Bone Marrow Biopsy

Today I had the bone marrow biopsy. Everyone there was so friendly and nice. The Nurse Practioner who did it and the nurse were wonderful. I am hurting so I 'll keep this short. They did the biopsy in my left iliac crest. I was given some versed and they had me put 2 ultram thru my j-tube. I was awake for the procedure and able to let her know that I could feel her going in and hitting bone. She numbed me some more and was able to get the samples she needed. She kept saying just let me know if you feel it and I'll numb you more. Just didn't think that I would hurt this much after the procedure. Things could be worse, so I don't want to complain. I made it home and have been able to rest some on the right hip. I don't think I'd better do my 5 mile run in the morning like usual. (Just kidding:) Sometimes you have those moments that you just have to smile to keep from crying.:)

When I got there I had to have a CBC, and my Hemaglobin was 7.9. It doesn't surprise me considering the way I have been feeling and my heart has been racing. They have me getting 2 units of blood in the am as an outpatient. Guess you never know, maybe I'll feel like running out of the hospital afterwards:)

Matthew is starting to cough more but it is not as harsh and barky. Thank you so much for the prayers for our family. God is so good! Love-Jamie

The past few days...and tomorrow

It has been a couple busy days that have left my head spinning.  I had lab work on Monday and got a call from Cleveland saying that one thing was critically low and wanting me to go it a bag of the phosphorus. Well by the time we got off the phone, they were able to get a vial of it for me to add to my TPN each nite til my TPN gets mixed again on Wednesday.  :)  That saved me a trip from having to go to the ER when I had the visitation for my friend, Mary, to be attending.

Well...fast forward a few hours later and 9 pm I'm hooking up to my TPN, and when I flush my line I hear a pop and feel something wet.  As I look down at my double hickman line, the one I was flushing busted.  I think quick, and remember that I had a repair kit that they gave me for cases like this.  Shane found it and we put a plastic hemastat clamp on it to keep any air and germs out.  We look at the instructions in the kit and decide we better not try to do this on our own since we had one chance to do it right.  We got to the ER and they thankfully were able to fix it temporarily.

We came home and hooked to TPN.  With the way my blood sugars have been, I was told to check them occasionally.  Well, I remember at 12 am and so I hurry and check it-236. I wrote it down and went back to sleep.   The next morning while I was getting ready for the funeral I was fixing my hair and all of a sudden bright splotches of light was all I could see. I got to my bed and checked my blood sugar...50.  YIKES!  I did some sugar and a sip of juice and 20 minutes later it was up to 72.  What a crazy few days!  So thankful for prayer.  Who knows what Gods kept me from the past few days also!

 My little guy is croupy and temping off and on.  Trying to nurse him to health and protect myself from it at the same time.  It's hard not loving on him-just find different ways to do for now:)  Hate him being sick ,but enjoying the time together.

Tomorrow is the bone marrow biopsy in Peoria.  It's not till 1 pm and then Monday I go to Moline for a consult for my Hickman line and Tuesday they will put a new one in.  I've learned to always be ready for whatever is to come.  I would never have guessed last week that all this craziness would have happened, but I am blessed to say through it all I'm still trusting in God and leaning on HIS everlasting arms and thanking HIM for the strength he gives.  I'll keep praising HIM through it all.

Thank you for all your prayers!

Love
Jamie

Dr appt, updates, and tidbits

I am gaining my strength a little each day.  It still does not take much for me to tucker out.  So glad for NAPS! :)   They help me get recharged.  Some days I get by with one, other times it's two to make it through till bed time.

I had an appointment with the blood doctor to go over my hemoglobin.  I am producing new red blood cells which is good.  The question is why do I keep loosing blood.  When I was at Cleveland Clinic, they did 2 endoscopes and they both were fine regarding any blood loss.  So just to make sure all is well, I am having a bone marrow biopsy in the Peoria office on this Thursday.  I will be put out by the "twilight meds".  Then follow back with him in 2 weeks.


I want to thank you for praying for my friend, Mary, and her family.  She did pass away on Wednesday night.  :(  If you would please keep her family in prayers this week and the weeks to come, as I am sure it will be difficult for them.  She will be one very missed person.  I am grateful for the friendship I was able to share with her.

The weather is a bit yucky today.  We left church this afternoon with it sleeting a little and by the time I woke up from nap, it was icy.  Church was cancelled this evening, so it was a nice relaxing time.  The kids were wondering about supper by 5 pm so we did fresh veggies and dip and a good old frozen pizza.:)  Ha!  They played and giggled a lot tonight.:)

Hard to believe that January is almost behind us!  God is so good and I can't thank Him enough for His many blessings! So glad to be at home and enjoying my family!:)  It feels so good to be making steps forward, instead of backwards.   It feels so good to be up getting them off to school and when they come home going thru their backpacks and seeing what is in their folders from the day.  Letting them tell me the excitement of the day while they eat a snack.  I am enjoying the snuggles, hugs, kisses, and I love you's.  They have been a big help with things around the house also.  :)  My heart is full tonight as I get ready to crawl into my bed.  I am so blessed!  I am so thankful for the greatest husband who keeps our family going tying up all the loose ends at home and does his own work at his office-never complaining!  Thank you Lord for blessing me with such a wonderful husband who has stood by my side and held the kids together thru this.  God is our refuge and strength!

