Well it has been 11 days, 12 hours, and 34 minutes since Joel's surgery started and it is time to come clean with my addictions:
- Pepsi: I am grumpy without, funny with. I am afraid this may become the substance that sustains our marriage. I am planning to start drinking caffeine-free to ween myself.
- Two Iphones: After "manning" two iphones for four days, I now look longingly at Joel's phone as he uses his. I could get so much more done with two!
- Sleeping by myself: I only loved this for one night. I sleep much better with him laying beside me. (blah!)
- Other people's cooking: I am not sure if people are pulling out all their "good" stuff for us, but I have gained 5 pounds because I can't get enough!!
- Blogging: I am sure you understand this if you have been reading my 36 other mindlessly idiotic postings.
- Well-rested-Joel: He is funny, fun to be with, and most of the time in a good mood. Plus he can't drive so he is always around for my entertainment.
- Chocolate: Do you know they put all the Easter candy on clearance after Easter? Bad news!!! Maybe another reason I have gained 5 pounds. Have you ever noticed, eating chocolate is much faster than working out?
Ok, I have come clean. Admitting you have a problem is the first step, right?
Now for Joel's new addictions:
- Watching weird shows on Netflix (Twin Peaks, Pushing Daisies, The Pixar Story, National Geographic special on death and when do we really die): He is watching all those shows that he has always wanted to watch but never had time.
- Napping: VERY GOOD FOR HEALING!!!
- My driving: He loves riding in the car and giving me advice. "turn here," "go that way," etc. He is addiction, my nightmare.
- Strawberry Special K: Joel loves this cereal and Jonah and Elijah keep finishing it before he gets out of bed. We are stopping at Costco tomorrow. Costco always helps with quantity issues.
- Denver Nuggets Basketball: this addiction was cut short by bad post season coaching. Sorry George Karl, it had to be said.
Please let us know if you have any advice on how to kick our "new" bad habits.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
The staples have been removed!
I am not sure what I was expecting but the nurse literally used a small staple remover and within three minutes had all 26 staple extracted. Joel and I decided against the keepsake ziploc bag with little bow and had her throw the staples in the trash. He is feeling so much better. He was at the point that the staples were causing more pain then healing.
Tonight Joel was out on the baseball field giving Jonah verbal, not physical, tips on hitting. 10 days ago he was laying on an operating table with his brain exposed. Amazing how our bodies heal!!!
Now the pain associated with his recovery will mostly be itching as the skin heals thoroughly. Internally, he is having very little pain and is just taking pain medicine when he is sleeping.
He has about 85% of his range of motion when he moves his head from side to side. He is still getting electric shocks down his neck with any quick movements and he feels most soreness when he looks down at his toes. All in all, his recovery has been amazing.
We think he is about a week away from driving a car since he is off the narcotics but still hasn't gained 100% of his movement.
Tonight Joel was out on the baseball field giving Jonah verbal, not physical, tips on hitting. 10 days ago he was laying on an operating table with his brain exposed. Amazing how our bodies heal!!!
Now the pain associated with his recovery will mostly be itching as the skin heals thoroughly. Internally, he is having very little pain and is just taking pain medicine when he is sleeping.
He has about 85% of his range of motion when he moves his head from side to side. He is still getting electric shocks down his neck with any quick movements and he feels most soreness when he looks down at his toes. All in all, his recovery has been amazing.
We think he is about a week away from driving a car since he is off the narcotics but still hasn't gained 100% of his movement.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Staple removal is tomorrow...
Joel has become increasingly more annoyed with the "extra" metal on his head and tomorrow that will hopefully end. His lower incision has become red because of discomfort specifically from movement and how he sleeps. The upper incision looks fine and even has new hair growing throughout. Kind of weird but a great sign of healing.
Ironically, he is more worried about how his hair looks than the scar. This is fortunate because in another week, he will have another hair cut (he gets them about every other month). The hair problem should be fixed by the end of the month. The scar will be mostly covered by his hair with only about an inch showing below his hair line. Over time, there should be very little evidence that he ever had a Chiari Malformation. Joel was worried about his secret brain surgery being uncovered by airport security and tried to make jokes concerning being "wanded" at the airport. He was shut down quickly by the RN who claims titanium in the head doesn't make the security machine beep. Oh well, I guess I will just have to let everyone know Joel has a thick scull in some other fun way. Facebook, check! Blog, check! Twitter, check! Email, check! Text, check! I am not sure there is anyone left to tell.
So he goes tomorrow for staple removal (he refused his father's offer to remove them with his staple remover) and goes to see Dr. Oro in mid-June for a complete brain scan and post operation appointment.
Things are moving smoothly and I think Josiah's tooth finally cut through today. By tomorrow we will be a whole new family sans staple and tooth pain.
Ironically, he is more worried about how his hair looks than the scar. This is fortunate because in another week, he will have another hair cut (he gets them about every other month). The hair problem should be fixed by the end of the month. The scar will be mostly covered by his hair with only about an inch showing below his hair line. Over time, there should be very little evidence that he ever had a Chiari Malformation. Joel was worried about his secret brain surgery being uncovered by airport security and tried to make jokes concerning being "wanded" at the airport. He was shut down quickly by the RN who claims titanium in the head doesn't make the security machine beep. Oh well, I guess I will just have to let everyone know Joel has a thick scull in some other fun way. Facebook, check! Blog, check! Twitter, check! Email, check! Text, check! I am not sure there is anyone left to tell.
So he goes tomorrow for staple removal (he refused his father's offer to remove them with his staple remover) and goes to see Dr. Oro in mid-June for a complete brain scan and post operation appointment.
Things are moving smoothly and I think Josiah's tooth finally cut through today. By tomorrow we will be a whole new family sans staple and tooth pain.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Double standard...
Have you ever noticed the extent with which each of us live in double standards? Ok, I will keep this personal because really I notice this about myself all the time. For example, I yell at my own kids but as soon as I see some else yelling at their kids, I shake my head. Or, I watch someone speeding down the road and I wonder, where are the police when we need them. Yet, I don't think anything of it when I am late and speeding to get my kids, get to work, or going to an appointment.
I usually try to give these up-to-no-good strangers a story so I don't let them ruin my day. Like for the person speeding I give the story she is on her way to pick up her child who is throwing up at school. This makes my stress level go down and the stranger gets my prayers instead of my dirty look.
In the last week, my "made-up" back stories have turned more personal in nature. For example, this morning while driving the kids to school, I was passed by a gentleman on a motorcycle in a place there is only one lane. I was going 38mph in a 35 and 200 yards ahead of us there was a long line of rush hour traffic (the same as everyday). I caught myself saying "what in the heck is that guy doing?!!!!" Then I told the kids, "That man must be in a really big hurry to help fix someone's brain." Sick, I know but it works. I felt much better and the kids did point out he was being safe because he was wearing a helmet.
You should try it. You can even personalize your made up back stories to your own life.
The reason I really started thinking about this is because, I have a "double standard" with sick people. I am a very grumpy sick person. Whether it is a headache, the flu, or food poisoning I can be wonderful to everyone and take it out on Joel. Specifically, I bite at him with curt phrases and curl up into my own pitiful world of self loathing and pain. When I take care of sick Joel, my attitude has always been "you don't have to be mean, just because you are sick. Buck up, you will be fine."
