Jo's Tummy Update #11 - Busting outa this Joint!

FINALLY! The PA came by just now and says we are good to go!

We are outa here!

She says we need to follow up with our GI doc and make sure we get to an ER quickly if similar symptoms occur again in the future.

Health Quiz #3 Results: "Peristalsis is the rhythmic contraction of smooth muscles to propel contents through the digestive tract. The word is derived from New Latin and comes from the Greek peristaltikos, peristaltic, from peristellein, "to wrap around," and stellein, "to place.""


Great Job Jason and Rachelle! You are the proud new owners of a hospital gift set! (by Johnson and Johnson).

[pink tubby holder thing not included]

Thanks for praying and staying with us!

We love you all. C&J

Jo's Tummy Update #10 (Health Quiz #3)

Day 5 - And we are hoping it is the last. Jo had eggs and potatoes for breakfast and things seem to be moving along. Jo is up and around tidying the hospital room making ready for our exodus. That's when you know Jo is well, she cleans :)



We are waiting to see the doc. Nurse says that should be this AM. Everyone seems to think she should be discharged as soon as the doc sees her one more time. If so, we will likely head home to chill.

We will post when we get discharged. Thanks for sticking with us and for praying for and loving us.

C&J

Health Quiz #2 Results:

ANSWER: - With about 3000 mL of IV fluid being pumped in per day, Jo has been 'going' about once every two hours during the day, and every four hours at night, for an average of 10 times a day. She is a VERY Hydrated girl!

WINNER - Since the only numerical guess wasn't even close (sorry mom), we are declaring this quiz winnerless. Which is very unfortunate because that means no one gets the sweet plastic floaty boat thing with the Bio Hazard baggy sailor.

Health Quiz #3: What term is used to describe the muscle movement that keeps food moving through the gastrointestinal tract? (Must be spelled correctly :)

Jo's Tummy Update #9 (Health Quiz #2)

Jo just had dinner for the first time in 4 days :) As you can see, she was ready.

Okay, so I helped.

Everything feels ok so far. We are praying it makes it all the way through to the 'finish line'! If it does, we will hopefully be discharged after breakfast tomorrow. We are ready for sure.

Hearts,

C&J


Health Quiz #1 Results:

Winner = Clint's Mom Connie! (Because precision was not specified, and because those attempting to be precise were wrong anyway, the prize goes to the first one guessing in the conventionally precision of age.)

Prize = A super cool light blue squeezy/sucky thingy! Great for supplementing the natural nose blowing mechanism, especially when you have a nasogastric tube in the way!

Health Quiz #2 Question: If Joanna intakes IV fluid at 125mL/hr, and a train leaves the station every hour on the hour, how many times does Jo visit the restroom in al 24 hr day?

Jo's Tummy Update #8 (Health Quiz #1)

The doctor (a new one) came by about an hour ago and said that he was encouraged by everything he has seen. He said that he wants her to start a liquid diet for lunch (which she just did). The food went down well and now she is walking laps on the floor to get it moving in her tummy. We should know how well she is handling it in the next few hours.

The doctor said that if she handles the liquids well, that she could have solids for dinner. But he also said that he wants to keep her overnight to make sure that everything keeps moving after adding solids. So we are bummed we don't get to go home tonight, but happy they are being careful.

With a bowl full of chicken broth and jello, she bounced right up and headed for the hall way to do some laps. Hence the empty bed. :)

Moore to come.

C&J





In the meantime, since we are a little bored, we'd like to give a Random Health Quiz. We will put a question on each new post. First correct answer in the comments will win! And the winners will get toys, gizmos, and gadgets from our Holiday Hospital Hiatus 2008.

Health Quiz #1 - How old was Jo when she had her tummy surgery? .

Jo's Tummy Update #7

Good Morning!

According to the PA's orders, the nurse came in at 8:30 and connected her tummy tube to the vacuum for 30 mins to see if she is naturally moving things along. It only produced 50 ccs which was a really good sign. Good enough, in fact, that the PA ordered the tummy tube outa there!

woo hoo!

After pulling it out they zoomed her off for another followup X-Ray. They are still not having her eat food, but they are probably looking over the X-ray to double check that things have indeed improved inside.

It seems like things are progressing. Joanna feels well and is VERY glad to have the Nose to Tummy Tube out.

