What a busy week! We spent the whole weekend painting and yesterday we finally started to FINISH rooms! We have all the bedrooms DONE and the Living room, dining room, and hallway DONE! It feels sooooo good to get them DONE! My bathroom is ready for the last coat and then this weekend we will whip out the kitchen and get it DONE! Then it's time to start ripping up carpet, putting in bathroom flooring, installing bathroom fixtures, installing ceiling fans, lighting and major major cleaning! The plaster guys left quite a mess, so there's LOTS of plaster dust and crumbs to sweep up everywhere. Floors need scrubbed and windows need washed. I am soooooo ready!
I went to the Dr yesterday for my check up on BP. My BP was 126/72 I am so happy! By his scales I am right at the 60 lb mark, but here at home, where I match up with the surgeons office I am right at the 63 lb mark. I feel so much better. I am sleeping better than I have in years and I have much more energy now than I did a month ago! I can tell already that I am eating a bit more with meals, my stomach swelling must be going down. I don't have the pain with eating that I used to have. Things are coming along nicely.
I am just all around happy! Things are finally on the upward swing and I can see us moving in very soon. These last things will all come together soooo fast. I really need to spend more time packing here at home when I can. I try to fill a box or two a day. It's adding up fast. We really do have a lot packed. Once I get the bedrooms cleaned up I can move over some bedroom stuff a little at a time when I go over there I will take a load with me. It will help a lot in the long run.
The Frakes Family
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
It's been awhile!
I am finally feeling a little better. I am able to get more and more accomplished in a day now, which is such a blessing. I am less and less tired, but still tire out pretty fast. I am able to consume a few more calories in a day, since I am not sick so much. I have been only getting sick in the mornings now, which is okay, I can live with that.
Last Thursday night I got a call from my mom and had to rush to the hospital. My grandma Trone fell and broke her hip. We ended up having to take her to Blessing because it was the only place close who would accept her 2 insurance companies. She didn't want to go there too badly. She had a LONG and painful night and they operated on her about lunchtime on Friday. She was out and in recovery by about 2 and by 3 she was able to get moved back to her room. She was in a lot less pain after surgery. She's not liking the getting up and walking part, the therapy, but she's gotta do it or she won't get out on her own again. Tuesday we moved her back to Carthage hospital on swing bed. She's there for therapy and learning to function on her own again. Hopefully she will be out in a few weeks if she listens to what they tell her.
I am finally up to the 60 lb mark. I had to consume more calories after the surgeon put me on the ensure for a week. I am now off the ensure and eating meals again. I am pushing myself to drink more water every day. I really am trying to get it all in. I am noticing that I am getting smaller. I feel smaller. I went down a size in jeans. I am wearing things that I haven't wore in years. Things that were tight before are slipping on now and it shocks me. I can't wait until I have more clothing options out of my closet! I have a variety of sizes from the years and can't wait to get into some of them again!
Brody's finally picking up some better speech patterns. He is mimicking us more now. I don't know if the therapy has anything to do with it, or if he's just finally coming around? We are still doing the therapy once a week. He likes Carol who comes to "play" with him!
Cole woke me up just after 2 this morning. He said his tummy hurt really really bad. He threw up a few times in the night and just cried and cried his belly hurt. He finally fell asleep about 5 this morning and slept pretty peaceful until 9 or so. I hope the worst is over for him. He's not running a fever at all, just says his belly hurts bad. He seems to have better color this morning after his nap. He is back to napping on the couch now. Poor kid. I hope this goes away soon.
The house is coming along nicely. I think they are pretty much done with the re wiring. Bill is also almost done with the new plumbing. The plaster guys worked all weekend and have all the bedrooms done, the hallway and living room and dining room are finished. All they got left to do this weekend is the kitchen, fill in all the cracks in the walls from the house settling and patch up the living room wall that they had to fix. Next up is painting! I can't wait to start that job! That will be the fun part!
