Jen's Journal.....Baby Steps to a new me

[toystoryduo]

Hey sweetie,

Good thoughts and prayers are on their way for your grandma.... Please keep us updated on how she is doing.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Hi Tracy-
Thanks for the prayers and good thoughts...We have been up since 5 and just now got home from the hospital. My grandma was in the OR for 3.5 hours for what was supposed to be a 2 hour surgery. They ended up going through her neck tothe coratid artery-They thought it was 80% blocked but ended up being more, which made the surgery a bit more complicated. She is out of the OR though and is recovering in the surgical ICU. She is in more pain than was expected and may be taying over for a couple of nights,,,I didnt go into see her, but my mom, uncle, and grandpa did--they said she looks worse than expected, but is doing okay. ill be going back to the hospital tonight, so if there is asny new updates, ill let you know.
thank you so much!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

After i posted that she was out of the OR, my mom and i were at home and around 4 or so, i got a phone call from my grandfather that my grandma was taken back into the OR--He didnt know what was going on, so my mom went straight to the hospital, and i waited for my dad to get home from work (about 20 min later) to go with me. This is when i called Elizabeth, because i knew my grandma could use all the prayers she could get.

This is what happened...My grandfather was talking to her and she said she had trouble breathing and then started to wheeze..By the time my grandfather got a nurse, grandma was unconscious...They needed to intubate her and took her straight to the OR..Apparently,a blood clot and alot of swelling caused everything to go crazy and she suffered alot of the complications. When she came out of the OR, the surgeon told us they were going to keep her sedated from teh time we left until at least tomorrow morning- Her throat has some damge to it due to the multiple difficult intubations. My mom went in to see her and she reached for my moms hand and opened her eyes when she heard my moms voice.
Right now, we are still looking at alot of potential complications..They are checking into the possiblilty of stroke, heart attack, or heart problems due to the complications.

That is all i know for now--my mom is calling the nurse at 10pm for an update, and we will be back at the hospital at 11--right now, its just very scary--i apprecaite ALL of the prayers and good thoughts

 

[kmp1191]

Hang in there kiddo....keep us updated.
Prayers are being said!!

marie

 

[toystoryduo]

Jen,

Your grandma and your entire family is in our thoughts and prayers.

 

[kimwim8]

HUGS to you and your family, Jen. Please call me whenever you need to, ok? Keep us updated when you can, and she's definitely in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[kmp1191]

Hope everything is ok.....
Just thinking about you and your family.

marie

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Marie, Tracy, and Kim-
Thank you for stopping by. it has been a really rough couple of days. As of now, she is s till in the intensive care unit and will be for at least another day, depending on any other complications. They removed her breathing tube yesterday and she is now able to sit up and talk. When she talks, it sounds like she is out of breath and wheezing--very scary to hear. She is still having irregular heart beats and her blood pressure and sugar is high. They said she is doing better, but were still trying to determine if there is damage to her heart from the trama. I went in to see her yesterday and i couldnt recognize her..i actually looked right past her b ed trying to find my grandma..it was hard..i just came back from the hospital again and there is no change..hopefully we will talk to her doctor later..im sorry for not updating,its just been crazy..thanks for the thoughts and prayers.
.
Kim-thanks for talking to me the other night--i was going crazy and needed to call soemone!

 

[kimwim8]

Kim-thanks for talking to me the other night--i was going crazy and needed to call soemone!

You can call ANYTIME. I hope you know that by now.

Thanks for the update. You don't have to apologize for not updating...we know you're with her.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

You can call ANYTIME. I hope you know that by now.

Thanks for the update. You don't have to apologize for not updating...we know you're with her.

I do know that by now...the funny thing is..thats the FIRST time i ever called your house and didnt get picked on by your husband. i just realized that today when iwas talking to you!!!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

just checking in....i weighed in at 151 this morning, so i did gain a couple of pounds back, but i expected that after eating hospital food and eating on the run the last several days--starting tomorrow, grandma should be home so ill be back on track..
just a short post,,im headed out for my first day of student teaching!