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.  Thank you for your prayers for us.  God is so wonderful!  I want to thank you for your emails of encouragement also!

Love-Jamie

Getting back to the routine

It feels so good to be home and to be a family. :)   Not much to report.  It doesn't take much for me to wear out easily though.  I feel as though I am taking baby steps, but I am thankful it is at least steps forward.  I'm ready to take some giant steps, but it is too much on me.  I am so grateful for my naps.  Day by day, with patience, I'm making it.  I am beginning to gain my strength.:)  I can't thank you enough for all your prayers.

I have blood work tomorrow and Thursday I have an appointment regarding my hemoglobin.  

I am asking for you to please pray for a friend Mary that I use to work with at the dentist office.  She has cancer and is in the last stages of it.  Her daughters are helping with her care.  I can't imagine how hard it is for them, but yet rewarding to them to be able to do it.  I was able to see her Friday for a little bit.  It was rough, but so thankful I was able to.  Please remember Mary and her family through this time. May God just surround her room with His presence and be with all of them.  She's one very loved lady.  Thank you so much for praying for them.
 
Love-Jamie

HOME :)

We made it home last night. :)  It felt so good to be in my own bed.  My TPN and supplies were all here at the house.  Shane unloaded the vehicle and it did not take long for me to get hooked up and in the bed:)   I sat my phone alarm so I could take my meds and not get off track.  That is probably one of the hardest things for me when adjusting back to home.  I am the one who has to draw them up and administer them, too!  I have 3 meds that are by IV and one that I do through the J-Tube, so it's not too bad.  It is just so good to be at home with my FAMILY.  

I woke up around 10 and by 11 or so my blood sugar was under 60!  I was feeling pretty shaky so I did a blood sugar check and called to see what to do.  I think tonight I'll check it before bed and maybe early morning to see what it's doing.  The TPN is running at 12 hours instead of 16 and it is so nice.  I am enjoying the freedom of no backpack:)  

Today, I was able to enjoy the kids coming home from school.  The simple little things like a BIG hug, hearing about their day, and the famous words, "I'm hungry!" or "What's for snack?":).  I had fun going through their folders in their backpacks.  Hearing Kailey practice her  recorder.  Listening to all the fun and excitement of their day.  Just sitting in my bed with Matthew and reading a book.  

My wonderful husband came home tonight and with the kids brought up the totes and we put the Christmas decor all away.  I did a little here and there, the kids had a blast tearing down, I mean taking down:), the tree.  I'm sure in the summer, or when I am feeling more up to it, I'll try to go through and organize the boxes a little better.  It feels good to at least have a little bit of the house back in order.  ahhh

Tonight, I am enjoying the sounds of bath water running for kids.  Hearing them play together.  Listening to them laugh and giggle.  The kids going up and down the stairs.  The sounds of suit cases being unpacked. Receiving some much needed hugs and kisses.  

God is so good, and I feel so blessed!

Hopefully the last post from room 5 :)

I am posting from room 5 of the OB/GYN unit hopefully for my last time. I had my EGD today and the doctor who did it was so nice. He sat himself at the edge of my cart and just talked about my history with the gastroparesis, then about my husband and his job and about the 3 kids. When it was time for the procedure, he came and got me by himself and wheeled me to the procedure room. All went well with the procedure and looked good with the J-Tube. :) I did have some polyps, but he didn't want to remove them today and cause bleeding to start. So glad that nothing else was found. I don't need any other issues going on. Taking it easy tonight and I should be getting discharged tomorrow!!! Shane is packing up the hotel tonight so we can hopefully head from the hospital to being on the road to HOME.:)

I am also going to be having more calories added to my TPN but only be on it for 12 hours a day. They are changing that, starting at 10 pm tonight.:)

So grateful to the Lord for wonderful staff. The Doctors, Residents, RNs, Aides, & Transportation people have all been beyond wonderful. :)

There is a song I've had going in my head yesterday and just thought I'd share it with you. I need your mercy, I need your grace, I need your Hand leading the way. I can't make it without you, not for one day-cause I need your mercy and I need your grace. It's a beautiful song and how very true-I don't want even one step that I take through all of this... to be without being with HIM. I don't want to do it by myself or ever think that I can. I need HIM by my side guiding my every step I take on this journey. I know I am never alone and he is right there beside me faithful & everything I need. To God be the Glory. :)

Thanks for all the prayers, love, and support!!!

Love-Jamie

Posting from room 5

I never did get to explain what floor I am on at Cleveland Clinic. :) I'm on the OB/GYN unit! :)) No worries, that is not the reason for the nausea and vomiting. They were full in the GI floor and since they were low census I was placed here. I have been well taken care of! :) They know that my tray HAS to have a cherry icee.;) It feels so good on my throat.