I went with Jamie to pick out carpet and kitchen flooring on Monday. I also ordered my new kitchen cabinets and counter top. It's going to be beautiful when it's all done and together. I am so excited. That was an exhausting day. Trying to match everything. It's so hard because this is going to be a commitment for ever. I need to be sure I am going to like what I pick out for a LONG LONG LONG time. I hope I've done good? I have really put a lot of thought into it all. I've kept everything pretty neutral up to this point, except for the kitchen. It's the most color schemed with the flooring, counter tops and appliances. I can't wait to see it all done!
We have a couple that has went to the bank about our house now. We should know soon whether or not it's sold. This also excites us! I just want to not have to worry about selling this place once we move. I want to have it sold and not have it sit empty.
Today my mom is coming out to see the ceilings and the progress. She's not been there in over a week and there's been a LOT going on in that week! I love progress!!!!
Last Thursday night I got a call from my mom and had to rush to the hospital. My grandma Trone fell and broke her hip. We ended up having to take her to Blessing because it was the only place close who would accept her 2 insurance companies. She didn't want to go there too badly. She had a LONG and painful night and they operated on her about lunchtime on Friday. She was out and in recovery by about 2 and by 3 she was able to get moved back to her room. She was in a lot less pain after surgery. She's not liking the getting up and walking part, the therapy, but she's gotta do it or she won't get out on her own again. Tuesday we moved her back to Carthage hospital on swing bed. She's there for therapy and learning to function on her own again. Hopefully she will be out in a few weeks if she listens to what they tell her.
I am finally up to the 60 lb mark. I had to consume more calories after the surgeon put me on the ensure for a week. I am now off the ensure and eating meals again. I am pushing myself to drink more water every day. I really am trying to get it all in. I am noticing that I am getting smaller. I feel smaller. I went down a size in jeans. I am wearing things that I haven't wore in years. Things that were tight before are slipping on now and it shocks me. I can't wait until I have more clothing options out of my closet! I have a variety of sizes from the years and can't wait to get into some of them again!
Brody's finally picking up some better speech patterns. He is mimicking us more now. I don't know if the therapy has anything to do with it, or if he's just finally coming around? We are still doing the therapy once a week. He likes Carol who comes to "play" with him!
Cole woke me up just after 2 this morning. He said his tummy hurt really really bad. He threw up a few times in the night and just cried and cried his belly hurt. He finally fell asleep about 5 this morning and slept pretty peaceful until 9 or so. I hope the worst is over for him. He's not running a fever at all, just says his belly hurts bad. He seems to have better color this morning after his nap. He is back to napping on the couch now. Poor kid. I hope this goes away soon.
The house is coming along nicely. I think they are pretty much done with the re wiring. Bill is also almost done with the new plumbing. The plaster guys worked all weekend and have all the bedrooms done, the hallway and living room and dining room are finished. All they got left to do this weekend is the kitchen, fill in all the cracks in the walls from the house settling and patch up the living room wall that they had to fix. Next up is painting! I can't wait to start that job! That will be the fun part!
I went with Jamie to pick out carpet and kitchen flooring on Monday. I also ordered my new kitchen cabinets and counter top. It's going to be beautiful when it's all done and together. I am so excited. That was an exhausting day. Trying to match everything. It's so hard because this is going to be a commitment for ever. I need to be sure I am going to like what I pick out for a LONG LONG LONG time. I hope I've done good? I have really put a lot of thought into it all. I've kept everything pretty neutral up to this point, except for the kitchen. It's the most color schemed with the flooring, counter tops and appliances. I can't wait to see it all done!
We have a couple that has went to the bank about our house now. We should know soon whether or not it's sold. This also excites us! I just want to not have to worry about selling this place once we move. I want to have it sold and not have it sit empty.
Today my mom is coming out to see the ceilings and the progress. She's not been there in over a week and there's been a LOT going on in that week! I love progress!!!!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Back from the Surgeon
Home from Peoria. It's been a long day of running. That trip sure wears me out.
