Home Sweet Home

Hello Everyone! I am so excited to finally be home after 5 days in the hospital! So for a quick run down...

Day 1 {9/14} 

I went to the ER at 1:30am due to intense stomach pains and vomiting that I thought was from acid reflux that I experience regularly. Turns out I was experience severe pancreatitis due to a gallstone getting stuck in the pancreatic duct. I almost didn't go to the ER, thinking the pain would pass just like it always does. But it had never been that intense before. Thank goodness I did go to the ER because it would have been a completely different story if they didn't remove the gallstone from the duct before it ruptured... I had an ultra sound that also showed that I had "too many to count" gallstones in my gallbladder. Obviously, I was admitted to the hospital in the critical care unit.
{Food/ Water Intake = 0}

Day 2 {9/15}
Pain all day. Stayed in the bed. Had lots of family visit :) Saw tons of doctors. They scheduled the surgery to remove my gallbladder the next day. They couldn't do it that day because my pancreas was still too inflamed. I was put on antibiotics because I was started to develop a fever. I had my vitals and blood drawn every 4 hours. I got sick of that fast!
{Food/ Water Intake = 0}

Day 3 {9/16}
I had surgery at 7:30am to remove my gallbladder. The surgery went twice as long as planned but everything went okay. The general anesthesia knocked me out for pretty much the whole day. Also, thank goodness for pain medicine.
{Food/ Water Intake = 1 jello cup, 1/2 cup of veggie broth, water & ice... all around 8-11pm}

Day 4 {9/17}
I was told that I still had a gallstone stuck deep in my bile duct and I had to have a second procedure (an ERCP) to remove that stone. It was supposed to be happen in the morning... I waited and waited. Was in a lot of pain and getting very irritated. The procedure finally did not happen until 7:30PM!!! The general anesthesia knocked me out good and I didn't wake up until 4ish the next morning.
{Food/ Water Intake = 0}

Day 5 {9/18}
I was feeling much better. Still extremely sore... but better!! I got to eat (eating = jello and veggie broth) finally at noon! I had one doctor come in tell me I could be discharged. Yay! Then a second doctor said they wanted to keep me one more night. My heart dropped. I was ready to go home. My mom came to help me shower, do my hair, put on make up, and take a short walk down the halls. This did it!! I happen to run into my doctor during the walk and he was so impressed that I was walking and looked "refreshed" and ordered me to be discharged :) Mama is smart!! I finally went home that night (yesterday).
{Food/ Water Intake = 2 cups of jello, unsweetened tea, veggie broth, bread, turkey meat - yay!}

I got to sleep in my bed. It was amazing. Only woke up twice! My schedule for the rest of the week is to take things very slow and easy. I still have a lot of recovery ahead of me. I was given pain medication of course because of the surgeries and my pancreas is still slightly inflamed. I am looking forward getting back on my feet and back to the "norm". I will start working half days next week and then go back full time the following week.

Since I will be spending the next 5 days at home, I can finally catch up on a lot of things I need to do (when I am not resting). And "things to do" I mean things with my blog!! So get ready to lots of great stuff coming soon! THANK YOU everyone for your prayers and support. I was so touched by the love I received from all of you. You are the best and definitely are helping in my recovery process!!

This whole experience also made me appreciate my family more than I ever though possible. The dedication they showed me, taking care of me through it all was overwhelming. I know they made a lot of sacrifices so that I never had to be by myself. My mama went to my house and did my laundry, my linens, etc... so I wouldn't have to worry about anything went I came home. My father-in-law went grocery shopping for us. My mother-in-law visited me everyday and took care of little Dexter for us. And Edward of course was amazing. He has such an intense week of school and yet he always kept me his #1 priority and sleep on that awful hospital sofa every night. I love him will all my heart :)

And to share some AWESOME NEWS with you.. while all this drama was going on with me... one of my dearest cousins , John, and his beautiful wife, Katy, welcomed their first baby!!! What a beautiful and perfect blessing! I could not be more happy for them :)