Well, it's been an interesting few weeks here, but it looks like Kris is closer to being back to normal--Yea!!! :-) I am so glad that his incisions have not continued to cause him trouble. Tomorrow morning he goes to the surgeon and should probably be "released." We don't see any reason that she would keep him under restrictions. Kris has paced himself and been able to go to work more this week. He has worn out more quickly than I think he would've expected, but his energy is getting better each day. God is good and has sustained us through the last three weeks.
In the midst of all that has happened in recent weeks, I was still able to be in the opera at the center for the arts. I have enjoyed so much being in the Chorale these last few years and most recently becoming a Camerata member last year. Chorale has nearly 100 members, and Camerata is a smaller chamber group with about 25 members this year. The center for the arts here in Midland is really amazing! So many first-rate performances are put on. We've taken the girls to several fun plays and musicals, and I of course, have loved the performing side of things in many concerts from Handel's Messiah, Brahm's Requiem, Beethoven's Ninth, to some Broadway with Doug LaBreque, Jodi Benson, etc. This last weekend we did Puccini's Madama Butterfly. Camerata did all of the chorus parts, and it was fun, even though it came at a time that was hard with Kris being down. We had rehearsals nearly every night last week, and then did two performances. Kris told me to go ahead and do it and that he would be fine with the girls. Thankfully it all worked out. He's so wonderful! :-)
Tomorrow will be a big day with our school's Grandparent's Day. Every class from K-3 to 6th grade will be presenting songs, verses, poems, etc. to Grandparents. I get to conduct my classes (K-5 through 2nd grades), and I will also do the 3rd and 4th grade choir, as well as 5th and 6th grade choir. Their music teacher is taking the secondary school band students to a festival tomorrow. Kris is going to lead the elementary band for him, as they will also perform for Grandparent's Day. It should be lots of fun. Both of our girls will be part of the "festivities." I do get a bit sad for them each year when this day happens at school. Kris's parents are both with the Lord now, and so I choke up about that, but then my parents also can't be here because they live in SC. That adds to the emotion as well. I've seen some sadness in the girls' eyes recently as they realize the truth about both sets of grandparents not being here tomorrow, but we talk about the wonderful blessing of having them and/or the heritage from them. Thankfully we have a very good friend who comes to Grandparent's Day and is the girls' pretend grandma. We are so thankful for her!
Well, that's the latest with us. We continue to stay busy. . . . I'm reminded to be still and know that God is God. How grateful I am for my Heavenly Father!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Unexpected Events
Just in case you were wondering if I was going to take another long break from blogging, I thought I would assure you that I am still here. :-) There have been a few things going on lately that have kept me from blogging. This picture will be a good start to my story:
Most of you who read my blog already heard the news through other means, but maybe you've been out of the loop. The story behind the picture is this:
Kris had an emergency appendectomy on March 29. The night before, he asked me if I knew anything about ulcers. I obviously thought that was a strange question to bring up "out of the blue." There was no indication to me that Kris had not been feeling well. We discussed ulcers as much as I knew how to, and then I realized that Kris was holding his lower abdomen, and I knew that ulcers where in the stomach. He was talking about the area near his large intestine. I mentioned that it must be something else and thought maybe he had an intestinal "bug" or something. He said he had felt nauseated and sore all the way across. To my surprise, I found out he had not felt quite right all week, and especially that day things were really bothering him. I realized that when he rubbed his hand all the way across his lower abdomen that he was stopping on the right side. Right before we went to sleep, I asked him if he was noticing more pain on that side than anywhere. He wasn't so sure, but thought maybe it was more bothersome there. Well, that's when I thought appendix. He just wasn't sure that it could be that though, and so we went to sleep, thinking we would see how he was in the morning.
He woke up between 2 and 3 AM and noticed he was really having pain and it WAS getting more localized to the right side. By 6 AM he woke me up and said that the pain was getting really bad and he couldn't take it anymore. It was confirmed through a CT Scan in the ER that he had appendicitis and needed surgery right away. A surgical team was put together and by 11:30, Kris was in the OR having laparoscopic surgery. We thank the Lord that the appendix did not rupture, but it was in real need of coming out. The surgeon said that it was quite enlarged and very inflamed with fluid built up around it. It was on it's way to a worse situation. Praise the Lord that Kris knew he needed to get to the ER!
Recovery was going well until last Thurs. Kris knew that his middle incision wasn't right. There was some fluid present. A nurse he talked to told him to put a bandage over it and just to watch things. Well, by late that afternoon, he was bleeding. He had an infected hematoma that had developed. He had to be opened up to have the infection removed and his wound cleaned--not fun! The surgeon gave local anesthetic through injections and was able to do the procedure in her office Fri. morning. Thankfully that incision is looking good and healing well now, but guess what? Just when Kris was feeling much better and thinking he was well on his way to being back to normal, he had the same thing happen to one of his other incisions. It hadn't been a problem at all until we noticed on Mon. that it was a little irritated-looking. It actually looked better by yesterday morning, but then things turned around by the afternoon. By last night it was protruding and looked bad! He was waiting for a phone call from his surgeon. Well, before he talked with her, the incision ruptured. :-( He had to go in this morning and have the same procedure done. Poor guy! He's gone almost 36 yrs. without even a broken bone or stitches, and this has been his introduction to the ER, IVs, stitches, etc. He has handled everything very well. :-) Please pray that infections are over now and that he will fully be recovered soon. The surgeon told us that it is all from the appendix being on the brink of rupturing and bacteria getting into his abdominal area. It went to the incisions because they are more suceptible. Kris has been discouraged by the setbacks, but he continues to rest in God and His sovereignty.
