What a Week

What a week we have had! Quite honestly, I remember bits and pieces from this past week after being drugged up on all the meds they sent me home with following surgery. Well, let me re-phrase that, the meds that I was put on at the ER. On Saturday hours after the surgery, the pain became so intense that Kevin had to take me to the ER to get me stronger pain pills. I ended up being prescribed types of pain pills, a muscle relaxer and phenegran to keep it all down. This is why I don't recall too much of that week. The couch has become my best friend, as it hurts to much to walk up the steps and it's the only place I can find a comfortable position. Pillows on all around my upper body and a body pillow that I am cuddling up to. FYI: I really miss sleeping in my bed next to my husband! I keep hoping that in the next couple of days I will be able to sleep upstairs. The pain is still pretty intense and the recovery harder than I ever anticipated. I am not able to sit because of the pain, when I do, I sit crooked. Thankfully, the kids were actually pretty well behaved and Kev was amazing with taking care of me throughout the week with him being home.

During the week, the kids constantly asked me if I needed anything. Every time I moved, someone was near me asking what I needed. I couldn't even head to the bathroom without being told to just stay where I was and let them take care of me. Sorry guys, this one is a little bit too personal for that. I told them unless they could empty my bladder then had to move. haha. I did end up back in the ER over the week for not being able to urinate for more than 24 hours. They put a catheter in to empty me out and there was a lot to empty. Then it took me about 15 more hours to be able to go on my own.

On Wednesday the girls made a tent in their room with blankets and slept on the floor. On Thursday they asked me if they could do it in the backyard and sleep there. They made the tent, but slept inside. I'm pretty sure the tent was just for them to play in. Real cute idea! I love how these three have amazing imaginations!

On Friday, they decided they wanted to make the tent again, only this time we broke out the two man tent and put it up in the backyard. Once up, they grabbed their sleeping bags, more blankets, pillows, flashlights, and other things and headed to the backyard for a night of camping out. To our surprise, they actually slept all night in the tent! Kevin and I never thought they would make it through the night. The next morning they could not stop talking about how awesome it was to camp in the backyard! Made us feel like awesome and cool parents! lol. They asked again for Saturday night, but that idea only lasted a few minutes before they realized they would rather stay in their room. Probably because of how dark it was...I wish I had taken more pics of this for them! Next time!!!

On Sunday, I felt like doing something with them for being so awesome and helpful during the week, so we made Edible Carrot Gardens. Way cute idea!  The carrot gardens we made from vanilla wafers as the sides and bottom, chocolate wafers or oreo style crushed cookies, orange Mike & Ikes, chocolate frosting to hold it together, and green licorice style candies. Super easy and fun for the kids! They get to eat it, so it doesn't take up crazy room in the house and the kids loved it! Great dessert!

Thank you so much for the ones that have stood by my side through the past week and the aftermath of the surgery! You guys are all amazing and I am so lucky to have each of you in my life. I love you all! Thanks for getting me through this crazy mess and keeping me positive. Thank you to my husband, for never letting me down and being more than I could have asked for during this time and always. I love you more than any amount of words can ever express!

Messy Wing Night & Medical Update

Tonight while eating dinner we discovered another way on how Nicholas is so much like Kevin! It really is quite frightening to be honest. Kevin and I have always been huge fans of either making wings or ordering some. The girls like them, but it's not something they go out of their way to ask for. Nicholas LOVES chicken, especially wings! Tonight for dinner we grilled some awesome wings! Of course, Kevin always makes his own mix of sauces...never tasting the same but always amazingly tasty! Tonight was absolutely no different. All three kids inhaled the wings. Nic decided to literally eat everything off the bone and pretty much lick it clean. I was quite grossed out when I heard a "crunch" from him taking a piece of the bone off. Yuck! I had to start taking bones away before he ended up choking himself. Caitlin and Nic we so overly messy once finished. Of course Caitlin went into the bathroom to wash her hands and face, while Nic had other plans. He decided to lick every single finger then even started licking his palms. I was able to take pictures of Nicholas while he was chowing down and Caitlin's messiness after eating, but wasn't able to get one of Bre.

