Surgery Success!

Thank you all so much for your patience as I have processed, talked to both sets of parents, processed, helped take care of a very silly and confused Robbie, processed, watched Parenthood on the laptop in Robbie's room, gone out to transfer my kiddos from one friend's car to another and processed some more.

Surgery was actually fairly quick this afternoon, lasting just about an hour.  When the surgeon came out of the OR area he breezed right past me toward the exit and I thought that he was going to leave without talking to me!  So in my shameless way I stalked him down the hall...  Fortunately he was just talking to two other families before coming back to me.  Unfortunately, I'm pretty certain he noticed me skulking (an appropriate distance away) behind the artificial tree confirming any suspicions that he may have already had about my questionable mental status.

Here is where I warn you that if you are squeemish about seeing someone's insides TURN AWAY, TURN AWAY!

Alright.  For the two of you still here:

This is what the doc found when he got inside.  This is Robbie's abdominal wall.  See it?  Nope.  Me neither.

Until he showed me this.  This is what it is supposed to look like and what it did look like when he was done.  The area with the pattern to it is the mesh that they placed as part of the hernia repair.  All of that mesh was completely covered with adhesions.

Wikipedia explains adhesions much better than I could:  Adhesions are fibrous bands that form between tissues and organs, often as a result of injury during surgery. They may be thought of as internal scar tissue that connects tissues not normally connected.

Here you can see that healthy, integrated (that's what the doc called it) mesh in the top portion of the photo and the adhesion at the bottom as it was being peeled away.  Notice the stringy appearance where it is attached to the abdominal wall.  Ick!

  

So, the surgeon basically said that there were adhesions throughout the abdominal wall.  He said that he "cleaned them up" and likelihood of reoccurrence is low -- although the occurrence at all is relatively uncommon.   Imagine that.  Robbie have a rare medical issue?!?!  Anyway, as long as the adhesions don't reappear this should take care of that daily, constant, diffuse abdominal pain he's been having!  The surgeon also followed the entire length of Robbie's bowel and stated that he found 3 or 4 spots where it was adhesed together that he "snipped."  Which should help relieve/prevent from happening the bowel obstructions. 

So how did this all happen in the first place?  Well, we don't know.  Doc was explaining that when they place the mesh in the belly it creates an inflammatory response -- sort of like the body is trying to "reject" the mesh.  That is no longer happening here, but it may have immediately after the mesh was placed. Part of why reoccurrence is so low.  If new mesh isn't being placed then there isn't going to be that big inflammatory response from the surrounding tissue. Another thought that my mom had is that the Valley Fever that Robbie also currently has (another blog post explaining comes soon) causes inflammation throughout the body. So it is very possible that the Valley Fever inflammation helped in creating the "perfect environment" for adhesions to form.

So now we wait and heal and hopefully don't re-adhese.  We pray and eat and rest.  So far this recovery already feels to completely differently to last time.  But right now I keep falling asleep at the keyboard so I will go sleep and keep y'all posted tomorrow,

Abandoned blog turned medical journal

Hello Friends,

I just wanted to start by thanking everyone who has been praying, writing, calling, texting and loving us.  I know that we have been terrible at responding lately and I appreciate your understanding and grace as we continue on this medical journey. In our efforts to keep you all better informed and disseminate the latest info without burning me out, we decided to revitalize my old blog as a place to post info so it will be accessible for everyone who has been so kind and is thinking about us.

I am going to start with where we are right now, so for those of you who haven't been aware of Robbie's medical issues the past 7 months I will try to catch you up with posts in the next few days.  For the current issues to make sense though, it is important to know that Robbie unexpectedly woke up with an umbilical hernia while we were on vacation this summer.  A visit to urgent care and ER later we were assured that it was a small, uncomplicated hernia that could wait for repair until we got home to Texas. Three weeks later, when he was finally seen by a surgeon, the hernia was no longer so simple and needed urgent surgery.  Robbie spent 4 days on bed rest per the surgeon's orders while waiting a surgery spot. On August 20th the hernia repair with mesh was completed. It was a long day as the earlier surgery had ended up complicated and took 5 hours more than they'd planned.  But it was done and by 10pm that night I had a very groggy, pained husband home.  We were told recovery would be 3-5 days of light activity with full recovery in 6-8 weeks.  Unfortunately that has not been our experience.  It has been 6 months and Robbie is still experiencing daily pain or "soreness" at his side where the mesh was attached, increased severe pain anytime he walks any distance more than just to the mailbox and back, and completely inability to lift, carry or normally participate in his previous daily activities.

