tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67665695147282152942024-02-19T07:31:45.760-08:00Jami's Chiari ConnectionBecoming a Zipperhead Gracefully
Jami Lippencotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17657904074467024446noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766569514728215294.post-11542257657636950522014-10-12T15:36:00.002-07:002014-10-12T15:36:35.977-07:00Two Year AnniversaySince my successful Chiari Decompression!<br />
10/11/12 - 10/11/14 <br />
I've come a long way in 2 years! I'm feeling healthy and so much more capable and positive. It's wonderful to not have all of the symptoms that I had a couple years ago as a result of Chiari Malformation. I'm grateful everyday to be living without the pain, feeling of pinched nerves, knotted muscles in my neck and shoulder, lack of balance, blurred vision, etc. Some of the symptoms I can hardly remember; most everything was relieved immediately after the surgery. I had an amazingly skilled surgeon, Dr. Rachana Tyagi at Robert Wood Johnson. <br />
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Ouch! This was me 2 years ago...<br />
Yep...staples! I think there were 19 <br />
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We took this one today on the way to<br />
our Campus Sunday at church. Go R.U.!<br />
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So grateful for my husband Bob's patience, love, and support....he's amazing! Grateful for my family Bree, Ross, and Manami's love, prayers, and support through the hard times leading up to my surgery and during my recovery. I know I was always in the thoughts and prayers of our parents and family in New Jersey and Montana and felt their support. I'll never forget the support of my church family and friends during my recovery for all their acts of kindness and service; now that's love! I'm so grateful for "my home nurse", Manami who is now my daughter (in law)! Big YAY for that!!! Now there's a way to earn some brownie points....taking care of your future mother-in-law recovering from brain surgery. She's pretty special! Ross and Manami were married September 26th, 2013! <br />
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I am feeling great and have gotten myself in pretty good shape in this past year. Without all those aches and pains I am now able to be consistent with exercise and diet and have lost 55 lbs! I go to the gym 3 or more days a week and have been able to get back to doing some activities that had become very difficult or impossible for a few years. I went back to snow skiing just a couple months after my surgery, we kayak, and have enjoyed some very long strenuous hikes. A couple months ago we hiked in Glacier Park, Montana 10 miles to Ptagmigan Tunnel; no easy feat at that altitude! Cranial decompression surgery is no joke, I really wouldn't want to go through it again, but life is great (now) and I'm very grateful that it was such a success! I thank God for a life I love!<br />
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Oh...did I mention....Hurricane Sandy hit a week after I was home recovering? That was a bit of an adventure that you can read about if you scroll back in my blog.Jami Lippencotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17657904074467024446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766569514728215294.post-67138912269475041752013-01-18T16:32:00.000-08:002013-01-19T17:11:48.280-08:003 Months Post Op<b>Doing Great; Exercising and Getting in Shape</b><br />
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I had another post op appointment this past week. I am really happy about my progress and so is Dr. Tyagi. She can really see that my balance has improved, I'm healing very well and getting my stamina back. When she asked me what percentage I thought I was up to in my Chiari recovery I said 75-80%, which seemed to make her very happy. I do still have facial numbness and a bit of swelling, although it is not the same as before the surgery. Dr. Tyagi wants me to return in April since I do still have these symptoms and possibly do a MRI. She said that we really need to give it a year since the nerves had been compressed for so long it may take a really long time to recover. After seeing Dr. Tyagi last week I had about 4 days that I didn't have any symptoms at all; the numbness and swelling was gone in my face...it felt great! To me my face looks really different when I don't have all that inflammation from the nerves being aggravated. I'm really hopeful that my nerves will calm down permanently, but yesterday and today it's back. I have had a bit of a headache the last two days and not feeling great. It almost seems like I have a bit of a bug...we'll see; it doesn't seem as if it's just Chiari symptoms.<br />
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So in the meantime, I have been really pushing myself to get in shape since I have the time and I'm feeling so good now. I'm going to the gym most weekdays running 3 1/2 miles on the elliptical in 40 minutes. I started adding a weight workout 2 weeks ago. We'll be going to Colorado to see Bree & Dean and ski in March, so it will be good to be in shape a little bit at least.<br />
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I was buying some new furniture this week and talking to the saleswoman. Her 15 year old daughter has had 3 surgeries for Chiari. What a surprise to hear when such a short time ago I had never even heard of Chiari.Jami Lippencotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17657904074467024446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766569514728215294.post-65049844834202740862012-12-11T06:43:00.001-08:002012-12-11T06:43:52.228-08:008 Weeks Post-op<b>Answered prayer - coming back to life</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">scrappy hair</td></tr>
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Can't believe it's been 8 weeks since my surgery<b>! </b>It has taken a long time to recover and it's been quite a bit harder than I expected. I'm surely not 100% yet. It's been so good that I haven't had to push myself though since I am not going back to work and Bob is so patient with me. I have been back to exercising at the gym for the past three weeks. I could only walk on the treadmill for a half hour for the first week. The second week I started on the elliptical machine for 15 to 30 minutes. It really wasn't that hard, but then later I felt very nauseous. Now I am able to go 30 minutes on the elliptical and 30 minutes walking! My legs are quite stiff later on in the afternoon and evening. It's amazing how weak my legs and knees are after about 5 weeks of being pretty inactive except for my walks around the neighborhood. I've sure been able to get so much done at home also.<br />
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The bigger news is that the last 3 days are the first in over a year that the nerves in my face have calmed down! It seems like 8 weeks is a big turning point for me; I can barely notice any sign of the nerve issues I was feeling before. I am hoping that it will all continue to improve. Just a few days ago I was feeling a bit discouraged when the nerves felt worse in my face and shoulder after exercising and when I was tired. So, my symptoms overall seem like they are greatly improved. I still think I have a ways to go for a total recovery. Also, as those who have Chiari know, symptoms can come and go. So, I don't know what to expect, but it all seems to be moving in the right direction. My stamina has greatly improved. I went out to do some big shopping at BJ's yesterday and was able to walk through the store and come home without feeling totally wiped out like I would previously when shopping. My neck muscles are also much stronger and as I exercise I also work on stretches with my neck. Since starting to use Mederma my incision scar has smoothed out and diminished.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">8 weeks post-op</td></tr>
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Now...what to do with my hair??? For now I am happy to not be blow drying, letting it dry on it's own and clipping back the long parts. I have one long section in the back at the crown that covers my scar and short hair. Then I have two long bits of hair on each side with no long hair in the back; it's pretty well camouflaging that I had surgery. I usually just wear a scarf when I go out so it's not noticeable that my hair is all wacky in the back. Let's see how long I can go without cutting it. For now I'm just cutting my bangs as needed.<br />
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This morning when I was waking up I was thinking about how God has
answered my prayers for healing. It's so nice to wake up feeling good. Over the years I have prayed for answers to what
was going on with my body. For God to reveal it or for my symptoms to
just go away. Of course this past year I became even more urgent for an
answer to be revealed. This morning as I was thinking about it all, I
thought about how God must have chosen just the right time in my life to
expose things. I really don't know the answer to why now, but that's
how I'm thinking about it right now. I know that God has his own timing and he knows what's best for us; we just need to trust it since it doesn't always appear that way. I just feel so blessed to be
retired and not to feel all the daily pressures of work, so it has been a
great time for me to have a surgery and recover. We're so blessed that
Bob has an incredible career that allows for me to be home and that our
insurance through his work has paid for nearly all of my surgery
expenses. We're so blessed to have such dear friends that have helped us through this time. So grateful!</div>
Jami Lippencotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17657904074467024446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766569514728215294.post-28712852166028350722012-12-02T15:45:00.002-08:002012-12-02T15:45:55.623-08:007 Weeks Post-op<b>Time Flies</b><br />
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Hard to believe it's been 7 weeks since my decompression surgery. I am feeling really good and trying to get back to regular activities. I do get quite tired after being out at a store or any type of event after just a short time. My neck can start to tense up, which will effect my shoulder and I'll then start to feel some numbness in my face. Then I go home so exhausted it's incredible. I started going back to Retro Fitness with Bob a couple of days this week. I can't do much; I'm walking on the treadmill for a half hour. By that time I start to feel so hot and a bit weak. I'll try to push myself a bit more this coming week. Bob is hoping that I'll be able to ski this year. I'm just not sure that my legs will even be strong enough. It's amazing that after 6 weeks of inactivity and then not exercising that my legs and knees seem so weak that it's hard to even walk up stairs.<br />
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My nerves have really seemed to have calmed down so much. I am really waiting to regain my strength and get back to a more normal way of living to see how I feel in the long run. I started keeping a symptom log, marking on drawings of a person where my symptoms are and keeping brief notes each day. When I go back to see Dr. Tyagi in January I'd like to be able to be clear about the progression of healing or if they nerves have healed. When I saw her last time I felt like the nerves were responding a bit differently, but I was still having so much pain in my shoulder and arm so it was hard to tell what results I was having from the surgery. I hope that keeping a clear symptom journal will tell give a more clear picture of what has been happening. Most of the nerve issues I had in my neck, shoulder and left arm and leg have either disappeared or are considerably better. The one thing that I notice most consistently is the numbness in the left side of my face and some tension or spot nerve pain in my left shoulder. It isn't as bad or the same as it was before surgery, but is still there. I am hopeful that as my neck muscles heal completely and I get back my strength and return to regular activity that my nerves will recover from all the compression.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGCiN8_tZeP6wuUnUi1YcOORdPwvuHkaoqGmhMk8tq3ts_s3LbEw6JupiKxgmNp-4q964mFRIV8-vfsD4VI9ntkfvNtnRVQaZoJ8BfKV1ThSCn5jmnua2fKtWNdozhdO8P5HMezs1tn27/s1600/photo-81.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGCiN8_tZeP6wuUnUi1YcOORdPwvuHkaoqGmhMk8tq3ts_s3LbEw6JupiKxgmNp-4q964mFRIV8-vfsD4VI9ntkfvNtnRVQaZoJ8BfKV1ThSCn5jmnua2fKtWNdozhdO8P5HMezs1tn27/s200/photo-81.JPG" width="176" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two must haves for healing</td></tr>
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This week I started using Mederma on my incision and the scar from the catheter that was in the artery in the front of my neck. I had heard of Mederma before, but guess I didn't remember it and I've only been putting vitamin E oil on the incision. The Mederma seems to have immediately started working to heal the incision. Part of the incision that was a bit more bubbly right away started flattening out. It has also caused the incision to be extremely itchy as it heals. I've been wondering why it wasn't becoming more itchy before this. I had already bought some Lanacane spray because I know how unbearably itchy the healing can be. Once in awhile I have to use the Lanacane spray right before bed or the itchiness will drive me a bit crazy while I'm trying to fall asleep.<br />
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I could make a list of necessary items for Chiari decompression surgery...<br />
In the beginning, the only things you really need are:<br />
<ul>
<li>a nice soft pillow </li>
<li>straws - it's too hard to bend your head back to drink</li>
<li>a good lip balm</li>
<li>and of course your pain meds </li>
</ul>
Later on you'll need: <br /><ul>
<li>Mederma</li>
<li>Lanacane</li>
</ul>
I remember when I first came back from the hospital and I was lying on the couch hardly able to move. I was so thirsty, but didn't know how I was going to take a drink unless I could remember where I had put the straws in my kitchen. In the hospital they automatically give you a straw; I think they should prep you for this type of surgery by telling you that you need to have some straws on hand at home. When I finally remember where I had put the straws it was such a big relief....they were the most important thing to have at the time. I still need to keep water on the night stand because I wake up so thirsty in the night and I don't want to get up to get to go downstairs for water. While I can bend my head back to drink now, I still use a straw for my water at night. I don't have to sit all the way up to take a drink so it's really nice and easy...love it!Jami Lippencotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17657904074467024446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766569514728215294.post-70928096735822860452012-11-25T16:53:00.002-08:002012-11-25T17:17:51.353-08:006 Weeks Post-op and Doing Great!<br />
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<b>A Very Thankful Thanksgiving </b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfGhad-J__D9eWP6262AO9FsCmUu3tbfnvHZQznQMHivm8eLwP3ise_CzRl-L4bfr6Y9ifU_QurFkkv5LR2P6HsWV9emE16jgmGg9ME22xdz8QpFo8atEJTDSRkjDUrV1KaH_07qOekz_/s1600/photo-80.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfGhad-J__D9eWP6262AO9FsCmUu3tbfnvHZQznQMHivm8eLwP3ise_CzRl-L4bfr6Y9ifU_QurFkkv5LR2P6HsWV9emE16jgmGg9ME22xdz8QpFo8atEJTDSRkjDUrV1KaH_07qOekz_/s320/photo-80.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom Lippencott (Helen), Ross & Me </td></tr>