Medical Updates:


Let's just start with, we have a very busy summer on our hands now! On Saturday I go in for my spinal surgery at six in the morning. The procedure itself should take less than an hour, but we will have to spend a little time before and a couple hours after in recovery, then I should be on my way home. As of right now, they are planning on it being an outpatient procedure, but are fully aware of my medical conditions, so if need be, they will admit me. They will be monitoring me with more machines and doctors than they typically do because of my kidneys and overall health. My kidney function came back today in the normal range! Yay. That is always nice to see. However, as we all know, that can change in a matter of minutes with my condition. Please say a prayer. My thyroid panel also came back in the normal range, which means that I can go through with this procedure. If it ever comes back abnormal, I have to wait until I am in the normal range for at least six weeks unless it is an emergency since I do not have a thyroid gland. We learned this the hard way in 2005 when I had to have an emergency laparoscopy from multiple ovarian cysts that ruptured at one time. I was sent to ICU following the procedure. We were in Germany at the time. They were not able to get me to wake up after the surgery due to my health. It was pretty scary. It took more than half the day of me being closely monitored in ICU before they could take me to my room. I don't remember much about it at all, but I do know that Kevin was freaking out because they told him to expect me in a little over an hour and it was HOURS later. Yes, we were at a German hospital, so the language barrier made it difficult at times. Unstable thyroid panels can send a person into a coma from the anesthesia. Needless to say, I am sure you all understand my excitement now over my levels being normal. I have to have them checked every six to eight weeks, which is quite often. The only somewhat worrisome part on my labs was my RBC (red blood count). It is showing I am still anemic. I just haven't been able to keep it up and normal since I went into kidney failure the first time in August. It's very frustrating and really upsets me to be honest. But, that is a different topic for a different day. After my surgery, the full recovery takes between six months to a year! Not looking forward to that, but I will say it will be better to be in pain while recovering than to experience the pain I am now with nothing to look forward to.

On Friday I had to have two biopsies, one on my face and the other on my shoulder. If you have never had to have that done by a dermatologist, feel lucky! The numbing injection BURNS like crazy! I now know exactly what Kev was talking about when he had his done earlier this year. Insane! Anyhow, the doctor wasn't too concerned about the spot on my jaw line, but was somewhat concerned about the spot on my shoulder and mentioned Basal Cell Carcinoma. I should know something by Friday on each one. I am praying that it is benign, like he said it probably is. One skin cancer person is enough. Kev's surgery was a success to remove another spot of Squamous Cell Carcinoma! His face and scar look great!

Kevin saw his neurosurgeon today and disc replacement surgery has been scheduled for later next month. They are replacing his C4 and C5 discs and doing a fusion on the area directly below it. He is looking forward to the surgery and the fact that soon he will feel much better. In 2007 he was thrown from the turret of his vehicle while gunning after they were hit with an IED. During this time, he broke his elbow, messed up his back, busted the front top portion of his head, and now has permanent TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) from it. *This is what caused he permanent nerve damage in both arms that led to the ulnar nerve replacement surgeries at the end of 2009. His arms are so much better! His left arm is great, but his right arm isn't as strong as we hoped it would be. He is able to open and close both hands again and does have feeling back for the most part.* Back to the disc replacement. The recovery is about 6-8 weeks overall. The first few days will be somewhat hard and he will stay overnight in the hospital the night of the procedure. I can't wait for Kev to get through the recovery and to see him without being in so much pain all the time! I am ready to take on this recovery with him just to see him in a better condition!

As far as my pelvic/abdominal issues, the surgeon I was sent to explained that this surgery is even too much and complicated for him. I am seeing my GYN on July 7 to see what our next plan of action is. She may want to do a clean up laparoscopy because the adhesions need to be cleaned out again. She has already mentioned that. I will update on here as soon as I hear something in a couple weeks!

The summer may be busy, but I have no doubts over it and know Kevin and I can tackle it head on!