So needless to say, when Joel and I found out he was going to be having brain surgery, I was worried about my bedside manner. Knowing that this was not a "buck-up" situation, I expected Joel to expel curt phrases and moan in intense pain while I held his hand, fed him yogurt, and kept track of his medicine.
Honestly, we day 8 in post-op and he has done anything but be mean. He has been a wonderful patient besides the day he spent nauseous and night he spent in pain. He is even off his pain meds and is very pleasant. I have been amazed. Even while he was still in the hospital I was checking in with the nurses in case I needed to apologize for any rude behavior and the only time I even saw him a little upset was while talking about someone leaving the light on his room after they took out the trash in the middle of the night. He didn't even display a whole lot of frustration at the nurse who was slow to put saline solution in his IV after she had just injected something that was burning his vein.
So, what I have learned? I need to work on my behavior when I am sick.
I usually try to give these up-to-no-good strangers a story so I don't let them ruin my day. Like for the person speeding I give the story she is on her way to pick up her child who is throwing up at school. This makes my stress level go down and the stranger gets my prayers instead of my dirty look.
In the last week, my "made-up" back stories have turned more personal in nature. For example, this morning while driving the kids to school, I was passed by a gentleman on a motorcycle in a place there is only one lane. I was going 38mph in a 35 and 200 yards ahead of us there was a long line of rush hour traffic (the same as everyday). I caught myself saying "what in the heck is that guy doing?!!!!" Then I told the kids, "That man must be in a really big hurry to help fix someone's brain." Sick, I know but it works. I felt much better and the kids did point out he was being safe because he was wearing a helmet.
You should try it. You can even personalize your made up back stories to your own life.
The reason I really started thinking about this is because, I have a "double standard" with sick people. I am a very grumpy sick person. Whether it is a headache, the flu, or food poisoning I can be wonderful to everyone and take it out on Joel. Specifically, I bite at him with curt phrases and curl up into my own pitiful world of self loathing and pain. When I take care of sick Joel, my attitude has always been "you don't have to be mean, just because you are sick. Buck up, you will be fine."
So needless to say, when Joel and I found out he was going to be having brain surgery, I was worried about my bedside manner. Knowing that this was not a "buck-up" situation, I expected Joel to expel curt phrases and moan in intense pain while I held his hand, fed him yogurt, and kept track of his medicine.
Honestly, we day 8 in post-op and he has done anything but be mean. He has been a wonderful patient besides the day he spent nauseous and night he spent in pain. He is even off his pain meds and is very pleasant. I have been amazed. Even while he was still in the hospital I was checking in with the nurses in case I needed to apologize for any rude behavior and the only time I even saw him a little upset was while talking about someone leaving the light on his room after they took out the trash in the middle of the night. He didn't even display a whole lot of frustration at the nurse who was slow to put saline solution in his IV after she had just injected something that was burning his vein.
So, what I have learned? I need to work on my behavior when I am sick.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
It has been a week since surgery...
Joel has been up and around more than I would have liked today. One of the disadvantages to working for yourself is having a hard time leaving your business in someone else's hands even if only for a few days. Because he wants to get back into the work mode, he also wants to stop taking his high intensity pain meds. I have mixed feeling about this. Obviously, having him in the most lucid state is my preference. However, the meds also make him sleepy forcing him to rest. He plans on starting to take Ibuprofen in the morning and I will be watching him closely, counting the hours he is sleeping. He has hit that crucial period were he feels well enough to be up and around but he still needs to be resting.
So it is time for the great benefits of brain surgery:
1. The food is amazing!!! I am not sure I am ever going to be able to go back to my own cooking. My sister-in-law very generously organized meal preparation for the weeks following Joel's surgery. At first, I was going to turn it down but I am so glad I didn't. I can't even begin to express how thankful I am or count the benefits this service has provided!!!
Plus, I now know my own cooking sucks!! No other word describes it. The kids love everything! Most of the time they need to be bribed by dessert to eat my cooking. No wonder. They must have learned from their friends what other families are eating and my kids are really just taking a stand against my food meritocracy.
2. Joel's creating minimal laundry. Two months ago on an average day he would wear racquetball clothes, work clothes, and after work clothes. Now, he has been wearing one outfit of a t-shirt and shorts a day.
3. I get to make all the decisions. Yes, for those who don't know me well, I am kind of a control freak. Most of the time I talk to Joel about things (or at least make him think he is making some decisions) but right now, I get to decide everything: when we eat, when the kids go to school, if they takes bathes, etc.
Sometimes this can just make things run smoother when there is only one of us deciding.
4. All of his rest, is making his sense of humor shine. He hasn't become a musical savant (he tried playing the piano Iphone app the day after surgery, and he couldn't even play chopsticks) however, he is constantly cracking jokes. Again, our family has suggested he stay on the narcotics and try out for a stand up comedy gig.
I will let you know as we discover other brain surgery benefits!
Movie Update:
"The King's Speech:" LOVED IT!! Now I am looking for more information about King George VI. Trivia: Did you know Kenyon Martin of the Denver Nuggets is a board member and active spokesman of the American Institute of Stuttering.
"How Do You Know:" Deserved the rotten tomato award. Two hours of my life I can't get back. I am no longer allowed to choose the movies we get from redbox.
So it is time for the great benefits of brain surgery:
1. The food is amazing!!! I am not sure I am ever going to be able to go back to my own cooking. My sister-in-law very generously organized meal preparation for the weeks following Joel's surgery. At first, I was going to turn it down but I am so glad I didn't. I can't even begin to express how thankful I am or count the benefits this service has provided!!!
Plus, I now know my own cooking sucks!! No other word describes it. The kids love everything! Most of the time they need to be bribed by dessert to eat my cooking. No wonder. They must have learned from their friends what other families are eating and my kids are really just taking a stand against my food meritocracy.
2. Joel's creating minimal laundry. Two months ago on an average day he would wear racquetball clothes, work clothes, and after work clothes. Now, he has been wearing one outfit of a t-shirt and shorts a day.
3. I get to make all the decisions. Yes, for those who don't know me well, I am kind of a control freak. Most of the time I talk to Joel about things (or at least make him think he is making some decisions) but right now, I get to decide everything: when we eat, when the kids go to school, if they takes bathes, etc.
Sometimes this can just make things run smoother when there is only one of us deciding.
4. All of his rest, is making his sense of humor shine. He hasn't become a musical savant (he tried playing the piano Iphone app the day after surgery, and he couldn't even play chopsticks) however, he is constantly cracking jokes. Again, our family has suggested he stay on the narcotics and try out for a stand up comedy gig.
I will let you know as we discover other brain surgery benefits!
Movie Update:
"The King's Speech:" LOVED IT!! Now I am looking for more information about King George VI. Trivia: Did you know Kenyon Martin of the Denver Nuggets is a board member and active spokesman of the American Institute of Stuttering.
"How Do You Know:" Deserved the rotten tomato award. Two hours of my life I can't get back. I am no longer allowed to choose the movies we get from redbox.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Crashed
It finally happened and I am not even saying it figuratively, we crashed. Today was the day saved for getting things done and I took a three hour nap, Josiah slept for three and a half hours, Elijah slept for two, and Caeli slept for one and a half. I am not sure if it was because I have had at the most 4 hours of continuous sleep in the past week or if it was because of all the chocolate we ate yesterday but either way, we were down for the count. Yes, today was a much needed day of rest and we will be back on top tomorrow. Watch out world...The Morin's are back.
