Update

We had a great evening in Seattle and now we are back at VM...oh such a familiar scene...hopefully not too many more of these deja vu trips...

First off was a blood draw...phlebotomist FAILED! Next was the liter of barium sulfate...oh yum....haha being healthy is overrated...next came an IV...which took a few painful attempts...and then the CT Scan.  We headed down to our followup with my Doc and they didn't have my appt...eek...but they got us in before the Doc left the office!

We reviewed the bloodwork and CT Scan and came to the conclusion of no drain tubes right now...let my body continue to heal itself. I will come back and repeat the same process in February unless something "on my list of bad symptoms" happens. The fluid is collecting "nicely" though slow. 

Today the doctor mentioned something I had not heard or realized...he said the tail of my pancreas blew apart...I thought it was entact and just dying...he was happy that it looks like about 50% left. On a good note, there aren't any open ducts from the good part to the bad part...it sufficiently walled itself off...as far as we can see and evidenced by lack of severe pain (if pancreatic juices were going directly into abdomin).

So overall ok visit...not best case but not anywhere near worst case...we are thankful for continued healing!!!

After a good lunch at Cheesecake Factory and a movie, we are headed to Ikea...maybe we shouldn't have left during rush hour... 

Thank you all for your prayer today and through this whole process!

We miss our baby but it looks like he is having fun with Uncle and Aunt Tina...

Tuckered Out

Baby boy Aaron is one tired boy after our walk around Dayton.  It is a beautiful day here and we are excited about Misty and Dustin's wedding tonight. 

It felt great to get out and get some exercise...and even better 'cause I knew a nap was waiting at the hotel.  I am pretty tired now so gonna rest up for the wedding and dancing tonight. 

Feeling good

Just wanted to post a quick post to let everyone know I am feeling stronger every day! I am out on the town tonight and so far so good! I am not pushing too much but it feels good to get out of the house for something other than a Dr. appt. Still on the pain meds but I feel I am getting enough food and rest and hopefully I can start cutting the pain meds. Thanks everyone for your continued prayers.

Home

We made it home safely to an awake baby boy...glad I slept well last night.

Seattle visit recap

We are on our way home from my appointment in Seattle with the Gastro Drs.  I got to drink that yummy Barium drink this morning, got my 11^th IV of this ordeal, and was given a contrast for the CT scan that makes you feel like you have wet your pants…at least this time they told me…the last time, I thought I really had peed! The CT Scan was quick and then we just had to wait around for the follow-up with Dr. Gluck.  He had good and bad news for us…We actually saw the results of the CT scan and saw a frontal of my internal anatomy….I thought it looked pretty cool! So the results: Lots of fluid! There is fluid formed around the pancreas that is its own mass but there are also fluid patches throughout my abdomen all the way down to the perineum…which is why it feels like I have cramps sometimes. The fluid is pressing against my stomach which could explain why I sometimes don’t feel like eating at all, it is around my spleen, kidneys, below my lungs…basically just hanging out all around…that is the bad news.  It could cause pain at anytime or I can be symptom free…not predictable.  If it were one mass, they could go in and drain that mass (like the one around the pancreas itself) but since the fluid is spread out they want to wait longer to see how things continue to form. The good news…I do not have to have drain tubes put in (which would mean a week+ in hospital), I look and feel stronger each day, and we are gonna follow up in a month unless any symptoms pose problems, I get a fever, or I start having breathing difficulties. Today has been surprisingly good…I have been vertical since 8am and I still feel good!  I am moving slow but I still feel okay…still took my meds as scheduled and even stopped for a pork burrito at Qdoba on the way home…ate a few bites and will save the rest for when I am home!  The best scenario is still that my body will absorb the excess liquid and no drain tubes will be necessary (yea!).  We are still hopeful that the pancreas will function and that I won’t be insulin dependent! In the meantime I need to start walking outside more, eat more to regain my strength, and see as many friends and family as possible (I added that cause I miss everyone so much!)

Progress...missed post from few days ago...writing new one...

I have been out of the hospital for almost 5 days and I am slowly making progress.  My blood INR has reached a level that I currently do not have to give myself shots...woohoo! Nights are going better with Aaron but we need to get him back on a sleep schedule.  I am still on pain meds and have had two failed attempts at cutting back...not fun! I feel like I have more energy each day...but that is limited to a few trips to the kitchen and bathroom or not being completely spent after a trip to the Dr.

Full day at home

I am doing ok at home, but it is hard to be home and rest as much as is needed. I want to do things around the house, take care of Aaron, and stay on top of my meds...today I was spent after taking a bath and getting dressed...and then I had to go to the Dr.  It was rough there for a few hours. I was able to nap in the afternoon and loaded up on meds and now I feel like I can get up off the couch....
Didnt get around to posting yesterday so I will continue...slept better last night...on my stomach...who would have thought...and in the rocking chair between feedings. Up and at it early for my first trip to the Anticoagulation clinic. I am almost in the range so hopefully just a few more days of shots.  I currently have a smidge of energy and heading to Baracudas for a boost.