November 26

The house is decorated. The kids are fed. We had a wonderful evening. Oh yeah, and we have stockpiled 22 bottles of creamsicle Ensure so at the rate Judy is consuming, we are good until 2017. Thank you, everyone. Today was a roller coaster so far as Judy is concerned. I received a text from Judy at 7:30 am reporting that she will likely be in hospital over Christmas. There is a leak in her small or large bowel. The CT did not reveal the exact location of the leak. One step back. Audrey and I went to visit Judy at 2:00 pm thinking she would need extra support after the news she shared. As it turned out, the information came from a surgery resident who was being a little over zealous in his speculation. Audrey and I also found out from Judy that part of October 7's surgery was the removal a section of bowel. Judy was certain she had reported this bit of information to us. The jury is out on whether I was too concussed from old timer's hockey to remember the information. Whatever the case, yes, Judy had part of her bowel removed and there may be a leak that could account for the nasty discharge that I spoke of in an earlier blog. I am still mystified when it comes to the internal plumbing that runs through the temple that is Judy. I need someone to produce a blue print for me. As far as I can determine, the bowel may be leaking into the abdominal cavity, then somehow entering the bladder, then leaking from the bladder and down to Judy's backside. Judy may have a fistula. A fistula is an abnormal connection between an organ, vessel, or intestine and another structure. Fistulas are usually the result of injury or surgery. It can also result from infection or inflammation. Inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, is an example of a disease that leads to fistulas between one loop of intestine and another. I had the chance to talk to Dr. Kanthan and he stated that everything is fine. There is no need to intervene. On a positive note, Judy was looking good. Audrey and I helped her into her chair. She was quite alert and her voice was stronger than it has been in days. Another positive: the urine collecting in the catheter was clearer. That's good. One step forward. This has been a roller coaster ride. Every time I find myself overwhelmed by the big future and the what ifs, I find comfort in refocusing my attention on today, the now. One can imagine all kinds of frightful scenarios or wonderful miracles that are down the road. I choose to look at today. Judy is here. There are steps forward that cause us to rejoice and be thankful. There are steps back that we deal with as they come. We had a wonderful visit that ended in the usual way: a kiss and an "I love you." We have today and today is good. All's well that ends well. Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.