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I have so much to be thankful for that I can't even express it all. My mom, Bob's mom and I have all had health issues this year and are all recovering thankfully. What I've gone through gives me a whole new level of gratitude for my life, family, and friends. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTicVSIyXrWnR3LHP2bCI2iY5u9dhWZHBvKl2lcQ84ayRTaC_i1Xs9NV6A4MAz1qUasqmsA7UIBQ2LMO1iRB6dycupIddM9M-5zP7CWe7wqgNuS3_Qlsp-jz5zboZLS5NvmPbgn3CyF4c/s1600/IMG_1710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTicVSIyXrWnR3LHP2bCI2iY5u9dhWZHBvKl2lcQ84ayRTaC_i1Xs9NV6A4MAz1qUasqmsA7UIBQ2LMO1iRB6dycupIddM9M-5zP7CWe7wqgNuS3_Qlsp-jz5zboZLS5NvmPbgn3CyF4c/s320/IMG_1710.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Mom, Mitzi</td></tr>
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I have an amazing husband who loves, encourages, and supports me. We have a great life together and we have so much to look forward to. I have two amazing adult children who make me so proud and grateful. Thank you God for this life!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bree, Dean, Bob, Jami, Ross & Manami</td></tr>
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<b>Turning Point</b><br />
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I feel like 6 weeks after surgery that I am finally at a turning point where I am feeling so much better, have more energy and feel like I can get back to some normal activities. Today after spending the morning pretty active in The Children's Ministry I was a bit tired, but didn't come home and crash like I did the last two weeks. I also felt like I could walk up and down the halls checking in on classes and sharing with the children. I don't remember sitting down while I was there today like the last two weeks.<b> </b>This last week my symptoms have been very mild and hardly present except for late in the evening when I'm tired. I can see improvement everyday and looking forward to my neck healing, building more stamina, and the day I don't have any nerve issues. I think it's very possible and soon!<br />
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When someone has Surgery for Chiari there is no guarantee that the symptoms will disappear when nerves have been compressed for so long. We have to be patient and hopeful that in time the nerves will return to normal and we'll find relief. Bob made an analogy that is simple, but so realistic and helps put things into perspective. He said just imagine if you parked your car on a garden hose for five years and then moved the car. The pressure would be off, water may be able to flow through a bit better, but how long would it take to return to the normal shape and function? It may take a long time and it may never be like it was originally. So this helps so much to think about how my nerves are taking time from so many years of compression and to think that in six weeks I've seen so much improvement. How long have my nerves been compressed? Well that's hard to say...from birth? Maybe from my twenties when I first started having bouts of extreme fatigue? Or maybe the last 15 years or so when I've had nerve issues on the left side of my body? Hard to say, so much is still unknown about Chiari 1 Malformation; I do know that things really exploded for me in the past year. The great thing about our bodies is that unlike a garden hose they have the ability to repair and heal damage that has been done.<br />
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<b>Sharing in the Children's Ministry</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Encouraging the Children</td></tr>
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Today I wanted to share with the classes in The Children's Ministry about how much they have encouraged me by all the cards they wrote to me when I was in the hospital. I decided to display the cards and a thank you sign at our welcome table. I also went into each classroom from 1st grade through PreTeens to share with them about how much it meant to me to receive cards from them when I got home from the hospital. Samples of the cards can be found if you scroll back on the
blog...they're just adorable and put a smile on my face just to think of
them.<br />
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I shared with them the scripture that has been on my heart and that I've shared with so many during this Thanksgiving time. <span class="text 1Thess-3-9" id="en-NIV-29600"> </span><br />
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<span class="text 1Thess-3-9" id="en-NIV-29600"></span><span class="text 1Thess-3-9" id="en-NIV-29600">How can I (we) thank God enough for you in return for all the joy I (we) have in the presence of our God because of you? 1 Thessalonians 3:9 </span><br />
<span class="text 1Thess-3-9" id="en-NIV-29600"><br /></span>
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<span class="text 1Thess-3-9" id="en-NIV-29600"> </span><span class="text 1Thess-3-9" id="en-NIV-29600"></span><span class="text 1Thess-3-9" id="en-NIV-29600">I wanted the children to hear how much their encouragement meant to me. Also I wanted them to remember that one small card to encourage someone can have such great value to the that person. To never underestimate how much encouragement can help someone get through a challenging time.</span><br />
<span class="text 1Thess-3-9" id="en-NIV-29600"><br /></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PreTeen class</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<span class="text 1Thess-3-9" id="en-NIV-29600">I really didn't expect to be talking to all the children about my brain surgery, but somehow it got around to them when the were making the cards and now they have so many questions. I shared with them at the level they're at and answered their questions simply. Then I encouraged them to ask me if when they see me if they have any more questions.</span><br />
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<span class="text 1Thess-3-9" id="en-NIV-29600">I decided to show the older children the picture of my incision right after surgery and then show them how it looks now in person so they could see how I've healed. I shared with them one of my favorite scriptures:</span><br />
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<span class="text 1Thess-3-9" id="en-NIV-29600"></span>I praise you because <b>I am</b> <b>fearfully</b> <b>and</b> <b>wonderfully</b> <b>made</b>; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14<br />
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It is quite amazing that all of my neck muscles, and skin have been cut and now you can hardly tell it after 6 weeks...just amazing when you think about it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAYDQDqyhHad2QRWqFjs1SiCl8N92X_hGAIVN37bFGfYJDb8ap5g5OoF3w8Kce7lo1Av1g24oj9CiZcBzAtXsfppvprorO5zE-hjVzuKwM3A03hJ1Wym-Vn4fV9b-U4ivOG-c36lZ3P5V/s1600/photo-68.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAYDQDqyhHad2QRWqFjs1SiCl8N92X_hGAIVN37bFGfYJDb8ap5g5OoF3w8Kce7lo1Av1g24oj9CiZcBzAtXsfppvprorO5zE-hjVzuKwM3A03hJ1Wym-Vn4fV9b-U4ivOG-c36lZ3P5V/s200/photo-68.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
It is a bit horrifying, but I think there are great lessons to be learned in these real life situations. God
is working and can help us to overcome and come through challenging
situations with the help and support of others. I also want to show them
that we can be grateful and joyful and continue to serve even when
facing health challenges. <br />
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Showing the PreTeen class my incision<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bob and I leaving after Children's Ministry today</td></tr>
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Jami Lippencotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17657904074467024446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766569514728215294.post-1298136737294796402012-11-17T08:47:00.000-08:002012-11-17T08:47:06.659-08:00So Thankful for The Church<b>A Big Day!</b><br />
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I was really looking forward to going back to church, seeing everyone, and expressing my gratitude for all of the support we've received over this past month. The church also hadn't met altogether for two weeks because of the storm so I knew there would be so much news and excitement to be together. We went early to help set up with The Children's Ministry, although it was enough for me for the day to just sit and visit with people. After the teacher's service I went ahead to the regular service instead of helping with the children as I usually do. It was so good to be there although very difficult to sit in one position. I was sitting toward the outside so Connie suggested that I turn my chair, which was such a great suggestion. I just turned completely sideways and continued to turn my chair as my neck would get tired in facing one direction for too long. I'm glad I'm not so concerned about how I appear or what people think of me. Of course this wore me out for the day, but it was a great day!<br />
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I also have so many other friends, family, and neighbors to thank, but this is my note of thanks when I returned to church on November 11th, one month after surgery. There's so much on my heart to express and words aren't even sufficient to share my gratitude.<br />
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Dear brothers and sisters,<br />
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Thank you so much for all of the prayers and the many ways you have
supported us over the past month since my surgery! Bob and I are so
grateful for the many meals, visits, calls, thoughtful gifts, help with
Children's Ministry, and all of the many ways that you have prayed and
shared your love and concern for us during this time. One thing you may
not realize is that I received a box filled with Get Well cards from The
Children's Ministry; one from each child...from Babies all the way
through Preteens and their teachers. The children's words warmed my
heart and brought me so much joy! We are so very grateful for our family
here in The Central Jersey Church!<br />
<br />
My recovery is going well, although it will take some time to fully
recover and know how effective the surgery has been. As I keep
saying...."brain surgery is no joke!" and recovery is a bit slower than I
would like. Therefore, I would really appreciate your continued prayers
for my complete recovery and freedom from symptoms.<br />
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We love and appreciate you very much!<br />
Thank you!<br />
Bob & Jami<br />
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Jami Lippencotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17657904074467024446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766569514728215294.post-25186518778747847682012-11-17T08:36:00.001-08:002012-11-17T08:36:25.540-08:00Milestones<b>Powers on! We're Going Out</b><br />
<b>Saturday, November 10th</b><br />
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<b>I'm so sorry for so many posts, just trying to get caught up after nearly two weeks without power...almost there. </b><br />
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October 29th Hurricane Sandy hit our area in New Jersey and it was a long 12 days before we finally had our power restored. Thanks to all the out of state crews from Ameren Illinois that seemed to work tirelessly in our neighborhood. Without power we only were able to get glimpses of what was going on all over New Jersey and New York on my iPad when it was charged or the occasional newspaper. It was difficult to get in and out of our neighborhood with all of the trees and power lines down. There's so much to catch up on from the past two weeks that it's hard to know where to start. Finally it was Friday, we got our power on, there was literally no food in the house, and Bob wanted to go out.I had to encourage him to get home early because by the evening I am beat and ready for bed early. There weren't any restaurants open in our area because of the power shortage so we drove to South Plainfield. It was nice to have a meal out with Bob, but also still so challenging to hold my neck up and ride in the car at that time of day. I have a neck roll pillow that really helps for the car to give me some added support since every bump feels exaggerated by my neck muscle's lack of strength.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4 weeks post op</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A front view for once - not too bad considering!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fLLNAaK_0i-rucSSd1txykBgX0I9JVJ48vjab095gSinTtQ9jNeMPZ_jFGIOMzawMYYhDsc0FWmGkMwiVYX_6sZU3xPXXV8pFuJawj4XQJoOxxWMy3x0D20dCtjsNNODRWVUXkAKj4uE/s1600/IMG_2520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fLLNAaK_0i-rucSSd1txykBgX0I9JVJ48vjab095gSinTtQ9jNeMPZ_jFGIOMzawMYYhDsc0FWmGkMwiVYX_6sZU3xPXXV8pFuJawj4XQJoOxxWMy3x0D20dCtjsNNODRWVUXkAKj4uE/s320/IMG_2520.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My hair actually covers the shaved section</td></tr>
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These pictures were taken on Saturday, when we were about ready to go visit Bob's parents in North Bergen. I was glad to be going out, but knew as it got later in the day and the possibility of being out a long time and coming in late that I was going to be exhausted....and I was. We ended up visiting and then we needed to stop for groceries on the way home. We pretty much didn't have any food in the house except for canned food. We had to get rid of or throw all our food away because of the power outage. I for one was craving fresh food. The store was a bit of a challenge....deciding what we needed, and then going to get what we needed, to find that they didn't have things that we usually buy. It's strange to go to a store that is usually so stocked up and find that they don't have the same supplies as usual because of the effects of the storm. So it took us longer than It really should have and by this time I became very hot, a bit unsteady, and really needed to sit. I was sitting or leaning on anything I could find, like the bagging area at the check out. By the time we got home it was 9:00 pm and I had a fever. It seems that this is my body's way of reacting when I've overdone it. I was concerned that If I felt like this that I wouldn't be able to get up and go to church in the morning, so I would have to see about that. <br />
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<br />Jami Lippencotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17657904074467024446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766569514728215294.post-3974600907258425712012-11-17T08:34:00.002-08:002012-11-17T08:34:14.285-08:00Finally!<br />
<b>My Post-Op Appointment</b><br />
<b>Tuesday, November 6th</b><br />
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It took quite a bit of calling and calling on Monday to get through to Dr. Tyagi's office and when I finally did they said they could see me on the 13th. I was about to put my foot down, but when I reminded her that I hadn't had my post-op and my surgery was on October 11th she said she'd try to squeeze me in. So she scheduled me for 10am and I expected that it would be a rushed appointment since they seemed to be over booked.<br />