Good news is, very few, but some Duodenal Switch Patients do suffer from extreme nausea in the first 3 months. It may be because of the pyloric valve getting swollen shut or open. They may have to go in with a scope and balloon and stretch it out, but because I am only 5 weeks out after surgery he doesn't want to scope me unless this is UNBEARABLE to me. I told him I could handle the puking as long as I knew that something major wasn't wrong with my new stomach. I just didn't want this to be a leak or something. He thinks the pain I feel a few seconds after I drink or eat is the food passing slowly through that valve. He thinks that with some Reglan pills three times a day and some other nausea meds, that I will hopefully soon get back on track. I have to go back in one week and he will see how I am reacting to the new drugs.
I also was told to no matter what take my vitamin B's. He said those are the ones that you can die from and have the most serious side effects if I don't get them in. I have been taking my multi vits, but since getting sick I stopped taking them cause my guts are so upset all the time and they make my guts upset too, because of the iron. I plan on working those and the B's and the calcium back in my diet the next few days.
I also got a strict lecture that I am dehydrated and he wants me on 2 Ensure a day for the next week. He's not expecting me to lose any weight this week, but he wants me to build my vitamins and minerals back up and get in some nourishment, he said he could tell by looking at my skin, tongue and lips that I am in poor shape and unless I wanted admitted for 3 days of IV therapy with supplements then I needed to comply with the Ensure and vitamins and if my blood work hasn't improved I could face an admission in my near future. I am going to work hard to get those nasty Ensure in! YUCKY!!!!
So in a nutshell, if I am better next week we are all good and I will stay on the medications that he prescribed for a few months to see if that pyloric valve area will heal up. If I can get re-hydrated then he will be happy! If I am not any better we will further discuss scoping me to see what is going on inside, but for now we are in agreement that we don't want to harm my new "tummy" with the scope so we will hold off on that at least until more internal swelling goes down.
5 weeks and I've lost 57 lbs so far!!!!!!
Good news is, very few, but some Duodenal Switch Patients do suffer from extreme nausea in the first 3 months. It may be because of the pyloric valve getting swollen shut or open. They may have to go in with a scope and balloon and stretch it out, but because I am only 5 weeks out after surgery he doesn't want to scope me unless this is UNBEARABLE to me. I told him I could handle the puking as long as I knew that something major wasn't wrong with my new stomach. I just didn't want this to be a leak or something. He thinks the pain I feel a few seconds after I drink or eat is the food passing slowly through that valve. He thinks that with some Reglan pills three times a day and some other nausea meds, that I will hopefully soon get back on track. I have to go back in one week and he will see how I am reacting to the new drugs.
I also was told to no matter what take my vitamin B's. He said those are the ones that you can die from and have the most serious side effects if I don't get them in. I have been taking my multi vits, but since getting sick I stopped taking them cause my guts are so upset all the time and they make my guts upset too, because of the iron. I plan on working those and the B's and the calcium back in my diet the next few days.
I also got a strict lecture that I am dehydrated and he wants me on 2 Ensure a day for the next week. He's not expecting me to lose any weight this week, but he wants me to build my vitamins and minerals back up and get in some nourishment, he said he could tell by looking at my skin, tongue and lips that I am in poor shape and unless I wanted admitted for 3 days of IV therapy with supplements then I needed to comply with the Ensure and vitamins and if my blood work hasn't improved I could face an admission in my near future. I am going to work hard to get those nasty Ensure in! YUCKY!!!!
So in a nutshell, if I am better next week we are all good and I will stay on the medications that he prescribed for a few months to see if that pyloric valve area will heal up. If I can get re-hydrated then he will be happy! If I am not any better we will further discuss scoping me to see what is going on inside, but for now we are in agreement that we don't want to harm my new "tummy" with the scope so we will hold off on that at least until more internal swelling goes down.
5 weeks and I've lost 57 lbs so far!!!!!!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Not feeling so hot
What an awful week. I got admitted to the hospital because I have been puking and couldn't keep anything down. I was glad I went in when I did because they had to go through the whole hospital staff to get an IV in me. Finally they called in Surgery and FINALLY got it in and going. The anti nausea meds didn't do much for the nausea, but it did keep me from vomiting near as much as I was here at home.
