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!!

SUSHI!!

We spent Saturday night of our vacation w/ my brother Jeff, his girlfriend Karen & my niece Madison. Went out for sushi in honor of Jordan's birthday. (This birthday is lasting a month and it isn't even here yet!)

We really enjoyed seeing Jeff, Karen & Madison!!

Universal Studios

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We're having a lot of fun at Univ. Studios! Of course, we seem to be spending a lot of time at Harry Potter World. :) I was too tired to post last night, so I put a slideshow in tonight. Favorite attractions: Harry Potter, Simpson Ride, some sling shot ride Lance went on, Mummy indoor roller coaster, ET adventure, Terminator 2 3-D show...yea...we are having a good time. And...since we got 3 day passes and the parks close between 6-7, there is time to relax at night.

Tomorrow, we'll finish up here and then travel about an hour to my brother's for a short over night visit before going home. The plans are for a sushi feast for Jordan's birthday w/ her uncle...a rare treat!

Shhhh...we're on vacation!!

Yes, we've taken a few days off! Before we moved here, we promised Jordan a trip to Harry Potter World at Universal Studios for her 14th birthday. (She's getting her present a little early.) She's so excited, I'm not sure she's going to sleep tonight!

Thanks to some sweet people at our church, we are getting to stay at an AMAZING resort!! (Pics to follow...)

Stay tuned...I'm sure there will be lots to share. For now...off to sleep so I can keep up w/ Jordan tomorrow!

The Plan

Saw a GI doc here today. Lance & I both really liked him! Here is the plan: he re-ran my bloodwork from 2 weeks ago to compare counts. (Checking liver & pancreas panels.) I'm having an endoscope tomorrow to check for blockages or anything abnormal in the stomach/upper part of the small intestine. If that is normal, then I will be scheduled for a test to measure the time it takes my stomach to empty. If that is okay, then I will have an MRCP to check my bile duct. If my bile is not moving well enough (which is what we all suspect), I will have a 2nd ERCP done. The hospital here is not equipped to do it, so we will drive 5 hours for the procedure. This doc thinks I will get pancreatitis this time and says I was lucky to not get it last time. I plan to prove him wrong. I believe in the power of prayer and will have every person I know praying for pancreatitis to stay away and will sail through the 2nd one like I did the 1st...if we have to do it. One step at a time.

I like his conservative approach and the fact that he is referring me out if I need to be. That to me is a good doctor.

Thanks for your continued prayers!!

Sick again--prayers needed!!

This fall I started noticing some familiar, yet not so good symptoms. I had some days with nausea, that all too familiar stomach ache at times, indigestion and heartburn. I passed it off as not eating right or typical post-gallbladder symptoms.

It all came to fruition while visiting family last week. I got extremely nauseous after being w/ Lance's family and other symptoms followed as the week ended. (I spent the 12 hour drive home from IL miserable and laying down in the car.) I am now eating very little and the pre-ERCP symptoms from last Spring seem to have returned.

I am praying that I do not have to have another ERCP. I dodged pancreatitis w/ the first one & fear what could happen if they go in again. I really just want to feel better. I am really tired of feeling sick and nausea is very tiring.

Thank you for the prayers for healing for me. Please pray for Lance & Jordan. They are saints for dealing w/ this again. More responsibility falls on them when I'm sick, not to mention the worry that comes w/ having a loved one not feel well.