Saturday, February 8, 2014

A Long and Tiring Journey....

Well .. this poor old blog has suffered the loss of my time and energy this last year.
 
Since last March ...it's kind of been a scattering of posts. I started out with a lot of gusto the beginning of last year ..and just about march life started to get a little complicated and something eventually had to give.
 
I tried with all that was in me to keep those proverbial balls of life in the air .. but my arms just got a bit weary and a few of those balls ..(the blog) being one I couldn't catch and well it's just been lookin' sad ever since.
 
 
 
 
Our Journey started last March .. I know I mentioned it back then and a few times thereafter about my Daddy being sick.  It started out with nothing more than him not feeling well and mama and I being concerned it was possibly something to do with Heart Disease ... so we sent him to his Heart Dr. ... and they found through a blood test that he had only 1/2 his blood in his body ..which meant he had an internal bleed some where. That put into motion a whole array of trips to new Dr.s .. trips to the hospital for transfusions ...and the diagnosis was that he had an ulcer and some meds and time would heal it up and all would be fine...
 
 
That began our Long now near a year Journey down a road with twists and turns and bumps along the way...
 
 
 
Finally after 6 months of him not getting any better and his losing all the blood that they kept transfusing him with which meant he was still bleeding .. and the fact that his ability to eat was lessening by greater leaps and bounds as each day passed .. we put our foot down and asked for a specialist.
 
The specialist ordered up a specialist which ordered up a whole lot of special tests ..a long way from home at a hospital where they only do those kind of special tests ...
 
So off our Journey took us in another direction a direction of searching for an answer to 6 months of uncertainty and concern for a man growing sicker and thinner by the day ...
 
By August ..He was unable to eat anything more than a slice of bread and 1 ensure maybe twice a day ..
 
Of course it was in our thoughts just like the Dr.s helping us that he possibly had cancer.
 
The tests that were ordered would give us that answer ..and Praise God there wasn't any cancer.
 
But the special tests with the specialty Dr. did show that Daddy had what they call a non-healing ulcer sittin in a spot you don't want an ulcer to sit. And a part of the intestine called the duodenum  had strictures in it ..(scar tissue) so much so it was blocking off the passage of his food ..so when he tried to eat the food couldn't pass and all that acid the stomach made just washed back over that ulcer and wouldn't let it heal.
 
Well Hooray they finally found the problem ..now what to do about it. Only 1 option and that was major surgery or as the next Dr. we were sent to said..Major Major Surgery ... So quickly they scheduled him for surgery in October .. and on the 16th .. his life and our life got a little topsy turvy...
 
The Surgery went well ..but the pain associated with it was enormous .. he screamed and writhed in paid for near more than 72 hours ..no pain meds would work ..
 
Mama stayed by his side the entire time ..and I sat outside with Flossie Dog and waited for him to finally come to some kind of comfort in his discomfort whatever that was.
 
What was supposed to be a 3 to 5 day stay turned out to be 9 days ..
 
We came home.. and within 24 hours we were back at the hospital ..mind you a hospital near 100 miles from home no less. With a specialty surgery we had to return to that hospital to that Dr. which was fine with us .. but oh what a long drive .. this time we were headed back because he had developed a fever .. which meant in our minds infection ..and it wasn't a surprise on one hand considering the extent of the surgery I believe there 4 surgical sites inside plus they had to cut him from his left to right side right at the rib cage ..so the chances for infection dealing with the gut ..where substantial in our minds.
 
we headed back ..he was admitted again.. given heavy antibiotics and all was good 6 days later we headed back home.
 
We were all tired and weary a bed was like a double edged sword ..it was the gift of rest .. but on the other hand there was no long periods of sleep when you knew daddy needed to be cared for .. so any little wink of sleep we could catch was an absolute blessing.


 
 
6 Days passed after the last hospital visit and the antibiotics had been completed for 2 days and the fever came back again .. And Yep .. off to the hospital we were again.
 
5 more days at the hospital .. the infection had been nipped in the bud once again ..and home again we came...
 
We were now into the busy season with work .. Holidays were hovering and Abbey and I were taking care of Daddy and working like crazy to keep the business going ...
 
As the days passed into weeks ..daddy grew in strength .. he could now eat again .. and even though things were moving slow for him since the recovery period was up to a year for such a massive surgery .. we were all thrilled with his progress ..
 
