Maui Jan 2012

(Click on picture to enlarge) 

Totally out of order and no captions, but it's here.

Trekking out (Post-Fundoplication - Day 5)

I am recuperating from my Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication quite well.

I am sleeping much less, only a couple of hours more than my regular schedule. I spend most of the day in bed watching TV or on the computer (mostly Twitter, Facebook, & Richmond Times-Dispatch).

I am feeling much more energetic; enough so that I can go out for an hour or two before coming home to rest. My first venture out from my recuperation bed was going to church (only Sacrament Meeting) on Sunday, which exhausted me.

Today, we went to Lowes (my 2nd home), and then Walmart. By the time we got to Walmart, I was feeling a bit more tired, so I drove around in one of those electric carts.

Ashley posted this to Facebook:
He's not allowed to drive a car,
but that didn't stop him from
driving a cart around the store.

(Note: Although the date and tone of this blog post make it appear that it was written on July 23, it was actually written on July 26 because I need to improve my blogging timeliness.)

Home again! (Post-Fundoplication - Day 2)

I came home around today around noon. Than slept most of the day.

As part of my surgery, they pumped my belly full of carbon dioxide. While they try to release most of it, some of that gas stays in your body until it can be 'released naturally.' But, until then, the gas raises inside your body, creating painful areas in your shoulders and neck.

I am on tylenol with codeine, which makes me sleep even more, but helps my neck and shoulders feel much better. The best thing about it is that, because I'm on a full liquid diet (don't get me started on the "full" designation), my medicine is a tasty, liquid that makes me feel like a kid.

(Note: Although the date and tone of this blog post make it appear that it was written on July 20, it was actually written on July 26 because I need to improve my blogging timeliness.)

Food! (Post-Fundoplication - Day 2)

I'm feeling much better today because I finally got some food! I was not allowed to eat anything yesterday other than water. By the late evening, I was starving.

My nurses have been very kind. They like me because I am quickly feeling better and don't call them very often. Yesterday, I felt well enough to unplug my IV pole from the wall, and take myself (and IV pole) to the bathroom.

This morning, I got up, went out to the hall and said, "So its morning now, can I have something to eat please?" I had thought that I would be on a liquid diet, which meant true liquids. Come to find out, I am on a "full liquid" diet, which isn't fully liquid in any way. It means I can have applesauce... and ice cream!

I started with applesauce. Then went on to ice cream. When they brought breakfast around, I told the lady that I probably didn't get breakfast. She said, "Nope, you can have this "full liquid" breakfast or Cream of Wheat, yogurt, and juice."

(Seriously, do these people not own a dictionary? The definition of 'full' reveals its synonyms as 'complete' or 'entire.' Now exactly how can applesauce or ice cream be described as entirely liquid? But, when you have not eaten in 32 hours, you don't question people who let you have ice cream for breakfast.)

The second bonus of today is that I got to watch all of the coverage of The Open Championship (aka the British Open). I scheduled this surgery perfectly!

Happiness is breaking a 32 hr fast
w/ surprise discovery that a
"liquid" diet includes applesauce
(& The Open Championship on TV).

Ice cream, u scream, we all scream
for breakfast in the hospital!

(Note: Although the date and tone of this blog post make it appear that it was written on July 20, it was actually written on July 26 because I need to improve my blogging timeliness.)

I've been shot! No, actually just fundoplicated.

This morning, I had Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication to fix my GERD issues. The surgery took less than 90 minutes and the doctor said that it went extremely well. I will be staying overnight at the CJW - Johnston-Willis Campus of the CJW Medical Center.

Before my surgery, the hospital gave me these
supper snazzy socks to wear.

The 5 "bullet holes" from my
Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication

(Note: Although the date and tone of this blog post make it appear that it was written on July 19, it was actually written on July 26 because I need to improve my blogging timeliness.)

Happy Birthday! You need surgery!

As part of my tireless effort to personally fund the college education of the children of every doctor in the Richmond Region, I continue to pursue a remedy for the chronic cough y’all have come to know and love.

Over the past few years, I have been diagnosed with asthma and sleep apnea, both of which contribute to the causes of the cough. However, the doctors have now identified GERD as the most likely cause of my cough (and possibly to my asthma).

You may know that a few weeks ago, a gastroenterologist performed a esophageal endoscopy to implant a small transmitter inside my esophagus to measure the ph levels just above my stomach. (Yes, the same doctor who made me eat radioactive eggs in March.) As part of the endoscopy, the doctor found that I have a hiatal hernia, which is the cause for my severe GERD. Unfortunately, medication alone does not seem to be alleviating the symptoms and the cough comes back frequently.

