Update on Surgery

I wrote this email to some of my family and friends that emailed me wondering how the surgery went:

Hello all,

I have received some emails wondering how my surgery went, so I thought I would send out a quick email to update you.

My surgery was at 10 a.m. this morning, and I got home at about 4:30 p.m. I was given general anesthesia, and that went well. It was an answer to prayer that one of our family friends was my anesthesiologist, and he is a Christian. He prayed with me before the surgery--WHAT A BLESSING!!!!! The urologist said the surgery went well. I was really uncomfortable yesterday and throughout the night. The surgeon said the kidney stone had moved further down, so when he went it, it was in a much better place for treatment. Thus, the laser worked, and he did not have to use the ultrasound!! Praise God!! My recovery will be not as uncomfortable now that he did not have to do the ultrasound. I am at home, and feeling pretty well--I am staying on top of the pain medication though. I do have a bit of discomfort with the stint that was placed. It has to be in for 3 weeks. At this point, 3 weeks seems a bit daunting, but we will take one day at a time.

I really felt God's presence during this. Here is how God used the people around me to be his hands and feet:

Bob was SOOO good and encouraging to me. (I cannot say enough good things about Bob-what a great partner!!) My mom came and watched Siri all day.(she got the lovely job of trying to give Siri her bottles etc. Siri wasn't too happy about the bottle, but she got enough milk in her to keep her satisfied until I got home--whew!! :) My dad stopped by last night to pray with me. My sister-in-law, Heather took Tayva all day so she could be distracted and play with her cousins. A friend of mine came to my house today and did some laundry and cleaning for us. Heather also arranged meals for us to be delivered each night this week. My Aunt Jude sent me a VERY neat and fitting devotional via email that I printed out and took with me to the hospital and read it before surgery. I got an email and phone call from my other brothers and sister-in-laws, saying they were praying for me. My brother and sister-in-law got Tayva ready for bed (even a bath!) and took her to look at Christmas lights tonight. My family on Bob's side also checked in one me with a visit to Bob and emails. I also have a friend who will take Tayva to Kindermusik tomorrow, and another friend who offered to take Tayva tomorrow afternoon for a playdate. I know I am forgetting someone/something as SO many people have been really helpful and encouraging to me/us through this all. God is soooo good, and he really carried me today.

It was an emotional day, as I was worried about the girls--just the mommy in me. I didn't want anything to happen to me, or for them to feel like something was "wrong" with mommy. Thanks to help of family and friends, I was much more at ease.

Please continue to pray for me that the stint does not get infected, and that it will not get too uncomfortable. I have jumped a big hurdle, but in no way am I out of the woods yet. I will still need lots of help as I do have some discomfort, and need to take it easy. We also need to figure out why I made a kidney stone--more research done on that after the stint comes out. Please, please continue to remember me and my family in your prayers. I have so much more strength and courage, knowing that people are praying for me and my family. Thank you SO much!! I have such WONDERFUL family and friends!!

Thank you Jesus for watching over me!!

Shaunna