PTL everything went very well! I am done with the abdominal surgery (aka tummy tuck!) for the repair of the scar on my stomach from the accident last year. I am SO incredibly thankful for how well it all went and that I had no nausea coming out of the surgery! There is some discomfort (read: it hurts something awful to cough!) but for the most part, I feel really good! So for the next couple of weeks, I'll be trying to hold things down to a dull roar before we have another wedding! It's coming up so fast! Christopher and Corinne will be married October 9th, and we can hardly wait for wedding number 2 this year! Jason and Dani are settling down to happily married life, and C & C will soon be there! Aaron is working hard at his studies in computer technician training, and Ben is currently in Ottawa for a training course for his new position. Change seems to be the constant denominator for us this year! But it's all so good, and we just have to be thankful that we are here to experience these changes!
I am staying with my sister for these weeks of recuperation, and I'd just like to say another MAJOR Thank You to my whole family, immediate and extended, for their love, care, and support for all of us, but especially me. There is no way that we could be where we are without you!
I wish I had some major spiritual wisdom to share with you but right now my heart is just thankful! So please join me in being incredibly thankful for all the joys we are allowed to experience every day, even when they hurt! God is good...all the time!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
It was beautiful!
Now to get through the surgery...! Then another wedding...!! So much to look forward to!!!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Excitement is building!...
As the days get closer (only 5 sleeps left!) to the big day, there is more and more excitement around here! Today was also Dani's birthday, and we celebrated with her family and ours together. We are so looking forward to many more such occasions!
Updates on the surgery - it is rescheduled for Sept. 15th, and I will be going down to Vancouver with Ben on the 12th. He will be continuing on to Ottawa to take a course, and I will stay with my mom and sister until he returns on the 26th. My mom is having a couple's shower for Christopher and Corinne on the 25th, so we'll be able to be there for that as well. Looking forward to having that done with!! (the surgery, that is!)
I want to be poetic or philosophical in this post in some way, but really, all I can be is me. I'm ridiculously excited about the upcoming weddings, and about my daughters-to-be! I'm so thankful that I am still here to be a part of this! And I'm so thankful for the myriad of blessings that we are a part of! My only prayer is that my strength will hold up. I'm noticing more and more that I really am not able to hold up under pressure like I used to be able to do! And that I don't do well in crowds of people! Hmm. That poses some issues for celebrations like this! I know that I'll get through it all, just may need a "time out" here and there!
I'll post pictures as soon as I can - keep the kids (Jason and Dani) in your prayers as they commit themselves to each other before God and family. I know they are going to have a beautiful day!!
Updates on the surgery - it is rescheduled for Sept. 15th, and I will be going down to Vancouver with Ben on the 12th. He will be continuing on to Ottawa to take a course, and I will stay with my mom and sister until he returns on the 26th. My mom is having a couple's shower for Christopher and Corinne on the 25th, so we'll be able to be there for that as well. Looking forward to having that done with!! (the surgery, that is!)
I want to be poetic or philosophical in this post in some way, but really, all I can be is me. I'm ridiculously excited about the upcoming weddings, and about my daughters-to-be! I'm so thankful that I am still here to be a part of this! And I'm so thankful for the myriad of blessings that we are a part of! My only prayer is that my strength will hold up. I'm noticing more and more that I really am not able to hold up under pressure like I used to be able to do! And that I don't do well in crowds of people! Hmm. That poses some issues for celebrations like this! I know that I'll get through it all, just may need a "time out" here and there!
I'll post pictures as soon as I can - keep the kids (Jason and Dani) in your prayers as they commit themselves to each other before God and family. I know they are going to have a beautiful day!!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Another change in plans...and disappointment
So we're not finished with our journey yet. This past week has been another challenge, and another chance for learning patience and self-control. I flew down to Vancouver for a scheduled surgery to repair the damage to my stomach that was caused by the accident. It was scheduled for Friday, and we spent the better part of Tuesday (my mom and I) in Vancouver in meetings with various clinics and anesthetists to make sure that everything would go according to plan. My last surgery for my eyes was canceled two days before it was supposed to happen due to oversights regarding my requirements for the stuff that I need to be given to make sure my blood clots - it's the same product that my boys give themselves for their hemophilia. All the tests and procedures that I have had done have shown me that I am essentially a mild hemophiliac, and need to be treated as such in operative situations. So this time they were taking no chances, and I have finally made the connections with the hemophilia clinic at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver, also the same place where Jason and Aaron come for their yearly consults. They have a great support program for carriers, and it would have made everything over the past 18 months a whole lot easier if I had previously had a file with them. For whatever reason, it was never done. We had testing done way back when the boys were first diagnosed with hemophilia, and I was aware of my carrier status and that I required treatment whenever operated on, but it was always done at home in PG where they knew me, so I was never involved in trying to make the arrangements for factor replacement and treatment.
