Surgery Day!!!!

Well, yesterday we found out that the insurance company finally approved the surgery.  As I type Steve is back in surgery.

We were so relieved when the PA gave us the good news and even happier when she said the doctor was doing the surgery on Saturday instead of Steve having to wait any longer (or before the insurance company changed their minds). Steve has had lots of pain in his right leg the last couple of days, the morphine he has been on didn't help that pain at all.  We are praying that this surgery will take away at least 85% of his pain.

We haven't really had much notice when it has come to all the twists and turns this week has made.  Trying to coordinate where five kids and a little dog can go for multiple days and nights has been really hard.  Thankfully my mom, sister, sister-in-law and brother have helped us out so far.  Tomorrow all the kids will be going to different places (I'm sure they could all use a break from each other.).  They will be getting to spend time with their friends.

The surgery is suppose to last three to four hours.  He has been back now for about 70 minutes.  I hate waiting.  I'm sure the pain he will have after surgery will be really bad, but it is the pain that comes with healing!!  He will probably be here until Tuesday, then home for months of recovery.  No sitting up for longer then 20 minutes at a time, no riding in a car and no lifting anything more then 5 pounds for the first month. He will then start some physical therapy and recovering enough to get back to work.

Since I really haven't been home since Monday I have lots of work to do at the house; laundry, dishes, etc.  The kids will get some of that stuff done when they are there Monday night.  I can't wait to get my family back together under one roof!!

Steve update...

The doctor came in yesterday and confirmed the bulging disk at L3-L4. He thinks ideally doing a discectomy and fusion at the same time is the best thing to do. He was very apologetic that Steve seems to be just lying here in limbo. Of course that's the fault of our insurance company. He suggested getting an epiderial steroid injection to help with the nerve pain, but Steve really didn't seem to interested in that. This morning in walked a pain management doctor wanting to go ahead with the epideral. Steve has reluctantly agreed. My concern is, if it helps with the pain will they not approve the discectomy?? Then he would end up back in pain someday. Anywho he is getting the injection sometime this morning. Insurance: we are still where we were. Steve has talked with the insurance broker through his employer. She is trying to get some information for him. We do know that the claim is pending just not sure why.

Insurance is a Pain in His Butt

We have had a crazy year so far. Steve has been dealing with back pain for ever and this year it has become unbearable. He started the year with an MRI and a visit to his neurosurgeon. The surgeon suggested a new device used for a spinal fusion at one level, L4-L5. The device, the Aspen Device, was denied by the insurance company, but not the surgery itself. The surgeon sorta appealed the denial in a very basic manner. The insurance company then said the device was an approved device, but the he was not a candidate for fusion surgery, "Not medically necessary". That led us to work on an appeal of that decision which led Steve to have epidural blocks (the third time in 6 years). They didn't work this time either. He then went in for a second opinion. That neurosurgeon didn't like the Aspen device and felt Steve was a prime candidate for a traditional spinal fusion. Since he only had one level of diesease it could take away 85% of his pain. So, they sent the information in to the insurance company, that was two weeks ago. Here we sit today...at Baptist hospital East going on night two inpatient. Over the weekend Steve pain level become so high that he couldn't get any relief. So on Monday morning his brother (Steve's primary physician) called his surgeon and explained what was happening and they decided to admit him for pain control. We still had no response from the insurance company, but they are paying for ALL of this hospital stay. He has been on morphine and steroids since Monday night. The steroids cause high blood sugars so he is also receiving insulin. Yesterday the ordered another MRI to see if things have gotten worse. Then last night he started getting pain in his right hip and down his leg. He thought maybe that the disk had bulged again. Once the NP came in today we still have nothing from the insurance company and the MRI shows he now has a bulging disk at L3-L4. That means he will also need another discectomy. So right now we are on day two of hospital stay waiting for the surgeon to come in...tonight or tomorrow. So I will be staying the night too! Praying that the insurance company finally does what we pay the for and approve the surgery so my husband can begin to live the normal life of a 44 year old man. PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER.

Wasting Away

Well, I started yet another diet this year, but this one is very different.  The diet isn't different (Weight Watchers online) just the way I feel about it.  Not sure what changed in my mind, but I started January 1, 2012 and have lost 16.8 (as of February 26, 2012).

Pre-diet

I really feel good about doing it.  Usually I lose my focus about week 3 and quit, but this time I've done really good.  I haven't had one week with out a weight loss.  I can even see a difference by the inches I have lost.  After about five weeks I put on a pair of jeans I could wear at Christmas and they fit and were comfortable.

I know my focus hasn't so much been on the food I'm depriving myself of (haven't had Mc Donald's all year) or the exercise I need to do, but on God and what he wants for my life.  He wants me to be happy, healthy and excited about life.  I can see all those things changing with in me.  If I think about eating something I shouldn't (a box of saltine crackers) I just say a quick prayer and the craving passes.  ITS A MIRACLE.

Pre-diet

The kids have been very supportive too.  They all ask on weigh-in day, "How much did you lose this week."  The are the ones encouraging me about my choices and how I'm looking.  Hope this is a battle they see me having to go through and make better choices and NEVER have to battle their weight. Evan is the only one who isn't so supportive...he NEEDS some Krispy Kreme donuts bad.  I told him that is something I DO NOT want to tempt myself with just yet.  He is excited for me to have my trip to the lake so while I'm gone they can have them.  Fine with me...

Better Late then Never!!!

Its been a while since I have sat down and focused on my blog.  I have missed some great things to blog about, but I try and get them on here.

Number 1:  Last July we got us a little dog!  He name is Smoke, yes, he is named after my favorite NASCAR driver.  He is a 9 month old Shuh Zhu and very crazy.  He has been a great addition to our family and we really do enjoy having him.

We got him in order to try and help Samantha get over her fear of dogs.  The thought was that if she was around a puppy and got use to it as it grew she wouldn't have such a strong fear.  Well, it worked!!!  She was a little timid at first, but warmed up to him quickly.

He is a blessing to our family even if that's hard to remember when he pees on EVERYTHING!!!  

Jackson Lynn is a Child of God!!!

Last Sunday Steve had the privilege to baptize Jack in our Lord!!  What a wonderful blessing this holiday season.  We are rejoicing with the heavens!!!

So, it's been a LONG while since I have blogged.  We, like everyone else have been pretty busy.  We had a great December and even better Christmas.  I always feel blessed to be able to celebrate our Lord and 
Savior's Birth!!  We have ushered in 2011 with a vengeance.

We have celebrated two of our boys getting a year older (well, Tyler will be 15 tomorrow).  Evan, the baby and Coolest Kid Ever turned 5 and Tyler is about to turn 15,  Wow where does the time go???? 

We are starting our third month with Jack's diabetes.  He has done so good.  I can't believe actually how well he is doing.  How can a 7 year old decline a cooking, that he loves by the way, because he is told it isn't good for him; but a grown women can't stop eating all the crap she eats.  He is a true example for me and I am finally figuring that out.  His blood sugars have been pretty good with just the diet. That's right he hasn't had to have any insulin!!!! 

He and I are getting ready to start a clinical trial.  It is studying the genetics of the disease, its called the Natural History study.  It is for people who have a family member with Type 1 diabetes.  They will check our blood for antibodies (they are what attacks the Islet Cells in the pancreas that causes it to stop working) to "predict" how likely we are to get the disease.  Because Jack hasn't tested positive for them yet this is the only study we could get him in right now. 

Wish us luck!!!