August 11, 2007

How Ellis Made Me Laugh So Hard I Cried - #438


As most of you know, Ellis will occasionally talk in his sleep. Whenever he does, I do my best to try to remember what he says so I can laugh about it all day. Last night's impartment of wisdom is no different. I hope you can enjoy the random-ness of this as much as I did:

In the middle of the night, Ellis said, "I'm Todd."

I rolled over and said, "You're Todd?"

He said, "I'm Todd."

I wanted to make sure I was hearing him right....because, he is obviously not Todd, so I said, "You're Todd?"

"I'm Todd............and I'm delicious."

A few seconds later, he was snoring again.



Then, as I am laying in bed laughing and repeating this over and over to myself, so I won't forget it, he rolls over towards me and says:

"You're Billy Jean. And you're delicious. Delicious BJ." Then he started snoring again.

August 7, 2007

How I Broke My Gallbladder

Starting out, I did have my gallbladder taken out Sunday. Fortunately, I got sent home Monday morning. So I am recovering now. But the story of the last six days is pretty interesting.

It all started on Wed morning at 4:45 am. I woke up with this terrible pain in my upper abdomen. Pretty much right at my lower rib cage. It was a terrible pain. I actually had it once before about a year ago or so. Anyway, I couldn't lay down, stand up, it was terrible. I called my mom, who was working 3rd shift at the lab (already at the hospital) and she said if I felt that bad that I should come on down to the ER. I woke Ellis up and we loaded up into the car and headed to the hospital. I was poked and prodded, they did an ultra-sound, CT Scan, and all sorts of other stuff. The lady who did my ultra sound told me I had a "gold mine" in my gallbladder. But, my Dr said "Everyone has gall stones. We think this is a stomach ulcer." So, by noon or so, I was no longer in pain and I was sent home with a prescription for stomach acid medicine and hydrocodone.

I spent the rest of Wed resting, but spent the night throwing up the little food I had eaten. Apparently my body does NOT like hydrocodone. On Thursday, I was afraid to eat much of anything. I think I ended up having dry cereal, 1/2 of a chicken wrap, and more dry cereal. That was all I had all day. Oh, and I stayed home from work. I just did not feel right.

Finally, on Friday, I was a little stir crazy and knew I didn't feel 100%, but I wanted to go to work to get out of the house. Plus, I had a lot of work to do. School was starting soon and I have a lot of stuff to do to prepare for that. So I went in to work and felt light headed all morning. I was in an out of the copy room, working on time sheets, just getting a lot done. But, I was feeling worse and worse. I decided to call it a day around 11:45. When I went home, my mom called and asked how I was doing. She sent my dad over to drop off some soup for me. Since I had so little to eat, I ate a WHOLE CAN of chicken noodle for lunch. It was so good! Then, pretty much immediately after that, the pain I had from Wed morning came back. It lasted for about 5 hours. The best way to describe it is if someone had hit me but the pain of that punch lasted the entire time. And it was like a band all the way around me, even to my back. Near the end of this (we finally realized that I was passing a gall stone later) my mom came over and the first thing she noticed was that my eyes were yellow and I looked like a pumpkin. Apparently, somewhere along the way, I got jaundiced. She ended up taking my blood and a urine sample and we found that besides the pain, my bilirubin was about 300 times higher than it was when my blood had been taken on Wed.

We went to the emergency room again on Friday. We got there around 6:30 or so. When I saw the Dr, he couldn't believe I was sent home on Wed and immediately told me that he was keeping me for the night. My 5 hours of pain ended around the time I was checking in to the ER, but because my blood work was so out of whack, they really wanted to keep me to try to figure out what was going on. So, I was stuck in a hospital gown and room all day Sat and I felt pretty normal. Since they didn't know when they were going to take me to surgery, I had a lovely diet of jello, Popsicles, chicken broth, and water. Strangely, I have redeveloped a love for Popsicles after all of this.

My Dr set up my surgery for Sunday and it went smoothly. I am glad all of that is over. He removed my gall bladder laproscopically. So I just have four little scars on my stomach. I don't feel normal yet, still some pain from that. So, I am planning on staying home this week to try to feel better. I feel bad taking a week off, but my mother-in-law pointed out that used to, people would have to take 6 weeks off from work. So, putting it in that perspective, I shouldn't feel bad. Besides, I do need to time to heal.

Anyway, I think this is most of the story. In a few weeks, I should be as good as new!

July 15, 2007


Cassie and Peggy came for a visit and we were able to spend the weekend with Matthew Gracen. He is just so cute and sweet and growing up! He is truly a Miracle Baby!

He is learning sign language and a few words. What a cutie! Watch out world!

June 23, 2007

How We Met

Once upon a time, there was girl. She was a hard worker, doing her little job, living in her little home, doing her little thing. She liked to have fun, but also had all sorts of rules and expectations to follow.

Once upon a time, there was a boy. He was fun loving, creative, and liked to make other people laugh. He worked with people, sharing his creativity. But, there was something missing.

One day, the girl went to the boy's job, with a simple job for him to work on. His eyes sparkled, his gait was happy, he was tall. And cute. She left thinking about him, glad that she wore her cute red and white skirt (maybe he had noticed).

A few days later, she had an e-mail from him. It was business related....but it was sent to her personal address. Soon, the boy was chatting and e-mailing with the girl. Lots of fun, lots of banter, a little flirting. The girl couldn't keep the smile off of her face. The boy was intrigued.

After talking for several weeks, the girl was bold and sassy and invited the boy to her house to share her favorite cocktail: Scarlett O'Hara. In an EXTRA bold move, the girl decided that having dinner ready for the boy would show off her womanly skills.

The boy was mesmerized by the girl. She had a lovely home, a strange little cat, and could make a mean drink! There was a little awkwarness, but talking and joking quickly made the evening more comfortable.

By the end of the evening, the girl was giggley and the boy's interest was piqued.

January 5, 2007

Our Nephew


10/31/06

I just had word from Ellis that his sister, Cassie, is in the hospital in Toledo. She has been diagnosed with either Toximia or Pre-eclampsia. We don't know much about the situation, except that both she and the baby need prayers. The baby's original due date is at the end of January. There is a possibility that they might have to induse labor or have a c-section in order to keep Cassie safe. Again, we don't know much about what is going on. But please keep Cassie and her baby boy in your prayers.

10/31/06

Hello friends and family, I just got word that my sister, Cassie, is having problems with her pregnancy. She has developed a condition called Preeclampsia (link) that is particularly dangerous for her and the baby. She isn't due until late January, and the only cure is to deliver the baby who is just over a pound right now. I will know more soon and will update you all as soon as I know more, and we all appreciate your prayers and any good feeling mojo you can point her way.

Thanks all,
Ellis


11/01/06

I spoke with Cassie last night and she is in good spirits. She has been given several drugs to boost the health of the baby when they decide to deliver. She is now just sitting in the hospital, waiting for things to change.

I just had a case of beer and a carton of Marlboro lights sent to her room to help calm her nerves. Boy, does that girl love to drink and smoke.

She's normally a Camel smoker, but the baby prefers the Marlboro; he kicks whenever she tries to switch.

Thank you all for your prayers and support.

ELL!S


01/05/07


Good news! Baby Matthew is out of the isolation crib! He is in a regular crib now! He is also weighing in at 3 lbs, 14 ozes! He is a growing boy! Ellis's dad sent some new pictures and he is so sweet, I almost cry!