Now that this is all under control, one of the VERY good things that has come out of all of this is that the clinic at St Paul's is willing and able to provide treatment for me in surgical procedures done at UBC, where my ophthalmologist operates out of. My eye surgery was canceled due to the fact that there was no hematology department at the UBC hospital to provide coverage for me during surgery. So the doctor needed to get permission to operate out of VGH instead, and then wait for some other doctor to give up some OR time for him to do my surgery! Needless to say, I had no idea when that was going to happen! Now we can schedule the eye surgery to be done as planned at UBC, and the St. Paul's clinic will take care of all the arrangements for my blood work and treatment! Praise the Lord for that! I'm just waiting now to get a date for that one!
So back to my surgery which was scheduled for this past Friday. I went into the clinic (a private one, very lovely and professional!) and everything was going smoothly - other than the fact that it took forever for them to find a good vein for my intravenous! Ouch! The nurse was there from the hemophilia clinic, and supervised the administration of the blood product, sedatives were given, and I was taken into the OR. All was going very smoothly, and as I went under, I felt no fear, only excitement at having this all done with and the outcome of a flat stomach! Well, when I woke up I realized something was wrong, because I could see the clock, and it was only an hour later. The surgery was supposed to have been 3 hours, so I knew something didn't go right. That and I had no pain in my stomach. They told me right away that the surgery was aborted after 2 anesthetists tried 6 different ways to get a breathing tube down my throat. They found that because of my injuries, my windpipe has a very sharp bend to it, and they were simply not able to get the tube past it. In a hospital, they have other equipment to do it differently, but they didn't have it in the clinic. So I was sent home after a few hours with many apologies, a very sore throat, and the personal phone numbers of several specialists just in case anything went wrong!
All in all, I believe (as I have stated many times before) that everything has happened for a very good reason, and there was also a good reason for this. Had this been a crisis situation, the anesthetist told me that I would not have survived. I am now to have the information "failed intubation" inscribed into the MedicAlert that I wear. That would avert a similar crisis in the future. All that being said and done, the surgery is to be rescheduled for after Jason and Dani's wedding sometime in late August or early September, and will be done in the UBC hospital. Who knows, maybe I can get the eye surgery done at the same time?!!!
This is a lot of information, and I hope that it's not too much, but it needed explaining, so there it is. I am struggling a little to not be disappointed that I won't look as fantastic as I had hoped for the wedding, but that's a very selfish and conceited, prideful thought. So it's just as well that it didn't happen! It's good for me to put things into perspective again. It's just so hard when my vanity gets in the way!
Anyway, thanks for your thoughts and prayers, and I trust that you will continue to go with all of us on our journey, which as I said in the beginning, is obviously not over yet! In the meantime I had several opportunities to be gracious, thankful and give witness and testimony to God's grace and glory through the telling of my story to several nurses and doctors. His ways are way bigger than ours, and who knows what the outcome of that will be!
So I pray for continued faithfulness, obedience, patience, and a good dose of humility!! Have a blessed day! And thanks again for taking the time to read all this!!
Judy
Now that this is all under control, one of the VERY good things that has come out of all of this is that the clinic at St Paul's is willing and able to provide treatment for me in surgical procedures done at UBC, where my ophthalmologist operates out of. My eye surgery was canceled due to the fact that there was no hematology department at the UBC hospital to provide coverage for me during surgery. So the doctor needed to get permission to operate out of VGH instead, and then wait for some other doctor to give up some OR time for him to do my surgery! Needless to say, I had no idea when that was going to happen! Now we can schedule the eye surgery to be done as planned at UBC, and the St. Paul's clinic will take care of all the arrangements for my blood work and treatment! Praise the Lord for that! I'm just waiting now to get a date for that one!
