Saturday, October 16, 2010

Good Evening Everyone,

I just noticed that it has been over two weeks since my last post. You've all been so kind and thoughtful with your emails and comments about my health. I don't want to get into the long and boring details so I will just tell you that I was having lots of abdominal pain. It started a month ago and just never quit. So after having a series of tests which all came out good by the way, it was determined that I have I.B.S. ( embarrassingly, Irritable Bowl Syndrome ) caused by excessive stress.

After a few medication changes, I am finally starting to feel myself again. Thursday was the first and only day so far that I have not had any stomach pain at all. At first I thought the doctors were crazy until I really started to pay attention to when the pain would occur. Sure enough I discovered that any little bit of stress or aggravation would set off the stomach pain!

So for the past few weeks I have been taking things easy, focusing on avoiding stress at all costs and just trying to get back to feeling like myself again. I have also been practicing some breathing exercises that my friend Gail from "Know Your It's" suggested. They have been a big help, especially when Katie is driving! Thank you Gail!
The past few days I have noticed my energy returning.

I have been crocheting and sewing. I haven't worked much until today. I started a new project. The Dining Room. It is almost ready to paint. I want to get it done before Thanksgiving. This job isn't nearly as involved as the Living Room was so I'm actually enjoying it.

I taught Katie how to pull the base trim off the walls and take the nails out. She did a great job and has been quite helpful. The room should be ready to paint within a few days. I'm excited about the change!

This morning as I was listening to music and working in the dining room, I started to hear sirens and soon the fire trucks were pulling down my street. It was pretty early, about 8:30. As I walked out on the porch I noticed that they were stopping about a half a block down.
I put my jacket on and started down the street. It was an old house. Not unlike most of the homes on our street. I'd say about 70 years old.

Flames were shooting through the roof as the neighbors had just started drifting out of there similarly older homes. I stopped to ask one of the police officers if everyone was out of the house. He said that he thought so. It was ultimately a lost cause. All that was left was an empty shell. One of my neighbors asked me if I knew if the little children were safely out of the home. I told her that the officer said that he thought so as tears welled in my eyes.

As I walked back home I couldn't help but wonder, is our own home safe? It is nearly 70 years old too. I suppose that I could live anywhere if need be but losing all of one's memories, how terribly sad. 

While I was home recovering from my procedures, my husband suggested that we take a ride to another small town about 30 miles from our own. I still had quite a bit of stomach pain but thought, what the heck! It seems sort of strange that we went on a sixty mile round trip to Wal-Mart, but we did. You see our Wal-mart no longer carries fabrics and very little crochet thread. My husband knew that I needed more black thread as our oldest daughter wanted a pair of the fingerless gloves that I had made for Katie and Natasha. 

They had the black thread of which I bought two. They also had the most beautiful crimson color thread that my husband insisted I purchase as well. I know that he was trying to cheer me up. He drives seventy hours a week. He doesn't want to go anywhere when he's home. That my friends is true love.

He stayed home with me the whole week after the tests. He cooked cream soups for me. He did everything for me. He took his last week of this years vacation for me. The one that he was saving for Christmas week. I am very blessed to have him. I was in good hands.

Since he took that week off, he was able to be home to see Katie dressed up for the Homecoming Dance. She and Natasha looked so beautiful. They had a very good time.



Katie looked very happy. And I was so glad that her dad was home to pick them up that night!



We have been experiencing the most spectacular Fall this year. We had so many outdoor plans to enjoy it but they sort of got pushed off this year because of the tests. The next time my husband will be home, all of the leaves will probably be on the ground. But you know what they say about "Best Laid Plans"?


Well God willing there will be next fall to look forward too. And you, all of my wonderful caring friends, will be there too. Your thoughtfulness warms my heart and I promise to try and visit more often this week. I am so grateful for all of you. It is amazing to me what a truly small world this is that has brought us all together.
I feel blessed. Thank you one and all.


Love Di ♥

14 comments:

Lois Evensen said...

Hello Di,

Thank you so much for the update. Yes, your husband is a wonderful guy, a real keeper. I hope you are feeling much, much better soon.

Hugs,
Lois

Bernie said...

So glad all is going well now Di, it is great to know that Jake has been taking such good care of you, although I am not surprised. He sounds like a very good husband.
The girls look great, love their dresses and the gloves are sweet. Did Katie have a good time?
So glad you are back to us not don't over it Di, take your time with the dining room and get lots of rest. Big hugs .....:-)

Lynilu said...