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Bob took time off work to take me to the appointment. I seemed to be feeling much better as I tapered off the meds and decided to try not to take the lower dose of Oxycontin at all until I saw the doctor to get her input on what I should do. They took me in pretty quickly and I didn't feel rushed at all. I did start to feel a little dizzy, I think because it was a bit past the time that I would usually take my meds. The nurse got me water, which made me feel a bit better and I did have a slight fever. It was good to talk to Dr. Tyagi and be reassured; she's very laid back. As far as when I got so terribly sick three weeks after surgery, she really didn't have any explanation other than maybe I had overdone it. Having swollen lymph nodes in my neck wasn't concerning to her and she was amazed at how well my incision was healing.<br />
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I told Dr. Tyagi that right now I really can't say how effective the surgery has been. I am hopeful and know that it can take many months for the nerves to recover. I also know that there is a chance that they won't recover completely. I don't have the same type of numbness that I was experiencing, but do have some of the same feeling in my face that I did before. As the medication would start to wear off and especially later in the
day I would have burning pain all on my left side sometimes worse than
before surgery. I can have a terrible burning pain in my thighs and in the left side of the back on my neck, shoulder and arm. I really expected that she would say that she would say that my left side was much more effected and that she had to do so much more during surgery on that side. The right side of my body feels great, all the symptoms I have are on my left side. Even at the incision site, the right side of the incision feels flat and healed and the left side is very sensitive, puffy and swollen. She always says to me that I am a very unusual case with the way that my symptoms present mostly on one side of my body. We asked her if there was evidence in surgery of one side of my cerebellar tonsils being effected more or if she did more work on the left side. She said that it appeared to have the same compression throughout. She explained it like my skull into my spinal column was like a jello mold and that my brain was squished in there and formed like that mold. When she removed the bone it was evident that the cerebellar tonsils were molded in a way that they shouldn't have been.<br />
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She said the recovery of gaining strength back in my neck after having the muscles cut will take time of course. Right now it's like taking baby steps, but she says that soon I will see a big difference. It's of course also going to take time to see if my nerves recover from being compressed for so long. She offered to refer me for physical therapy, but we decided that I could see how it goes to work on things on my own. I will go on walks everyday and do exercise to stretch and strengthen my neck. I'll also start going back to Retro Fitness with Bob in the mornings soon and I can at least walk on the treadmill for now especially on cold days. She said I really just need to build up my strength and stamina. <br />
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Dr. Tyagi thought it would be fine at this point to discontinue the Oxycontin...hallelujah! That stuff was really making me nervous and now I don't seem to be getting sick as it is wearing off as I did with the higher dose. She did give me a prescription for Tylenol with codeine just in case I need it and we found out that we could go through the walk through to the hospital and that there is a Walgreens pharmacy right there. We were able to quickly fill the prescription and I was asking Bob questions about where they were when I was in surgery, so we walked in to see the room. This is where Bob, Ross, Tommy & Connie Beene, and Larry Craig waited while I was in surgery. I wish I had a photo of them all here. I am so grateful that Bob and Ross were together and that they had the support of good friends who were there with them. It really makes me quite emotional to think about it all. The screen to the right of the fish tank has listed by number all of the surgeries going on. Bob said they were given a card with the number and the screen would give updates about whether I was in surgery or recovery. Dr. Tyagi came right into this room after the surgery was over and explained to them how everything went. Of course I had to ask Bob what she said several times and then when I saw her the next morning I had to ask her to explain it again. I don't know that I will ever have all the details that I'd like to know, so I will have to just be settled with what I do know. I'm just thankful that I'm alive and that I have the hope of my quality of life getting better as I recover.<br />
<br />Jami Lippencotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17657904074467024446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766569514728215294.post-61860730737987776112012-11-17T07:09:00.001-08:002012-11-17T07:10:54.937-08:00House Church During the Aftermath of the Storm<b>So encouraging to see everyone</b><br />
<b>Sunday, November 4th</b><br />
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We found out on Saturday that North Brunswick school that we meet in for church wasn't going to be able to open for us. Likely they didn't have power just like us. When this type of thing happens we break up into small groups and meet in the members homes. We said that we'd have house church here since we usually do in this type of situation, but we also knew that I wasn't going anywhere even if there was church. I just wasn't ready for going out for that amount of time yet. We contacted others from the church to let them know and Bob also let neighbors that he thought would like to come know. With all the roads that were closed we actually had more people here than we expected, but not too big of a crowd. It was nice to see everyone and worship God together. It was a great time, especially with all the kids in the mix. <br />
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Later we had a couple families over to eat a early dinner. Bob barbequed up some chicken that was thawing and our friends Wally and David helped cook and set up. We also had our neighbors who just moved in across the street over as well. I'm not use to having people over and then letting them be the ones to take care of everything while I sit or lay on the couch.<br />
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<span id="goog_984313073"></span><span id="goog_984313074"></span><br />Jami Lippencotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17657904074467024446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766569514728215294.post-49941785945219401502012-11-17T06:34:00.001-08:002012-11-17T06:41:29.256-08:00Staples Out!<b>Huge Relief!</b><br />
<b>Friday, November 2nd</b><br />
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Thursday night I started talking to Bob and trying to figure out how we could go out the next morning to find a place to get my staples out. By this time it was now 15 day that I had them in and they were really bothering me. I felt like if I got them out it would help me to start feeling better. I still was not able to get in touch with Dr. Tyagi or anyone in her office. I called the hospital to see if went down there, if they would remove the staples for me. They gave me a bit of a run around and kept trying to get in touch with my Dr. and telling me that if I went there it was going to be more expensive. At this point I really didn't care if it was more expensive, I was feeling awful, it had been too long, and I didn't see waiting until the following Tuesday when Dr. Tyagi's office might have office hours. I had already tried calling my primary care doctor's office and they were not open because of the power outage. We then heard that another nearby urgent care clinic was open so we decided to try them in the morning.<br />
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So, Friday Bob, Manami and I all got ready and set out on our excursion. This was after all of us being in the house since before the storm. Bob had made a couple of short trips out and we knew that it was going to be difficult to get around with all the road blockages. We headed to Mede Merge to see if they would take care of my staples and refill my prescriptions. I really thought that they wouldn't unless they could somehow reach my doctor. I also expected if they were the only doctor's office open in the area that it may be a long wait. What I expected was that we would go there, be turned away, and need to find our was to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick. When we arrived at Mede Merge it was obvious that they were running on a generator, there were only a few dim lights and all the workers were bundled up to keep warm.<br />
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To my surprise they took me right in and the doctor immediately came and took my staples out! As he started and Bob and Manami were on the other side of the table from me, I had to ask Bob to come over to hold his hands and get some support. I had to bury my head into his stomach and squeeze his hands. Each staple was a bit of a painful pinch and since my hair had started to grow back it felt as if the doctor was yanking out some hair as well. We decided to count the staples to make sure that they were all out, which was good because Dr. Pilla said at one point, "last one" and Bob was keeping track and said, "oh no, there's three more". I think maybe my hair was covering up the ones at the very top. It was all over very quickly though and I was so happy to have them removed finally!<br />
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I also explained how I was getting so sick when my medication started to wear off. I didn't feel pain in my neck, but was so incredibly sick to my stomach and I wanted to wean off the medication. He gave me a very low dose of Oxycotin so that I could take a couple of days to taper off. I really was quite concerned about getting off of the medication and felt like I would be doing so much better if I wasn't also dealing with all of the side effects. Of course then we needed to find a pharmacy that was open. Thankfully we thought to ask at the desk before we left and they had a list. We had to go to the Boundbrook Walgreens all the way out by Route 287. It was just such a relief that we didn't need to go sit in the emergency room and wait for hours to be seen. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's not a Superhero, it's Dr. Pilla during the power outage</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bit painful...needed Bob's support</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>19 staples removed!</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looks quite sensitive - ouch it was!<br />
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Jami Lippencotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17657904074467024446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766569514728215294.post-26777754546163654682012-11-16T13:31:00.003-08:002012-11-17T06:40:06.915-08:00Big Walk After the Storm<b>Amid Hurricane Sandy's destruction</b><br />
<b>Wednesday, October 31st</b><br />
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Things seemed to calm down a bit outside and we were very curious to see what was going on outside in the neighborhood. There were lines of cars coming onto our street, so it was obvious that the county road West End Avenue, one block over, was blocked by fallen trees.<b> </b>Our little neighborhood off of West end is just dead end streets with no outlet. We have a brook on either side and West End Avenue is the only through street unless go south or cross West End and weave through the side streets. We were pretty much blocked in by fallen trees, power poles, and lines. Bob, Manami, and I set out for a short walk that turned into two hours. It felt good to be out, but I did need to hold onto Bob and Manami's arms and by the end of the walk I was quite exhausted. Although I was tired, it seemed to be a big step for me and I thought I was doing very well. We came home and decided it was time to throw out everything in our refrigerator. It didn't look like we were getting power anytime soon. Then of course it was time for a big rest for me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zzTPWMAVswEFNebSQjTCCKjD1yHBludOhFa5xMIqsIJk7C9beswLFWbDK_CJuqi_qBfOi4rChDA7BaN6ZkHTeKpf-YTMahl9p8G9WemyQteeAXq6Nj9_Zm0IBVxwlMpXyn0a5cJzB-i_/s1600/IMG_2343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zzTPWMAVswEFNebSQjTCCKjD1yHBludOhFa5xMIqsIJk7C9beswLFWbDK_CJuqi_qBfOi4rChDA7BaN6ZkHTeKpf-YTMahl9p8G9WemyQteeAXq6Nj9_Zm0IBVxwlMpXyn0a5cJzB-i_/s320/IMG_2343.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is about what all the streets look like</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">West End Avenue</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXyPmNgY_GT0jQ5RF5o4eFjkdtZ_T2y2D0iomXIybdRmg3F1KKpWZuHdKCyFDy7bzmRDNqouzo128__BFAMbttFhyphenhyphenH3jpFSNvZUBD92qaxuXjxdVwiIAsb7g9xjjusD9zZw6Q1_K414Nh/s1600/IMG_2349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXyPmNgY_GT0jQ5RF5o4eFjkdtZ_T2y2D0iomXIybdRmg3F1KKpWZuHdKCyFDy7bzmRDNqouzo128__BFAMbttFhyphenhyphenH3jpFSNvZUBD92qaxuXjxdVwiIAsb7g9xjjusD9zZw6Q1_K414Nh/s320/IMG_2349.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">West End Avenue</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGQQe_aEvzWRQy5zY1Z6NJmMPkpxga4Q3bHJA15qym3u_xUOOnwgN2CbFBIZV0fhbSkjDX2-Zdyv6RQGRo41rRZIoQRZu4rwc7VjESIJb0wvo_jYOOKAiJYIppnou0io0j6u8F3Ge6ofH/s1600/IMG_2350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGQQe_aEvzWRQy5zY1Z6NJmMPkpxga4Q3bHJA15qym3u_xUOOnwgN2CbFBIZV0fhbSkjDX2-Zdyv6RQGRo41rRZIoQRZu4rwc7VjESIJb0wvo_jYOOKAiJYIppnou0io0j6u8F3Ge6ofH/s320/IMG_2350.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our elderly neighbor cutting his tree - power lines ripped off the house</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another tree on West End</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those are some big roots!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUb1RLSq5uuoSicXEv92sjqMZOYs9H62ITdlxSOFDROgUuuZY9UtTBZbsMtIcYCCHeDkMQ_FiZr3AeHk4lfEcBuZrztkbBHEMWSEWZfmCpKQ6doorw0nfFUCpfcFijQK4GLvwHqVDOSa7/s1600/IMG_2374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUb1RLSq5uuoSicXEv92sjqMZOYs9H62ITdlxSOFDROgUuuZY9UtTBZbsMtIcYCCHeDkMQ_FiZr3AeHk4lfEcBuZrztkbBHEMWSEWZfmCpKQ6doorw0nfFUCpfcFijQK4GLvwHqVDOSa7/s320/IMG_2374.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bob & Manami</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tree broke through a newly remodeled roof, porch & portico</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_tvRReGHZL8EiM0Yete_5QoAVouXiD1joRkBSLHofcq_cs4Fb4y5dLNRnI1xkyiN11ldaRXlekmUyovpnVOkc4A7oQVV7iYbtIneBC7iKmuXPXyq-hKsUEhxKtxWEr4RCHGjyvulk0ntZ/s1600/IMG_2378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_tvRReGHZL8EiM0Yete_5QoAVouXiD1joRkBSLHofcq_cs4Fb4y5dLNRnI1xkyiN11ldaRXlekmUyovpnVOkc4A7oQVV7iYbtIneBC7iKmuXPXyq-hKsUEhxKtxWEr4RCHGjyvulk0ntZ/s320/IMG_2378.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-bcTploA7NT93PYU1Wx-UOE8YBA8-qa2cHm1cb3IUfdPD9sl0MYVvSaXHMAo1Zf5864Q5iFXdiY0X23fRcDBnRTSCXfD6X1UD1nh1U6rcox-MeiRN6O2-GqNGsxhbLV5f5s5jX_PVaL6/s1600/IMG_2379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-bcTploA7NT93PYU1Wx-UOE8YBA8-qa2cHm1cb3IUfdPD9sl0MYVvSaXHMAo1Zf5864Q5iFXdiY0X23fRcDBnRTSCXfD6X1UD1nh1U6rcox-MeiRN6O2-GqNGsxhbLV5f5s5jX_PVaL6/s320/IMG_2379.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This tree went through the owner's roof</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeoKP5F5cHi9XRpqJzzTD0iPXK1Q7X5b7r-FBv4E-GG1rRoPrNR2M4hF4WQreTns05WcZ5wCJkt2nvZxuusxm8vStMhos9JxtmkbCEU5kkNw6TfAmsG6C3tovW_dQHF6E5hlITTNByWrMU/s1600/IMG_2380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeoKP5F5cHi9XRpqJzzTD0iPXK1Q7X5b7r-FBv4E-GG1rRoPrNR2M4hF4WQreTns05WcZ5wCJkt2nvZxuusxm8vStMhos9JxtmkbCEU5kkNw6TfAmsG6C3tovW_dQHF6E5hlITTNByWrMU/s320/IMG_2380.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rockview Ave</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8AYLAAP_4uZVR4k91haaJxG8UYq0PbwjkTxJdWSWqKNl6mZiRGMIdMKCHFNJ1VEcPaoXARcxJBzudf3xAn9pH486dJMWm0nRq0OPC6CBwfeAPxPW7ZhKTv9UNEIR82u1iH59DZ96KHa2/s1600/IMG_2381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8AYLAAP_4uZVR4k91haaJxG8UYq0PbwjkTxJdWSWqKNl6mZiRGMIdMKCHFNJ1VEcPaoXARcxJBzudf3xAn9pH486dJMWm0nRq0OPC6CBwfeAPxPW7ZhKTv9UNEIR82u1iH59DZ96KHa2/s320/IMG_2381.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were so many huge trees down on this road</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFu25dPnUEskECoaIgb8M9jkGiFifbrFYvKPuyYNYqe0g3L6NhQd-8VIVxUav95aGfF5zULdS-pevJzU4ZyW2811-OaD0AYIO2jUJwjU-HA1Xd-8ObQz3gQ7OstwLHlJNea6Wvb2Lv75nl/s1600/IMG_2382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFu25dPnUEskECoaIgb8M9jkGiFifbrFYvKPuyYNYqe0g3L6NhQd-8VIVxUav95aGfF5zULdS-pevJzU4ZyW2811-OaD0AYIO2jUJwjU-HA1Xd-8ObQz3gQ7OstwLHlJNea6Wvb2Lv75nl/s320/IMG_2382.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This tree hit their neighbor's house</td></tr>