Joel is doing really well. We are still monitoring his vitals (eating, sleeping, pooping, pain) but overall everyday he is a little more himself. He has even been making some business calls to check in with clients. Don't worry, I am prepared to confiscate his phone if needed. He is starting to stress about work so I know he must be feeling better.
He has also been trying to watch what he say and does because he claimed earlier today that all his is to me is a blog posting. Anything to motivate him to be on his best behavior. I will let you know if he makes any slips.
Caeli asked today when Daddy was getting his staples out. We are schedule for staple removal on Friday morning. She started jumping up and down. I was a little confused. She said she was excited to wrestle and hug daddy again. For her these next two months of recovery are going to feel like the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Obviously, I need to put my knee pads on and get down on the floor to play "daddy." I knew that dinner, laundry, trips to school, sports practices, etc were going to be on me, but replacing "daddy" takes more than just doing things for the kids. I need to work on "daddy" play time too.
Joel is doing really well. We are still monitoring his vitals (eating, sleeping, pooping, pain) but overall everyday he is a little more himself. He has even been making some business calls to check in with clients. Don't worry, I am prepared to confiscate his phone if needed. He is starting to stress about work so I know he must be feeling better.
He has also been trying to watch what he say and does because he claimed earlier today that all his is to me is a blog posting. Anything to motivate him to be on his best behavior. I will let you know if he makes any slips.
Caeli asked today when Daddy was getting his staples out. We are schedule for staple removal on Friday morning. She started jumping up and down. I was a little confused. She said she was excited to wrestle and hug daddy again. For her these next two months of recovery are going to feel like the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Obviously, I need to put my knee pads on and get down on the floor to play "daddy." I knew that dinner, laundry, trips to school, sports practices, etc were going to be on me, but replacing "daddy" takes more than just doing things for the kids. I need to work on "daddy" play time too.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
With a little help from Josiah, Joel is eating at the kitchen table.
I apologize in advance for the gruesome nature of this post:
I used my one and a half year old's poopy diaper smell to flush Joel out of bed. It wasn't what I was aiming for, but it worked nicely. He decided going downstairs was much better that wallowing in the stench. If you need to motivate someone to move (get them out of bed, off the computer, take a break from video games), I can ziploc one of these smelling wonders and ship it to you for a minimal charge. Our production is 1-2 times a day and I guarantee success!
Anyway, we are now on top of Joel's meds and he is currently whistling at the kitchen table, reading the newspaper, and eating. He even had energy to help me fix a computer issue. WOW!!! One of his real estate secrets is that sometimes you need to show people the "crap" in their price range in order for them to appreciate the nice properties. Now that he understands the pain, he is appreciating the comfort!!
Below is an excerpt from a previous posting. I decided to clip it at the last minute to get "approval" for publishing:
I used my one and a half year old's poopy diaper smell to flush Joel out of bed. It wasn't what I was aiming for, but it worked nicely. He decided going downstairs was much better that wallowing in the stench. If you need to motivate someone to move (get them out of bed, off the computer, take a break from video games), I can ziploc one of these smelling wonders and ship it to you for a minimal charge. Our production is 1-2 times a day and I guarantee success!
Anyway, we are now on top of Joel's meds and he is currently whistling at the kitchen table, reading the newspaper, and eating. He even had energy to help me fix a computer issue. WOW!!! One of his real estate secrets is that sometimes you need to show people the "crap" in their price range in order for them to appreciate the nice properties. Now that he understands the pain, he is appreciating the comfort!!
Below is an excerpt from a previous posting. I decided to clip it at the last minute to get "approval" for publishing:
Movie update: "Jackass (3) is really stupid." The direct text I received from Joel on my way home. I don't think women ever think other women in pain is funny. The men in "Jackass" think watching other men getting hurt is hilarious. I am not sure any of those guys are going to be able to have kids and I only watched about 30 seconds. I hate to imagine what they were doing while I wasn't watching. Needless to say, that is a movie banned from our collection. Can you imagine if my 8 year old saw that stuff? Even on pain meds, Joel wasn't laughing. I take that as a good sign.
Read the previous post first...
Ok, an hour and half into up his pain meds, he is sleeping much better. He and I are learning the hard way about what it means when they say "keep on top of your meds."
HAPPY EASTER!!!
If you are reading this on Easter then 1: you are as addicted as I am, and 2: you should go be with your family.
However, since you are already here and some of you might not read this until Monday, I will give you a quick update and then go have some more chocolate for breakfast.
Joel probably had is worst 24 hours so far. Yesterday morning he woke up really nauseous and I ended up talking to the on call doc. We decided to change his meds slightly to limit the amount of drugs that could be affecting his stomach. During the night he had a really hard time sleeping so we pushed his pain pills back up to two to see if we can get him to be comfortable enough to sleep.
He thought he would be up and around by now, and he is still not feeling like doing much of anything which is ending up in frustration.
Yesterday was kind of a busy day for me so I wasn't able to post. I will let you know as we get things under control.
However, since you are already here and some of you might not read this until Monday, I will give you a quick update and then go have some more chocolate for breakfast.
Joel probably had is worst 24 hours so far. Yesterday morning he woke up really nauseous and I ended up talking to the on call doc. We decided to change his meds slightly to limit the amount of drugs that could be affecting his stomach. During the night he had a really hard time sleeping so we pushed his pain pills back up to two to see if we can get him to be comfortable enough to sleep.
He thought he would be up and around by now, and he is still not feeling like doing much of anything which is ending up in frustration.
Yesterday was kind of a busy day for me so I wasn't able to post. I will let you know as we get things under control.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Getting up in the middle of the night with kids is good practice for caring for someone after surgery.
I am glad I have had years of training in getting up in the middle of the night with babies and you can bet that I have NEVER said that before. Joel needs to take meds at 2am and 3am. We are going to work on lengthening his pain pill intake tomorrow!!!
He is doing really well just sleeping a lot. Today he spent some time sleeping with the kids playing wii in the same room. I tried to usher them out quietly and he said he was just glad to have them around and he didn't mind the noise. Hopefully, that feeling continues.
Everything else is going well. Jonah had baseball practice tonight and we were planning to skip it since Joel just arrived home. However, after seeing how well Joel was doing and that fact that Joel's dad could be with him about 45 minutes after we planned to leave, Joel and I decided the kids and I should go. Well 2 minutes away, I turned around and came back feeling like a mom who just left her baby with a sitter for this first time. I did what I did when I left Jonah for the first time, I called my support staff. As a mommy, I usually call my mom but this is different so I called Chiari Care Center (Joel's surgeon's office). Can you believe they are closed on Friday afternoon at 4:30pm? I couldn't and the women from the answering service had no idea if I could leave my husband who is three days out of brain surgery alone. She asked me if she should page the on-call doctor. I said "no".
Who to call next? Tanya the nurse from Aurora Medical Center is who. That poor nurse had no idea what she was getting into having Joel as a patient. Or should I say, Joel's wife as a caregiver. Now I understand why they don't have their last names on their name tags. They print their first names twice which seemed a little weird (Joel, right out of surgery, asked one of his nurses if her name was "Kerry Kerry." She of course answered "no."). Now I know it is security issue to keep crazy people like me from called their houses!
So after talking to my favorite nurse, Tanya, I, once again, left for baseball feeling much more confident that everything would be fine. Yes, we were late and yes, he was fine.