Today, as a special birthday present to myself, I went to see a specialist surgeon about the next step in possible solutions. She gave me the gift of telling me that I needed surgery to repair the hiatal hernia. So, in July, I will be having a Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication. Despite its name, it is not “fun” and does not involve winning a new Nissan Altima. In actuality, the surgery can be summarized as tying a knot in my stomach (see video below or a shorter 36-second video).

The surgeon has told me that the recovery will require me to be out of the office for 1-2 weeks. I have arranged for the surgery to take place on Thursday, July 19, with the plan for me to return to work on Monday, July 30.

The good news is that the surgery will force me into losing more weight, which should enhance the progress I’ve made with my asthma, sleep apnea, and ruptured spinal disc. As a result of the surgery, I will be on a liquid-only diet for 10-14 days, followed by a soft food diet for an addition 14-21 days.

 

Problem: Hiatal hernia

WebMD’s page on Hiatal Hernia Causes, Picture, Symptoms, Tests, and Treatments

Surgery – Short Video (0:36)

Animated video providing quick explanation of the surgery

Surgery – Longer Video (4:42)

More detailed animated video that discusses the problem and the surgery

(Note: Although the date and tone of this blog post make it appear that it was written on June 12, it was actually written on July 26 because I need to improve my blogging timeliness.)

Update

I recently looked at my blog and realized that I only posted 2 times in November. I have a lot to catch up on. I started working for a company called Dominion Harvest back in the fall and I love it. It has kept me very busy but, we are in the off season right now, so hopefully I can catch up. I like to date my blog posts according to when they happened, so they may be a little out of order.

A note from Leland with instructions on how to get to her hideout.

Chuck has sleep apnea and he finally got a c-pap machine. He no longer snores like a freight train, which means I don't have to elbow him in the side or kick him in the middle of the night to roll over, so we all sleep so much better. The first night he slept with the machine I seriously thought he was dead in the middle of the night. He usually is such a loud and fitful sleeper and he was so still and silent while he slept. It was a little creepy.

Lucy is in such a fun stage. She is adamant about dressing herself most days, which leads to great ensembles. She still loves everything about Spiderman and hyperventilates at the sight of anything remotely resembling Spiderman.

We recently switched the big girls from toddler beds to twin beds. Poor Lucy was complaining about her "small" bed and we would hear her banging against the frame at night. The picture on the bottom right is how we found her the first night in the twin bed. That bigger bed and she still was hanging off the edge. I think she will soon be taller than Leland.

Charly has a ridiculous smile when the camera comes out. She really is a cute girl, but I may not have many pictures to prove it.

Charly has recently discovered climbing. These two pictures were taken literally minutes from each other. I think she will be my first child to break a bone or get stitches.

This is us

School pictures

Since I have no professional pictures to share of Charly, I'll share a video of her most recent accomplishment. Don't you just the love the tongue poking out just like her Daddy does when he concentrates?

Chuck and I loved watching the Country Music Awards last night. I love all the performnaces, but this Brad Paisley one is the best. Chuck loved the "Wanna get scrappy?" bit between Jeff Gordon and Brad Paisley.

Daddy Daughter Duet

A few weeks ago Chuck and Leland sang "Teach me to Walk in the Light" as a duet in church. They did a fabulous job. I recorded their rehearsal.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Chuck's Letter to Lowe's

When I signed the girls up for the Lowe's Build and Grow project for tomorrow, there was a short survey. The last question was: What is ONE thing Lowe's could do to make the Build and Grow clinic experience better for you and your child?

Chuck took over the computer when I asked what I should include. This was his response:

We love the Build & Grow Clinics! My father is a general contractor, and when I was a kid, he always shopped at Home Depot, so I always thought I would be a Home Depot man. When I got married, my wife heard about the B&G clinics and we went to one. Since then, I have divorced Home Depot and married Lowe's! The B&G clinics are why I don't even look at the Home Depot advertisements in the paper. (Yes, they do a clinic too, but only once a month!)

We have now completed nearly 2 dozen B&G clinics at 4 different stores. I have even learned how to use a sewing machine because my wife waits too long to sew the badges onto my daughter's aprons (and my Lowe's baseball cap for me... yes, that's right, the dad's want our stinkin' badges too!)

The B&G clinics are the sole reason that I have become a die hard Lowe's fan. The B&G clinics are why I chose Jimmie Johnson as my favorite NASCAR driver. The B&G clinics have given me great daddy-daughter times with my girls. The B&G clinics have made my daughters love working with their hands and building stuff themselves rather than just buying toys.