Robbie was admitted to the hospital this past Friday, February 20th at about 3am with a bowel obstruction.  It had been exactly 4 weeks since he was last admitted for his first bowel obstruction.  Needless to say, two obstructions in 4 weeks isn't normal or a good sign.

While he is doing somewhat better now than when admitted (pain is mostly resolved, nausea is almost nonexistent and he is no longer vomiting) he appears to still be obstructed....if you know what I mean.  :-/

Yesterday he had the pleasure of consuming some lovely radioactive juice (barium) and getting a series of about 12 CTs of his belly taken until the barium hit his colon - at which time they watched it "live" as it made its way down.  It had sounded while he was in there like they had noticed something, but the radiology report came back as "normals study" so today the surgeon will be taking him to OR for "Exploratory Laproscopic" surgery. Basically he is hoping to find a location(s) where Robbie's abdomen or colon developed adhesions in the process of healing from the last surgery. If he does, he is hoping that these are small enough that he can snip the adhered portions apart and that this  will free the colon so there are no further obstructions. He is also hoping that there are adhesions of  some kind at the mesh attachment points toward the sides of Robbie's abdomen that will explain the constant side pain and can be revised to improve that situation.

They had been hoping to fit Robbie in between two patients on this morning's schedule but at this point, I don't think that will happen.  So I'm guessing surgery will finally happen sometime late this afternoon.  Here's what we would love for you to do for us:

Please PRAY.  Pray for them to find SOMETHING to explain all of these issues.  Robbie literally has not had a pain free day since the surgery in August.  Pray that whatever they find is minor, easily addressed and successful.

Please pray for peace. For both of us.  Surgery recovery did not go well at all in August.  Robbie will easily admit that he is honestly afraid - not of surgery, but of the pain, frustration and potential for more adhesions involved in recovery.  Pray for me.  For those who know my family history, the surgical waiting room is not a good place for me.  I don't do well in there.  Pray that I can keep myself distracted, remained focused on positive memories and that I'm not in there for long!

Pray for our sweet babies and the amazing people who have taken care of them while we are here yet again. We were so blessed that Nana and How were in town the night we came to the hospital and while everyone wishes that visit would have been different, it was so reassuring to know our girls were safe, loved and having fun. So many other people from homeschool moms in our co-op, the Godparents and friends down the street have been amazing and enabled me to be with Robbie and talk with docs while our babies are playing and happy.  But it's taking a toll on the girls. Evie wakes me up in the middle of the night just to check "Dada still in hoss-a-pull?"  Pray for Robbie's parents who are so far and so worried and feel so helpless.

I'll post again when we have some news about the surgery time...

From "Pinned" It to DID It: Mug Cake

When I first starting hearing the buzz about "Pinterest" about 6 months ago I thought "Great, one more thing to waste my time on." I don't have my FaceBook problem (like as in 12-step program, "Hi, my name is Catharina and I have a problem) under control and I was going to add something else to the mix? (Oh and don't tell Robbie that I confessed I have a FB problem. He doesn't believe in saying "I told you so" but he'd have the 'look.' Oh, yes, he'd have the look.) So, I exercised some self control and just avoided it. Then at New Years, one of my closest friends was here visiting and I got a taste of the goodness that is Pinterest. Let's just say that she decided she wanted to show me something and had to go through her Pinterest boards to find it. That's probably not what happened. Probably, I asked her to show me what it was, but it's more fun to blame her. Being a visual person, I got REALLY excited about being able to organize all of the random things that I had "bookmarked" on my computer into something that would actually be useable for me to find what I wanted when I needed it. Fast forward 3 weeks. I have a newborn and I sent above (convicted without a trial) friend a text message: "Can you send me a Pinterest request?" After some teasing about how much time I obviously (didn't) have with Evangeline less than a week old, she saw my point that I would need something to entertain and keep me awake during middle of the night feedings. 

From the first I have not been the average pinner. I have, in 3 months, only pinned what some folks do doing their afternoon potty break (oh come on, you know you do it too!). I had no goal to amass a giant, unmanageable pile of stuff, just to have a place to organize things that I actually intent to do! So I have been attempting the things I've been pinning and documenting those attempts in photos. So....here is one more thing for you to pin! My reviews! 

