CATCHING UP!
Hey everyone!!! Nice to see some new faces on here - in fact, LOTS of new faces!!!
A little update on me:
As you know, in February, Dad was diagnosed with lung cancer in his right lung. In April, they successfully removed all of the cancer and it was recently confirmed with an oncologist that there's no need for chemo or radiation, so THAT'S a blessing. Dad's recovery from his surgery has been AMAZING, and he's not been too bad of a patient.
Right before the cancer surgery, Dad's kidneys finally gave up the ghost and he had to begin dialysis. That, to put it mildly, has been challenging. Dialysis is 3x a week, 4 hours a session - thank goodness, the people at the center are wonderful! However, with dialysis, there's a fine line to be walked with fluids, and given that Dad has a myriad of other conditions, hardly a week passes by that we're not in the ER for some crisis. Too much fluid and he can't breathe. Not enough fluid and he's dehydrated and his heart rate rapidly rises, which then causes his pacemaker to fire. So like I said, a definite learning curves. His doctors are wonderful - thank goodness, because I seem to talk to them ALL THE TIME.
In addition to all of this, Dad's suffered, for the past 20 years or so, with periodic bouts of vomiting, diarrhea and nausea - it's gotten MUCH worse since dialysis began. The ONLY thing that helps is a shot of a statin medication which has its OWN side effects. Last week, Dad had several invasive tests done by a GI doctor to see if they can find the cause. I got the call today - NOTHING. They don't have a clue and can't really offer any suggestions as to what happens now. It's frustrating for Dad and all of us - I've seen Dad go from a 2XL to a medium in about a year or so. So right now, the best we can do is treat the symptoms and watch everything.
On a MUCH happier note, I've met a wonderful man - truly the love of my life, named Jon. For the next 17 days, Jon lives in Alabama, but is then moving to Baltimore to be with me. This man is the most wonderful man I've ever met and loves me beyond reason. He's decent, kind, sweet, gentle - a true Southern gentleman. He flew up several weeks ago and met my parents, and they love him, too.
Soooooooo.............probably in a year or so.....we're getting married! Yep, I said it!!!! I've found my Prince Charming! My friends and family are SO ecstatic for us and I truly couldn't be happier.
Once Jon's here and settled, we're going to focus on starting a support group on the east side of town - I'll let everyone know when that's off the ground. Ours won't be a traditional support group - rather, we'll have cooking demonstrations, walks, healthy grocery shopping trips, visits from medical professionals and gym trainers, and anything else that looks good and helps us.
KB are doing wonderfully! K has been accepted into an art magnet school and B starts middle school at the end of August! I don't know where the time has gone! I wasn't able to take a vacay this summer with Dad being so sick, but once things settle down, Jon and I will take a vacation somewhere warm and quiet, with little umbrellas in my drink!
So that's it for me - but that's pretty much enough!! Besides meeting and falling in love with Jon, 2010 pretty much ranks up there as one of the worst years of my life!!! Fortunately, I have a wonderful family and a great support system, so we made it through!!!
Hope everyone is doing well!!!! Tell me what's going on with YOU!
Hugs,
Tia
A little update on me:
As you know, in February, Dad was diagnosed with lung cancer in his right lung. In April, they successfully removed all of the cancer and it was recently confirmed with an oncologist that there's no need for chemo or radiation, so THAT'S a blessing. Dad's recovery from his surgery has been AMAZING, and he's not been too bad of a patient.
Right before the cancer surgery, Dad's kidneys finally gave up the ghost and he had to begin dialysis. That, to put it mildly, has been challenging. Dialysis is 3x a week, 4 hours a session - thank goodness, the people at the center are wonderful! However, with dialysis, there's a fine line to be walked with fluids, and given that Dad has a myriad of other conditions, hardly a week passes by that we're not in the ER for some crisis. Too much fluid and he can't breathe. Not enough fluid and he's dehydrated and his heart rate rapidly rises, which then causes his pacemaker to fire. So like I said, a definite learning curves. His doctors are wonderful - thank goodness, because I seem to talk to them ALL THE TIME.