After baseball we attended the Good Friday service at MPB. About a half and hour in, I was thinking, we had done too much with baseball and church. Then we piled in the car and Jonah exclaims "Mommy, that was sooooo cool!!" That one comment made the whole situation so much better.
Tomorrow we have planned to die Easter eggs. I will keep a tally of how many we crack. Josiah uses the plastic play eggs as hockey pucks. Maybe this year will decorate a few like "zipper-heads."
He is doing really well just sleeping a lot. Today he spent some time sleeping with the kids playing wii in the same room. I tried to usher them out quietly and he said he was just glad to have them around and he didn't mind the noise. Hopefully, that feeling continues.
Everything else is going well. Jonah had baseball practice tonight and we were planning to skip it since Joel just arrived home. However, after seeing how well Joel was doing and that fact that Joel's dad could be with him about 45 minutes after we planned to leave, Joel and I decided the kids and I should go. Well 2 minutes away, I turned around and came back feeling like a mom who just left her baby with a sitter for this first time. I did what I did when I left Jonah for the first time, I called my support staff. As a mommy, I usually call my mom but this is different so I called Chiari Care Center (Joel's surgeon's office). Can you believe they are closed on Friday afternoon at 4:30pm? I couldn't and the women from the answering service had no idea if I could leave my husband who is three days out of brain surgery alone. She asked me if she should page the on-call doctor. I said "no".
Who to call next? Tanya the nurse from Aurora Medical Center is who. That poor nurse had no idea what she was getting into having Joel as a patient. Or should I say, Joel's wife as a caregiver. Now I understand why they don't have their last names on their name tags. They print their first names twice which seemed a little weird (Joel, right out of surgery, asked one of his nurses if her name was "Kerry Kerry." She of course answered "no."). Now I know it is security issue to keep crazy people like me from called their houses!
So after talking to my favorite nurse, Tanya, I, once again, left for baseball feeling much more confident that everything would be fine. Yes, we were late and yes, he was fine.
After baseball we attended the Good Friday service at MPB. About a half and hour in, I was thinking, we had done too much with baseball and church. Then we piled in the car and Jonah exclaims "Mommy, that was sooooo cool!!" That one comment made the whole situation so much better.
Tomorrow we have planned to die Easter eggs. I will keep a tally of how many we crack. Josiah uses the plastic play eggs as hockey pucks. Maybe this year will decorate a few like "zipper-heads."
Worst nurse ever!!
Alright, I have a whole new appreciation of nurses. One of the things Joel was looking forward to most about being home is that he could sleep without anyone waking him up to take pills or clean. So, what's the first thing I do when he is home? Wake him up to give him pills!!
Seriously?
We were recommended to get a "pill organizer." There is NO way. Some pills every 6 hours, some every 8 hours, and some every 4 hours (thank God the nurses at the hospital put the every 4 and 8 hour pills on the same schedule). I have set my phone alarm to go off every time I need to drug him. I am not sure how a person who lives alone could do it. Good thing Joel has me!!!
He's BAAAAAA-ACK!!!!
I just returned from picking him up from the hospital and getting his meds from Walgreens. (I wanted to make a comment about selling his meds for a minimal fee and decided that was unwise because I don't know each of our readers personally.)
The transition home went really well and his walking, aside from his hand on the wall for balance, is pretty close to normal. Plus he walked the stairs like a champ! He is doing great!!! We even stopped at the redbox to grab "The King's Speech," "127 hours," and "JackAss 3." I am not a big fan of that last one but he said he needed something funny in the mix with the serious ones. I don't get it and I am just glad I don't have to watch it.
Off to make a plan/journal for his meds. He is peacefully sleeping.
The transition home went really well and his walking, aside from his hand on the wall for balance, is pretty close to normal. Plus he walked the stairs like a champ! He is doing great!!! We even stopped at the redbox to grab "The King's Speech," "127 hours," and "JackAss 3." I am not a big fan of that last one but he said he needed something funny in the mix with the serious ones. I don't get it and I am just glad I don't have to watch it.
Off to make a plan/journal for his meds. He is peacefully sleeping.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Nothing new to report...
So Joel's status is the same, yet I feel an intense need to write down my thoughts. I can come up with a few reasons for this:
1. I am procrastinating finishing the laundry. I started with gusto but I am having trouble folding it up!
2. I am addicted to blogging. Yet another thing that I need re-hab for.
3. I miss Joel. I have heard that when a person loses a spouse to either death or divorce, evening time is the hardest. I concur. He and I don't spend every night together because of work or seeing friends, but most of the time during this time of night we are together. I will glad when he is back with us. (I know...sappy....sorry.)
Question: Do you think it is sacrilegious to TIVO Easter Sunday mass? I am conflicted on whether you need to watch it "live."
1. I am procrastinating finishing the laundry. I started with gusto but I am having trouble folding it up!
2. I am addicted to blogging. Yet another thing that I need re-hab for.
3. I miss Joel. I have heard that when a person loses a spouse to either death or divorce, evening time is the hardest. I concur. He and I don't spend every night together because of work or seeing friends, but most of the time during this time of night we are together. I will glad when he is back with us. (I know...sappy....sorry.)
Question: Do you think it is sacrilegious to TIVO Easter Sunday mass? I am conflicted on whether you need to watch it "live."
Walking, talking, and pooping!!!
Sleeping like a newborn, walking like a two year old, talking like a person who hasn't slept in a few days (small sentences, serious, and sometimes mixes up words), and climbing stairs like a four year old. He has hit all of his benchmarks for discharge and decided to sleep in the hospital one more night before making the transition home. (His decision was somewhat motivated by how tired the kids made him feel yesterday. See previous posting.)
I spent about an hour with him. He had eaten right before I arrived, so we walked down the hall and up and down the stairs. He showered and then I left so he could sleep. All in all, he is doing well but is awake for about 15 minutes and feels exhausted. Again, this is very normal for post-Chiari surgery patients.
The bandage on his head has been removed and I was able to see his incision. 26 staples cover two incisions, one about an inch long and the other probably closer to two inches. I took some pictures of his head and if you are interested in seeing them, let me know. I can email them to you. I didn't want anyone to open the blog and see a picture that might make them uncomfortable.
He is doing really well and planning to come home tomorrow morning.
On the home front, Elijah is having sympathy daddy headaches (another reason it is probably good for Joel to come home tomorrow so we can make sure Elijah doesn't have the flu), Caeli and Jonah have been huge helpers, and Josiah is working on getting back into routine (aka we have had some breakdowns but nothing abnormal for a one and a half year old who has had their routine changed for a few days).
I am doing really well but I can tell my "brain" isn't all there. I keep losing my keys. (yes, all you comedians, it happens often but the last few days it has been happening more) Then I find them in weird places: Caeli's baby doll crib, on the couch, in my lunch bag. Joel has tried to train me to put them in the same spot after using them so it is a good thing he is not here to watch me search. It would be driving him crazy. My phone keeps ending up in fun places too. Logical places, like the back of the toilet and the kitchen counter, but it is still abnormal behavior for me. I figure, I know where all the kids are and that is the most important thing.
I spent about an hour with him. He had eaten right before I arrived, so we walked down the hall and up and down the stairs. He showered and then I left so he could sleep. All in all, he is doing well but is awake for about 15 minutes and feels exhausted. Again, this is very normal for post-Chiari surgery patients.
The bandage on his head has been removed and I was able to see his incision. 26 staples cover two incisions, one about an inch long and the other probably closer to two inches. I took some pictures of his head and if you are interested in seeing them, let me know. I can email them to you. I didn't want anyone to open the blog and see a picture that might make them uncomfortable.