So back to my surgery which was scheduled for this past Friday. I went into the clinic (a private one, very lovely and professional!) and everything was going smoothly - other than the fact that it took forever for them to find a good vein for my intravenous! Ouch! The nurse was there from the hemophilia clinic, and supervised the administration of the blood product, sedatives were given, and I was taken into the OR. All was going very smoothly, and as I went under, I felt no fear, only excitement at having this all done with and the outcome of a flat stomach! Well, when I woke up I realized something was wrong, because I could see the clock, and it was only an hour later. The surgery was supposed to have been 3 hours, so I knew something didn't go right. That and I had no pain in my stomach. They told me right away that the surgery was aborted after 2 anesthetists tried 6 different ways to get a breathing tube down my throat. They found that because of my injuries, my windpipe has a very sharp bend to it, and they were simply not able to get the tube past it. In a hospital, they have other equipment to do it differently, but they didn't have it in the clinic. So I was sent home after a few hours with many apologies, a very sore throat, and the personal phone numbers of several specialists just in case anything went wrong!
All in all, I believe (as I have stated many times before) that everything has happened for a very good reason, and there was also a good reason for this. Had this been a crisis situation, the anesthetist told me that I would not have survived. I am now to have the information "failed intubation" inscribed into the MedicAlert that I wear. That would avert a similar crisis in the future. All that being said and done, the surgery is to be rescheduled for after Jason and Dani's wedding sometime in late August or early September, and will be done in the UBC hospital. Who knows, maybe I can get the eye surgery done at the same time?!!!
This is a lot of information, and I hope that it's not too much, but it needed explaining, so there it is. I am struggling a little to not be disappointed that I won't look as fantastic as I had hoped for the wedding, but that's a very selfish and conceited, prideful thought. So it's just as well that it didn't happen! It's good for me to put things into perspective again. It's just so hard when my vanity gets in the way!
Anyway, thanks for your thoughts and prayers, and I trust that you will continue to go with all of us on our journey, which as I said in the beginning, is obviously not over yet! In the meantime I had several opportunities to be gracious, thankful and give witness and testimony to God's grace and glory through the telling of my story to several nurses and doctors. His ways are way bigger than ours, and who knows what the outcome of that will be!
So I pray for continued faithfulness, obedience, patience, and a good dose of humility!! Have a blessed day! And thanks again for taking the time to read all this!!
Judy
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
And we're back again!
Whoa, that took longer than it should have, but we are back and doing very well, thanks! The trip was absolutely awesome, and I don't think that it could have been any better - only longer perhaps! It was so amazing to reconnect with old friends and people who used to be "youth" who are now older than we were when we were there!! One of the neatest things happened on Sunday morning when one of the men came up to us and said that he still had (and used!) the guitar that Ben had sold to his mother. At that time he was only 12 years old! It wasn't until his young son, who is now about 12, walked up to him that I finally recognized him! Ben was so glad to hear that his guitar was being put to good use - it was his first guitar, and hard for him to leave behind. But knowing that God has had His hand in all things and seeing where things are at now made it all worth while! We had a very special time of worshipping with the church family that still meets in the same room that we helped to renovate 25 years ago! God is at work in His family all over the world, and to worship with them was very sweet! Oh, and our German came back very quickly! It was almost like we had never left...almost!
We also enjoyed a bit of sightseeing time, and some amazing dinners out (although the extra pounds really weren't necessary to bring back with us!). Aaron enjoyed seeing many of the things that we had once known well. If only we had had more time to enjoy it all! Ah, but the desire to return is even stronger now! The church in Traunstein needs a new place to meet in, and is planning on a building project in the next year or so. Who knows...maybe we could help out?! It is certainly a possibility! Anyone want to come help? Just a thought!
As much as I would like to report that we had fantastic responses to prayers for open hearts from those whom we had been praying for, it just wasn't the right time for confrontations. On the other hand, relationships were re-established and communication restored in places where we pray that we will be able to have an impact in the future. We pray that God will be able to use us somehow in the future, and we want to be available and ready.
Thank you for your prayers regarding jet lag - and I'm thrilled to report that those prayers were definitely answered! We experienced very little at all! Of course, we were a bit tired, but nothing more than usual. Aaron experienced a bit more coming home, and took a few days to really feel like he was 'working' again, but then he was there much longer than we were. I had the energy to do almost everything that I had wanted to do, and (mostly!) keep up with everyone else! Praise the Lord for His strength and good rest!
Next, I am scheduled for reconstructive surgery on my stomach to repair the damage that was caused by the seat belt. Essentially, it's a tummy tuck surgery! Never thought I would ever have that! The procedure will be done in Vancouver on July 23rd. I'm not afraid of the operation, but would appreciate your prayers for a quick recovery - the wedding is only 4 weeks after that! I want to be up and ready for it, not dragging around recuperating. I'll be staying with my mom and sister for a time after, and then my mom will be bringing me back to PG and staying to help me out after - bless her!! She is so giving and helpful! There is still no word on the surgery for my eyes.
