The BIG announcement...

We've known for awhile, but have had to wait to announce:

Lance got appointed to St. Paul UMC in Gulf Breeze, Florida and we will be living in Navarre, Florida. Our house is located just 3.96 miles from Navarre Beach!!

So far....

I'm feeling optomistic this procedure worked. Had the ERCP yesterday and so far no sign of pancreatitis. I'm past the biggest risk for it, but still have to introduce real food into my body, which will happen later today.

The doctor found that the sphincter at the end of my bile duct (the Sphincter of Oddi) was really tight. Normal pressure is 40 and mine came in at an average of 65!!! When they put the dye in my bile duct it didn't even drain. He said he put a big cut into it to release it. So...that was the problem!!! I have a stint in my pancreatic duct to prevent pancreatitis and will have an x-ray in 2 weeks to see if it has fallen out (that is what it is supposed to do). If it doesn't fall out, they'll do an endoscope to take it out. (I'm hoping we don't have to do that.)

So, having bile backing up into my system was making me rather sick...go figure. The first GI doc I saw was reluctant to believe this was the problem and wanted to write it off as IBS. I'm glad I pushed for another doctor...a doctor I now trust more. I'm thankful that this new doctor listened and acted on my symptoms.

So...soup for lunch, ease back into "real" food over the next couple of days and my life should return to normal. Well...as normal as it can be. Watch for updates...we are moving soon!! :)

Happy Easter!!

We are enjoying a balmy 75 degree day...perfect for celebrating Easter!! We began our day joining a family that is dear to us in the baptism of their two beautiful children. We will enjoy Easter lunch with Paulo, Ju and the girls a little later. It's a great day to celebrate what our God has done for us!! Happy Easter---He Has Risen Indeed!!

Jordan's first turkey

Jordan got to go turkey hunting today--they have a youth season here! She shot her first turkey and it is huge!! It weighed in at 24 1/2 pounds and she can hardly hold it!! She is so excited!! She said when she shot it, the force of the gun knocked her over!! See, she hasn't shot the magnum shell that you use to shoot a turkey--too funny!! Here are the pics of her prize shot! We'll be having turkey for our Easter dinner this year!!! Her daddy is so proud. (He's only shot one turkey bigger than this.)

Hoping for better health...

I've been holding off posting about this...mostly because we've had more fun things going on here and because I don't want to sound like a big complainer. BUT...it is time to post and request prayer for myself. I had my gallbladder taken out almost a year ago and while I haven't been 100%, for awhile I was much better. Around the fall/winter I started feeling worse and my symptoms progressed to getting much worse at the beginning of January. On 1/23 I was in the ER with pain in my upper abdomen/chest and wrapping around to my back. It was worse than any gallbladder attack I have had.

I've had 2 lesser "attacks" since then and today had another pretty strong one that lasted about 9 hours. The pain was similar to what sent me to the ER, just not as constant (thank God I got some relief between bouts of pain), accompanied by nausea, etc...

I am scheduled for an ERCP next Thursday (4/8), in which the doctor will send a scope down my esophagus and investigate for a possible blockage in my bile duct. This is a common complication of gallbladder surgery. He will remove the blockage and hopefully send me home that day. The biggest risk is pancreatitis and if that occurs, I will be hospitalized until it resolves. Please pray that my system calms down and the next week is less painful and symptomatic for me. After being sick on and off for a year, a day like this really wears on me!! Also, I am coveting prayers for next Thursday that the doctor can fix what is wrong without the complication of pancreatitis!! Thank you for reading...and praying!!!!

Pearly Whites

Jordan got her braces taken off today!! YEA! Our family is finally brace-less!! No more rubberbands, no more wax, no more bread stuck in brackets... Her smile looks great!! She has enjoyed some chewy treats today, compliments of the orthodontist's office and her wonderful parents!!! We're so cool...right, Jordan?!?

Jacob

Jacob is a 2 year old that I work with here and have been seeing since he was 7 weeks old. His mom is requesting that I put out a prayer request to anyone I know. Jacob has multiple medical conditions and just yesterday his mom was informed that he has "restricted cardiomyopathy" and needs a heart transplant. The thing is that with his other medical problems, he may not be a candidate to be put on the transplant list. Without the transplant, Jacob's heart will continue to enlarge and he will not survive past childhood. Please pray for a miracle for Jacob. Pray that the doctors will give him favor and put him on the transplant list and a heart will be found for him. Please pray for strength for his family at this time as they are learning to cope with the fact that this little boy is much sicker than they thought. Thank you for your prayers!!!