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The power of the winds that brought these gigantic trees down is amazing. The pictures only give a small taste of what has happened here. The devastation in New York and down the Jersey shore is unbelievable. The weather began to get cold and we were so grateful to have our woodburning stove that keeps our entire house at about 75 degrees.Jami Lippencotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17657904074467024446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766569514728215294.post-74809019463889683792012-11-16T12:18:00.000-08:002012-11-17T06:40:34.799-08:00Storm Damage means No Post-op Appointment <b>It's only superficial; a minor inconvenience</b><br />
<b>Tuesday, October 30th </b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Gl06TmtitJ9nmsHoUUGQuxbiTDJvxjLou00sp4s4xx7pzjQh53XFlaqMtu1iVgf-2r68tOnpCyNuDSqAyV7OvYyLobSAxApsGNAw1ca7qQEeiVT4p3IHYH-YV42LPuJn8EsAof6zypjz/s1600/IMG_2334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Gl06TmtitJ9nmsHoUUGQuxbiTDJvxjLou00sp4s4xx7pzjQh53XFlaqMtu1iVgf-2r68tOnpCyNuDSqAyV7OvYyLobSAxApsGNAw1ca7qQEeiVT4p3IHYH-YV42LPuJn8EsAof6zypjz/s320/IMG_2334.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Siding ripped off the side of our house</td></tr>
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The day after Hurricane Sandy this is what we woke up to. The siding starting flapping around and making a tremendous noise in the midst of the storm the night before. We were on the couch watching a movie on my iPad since the power went out early in the evening. We couldn't believe the sound the wind made, something like a roaring train.<br />
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This got me out the door to take a picture and visit with all the neighbors that were gathering on the corner. Many of my neighbors had no idea that I had surgery and they were quite surprised. I talked for about fifteen minutes before I had to go in to take a rest.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDHtKz2WCJVfSwnPtQiDp8AETgmReQOklcrV_hmttWqO8IoKIw7MfGDCX4MtzK6S1Q3fawrUWkNL5JXMJHLUNUdvE-AEZMKfVSEo1sennYd8TbaCzp5zhheKE2UMrHtdi62HWqmLIDw_n/s1600/IMG_2332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDHtKz2WCJVfSwnPtQiDp8AETgmReQOklcrV_hmttWqO8IoKIw7MfGDCX4MtzK6S1Q3fawrUWkNL5JXMJHLUNUdvE-AEZMKfVSEo1sennYd8TbaCzp5zhheKE2UMrHtdi62HWqmLIDw_n/s320/IMG_2332.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">to my left - the tree that broke off our power lines</td></tr>
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This is the view out our bedroom window across the street. The power pole snapped along with many others in the neighborhood and several transformers exploded as well. Our power was out for twelve days. Since we didn't have power it was a little hard to understand why PSE&G didn't come right away to make repairs. Little did we know that while our neighborhood had a great amount of damage there are many other areas with much more damage.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyGZZf8gFINw-zXMYHUbBwzqhJ45PRUGjtSaKPaxGylwdp_o5CR9gPtpMREs1hLG1R19RiPxspqzZb3dfY4IkJt1j-jCyO8SfHXPxzpR3OU3HaDBvy4CDwLybGUOEImtSMf24WSSgWbom/s1600/IMG_2333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyGZZf8gFINw-zXMYHUbBwzqhJ45PRUGjtSaKPaxGylwdp_o5CR9gPtpMREs1hLG1R19RiPxspqzZb3dfY4IkJt1j-jCyO8SfHXPxzpR3OU3HaDBvy4CDwLybGUOEImtSMf24WSSgWbom/s320/IMG_2333.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To my right another huge tree down</td></tr>
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With all the big trees in our yard we were blessed to only have large branches down, but no trees. Our neighbor right next to us has a tree that could crush our house if it fell in our direction.<br />
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This was the day that I was suppose to go for my post-op appointment. I think I received a cancellation call about the appointment on Sunday night. We really didn't believe that the storm would be so bad. I did know that if there was flooding that I could have difficulty geting to New Brunswick for my appointment. I really should have scheduled my appointment for the previous week, but Dr. Tyagi only has office hours on Tuesday and while last week would have been a little early to get my staples out...this was a bit long to have them in. With the storm over I was trying to figure out how I could get the staples removed. They were becoming very irritating. Calls wouldn't go through to the doctor's office and I was just thinking that I'd have to wait for the following Tuesday to see Dr. Tyagi. Repeated calls through the week got no results.<br />
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<br />Jami Lippencotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17657904074467024446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766569514728215294.post-54113618312842249572012-11-02T05:59:00.003-07:002012-11-13T13:17:51.153-08:00The AftermathHurricane Sandy's Path<br />
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Wow! Where to start, I don't want to make this long (mainly because I may run out of power). All I can say is it definitely wasn't media hyphe that this would be the worst storm we've seen. We were right in Sandy's path. I wish I could upload photos, but that will have to come later. We haven't had power since about 6pm on Monday night and it looks like it will be awhile before we get power. There are so many gigantic trees down in our neighborhood across roads and power lines with many blown transformers. We haven't seen any power or clean-up crews, which is quite unusual. It just shows how widespread and bad the destruction is. Usually the road one block over from us would be cleared very quickly after this type of storm because it's a county road and a major road for people to pass through. There are still several trees across the road, it's just amazing.<br />
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Bob had a neighborhood BBQ yesterday because we had a bunch of steaks and hamburgers that were about thawed out. We may have to do the same with the chicken today. We do have a wood burning stove that is keeping the house real toasty warm so we're very thankful for that. It has been a great time of spending time with neighbors; they are stopping by to talk all the time. Last night with the BBQ we had a crowd on the deck and a bunch of the women and children inside by the fire with me visiting.<br />
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I have doing very well with my recovery, although yesterday morning I woke up feeling just awful. I really don't know why. The only thing I can think is that we had gone on a long walk around the neighborhood to see the damage, which ended up being about 2 hours with all the looking and stopping to talk to people. I felt worn out after, but didn't feel bad and actually had a really good night sleep. So as soon as I got out of bed in the morning my neck hurt, I had a headache and was extremely sick to my stomach. I took my anti-nausea meds and then my pain meds with sips of water and a bit of toast, but I continued to feel just horrible. Also I was having horrible chills/hot flashes all at the same time it seemed, until finally I threw up around noon. Then I started to feel much better, which of course was a huge relief. Here it is 3 weeks post-op and I haven't been so sick since I was in the hospital. I was about ready to have Bob take me to the hospital.<br />
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I missed my post-op appointment because of the storm and since have not been able to reach the Dr. It seems that phone lines are down. Since I didn't see her, I still have the staples in mt head. Today we are going to try to find a place that will take them out for me. We'll either go to the hospital or to an urgent care center that we heard is open. I also have only one more day of pain meds and I' a bit nervous about suddenly going off them so I'd like to see if I can get a step down prescription. Sounds like it may be a long day out there. Bob went out to try to get breakfast; he just called and said he found a Panera open and got us some breakfast sandwiches.<br />
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Well, enough for now as my power is about used up. I'll try to power up somewhere when we are out and write more.<br />
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So grateful that we are safe and warm despite everything else.<br />
Romans 8:37-39Jami Lippencotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17657904074467024446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766569514728215294.post-71259724924181348032012-10-28T17:03:00.001-07:002012-11-13T13:18:44.496-08:00Heal My Soul<div>
<b>A Song From my Sweet Son Written Monday, October 22nd</b></div>
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<br />
I opened my email this morning to this sweet note and recording of a song<b> </b>from
Ross. He has
been really, really busy with a teen conference that ended yesterday. I
can't believe he woke up thinking of me and recorded this song. It's so
soothing; I just love hearing his voice and his conviction through his
singing and song writing. I'm
going to add the recording...when I figure out how to.</div>
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<b>From Ross:</b></div>
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Here's a new song I wrote. Very simple and
repetitive a lot like the United Pursuit songs (Set A Fire &
Nothing I Hold Onto). My voice is super tired from the weekend and the
guitar is a bit out of tune, but this should get the general idea of the
song across to you</div>
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Its inspired by Psalm 147:3</div>
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Here are the lyrics</div>
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<b>HEAL MY SOUL</b></div>
<div>
Ross Lippencott</div>
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<b>VERSE 1</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Jesus you </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Are able to</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Bind up the broken hearted people</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<b>CHORUS</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Heal my soul</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Make me whole</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Fill my heart</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">With your love again</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">
<b>VERSE 2</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Jesus you can</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Heal my heart and</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Cure every disease and sickness</span></div>
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LOVE YOU !!!</div>
<div>
Ross<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMi4mg4gq9tybNUlR5GsMq3mTgQfeV8cmWsJ1RJl2ydNkFmYe5elHqR36S0kz1xtTYYc4u0okGh3_770qQX5FDxFCyWNvOGcOVtHPpoyIAC9LkQyvqlA5kmaGtKUu2Vjer7HRJMaqDUg/s1600/ROSS+ALC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My Photo" border="0" class="profile-img" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMi4mg4gq9tybNUlR5GsMq3mTgQfeV8cmWsJ1RJl2ydNkFmYe5elHqR36S0kz1xtTYYc4u0okGh3_770qQX5FDxFCyWNvOGcOVtHPpoyIAC9LkQyvqlA5kmaGtKUu2Vjer7HRJMaqDUg/s320/ROSS+ALC.jpg" width="320" /></a>Sunday, October 28th<br />
I can now make this note public because Ross taught it in his church service today and he put the recording up on his blog Remember Hymn. It sound really beautiful with the part singers and church singing and actually made me quite emotional in the emotional state I am in with trying to go off of pain meds. I guess it wasn't written specifically for me, but it feels like it. You can listen to the recording on his Sunday, October 28th Post titled<br />
<b> Heal My Soul</b><br />
<b> <a href="http://rememberhymn.blogspot.com/">http://rememberhymn.blogspot.com/</a> </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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Jami Lippencotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17657904074467024446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766569514728215294.post-44581677203083724652012-10-28T14:46:00.001-07:002012-10-28T14:49:59.541-07:00The Calm Before the Storm<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"><b>Hurricane Sandy is on the Way</b></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"><b><br /></b></span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">Today I am feeling so much better; no stomach thing going on so far today. So, now I'm not sure if it was a virus I may have caught from Ross or if I really was having trouble coming off the meds. I slept so much yesterday and most of the night until almost 5 am. Then I decided to get up to have coffee and turn the TV on to check out what's happening with Hurricane Sandy. </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"><br /></span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">By this afternoon it seems like Jersey is closing down. Some shore areas are being evacuated, the Governor issued a state of emergency, schools are closed for at least the next two days. Even though I wouldn't have been going anyway, we didn't have church. We have so many people in the church that are in areas that need to be evacuated or people need time for storm preparation. They're saying that this will be worse than Hurricane Irene last Fall. we don't get flooding at our house, but all around us there is flooding. Our house is up on a little bit of a hill so we don't get water, but we can see the park right behind our house where the brook usually floods and becomes a huge flowing river/lake. The neighbors right down the street usually get flooded. With these storms we may or may not have power. Last year we still had power so we were able to help neighbors who lost power. So far it's not cold here, but we do use wood heat therefore we don't have to worry about the furnace.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">before Bob blew the leaves out today</td></tr>
