Lizs' afternoon

I'm Back! Wow, what an afternoon... dropped the boys off at the groomers, went to the market, made pasta sauce and stuffed shells... I am EXHAUSTED !! Getting old....

Have done a lot of thinking... especially this afternoon... I received an e mail from a friend back east saying she read what I have written but will not participate in the conversation.. At first I was a little ...... taken aback.... but I realized... it is o.k........

One of the reasons I wanted to write in a blog was so that ALL of us could SHARE .... not the dirty details... but our issues of life, health, relationships... what works ... what doesn't... and I really think in these changing times.. we can all add something to the conversations... I spoke of my friend who was in banking, I have a friend that was a nurse.. a darn great one... a friend that set up my site.... a friend who baked professional cakes...... a friend who is a pharmacist... and ME... the home maker... One thing I can pass on is that life is forever changing... We are constantly confronted by situations we do not know how to handle or manage. I can talk about the easiest way to clean oven racks, how to bake a cake... etc.... What I don't have is information on banking, drugs, nursing ....

I can tell you about a personal experience. 2 years ago my husband had a diverticulea burst, which in english meant his colon burst and he became septic.. the waste usually in his colon was poisoning him... after 48 hours and several phone calls to the doctors, I called the paramedics.. thank God.... He almost did not make it.... I never ever ever thought I would be helping anyone with a temporay colostomy.... I do not know how people do it if they are alone.. changing the ring that is attached to your abdomen.... the bag, how to clean it.... etc.. Well, Joe made it through.... I learned alot and now I would be able to do it without thinking twice... It was harrowing I must admit! Something I do not wish on anyone.... The surgeon did tell us that 50% of people 50 years old have this happen to them.... 80% of 80 years have it happen to them What shocking numbers to me..... And even more amazing... they could re connect his colon after four months.. that went wonderfully...!!!

So, this was something I want to share because number one I never thought about something like this.... never heard of it.... and never knew anyone who had experienced it... NOW I have.. so many people have told me their stories.... Exactly the same... something I think people are hesitant to talk about.. Who wants to talk about a burst colon?????? No One!!!

We have come a long way since then... and now whenever I kiss him goodbye in the morning, I make him call me when he gets to work, and I tell him I love him every time we speak.... not as often as I like... so therefore, I tell him EVERY time we speak ... I love you darling... because I mean it... and as I learned, life changes in a second...!! everytime the phone rings, life changes.. it seems...

I don't mean to ramble but I felt this was so important .... a health issue I never heard anyone talk about before... WE MUST CONVEY OUR EXPERIENCES.. believe me, it helps to talk to others who have heard of someone with this problem ... or who have experienced it themselves. Now I can advise on what to do ... how to do it ...and reassure if you don't get the ring on the first time.... try again... I am sure my husband had a few choice words for me in the beginning..

Well, we made it. That is behind us.. I feel it is critical to convey how to handle health issues. It is the NOT knowing... and the fear of NOT knowing... because once you know... or feel you have a little more knowledge under your belt.. it makes life and the situation you are dealing with a little easier to handle..

The boys are calling...

Bye for now....... Liz

Well,