REGARDING PROJECTS: I am the father of three daughters, so you would think their favorites would be the necklace holder or something really girly. Nope! My girly girls love to do the fun boats, cars, and helicopters that they can play with. They do use the necklace holder they built and love to show it to people, but they didn't mention it when I asked them what their favorites were. I will say, though, that they really don't like the "game" style projects, such as the baseball game, or basketball game. That type of game stays fun for only a short period of time. But the love the "vehicle" type - cars, helicopter, boats, etc.

REGARDING LOCATION IN THE STORE: We much prefer when they are done in the store's training room rather than out in the middle of the store. We have seen stores that do it in the middle of the store's shopping aisles, which is okay, but not as good. One store we went to did it on wood picnic tables out in front of the store, which was absolutely nerve-wracking because of the cars nearby. It was not a safe situation, so we never returned to a B&G clinic at that store.

REGARDING WORK TABLES: Although being out front was unsafe, that store did something we really liked. The solid wood picnic stables were much easier to do the project upon than the folding tables at other stores. You need something solid for a child to hammer upon, or else the project just bounces around and the nails don't go in. At the stores with the plastic folding tables, we always end up sitting on the floor hammering on our projects.

ON TIMING: Don't change the times. Saturday mornings are great!During the week is too difficult. Sundays are church days, so don't even think about doing them on Sundays.

ON CHARGING FOR B&G: I would not support the idea of charging a fee to attend the actual B&G clinics. While I, myself, may choose to pay the small fee to attend a few, you would end up losing money from me for two reasons:
(1) Every time I go to a B&G, my loyalty to Lowe's makes me spend money. I never (NEVER!) leave the store after a B&G clinic without making a purchase. I guarantee, that you make money on me every time I attend a B&G clinic.
(2) I have told tons of friends about the cool, FREE B&G clinics. I have taken them. I have told them how the B&G clinics are the sole reason I have become a fan of Jimmie Johnson and only shop at Lowe's for my home improvement needs. If you charge, I will not be you walking and talking billboard anymore. (But I will probably still shop there, just not as loyally.)

ON HOW YOU CAN MAKE MONEY OFF OF THE B&G: Sell the kid-sized hammers right there at the B&G. Roll in a moving display case with the hammers and other kid-friendly tools. I would buy them all up! But I wouldn't necessarily chase around the store to find them. I think the idea of selling past B&G projects as kits is a GREAT idea! I have missed clinics due to vacation or other conflicts and always feel bummed out to have missed good ones. I would buy the old projects, so long as they were about $5. BUT!!!! Just because I support allowing me to purchase the PAST project kits, I would not support charging me to attend the WEEKLY clinics. The current project of the day, should be free on Saturday morning to those that attend. But, if you miss it, you can buy it for $4.99.

Ideally, the Build & Grow clinics would take place inside the store, someplace away from the aisles, but with solid firm tables to hammer upon. Ideally, I would have the opportunity to buy the old kits for $3-$5. Finally... Ideally, Jimmie Johnson would be in attendance at every clinic I attended!

Keep up the good work Lowe's (or as my daughters call the store --- Jimmie's House!)
Just gotta love my husband and his gift of gab.

Grammy and Papa's Farewell

Chuck was able to go spend a few days in Cali with his family to attend his parents' mission farewell. (I'm sure Chuck will add more details soon, but I'll get him started.) Here is Chuck with his parents and 5 sisters.
On Sunday, the morning they were to speak in church about their preparations on leaving for a mission, they received a phone call informing them that their mission assignment had been changed!In April, they had received their 18-month assignment to Greece. For many weeks they had been diligently learning Greek with the help of a tutor. Friends and family had made plans to visit them and stay in the 3 bedroom, 2 bath apartment in Thessalonika, Greece.Instead, merely 2 hours before their farewell talks, they found out they had been reassigned to serve in Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa and need to learn French. Crazy! Talk about having faith to go where the Lord wants them to go.
I was sad to miss out on the emotional day, but I'm so glad that Chuck was able to be there with his family.

The family had other fun times with a corn roast at the beach (and subsequent foot washing party - top left below), sifting through boxes of memories of their childhood to help clean out the garage, and playing games.Check out this handsome man I married who found a bunch of BYU Cougars paraphernalia from his youth! (Yep, those are old school BYU sunglasses!) He claims it is proof to those who say he is anti-Provo.I wish my baby was there to play with all these little ones and that my girls could spend time with their great-grandparents.
To be honest when looking through all the pictures it made me miss living in Cali a little bit. I actually got a little teary looking at the beach pics. But I still love my daily life here at home in the South, and I can always visit Cali to taste the parts that I miss.

We are so excited for Grammy and Papa. We can't wait to hear all about their adventures in Africa. If you are curious about what it's like where they are going, check out the blog of the current mission president in that area.