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</span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"></span>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">Bob and I went on a walk this morning down to the park and through the woods at the end of our street and back home. It's really not very far, but I was getting so hot, tired and a bit shaky....it was rest time for me. Bob Went outside and blew all the leaves out of the yard after doing it all last Saturday also.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNb_glY3LuZhIhGwEHELbmDvQX6siCuAs8cpW8mjaK3DVNaWOJOvu12UscPPRe_LVIkrtFwwWLH3FEHDRGHYoYNrxspiwo_8vhAiETdXimneydQc4ylBBo8Dkhx4mFEcXWFpOXLZBAeizv/s1600/blogger-image--1803741239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" oea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNb_glY3LuZhIhGwEHELbmDvQX6siCuAs8cpW8mjaK3DVNaWOJOvu12UscPPRe_LVIkrtFwwWLH3FEHDRGHYoYNrxspiwo_8vhAiETdXimneydQc4ylBBo8Dkhx4mFEcXWFpOXLZBAeizv/s320/blogger-image--1803741239.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The park behind our house</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqNySfqMoLj78nKlyX3u3Z6piv1XB5lJ0i4UrB7CxILapHSOsn7WM0su4DHilxRcbMdtN94LQE3qTBiOmORYZzjPKlnLN_CpA1f1onZBOMn-Y015SoMtohCN0Y8EtSB2LJGYbyhsXp3ur/s1600/blogger-image-1317407295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqNySfqMoLj78nKlyX3u3Z6piv1XB5lJ0i4UrB7CxILapHSOsn7WM0su4DHilxRcbMdtN94LQE3qTBiOmORYZzjPKlnLN_CpA1f1onZBOMn-Y015SoMtohCN0Y8EtSB2LJGYbyhsXp3ur/s320/blogger-image-1317407295.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrea, Hilda & Isabel Roman</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"><br /></span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">This afternoon our friend Hilda Roman and her girls stopped by to bring food. The girls were very </span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">curious about my incision and wanted to know if I had gotten their cards from The Children's </span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">Ministry. Bob spent some time looking through the box of cards to try and find their cards and they were </span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">laughing about all the cute cards.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxzDtCyCvZUM5VQT_ZExEuGZ-jY0BHt3b_giek53FD_ZqRp0NpYTBqtUWJeYIgIhuPtWXD9BNt_SuFLLEBjD5MDDbMj_BMRvayBsMYaAvDkii7-Rige6CH1aHx7_fReEgP2DMKBwdul7yw/s1600/blogger-image-124841324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxzDtCyCvZUM5VQT_ZExEuGZ-jY0BHt3b_giek53FD_ZqRp0NpYTBqtUWJeYIgIhuPtWXD9BNt_SuFLLEBjD5MDDbMj_BMRvayBsMYaAvDkii7-Rige6CH1aHx7_fReEgP2DMKBwdul7yw/s320/blogger-image-124841324.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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</span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">Yesterday I had a lot of visitors, unfortunately I wasn't feeling too good so I don't think I was very good company, but I was so encouraged by the visits anyway. Maria Stefanelli brought us some really good Italian food. Then Boris, Marlene and Lili came by and brought me a beautiful bouquet of pink roses. Of course that cute little little Lili can put a smile on anybody's face. She was getting a big quick out of my Noah's Ark App on my iPad, dancing and making cute sounds. I woke up thinking about the flowers and remembered that Marlene put them in a vase in the kitchen. I brought the flowers out to the dining room so I could see them from the couch. </span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjm4kHR9EfQSzD3-kp_xHQfihXgT6jyvq3U-XvfLSewhNG-HUxUqO5z08zZv87qpV1Iq6IJ4UrW5q8FReWjL3v8J_RM31dyWj62ctNzQOkoTVMXW2P9JvoRzGbXWfkHef-YkiVesPPftD/s1600/blogger-image--1500130434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjm4kHR9EfQSzD3-kp_xHQfihXgT6jyvq3U-XvfLSewhNG-HUxUqO5z08zZv87qpV1Iq6IJ4UrW5q8FReWjL3v8J_RM31dyWj62ctNzQOkoTVMXW2P9JvoRzGbXWfkHef-YkiVesPPftD/s320/blogger-image--1500130434.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marlene & Lili Petrovsky</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous roses from The Petrovsky's</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJitIcnX5FnlGx4KtxfGzobbxe7-gJvganrhoQTqK4k4WjFMfCcbch3ewA4saHZKbC6ikvKYWdVf5o4kTSxdD5dY8sXj7EiB7sfTRRP2x2AHp0KkfR4vM9JIQ2t-0vrGP8H9Xbd1T3thsS/s1600/blogger-image--1112517281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJitIcnX5FnlGx4KtxfGzobbxe7-gJvganrhoQTqK4k4WjFMfCcbch3ewA4saHZKbC6ikvKYWdVf5o4kTSxdD5dY8sXj7EiB7sfTRRP2x2AHp0KkfR4vM9JIQ2t-0vrGP8H9Xbd1T3thsS/s320/blogger-image--1112517281.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Roxanne & Mallory Felder</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">Later on Saturday I also I got an edible arrangement delivered from Roxanne & Mallory Felder who use to live next door. I'm assuming that they heard about my surgery from Bea who lives across the street from me and still sees them often since I haven't seen them for so long. That was such a thoughtful surprise. We ended up starting to eat it before I remembered that I wanted a photo. I'm so thankful for all the kindness I feel showered with; it's been so encouraging and so uplifting to have a couple people drop by every day. My day ended with a visit from a friend I hadn't seen in over a year. Alma dropped by on her way home from work, she called out of the blue because another friend told her I just had surgery. This has all been so interesting.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">My follow-up appointment is Tuesday, although with the storm coming I'm not counting on it happening. If there's flooding like Hurricane Irene I won't be able to get to New Brunswick. I think I'm a bit overdue for getting the staples out. Dr. Tyagi only has office hours on Tuesdays; I don't think I can take another week of having the staples. I may see if I can get them out at my primary doctor's office that is close by. By the time I finished writing this post around 5pm I am feeling just terrible again. So, I'm back to thinking it's the withdrawal from the meds. We'll see if I can get away without taking anything tonight. I got very sick to my stomach so I did take the anti-nausea medication. I am also having unusual nerve sensations in my neck, face, arm and thighs and some pretty intense stiffness/tightness/tension in my neck and back. I wouldn't exactly call it pain, but it's getting close to it. I really don't want to take the other meds unless I just can't bear it.</span><br />
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Jami Lippencotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17657904074467024446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766569514728215294.post-61495802905935175782012-10-26T20:24:00.000-07:002012-10-27T09:45:53.335-07:00Rough Day - Delicious DinnerIt's been over two weeks now since my surgery. I feel like it's been about one week and like it's going to take much longer than I was hoping to get back to regular daily activities. I didn't sleep so well last night; it was more because of not really being tired because I didn't seem to need any additional pain medication in the night. I took one Oxycotin before bed and that was it. So I got up before 6 this morning for my coffee and decided that if I'm not in pain that I should go off the Oxycodon and maybe I could get back to normal.<br />
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Manami came over so she could borrow my computer and we had lunch together. Her computer is broken so she used my laptop while she was here and now she has been writing cover letters for job applications on her iPhone. I have my iPad also so I'm glad to let her use it.<br />
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By late afternoon I started feeling really horrible. I was quite nauseous with some abdominal pain, but still no pain at the surgery site. Really the back of my head/my incision felt really stiff and tight; it was uncomfortable, but not painful. I also had a couple of emotional moments just when I was saying that I'm still not feeling well. At this point after talking to a couple people and reading online I realized that these are withdrawal symptoms from stopping the Oxycodon. I did cut down from 2 to 1 tablet and not taking at night. I didn't think it was a problem coming off the meds, but I was thinking of the pain not withdrawal. When Bob got home I was feeling so awful that I was just trying to sleep and couldn't even bear having the TV on. We read a little about the symptoms of withdrawal and that you should slowly go off the medication. Bob cut one of the Oxycodon tabs in half for me to take and I started feeling better and was able to eat a delicious meal that my friend Christina Donahue made. So glad I could enjoy a delicious meal of Chicken Cacciatore...delicious is an understatement....now that was some amazing comfort food!<br />
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Jami Lippencotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17657904074467024446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766569514728215294.post-32770042678947069122012-10-25T16:23:00.003-07:002012-10-25T16:40:55.280-07:00Two weeks have passed<b>since decompression surgery</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGyXCYoH7jWktPD0DTPOVx9Cdcvq4TthoGpAudiIlaoYbuU0EkhCs6lq4e2eTDzzERVZRgJKxNgsmRMWxvkLUp7dwuSAhNNGfu7mHZ19x89JWr9ZZKIc6DWh40PJkM7vwdx4FTG5HidbZ/s1600/photo-65.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGyXCYoH7jWktPD0DTPOVx9Cdcvq4TthoGpAudiIlaoYbuU0EkhCs6lq4e2eTDzzERVZRgJKxNgsmRMWxvkLUp7dwuSAhNNGfu7mHZ19x89JWr9ZZKIc6DWh40PJkM7vwdx4FTG5HidbZ/s200/photo-65.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mini orchid from Marie Leslie</td></tr>
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I can't believe it's been two weeks since my surgery. I feel like I have lost at least a week worth of time. I did think I would be up and about much more than I am, but still spending a great deal of time on the couch. I am improving each day, but I think I did expect that I would be pretty well recovered by now. I have tried to cut back on my meds I took my Oxycotin before bed last night; it's a 12 hour timed release. It was the first night that I didn't get up to take Percocet every 4 hours. When I got up this morning and realized that I hadn't needed more meds during the night I thought I'd try to go without any today. I made it until about 10:15 before I decided that I wasn't quite ready for that and one Percocet was an improvement over two. So of course I went ahead and had one at 2:30 and now at 6:30. My head was really hurting at the incision. When the meds wear off I can feel like a burning pain in my left jaw, my arm and shoulder/neck area and then into my left leg. These are some of the same places that I had problems before, although this is a bit different. I don't feel numbness, but it's more like a feeling that the muscles have been really fatigued, over worked and burn a bit. I feel like I've already said this before so I just looked back on the blog and of course I said something very similar on the last post. It's that brain mush going on again I guess.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2F_T2XAoe5QGJnsHtY9eVSRoX-b0obhJZtN-lurxXCeUrG5_CkBo5rfnrXuFtleLCg1fRjEXsOpFixc3QX6bkSSxZOakRzu2wOH3SlqTAy-jFeOvN0HykIO-jLPexHJqjBMUapZX5lK1c/s1600/621278_238221236307109_605375926_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2F_T2XAoe5QGJnsHtY9eVSRoX-b0obhJZtN-lurxXCeUrG5_CkBo5rfnrXuFtleLCg1fRjEXsOpFixc3QX6bkSSxZOakRzu2wOH3SlqTAy-jFeOvN0HykIO-jLPexHJqjBMUapZX5lK1c/s320/621278_238221236307109_605375926_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ross & Manami working the sound at the teen conference</td></tr>
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Ross was here since yesterday until this afternoon. It turns out that he ate all kinds of food in New York when he was touring some out of town guests. He brought
home a leftover pork chop and chicken from a Dominican restaurant in Washington Heights that may have been the culprit. He ate the pork chop
on Tuesday afternoon and seems that he now has food poisoning. Let's hope it was food poisoning, because I sure don't need to be sick like that. He was here very sick all day Wednesday and left late this afternoon feeling much better. Of course he came home where the food and comfort are, so that Manami could take care of us both. She was sure to spend some time filling out applications for nursing positions as we both slept. I'm praying that with all the applications she's putting in that she will start getting some calls to come in for personal interviews. Manami went to the store for us and bought a few supplies and much needed Ginger ale and Gatorade for Ross's tummy. I wish I had a picture of Ross lying on one end of the couch and me lying on the other end with Manami sitting in the middle between us trying to comfort us both. What a doll! We love her so much!!! <br />
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I'm definitely ready to have the staples out, they feel like they are very raised. My right side seems like it has healed very nicely, but the left side is still sore and quite sensitive and seems a bit swollen still. I also have what seems to be maybe a swollen lymph node on the back of my neck on the right side. I don't think it's anything to be alarmed about, but I'm just watching out for signs of fever that may show an sign of infection. I will only be seeing Dr. Tyagi on Tuesday since it's the only day that she has office hours. If there's any problem, I won't hesitate to call and even go to the hospital. So far I think that although it takes time I am steadily getting better.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqY1QS_8pxnA5Yb8Ogk0uKmuO6phOBw1yw6gvOfOVQYaVUFeNvASZMnlL9EfD9NAObtxBrBHByE9c-V-zSTisGDVsj9nl6u9pIKhOSdH_aXjG6jfr964_n_jUKEfBUhp3Fjs40oDT-XbO/s1600/428777_267073410068113_373562477_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqY1QS_8pxnA5Yb8Ogk0uKmuO6phOBw1yw6gvOfOVQYaVUFeNvASZMnlL9EfD9NAObtxBrBHByE9c-V-zSTisGDVsj9nl6u9pIKhOSdH_aXjG6jfr964_n_jUKEfBUhp3Fjs40oDT-XbO/s320/428777_267073410068113_373562477_n.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bree & Dean</td></tr>
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I'm so thankful for all the help and attention that I've received from Ross, Manami and Bob. I'm also so encouraged that Bree has called me almost everyday and for the sweet note I got from my son-in-law Dean. I also got a little package from Bree that Bob brought me at the hospital; they've both been so thoughtful.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzeztoUOHasvHhu9sDa3yIcVoAsVra0zHldBdlbJ9u2nZMSZ__DztI4wweGYA1HxhTNfszwcMglUoxn9eUtSzMJiVrVxQN0ev_Yc3v5kq-MuhnAa2ddGqMNOfZ2ZX4lPS0eQMJcDuwnZML/s1600/photo-59.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzeztoUOHasvHhu9sDa3yIcVoAsVra0zHldBdlbJ9u2nZMSZ__DztI4wweGYA1HxhTNfszwcMglUoxn9eUtSzMJiVrVxQN0ev_Yc3v5kq-MuhnAa2ddGqMNOfZ2ZX4lPS0eQMJcDuwnZML/s320/photo-59.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yummy Scottish treats</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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My good friends Kelly Shirley and Marie Leslie dropped by on Tuesday and visited for a couple of hours. I sat up at the kitchen table and had a cup of tea for the first time since surgery, but I could only last about 20 minutes before I had to lay down. Marie brought me a beautiful little orchid and some Scottish treats that I have been enjoying since. Kelly brought dinner, some yummy comfort food - Chicken Tetrazinni - delicious! It was so good to have them here.Jami Lippencotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17657904074467024446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766569514728215294.post-77916429428376757902012-10-24T20:32:00.000-07:002012-10-25T06:47:15.855-07:00Family Night<div class="gmail_quote">
