Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my moms birthday! Just wanted to make a quick post and tell her happy birthday!!! It is nothing short of a miracle that we were able to share this day with her. She is so amazing and we are thankful (daily) for her in our lives. Even though it is her birthday... she has given us the gift of her example and determination for life. We will treasure it always. Love you mom, all sixty years of you ;)

Mom is having some back pain, which is normal from the stint... but still isn't very fun :( Yesterday was a tough day for her, but thankfully she is feeling better today. That's a good birthday present I guess! No word on what the stone is made out of yet. She is scheduled to have the stint removed on Wednesday. They will take that out at the doctors office. She is SO glad about that. She says that once you get in that darn hospital... you can't get out!

A kidney stone!?

As if mom hasn't had enough fun this year... She thought she would top it off with a kidney stone. Between last week and this week she had three kidney stone attacks. Which means the stone was too big to make it out on its own, so it kept traveling back up to the kidney then back down to the ureter. Which causes an unspeakable amount of pain in the meantime. The last attack occurred at 3am on Tuesday morning, and she was in for a minor surgery at 11am that same day. Her docs decided that because the stone was a 8mm stone (OUCH) that they would go in and break it up and then insert a stint into the ureter to allow the stone or pieces of the stone to pass through with no pain (aaaahhhh). She was able to go home even that same day and is feeling great! She is up and moving and says she NEVER wants to do that again! They will send off the stone to see what it is made out of and hopefully tell her why her body made it and how to prevent her body from making more. She can't wait for that info :)

Drains, Drains go away!

I, Eja, am updating my blog. Ashley got me on the update place, so here goes. In June I finally got my last drain tube pulled out. I then waited for a week, went into the hospital for a CT scan. They wanted to see if the chest catheter was needed or if they could take that out. They looked and said, we'll take that out today. I now have no tubes! July and August have been good months for me. I only have the blood clot behind my left knee, but that's not been a big problem. I am feeling better everyday and able to go back to walking every morning and doing cooking and house cleaning, to certain extents. I have been so blessed!

I have wanted to send a big thank you for all the cards, phone calls, food,and money. They touched my heart and made me so appreciate people's thoughtfulness. Thanks for your prayers and fasting in my behalf. I can't tell you how much I have appreciated everything. I have been so humbled by all the kindnesses. I wonder how I would have ever made it through this hard time if not for all the caring family and friends I have. Wish I had words to express how grateful I am. Life is so good, I am enjoying getting back my strength. I have learned some very important lessons during these last 7 months. I hope I don't ever forget them or take life for granted.
,

A fast

Hello again. This Sunday is fast Sunday and we would be so grateful if you could please include Eja in your fast and prayers. Thank you soooo much for all of your concern, love, and support.

Inflammation, inflammation!

So sorry guys... life got a little crazy for a second there. Ok it still is crazy but I am making myself sit down and update all you poor souls out there who aren't getting the word about my sweet mom. Well, right now mom is having quite a problem with inflammation in her stomach, where her last surgery was done. Her doctors think that she started to do to much to soon, and now the muscle that was cut basically in half is inflamed. Bless her heart, she just started to feel so much better and was so tired of sitting. She thought doing a couple things around the house would be great! But her body didn't agree. With this inflammation comes a great deal of pain. Some days are better than others, but for the most part, she has been in a lot of pain. They took her in for a C.A.T. scan just to be sure that is what it was. They said the muscle is very inflamed and that everything else looked great. They started her on a new medicine yesterday that they are hoping will reduce that inflammation. She couldn't tell much difference yesterday, but today she felt much better. You could see that in her face. Poor little hunny! So- she currently has one drain tube, one tube that comes out of her chest (it is a stint placed in the liver, and can't come out until the drain tube comes out), and this inflammation. However, I have saved the best for last... her drain tube has been slowing way way down. It was producing anywhere from 75-100 ml every night. Then it was 50 for a while, then 35, 25, 20... and tonight was 5!!!! Yahoo!! We can't say for positive, but she will probably be able to get that out on Tuesday at her doctors apptmnt! She is sooooo excited about that. She says she won't know what to do with herself if she doesn't have any tubes coming out of her body. Right now, she packs it around in a cute little white bag that grandma Eva made her. It is a sight to behold. I'll put a pic on if she'll let me :) She can finally see some light at the end of the tunnel. Now- we just need to get this inflammation under control and she just might get to be a normal woman again. She can't wait.
Ashley Alldridge

Down to just one ball!!

Mom went into see her doctor today and overall, the visit went well. He looked at the one drain ball that has not been draining for several days now and decided to remove it. So, she has only one drain now. We will just have to play the waiting game now and see when it stops so it can come out too.
She says she is a big girl now and has fired all her sitters as of last week. WOW! She is doing really great! She continues to do as much as she can and her strong will and faith are definitely what carry her. She really enjoys visiting so if you are around, maybe give a call or stop by.
Than you for all your support and love.

Mom keeps amazing us all! She got her turtle shell on and went upstairs to cook some gravy for her potatoes! That picture was taken on April 6th. Yesterday, she went on a walk to the corner and back. What an amazing woman!! She is currently fighting yet another bacterial infection with I.V. antibiotics but is doing quite well. It sure seems like infection is the name of the game. We have no idea as to why she keeps getting infections... nor does her medical team. They stay right on top of it though, thank goodness. Her back really hurts were she has so many broken bones and the problem is that she can't wear her turtle shell because it rubs on her incision from surgery, but if she doesn't wear it- then her back kills? she can't win for losing on that one! She is just as cheerful as ever though. What an inspiration she is to us.
She loves to see everyone so if you are in the area, drop by and say, Hello.