And How Was Your Vacation?

I promised pictures of our vacation and here they are. As you can see, there are no fishing scenes, or beach fun, or lounging around the pool. Sometimes, no matter how well you plan a vacation, something happens to rearrange the plans. That's what happened to us.

We arrived at Surfside around 5:00 pm on Friday and checked into our condo. Our balcony had the perfect view of the beach and we began settling in for a week of fun and relaxation. Once the luggage was carried upstairs, we decided to run out for a view provisions to hold us over until we could do some serious grocery shopping. We browsed in an unusual bait/convenience store and a talking parrot greeted us as we walked through the store. I had fun taking to him and watching how he carefully eyed my every movement.

From there we went to another store in town and picked up a few things - mainly milk for Robin's coffee and Diet Coke to curb my addiction. We headed back to the condo via the beach, driving very close to the water's edge. For dinner, we opted for The Red Snapper where Robin had red snapper and I had spaghetti with Greek meatballs. It was a wonderful dinner and we really enjoyed ourselves. As we finished eating and were talking together, I noticed a wave of pain run across my stomach and was gone. I thought no more about it until I awoke the next morning with more of the same pain.

I assumed it was trapped gas (we've all been there) and moved around alittle to get things moving. Then I mentioned to Robin that I felt nauseated. Immediately and without warning, the pain increased and I was throwing up all over the place. OK, we ruled out trapped gas and decided to see a doctor. The condo manager suggested we go to the emergency room in Lake Jackson, about 30 minutes away. We pulled up before noon and by then I was unable to get out of the Jeep by myself. I was rushed inside for all kinds of tests and labs, leaving a nice trail behind me as I went (uh, more of the vomiting). Finally, we were told I needed emergency surgery for a blockage in my small intestines.

The surgery was performed the next morning - the day Robin was scheduled to be on a party boat for deep sea fishing. I was in ICU for the next three days before being sent to a regular room. A section of my intestines had died and had to be cut away, then re-attached. The blockage was caused by a kink in my intestines - probably from another surgery - and scar tissue had formed. And as luck would have it, the time came at the end of the week for Robin to check out of the condo before I was even out of the hospital.

I was told I could go home on Friday and I was so anxious to do so. I hadn't seen my kids and we were all frantic to have an emergency going on when we were so far apart from each other. The doctor signed my release and told me I could leave after another IV. The nurse removed the 23 stapples from my stomach and helped me up to have my lunch. I saw blood on my gown. Robin looked and confirmed that my incision was opening up. The surgeon was called in, he repaired the damage, and taped me up again. Then, the port had to be removed from my neck. The same nurse struggled to get the metal clamps out, but one was stubborn and buried too deeply into my skin. More blood. A second nurse - and scalpel - were brought in and the mission was finally accomplished. I was fitted with a corsett (I'd hoped to shop for swimwear) to ensure a smoother ride home. We left at 6:00 pm for Dallas. I was so swollen I had to travel in a nightshirt and, yes, I had to stop at gas stations and walk inside to use the bathroom. Besides the nightshirt, picture this - hair that had been slept on for a week, no makeup, pink flip flops, and a granny housecoat Robin had hurridly purchased at Wal-Mart. My daughters would be shocked!

And speaking of shocked, I am forgetting my vanity long enough to post two pictures of our vacation. One is of me after I was moved from ICU, nose hose and all. The other is a picture Robin graciously took of my "condo" for the week.

I'm improving every day and feeling so much better now that I have dropped 8 pounds of fluid I'd retained. How awful to go a week without food and gain 5 pounds! I saw my own doctor today and he said I was healing nicely except for second-degree-type burns caused from the surgical tape. He lanced 6 blisters and gave me a prescription for cream. Neighbors arrive daily with our meals and we feel so blessed to be surrounded by so many caring, wonderful people.

Thank you to all who have prayed and supported us. I guess I shouldn't have been so smug in my last post and rubbing it in about vacationing at the beach. Oh well. I'm so thankful we returned in one piece.