Eating a mug cake while writing a blog:

One of the first things that kept popping up on the "boards" were the infamous "mug cakes." Being gluten intolerant, none were appropriate for me. But one night I got the CAKE CRAVING beyond what I could deny. So I went on the hunt. And this is what I pinned.  However, as I didn't have any of the flours listed in that recipe I went back on the hunt and found something different.  I couldn't pinned the new recipe though because it didn't have any "Pinnable images." Whatever that means.

After several attempts and lots of "tweaking" I now have my own recipe and instructions, based on this above that is a bit healthier and a much more reasonable portion!

Place the following into each of TWO regular size coffee mugs and mix:
1 T. Tapioca flour
1 T. Rice flour
1 T. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1 T. sugar
1 T. Splenda baking mix
pinch of xanthum gun

In another mug mix:
3 T. milk
2 T. applesauce
1 T. oil
1 egg

Split the wet mix into the two dry mix mugs.  Mix the tar-nation out of it.  Put them both in the microwave and cook on full power for 3 minutes.  Try to be patient before taking a bite in order to not scald the carp (yes, carp) out of your mouth.  (Don't ask how I know this.)

Re-Boot

It was one of those mornings...

Last night I slept with first one and then the other of my girls -- a privilege, but one that doesn't always lead to a well rested Momma. I didn't get out for my run because of the weather. Violet got as far as a shirt on before she decided that she was dressed for the day -- pj pants and uncombed hair for her. Evie has forgotten how to nap since our trip to Cali. Thank goodness she is still a GREAT night time sleeper, but days are one long string of snooze, cry, eat, cry, fight sleep, snooze. Robbie had to leave early for school in order to get caught up on work.

It didn't help that after a trying day yesterday, I had been SOOOO ready for bedtime...which had turned into almost three hours of Momma and Daddy switching off which crying girl they were trying to comfort. The big sister who was all out of sorts for no identifiable reason or the little sister who kept getting woken by the big sister's crying. So. Suffice it to say that even a good morning may not have looked so great through my cloudy colored glasses.

I was already scheduled to spend part of the day down at my Mom's for a visit, but by the time I got Violet and Evie loaded in the car I felt more like I was running away. And nothing could have been better for us! Five hours of forgetting unpacking, skipping spring cleaning and playing unabashedly with each of my girls -- able to give them each my undivided attention while Nana and "How" entertained the other. Ahhhh... Who would have guessed I needed a vacation right after my vacation?

Nothing was different when I left. Still hadn't gotten to run. Still a suitcase full of stuff for me to trip over. Still loads of dirt springing up all over my house, waiting to be cleaned. But my girls are a day older. A good day older. One where the moments may not have been "picture worthy" or that I'll remember in detail forever, but a good day where I got to enjoy them. For who they are. Today. It was like each of our attitudes toward one another got a "Re-Boot." And it was great.

Can you believe that these sweet faces really ever cause any trouble?

Our new gift

Because...

...I got a wonderful camera for my birthday gift.
...I haven't shared these with anyone yet.
...these are too good to sit on the hard drive.
...there are many reasons I intend to begin blogging again regularly.
...our girls are an amazing gift from God.
...I just wanted to share.

Enjoy! :)

In case you hadn't heard...

Initially Girl Baby Announcements

Shutterfly has cute birth announcements and Valentine's cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

"I Wish...."

I heard this for the first time on Tuesday. We were on the way up to Tucson for an appointment and this voice from the back seat says,

"Momma...Momma....I wish we could have a puppy at our house."

Well, I guess she knew to start with a doozie! Since then, I've heard a few "wishes" a day. And I've taken special note of them. Because Violet seems to understand that a "wish" isn't for just anything. She saves it for the special stuff.


"I wish I could play toys with Hopey!"

"I wish we were goin' to Caf-i-lornia ta-day!"

"I wish we were sleepin' at Gramma and Crampa's tonight."

"I wish we could see Al......I wish we could see Al and Junianna."

"I wish we could stay at Nana and How's a couple minutes."

"I wish I could go ta school wif Dada."

"I wish Abby was comin' right now!"

"I wish How could play toys wif me again."

"I wish it could be Chris-mas tomorrow."

"I wish I could see Gumbo and horseys and rockets.....and ride on dem!"

"I wish Kuhsten could come be here wif us."


I love hearing my daughter's "heart's desires." And I hope that she always has "wishes" that are generally so people focused and relational.....and that as she grows that one of her foremost relational "wishes" is regarding her relationship with Him.

Tonight I wish that I don't forget to treasure these moments, to remember what she says, to store these things up in my heart. These are good days...