Isn't it wonderful to know we have a God who loves us and always knows what is going on in our lives. He cares! He's not taken by surprise at anything that happens with us. He is working all things for our good and His glory. We want Him to be seen and to receive glory through what He has allowed recently. We have much to be thankful for! Kris didn't have this happen the week of Easter or when we had already gone out of town for Spring Break. We know that God could've worked in those things too. We just thank Him for the timing that we did have. Kris has talked about having a better understanding now of people in pain and physical struggles that aren't pleasant or that we want to "be done now." We have to realize again our dependence on God and be patient in waiting for His timing in our feeling better. I have thanked God during this for His grace that IS sufficient and how He has allowed me to do more than what I normally feel well doing. I have had 3 kids to take care of. ha ha :-) Seriously though, I have gained a better appreciation for what single moms do. I have always known that I have the best husband in the world and that he helps me tremendously with stuff around the house and with the girls. We are such a team. Having your teammate out of commission brings a lot of change. Our God is enough though. He supplies our needs and gives the strength to endure. He has given us wonderful friends to help us with some meals, watching the girls, etc. My friends are gifts from God and true blessings!
Thank you for your continued prayers for Kris to get better. Hopefully my updates will include news of healed incisions and Kris's getting back to work and normal life. He is enjoying reading and listening to messages on his Ipod in the meantime. It's been a good time of rest for him that he needed anyway. :-)
Most of you who read my blog already heard the news through other means, but maybe you've been out of the loop. The story behind the picture is this:
Kris had an emergency appendectomy on March 29. The night before, he asked me if I knew anything about ulcers. I obviously thought that was a strange question to bring up "out of the blue." There was no indication to me that Kris had not been feeling well. We discussed ulcers as much as I knew how to, and then I realized that Kris was holding his lower abdomen, and I knew that ulcers where in the stomach. He was talking about the area near his large intestine. I mentioned that it must be something else and thought maybe he had an intestinal "bug" or something. He said he had felt nauseated and sore all the way across. To my surprise, I found out he had not felt quite right all week, and especially that day things were really bothering him. I realized that when he rubbed his hand all the way across his lower abdomen that he was stopping on the right side. Right before we went to sleep, I asked him if he was noticing more pain on that side than anywhere. He wasn't so sure, but thought maybe it was more bothersome there. Well, that's when I thought appendix. He just wasn't sure that it could be that though, and so we went to sleep, thinking we would see how he was in the morning.
He woke up between 2 and 3 AM and noticed he was really having pain and it WAS getting more localized to the right side. By 6 AM he woke me up and said that the pain was getting really bad and he couldn't take it anymore. It was confirmed through a CT Scan in the ER that he had appendicitis and needed surgery right away. A surgical team was put together and by 11:30, Kris was in the OR having laparoscopic surgery. We thank the Lord that the appendix did not rupture, but it was in real need of coming out. The surgeon said that it was quite enlarged and very inflamed with fluid built up around it. It was on it's way to a worse situation. Praise the Lord that Kris knew he needed to get to the ER!
Recovery was going well until last Thurs. Kris knew that his middle incision wasn't right. There was some fluid present. A nurse he talked to told him to put a bandage over it and just to watch things. Well, by late that afternoon, he was bleeding. He had an infected hematoma that had developed. He had to be opened up to have the infection removed and his wound cleaned--not fun! The surgeon gave local anesthetic through injections and was able to do the procedure in her office Fri. morning. Thankfully that incision is looking good and healing well now, but guess what? Just when Kris was feeling much better and thinking he was well on his way to being back to normal, he had the same thing happen to one of his other incisions. It hadn't been a problem at all until we noticed on Mon. that it was a little irritated-looking. It actually looked better by yesterday morning, but then things turned around by the afternoon. By last night it was protruding and looked bad! He was waiting for a phone call from his surgeon. Well, before he talked with her, the incision ruptured. :-( He had to go in this morning and have the same procedure done. Poor guy! He's gone almost 36 yrs. without even a broken bone or stitches, and this has been his introduction to the ER, IVs, stitches, etc. He has handled everything very well. :-) Please pray that infections are over now and that he will fully be recovered soon. The surgeon told us that it is all from the appendix being on the brink of rupturing and bacteria getting into his abdominal area. It went to the incisions because they are more suceptible. Kris has been discouraged by the setbacks, but he continues to rest in God and His sovereignty.
Isn't it wonderful to know we have a God who loves us and always knows what is going on in our lives. He cares! He's not taken by surprise at anything that happens with us. He is working all things for our good and His glory. We want Him to be seen and to receive glory through what He has allowed recently. We have much to be thankful for! Kris didn't have this happen the week of Easter or when we had already gone out of town for Spring Break. We know that God could've worked in those things too. We just thank Him for the timing that we did have. Kris has talked about having a better understanding now of people in pain and physical struggles that aren't pleasant or that we want to "be done now." We have to realize again our dependence on God and be patient in waiting for His timing in our feeling better. I have thanked God during this for His grace that IS sufficient and how He has allowed me to do more than what I normally feel well doing. I have had 3 kids to take care of. ha ha :-) Seriously though, I have gained a better appreciation for what single moms do. I have always known that I have the best husband in the world and that he helps me tremendously with stuff around the house and with the girls. We are such a team. Having your teammate out of commission brings a lot of change. Our God is enough though. He supplies our needs and gives the strength to endure. He has given us wonderful friends to help us with some meals, watching the girls, etc. My friends are gifts from God and true blessings!
Thank you for your continued prayers for Kris to get better. Hopefully my updates will include news of healed incisions and Kris's getting back to work and normal life. He is enjoying reading and listening to messages on his Ipod in the meantime. It's been a good time of rest for him that he needed anyway. :-)
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