We are praising God for his provision of patience, strength and peace through a rough ordeal. And we are so thankful for all the prayer and encouragement from our family and friends.

We are not completely out of the woods yet, but things are definitely improving here. The final test comes with food, and hopefully food comes tonight.

We will continue to update until they discharge us from the hospital.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

Joyfully trusting that God develops perseverance through the testing of faith,

C&J

Jo's Tummy Update #6

Wouldn't you know it, the PA showed up right after the last post.

She was VERY nice and VERY helpful and VERY willing to answer all our questions. Our nurse warned that this PA is pretty conservative, and it proved to be so. Which is frustrating in the short run, but comforting in the long run. Basically she is not too encouraged by how much output is still coming from her tummy tube. So, instead of taking it out, she wants to disconnect it from the vacuum and let her tummy rest and start working 'normally' on its own tonight.

First thing in the morning she wants to reconnect her and see how much drains immediately. A little means her tummy is emptying well, a lot means it isn't.... If it is, tube comes out and we start a liquid diet. If it isn't, we need more time and maybe more X-rays.

This sounds to us like a wise way to go about testing where she is at right now. She even let us look at the before and after X-rays and walked us through what she was seeing. Ultimately, she wants to see more signs of movement before she is willing to remove the tube, so let's pray that happens tonight.

She does have to get a new IV tonight, so that's not fun.

Thanks for your concern, encouragement, and prayer.

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Cor 4:16-18

Though this physical nature is temporary and fleeting, we want to stay encourage and encouarage you all by renewal in His Word, as we know that everyone has daily trials, big and small. So, praise be to God that he has sent His Son Christ to redeem and restore His enemies to trust in Him and become His children.

Merry Christmas! Christ has Come! (And is coming Again!)

C&J

Jo's Tummy Update #5

Still no doctor. Which only means one thing... the all powerful, all communicating, all overemphasized... emoticon frowny face :(

We did just hear that the doctor got tied up in surgery all day, so his PA was making his rounds today. Nurses seem to think that since its late, she may take out the tube tonight (hopefully!) and then do some food in the morning first thing.

Still praying that her tummy has worked itself out.

If you are interested in learning more about intestinal obstructions, click here.

If you would rather not, then check me out working my rusty engineering skillz.

















Merry Christmas (again)!


C&J

Jo's Tummy Update #4

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Thanks for all the encouraging notes and merry christmas texts!

No news yet this morning. We have had a few visitors and are resting and watching a movie now.

We will post as soon as we hear something!

love you all!



Clint, Jo, Joe & Kay

Jo's Tummy Update #3

Things haven't changed much here. Everyone remains positive about Jo's condition and we look forward to hearing back from the doctors again tomorrow with more about the X-Ray she had done this morning. Pray with us that her body and bowels get another good nights rest.

Thanks for sticking with us. We pray your holiday is a blessed time of rest and reflection.

Christ is the King! And the King has Come!

C&J

Jo's Tummy Update #2

The doctor came by about 30 mins ago and was encouraged about what he saw and heard. He said that he thinks the obstruction is working itself out and that if it continues, she will probably get out tomorrow! :) He wants her to stay off food another day with the tummy tube in and walk around some.

"The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away, blessed be the Name of the Lord."

Nurse says that means she will probably get the tummy tube out tomorrow and then be here through two meals (very light bfast and more soft food for lunch). And that if she handles it well she would could probably leave after that!

We are cautiously optimistic. I'm typing, Jo is trying to rest from decorating a tree with her mom earlier and labeling christmas presents to send off to Clovis.



Thanks so much for praying and for encouraging us. We feel loved!

Clint and Jo (and Kay)

Jo's Tummy Update

Good morning! And Merry Almost Christmas!

Jo slept pretty well through the night, considering the ugly tube in her cute little nose. Its making her throat pretty soar so she is trying not to move or talk too much. They did wake her up for an X-Ray this morning at 6AM so we are anticipating the doc anytime to come and discuss the next steps with us.

The nurse is checking her out now, making sure her tube is still working and listening for tummy movement. She says she hears movement, which is a good sign that it may be working itself out. Let's hope soooo!

We have been literally overwhelmed by care and love both electronically (texts, emails, calls) and in person (friends and family bringing food, gifts, and goodies), and of course, your prayer. We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas eve. And don't worry about us, we have hung our stockings by the white board with care (thanks Sara :).


love you all,
Clint & Jo