He is doing really well and planning to come home tomorrow morning.
On the home front, Elijah is having sympathy daddy headaches (another reason it is probably good for Joel to come home tomorrow so we can make sure Elijah doesn't have the flu), Caeli and Jonah have been huge helpers, and Josiah is working on getting back into routine (aka we have had some breakdowns but nothing abnormal for a one and a half year old who has had their routine changed for a few days).
I am doing really well but I can tell my "brain" isn't all there. I keep losing my keys. (yes, all you comedians, it happens often but the last few days it has been happening more) Then I find them in weird places: Caeli's baby doll crib, on the couch, in my lunch bag. Joel has tried to train me to put them in the same spot after using them so it is a good thing he is not here to watch me search. It would be driving him crazy. My phone keeps ending up in fun places too. Logical places, like the back of the toilet and the kitchen counter, but it is still abnormal behavior for me. I figure, I know where all the kids are and that is the most important thing.
Encouraging good oral hygiene.
The high technology items Joel's life has been resorted to.
Look!! We found a place for his "horrible" socks!! She loves them!
Talked to Joel
I spoke with Joel about an hour ago. He is really tired after being "up and around." Again, this is the normal recovery process, a lot of sleeping and getting completely warn out after a small amount of activity. There is still a possibility he will come home last this afternoon or early evening. Most of the decision comes down to if he feels comfortable to be at home. Honestly, I think his decision is going to be based on whether or not he can go another night being woken up every two hours. That might be good motivation for him to hit all of his discharge benchmarks.
Why does doing laundry make me feel so "normal"?
This morning I am working on laundry and realizing how sick I am. Yes, I like doing laundry. Mostly, I like the feeling of clean clothes and clean sheets. Joel thinks it is funny. But today, it is just what I need and I can't really describe why.
I spoke with Joel's nurse, Kerri, this morning. He is doing well and still sleeping. They are working on getting him in a spot to go home today but that is still up in the air. I haven't called him because I wanted him to get as much rest as possible.
As a side, I am so amazed at how many people have been involved in his care. I was trying to remember every one's names: Billie, Lise, Sonya, Dr. Oro, Chris, Devin, Kelli, Betsy, Jackie, Jodi, Kerri, the ICU dr (I can't remember his name) and I didn't meet the behind the scenes people who have been cleaning his room, changing his sheets, moving his bed, taking out his trash, bringing his food. WOW!!! (Honestly, keep Kelli and Betsy in your prayers. These women work in the recovery room and I am sure get an earful, some pleasant and some not so pleasant on a daily basis.)
Here at home we have had even more support and help. Thank you!! Again, WOW!!! I will let you know if there is anything we need as it comes up. So far, we seem to have everything under control.
I spoke with Joel's nurse, Kerri, this morning. He is doing well and still sleeping. They are working on getting him in a spot to go home today but that is still up in the air. I haven't called him because I wanted him to get as much rest as possible.
As a side, I am so amazed at how many people have been involved in his care. I was trying to remember every one's names: Billie, Lise, Sonya, Dr. Oro, Chris, Devin, Kelli, Betsy, Jackie, Jodi, Kerri, the ICU dr (I can't remember his name) and I didn't meet the behind the scenes people who have been cleaning his room, changing his sheets, moving his bed, taking out his trash, bringing his food. WOW!!! (Honestly, keep Kelli and Betsy in your prayers. These women work in the recovery room and I am sure get an earful, some pleasant and some not so pleasant on a daily basis.)
Here at home we have had even more support and help. Thank you!! Again, WOW!!! I will let you know if there is anything we need as it comes up. So far, we seem to have everything under control.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
The kids visited Joel
Joel was moved to a regular hospital room late this afternoon.
The kids and I went to visit and Jonah's first comment was "you don't look any different." After that, they were mostly interested in all the buttons, trash cans, juice cups, books, chairs, remotes, etc. I guess that is a good sign. They saw he was normal and went back to living their lives of curiosity.
We only stayed for 20 minutes however we were able to complete what my sister-in-law affectionately calls the "Morin Tornado." Our hospital room accomplishments: Josiah christened his room with juice, Caeli checked to makes sure everything was working like the reclining chair, the sink, the paper towel dispenser, the garbage can, Joel's movable bed, etc. (I guarded the nurse call button carefully), and Jonah had a bowel movement. I think they were just trying to make him feel at home!! (Elijah was sleeping.)
Joel's posted goals for tomorrow: reducing pain meds and moving around more than today. My prediction is he be discharged on Friday. We will know more tomorrow.
The kids and I went to visit and Jonah's first comment was "you don't look any different." After that, they were mostly interested in all the buttons, trash cans, juice cups, books, chairs, remotes, etc. I guess that is a good sign. They saw he was normal and went back to living their lives of curiosity.
We only stayed for 20 minutes however we were able to complete what my sister-in-law affectionately calls the "Morin Tornado." Our hospital room accomplishments: Josiah christened his room with juice, Caeli checked to makes sure everything was working like the reclining chair, the sink, the paper towel dispenser, the garbage can, Joel's movable bed, etc. (I guarded the nurse call button carefully), and Jonah had a bowel movement. I think they were just trying to make him feel at home!! (Elijah was sleeping.)
Joel's posted goals for tomorrow: reducing pain meds and moving around more than today. My prediction is he be discharged on Friday. We will know more tomorrow.
Have you ever thought that a surgeon would make a good seamstress?
After lunch, Joel's surgeon came to check on him. As he described how the procedure from yesterday went, I couldn't help but think of a seamstress. He was using words like sewing, cutting, and stapling. Just an wacky observation.
Joel's surgeon, Dr. John Oro, went through the surgery step by step. The crowding in Joel's skull was pretty severe. As soon as his skull was open the movement of his spinal fluid visible improved. Overall, Dr. Oro was very pleased with the surgery.
Joel will get moved out of the ICU this afternoon and they will discharge him after he can walk down the hall, take pill form pain killers, walk up and down the stairs, eat well, and his has had a successful bowel movement. So far, he has walked down the hall, ate two full meals, and his IV meds are minimal. Dr. Oro was very please with his progress.
Joel is resting now and enjoying the Rockies game.
Looking better!
Joel's surgeon, Dr. John Oro, went through the surgery step by step. The crowding in Joel's skull was pretty severe. As soon as his skull was open the movement of his spinal fluid visible improved. Overall, Dr. Oro was very pleased with the surgery.
Joel will get moved out of the ICU this afternoon and they will discharge him after he can walk down the hall, take pill form pain killers, walk up and down the stairs, eat well, and his has had a successful bowel movement. So far, he has walked down the hall, ate two full meals, and his IV meds are minimal. Dr. Oro was very please with his progress.
Joel is resting now and enjoying the Rockies game.
Looking better!
Eating lunch...loved the meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and pudding.
Reading the blog.
I know, I was feeding his addiction but I made sure to take his phone with me when I left.
Hoping to be back later with the kids.
He has been up walking around!!
I just arrived at the hospital and he is sleeping so I am taking this opportunity to send out an update.
Joel has been up and walking around. The physical therapist had him walk all the way down the hall!!! Awesome!! He has moved to pill form pain killers and the doctors are coming around noon to evaluate if he can be moved out the ICU. The nurse who has been working with Joel, says she thinks he is ready. When the green light is given, they will take off the IV, heart monitors, etc and we will wait for a vacant room.