Both teams came in today. The nutritional team added more protein to my TPN and changed the phosphate. The GI team said it was a no go for the EGD with balloon today so tomorrow instead. I had the RN check to be sure that I was on the schedule with a time instead of trying to just pencil me in somewhere. I am down for 1 pm to have it done Wed, Jan 9th. They are just wanting to check the area where the J-Tube is with the redness I have on the outer opening of the hole.

Thank you for all your prayers! God is Faithful! :)

I'm still here at the hospital

I'm sorry for not updating sooner, thank you for understanding and being patient. :)

Wowsers!! Thank the Lord that Sunday is behind me!! It was a very rough day to say the least. By the time I got to feeling well enough to call Shane, he was already in the hospital and on his way up to my room. He came in and I explained how I was feeling and wasn't up to any company. They stayed about maybe 30 minutes and he wasn't feeling well himself with a head cold and stuff so they headed to have lunch and go to the hotel and do laundry and rest.

Thank the Lord for answering prayer though. I was able to start making a turn for the better by late that evening. With Sunday being so rough for me, the GI team decided to look at the J-Tube by endoscopy so I woke up thinking today I would be added on. Well...they were unable to get me in so praying that tomorrow there is a cancel and they add me on. I am still having pain, nausea, and dry heaving, but greatful to not be vomiting. :) I am so glad to feel like the worst is behind and don't want to go back to that point again. They are adjusting my TPN so it is causing my blood sugars to go crazy above 200, and into the 60's other times.

The staff here has been so wonderful and great. My dear husband deserves a huge steak dinner and the precious kiddos a day at Chuckee Cheese to be a kid all day. They have been very good the times they've come to visit. Matthew had some handcuffs he was playing with today and a nurses boyfriend who is a policeman stopped in to show his real cuffs to Matthew. He took a little time to have some "boy" talk:). It was so cute.

I thank you once again for all your prayers, love, and emails of encouragement. God is Faithful! A song that has gone thru my mind tonight I've been humming is-“I need you more, more than yesterday. I need you more, more than words can say, I need you more, than ever before I need you Lord, I need you more.” I can't remember the verses, but oh just to lean on HIM, knowing He is more than enough and able to see me through. To just lean on the everlasting arms!

Love-Jamie  

It's a new day! :)

It was a start of a new day today and I'm so thankful for God answering prayers!!! I'll take my miracle day by day or all of it at once. I just can't thank Him enough for a better day. I have had dry heaving but not vomiting. Ahhh!!! :) I'm still in Cleveland Clinic Hospital. The RN and Aides are super nice along with the Residents and Dr's. The game plan when admitted Thursday was discharge on Sunday, but I still need to turn a few corners yet. I have gone from 2 people assisting me to the restroom to one. :) I'm still exhausted over doing the littlest of things. Just wears me out to do even talk sometimes. I do force myself to sit up for a while so I don't lose all my strength. I did have an Endoscopy down my throat Friday. Due to me vomiting they put me under all the way, in case I would aspirate. It showed that I had some inflammation in the stomach. They ruled out no blockage -thank you Lord! Also while there they changed my G-Tube to a 18 french to a 24 french (now my terminology-the opening of the hole of where the G-Tube goes is larger). They wanted to see if that might help the stomach content to pass quicker. I got to my room last evening and for the most part slept till this am. Today I was able to eat 1/4 of a cherry popsicle and a Italian Cherry ice. I was nauseated and dry heaving. But ohhh it felt so good to my throat. Ahh :0 Tomorrow I hope to hear from the Dr's of a game plan for the rest of the stay.

While praying for me, please pray for my sweet Husband and 3 precious kiddos. This isn't what we had in mind for them. They have been wonderful and done well for being couped up in a hospital since Thursday. They also have gone on walks to give me rest so they are exploring the hospital. They have discovered a McDonald's, Subway, their own cafeteria, and a Mexican Restaurant. There are some Au Bon Pain cafe's here and a Starbucks for you coffee lovers. :)

Time for me to sleep between a 12 am blood draw, 1 am meds, 4 am blood draw and 5 am meds. Thank you so much for all your prayers, phone calls, and emails. What a blessing! I am thankful to be here and for God's strength He has given. I have renewed strength while I wait.
Love-Jamie

In Cleveland

Post by Shane

Jamie has been admitted to the Cleveland Clinic Hospital for further testing to figure out what's going on.  She's in a really weakened condition right now with all of the vomiting.  

Thank you for all of the prayers.

Arrived to Cleveland

We have arrived to the hotel here in Cleveland.   It was a rough trip for me, but thankful for all those who prayed that I could endure the trip.  My appointment is tomorrow afternoon.  I hope to update my blog once we get back to the hotel tomorrow.  I am still very nauseated and throwing up several times.  Thank you for all your prayers!!!!! :)