Is there a plan?

Sometimes I wonder why. Why me. Why Cody. Why us. Why now. And then there are the whens... When will this end. When will things get better. When will our lives return to normal. And of course the whats... What will happen next. The biggest one of all is What did I do.
Is there a plan? Am I just free falling? Surely there is a purpose to all of this. Am I being tested? Because let me tell you if I am, I'm failing miserably.
~jen

No real answers...

Today Cody had his appointment with our family doctor. I absolutely love our family doctor. He is patient, he listens, he explains, and he's someone we can trust. For the most part Cody's labs were normal. We are still waiting on the Epstein-Barr Virus titers. Our doctor added 2 more labs this morning to determine if there is any inflammation in Cody's body.

After a thorough assessment, Cody still has a moderate amount to tenderness to his right lower abdomen. This should have resolved by now. His doctor is suspecting Cody may possibly have an infection in his lower abdomen... possibly an abscess. He said this would explain the scar tissue forming so quickly from his appendectomy.

We will wait on all the lab results to come in. Based on what they show, the next step is to do a special test. I don't know the name of the test, but basically white blood cells will be removed from Cody's blood, radio activated, then returned to his body. A radiologist will then follow these radioactive cells and see if they accumulate in his abdomen. If they do, then that is a sign that he has an infection (abscess). I didn't ask where we would go from there. I'm afraid to even ask. I just want to take this step by step and try not to think too far into the future.

Cody's doing ok. He, too, is trying not to think to far ahead. The goal is to take things easy (as easy as an active 15 year old can accept), get plenty of rest each night, increase fluids during the day and listen to his body.

Please continue to remember him in your prayers over these next few weeks. We will follow-up with the GI surgeon next week, and then with our family doctor in 2 weeks. I should have all the lab work by the end of the week. We will know then where we will go next.

~jen

Prayer Request

Cody will be going to our family doctor tomorrow morning for a check-up. Yesterday, his family doctor was filling in at the clinic I work at. He asked how Cody was and I told him about Cody's latest hospitalization and that we actually had an appointment with him Monday morning for a check up and lab work that his GI surgeon ordered. He suggested that we have the labs drawn this morning at my clinic and sent to the hospital so we will have the results for his appointment in the morning. I was happy that he suggested that... it's one less day of waiting and we will have the opportunity to discuss his labs and where we go from there tomorrow morning.

Hopefully we will have some answers tomorrow morning. Cody seems to be feeling better these past few days. He tells me that he is so tired because he is working his hind end off in basketball these days. Apparently, there is no off-season. :)

As I've asked numerous times... please remember Cody in your prayers. Hopefully all of his labs will be within normal limits and his family doctor will tell me that Cody is fine and to stop worrying. :)

~jen

Taking a deep breath

Breathe in, breathe out. That seems to be all I can do these days. Just when I think things will return to some sort of normalcy, things go south. Or in my case, north. For the last 24 hours I've been vomiting up my toenails. Or at least it sure felt that way. Good gracious. I am sore from my abdomen around to my back. I feel as though I've been on a sit-up marathon. The vomiting finally ceased early this morning. I only pray that it doesn't spread to anyone else around here.

Cody is doing ok. He returned to school yesterday and is already caught up in all of his classes except art. I am worried about him, though. He is very pale. He just doesn't look healthy. He tells me he feels ok. He's not hurting. I can tell that he is worn out. He's going to bed early every night. Right now he's laying on the couch watching TV. I plan on taking him to our family doctor in a couple of weeks for lab work that his GI surgeon ordered. I want our family doctor to take a look at Cody. Of course, if Cody seems to be getting worse, we will go to the doctor sooner.

Please continue to remember him in your prayers. Also, I have a prayer request for me. I've applied for a school nurse position within our school district. This job would be the best schedule (well second best, the best would be a stay-at-home schedule) for the kids and I.

This is all for now. I'm exhausted. It's been a long day. Even though I didn't accomplish much today other then sit on my tush or lay in bed, I feel as though I've worked all day. I do have to return to work tomorrow. Ugh. How I wish I didn't.

Until the next time...
~jen

New Blog in the Works

I am working on a new blog to display my Uppercase Living creations. Hopefully you can use this blog to get your own ideas for using the Uppercase Living expressions. This is a work in progress, so it may be a few days before I get everything going.
~jen

Doing better...

Cody was released from the hospital yesterday afternoon. We are still unsure what Cody's official diagnosis was. I guess it really doesn't matter since what was wrong is not an issue anymore. All of his lab results returned to normal, his abdominal pain is gone, and he feels better. That's all that matters.
He will have additional lab work in 2 weeks and then will follow up in 1 month with his GI surgeon. Please remember him in your prayers.
~jen

Brighter outlook...

The x rays done this afternoon came back negative for any obstruction. His was able to have his NG tube removed this evening and able to start a clear liquid diet. Hopefully we will have good news in the morning and will be able to go home tomorrow.
~jen

More tests

Cody is currently undergoing a series of x rays of his small bowel. The nurse explained that this test will reveal any changes in the small bowel from narrowing to obstruction. His GI surgeon came by this afternoon and said that his CT did not reveal an obstruction. He ordered the x ray series and some additional lab work for in the morning.

Cody's symptoms are better. He's not nauseated and has had minimal pain.

That's all I know for now. Thanks for the prayers and phone calls.
~jen

Once again...

... we find ourselves in the hospital with Cody. Last night he came home from a friend's house vomiting and telling me that he was having severe abdominal pain... just like before his bowel obstruction. He kept vomiting once he was home and his abdominal pain continued to worsen. I knew this was something we couldn't take a wait and see approach, so I took him to our ER.

Thankfully, there wasn't a soul in the waiting room and we were immediately taken to a room. After numerous tests, xrays, CT scan, another NG tube (I don't want to ever have to witness that again), and a sonogram of his liver, gall bladder, and right kidney... we don't have any answers. The on-call GI surgeon said this could be the beginning of a bowel obstruction and it's too soon to visualize it on the CT or xray. He did mention that Cody's liver function tests are elevated and there is some free fluid near his gall bladder. He doesn't have any gallstones, so I'm not sure it's a gall bladder issue. He has an elevated white blood cell count, which reveals an infection somewhere. He had a slight fever through the night, but is getting IV antibiotics. Our GI surgeon will return tomorrow and will take over Cody's care.

I'm anxious for answers. Right now, we have no choice but to take the wait and see approach. His vomiting has stopped. He continued to vomit through the night even after the NG tube was placed. His pain is under control. So for now... we wait. And pray. Numerous prayers. Prayers that never cease. Prayers for healing. Prayers for understanding. Prayers for getting through another set back. Prayers for strength to get through more missed days of school and work.

So, until tomorrow's update.... please remember us in your prayers.

Have a blessed Easter,
~jen

Prayer Request

Please remember my grandfather in your prayers as he undergoes some tests today.
Thanks,
~jen