Dr. McKenney sent me home because I had an appointment with my surgeon on Thursday and he wanted me to get to Peoria and see what he had to say. I went and Dr. Marshall was thinking I just had the flu, but if I was not better by Tuesday I have to go back and see him first thing Tuesday. Looks like I am going up on Tuesday because I just keep getting sick. I will be okay for a few hours and then it hits again and again. I hate getting sick so much.
Yesterday we were in Lowes and were checking out and I got a hot flash, knew it was coming. I was getting ready to toss my cookies. The lady was taking her precious time checking me out. I must have looked bad cause she looked at me and said "are you going to be okay" and I said "yeah, morning sickness" she then looked at Brody in the cart and looked at me like I was nuts, but it's waaaayyyy easier to go that route than explain that I had stomach surgery and try to explain that while I am trying to hold in vomit. I no sooner made it out to the truck to Bill and Cole and I lost it. Puked everywhere. Gross.
Grandma Jean is taking me to Peoria on Tuesday. I am so grateful for all this help from everyone. It's such a pain in the butt to have to go anyplace because I have to have a sitter for Brody, someone to get Cole off the bus and someone to help Cole with homework and get the boys fed. It's a job dealing with all this. Sometimes I wonder if it's all worth it? I've been miserable for so long I don't even remember what it feels like to have a good day. I keep praying to get better soon and get some energy back. It doesn't help puking all the time. Every time I puke it totally drains me. Not that I am not already drained of energy anyhow, it just wipes me out. It's all such an exhausting deal.
The house is coming along nicely. Bill, Jerry and Jamie have been working all week long and it sure does look so much different than when I last saw it. There is no trim up anymore, they have all the light fixtures removed and false lights hanging. There are new holes and receptacles in the walls where my new plug ins will be. The kitchen sink is ripped out. The plaster guys will be here this week. The new furnace will be installed this week too. The big picture window will be repaired and replaced this week. It's all coming together and it's so crazy to think that this time next week we will be paint shopping and spending time finally painting! I am happy about that! Then flooring and then MOVE IN!!!!
Yesterday I got an awesome bargain at Lowes. I found a bathroom sink and pedistool for $15 wooo hooo!!! Bill even liked it so we snatched it up! Now all I have to get is a cabinet and medicine cabinet. Slowly but surely amongst all this sickness I am getting things done. Bill got all the supplies last night for the plumbing and new gas line for the furnace. He also got some more wire for the electrical. There went another $600 on house stuff! We are knocking it off one chunk at a time.
Dr. McKenney sent me home because I had an appointment with my surgeon on Thursday and he wanted me to get to Peoria and see what he had to say. I went and Dr. Marshall was thinking I just had the flu, but if I was not better by Tuesday I have to go back and see him first thing Tuesday. Looks like I am going up on Tuesday because I just keep getting sick. I will be okay for a few hours and then it hits again and again. I hate getting sick so much.
Yesterday we were in Lowes and were checking out and I got a hot flash, knew it was coming. I was getting ready to toss my cookies. The lady was taking her precious time checking me out. I must have looked bad cause she looked at me and said "are you going to be okay" and I said "yeah, morning sickness" she then looked at Brody in the cart and looked at me like I was nuts, but it's waaaayyyy easier to go that route than explain that I had stomach surgery and try to explain that while I am trying to hold in vomit. I no sooner made it out to the truck to Bill and Cole and I lost it. Puked everywhere. Gross.
Grandma Jean is taking me to Peoria on Tuesday. I am so grateful for all this help from everyone. It's such a pain in the butt to have to go anyplace because I have to have a sitter for Brody, someone to get Cole off the bus and someone to help Cole with homework and get the boys fed. It's a job dealing with all this. Sometimes I wonder if it's all worth it? I've been miserable for so long I don't even remember what it feels like to have a good day. I keep praying to get better soon and get some energy back. It doesn't help puking all the time. Every time I puke it totally drains me. Not that I am not already drained of energy anyhow, it just wipes me out. It's all such an exhausting deal.
