how am i doing, you ask?

These past few weeks have been nothing short of a miracle, in my opinion.  While I was in the hospital, I dropped more weight, and got down under 100 lbs.  I looked a little skeletal, but remained cautiously optimistic about my recovery. 
I think I literally slept for 2 weeks post-op.  If I wasn't sleeping, I was walking around in a dilaudid-induced trance, not really able to do much.  I'd head downstairs when I could muster the energy to "snuggle" and be mauled by adoring almost-two-year-olds.

If you're considering have twins and then having surgery, I wouldn't really recommend it.  It's not exactly easy to obey the "don't lift over 10 lbs." rule when your cutie toddlers are 25 and 30 lbs. each.  They have, however, done a remarkable job of being careful with mommy's "owie tummy."  They've touched me softly, and done the best they could being patient with my recovery.  We have had tons of help from my parents and Marcus' parents... and the kids haven't missed a beat.

Since my arrival home, I've managed to gain some weight, eat some food, and play with my kids.  A couple of mornings ago, I even went for a tiny jog with the jogging stroller--for the first time since October! And yes, the doctor said it was okay. :)

So, how good is good, you ask?  I'm still throwing up a time or two per day...mostly when I try to eat more than a tiny handful of something at a time.  Or, when I eat something too fibrous. Or, when I just randomly feel nauseous and barf.  But overall, my pain is much less.  I'm still having some surgical pain, mostly because I'm lifting my fat kids multiple times per day.  But besides that, I'm pretty awesome.

All I've got to say is... THANK YOU, JESUS!!  Thank you for all of your thoughts, prayers, and well-wishes.  I pray that I continue to heal completely and that everything goes swimmingly. 
Hugs and love to you all.
brelin

surgery tomorrow.

My post in October indicated that my health was poor.  It never got better... in fact, it has continued to get worse.  Since last fall, I've managed to get down to 102 lbs--less than I weighed in the fifth grade.  Ridiculous.  My days are filled with vomiting and my nights are filled with pain medicine and tears.
We've had to battle the insurance company to cover the entire surgery, which is slightly experimental for gastroparesis patients, but seems to be working for other people.  I will be patient #20 in the Seattle-area to have the surgery done.  They've been doing it in the Midwest for a while now, and the results continue to be hopeful.  They'll be doing a pyloroplasty, which means they're opening the pyloric sphincter so that my food can empty the stomach more rapidly, hopefully decreasing the likelihood of me puking it all up.  The surgeon will also be removing my gastric stimulator (which has been worthless), and he'll be removing any adhesions that he sees... especially in the zone where I am complaining of horrific pain.  I am cautiously optimistic about the surgery being a "big success"--and as Marcus pointed out the other day, things can't get much worse. Please pray for smooth sailing tomorrow, and that the surgeons are able to perform the surgery laproscopically (so that I can lift the babies sooner. :))
The babies are adorable and BUSY.  They're running and playing, falling down, laughing and loving each other and us so much--it's both absolutely delightful and exhausting.  Especially now, in the midst of this current health crisis, I thank God again and again for the miracle that they are.
Thanks again for your prayers, we covet them, as always. 
Hugs and love,
brelin