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<b>A Monday Night Family Tradition</b></div>
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We've always had family night on Mondays ever since our children were little. Now that we are empty-nesters Bob and I are able to spend so much time together everyday. It's so different than when we had to compete with so many other events that we had to make sure we didn't have plans that would interfere with spending time together on Mondays as a family. Of course Bree moved to Colorado after getting married to Dean over 4 years ago and we haven't had Monday night family time with her since she was in high school. Ross moved into his own apartment almost a year ago, he's off work on Mondays so he still makes it a point to come over almost every Monday for family night dinner. He likes to help me around the house, or go on a walk in the afternoon, then go to the driving range, down to the park with Bob and watch football or a movie. When he first moved into his apartment he would come over late afternoon on Mondays and we would cook together. I would buy all the ingredients to show him how to make one of our family favorite recipes and then send him home with the same ingredients and some of the pans or utensils he would need for prepping or cooking the recipe so he could duplicate it soon after. He has become quite a cook for a bachelor and does a great job with hospitality, having people over often for a meal.<br />
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Quite often Manami will join us for dinner also, but not every week. This week she came over in the early afternoon to help me and spend some time with me. We were able to talk while she sat on the floor next to the couch making a birthday card for her sister. Then we also went on a short walk down the street to the park behind our house and around the block. Ross got here much later because he was taking some teen leaders from Texas around New York before taking them to the airport. By the time he got here we had eaten dinner and were watching a movie.It was really encouraging to have Ross and Manami over even while I'm still recovering and not feeling my best.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0j_FLAXC30ncUO4NuQrRIs9yFL3mOkX4648TzHWdin2UoGs6_wkrPtCoSIYv2CMKKNdAdsxNU5687IeBzUHda3ixRSuZL6Cg4jfZ3jx18dANlkV468oQ4a5LK8dgpjXxRUuHw2BNh5kiA/s1600/photo-61.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0j_FLAXC30ncUO4NuQrRIs9yFL3mOkX4648TzHWdin2UoGs6_wkrPtCoSIYv2CMKKNdAdsxNU5687IeBzUHda3ixRSuZL6Cg4jfZ3jx18dANlkV468oQ4a5LK8dgpjXxRUuHw2BNh5kiA/s320/photo-61.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post-op 11 days/October 22nd</td></tr>
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I am doing better everyday, but it is going to take time. I'm still taking some pain medication, but have cut down. Mostly as the meds wear off about every four hours I start feeling pain in the area of the incision and my neck. I can only sit up or be up for small amounts of time before my body tells me that I really have to lie flat. I can lay on either side and right on the back of my head as long as the medication hasn't worn off. I can still dose a little during the day. I am sleeping much better, but waking up quite often when I have to use the bathroom, I need to turn over, or the medication wears off and I need another dose. I also go through about an hour of time every night between 3 and 4 that I am incredibly itchy all over. It about drives me crazy. I don't have a rash, but itchy everywhere; I don't know if it has something to do with the medication wearing off at that time or with possibly being a bit dehydrated so my skin is dry. When the medication wears off I can also have some pain in my neck, shoulder, and arm as well as an interesting sensation in the left side of my face. I had this same type of sensation before the surgery with more numbness. So when I quit taking all the medication I don't know if all of the symptoms will be gone or not. I'm thinking that if my nerves were compressed for so long that it may take some time for them to adjust now that the pressure has been relieved. It will be nice to get back to more normal activity and get off the meds so I can see what happens.<br />
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<br />Jami Lippencotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17657904074467024446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766569514728215294.post-5285565810256553322012-10-23T19:55:00.003-07:002012-10-23T19:55:18.925-07:00My Favorite Nurse<b>Manami</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-l5IN-Jm4obb5eYVmZtmWcD3afKdRo3zkmHEe1WZg0GhRsaBVY3uNQpwVkCzrIqCEixhMU-3uWqHgoZs6QzWYLpWtmoljnRn6mNpeFhBIQIycXEJ6Fpu6gyGs_slAsdugImfKM3jhDFlT/s1600/60654_4251158752014_1452104928_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-l5IN-Jm4obb5eYVmZtmWcD3afKdRo3zkmHEe1WZg0GhRsaBVY3uNQpwVkCzrIqCEixhMU-3uWqHgoZs6QzWYLpWtmoljnRn6mNpeFhBIQIycXEJ6Fpu6gyGs_slAsdugImfKM3jhDFlT/s320/60654_4251158752014_1452104928_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">8 days post-op walk with my favorite nurse </td></tr>
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As I said previously, I was discharged on Monday October 15th after having Posterior Fossa Decompression, my Cerebellar Tonsils shaved, and a bovine Duraplasty.<br />
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I really expected that Bob would work from home some, and that I would be able to manage on my own with having friends drop in here and there. In my fog I heard Bob and Manami, Ross's girlfriend, conspiring and she said that she could stay with me some during the week. I was too out of it to protest with any comments that I could handle things on my own as I thought. What I didn't expect was that Manami would stay here much of the first week.<br />
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After much hard work Manami recently received her nursing license. During the week she kept me company, helped me to keep track of and brought me my medicine, my food and water, read scriptures to me, encouraged me, etc... All the while she spent many hours writing nursing job applications and taking care of other personal things as well as spending time out at appointments here and there. I really didn't think that I would have such a need for help after the surgery. I'm so thankful that she has been so thoughtful and generous enough to serve me in this way. Just to have Manami sit quietly near me or in the kitchen working as I rest has been so comforting.<br />
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By Thursday I was up to going outside and taking a little walk. I really thought I'd be able to walk down the block to the end of our property and back, but we walk through the park behind the house and circled around to the road back to our house. It was a relatively short walk, but much longer than I expected. As we were out we chatted a few minutes with one of my neighbors who didn't know I was having surgery. When I started to tell her briefly about surgery and said that I had a malformation, she said..."it doesn't happen to be Chiari malformation does it?" I couldn't believe she had ever heard of Chiari. She said that she has a friend who also had the surgery recently. Wow! We did talk a few minutes about it, but I had to cut the conversation short to get back inside as I was feeling quite worn out by this time. I came back to the house exhausted and I think I slept for at least 2 hours. It was so nice to be outside on such a gorgeous fall day with all the beautiful colors, and a sunny 80 degrees.<br />
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Manami is going to be a fabulous nurse! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhk40oNI3Y9l5yvVNT4owjBHVXp38pIahDTnye5pPsUnO-Xr8QTmCCiNZEqW0YJ5ZRdWoSMUNGSvzG86mdiM3WmRDTpnViGZ8LlFvgtr47RV_7qNIfiAJgbx3OqGj_wx6n6Tnl7dA76b5/s1600/photo-31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhk40oNI3Y9l5yvVNT4owjBHVXp38pIahDTnye5pPsUnO-Xr8QTmCCiNZEqW0YJ5ZRdWoSMUNGSvzG86mdiM3WmRDTpnViGZ8LlFvgtr47RV_7qNIfiAJgbx3OqGj_wx6n6Tnl7dA76b5/s320/photo-31.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post-op 7 days/October 17th</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4G3ZrN-mA4i6b8WszFAZpCTxNcTEbU7CxP7bHfFK1wumROhrNCGTQPdocrwRKb0smRLmW_qJh_Lp4oiTEml6oFYyqL_gmvXeBtE9XWwhObr1FLm0lcetuN_yLIXhtbspmO2aszUAd6kH/s1600/photo-37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4G3ZrN-mA4i6b8WszFAZpCTxNcTEbU7CxP7bHfFK1wumROhrNCGTQPdocrwRKb0smRLmW_qJh_Lp4oiTEml6oFYyqL_gmvXeBtE9XWwhObr1FLm0lcetuN_yLIXhtbspmO2aszUAd6kH/s320/photo-37.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post-op 9 days/October 19th</td></tr>
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<br />Jami Lippencotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17657904074467024446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766569514728215294.post-71322387446802065132012-10-22T08:47:00.000-07:002012-10-23T19:57:20.875-07:00My Friends: The Mature Women's Group<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhio58O3rpu8Gm2MTB6NTJeqSl26DQsTcXCAjVJkpGIlS0Ar5qzxdZG2afMNgOxOBXoG3E6rsU17yj4As_xTfAXAj2HhLknmay3rzSdNxk1Gm1_3RoJWsEFA7DFITebZM7XoWfyeqLSNlzU/s1600/photo-52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhio58O3rpu8Gm2MTB6NTJeqSl26DQsTcXCAjVJkpGIlS0Ar5qzxdZG2afMNgOxOBXoG3E6rsU17yj4As_xTfAXAj2HhLknmay3rzSdNxk1Gm1_3RoJWsEFA7DFITebZM7XoWfyeqLSNlzU/s320/photo-52.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So pretty!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Bob went off to church yesterday and came home with a meal cooked by
Diana Sutton and this beautiful, thoughtful gift from The Mature Women's
Group. I didn't know that we have a group of women in the church that call themselves The Mature Women's Group, but I do know all these sweet, sweet women. I am just blown away by their thoughtfulness. So many helpful and encouraging gifts in this basket!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXf3JCnlQPdF6rUp7J7cB1lsqZqbGbFwMQjQW93A3tWNuA7dGx-QVtiIdrTH-lOdlX4-aCJDD8R7uwCOKiWcqv1yHQK01qOWEClgXfr4XJjnK9P_qi-t-8tlnbHJh8y56GyRJaDDX44V7r/s1600/photo-53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXf3JCnlQPdF6rUp7J7cB1lsqZqbGbFwMQjQW93A3tWNuA7dGx-QVtiIdrTH-lOdlX4-aCJDD8R7uwCOKiWcqv1yHQK01qOWEClgXfr4XJjnK9P_qi-t-8tlnbHJh8y56GyRJaDDX44V7r/s320/photo-53.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love the basket with cute felt owls!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixE7Ux00oa8LtiOoT2B_-Ik94RzR_vFZA9ElgbhADwiB35749PXP5ByNrqPyh6mV-kpzVSg6qDu-V0xFnzlGF8ts0QsrP1Z3RZzrndCdiwubu3jt49yp-rgaj75NLEnVBquCQ1NhZYlzfx/s1600/photo-51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixE7Ux00oa8LtiOoT2B_-Ik94RzR_vFZA9ElgbhADwiB35749PXP5ByNrqPyh6mV-kpzVSg6qDu-V0xFnzlGF8ts0QsrP1Z3RZzrndCdiwubu3jt49yp-rgaj75NLEnVBquCQ1NhZYlzfx/s320/photo-51.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0S4WLgT5rGwaeHxtXx11uuKd5sc3bgCpcJfTHC2I-mKuLI0P0ThzIKjCEMvhk6aU7oKn046n_v_IBFarl7toHGBk0Ih1ZgQ03W-J-d_ex2zsPZ7rj66M2JfegpQmeeLEXbnweTgAJRg7m/s1600/photo-50.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0S4WLgT5rGwaeHxtXx11uuKd5sc3bgCpcJfTHC2I-mKuLI0P0ThzIKjCEMvhk6aU7oKn046n_v_IBFarl7toHGBk0Ih1ZgQ03W-J-d_ex2zsPZ7rj66M2JfegpQmeeLEXbnweTgAJRg7m/s400/photo-50.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
So unexpected. I love it and love you! Thanks All!!! <br />
<br />Jami Lippencotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17657904074467024446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766569514728215294.post-7254937308611697452012-10-21T17:49:00.000-07:002012-10-21T17:49:12.962-07:00My Kids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUM8Yx92pKm94i2DLDI30LWkIYJB8LxUdp4JtlCgRuBRllSJW_6GXPZ7gvH_evIs38cNp2ADRY-0UJPTCV6g7y15sH87eWYRKAKnxISm6IqEQcNMt005AVdEiaMFQfviZZNGCAGjeNM4G/s1600/photo-28.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUM8Yx92pKm94i2DLDI30LWkIYJB8LxUdp4JtlCgRuBRllSJW_6GXPZ7gvH_evIs38cNp2ADRY-0UJPTCV6g7y15sH87eWYRKAKnxISm6IqEQcNMt005AVdEiaMFQfviZZNGCAGjeNM4G/s320/photo-28.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><a href="http://cjcoc.org/">Central Jersey Church of Christ</a> </b><br />
<b>Children's Ministry</b><br />
<br />
After just getting home on Monday afternoon there was a knock on the door Tuesday morning. My friend Kari Amendo dropped in to bring me a box filled with cards from our Children's Ministry. I was so, so surprised. The children from infants through Pre-Teens and teachers each made me a get well card. What a way to melt my heart. I never would have thought that someone would help them to do this for me. Of course Kari and my other friend Wally Michelen were the ones who thought this up and made it all happen. The cards are so sweet, from the babies whose teachers made their cute little pop-up frog card, the 2 year olds with a little crayon scribble inside, to all the drawings, well-wishes and more expressive cards that the PreTeens made. These are some of the sweet cards that cracked me up.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lEwpoC9d6VO2KuFXzpdnQp_krOHvbg6WWH2Ah1QLFS6Sm93SBSYz8ZX5bC-4rCrLhQph5iPKYBam7kAuMU_Qphyo6c2oLHpndr5UZBZEHeiWXS52X3s5LbG8g4c59XJpMVYz_kQAl9Cn/s1600/photo-42.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lEwpoC9d6VO2KuFXzpdnQp_krOHvbg6WWH2Ah1QLFS6Sm93SBSYz8ZX5bC-4rCrLhQph5iPKYBam7kAuMU_Qphyo6c2oLHpndr5UZBZEHeiWXS52X3s5LbG8g4c59XJpMVYz_kQAl9Cn/s320/photo-42.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This makes me feel terrific!</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbP2cHSqqAJZvmIUTJKvdzBg8YtSRutYNrQ7lMmZxTYwlddf7YhbLKQ_Ha1NHHilccbPJfmG_nJoQXW6S7SI33lFq25EL6gr-SprUqfepYDonjb0RLDW55i7cJl-cH0f0lISRxq-Gk5W1/s1600/photo-40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbP2cHSqqAJZvmIUTJKvdzBg8YtSRutYNrQ7lMmZxTYwlddf7YhbLKQ_Ha1NHHilccbPJfmG_nJoQXW6S7SI33lFq25EL6gr-SprUqfepYDonjb0RLDW55i7cJl-cH0f0lISRxq-Gk5W1/s400/photo-40.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">glad Matthew knows what will make the difference</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFYCN2V5-ftncusiVjogQ4ZyqSbY_mMTiHSHjtOctfts9OGZg3Vxa53CoS_LgzXoioypCn9-Fyz_6qOdo5Mg3MsCFvw9DdqPajytxk4W68mt6csGFY_sbNPSIqDTc0sjwo-6Asahr7Vm9/s1600/photo-41.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFYCN2V5-ftncusiVjogQ4ZyqSbY_mMTiHSHjtOctfts9OGZg3Vxa53CoS_LgzXoioypCn9-Fyz_6qOdo5Mg3MsCFvw9DdqPajytxk4W68mt6csGFY_sbNPSIqDTc0sjwo-6Asahr7Vm9/s400/photo-41.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love this positive outlook...I think I have to hold onto this saying</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXZHBBZdOGx6iVY7jE94okf-AY6N8YqxCfS-R-TWxkwyRd-dTlwZ4IglDaj1xQDvgk01fCRLCjG7c_ZuuFM4OU9QzFVcQ8O2U0vFxpHWOjdPrXQqb2g6TbGHJjinPIjLz4Y_BZpTPxbsD/s1600/photo-54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXZHBBZdOGx6iVY7jE94okf-AY6N8YqxCfS-R-TWxkwyRd-dTlwZ4IglDaj1xQDvgk01fCRLCjG7c_ZuuFM4OU9QzFVcQ8O2U0vFxpHWOjdPrXQqb2g6TbGHJjinPIjLz4Y_BZpTPxbsD/s400/photo-54.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute, cute, cute...hope I will be able to do more stuff than cooking</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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As I have mentioned and of course many of you know, Bob and I have been the Coordinators for our Children's Ministry for the past 2 years. We love what we do to serve the church, parents, and children. Bob plays music as the children come to Sunday school class to greet them. He plays violin or guitar and has a basket of instruments that the children can just take to join in with him. He also lets them try his violin; the smiles on their faces show you how thrilled they are. Bob also goes to the classes and plays music for the children as they sing along, march or just listen; they love it and always want to know where Dr. Bob is if they don't immediately see him in the morning.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSU7CfgQIicvrQr5FIJVAjI5T-TNe0rN0VxA44_pzuDcjoE1J6NVs6xnCVi2srnkgIL2I5gS2-0iLLlyZxRHYqwgsd1D2eMXyIrKNWheH8p8fEoWRpl2Q5kFzsVImS6_SdmfGMKgUa8wd/s1600/photo-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSU7CfgQIicvrQr5FIJVAjI5T-TNe0rN0VxA44_pzuDcjoE1J6NVs6xnCVi2srnkgIL2I5gS2-0iLLlyZxRHYqwgsd1D2eMXyIrKNWheH8p8fEoWRpl2Q5kFzsVImS6_SdmfGMKgUa8wd/s200/photo-16.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">future violinist</td></tr>