On a bright note, this month marks eleven years of Kevin and I being together. How awesome is that?!?! At the end of the day, I can honestly say, our marriage and relationship is better now than it has ever been. It's an amazing thing to look at my husband eleven years later and feel more in love than ever before! We sure have come a long ways!

Anxiously Awaiting Bre's Tonsillectomy

Tonsillectomy

Next week Breanna will undergo her first (and hopefully, her last) surgery! On 14 January 2011 Breanna is having a tonsillectomy due to tonsillitis that she has had numerous times, which has led to respiratory infections and more issues with her asthma. This past year we have had to keep her inhalers and nebulizer on hand at all times. It has been kind of scary, but something we have been able to control for the most part at home. Her breathing become pretty shallow the last couple of months of 2010 and we ended up having to increase her albuterol intake as well as put her back on flovent. Both inhalers.

She is better now, just anxiously awaiting the surgery. We have told her that we will pick up foods that she can eat, which of course with an unlimited amount of popsicles and ice cream, she seems to be better already! Bre has fallen in love with modeling clay, so over the next week we are going to experiment with making our own modeling clay. I found a really cool recipe for it, so fingers crossed that it works out! It will give her something to do while she is home. She has to stay home to week following the surgery and can return to school the week after that. She is on two to three weeks of restrictions. The bad part for her is that we have to figure out a way to fit Caitlin’s birthday party into this since Kevin will more than likely be away in February. His company is scheduled for the field.

We met with nurses an anesthesiologist a few days ago at WBAMC for Bre’s pre-op appointments. Bre was great during these appointments, except for the occasional moments of pure boredom! After one appointment we had some time to kill, so we headed over to main post. Man, has that place changed since the rebuilt everything and added even more! We rarely go to the PX area on post. Bre and I walked around the new PX (kind of reminded me of the one in Wiesbaden, Germany.) It is so big now! Amazing! The food court has so much to choose from, including Starbucks and Arby’s. I have never seen an Arby’s on post! Pretty cool. They have also added so many shops, Wild Wings, a movie theater and so much more! It looks so much better now! Fort Bliss did an amazing job!

Frustrated Beyond Belief

I usually don't come on here to vent or anything similar to that. Yet, I do tend to find some sense of relief to just let it out when there is something on my mind. Blogging seems to be my best outlet at times. As many of you know, we are waiting on EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program) to be updated. As of right now Breanna and I are in the expired status... what that boils down to is we can't do anything right now until this update takes place. My frustration? We saw the doctors awhile back (both of us for the proper paperwork to be filled out) and turned all documents (yes, I did make me a copy for our files, I do with everything) into the EFMP office. I turned them ALL in on May 4! We were told it would be reviewed that Thursday, or the following Thursday because they were backed up due to a change in doctors that review all cases. At this point, we were looking at a week worth of waiting. No big deal really. Problem now? We are exactly five weeks into this and no one has even touched our packets! Yes, I am beyond angry with this place! Kevin and I went into the EFMP office two weeks ago to check the status and we were told that our packets would be reviewed this PAST Thursday and updated Friday. She apologized for the delay. My thoughts, this place just sucks and are terrible at everything they do! I would NEVER recommend William Beaumont Army Medical Center to anyone, not even my worst enemy. It has been four years of pure hell on all of us. While we were there we had her verify everything she said to the point of her even showing us the order of the papers. She said that every Monday and Thursday packets are reviewed. We logged on Friday, yesterday, and today checking to see if the update had occured. Outcome: NO UPDATE!!! Yes, I am angry! Being that Kev is on CQ and I am home with three kids it was easier for him to call EFMP over me. He called and explained to the lady our frustrations. The same woman that told us when everything would be handled. Well, guess what she tells him? Not only did they not review it Thursday or yesterday, but they will try to get to it this Thursday. Well guess what, that is just not sufficient for either of us. Try? This should have been less that a one week process! We are going on over a month now and all they want to do is try? I know I would not be anywhere near this upset if WBAMC had done a good job the past four years we have been here. So, my response to this whole situation is to contact someone that is over them. I call Army OneSource and explain what is going on and ask for their assistance and guidance on what my next step should be. They advice me to contact JAG (Judge Advocate General, our legal office in other wards). I do this and from there JAG informs me to contact IG (Inspector General, who we file complaints with). I call Kevin and relay this information to him before I make the next call when something strikes me that I have not done yet. Normally, I am on top of things and know the best routes to take. However, WBAMC has had me thrown in so many different directions that I don't think I have been able to process it all the proper way. My next step? I am not going to call IG, I am going to their office tomorrow to file all of this! Not only the EFMP, but everything with my health. All of their negligence will be filed and something will be done. I don't think they realize what and who they are dealing with.