The house is coming along nicely. Bill, Jerry and Jamie have been working all week long and it sure does look so much different than when I last saw it. There is no trim up anymore, they have all the light fixtures removed and false lights hanging. There are new holes and receptacles in the walls where my new plug ins will be. The kitchen sink is ripped out. The plaster guys will be here this week. The new furnace will be installed this week too. The big picture window will be repaired and replaced this week. It's all coming together and it's so crazy to think that this time next week we will be paint shopping and spending time finally painting! I am happy about that! Then flooring and then MOVE IN!!!!
Yesterday I got an awesome bargain at Lowes. I found a bathroom sink and pedistool for $15 wooo hooo!!! Bill even liked it so we snatched it up! Now all I have to get is a cabinet and medicine cabinet. Slowly but surely amongst all this sickness I am getting things done. Bill got all the supplies last night for the plumbing and new gas line for the furnace. He also got some more wire for the electrical. There went another $600 on house stuff! We are knocking it off one chunk at a time.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Shopping Rage!
Well I finally hit the big 5-0 pound mark today! I am so thrilled to be at this point so far! I go see the Dr in 5 days. Hopefully he says I am doing great.
I went with mom to Quincy today shopping for stuff for the house. I went to Home Depot. I love that store. There's always someone to help you wherever you turn. We were right in and right out of there. I bought a new toilet, a new kitchen sink pedistool, painting supplies, mom got a fireplace for Carla Rodeffers birthday, we were in and out of there in no time!
Next stop MENARDS. I flipping HATE that store. The service there SUCKS. Nobody will help you with anything, and they are rude when you do find someone to help you and finally get them to help. They false advertise in their ads too. I found some indoor doors I was going to buy today. They were on sale for $119 a door with a $20 in store rebate. Not too shabby, cause I am sure I could have spent the $80 rebate in the store in no time. However when I went to pick out the door, they only came in primed, ready to paint. The ad mentioned NOTHING about that? False advertisement. I was so pissed. It took 30 minutes to get a guy to help us find the damn doors that were on sale, then when we got to them, only to find out they weren't the right things PISSED me off royally. I was HOT. It's a good thing I didn't have a gun on me today, cause I could have went nuts in there and just blew the whole damn place up. I was sore, tired, moving slow, cranky and then he just went and pissed me off!
Next stop Fazolis. I got some food in my tummy and I was a happier person! I only ate 4 bites, but I was satisfied and in a better mood for the drive home. When we got back to the farm, I picked up Brody from Bev's and we went to the new house to do some damage! I got to take my aggressions out on the wall tile. We removed all the kitchen wall tile today. We also ripped out the counter tops that were on the cupboards and are moving out the old sink pedistool and going to move in my brand new one that I just bought today! It's purrrrrty!!! Next up, the lumber yard will come out and measure for my new counter tops! I am soooo excited. I have the prettiest counters and floors picked out! My new sink is black to match all my appliances. I am so excited about this! I can't wait till this kitchen comes together! It's my dream, and I just want to see it all DONE and look spiffy! Here's the work we did today!
Now the plaster guys come in and fix us up! Then we slap some paint on there, lay the new floor, put up our new back splash, install counter tops, and then it's time for them to deliver our appliances! I am pumped!
I love everything about it so far!
I went with mom to Quincy today shopping for stuff for the house. I went to Home Depot. I love that store. There's always someone to help you wherever you turn. We were right in and right out of there. I bought a new toilet, a new kitchen sink pedistool, painting supplies, mom got a fireplace for Carla Rodeffers birthday, we were in and out of there in no time!
Next stop MENARDS. I flipping HATE that store. The service there SUCKS. Nobody will help you with anything, and they are rude when you do find someone to help you and finally get them to help. They false advertise in their ads too. I found some indoor doors I was going to buy today. They were on sale for $119 a door with a $20 in store rebate. Not too shabby, cause I am sure I could have spent the $80 rebate in the store in no time. However when I went to pick out the door, they only came in primed, ready to paint. The ad mentioned NOTHING about that? False advertisement. I was so pissed. It took 30 minutes to get a guy to help us find the damn doors that were on sale, then when we got to them, only to find out they weren't the right things PISSED me off royally. I was HOT. It's a good thing I didn't have a gun on me today, cause I could have went nuts in there and just blew the whole damn place up. I was sore, tired, moving slow, cranky and then he just went and pissed me off!
