This coming weekend is kind of like the wrap up of our wedding season! Our team then has 2 weddings left in November, but the busyness of weddings every weekend is coming to an end. We had our Q4 team meeting Monday night (how is it already Q4???) and we are settling in for the winter ahead. This was easily our best season yet. Each year we get smarter and faster in the way we work, and doing it alongside our team this year was the biggest joy yet. Our team has grown little by little, about 1 new team member each year for the last 3 years, but this year it felt different. We all worked together more often, I depended on them more, and I can’t say enough what a joy it has been. Those girls make me so happy! They are hard working, eager to learn, and shine the light of Jesus everywhere they go.
The team has been a particular blessing this year because I’ve been walking through a rougher health season. In past wedding seasons my health has been my number one stress (“What if I am sick on a wedding day? What if I can’t keep up with the work load?”) and this year I was able to take a deep breathe and rely on my team. It allowed me to take a step back from work and focus on my health without worrying about work much at all. That is a gift (and a provision of the Lord) that I will never be able to express my gratefulness for.
In my last update I mentioned how much better my health has been in the last few years. We are seeing healing happen left and right and I even signed up for a half marathon! I am so thankful that God is choosing to work various forms of healing into my path and that when times are good I am able to live in a way that I never imagined! Like training for a half marathon!! That said, my illness has always functioned in waves. It ebbs and flows, a few steps forward and a few steps back. The later part of the summer was a bit of a step back, the first big one in a while. My gut and bloodwork both got off in a pretty serious way which is taking a while to sort out and come back from. In the meantime I came down with an infection in my g tube that we are still trying to clear up. Can I be honest? I NEVER know how much to post about this stuff! How much detail, how specific to be, how often to share, how much information is TMI? I’m just winging it, so bare with me.
One exciting thing on the horizon is an upcoming surgery. I know, my idea of a good time is a little skewed 😜. I had my g tube placed when I was 3 so as you can imagine, I’ve grown since then. We’ve wanted to have it moved for quite some time now, to have it put in a more comfortable/more effective location, and I am so excited to finally be having that surgery at the end of the month. Moving the button (g tube) was something I had to advocate for so were doing some serious praying surrounding it. Asking for wisdom, guidance, and clarity on if it is the right thing. After meeting with the surgeon (who we loved) we had complete peace that this was the right step, inevitable to some extent and would relieve all the pain associated with the current location of the button. A total answer to prayer! I’m so thankful that we feel confident in this decision. I’m excited to have the new button, and (fingers crossed!) be able to lay on my right side again! Ironically enough, in 20 years, I’ve never had a g tube infection (which is a miracle in itself) and now 2 weeks before surgery I am dealing with one. But honestly, that just felt like confirmation that it’s time to move forward on the surgery.
Overall, I think I am headed back in the right direction. My nutrient levels are headed back in the right direction (I’m writing this post from the infusion center at the hospital where I’m currently getting an iron infusion!), the infection will be cleared up shortly, the surgery will be over soon, and the steps backwards will soon turn into steps forward. The waves come and pull back, but when I look at the big picture I’m thankful to be able to say that we are always generally moving in a positive direction over the grand scheme of things.
One thing that has been new this time around is being married! Like I said, I haven’t been this sick in a while and to do it as a newlywed has certainly been different. I’m more thankful than ever for the years of work that my parents put into managing things like doctor referrals, blood work numbers, and insurance as I *begin* to take over some of that for myself. They have been supportive as ever and my mom is still coming to almost every doctors appointment with me, which I love. Her presence always just gives me such peace of mind and she always asks just the right questions.
I can’t go without mentioning Dan. He should win an award for stepping into the role of caretaker so graciously. He is so thoughtful, attentive, supportive, and motivating. He seems to know just what I need at each moment, be it a prayer or a glass of water. He is learning to interpret my non-verbals, prep my TPN, and remind me to take my antibiotics. He is patient when almost every night I ask to stay home and watch TV (although secretly I think that’s his preference anyway 😉) and will slowly stroll through Target with me when I just need to stretch my legs. He is such a gift.
Anyway, thanks for reading along for this long winded update. I hope to begin sharing more frequently about my health, I’m just sorting through what that will look like. I hesitate and then when I do it’s like the Lord sends confirmation immediately that I am supposed to share. Last week I got Instagram messages from two girls with similar medical situations to mine. Closer than anyone I’ve ever met before – how crazy is that!? It makes this whole world feel less lonely. I would love prayers for this harder season to come to it’s close and for the surgery up ahead, I thank you in advanced.
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