry again but I knew that I had to call Andrew and get him back in the room as fast as he could. (Andrew was gone to lunch when Dr. Cannon came back in.) Andrew made it back just in time to walk down with me. I was already on the stretcher. I had no time to do anything else.
I went back to be preped and Andrew came to sit with me. I was back there for no more than 10 minutes, and they will me back for my second surgery. They cut me in the same place. OUCH!! I had to start all over again. I also woke up with a tube coming out of my lower stomach to help drain the fluid off.
I remember waking up in recovery asking for ice chips. I had a great recovery nurse. I was ready to get back to my room. I then remember waking up just before being in my room and seeing my parents there. I wondered how they got there because I didn't call them. I was in surgery about an hour and was in recovery for almost 6. I had a new nurse again which I gave a hard time to. My mom stayed with me that night so Andrew could get a goods night rest. I didn't realize that when you have surgery that ALL of the old orders for meds were no good anymore. I cried most of the night because I was in so much pain. The nurse couldn't do anything because the dr. on call is not allowed to give a patient that just had surgery any meds could order test if need be but no meds. I know that my mom was not sleeping well either because just like Andrew, I woke her up to help me roll over.
When Dr. Cannon made her rounds that next morning she had already heard about my night. She apologized for not prescribing me something for pain and told me that I would be in there for at least Sunday or Monday. I was beginning to wonder if I would ever see home again.
Andrew's parents were on the beach and almost drove back early. I gave everyone a good scare those few days. They wanted to be there, but Andrew called them, told them that I was fine and there was no need for it. I know that my dad yet again did 100mph to get there in time. They both just told work what was going on and left. No questions asked. On the way, my dad called Brandon's dad to tell him what was going on. It was a mess just like I was.