Let me better explain the EFMP. With the MOS (job) Kev holds in the Army, we can pretty much be stationed anywhere. The downside to that, because of Bre's asthma and my health issues, only certain installations can fully accomodate us. Therefore, the Army can only assign us to certain posts. Should be easy enough! Or so you would think. Our time here has pretty much come to an end and it is time for us to PCS (Permanent Change of Station or move). Well, we can't PCS or even have orders cut until the EFMP is current. We had no idea that it was even expiring! Now we are at a standstill and it is all out of our hands.

The other IG complaints that will be filed will be everything that I have had to face health wise! There is so much there. Currently I am having severe pain my lower left pelvic area from ovarian cysts and endometreosis. I was seen over two months ago for this and had an ultrasound done last month, yet GYN can't get me in until 6 July. The wait is too long! I have already been admitted through the ER at a local hospital and spent a few days in the hospital. I ended up with an idiot for a doctor at this hospital who had me so mad I ended up running my mouth. Some of my last words to him were that I had been in pain for more years than he had been practicing in the medical field. Which, I am sure he found truth in considering I have been battling this since I was 14. We also have the two incidents that almost cost me my life because they neglected to treat my hypothyroidism correctly. I do not have a thyroid gland and they seem to not take that serious. I am life dependent on medication and proper treatment. This place also is the cause of my hysterectomy due to their negligence in my pelvic pain. This paragraph does not even cover half of what has happened nor does it cover the fact that I am now faced with more life long medical concerns because of the neglect.

Tomorrow is not going to be a good one for WBAMC. Thanks for reading on my frustrations with the medical care and upkeep here! I am even more thankful that our kids are overall healthy!

Hopefully something will be done with the EFMP and we can have orders soon! No telling where, no we have no idea. As soon as we do know something we will contact family and close friends as well as post it here in case we miss you! Please be patient! We can't make them hurry nor do we have 100% say on our next duty station! As long is it is out of here and someplace with better medical care we are happy!

Brought A Smile

Most of you know I ended back in the hospital over the weekend. I was admitted Saturday night and stayed until Monday evening. Kevin had to take me to the ER for severe pelvic pain. I had been in pain for the past month and the week prior I stayed so sick. I was unable to keep anything down and lost over 12 lbs in a seven day period. Kind of scary! We did discover that I am having problems with ovarian cysts again and more than likely the endometreosis has grown back into a severe case. We have medically tried many different types of pills and other things trying to put a stop to the endometreosis and cysts. As you all know I did have a partial hysterectomy in October 2008. I had my uterus removed, not by choice, and was able to keep my ovaries and cervix. However, now it does look as though I am going to have to have my ovaries and cervix removed. There have just been too many complications since I was 14 and I can no longer face these battles. It is interfering in my daily life. Not to mention that the cysts rupturing set off toxins if they are not handled properly and in a timely manner. We cannot risk this to continue happening with Kevin being away as often as he is and just the simple fact it is not good for me. I do have an appointment July 6 with the gynocologist in order to get everything going. We are trying to get me in sooner because the pain is continuing as it was before the hospital. I did not realize the extent of the pain until the day after I was released. It is amazing how much the pain medication in the hospital took away! Once I was completely off of them it was an eye opener to how severe it has been. It makes me question how I have been functioning like I have with the pain! It is unreal. I am looking forward to hopefully feeling better soon!

Kevin and the kids visited with me about twice a day while I was admitted. They brought me flowers one day. I posted pictures below of the flowers. I have come to the conclusion, that I have all I could ever ask for and so much more with these four.