As for the rest, everyone is doing as well as they could be. Ben is still struggling with some discomfort and is hindered in some movements due to the pain in his foot and arm. Aaron's back keeps giving him some trouble and pain, but both of them keep plugging away. Aaron is looking for work for the summer and into the fall, as he plans not to go to school this fall after all. Pray for direction and guidance for him as he readjusts to working life, and that he finds a job that he is able to do without pain or problems. Jason and Dani are only a bit less than 6 weeks away from their special day, and are very excited, to say the least! Christopher and Corinne have to wait until October, so they will have to be more patient! Christopher has been working very hard redoing my kitchen, completing most of it while we were away! What an amazing thing to go away and come back to an almost completely new kitchen!! There are still some things to finish, but oh, is it ever nice!!
Over and over again in the past month I have been reminded to be so thankful for what we have been able to accomplish and take part in! I pray that I will never take any of this for granted!
We also enjoyed a bit of sightseeing time, and some amazing dinners out (although the extra pounds really weren't necessary to bring back with us!). Aaron enjoyed seeing many of the things that we had once known well. If only we had had more time to enjoy it all! Ah, but the desire to return is even stronger now! The church in Traunstein needs a new place to meet in, and is planning on a building project in the next year or so. Who knows...maybe we could help out?! It is certainly a possibility! Anyone want to come help? Just a thought!
As much as I would like to report that we had fantastic responses to prayers for open hearts from those whom we had been praying for, it just wasn't the right time for confrontations. On the other hand, relationships were re-established and communication restored in places where we pray that we will be able to have an impact in the future. We pray that God will be able to use us somehow in the future, and we want to be available and ready.
Thank you for your prayers regarding jet lag - and I'm thrilled to report that those prayers were definitely answered! We experienced very little at all! Of course, we were a bit tired, but nothing more than usual. Aaron experienced a bit more coming home, and took a few days to really feel like he was 'working' again, but then he was there much longer than we were. I had the energy to do almost everything that I had wanted to do, and (mostly!) keep up with everyone else! Praise the Lord for His strength and good rest!
Next, I am scheduled for reconstructive surgery on my stomach to repair the damage that was caused by the seat belt. Essentially, it's a tummy tuck surgery! Never thought I would ever have that! The procedure will be done in Vancouver on July 23rd. I'm not afraid of the operation, but would appreciate your prayers for a quick recovery - the wedding is only 4 weeks after that! I want to be up and ready for it, not dragging around recuperating. I'll be staying with my mom and sister for a time after, and then my mom will be bringing me back to PG and staying to help me out after - bless her!! She is so giving and helpful! There is still no word on the surgery for my eyes.
As for the rest, everyone is doing as well as they could be. Ben is still struggling with some discomfort and is hindered in some movements due to the pain in his foot and arm. Aaron's back keeps giving him some trouble and pain, but both of them keep plugging away. Aaron is looking for work for the summer and into the fall, as he plans not to go to school this fall after all. Pray for direction and guidance for him as he readjusts to working life, and that he finds a job that he is able to do without pain or problems. Jason and Dani are only a bit less than 6 weeks away from their special day, and are very excited, to say the least! Christopher and Corinne have to wait until October, so they will have to be more patient! Christopher has been working very hard redoing my kitchen, completing most of it while we were away! What an amazing thing to go away and come back to an almost completely new kitchen!! There are still some things to finish, but oh, is it ever nice!!
Over and over again in the past month I have been reminded to be so thankful for what we have been able to accomplish and take part in! I pray that I will never take any of this for granted!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Waiting is sometimes a good thing!
As I write this, Ben and I are in the Vancouver airport awaiting our flight to Germany! We are finally going back - the first time in almost 25 years!!! It's hard to believe it, and the timing is a little crazy (we are only there a week!) but it worked out this way, and we are very excited to go back! Aaron is finished with school in Austria, and we'll be seeing him at the airport. We are so glad that we will be able to see some of the people whom we have stayed in touch with over the years. My prayer is that the jet lag won't be too bad, and that my energy level will not be overly stressed. But still...Germany! It's going to be wonderful! Waiting for this day to come sort of parallels our wait for Christ's coming - we had no idea when we would be able to go back, but we knew that we were looking forward to it! I suppose that is about as far as it goes, but nevertheless, we have been waiting for this for so long, it hardly seems possible that it is actually here!