Also, your responses either through facebook, email, texts, or voicemails have been awesome encouragement!! THANK YOU!!!
Joel has been up and walking around. The physical therapist had him walk all the way down the hall!!! Awesome!! He has moved to pill form pain killers and the doctors are coming around noon to evaluate if he can be moved out the ICU. The nurse who has been working with Joel, says she thinks he is ready. When the green light is given, they will take off the IV, heart monitors, etc and we will wait for a vacant room.
Also, your responses either through facebook, email, texts, or voicemails have been awesome encouragement!! THANK YOU!!!
A new ailment has surfaced on Joel's road to recovery...
I-PHONE withdrawal!!! Yes, I said it. Joel is having issues with not having his phone. He called to talk to me this morning and say good morning. It was nice. Then he asked about any work related news (offers, showings, etc.) I asked if he would like Genie's phone number (the Realtor who has graciously offered to manage Joel's business while he is recovering). Then I quickly recanted remembering that this is rest time. He is in the ICU. There is a reason there is a no cell phone policy in the ICU. I told him we would call Genie when I visited later today and his job right now is to REST.
No sooner had we hung up, than HIS phone started ringing. I answered, "Hello, honey." The response, "I was just checking my voice mail." My response, "Bye, honey."
So, in the off chance that he has YOUR phone number memorized and in the off chance he actually remembers it when he is on pain killers, PLEASE let know, if you talk to him, you are glad he is doing well, you love him, and you talked to his wife and he is supposed to be RESTING!!! Thank you!!! He will eventually thank me when his recovery is nice and quick!
On the other side of this, I have moved my addiction from one I-phone to two and I am considering getting and I-pad. I am looking for a good treatment facility where they just let you sleep for three days to get through the withdrawal!!
In all seriousness, he sounded even more lucid this morning. They going to take his catheter out and get him moving around. He is having some stiffness in his neck which is normal and he has ordered a "regular" breakfast of cream of wheat and a breakfast burrito. He started solid foods last night but ate mostly applesauce and a flavored ice.
I am planning on visiting him late this morning.
Also, I am eating my words that Joel should never complain about sleeping with my feet touching him again. Last night, I slept with my 8 year olds knees in my back. I have to start feeding that kid all the ice cream he wants. He has some bony knees. Joel's response when I told him was "now you know how it feels." I still contend that my loving, warm feet are not as bad as bony knees, but for the time being I seem to have lost that argument.
With love,
Monica
No sooner had we hung up, than HIS phone started ringing. I answered, "Hello, honey." The response, "I was just checking my voice mail." My response, "Bye, honey."
So, in the off chance that he has YOUR phone number memorized and in the off chance he actually remembers it when he is on pain killers, PLEASE let know, if you talk to him, you are glad he is doing well, you love him, and you talked to his wife and he is supposed to be RESTING!!! Thank you!!! He will eventually thank me when his recovery is nice and quick!
On the other side of this, I have moved my addiction from one I-phone to two and I am considering getting and I-pad. I am looking for a good treatment facility where they just let you sleep for three days to get through the withdrawal!!
In all seriousness, he sounded even more lucid this morning. They going to take his catheter out and get him moving around. He is having some stiffness in his neck which is normal and he has ordered a "regular" breakfast of cream of wheat and a breakfast burrito. He started solid foods last night but ate mostly applesauce and a flavored ice.
I am planning on visiting him late this morning.
Also, I am eating my words that Joel should never complain about sleeping with my feet touching him again. Last night, I slept with my 8 year olds knees in my back. I have to start feeding that kid all the ice cream he wants. He has some bony knees. Joel's response when I told him was "now you know how it feels." I still contend that my loving, warm feet are not as bad as bony knees, but for the time being I seem to have lost that argument.
With love,
Monica
Wow...what a difference a few hours makes.
I went back to the hospital to check on Joel and all I have to say is that he better never complain about my feet touching him when we are falling asleep again!!! Seriously, he has already created special names for all the contraptions they have hooked to him: "the leg squeezie things" that are to prevent blood clots, the blood pressure cuff, the heart monitor, the oxygen, the "loogie sucker" which is like one of those things they use at the dentist to suck the water and spit from your mouth, the IV, and of course his favorite, the catheter. Again, my warm loving feet can not be as big a nuisance as the combination of the things that are hooked to him right now. (No, I haven't forgotten that he is also on the "daddy" of all pain meds.)
Anyway, he already looks so much better. His face was quite swollen when he came out of surgery and that is pretty much gone. Also, he isn't as chatty. Early today, he told me the reason he was in recovery so long is because all the nurses were loving his stand up comedy. He was still cracking jokes tonight but he was a little more reserved.
Below is a picture of a bracelet he is wearing. Joel was wondering why he needs to wear this because he thinks having a "zipper" head should be indicator enough. I was wondering why he didn't get this bracelet a few weeks ago because the Chiari cause such bad balance.
Anyway, he already looks so much better. His face was quite swollen when he came out of surgery and that is pretty much gone. Also, he isn't as chatty. Early today, he told me the reason he was in recovery so long is because all the nurses were loving his stand up comedy. He was still cracking jokes tonight but he was a little more reserved.
Below is a picture of a bracelet he is wearing. Joel was wondering why he needs to wear this because he thinks having a "zipper" head should be indicator enough. I was wondering why he didn't get this bracelet a few weeks ago because the Chiari cause such bad balance.
Here is the before, feeling like throwing up.
The "horrible" socks that had to go. We got to bring these home if anyone is interested!
Striking a pose before. Remember it is 6:45am, we have been up since 4:30am and we didn't sleep really well. We were kind of being goofy. However, how often do I have a good excuse to post such a completely ridiculous picture!
Right out of the recovery room. A good thumbs up!!
Again, by the time I visited him this night, he was much less swollen but just as smiley. Recovery is going to intense but he already has great attitude and is feeling symptoms disappear. We have been told he will have some good days and bad. I am really encouraged we are starting with a good day.
Again, thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Now to try to get some sleep.
Monica
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
He is doing great!!
He is resting comfortably in the ICU pretty hopped up on his "happy place" drugs.
I think the worst part of the whole day was when they told me it was going to be another 30 minutes in recovery and they didn't contact me for 70 minutes. They had told me a week ago at a preliminary appointment that might be longer than expected coming out of recovery but knowing your husband is coming out of anesthesia and it is taking longer than told, made me worry. It was such a sense of relief when we first saw him.
Joel let us know right away that the numbness in his right arm was already gone. Pretty amazing since the arm numbness was being caused by the fluid in his spinal cord, not because of the Chiari. He is very lucky that his symptoms have already started to improve.
Also, I am not sure if he is going to be a musical savant but I am really glad he still has his sense of humor!! We will see how much of that is related to the amount of pain meds he has in his body.
All in all, he is doing great!! I am off to get the kids and he is off to sleep. I am hoping to share some photos later tonight after the kids are in bed but it might not be until tomorrow.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for all your thoughts and prayers!!!!
With love,
Monica
I think the worst part of the whole day was when they told me it was going to be another 30 minutes in recovery and they didn't contact me for 70 minutes. They had told me a week ago at a preliminary appointment that might be longer than expected coming out of recovery but knowing your husband is coming out of anesthesia and it is taking longer than told, made me worry. It was such a sense of relief when we first saw him.
