Funeral Flowers

I am learning a lot in this 1st year as a pastor's wife. Some things just make me chuckle. I received a bouquet of flowers yesterday. They were bought in memory of a church member's loved one & she was too sad to take them home, so she thought I'd enjoy them. Yes...fresh flowers, who wouldn't. But, they looked a little like a funeral bouquet. (2nd such said bouquet I've received. The 1st one was actually in honor of someone's birthday. I wonder if the florist in town only knows how to do one type of bouquet.) So, I thought, maybe I could rearrange the flowers into a nice vase, toss the ones that have had their day and have a beautiful arrangement on the table for Valentine's day.

I think it looks a little happier on my table than the funeral flowers!!

FRUSTRATED!!!

So...we drove 3 hours, ONE WAY, to see a specialist who could do the ERCP if I indeed need to have one. (Also the reason to see the specialist, for a 2nd opinion of sorts.) We get into the room and the doctor walks in. First of all, she doesn't have all of my records from the doc here; only the endoscope results. What part of "send my medical record" wasn't clear to them? Furthermore, this doctor believes I need to have a repeat ERCP and she is skilled to do the procedure, but they don't have the equipment to do it. WHAT!?!?! It says on the website that they do!! Here's the deal: they do ERCPs, they just can't measure the pressures of the 2 sphincters, which is what I need. SHEESH!!!

Her suggestion is to go to a specialized doctor who performs these A LOT and has the specialized equipment to do what I need. PROBLEM: all the places on the list are 11-12 hours away!

So...I called and started the process for the clinic that is in St. Louis. At least both of our families are close and we would have a place to stay. Lance could leave me if I get hospitalized and he would know I would be in good hands.

SO...6 hours in a car, a deductible, lunch on the road and lots of wasted time and we have no real answers except that this doc agrees w/ my current GI doc that I probably need a 2nd ERCP. That is also the answer I was not looking for.

Thanks for allowing me to rant a bit. I'll be gathering the medical records on my own and faxing them to St. Louis. Hopefully I'll get this overwith soon!

Forty-something

Today is Lance's birthday. So, what is he doing today? Writing a sermon, meeting at 5:30pm, Bible study at 6:00pm and sitting in on praise band practice at 7:00pm. He may need to do a hospital visit sometime today as well. That's a busy day for a birthday. I would like to fit a birthday dinner in there somewhere! :) Ahh...the life of a pastor.

I made "the cake"...his favorite...for our small group on Monday since I knew he wouldn't be home tonight. At least we got to sing to him then!

Happy Birthday to a great man of God, a loving husband and a wonderful daddy!! I love you!!!

Fourteen

Today my "baby" is fourteen. WOW! That's only 2 years until she can legally drive! YIKES!

This is what she is up to these days: band, youth group, church, listening to music, Facebook & playing on her iPod. Yup, pretty much teenager stuff. She continues to bring sunshine to our lives w/ her humor and sweet nature. She stretches us with intriquing questions about...well...anything. Her laugh is contagious! She's pretty fun!

Happy 14th Birthday, Jordan!!

Hmmm...

So, I have an infection in my stomach/small intestine called H. Pylori. At least that is what the GI doc is treating me for right now. He is not convinced this is the complete cause of my symptoms, but cannot send me further until this is cleared up. No one knows how this bacteria gets into your system or why some people have symptoms and others don't. I am on two antibiotics (3000 mg total), 4 doses of pepto a day & 2 doses of Prilosec a day. YUCK!

Lance & Jordan have to be tested because they are in the house and it is spread by close contact (kissing, sharing drinks, etc...). They are bummed to possibly have to be treated w/o symptoms.

I go back to see if the infection is gone in 6 weeks and we go from there. If my symptoms are gone...YEA! If this isn't the cause, then on to another doc for the ERCP. Seems like an easy fix if this is it. A big course of antibiotics for 10 days and that's it...lets hope and pray that's it!!