Next stop Fazolis. I got some food in my tummy and I was a happier person! I only ate 4 bites, but I was satisfied and in a better mood for the drive home. When we got back to the farm, I picked up Brody from Bev's and we went to the new house to do some damage! I got to take my aggressions out on the wall tile. We removed all the kitchen wall tile today. We also ripped out the counter tops that were on the cupboards and are moving out the old sink pedistool and going to move in my brand new one that I just bought today! It's purrrrrty!!! Next up, the lumber yard will come out and measure for my new counter tops! I am soooo excited. I have the prettiest counters and floors picked out! My new sink is black to match all my appliances. I am so excited about this! I can't wait till this kitchen comes together! It's my dream, and I just want to see it all DONE and look spiffy! Here's the work we did today!
Now the plaster guys come in and fix us up! Then we slap some paint on there, lay the new floor, put up our new back splash, install counter tops, and then it's time for them to deliver our appliances! I am pumped!
I love everything about it so far!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Starting to fall into place.
This has been such a crazy busy week so far! I have been resting up a lot because we have a LOT going on the next few weeks! We are going to close on our house the end of this week or first of next week. We have had contractors over there beginning to work. Light switches are all getting replaced, plug ins replaced, light fixtures, wall tiles removed, the kitchen sink pedistool replaced, new sink put in, all new appliances, new counter tops, all the plaster repaired and ceilings textured. We also have to replace the toilet, bathroom sink, add a couple wall cabinets, refinish the tub, add some wall surround, put up an exhaust fan, paint the WHOLE house. We are getting a new LP furnace. The one that's in there now is fuel oil and that fuel oil puts smudge on your walls over years and years of use and I don't want that. We are getting new kitchen flooring, and new living room carpet. Then we will have to re-finish the wood floors that have tracks and show some damage. All new doors and then we are MOVING IN!!!
The boys LOVE the new house. They both kinda gravitate toward their own rooms. Brody likes to go through the house slamming doors and locking himself into places. Little stinker!
We have a LOT of shopping to do. I hope we can get some places to do some major delivering! With the money we will be dropping in these places they better!
I ordered my new fridge, stove and dishwasher yesterday. It was kinda neat to go through and pick out stuff to suit us. I'm not too picky but I do know I wanted a bigger fridge, and then I wanted a simple stove. I think I will LOVE the stuff I picked out.
I am just getting so excited to see all my visions pan out and come together into an amazing new home for us!
Tonight I have a support group meeting in Galesburg. I am excited to go back and talk to everyone. Hear their stories. It's kinda nice to be in company with people who are going through what you are. This is such a life changing event and nobody else understands what you are going through more than the people who are going through it with you. I think Brenda is coming with me tonight. That will be nice having someone to ride with me.
Tomorrow mom and I are going to start taking tiles off the kitchen walls. Saturday I have to go to Quincy and get busy shopping for more supplies. The sooner we get this stuff the sooner we can get stuff done and move in!
The boys LOVE the new house. They both kinda gravitate toward their own rooms. Brody likes to go through the house slamming doors and locking himself into places. Little stinker!
We have a LOT of shopping to do. I hope we can get some places to do some major delivering! With the money we will be dropping in these places they better!
I ordered my new fridge, stove and dishwasher yesterday. It was kinda neat to go through and pick out stuff to suit us. I'm not too picky but I do know I wanted a bigger fridge, and then I wanted a simple stove. I think I will LOVE the stuff I picked out.
I am just getting so excited to see all my visions pan out and come together into an amazing new home for us!
Tonight I have a support group meeting in Galesburg. I am excited to go back and talk to everyone. Hear their stories. It's kinda nice to be in company with people who are going through what you are. This is such a life changing event and nobody else understands what you are going through more than the people who are going through it with you. I think Brenda is coming with me tonight. That will be nice having someone to ride with me.
Tomorrow mom and I are going to start taking tiles off the kitchen walls. Saturday I have to go to Quincy and get busy shopping for more supplies. The sooner we get this stuff the sooner we can get stuff done and move in!
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