Joel let us know right away that the numbness in his right arm was already gone. Pretty amazing since the arm numbness was being caused by the fluid in his spinal cord, not because of the Chiari. He is very lucky that his symptoms have already started to improve.
Also, I am not sure if he is going to be a musical savant but I am really glad he still has his sense of humor!! We will see how much of that is related to the amount of pain meds he has in his body.
All in all, he is doing great!! I am off to get the kids and he is off to sleep. I am hoping to share some photos later tonight after the kids are in bed but it might not be until tomorrow.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for all your thoughts and prayers!!!!
With love,
Monica
Just got the call...
On our way to ICU in 5-10 minutes. Whew!!!
Will give you an update after I see him.
Will give you an update after I see him.
Joel is in recovery.
It has been confirmed by a neuro-surgeon...Joel has a thick skull. Surgery took 4.5 hours because it took so long get to his brain!!
He will be in recovery until he wakes up and then moved to the ICU where I will be recording his first words. Any requests for questions I should ask him while he is drugged up?
Dr. Oro was please with the outcome...here comes the fun part. In case you were wondering my blood pressure has started to go down.
He will be in recovery until he wakes up and then moved to the ICU where I will be recording his first words. Any requests for questions I should ask him while he is drugged up?
Dr. Oro was please with the outcome...here comes the fun part. In case you were wondering my blood pressure has started to go down.
Still in surgery...
They are screwing in the plate to keep his brain in and the dr should be out to talk to us within the hour.
Sonya called again...
He is doing well. His tonsils are exposed (meaning the peice of the skull has been removed), and they are about to sew in the patch.
While waiting...
So far I have gone to Mcdonalds, played with a two year old who was waiting for her mom to get out of surgery, read my book, prayed, watched an infomercial for a "stirring hand," browsed etsy.com, put some stuff on hold at the library, and made friends with the hospital staff.
Can you tell I am having trouble sitting still?
Can you tell I am having trouble sitting still?
And so it begins...
He is in surgery. They cut skin at 8:24. Sonya, one of Joel's nurses, called to tell me. It is so nice they keep me updated!
All registered and IV is in...
Our first problem: they made him wear socks. He hates wearing socks. We paid the nurse off so he could take them off.
All I want to do is throw up...
I wanted Joel to post something funny and his response was, and I quote, "all I can think about is ralphing." He hasn't been able to eat or drink anything since midnight last night and his nerves might be getting the best of him. He is glad the corn from two nights ago has cleared his system.
We are waiting to register...
We are waiting to register...
Monday, April 18, 2011
Joel's praying for savant-like musical talent...
Yes, 21 hours and counting and Joel is keeping his sense of humor. He has changed his prayer from "complete brain healing" to praying for "waking up from surgery as an amazing musical savant who can play, sing, and compose music much like Michael W. Smith." Joel sang one of Michael's songs ("The Other Side of Me") when he proposed to me, so I am supporting his prayer. He is asking for everyone's support in this prayer as well. Yes, he still likes selling houses but to go from a singer to a musical savant over night would be his dream. Besides, he is too old to be the next John Elway. That dream retired a few months ago.
Below is a picture of the statue of Jesus Ascending into Heaven at Sacred Heart Retreat Center in Sedalia, Colorado. This is where Joel proposed.
With love,
Monica
Sunday, April 17, 2011
33 Hours and counting...
33 hours until surgery is scheduled and we are trying to pack everything in!!! Good conversations, good food, family time, seeing friends, a Nugget's playoff game, family errands (Jonah now has his suit for First Communion and all his baseball gear), laundry, budget meeting, business in order, sleeping. Honestly, it feels a lot like getting ready for a trip out of town. The above picture is during our lunch adventure to Old Spaghetti Factory...YUM!!!
So here are the surgery details: Tuesday, April 19th at 7:30am at Aurora Medical Center (roughly I-225 and Mississippi). He will be in the ICU for at least 24 hours and will spend 2-5 days in the hospital. They won't release him until he can eat solids, poop comfortable, and walk down the hall without help.
Family update: Jonah is sad that Daddy won't be able to play baseball, Caeli is worried abut Daddy spending the night in the hospital alone so she is making card after card and is trying to decide which stuffed animal to send to keep him company, Elijah has been giving Daddy hundreds of kisses a day, and Josiah is getting a new tooth on the back bottom left. I am doing well and have been completely overwhelmed with emotion by people's offering of help. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! We are so blessed to have such amazing people in our lives!! We were trying to tally the number of placedsJoel has people praying for him and we came up with 7 different states, several parishes, 4 different schools, and more people than we can count. WOW!!! Again, THANK YOU!!!!
I seem to have a fairly solid plan for the kids on Tuesday and I am working on packing bags and lunches to make sure everyone has everything they need. I still need to pick up a toothbrush for Joel. So far I have his phone charger, recharge, headphones, and paperwork packed. Any other suggestions? I am thinking underwear, toothbrush, and toothpaste.
With love,
Monica
Friday, April 15, 2011
My Head is Getting Hacked Open on the 19th of April...
Hello Family and Friends,
Did I get your attention with my captivating headline? I have always had a secret desire to be a headline writer for the Rocky Mountain News… wait, that can't happen…
In all seriousness, yes, I am having brain surgery on my big old noggin ten days from now.
Most of you do NOT know what is going on, so I will quickly bring you up to snuff as to what is going on in the Morin household.
Ten years ago I started experiencing severe pain (pins and needles, sharp and dull pain, etc) in both of my arms and hands.
After several years of misdiagnosis and one misguided Carpal Tunnel surgery, my symptoms started to get a LOT worse this past December.
Neck pain ensued. This led me to believe that my Crack-I-Phone (same thing as a Crackberry) was causing me great neck strain.
I started walking into walls randomly. I started falling out of my car and out of my bed. I couldn't stand up and go potty without tipping over (that's what fathers of four children say).
The walls of the racquetball court started spinning and my neck became more excruciating painful (now I know why my racquetball game has been so bad!)
I'd sneeze or cough or LAUGH and my head would literally explode like the 4th of July. There's nothing more than I love than laughing at my brother-in-law's joke,s and I've been avoiding getting him riled up for some time now as I have had a real fear of a deep belly laugh causing a sudden death by head explosion.
The feelings of constant saliva on my face has driven me to think I've been losing my mind!!! Couple that with the fact that I haven't been able to eat hot soup off of a spoon without choking to death, and I finally have had ENOUGH!!! What is life in this world without a good cup of Chicken Tortilla Soup?
Well, God works in mysterious ways. I was out visiting a life-long friend of mine, Jeremy Clayton, for a random client visit to say hello and to bring one of my famous "pop-by" gifts- tin foil.
Jeremy mentioned to me that his dad had just had back surgery and his mom had just had neck surgery, both at the same practice.
So I called his dad Tom to pass on my thoughts and condolences. Tom has always been one of my favorite people in my life- someone who I knew back in elementary school and someone I bonded with deeply at church as a kid- and I trust him and his opinion. When he told me about his surgeon, I knew it was time to go get my neck checked out.
Well, I took the plunge and met with Dr. Woosik Chung three weeks ago to find out what the heck was wrong with me. (Google him- amazing story as he had his hands cut off as a child while living in Korea and his dad sewed them back on with no doctors even remotely close to them- true modern day miracle of God working in our world).
Well, the MRI results were stunning.
My brain is literally jammed in my neck like a cork in a wine bottle. Yes, my brain is TOO big for my little head!!!