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<br />
We have about 40 teachers and safety team members that make up our
Children's Ministry team each Sunday. We rotate the teachers every 4
months so that we have a new group of teachers each session.<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I help to
organize these rotations, order new curriculum every 3 months and work
with the teachers and children to meet whatever needs there are at the
time. We really enjoy working with the children especially now that we are empty-nesters. We see the impact that Children's Ministry and the teachers had on our own children's lives and we have a conviction about how important it is. I hope I will recover quickly and get back to them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmW8nuynAmJrJ8p-HGzNPPywz-JGVK_fUb8MMUvNCdUjNsj0w6suo17t7w3LhbsAzKrju-4LLz3QPIT9AuJoESEuWu9k_m3xWh43bAemkmxtSNAvDCp9eLFjcWmmSjVXYs8xGnpBn1zny/s1600/photo-55.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmW8nuynAmJrJ8p-HGzNPPywz-JGVK_fUb8MMUvNCdUjNsj0w6suo17t7w3LhbsAzKrju-4LLz3QPIT9AuJoESEuWu9k_m3xWh43bAemkmxtSNAvDCp9eLFjcWmmSjVXYs8xGnpBn1zny/s320/photo-55.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PreTeen Class</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfsp_qan5S4_qpNY57qkiSWdp5qiXTqOltPF5yA6NizINaUJK2TAnn6bP6SvsLTNqQYnENXmGfd0VrX9BlAY-HitliEx9qNURnduWV6a6f1AZ97M5yH3gAjYKfjErSEjpon1FWOdmTQPT/s1600/photo-56.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfsp_qan5S4_qpNY57qkiSWdp5qiXTqOltPF5yA6NizINaUJK2TAnn6bP6SvsLTNqQYnENXmGfd0VrX9BlAY-HitliEx9qNURnduWV6a6f1AZ97M5yH3gAjYKfjErSEjpon1FWOdmTQPT/s320/photo-56.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Being welcomed back by all the children - so sweet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZC3iUCeL53bGTYjHItcm6Vpf0d5FvtZhBTqyEMYPQ1EZ9n1p2FVx8vbWBN92zZ4jC_sOAhsmuILmlAB8U3nmSaVp6PAi8wJWlwrS4TcLRy-JluSzZAWWmuWR7SZ0vqM-IoKRHpO_U-V9E/s1600/photo-57.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZC3iUCeL53bGTYjHItcm6Vpf0d5FvtZhBTqyEMYPQ1EZ9n1p2FVx8vbWBN92zZ4jC_sOAhsmuILmlAB8U3nmSaVp6PAi8wJWlwrS4TcLRy-JluSzZAWWmuWR7SZ0vqM-IoKRHpO_U-V9E/s320/photo-57.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">so adorable!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHXFNG_xZbnU9N0sbPZagKxT9ow-f_clYr-6TTUEJnYYsBEq2b1sxVZiyu3zZk-7PmnQkp_5pDlSCB2ho7sm8QCrYZhKg_l4JmeKUIqGn5YGk9CFZXuIaT3hC2n9I2FipdIXyvvlSfGHE/s1600/photo-58.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHXFNG_xZbnU9N0sbPZagKxT9ow-f_clYr-6TTUEJnYYsBEq2b1sxVZiyu3zZk-7PmnQkp_5pDlSCB2ho7sm8QCrYZhKg_l4JmeKUIqGn5YGk9CFZXuIaT3hC2n9I2FipdIXyvvlSfGHE/s320/photo-58.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby's frog card</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span id="goog_963230527"></span><span id="goog_963230528"></span>Jami Lippencotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17657904074467024446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766569514728215294.post-52463613142568145852012-10-20T18:40:00.001-07:002012-10-20T18:48:19.165-07:00Sweet Gifts & Thoughtful Visitors<div style="text-align: left;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNx0Y7E8TkeRlLoW0NhCE-YzoTK92xm21w-LBm2Cod3UVJ3wJORtxs_iAro35QDv99RAZ1ywFnCHnaWgIb6XDSQ4XATyXNGyx7WYIQa9TpENvFLrH_w5pE-0IM3JPxvHNZSP5tqcB_IztO/s1600/IMG_4102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNx0Y7E8TkeRlLoW0NhCE-YzoTK92xm21w-LBm2Cod3UVJ3wJORtxs_iAro35QDv99RAZ1ywFnCHnaWgIb6XDSQ4XATyXNGyx7WYIQa9TpENvFLrH_w5pE-0IM3JPxvHNZSP5tqcB_IztO/s200/IMG_4102.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">half-eaten edible arrangement</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZMqYT4LelX6bQmtIf5q6R9jHcqER2gGk2Zhoq45y1Hd9IeqfO3D8XOwYW33Eb4xVPu43JwUE-UozSrbE5HVfKjQrFbW4WS8Il9PPQRYfdLJm923vjoEyTAiEtK-NAQ9_ZPbecBE4LqSy/s1600/IMG_8931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZMqYT4LelX6bQmtIf5q6R9jHcqER2gGk2Zhoq45y1Hd9IeqfO3D8XOwYW33Eb4xVPu43JwUE-UozSrbE5HVfKjQrFbW4WS8Il9PPQRYfdLJm923vjoEyTAiEtK-NAQ9_ZPbecBE4LqSy/s200/IMG_8931.jpg" width="150" /></a>Headmaster Steve Loy and friends from Rutgers Prep sent us an edidble arrangement while I was in
the hospital. Thanks everyone! It looks like Ross and Bob really enjoyed the chocolate
covered strawberries and bananas. Guess the photo was an after thought.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrr7rXVKcQ3p4TAkuS2XQ1W9jDzD60gEKQROBDyAE_Bu-sXNxs9c0lmie0HuyuD9akxyXJ0z1ohOgCt-2n-EAZia_ceNO-AllfPj-5AgiBhTgjHkcI3hFImhGmns96q-vbws_NCM7pc4p/s1600/photo-26.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrr7rXVKcQ3p4TAkuS2XQ1W9jDzD60gEKQROBDyAE_Bu-sXNxs9c0lmie0HuyuD9akxyXJ0z1ohOgCt-2n-EAZia_ceNO-AllfPj-5AgiBhTgjHkcI3hFImhGmns96q-vbws_NCM7pc4p/s200/photo-26.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">box of love from my sweet Bree</td></tr>
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Bob told most people who asked about visiting me that it would be best to wait. I was just in so much pain and couldn't keep my eyes open. I can barely recall my good friend Allison Jones visiting on Friday night. I love the scripture that she wrote in the card she gave me: We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 Thanks Allie!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGA76OAaqKURammIrTjPIxILzinwE3lawKNtx771YDtAVZZsE9tBvbpPK6KcmGdtNiqCIQDuSKWLpcRqsiqgDw7NhrTNcdsxCKhvdqWQE42O-ktok8V3R4WSeaXtov1iMedabEUX8LuwqV/s1600/photo-25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGA76OAaqKURammIrTjPIxILzinwE3lawKNtx771YDtAVZZsE9tBvbpPK6KcmGdtNiqCIQDuSKWLpcRqsiqgDw7NhrTNcdsxCKhvdqWQE42O-ktok8V3R4WSeaXtov1iMedabEUX8LuwqV/s200/photo-25.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from the Beenes</td></tr>
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Saturday morning my friend Lanetta Putnal stopped by. I think my eyes were crossing so much and I couldn't even speak enough to make sense, but I do appreciate it. Tommy and Connie Beene also visited on Saturday and I do know that Tommy and Bob were able to go have coffee while Connie got me through some waves of nausea and pain; so very thankful for them. connie brought me a really nice plant that I am going to try and keep alive.<br />
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Gordon Kienast also took the bus to come and visit and share some encouragement with me; I'm so grateful for his heart and love for people.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJBFwo8gaC1-0lY_VX7IeoYLpLpdFzZB5u8OxrsWipr6NFjY9EtJT8Esuj_GkDt7BryvkWWykM3FNa0pTS-NFmNxu3nwTn5VliwMEBAcdMDNDuptfpMZhomnAdZOgAG8oaADCmJeDl28B/s1600/photo-48.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJBFwo8gaC1-0lY_VX7IeoYLpLpdFzZB5u8OxrsWipr6NFjY9EtJT8Esuj_GkDt7BryvkWWykM3FNa0pTS-NFmNxu3nwTn5VliwMEBAcdMDNDuptfpMZhomnAdZOgAG8oaADCmJeDl28B/s320/photo-48.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Sunday Tom and Karen Messina visited for awhile and I was doing much, much better by that time. Karen gave me a card with scriptures to encourage me on the Wednesday before surgery. I only rediscovered the card in my bible since coming home from the hospital and have read the scriptures a few times since.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicL8zwm3tQsKztKG1u1KxWSYiHu5b8zBikXmMAoIJKp-xpUhHPR_AgPQDspyFIkUIDrcpihHIvMmgtI_j2tOKULpM0gVjkPnGT8aIiys32D7PN9fR42N7bAGtL9Ka0pVLmRXA_mnkksl1q/s1600/photo-23.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicL8zwm3tQsKztKG1u1KxWSYiHu5b8zBikXmMAoIJKp-xpUhHPR_AgPQDspyFIkUIDrcpihHIvMmgtI_j2tOKULpM0gVjkPnGT8aIiys32D7PN9fR42N7bAGtL9Ka0pVLmRXA_mnkksl1q/s200/photo-23.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Wally</td></tr>
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Wally Michelen also stopped by to encourage me and bring me these adorable Vera Bradley gifts.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5I2p_gcF14ROSqJWtjb0XwAYDmCTwz2W11VGxFRkUewdCwrlFbP78mE208KG8dQb5aa-c1bCcIvn0boIO8UVmN69UwapNXIYyOioVFSoCkBRdCvrNn-Zi7KxavGCIEBJ_XmG24MiZb42/s1600/photo-49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5I2p_gcF14ROSqJWtjb0XwAYDmCTwz2W11VGxFRkUewdCwrlFbP78mE208KG8dQb5aa-c1bCcIvn0boIO8UVmN69UwapNXIYyOioVFSoCkBRdCvrNn-Zi7KxavGCIEBJ_XmG24MiZb42/s200/photo-49.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">stained glass pumpkin </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Kelly Shirley brought me a few supplies from the store and an adorable stained glass pumpkin to hang in the window.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgebw65q6bJ4twBcPUAmJqqhBBoTeWkYQCaK0s64KvE7ZM1mJmfsR73YpEvMxrkFSLZTK10vGdJGVdO2REdgFpqn-o4BLYPRFpdnNKCZaRf9u4K2fyBOjT_Jamiw235Ijs9YzuZBsun4z/s1600/photo-47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgebw65q6bJ4twBcPUAmJqqhBBoTeWkYQCaK0s64KvE7ZM1mJmfsR73YpEvMxrkFSLZTK10vGdJGVdO2REdgFpqn-o4BLYPRFpdnNKCZaRf9u4K2fyBOjT_Jamiw235Ijs9YzuZBsun4z/s200/photo-47.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Sylvia</td></tr>
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My friend Sylvia Bridges just stopped by yesterday with a bag of helpful gifts including lip balm and fluffy pink fleece pjs. *Love* And this adorable card:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeeNYlcRoL_dves-OjwZtxaHbxKtpQihaIZ63R7SpbcMq4bOYdvWi6hKHV8X2ehuhsOeHMtf6x2Lr4sytau1mQD4aRQKI1q2pHfsqD_eagNfgKs2xfihEKnpEe0GuhVSf86Cme1tR3Wxxr/s1600/photo-45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeeNYlcRoL_dves-OjwZtxaHbxKtpQihaIZ63R7SpbcMq4bOYdvWi6hKHV8X2ehuhsOeHMtf6x2Lr4sytau1mQD4aRQKI1q2pHfsqD_eagNfgKs2xfihEKnpEe0GuhVSf86Cme1tR3Wxxr/s200/photo-45.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*tender loving prayer</td></tr>
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I have had so many friends and neighbors stopping by with meals and desserts and sitting to visit for awhile. We are so grateful for all the calls, emails, cards, visits. It's really helping us both to stay positive and encouraged to get through this time.<br />
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Jami Lippencotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17657904074467024446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766569514728215294.post-31740810740949801672012-10-20T18:32:00.002-07:002012-10-20T18:32:50.760-07:00Going Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Wasn't sure I was ready</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYj2ao0hhNoT73-mSVxGv633pj75vVj4tL5JGfUvD00hZy1TtCG_qfb53zN2yrdtW0XvkAE_V_n-mUZECX3XsI-eEYzIpc6xl492UtVo0pgfKe8JhzaT1D3GNNnOb6qLr4mdqs2I4qCjl/s1600/photo-32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYj2ao0hhNoT73-mSVxGv633pj75vVj4tL5JGfUvD00hZy1TtCG_qfb53zN2yrdtW0XvkAE_V_n-mUZECX3XsI-eEYzIpc6xl492UtVo0pgfKe8JhzaT1D3GNNnOb6qLr4mdqs2I4qCjl/s200/photo-32.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">poked & labelled everywhere</td></tr>
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Dr. Tyagi released me on Monday morning. I knew it was a possibility, but it all happened much sooner than I had expected.<br />
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It was good to have a little talk with Dr. Tyagi and to know that she felt confident that I was ready to go home and that I'd do so much better to get rest at home. I had been so sick since the surgery on Thursday that it was hard to imagine just the night before that I would be able to tolerate riding home in the car. I was so nauseous that I hadn't been able to keep anything down and just moving my head a little bit would cause such stabbing pain. When I was able to ask her a couple of questions and understand more about what medications I'd be taking I felt better about it all. She said I could go ahead and shower and that it was fine to shampoo my hair. No problem with water running over the incision - wow, I was so surprised by this. By this time I was feeling rather grimy and even though I wasn't so sure about taking a shower at the hospital I couldn't wait to get cleaned up at this point. Remember all the gel like antiseptic glue I had in my hair? It felt so good to shower, but it was a huge effort and then I was just so exhausted.<br />
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I had told Bob to go on to work since he was out on Thursday and Friday and I didn't know when or if they would release me. Dr. Tyagi's
colleague told me on Sunday that if I was released Monday it would
probably not be until around 4 pm. When I found out I could go we decided that since Ross was off
work and already coming to see me that he could bring me home and Bob
could meet us at home. I felt great about having Ross pick me up and I know he had been asking if he could help by picking me up from the hospital.<br />
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Ross helped me to pack up and get ready while my prescriptions and discharge papers were being completed. My friend Tiffany Morris showed up right then with suitcase in hand. I asked her if she was planning on staying. She was on the way to the airport to go on a business trip and stopped in on her way there. Tiffany waited with us until I was discharged and the valet brought Ross's car and then we were able to drop her off at the train station on our way. It was a little rough driving home with every bump and the motion. I would say that some of the nauseous feeling comes from motion.<br />
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When we got home Manami came right away to help out. She helped us with getting dinner and my medications. Ross always comes for dinner on Monday nights and sometimes Manami also comes over; we love to spend time with them. What I didn't know was that Bob asked Manami if she had time to stay with me some during my first week home. She's not working, but is busy putting in applications for nursing jobs since getting her license and she said she could work on that here. I really didn't know that I would need someone with me, but I'm so grateful for her company and for how she thoughtfully took care of me. She helped me stay on track with my medication, getting me meals, giving advise, sat quietly while I slept and kept me encouraged through the week. It was such a blessing to have her here. Some of my friends from my church have been bringing meals on a daily basis and I think I have people lined up to bring meals everyday next week. I'm so grateful for all the support.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGEpCNLyjdjSnX_jBnhji72ics_akEtJ3aamElxvewr8cpuPJqS9W2eJ7wDTGmYSAvKBKo2E_iNst2KtkPBV4k3tXAVD6TrVJj0I7_eZen64IcD2HT_DoQY4UxdFevuczoEfM-N22fr8Kk/s1600/photo-30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGEpCNLyjdjSnX_jBnhji72ics_akEtJ3aamElxvewr8cpuPJqS9W2eJ7wDTGmYSAvKBKo2E_iNst2KtkPBV4k3tXAVD6TrVJj0I7_eZen64IcD2HT_DoQY4UxdFevuczoEfM-N22fr8Kk/s200/photo-30.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5 days post-op</td></tr>
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The first two nights home were pretty rough during the night, but that
is getting better by the day. My medicine wears off in the middle of the
night and It also is making me very, very itchy. I am still having
trouble eating; I can only eat very small amounts of soft food.