 
 

About 3 weeks ago ..this prayer above says it all for mama and I ..
 
Daddy started having fevers "crazy fevers" as we called them. His Fever would get to 102 degress then in 15 minute time drop back to normal ..then an hourlater back 100.4 and 10 minutes later down to 99.0.... and then totally disappear for 12 hours...it was the strangest thing ..
 
This went on for 2 weeks ..and Yep we called the Dr. and yep daddy went back on antibiotics.
Basically the Dr.s Could't find where the infection was coming from even when they cat scanned him looking for abcess's  ..there weren't any .. So it was a wait and pray the antibiotics would kill the infection.

2 weeks ago yesterday ... Mama and I were working ...getting our new line of linens ready to photograph ..and Daddy came to the stairs and said to please help him he was in dire pain....

We ran upstairs and he started moaning and hollering the pain was so severe ...So in a flash we were in the truck and headed back to the hospital to the ER ... driving near a 100 miles with someone in dire pain is just plain nerve wracking ... but we made it and I'll admit it was in record time ...

5 hours in ER .. with no results. Pain Meds weren't working now the pain was so severe you could here his hollering down the corridors ..

Cat Scan still showed nothing.

But he had a massive infection "Sepsis" brewing in his  body..

More antibiotics were given .. Pain Meds Upped and still no relief ..the pain only grew more massive.

72 hours later he nor mama had slept ..the Dr.s were doing everything they could for him ...Sunday the pain began radiating into his shoulder so they knew things were progressing and they took him for another cat scan which finally showed a small pocket of fluid at one of the surgical sites ..

They decided on adding a drain ..and in so doing found a greater amount of fluid in the abdomen than what could be seen in the cat scan.

12 Days later .. we finally came home from the hospital ... and he's now resting comfortably. Still in some pain ..has the drain still in ..and is still on antibiotics ..

The journey down this road still continues and we can only hope and pray that this is the end of this illness ..that Healing will now begin and his body will begin recooperating.

So as you can see ..the blog has been on a long list of "To Do's" .. but pretty much near the bottom going on a year now.

Hopefully sometime here in the near future ..I will get the free printables back ...and we can do some cooking and baking in Sweet Magnolias Farm Kitchen .. and just share some fun stuff !

Until then ..I'll just do my periodic updates on our Shop ..

Thanks so much for your sweet comments ..your concerned e-mails..... It's always a salve to one's soul to know people are thinking and caring about you !

Wishing you all a Beautiful February... and  Lovely Valentines !

 
 
 
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31 comments:

  1. Oh DEAR friend, what a troubling time you have been thru! Praise God for the Doctors AND for you all making that long journey SO many times to help your Dad! The blog can wait:) I'll be praying for ALL of you! HUGS and prayers coming your way!

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    1. Thanks so much Theresa ! The Prayers are always so very appreciated ...

      Hugs and Blessings ..
      Sara

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  2. Sara, I held my breath as I read your post, my heart in my throat and a prayer on my lips. I know the pain you have been going through watching your dear dad suffer, I've been there myself. I will be praying for you dad and your family.

    ~willa~

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    1. Thank You Willa ! ... Thanks for stopping in and leaving a comment it's treasured !

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  3. Wow! Bless your Daddy's heart. I will be praying for your family.

    Blessings,
    Amy Jo

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  4. Prayers are going up for the whole family. God knows each and ever need.

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    1. Thank You Kim .. Yes so thankful the Lord knows each and everything we need ..don't know what we would do without him ... Thanks for commenting !

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  5. OH Sara, what a terrible ordeal for everyone and, especially, your sweet Daddy as he was in such agony. Thank God you all pulled through and praying for you all.

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  6. Sara, I am never, quite, sure my comment was accepted and would rather comment twice than have you think I didn't comment at all. My heart goes out to you and your sweet parents; you've all been through agony and I am thankful it seems a corner has been turned and your Daddy is getting the help he needs. Praying for you all that healing will continue and you'll all have deep, renewing sleep.

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  7. Sara,
    Oh my you have really been through so much. I am sending healing prayers and restful prayers to your poor dad and all of you. I hope he continues to heal and finally get to a better place.
    Kris

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  8. Sara, My heartfelt prayers are with your Daddy, that divine healing consumes his body and any infection must go. I pray for rest, comfort, strength and peace for you, your Mother and Daddy too. I pray that this year is full of health and happiness in Jesus name!! Blessings and a wonderful week~~~Roxie

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  9. Oh, how awlful...it just saddens me to read all that y'all have been through, especially your father. I will certainly be praying for your father and for strength and rest for you and your mother.

