Home!

I got to come home on Tuesday afternoon- colon woke up, ate some grits, and got discharged-boom:) needless to say I am thrilled to sleep in my bed, play with Lilly, snuggle with Deebo, and stand in the shower! (Matt is pretty cool too, and the couch isn't so bad either:) Once again my parents came every day to sit with me, walk the halls, help wash my hair, etc. They too are pretty fabulous! (Happy birthday to my Dad, it was yesterday, he pretty much would do anything for his girls- seriously. He says that having 4 daughters is why he has gray hair, but secretly he wouldn't have it any other way!). Megan came from NC with Isaac in tow, and all his stuff , who knew kids traveled with so much baggage?!? She wrote on my blog, sent a card everyday with my parents to make me cackle, and even caught a cold while she was here- I dig her. I am so thankful for Teresa and Anita's daily calls and texts, cards sent to the hospital that appeared a week later (Anita, you know the mail room at AMC is probably like the one on Elf), a lovely necklace that I adore, and just knowing how much y'all care about me, well, that's pretty awesome.
I read lots of stories on the Internet about the reversal surgery, pros, cons, life after a stoma, etc. I laughed when reading one about if you have a recliner, you might as well move it in to the bathroom- well I get it now. I waited 7 days for my colon to wake up and at 5 o'clock in the morning when my stomach was rumbling and it was like there was pieces of metal going through me, I realized that a recliner in the bathroom wouldn't be so bad:) but here I am, day 2 of being home, and I am eating (a low residue diet, but eating), sleeping a tad better, not hurting terribly, and getting used to this new colon:)
Thanks for the well wishes, good vibes and thoughts.  Thanks for my friends who checked on me daily , the gorgeous orchid (Liz I promise to try and keep it alive!), and most of all the continued prayers!

Day #6: Wake up Colon!

Kara is patiently waiting for her colon to wake up :)  She has been walking, talking, and resting well- sipping on clears and hopefully passing the time for this big step.   Next round: reintroducing food.  Hard to believe it's been a week!

Day #4: Red Gatorade!

Yay for "Sips of Clear Liquids!"  Today was another starting point for introducing liquids.  We used to get really fired up about getting Gatorade for basketball camp or after a hot day at the ball field.  Kara had about a cup of red gatorade and despite her feelings of hunger yesterday, she was content (or past the point of being hungry) today.  She is still receiving fluids with some extra goodies through an IV and using the pain management pump as needed.  Walking the halls, resting, and sitting in a chair- CHECK.  Baby steps continued... I feel slightly vague in description, but she can update on the nitty gritty later as she chooses.  As for now, keep praying for comfort, rest, and healing!

Day #3: Keep on- keeping on

Kara had a good day today- progression is on track.  She is looking forward to hopefully being able to taste something with flavor tomorrow.  (That is...HOPEFULLY she can sip on some sort of liquid tomorrow night.)

Brady Bunch shout-out in the title :)  Go Kara!

Day #2: I want a Sprite...

Kara described today as "ok".  She sat in a chair, did some walking, and rested a while.  She is working on some ice chips and trying to avoid the nausea/queasiness that keeps lurking.  Today she actually wanted a sprite though, so hopefully that's a good sign! Long days ahead- she is a trooper and staying positive that this challenge too shall pass...
 
Borrowing this from a friend tonight= a great thought to remember... It's often in the wait that God is working the most.

Day #1: Post Takedown

Kara had a tough day dealing with pain and nausea.  She was able to sit in a chair for a while this afternoon, but this intensified the nausea.  Her foley was removed earlier and dressing changed- all looks good at the site of the surgery.  She "ate" half an ice chip before the nausea sort of took over.  Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day. 

Please continue to pray for rest and healing.  Time to remember those baby steps again!

Bag Free!

Kara is resting tonight following her surgery this morning.  The surgeons said all went well and no problems were encountered during the procedure! She has some fairly constant local pain, but has a PCA pump... so hopefully she will be comfortable tonight.  The next four days will include a lot of rest and ice chips only- no food or drink to allow swelling to subside.  Thank you for all the prayers throughout this journey- especially today!  Please keep her in your thoughts as she starts the healing process again. 

5 months

Tomorrow will be exactly 5 months since I had my initial colonoscopy and found out about this cancer business... At times it feels like a lot longer ago and at other times it seems like just a couple of days ago this all started.  So, here I am, 5months of doctor appointments, lab draws, surgery, recovering, researching, praying, laughing, and loving the people I am surrounded by.  I have learned so much through all of this- mostly I am amazed each day at how loving, selfless, giving, faithful, caring, for lack of a more descriptive word:awesome, that my family, friends, coworkers, friends of friends, doctors, nurses, pretty much everyone that I have come in contact with, have been through this process.  I am so grateful for all the prayers, love, and well wishes.
Tomorrow is hopefully (fingers crossed) my last surgery to kicking this cancer!!!! I'm having my ileostomy takedown (in a nutshell: suturing the colon that is sticking out of my skin, popping it back in and then suturing the abdominal wall and skin back together).  Needless to say I'm pumped about getting rid of the ostomy and getting put back together, but at the same time it has almost become my new normal.  I'm feeling more and more like my self, with increasing energy and can kind of sleep on my stomach again which means I'm pretty much golden! Changing the ostomy bag has become routine and believe it or not it doesn't really take 30min like it did when I initially started:)
I got to see my whole entire family this weekend for my nephew's baptism.  I am so thankful that we got to play together, eat together around one big table (which I did all weekend long since I won't be able to eat or drink for 4 days postop, seriously I ate all weekend long) and pray together. I am so lucky to be their daughter/sister/aunt!!!!
So tonight I plan on standing in the shower a little bit longer, hugging my pups a little harder, squeezing Matt's neck a little tighter, and thanking God a bit longer for all of his continued blessings.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your prayers and love! Megan said that she would update the blog,  but she is convinced that this time is going to be so much smoother that I will be able to update everyone.

"Come to Me, and relax in My peace. I will strengthen you and prepare you for this day, transforming your fear into confident trust."   - Jesus Calling devotional book.     (Thanks Melissa!!!!)