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers for us, and that you continue to hold us up before our Father. I'll try and keep you posted as we travel - oh, the joy of laptops and wifi! Couldn't have done this 25 years ago!
Blessings...wherever you travel! Judy
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers for us, and that you continue to hold us up before our Father. I'll try and keep you posted as we travel - oh, the joy of laptops and wifi! Couldn't have done this 25 years ago!
Blessings...wherever you travel! Judy
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Opportunities around us
I am thankful tonight for the opportunity that we had this evening to again share our story of the miracles that God has done in us and through us. We were able to share with a crowd of about 150 high school students the impact of the past year and a bit on our lives, and that in spite of the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual struggles that we have had/are still having, that God is always in control. We shared with them verses that were special to us, scripture that carried us through, and gave God the glory for the way He was and still is in control. Our focus was to help them see that regardless of what they go through, that God can make good come out of it if they give their lives to Him to control. Sharing this is always a good reminder for me not to fall back into complacency or to take any of the many things that I can still do for granted! And I am grateful to be reminded!
After the evening was over, several of the kids came and thanked us for sharing. Some cried, others praised God with us, and a few said that they had been in the line of cars behind us the day of the accident, and that they had prayed for us as they finally passed the scene. They were able now to put a face and a name to the prayer request, and that was also a blessing for us to again see how many God raised up to pray!
And now it is my turn to uphold a friend in prayer. Yesterday I received word through Facebook that a former work colleague of mine was diagnosed with leukemia that day. She is going down to Vancouver today and will be starting intense chemotherapy on Monday. Pam is a young, vibrant Christian mom with a loving husband and 3 young children. Please pray with me for all of them as they struggle with the mountainous task ahead. They know that God will carry them through, but the road ahead may be very rough. We want to uphold them and claim a miracle to happen in her body, and that the cancer will be defeated!! And that they will sense the mighty and powerful work of our Saviour in and through them.
It's good to focus on someone else, and not on myself. Life is too precious to waste on introspection!
I am very joyfully focusing on getting some bridesmaids dresses sewn in the next couple weeks, thanks to some very deeply appreciated help from my mom who has come to be my extra pair of hands! And I get the priviledge AGAIN of being able to go with Corinne and her mom to look at wedding dresses tomorrow!! What joys are mine! In this, it is so easy to be thankful! But then I remember Pam and so many others who are still struggling and know that my task is to now uphold and encourage them. Also, what a joy to be able to do so! I am reminded of the words Paul wrote, "that we may encourage others with the encouragement with which we were encouraged" (paraphrased). Thank you, Jesus, for the strength and opportunity to reach out to others! Open my eyes to even more opportunities to 'pay it forward'!
After the evening was over, several of the kids came and thanked us for sharing. Some cried, others praised God with us, and a few said that they had been in the line of cars behind us the day of the accident, and that they had prayed for us as they finally passed the scene. They were able now to put a face and a name to the prayer request, and that was also a blessing for us to again see how many God raised up to pray!
And now it is my turn to uphold a friend in prayer. Yesterday I received word through Facebook that a former work colleague of mine was diagnosed with leukemia that day. She is going down to Vancouver today and will be starting intense chemotherapy on Monday. Pam is a young, vibrant Christian mom with a loving husband and 3 young children. Please pray with me for all of them as they struggle with the mountainous task ahead. They know that God will carry them through, but the road ahead may be very rough. We want to uphold them and claim a miracle to happen in her body, and that the cancer will be defeated!! And that they will sense the mighty and powerful work of our Saviour in and through them.
It's good to focus on someone else, and not on myself. Life is too precious to waste on introspection!
I am very joyfully focusing on getting some bridesmaids dresses sewn in the next couple weeks, thanks to some very deeply appreciated help from my mom who has come to be my extra pair of hands! And I get the priviledge AGAIN of being able to go with Corinne and her mom to look at wedding dresses tomorrow!! What joys are mine! In this, it is so easy to be thankful! But then I remember Pam and so many others who are still struggling and know that my task is to now uphold and encourage them. Also, what a joy to be able to do so! I am reminded of the words Paul wrote, "that we may encourage others with the encouragement with which we were encouraged" (paraphrased). Thank you, Jesus, for the strength and opportunity to reach out to others! Open my eyes to even more opportunities to 'pay it forward'!
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