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  10. (((((hugs))))) and prayers to you and your family. I hope he is on the mend and this will be the end of the pain.

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  11. My heart goes out to you and your family - what a horrible ordeal! We went through something very similar to this with my own dad. God was there for us the whole way, and I pray he'll continue to send strength and healing to all of you.

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  12. I so sympathize with you as I know what it is to be back and forth to the hospital for a year! It is a time in your life you will never forget and a time you will look back and see how the Lord carried you through! Don't worry about your blog for now but thank you for updating us!

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  13. I am so sorry about your sweet father. Hopefully they have everything under control now. I will be praying for him and your family. Don't worry about your blog just take care of your sweet father and mother. They need you now. Just let us know how he is doing. Praying for speedy recovery.
    Mary

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  14. Oh my gosh, what a trying time! Thoughts and prayers for all of you! I'm glad to find your update, but don't worry about posting. Your readers will be here when life calms. Take good care!

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  15. Sending my best of thoughts to you & your family.
    Kari

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  16. Oh my! I will lift up you and your family in my prayers. Praying that your Dad continues to heal and get his strength back! Hugs!

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  17. Oh my goodness! So sorry to hear all you and your family have been going through. Hoping things are getting better soon and he will be back to normal. HUGS!

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  18. Oh dear, how horrible to see one that you love be in so much pain and there's nothing you can do. I can't even imagine what you've all been going through. Praying for your dad for comfort and for you two to have peace and rest.

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  19. I am so sorry to hear of all that you and your family have been through. I lost my Dad last September
    he had been sick for some time and it was something I just didn't think I could make it through. God was so amazing during that time. I pray for strength and healing and that you all feel the presence of God like never before.

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  20. Oh Sara!! What your family has been through! I am so sorry for your daddy and I can't even imagine watching him go through this. Praying for Gods total healing touch for him and for rest for you and your mama.
    Blessings~

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  21. Oh, I am so sorry to hear about all this that you are dealing with. With all the new information and technology, we've just come to expect quick responses and even quicker diagnoses. It is so frustrating when you cannot get that and yourself or a loved one is suffering while the experts search. My prayers to you and your family for your father's recovery.

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  22. OH my goodness Sara! What a long journey as you said. Bless all your hearts, especially your Daddy"s. I am sure is was so very hard to watch your Daddy in pain and not knowing. So glad he is on the mend now. Don and I will keep him in our thoughts & prayers. Please give your Mama a big hug for me. Love, Maryjane

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  23. Sara, I'm so so sorry your family has been going thru all this. I'm so glad you took the time to let us all know what's been happening with your Daddy. I'm sending lot's of love and prayers for your mom and dad. Please take care of yourself, too! big hugs, Debra

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  24. I'm a little late but wanted you to know you and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. I went through a similar year with my Dad a few years ago. It's tough. Faith and prayer got me through. But, it sounds as if your Dad is on the way to recovery and that's a very good thing. Now, be sure to take care of yourself, too. The blog will be here when life gets back to normal and everyone is rested. Miss you, but we all understand.
    Hugs and Blessings,
    Dru

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  25. Just wanted to let you know that your father is in my prayers for complete healing! Hoping you all get rest and get some time to create as I know that is stress relief too! Hugs and prayers.

    Cathy

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  26. Oh my gosh...how horrific! Your poor poor Dad!

    And poor you too! I think I would have had a nervous breakdown. I can tell that you are a loving and devoted daughter, can you imagine if he didn't have you all watching over him?

    So happy that he is on the mend and I will pray for his continued healing...

    ♥Linsey

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  27. I too took care of my Father,He too seen a Doctor 100 miles away,and lots of test,I hope and pray your Dad is feeling comfortable,and the rest of you should try to rest if you can,I know its not easy and our faith is what makes us stronger.Your Dad is a very strong man,and is Blesssed to have all of you there for him.My prayers to you all!

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Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment ..We love hearing from each and every one of you. We always try to get back to you .. via a reply in the comments section or back to your e-mail address if you have it enabled ...but if We don't... please know that we appreciate you leaving your thoughts.

Many Happy Returns of the Day ..Sara of Sweet Magnolia's Farm