All of a sudden, my thoughts and feelings of being a hypochondriac and a lifelong loon have been justified.
I found out that I have had a congenital (birth) defect called Chiari Malformation my whole life.
The part of our brain that controls motor skills, the cerebellum, is literally being pinched and bruised inside of my neck along with my spinal cord.
As you know, brains don't belong in necks!
To make matters worse, the spinal fluid which flows throughout our head and body is plugged up and literally stuck inside of my cranium, with nowhere to flow freely. This is not normal.
In turn, this has caused the spinal fluid to build up inside of my spinal cord and cause several syrinxes to occur. Syrinxes are like little cavities that can and will cause paralysis throughout my body if I don't eventually don't have surgery.
So, my wife Monica and I have met with two very well known neurosurgeons, including one yesterday who is the nationally known expert on this Chiari Malformation.
After discussions with him yesterday, we are moving forward with surgery on the 19th.
The neurosurgeon will literally be cutting open my cranium and my brain's outer lining to help relieve the pressure in my head. Dr. Oro will cut out a decent sized piece of my skull, and then installing a titanium plate to allow my brain and spinal fluid more room to move around.
I have been told there is an 85% that my symptoms will go away for good, and that there is a 95% chance the syrinxes will dissipate and go away.
I am supposed to be better than new, especially since this condition causes anxiety, depression, stress, and all of the above weirdness I've been dealing with for so long.
This may be too much information for some of you. For that, I apologize. I am writing you selfishly as a kind of catharsis exercise. That, and many of you know something is going on and I wanted to fill you in on what the status of my health is.
I want to close this long-winded email to tell you two things. One, please do NOT worry about me. I am strong and will be fine. I have told you this because I care about you and want you to be in the loop as to what we as a family are going through.
More importantly, I ask that you keep my wife, my children, and our family in your prayers as they are the ones who will need it!!!
Am I scared? A little. However, it has been the love and support of a great many of you who have reached out to me over the past several weeks that have relaxed me and led me to believe that as always, simply putting trust in God and all good things will come to those who ask.
Seriously, I have found that when you pray and ask God for things, He has a weird way of giving you what you need. I've been praying a lot for good health and He is going to give it to me!!!
As for my business, I have been told I'll be out of commission and in the hospital for up to five days. However, that does NOT mean that I can't talk on the phone or have Monica chaperone me around if and when the need arises- AFTER I get home.
We love each and every one of you and appreciate your prayers and support.
I'll be in touch soon.
Sincerely,
Joel Morin
Did I get your attention with my captivating headline? I have always had a secret desire to be a headline writer for the Rocky Mountain News… wait, that can't happen…
In all seriousness, yes, I am having brain surgery on my big old noggin ten days from now.
Most of you do NOT know what is going on, so I will quickly bring you up to snuff as to what is going on in the Morin household.
Ten years ago I started experiencing severe pain (pins and needles, sharp and dull pain, etc) in both of my arms and hands.
After several years of misdiagnosis and one misguided Carpal Tunnel surgery, my symptoms started to get a LOT worse this past December.
Neck pain ensued. This led me to believe that my Crack-I-Phone (same thing as a Crackberry) was causing me great neck strain.
I started walking into walls randomly. I started falling out of my car and out of my bed. I couldn't stand up and go potty without tipping over (that's what fathers of four children say).
The walls of the racquetball court started spinning and my neck became more excruciating painful (now I know why my racquetball game has been so bad!)
I'd sneeze or cough or LAUGH and my head would literally explode like the 4th of July. There's nothing more than I love than laughing at my brother-in-law's joke,s and I've been avoiding getting him riled up for some time now as I have had a real fear of a deep belly laugh causing a sudden death by head explosion.
The feelings of constant saliva on my face has driven me to think I've been losing my mind!!! Couple that with the fact that I haven't been able to eat hot soup off of a spoon without choking to death, and I finally have had ENOUGH!!! What is life in this world without a good cup of Chicken Tortilla Soup?
Well, God works in mysterious ways. I was out visiting a life-long friend of mine, Jeremy Clayton, for a random client visit to say hello and to bring one of my famous "pop-by" gifts- tin foil.
Jeremy mentioned to me that his dad had just had back surgery and his mom had just had neck surgery, both at the same practice.
So I called his dad Tom to pass on my thoughts and condolences. Tom has always been one of my favorite people in my life- someone who I knew back in elementary school and someone I bonded with deeply at church as a kid- and I trust him and his opinion. When he told me about his surgeon, I knew it was time to go get my neck checked out.
Well, I took the plunge and met with Dr. Woosik Chung three weeks ago to find out what the heck was wrong with me. (Google him- amazing story as he had his hands cut off as a child while living in Korea and his dad sewed them back on with no doctors even remotely close to them- true modern day miracle of God working in our world).
Well, the MRI results were stunning.
My brain is literally jammed in my neck like a cork in a wine bottle. Yes, my brain is TOO big for my little head!!!
All of a sudden, my thoughts and feelings of being a hypochondriac and a lifelong loon have been justified.
I found out that I have had a congenital (birth) defect called Chiari Malformation my whole life.
The part of our brain that controls motor skills, the cerebellum, is literally being pinched and bruised inside of my neck along with my spinal cord.
As you know, brains don't belong in necks!
To make matters worse, the spinal fluid which flows throughout our head and body is plugged up and literally stuck inside of my cranium, with nowhere to flow freely. This is not normal.
In turn, this has caused the spinal fluid to build up inside of my spinal cord and cause several syrinxes to occur. Syrinxes are like little cavities that can and will cause paralysis throughout my body if I don't eventually don't have surgery.
So, my wife Monica and I have met with two very well known neurosurgeons, including one yesterday who is the nationally known expert on this Chiari Malformation.
After discussions with him yesterday, we are moving forward with surgery on the 19th.
The neurosurgeon will literally be cutting open my cranium and my brain's outer lining to help relieve the pressure in my head. Dr. Oro will cut out a decent sized piece of my skull, and then installing a titanium plate to allow my brain and spinal fluid more room to move around.
I have been told there is an 85% that my symptoms will go away for good, and that there is a 95% chance the syrinxes will dissipate and go away.
I am supposed to be better than new, especially since this condition causes anxiety, depression, stress, and all of the above weirdness I've been dealing with for so long.
This may be too much information for some of you. For that, I apologize. I am writing you selfishly as a kind of catharsis exercise. That, and many of you know something is going on and I wanted to fill you in on what the status of my health is.
I want to close this long-winded email to tell you two things. One, please do NOT worry about me. I am strong and will be fine. I have told you this because I care about you and want you to be in the loop as to what we as a family are going through.
More importantly, I ask that you keep my wife, my children, and our family in your prayers as they are the ones who will need it!!!
Am I scared? A little. However, it has been the love and support of a great many of you who have reached out to me over the past several weeks that have relaxed me and led me to believe that as always, simply putting trust in God and all good things will come to those who ask.
Seriously, I have found that when you pray and ask God for things, He has a weird way of giving you what you need. I've been praying a lot for good health and He is going to give it to me!!!
As for my business, I have been told I'll be out of commission and in the hospital for up to five days. However, that does NOT mean that I can't talk on the phone or have Monica chaperone me around if and when the need arises- AFTER I get home.
We love each and every one of you and appreciate your prayers and support.
I'll be in touch soon.
Sincerely,
Joel Morin
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