What an Interesting/Eventful Three Weeks...

Hi Everyone--

We have had an incredibly unexpected last three weeks... In many ways, life continued just as it usually would right after the fair... Emmy had one last soccer camp. Chelsea launched right into tennis seasion, and she's started every match of the season as either second or third varsity singles on the Athens High School tennis team. Chelsea and Emmy started school on August 24, and we've had our traditional blur of back-to-school shopping and introductory school events.

However, we had a very unusual turn of events on Thursday, August 19. I woke up as usual and drove Emmy to soccer camp. I thought that I felt really constipated at first but then I became increasingly concerned about the pain that just kept intensifying in my stomach area. Around noon, I drove over to pick Emmy up from camp, with Ellie-Kate in tow, and I realized that the pain was so bad that it was tough to stand up straight. At that moment, my mind flashed to the possibility that I had kidney stones instead of being constipated. I decided to drive over to our local hospital and get checked out. Roger met me at the hospital, and he took the little girls to get lunch in the cafeteria while I had blood work and a CT. Three hours later, Roger had to take Chelsea to the high school for her tennis match, and I lingered in the hospital, hoping to get out in time for the match at 4. Unfortunately, my CT ruled out kidney stones. It indicated that my appendix might be slightly enlarged, but the doctors all concluded that it wasn't my appendix b/c the pain was coming from the center, not the right side. They decided that it was possibly a stone in my gallbladder that was infected so I was admitted to the hospital for IV antibiotics.

On Friday, I felt so much better, and I figured that the antibiotics had done their trick and that I could get out on Friday evening or Saturday. Unfortunately, on Saturday, my white cell count started to climb, as well as my temperature, so the doctors started to lobby for a repeat CT with contrasts. I didn't want to do it because I didn't want to subject my body to even more radiation. We were really starting to question the doctors and fear that something very serious was happening to me. On Sunday, my white cell count and temperature spiked to their highest points so, after much prayer, I ultimately agreed to the second CT. That test saved my life. It determined that my appendix had already ruptured, and I was rushed in for emergency surgery. In retrospect, we realize that I likely felt better on Friday because the appendix ruptured, relieving the pain.

I stayed in the hospital for three more days on IV antibiotics, and I was released on Wednesday, August 25. I spent a week trying to get the high powered oral antibiotics down because they cause so much nausia. I even set my alarm so that I could time my anti-nausea medicine, food, and then antibiotics, but I knew that those medications were helping to save my life. Definitely worth the effort!! As of right now, on the eve of the two week anniversary of my surgery, I'm still very, very weak and tired. In six more days, I can lift Ellie-Kate again... Roger has been absolutely amazing, and the girls haven't been as disturbed as I would have anticipated. Our biggest obstacle in the hospital was keeping Ellie-Kate away from the buttons on my IV machine, and the girls discovered that they love to eat in the hospital cafeteria. Here at home, poor Roger has really had to do triple duty because he's been the primary one responsible for the kids and animals throughout the saga. I praise God that I'm alive and recovering and able to do more each day. Of course, I'd like to be back to normal NOW, but I understand that this recovery process takes time, especially given the amount of infection due to the rupture.

In just a moment, I'll post another update with more news about the girls. In the meantime, please know that we truly appreciate all of the prayers and support that we have received through Facebook, calls, food, and e-mail. We love our friends, family, and church family!!!!

Christie