a heavy heart

I am so sorry I have been quiet lately. I have alot to say, but no energy to put it into words. I am emotionally exhausted. Torn between two worlds right now. Feeling helpless. Wishing I could make things all better. Knowing all I can do is pray.

My sister, Suzanne, is 8 days post-op from a major surgery. She is currently in Baltimore, MD, recovering from complete abdominal wall repair. I know I have talked about this a bit here on my blog. As a reminder, she was born with a congenital birth defect of the abdominal wall called gastroschisis.

This last surgery was her 15th. She had major complications after her 14th surgery 12 years ago. In short, it never fully healed and she has been dealing with two openings in her stomach for the past 12 years. This most recent surgery was one that UNC and Duke University hospitals opted NOT to do due to the level of complexity and the (I quote) "a great possibility of making a bad situation much worse". I went with her to Johns Hopkins Hopsital this past May for a 3rd opinion. They agreed to push ahead and operate this Fall. She was happy, relieved, reluctant, and scared. But she decided to go ahead and let them operate.

She had her surgery on Thursday, October 6th, and what was thought to likely be a 14-18 hour surgery lasted only 9 hours. She was amazed when she woke up to find that it was still Thursday.

Her next few days were a blur of pain, fever, pain, nausea and pain. She started out with 6 tubes in various locations of her body right after surgery.

She is now at day 8 post-op of what was thought to be a 7-14 day hospitalization. She is now down to 3 tubes. That's sounds like progress, however she is still not out of the weeds. She has had several setbacks. Today the big concern was the tube on the right side of her abdomen is having increased, foul output. Her abdomen and back have also started swelling, and are red and sore to touch. THIS IS NOT GOOD. Going back into surgery at this point would be devastating.

I am asking for prayer. She is so strong and tough. She has barely complained through all of this. Our whole family was able to go there last weekend, but this weekend I sit here in Ohio wishing I could be there with her, wishing I could help, wishing I could do something.....

Please pray that this new issue resolves without surgery. Please pray that the mega-antibiotics they started take care of this. Please pray that the TPN (nutrition through IVs) gives her strength to fight through this. Please pray that she has complete healing. Please pray that her new abdominal wall holds strong and does cause any lung issues as well. This is new territory for her and new territory for her surgical team as they decide how to proceed. Please pray for wisdom for them. Please pray for my Mom as well who has been there with her 24-7 through all of this. I know she is exhausted.

My sister is my best friend, one of the few people I talk to every single day. She was the strong one who moved in with us, when Chris moved to VA and then to OH two years ago for his new job.

She was my rock then, and right now I wish I could be her's right now.  She supported us through one of the toughest times in our lives. The last few days she has been too weak to talk on the phone, and I miss her so much. My heart is so heavy knowing what she has already been through and that she still has alot of fighting left to do. If anyone can do it, I know she can.

Please pray that she has a better day tomorrow...and the next day and the next. I will keep you posted.

lately

Things have been busy around here lately. Here's a recap with pics compliments of my smartphone. :)

Dylan has been doing his usual. Listening to music. Likely Weird Al Yankovic. (Yes, he loves him.) Lately, Dylan has been to middle school football games. Has adjusted nicely to the 7th grade. I just bought him more blue jeans-we went up to size 18 slim (seriously!?), and is just two weeks shy of turning 12.

Lately Karsen has been having a blast in the 4th grade. She started back taking gymnastics lessons last week and is getting ready for her first piano recital. She was also selected to sing a solo in the upcoming Veterans Day memorial program at school. She loves her jeggings, and she is terribly excited about Fall and Winter coming! Her latest obession is weaving, and lately she's been doing that quite a bit.

Lately, (and basically ever since I married him), Chris has been so thoughful. He knows I have been burning the candle at both ends, and lately he has been helping out so much around the house. I caught him vacuuming the other day. Without my asking. On a school night. Enough said. Love <3

That's just a little bit of what we've been up to around here lately!

yay weekend

(google images)

yay, the weekend is here!

finally, sigh....

because i am so beyond tired

40 hours turns into about 46 hours most weeks

that's not including my crazy commute

and the weeks fly by

as I try to keep up

with home, homework and husband

piano, gymnastics, and lunches

made early each morning

as i start another day

of crazy.

i am so tired.

and very thankful 

always

but

this week really wiped me out

i want to blog

(i miss it)

but i am too tired.

i hope to sleep 12 hours tonight

at least.

and hope to catch up with you

later this weekend

yay weekend. :)

the lowcountry, y'all

I haven't had time to tell you more about our awesome and close to perfect vacation we had last month. We had wonderful weather, our house was right on beach, and we had days with nothing on the agenda. It was my idea of a perfect week.

We stayed in the yellow house above, yes the one right above Karsen's ankle. The beach was private so you literally felt like the beach was YOUR'S for the week. We took our beach gear down and camped out all day. Went back inside for lunch and drinks. Stayed inside if you wanted a nap, I spent alot of time on the screened in porch reading. The kids looked for conch shells and crabs. And then at night we all sat on the porch and speculated whether the sea turtles were coming out of their nests.

The Lowcountry of South Carolina is the most beautiful place on Earth. Period. No, I haven't traveled the world, but I can't imagine a place that tops the sunsets we saw all week. We took advantage of the perfect setting and captured a few memories on film.

I didn't plan ahead and bring matching white and khaki outfits for a photoshoot on the beach, so we just went with turquoise and blue jean. :) I think it turned out OK!

It seems like Chris and I hardly ever get a pic of us TOGETHER when we go places. We handed the camera over to a semi-professional photographer and she got a few snapshots of us.

She also took a few more shots of herself too. Ha!

 We did venture out a couple of days to discover the small town nearby. We had the best shrimp and grits at a local "Mom and Pop" joint. We poked around inside a few eclectic shops and met alot of super-nice locals that said "Y'all" and called us "Sugar". It felt like home. <3 I can't wait to go back again next Summer!