It's good to see you! I can empathize with you on the IBS; I have diverticulitis, a different cause than IBS, but the same awful results. Happily, I've been stable for a long time now, but I have to watch my diet and stress, too. Once you get it under control, it will be much better. Take care of yourself.

I love the fingerless gloves! the other day at the thrift shop a woman found a pair in a "miscellaneous" bin, and they were perfect! she was getting them for her daughter for homecoming, too.

Keep resting and taking care about stress, dear friend. :) Sending hugs and love your way.

Anvilcloud said...

It's good to hear from you. I knew it had been awhile but didn't realize that it had been that long.

Wanda..... said...

It's good to know you're on the mend and feeling more like yourself, Di. Having Jake home must have been very comforting.
Katie and Natasha look very pretty for the dance, Katie looks especially happy in her closeup!

The enjoyment of painting and changing a room can be very relaxing...plus the crochet work!

I have the exact "made with love, sweet things in life" candle.
Hope you have a good week, Di.

Gail said...

HI DIANA-

Looks like you are continuing to heal by reducing stress. I am glad the breathing exercises are helping. I can now add anothend that is to imagine yourself on a stairwell and count down from 13, slowly....when you are at the bottom imagine a door and open it - when you pass thru the door you can be any where you decide/create that is safe and free and restful for you. If you do this every day you will become very good at escaping stress, reducing stress and feeling relaxed. It is important, once you stay in your safe place that you come back the same way you got there and count back up otherwise you could stay in a sort of hypnotic state. k?

That fire just down the road mush have been so frightening. I am glad no one was hurt. I love that Jake stayed with you and took you for a drive.

ALso, at te health food store they sall an all natural IBS caplet. Works like a charm and NO side effects other than feeling good.

Love to you
Gail
peace....

Cindy said...

Hi Diana, so glad to hear you are feeling somewhat better. I sure hope it gets under control for you. Katie looks wonderful in the pictures, and I smile as I sit here and see Sarahs pic of her sleeping at your house I think of how stress free their little lifes are. What color are you painting your room. certain colors destress too. I have heard very good things about acupuncture for stress...my sister and I went once for loosing weight, when we came out of our appointments I said to my sister, Do you feel really good, we both felt like we had lost a hundred pounds. It was a wonderful feeling, we would have kept going but it was expensive...I hope you are feeling better real soon...it is so sad about the fire...I too worry sometimes about our house, in two years it will be one hundred years old. ...take care and lots of love being sent your way, hugs. c

Rebecca said...

Our house is probably more like 100 years old! I'm not sure fire is any more a threat to a well-maintained older house than a "new" one...It IS a wake up call when a disaster like this happens so close to home.

Glad you've figured out the source of your pain. Isn't it interesting the mind/body connection and the impact stress can have?!

Katie DID look great - and Jake is definitely a keeper. Take it slow and let family and friends lighten your load a bit if you can.

♪Happy, happy, happy to have you "back"♪

Bill ~ {The Old Fart} said...

Nice to have you back Di, I missed not having you stop by. I left a big comment over at the Facebook, so won't repeat myself here.

Glad that you had the chuckle from last night's email....

Lena said...

Hi Di!!

It's good to see you back and to know that what you have is nothing but a case of stress... take good care of yourself!!!

Tons of love!

Jackie said...

Hi Di...
I'm glad to know that your problem has been diagnosed, and I hope that you continue to feel better each day. You know that I have been worried about you.
As you know, I'm away from home right now, but I wanted to check in with you and see how you are feeling.
I applaud Katie for a job well done helping with the molding, etc. And...tell her for me that she looks beautiful! Her smile is radiant...and I know that you are proud of her.
Jake...what a blessinghe is!!...What a fine husband you have, Di. I am thankful you have each other. You are perfect together. You are an exemplary Mother and wife...and I am so glad to have you as a friend. Continue to take care of your health, Di...please.
Love to you, my friend.
Jackie

Barb said...

Hi Di, I was wondering about you - glad you posted. Must you be really careful of your diet with this diagnosis? I'm happy that you're feeling better. Jake is a good nurse! Katie and Natasha are wearing the most beautiful jewel-colored dresses - perfect! Hope they had fun.

Barb said...

PS You are starting a fad with the gloves!

Vicki said...

Hi Di,
So glad you are on the mend and feeling more like your old self and are back to keep us up to date with all that's going on in your world!
Katie looked stunning for the homecoming and I was happy to hear that she enjoyed helping you with the dining room.
I have that awful IBS too...it definitely is brought on by to much stress. Seems crazy but I suppose everything that affects us emotionally affects us physically too!
So glad you are feeling so much better. Love & Kisses, Vicki
P.S. You sure do have yourself a great husband!! :)