In addition to all of this, Dad's suffered, for the past 20 years or so, with periodic bouts of vomiting, diarrhea and nausea - it's gotten MUCH worse since dialysis began. The ONLY thing that helps is a shot of a statin medication which has its OWN side effects. Last week, Dad had several invasive tests done by a GI doctor to see if they can find the cause. I got the call today - NOTHING. They don't have a clue and can't really offer any suggestions as to what happens now. It's frustrating for Dad and all of us - I've seen Dad go from a 2XL to a medium in about a year or so. So right now, the best we can do is treat the symptoms and watch everything.
On a MUCH happier note, I've met a wonderful man - truly the love of my life, named Jon. For the next 17 days, Jon lives in Alabama, but is then moving to Baltimore to be with me. This man is the most wonderful man I've ever met and loves me beyond reason. He's decent, kind, sweet, gentle - a true Southern gentleman. He flew up several weeks ago and met my parents, and they love him, too.
Soooooooo.............probably in a year or so.....we're getting married! Yep, I said it!!!! I've found my Prince Charming! My friends and family are SO ecstatic for us and I truly couldn't be happier.
Once Jon's here and settled, we're going to focus on starting a support group on the east side of town - I'll let everyone know when that's off the ground. Ours won't be a traditional support group - rather, we'll have cooking demonstrations, walks, healthy grocery shopping trips, visits from medical professionals and gym trainers, and anything else that looks good and helps us.
KB are doing wonderfully! K has been accepted into an art magnet school and B starts middle school at the end of August! I don't know where the time has gone! I wasn't able to take a vacay this summer with Dad being so sick, but once things settle down, Jon and I will take a vacation somewhere warm and quiet, with little umbrellas in my drink!
So that's it for me - but that's pretty much enough!! Besides meeting and falling in love with Jon, 2010 pretty much ranks up there as one of the worst years of my life!!! Fortunately, I have a wonderful family and a great support system, so we made it through!!!
Hope everyone is doing well!!!! Tell me what's going on with YOU!
Hugs,
Tia
Schmoopy!
Ahem...just for the record, I don't do poofy skirts...just saying...you know, for my bridesmaid dress.
Ahem...just for the record, I don't do poofy skirts...just saying...you know, for my bridesmaid dress.
Visit my blog at I'm Being Bypassed
He no eat meat?
That's ok...
I make lamb.
That's ok...
I make lamb.
Visit my blog at I'm Being Bypassed
Congratulations Tia!! 
Thank you for the update! Not much new here, other than I'm now a post-op instead of a pre-op. I'm down 58 pounds and happy about it. I promised myself before surgery that once I was well on my way towards significant weight loss, I would reward myself with a vacation...somewhere I loved in the past but knew I would love even more with a lot less weight on me. We chose Disneyworld for Novemeber. I'm excited. Oh and I got engaged in May! So I guess I do have a lot going on after all. Glad to hear from you. I will keep your dad in my thoughts and prayers.
Thank you for the update! Not much new here, other than I'm now a post-op instead of a pre-op. I'm down 58 pounds and happy about it. I promised myself before surgery that once I was well on my way towards significant weight loss, I would reward myself with a vacation...somewhere I loved in the past but knew I would love even more with a lot less weight on me. We chose Disneyworld for Novemeber. I'm excited. Oh and I got engaged in May! So I guess I do have a lot going on after all. Glad to hear from you. I will keep your dad in my thoughts and prayers.Laura 
Hi Laura!
You look amazing and 58 pounds is incredible!!! I'm so proud of you!! Congrats on your engagement!!! I don't have a ring yet, so I'm not officially calling Jon my fiance, but the important thing is that we WILL be married sooner rather than later. Everything else can wait.
Funny that you mention Disney - Jon's a big Disney buff and that's where we'll go on our honeymoon eventually!
Thanks for the good thoughts and prayers! Keep up the good work!
Hugs,
Tia
You look amazing and 58 pounds is incredible!!! I'm so proud of you!! Congrats on your engagement!!! I don't have a ring yet, so I'm not officially calling Jon my fiance, but the important thing is that we WILL be married sooner rather than later. Everything else can wait.
Funny that you mention Disney - Jon's a big Disney buff and that's where we'll go on our honeymoon eventually!
Thanks for the good thoughts and prayers! Keep up the good work!
Hugs,
Tia
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