Monday, February 7, 2011

A very long story made short

These past few weeks have been supremely rough for us. It started with horrible colds, fevers, sore throats, runny noses like you've never seen before, long sleepless nights, and then finally strep throat. It was a doozy of a cold we all got but we survived. Until I had the most horrible gallbladder pain- it was seriously some of the worst pain of my life. I saw a couple doctors, had a bunch of tests done, and found out I had a stone blocking my common bile duct. Which made me extremely jaundice. This all ended with me being admitted to the hospital immediately and having a couple of procedures done, the last of which was on open cholecystectomey. They basically cut open my abdomen to remove that stubborn stone causing so much trouble and my gallbladder. All the while, Chris was somehow able to juggle our two kids, One of which was a baby with an ear infection and who was NOT sleeping well, and still found time to get work done and visit me too. I was in the hospital for a week but I'm finally home now. My parents are here helping out and I don't know what we would do without them. I'm nervous about the recovery (it's going to be long and I can't even lift my baby right now!) and I'm nervous about keeping up my milk supply to nurse Alex but overall I am so very grateful to be home with my boys and for the many small miracles that I have witnessed the last couple of weeks. Thank you to all my family, friends and ward members who have helped my family, listened to me cry, and were there to support us with kind deeds and words. The love I have felt has been overwhelming. It has been a trial, no doubt about it, but it has definitely made me more grateful for the important things in life.

9 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh Val, I feel like we are going through the same things right now. We just got out of the hospital, but it was Grant that was super sick. Then, while he was in the hospital my leg swelled up. Now I am going in for surgery tomorrow. I know exactly how you feel and I am so sorry that you are going through all of this junk too. We're both going to deserve a vacation after this!

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  2. Oh gosh Val, I hope you recover fast!! I'll keep you in my prayers.

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  3. Val, that sounds AWFUL!! And as someone who has had two major abdominal surgeries (old fashioned appendectomy and c-section), I know how much it hurts to have your stomach muscles cut. Every week will get better. Keep taking those pain meds but eat LOTS of fiber at the same time... is that TMI for a blog comment? :) Sending happy recovery thoughts your way!

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  4. Oh you poor thing! That is the crummiest news. I hope you feel better quickly!

    And props to Chris for being Superdad!

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  5. Good heavens Val! Did you call me like right before you went into the hospital?

    Adam and I (and the pugs) are sending lots of love and good thoughts your way.

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  6. I am so happy you are finally home and that your family is there to help you. I wish I could be there to help too! Sending lots of love your way.

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  7. Oh, that's AWFUL!!!! I'm so glad surgery went well, and you're back at home. I hope you have a fast recovery. You're in our prayers!

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  8. I'm sorry, Val. I can't believe you had to be in the hospital for a week, and with all that suffering already going on at home. My prayers are with you and your little family. Life can be really tough, huh?

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  9. I was going to write a really long, really funny, and really random comment when I first clicked over to your blog (a la Chris), but when I read your post, I felt I would honor your travails with my restraint.

    I am glad you are feeling better. Hooray for Chris and everyone else for helping you make it through it. Glad things are starting to get better.

    By the way, I like how you wrote about your family tribulations in a kind of crescendo. You started with uncomfortable but not unusual ailments, worked your way up to pain, then surgery with a week of recovery. Every time I thought you'd gotten us through the worst, something else came up. You had me on the edge of my seat. Too bad it wasn't just a creative fiction story, because I am sure it was not fun to live through.

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