Oh....the most important thing I have found that I need since being
home.....<b>A STRAW!</b> It's hard to swallow, but it's even harder to lean my head back to drink out of a glass...<b>a straw is a lifesaver! I could have also used a back scratcher. Lip balm is also a necessity. </b>I didn't really care about anything I packed for the hospital except for my Burt's Bees lip balm. I didn't know how much I would need a straw until I got home since they automatically give you a drink with a straw at the hospital.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi123MYmBAJ-MtYHlnjDCUSrIjbuLc139Se7XAI96qYdt8iKy40bp8rOVUITZIG9pyZYCoFD4cGyrJB6QhBBuaxJBpnfMpRgGZHCss9lH-Hi-HXDQNgTCEsRcpPCHC1PaZhkglXtl34EGDu/s1600/photo-36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi123MYmBAJ-MtYHlnjDCUSrIjbuLc139Se7XAI96qYdt8iKy40bp8rOVUITZIG9pyZYCoFD4cGyrJB6QhBBuaxJBpnfMpRgGZHCss9lH-Hi-HXDQNgTCEsRcpPCHC1PaZhkglXtl34EGDu/s200/photo-36.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">screw hole/lump</td></tr>
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I also have a painful lump on my left temple where they obviously screwed down some type of clamp onto my head to keep it still....ouch! It's a bit hard to see from the photo, but maybe you can get the idea. Basically I'm cut, bruised, and poked all over the place; sure hope it will all be worth it in the end.Jami Lippencotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17657904074467024446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766569514728215294.post-17179931016226714552012-10-18T20:16:00.004-07:002012-10-18T20:16:55.632-07:00Hospital Post-Op<b>I knew it was going to be rough, but rough is an understatement</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyTlyqRFKXj6-E-2JWjALaqRSWXZpdwW0t8Od6CIR0UfsC4TqVmFXsFs-QzJn5dqR562DfCVnBVUsFLuX5nI-36dR8Jz2BYs7GZEPNNcbl0wgphzGpvT0TM_KODaSLq7ups8UhQLDhXK1/s1600/IMG_9047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyTlyqRFKXj6-E-2JWjALaqRSWXZpdwW0t8Od6CIR0UfsC4TqVmFXsFs-QzJn5dqR562DfCVnBVUsFLuX5nI-36dR8Jz2BYs7GZEPNNcbl0wgphzGpvT0TM_KODaSLq7ups8UhQLDhXK1/s200/IMG_9047.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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Thursday, the first night after my surgery was excruciating. I couldn't keep my eyes open and the pain was quite intense; I couldn't even pick up my head. I could administer morphine by a button as needed, but I was so out of it and in so much pain that the nurses even had to help me do that. I found out that I didn't have to go to ICU because my vitals were good, but it was hard to believe that I could be in a regular room when I had so much pain. It was a relief to be out of surgery, but felt like I was being stabbed all over my head by a huge sharp knife.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNe0Bc0LZ4HvQWlM7kiSrdF8oVd3AUmx6jg2aqlCJzIUZxkOdsPOKrp_EROx8rZFfdk_DT0em9fgKEKo3U4zZm3PN7Y5xxJW1iPQGNaMFfYzmOR8-BruDcoAVYE_6Wz5QKucAzFXSPCc3/s1600/IMG_6003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNe0Bc0LZ4HvQWlM7kiSrdF8oVd3AUmx6jg2aqlCJzIUZxkOdsPOKrp_EROx8rZFfdk_DT0em9fgKEKo3U4zZm3PN7Y5xxJW1iPQGNaMFfYzmOR8-BruDcoAVYE_6Wz5QKucAzFXSPCc3/s320/IMG_6003.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manami ordering my dinner, which I couldn't eat :-(</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Ross and Bob were with me and then Manami came by, but I felt like I couldn't even focus to see her. She says I was actually communicating pretty well, but I really can't remember it.<br />
<br />
Thursday through Sunday were pretty rough days. The pain was extremely intense and I couldn't hold down any food or anything I drank. One of the nurses, Virginia realized on Saturday that I was probably also having caffeine withdrawal since I usually have a big cup of coffee every morning and then a couple of diet Cokes in the afternoon. When she gave me something with caffeine it did improve slightly. bob did ask people not to visit because I was having such a hard time, but I did have a couple of visitors and was thankful to see them.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSHxm43I6XgE37VzuIdvWIGBKIimjadb2lskhlaRuWwxsBZSBXIlOBX9kwYE29dbGU3cIftlo4_YpBFaBGmkm4uVswruaYblCTruAwSvyHNptPjTlt-tj7z0yYQigqdxmhL6Wy830geLp/s1600/photo-21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSHxm43I6XgE37VzuIdvWIGBKIimjadb2lskhlaRuWwxsBZSBXIlOBX9kwYE29dbGU3cIftlo4_YpBFaBGmkm4uVswruaYblCTruAwSvyHNptPjTlt-tj7z0yYQigqdxmhL6Wy830geLp/s320/photo-21.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nurses Virginia & Rowena</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRd99d2ZfPaYTqb7P-uzby6CU7U8WHmHgmBFur5vMctJhqA_Tl_zYrMQfQrZZl4z1XiuVHSqoTLlHqvYnUgDB25GOXy5uBV0nHn6Q1OicUgGirIvEnU0ZGg35y74ugdaBz5WKbbPe6Jv4j/s1600/photo-33.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRd99d2ZfPaYTqb7P-uzby6CU7U8WHmHgmBFur5vMctJhqA_Tl_zYrMQfQrZZl4z1XiuVHSqoTLlHqvYnUgDB25GOXy5uBV0nHn6Q1OicUgGirIvEnU0ZGg35y74ugdaBz5WKbbPe6Jv4j/s200/photo-33.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ludlow & Alyssa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
I wish I had more photos of all of the nurses and techs that helped me. I
appreciated them so much; they were always so kind and helpful. I
wasn't able to focus my eyes/mind on my phone camera until Monday.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwHA_a91RFtT5KArS1vnKpcib-x77ANkr_RwGZhc7wedxRAMGIdaVeyif9xbzcZJ9Jr6jKcGwyVYJRJrjQQixyg3hVyc-NmIoovGc8Heu45I3WDjJgAuChZKJEvXISajbBx2iDQrnl27g/s1600/photo-29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwHA_a91RFtT5KArS1vnKpcib-x77ANkr_RwGZhc7wedxRAMGIdaVeyif9xbzcZJ9Jr6jKcGwyVYJRJrjQQixyg3hVyc-NmIoovGc8Heu45I3WDjJgAuChZKJEvXISajbBx2iDQrnl27g/s200/photo-29.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Tyagi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Friday morning Dr. Tyagi visited me and explained how everything went. She had already explained it all to Bob and Ross and Bob told me, but I had a hard time remembering. She said that she did a craniectomy around the posterier fossa, she removed some of the Dura (covering of the brain) and then could see that my brain was pressed right up against the bone and the cerebral spinal fluid was obstructed so she also shaved the cerebellar tonsils to give more room. This would help the flow of fluid not to be obstructed and the nerves to be decompressed. She said that not only was the cerebral spinal fluid obstructed, but that the cerebellar tonsils also showed evidence of compression. This was actually really good to hear since even though the herniation was shown on my MRI it wasn't as evident that the flow was obstructed. It was good to hear that there was real evidence that supported the need for surgery and that could mean that my symptoms may have continued to progress to even a worse state.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6S37_4iZYimluZp0vk5_q7dK5-Mnepnp2vA60chJ1a3osItFNVKnerRE3LIl7RGPcwSrWHGZpBzsnwx_MrxSzLb4s7L93n2iDOBAUTISFVbEbXhO0wpRv_33t8Bg6Aaq_7X4SyRri2zx/s1600/IMG_0269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6S37_4iZYimluZp0vk5_q7dK5-Mnepnp2vA60chJ1a3osItFNVKnerRE3LIl7RGPcwSrWHGZpBzsnwx_MrxSzLb4s7L93n2iDOBAUTISFVbEbXhO0wpRv_33t8Bg6Aaq_7X4SyRri2zx/s320/IMG_0269.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Does this look like a woman who is up to physical therapy?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Friday they already drug me out of bed to go to physical therapy even though I resisted. It was a major effort just to lift my head and sit up. They said that they needed to do physical therapy before I could be released and that the physical therapy staff didn't work on the weekend. Just to sit was enough and then they had me get up, walk across the floor, go up and down a couple of steps and step in and out of a bathtub. Then I had to do arm and leg lifts. You can't imagine how challenging this was. Then it was time for a nap.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVjhWFbWGYuJEj7GOiNnYTSefb8MhvckxkgeThyphenhyphenLN14D33clBuxhtcUFop6FfcDW5mwcQ9UuGpR3bLldkoDJ1aCA4kbm4FXHxRavXmypngF24bbFHJl4N-UZwvWMo1v3e_r1amVeNjkzS/s1600/photo-25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVjhWFbWGYuJEj7GOiNnYTSefb8MhvckxkgeThyphenhyphenLN14D33clBuxhtcUFop6FfcDW5mwcQ9UuGpR3bLldkoDJ1aCA4kbm4FXHxRavXmypngF24bbFHJl4N-UZwvWMo1v3e_r1amVeNjkzS/s320/photo-25.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from Tommy & Connie Beene</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<br />
Saturday was once again quite challenging with pain control and trying to keep anything down. I had a few visitors, but could hardly speak to them. Appreciate it so much though. One of Dr. Tyagi's associates came by and removed my bandage and of course I wanted to see what it looked like right away. I also had Bob count my staples - 19 of them. Wow! So good to see that Dr. Tyagi only had a small strip of my hair shaved right down the middle of the back of my head. I had seen so many pictures of people who had the whole bottom half of their head shaved. So here it goes....are you ready? You gotta help me out by feelin' a little of my pain. :-) <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMI98vnZCdtqspUImWFujHLCL7laU0PaNhT_OtyPWR0e5Cr_X0BS-_Jadt_RIxWa7tnnMsx7EukvwJSdTg5u1074upfFH0OJLVjdNgmc5vwl_vnar0Cu46bBTcUl_XkpGinSlbs-HXqpNz/s1600/photo-35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMI98vnZCdtqspUImWFujHLCL7laU0PaNhT_OtyPWR0e5Cr_X0BS-_Jadt_RIxWa7tnnMsx7EukvwJSdTg5u1074upfFH0OJLVjdNgmc5vwl_vnar0Cu46bBTcUl_XkpGinSlbs-HXqpNz/s640/photo-35.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>19 staples does look like a zipper!</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
By the way my hair was plastered to the sides away from the incision area by antiseptic glue. On Monday Dr.Tyagi released me to go home and said I could shower and wash my hair like normal. I tried getting all that glue out, but it's going to take a couple of shampoos.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3fNL1Bi9dArxBDhq4BWI_MVJYULL7JSK9r_xjBGI_wxaARzs3B_AnnmA9vvMDykhh7fogjHju8F_49uHPDZaubn5MANnKBwYRnikD-CTYoBTpw-F62dLvrxZK_2MdKPNa3sjy9yPuDpn/s1600/photo-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3fNL1Bi9dArxBDhq4BWI_MVJYULL7JSK9r_xjBGI_wxaARzs3B_AnnmA9vvMDykhh7fogjHju8F_49uHPDZaubn5MANnKBwYRnikD-CTYoBTpw-F62dLvrxZK_2MdKPNa3sjy9yPuDpn/s320/photo-22.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">guess they had trouble finding a vein</td></tr>
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Jami Lippencotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17657904074467024446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6766569514728215294.post-45795921866451280102012-10-17T16:18:00.001-07:002012-10-17T16:18:59.763-07:00Feelin’ the Love
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpXrqTj4PIDjk4Xa2eKaEYmb2tyw7BvlzrbRHpjxSJknLVJI2VAXOKKhfoE6aSob0T5oyiAKvHVepKQL0SdmawWWV5iErkJlDo776d8uESAEi5xgH2wDTaBfSjN_Q8_8aS_gvHklbAeoP/s1600/photo-34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpXrqTj4PIDjk4Xa2eKaEYmb2tyw7BvlzrbRHpjxSJknLVJI2VAXOKKhfoE6aSob0T5oyiAKvHVepKQL0SdmawWWV5iErkJlDo776d8uESAEi5xgH2wDTaBfSjN_Q8_8aS_gvHklbAeoP/s200/photo-34.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from my cousin Vanessa</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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It's almost a week post-op and I am finally up to writing and posting on the blog; I can
focus a bit better and my eyes aren’t crossing when I try to read. Wow! Where
should I start? There’s so much to catch up on. I'll have to catch up in a few posts</div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Before I went to the
hospital I was already receiving so much encouragement. Calls, cards, emails,
food and flowers all made me feel so loved and in such a positive mindset to go
to the hospital. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I had to be at the hospital at 5:30 am; pretty early for Bob and I, but no traffic to fight. Ross cancelled his
morning appointments and got to the hospital to see me before the surgery. What
a surprise to see Larry Craig there also to show his support to us all.</span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Larry is one of the Elders in the NYC Church of Christ, Ross and our friend, and Ross' colleague</span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. We knew
that our good friends Tommy and Connie Beene would be there to stay with Bob
while he was waiting. It was really comforting to know that they would be
waiting with Bob to be a bit of a distraction for him. They are two of the most thoughtful, considerate people I know.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">After saying goodbye to Bob & Ross the anesthesiologist and his assistant started hooking me up with IVs, arterial lines, and a catheter in my neck in case I needed to have a blood transfusion. That wasn't necessary, thank God! I really stayed pretty calm, but I'm thankful that they gave me something right away to relax me since I don't have a problem with all the needles, but when I started feeling them sew the catheter onto my neck all I could say was, "Wow that's intense!" In probably a very sleepy voice. At that point I think I would have become very anxious without the meds relaxing me...phew!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That is all I remember until much later that evening. So very, very thankful that you can't remember a single thing from the surgery. I don't remember them removing the catheter in my neck or the breathing tube and all of the other lines they had in me. Grateful that I couldn't feel or remember a single thing about part of my skull being removed and all the other procedures Dr. Tyagi and her assistants did during the surgery. I was left with only the IV line so that I could get fluids and my medications administered.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Bob and Ross tell me about a couple of funny things while I was waking up in recovery and how I was just mumbling and cross eyed, not being able to keep my eyes open. Bob says that I said, "I think I was just dead". I don't remember anything until I was in my room and then I remember saying, "Is this ICU?". They told me I'd be in ICU, but I guess my vitals were so good that they took me to the Neuro floor right away. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I was so out of it, but in so much pain that they gave me a button that I could get a dose of morphine as needed. The pump has a safety that doesn't allow you to overdose. I was so groggy that I wasn't even aware enough to press the button.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They took me for an MRI sometime in the evening to see the change after the surgery. I had a hard time imagining that I could take all that loud sound of the MRI, but they said they'd give me something to relax and i just wanted to get it over with rather than waiting until the next day. Turns out I was so out of it that I slept through it all.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I will post some pictures of my incision and tell some specifics about what Dr. Tyagi had to say about my surgery in another post later or tomorrow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span>
Jami Lippencotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17657904074467024446noreply@blogger.com1