 

[kimwim8]

Hey Jen. I don't think any of us would have done differently with all you have going on.

GOOD LUCK today!! I can't wait to hear all about it tonight!

 

[toystoryduo]

Have a wonderful first day of student teaching! You are going to do a great job, Jen!

No worries about the scale.... You've had a lot to deal with lately. You'll be able to get back on track soon!

How is your grandma doing? That's great that she might be going home tomorrow!

Have a great day!

 

[kimwim8]

Hey Jen! How's grandmom doing?

Keep in touch, girl!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

hi everyone-
So sorry for not checking in..it has been a CRAZY week. My grandma is home and doing okay- The doctor said he doesnt know how she lived, but im so glad things worked out the way they did..i really appreciate all the thoughts and prayers..It was a rough couple of days!

Steve is officially in Iraq-he told us he would email us as soon as he can, which would most likely be a week or so. At least now we will start working on his care packages!

My first week of student teaching is OVER!! Its going to be a LONG 3.5 months, but i will try to get through it..I am SO happy its the weekend and cant wait to just unwind for the next couple of days. i actually stayed up late tonight getting some work done so i dont have to worry about it for the rest of the weekend.

Other than that, I am watching what I eat and really pushing the water, but i am sorry t o say i havent been exercising. I am hoping that once i get into a routine, i can get exercise back in. by the time i get home from teaching, i clean, eat dinner, get stuff together for the next day and go to bed-Literally, i have been in bed by 9pm most nights this week. i am going to keep doing what i can do and then try to incorporate a bit of exercise at a time. I am not going to worry too much, because there have been a LOT of changse lately and i need to take it step by step because im starting to get very overwhelmed.

I will try to be better about coming to journals--thanks for being there for me, like always!

 

[kmp1191]

Glad to hear g-mom is doing ok!! Been throwing some P & PD your way!
P & PD for Steve, and all the guys over there....keep them safe!

Don't overdo it...get your rest...you're gonna need it, you're dealing w/ kids now!!! Heck, I've been going to be at 9 since DS was born....11 years ago!!!

 

[toystoryduo]

Hey Jen,

I'm glad to hear that your grandma is doing better. We'll keep her and Steve in our thoughts and prayers.

I remember my first week of student teaching.... I was exhausted and about ready to cry at least 10 times each day... It does get easier, sweetie. Just remember that in just a few short months, you'll graduate, go to see Mickey, and then have a classroom of your very own! Keep on keeping on, Jen! If you need anything, I'm here for you!

Have a gr8 week! (One of the kindergarten teachers in our building would send us notes with the word "great" spelled like that. )

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Thanks guys!

Tracy-ive still been fighting the urge to cry all the time...like i have been blah all day because tomorrow is monday and it starts all over..it sounds so stupid, but its hard..

hopefully things will st art looking up..

Im going to make some mini goals this week--8 glasses of water a day, chart my food intake, and 4 days using the ab lounger (at least 200 crunches each time)...i am hoping if i start small, i can build myself back up!

 

[toystoryduo]

i am hoping if i start small, i can build myself back up!

You absolutely, positively CAN do this, Jen! You CAN do ANYTHING that you put your mind to whether it be student teaching or getting back OP. You CAN do this!

I am sending you a gentle . I know how you feel. Just remember.... it does get easier... You are a great teacher and the kids will love you!

When things get tough, remember "Hakuna Matata" and the cheerleading smilie.... Your WISH friends are cheering you on, Jen and we are behind you 100%!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Tracy-
you dont know how much i needed to read this tonight! Ive been really down today , thinking im crazy with being so worried about student teaching, but yet, i cant get myself out of it.

I CAN do this!! this will be a good week!
thanks tracy

You absolutely, positively CAN do this, Jen! You CAN do ANYTHING that you put your mind to whether it be student teaching or getting back OP. You CAN do this!

I am sending you a gentle . I know how you feel. Just remember.... it does get easier... You are a great teacher and the kids will love you!

When things get tough, remember "Hakuna Matata" and the cheerleading smilie.... Your WISH friends are cheering you on, Jen and we are behind you 100%!