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Fell again...

Well yes, I fell... again! Not bad, but bad enough to cause more bleeding internally! 

We had some amazing friends that came over last night and wanted us (Carla & I) to go on a date. Being that we haven't actually been on a date for Four months or so we agreed that was a GREAT idea! Carla was really concerned about the way I was feeling physically and weather or not I could handle going out. Funny thing was, I was worried about weather or not she could handle it! She has been over-extending herself daily and I wasn't sure if this was the wised choice for her or not. But, it was so long since we have had a babysitter, that I wasn't about to pass up this generous opportunity! 

Times like these just aren't the same these days. Don't get me wrong we had a very good time, but they are very different then our past romantic adventures. We hated to spend the money because things have been so tight, but its been about four months since our last date and it was a good idea. We went to Sake Cafe since that is one of Carla's favorite places to eat. They have a roll called the "Covington Roll" that is not on the menu and is COMPLETELY different than anything else in town. Its a little bigger than a silver dollar, very little rice, crawfish, snow crab, and a whole lot of other goodness, AND very light crunchy ever so slightly and delicately fried on the outside (not heavy like normal fried rolls. Not even as thick as a normal tempura... very light). Only problem is that is about the "only" roll that's good there. So you have to go just for that roll. Carla craves it, but we hardly ever go. So, we went there to get that and it was SUCH  a treat! 

Then we tried to decide where we were going to go from there. By this time my ankle was hurting and Carla was in pain too, but there was NO way we were going home yet! So we thought about going to the movies since it was something that we could do without walking or exerting energy, but neither one of us felt like we could sit in a theater for a couple of hours. There is only so many ways you can prop up your ankles, and having them down that whole time was definitely out of the question! So we did what every other couple in St Tammany parish does on their date nights... we went to Target! We needed a couple things for the baby AND they had a cart. Can't just shop anywhere, because Carla can't walk very far either at this point. So, Target it was!

We got their and Carla got in her scooter, and I was in mine! What a pair! By this time, I was running out of steam, but even though we were in wheel chairs, we were going to keep moving forward, enjoy our time together, and try to be as normal as possible (whatever that is). I splurged and got a coffee (I felt like I was on vacation!), and she made a "B" line for the house wares section. Two things we NEVER get to do with kids, not that we get to do them period, because we can't get to the store much anyway! Then we met back up and had a couple of deep meaningful conversations along the way, and we then closed them down. We wanted to make sure we said goodnight to all those hardworking people that stock our shelves and keep our shopping experiences clean and happy! 

Then we were convinced that we were going to make the most of this evening since it may be another 6 months before we get to do it again (it is so hard to find babysitters for three, I am not looking forward to trying to find someone for four kids). Anyway, we left there and by the time we got in the car it was about 10:30pm. We realized that our clock was ticking and since EVERYTHING in St Tammany parish closes at 10:00pm except Chili's and Copeland's, we only had 30 minutes to go somewhere else for desert. So, we start heading toward Chili's because the last three times we went to Copeland's, which was a while ago, we said we would never go back. Bad service, poor food preparation. And don't get me wrong, I love some of their dishes, especially their cheesecake, but sometimes you just have to cut the cord! Anyway, by the time we got to Chili's it was already 10:45 and you don't want to go to Chili's right when they are closing! Big mistake! Let's just say, three bouts of food poisoning, and all about the time they were closing! 

So, we decided to do what every good American would do in our predicament, and go through the drive through at Wendy's and get frosties and park at the lakefront! Of course we didn't get out because it is such a hassle to load and unload the wheelchair for Carla at this stage of the pregnancy. Not to mention that I could have gotten out, but then she couldn't have walked, so we just sat in the car, me in the back seat (because I have to keep my foot elevated), and her in the front, eating frosties with our windows down. It was really nice! We talked for probably about an hour. But somewhere in that hour I was so consumed in our "uninterrupted" conversations (and parents, you know exactly what I mean), that I had not realized that my pain was getting worse and worse very quickly. It seemed that all of a sudden my left foot started swelling up really big and started hurting something terrible. We realized that I was almost out of medicine so we rushed over to the 24 hour Walgreen's (thank you God for 24 hour Walgreen's) and got medicine. But by this time I was hurting so bad my other leg was shaking uncontrollably. 

We got home and came inside and I was headed straight to bed while Carla was unloading the other stuff, and I leaned over to get a pillow off the couch to take with me, and I fell. I fell half way, not all the way, out of my chair. The worst part was I caught myself with my left (surgery) ankle. NOT FUN!!! So, then it REALLY started swelling and started bleeding internally very quickly. I very quickly got in bed, and took a shot. But, as you could imagine, I couldn't get to sleep, because of the pain, until around 4:00am. 

I really had a hard time after that not being angry! I really wanted to be really angry! I was already frustrated that I couldn't have a normal date with my wife, along with all the other "special" situation stuff that we have to deal with, and then I fell! I knew that this meant that it was going to take even longer to heal, possibly another hematoma, and delay me walking even more! Carla calls me the "eternal optimist", but at that moment I REALLY didn't "feel" very optimistic. As a matter of fact, my honest thoughts started to go to "how can I just cut off my left leg, and then my right arm. Get it over with! I'll have two less limbs, and be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life, but at least I won't always be in pain..." Then Somewhere in there I stopped myself and just started praying! Its amazing how, no matter how angry you are the peace of God CAN surpass all understanding. 

There is no point in being frustrated and angry! There is only enough time to be grateful and look forward to better days ahead and believe that what the enemy would like to use to kill, steal, and destroy me... the Lord wants to use for my good! The only way that we will receive full benefit of the "Good" the Lord wants to do in us in the timing He wants to do it in, is if we are quick to forgive, repent, and listen! Lord help me to do so!

Carla has two weeks and two days left before her C Section! Praise God! 

Please pray for extra peace, joy, and grace through these last days!

Jonathan's Dr Appointment...

Yesterday I had another post-opp checkup. 

It seemed to be a relatively good visit over all. The swelling around my ankle had reduced enough for them to remove the stitches. They also removed the picc line that I had been using to give myself infusions daily (back to the old faithful vein and needle routine every other day). I was glad to get both removed! X-rays looked much better than two weeks before. That is probably where the majority of the pain was coming from. 

He put a temporary splint on it to keep it still and protected.

My pain has generally been more manageable over the past three days of so. That has been a real blessing, although as soon as I get off my pain medicine regimen, I realize that I am still in quite a bit of pain, its just manageable. 

He said that I still have a hematoma on the bottom of my heal and that it has improved, but still will take more time to heal before I am able to assert pressure on it. He told me that I have to continue keeping it elevated above my heart. He wants me to wait another month before coming back to see him, so it will be at least that long before I will be able to take first steps. We were hoping that I would be able to start taking first steps prior to the baby coming, but we are certain now that I will not be able to take any steps before the baby comes!

Please pray that the pain would continue to subside and that God would cause my whole ankle to heal very quickly! Please pray that God would supernaturally cause my right elbow to heal and be regenerated! It is still causing me pain daily and I am very concerned as to its future as stated in previous posts. 

Thank you for your continued prayers and standing with us during a time when we can't stand on our own! 

Carla's Dr Appointment today...

Carla had another Doctor appointment today. Apparently her  blood pressure was very high and she never has high blood pressure! The doctor told her that it was obvious that she has not been able to rest enough. 

She had another appointment scheduled immediately afterward and he made her skip it and come home immediately to lay down and rest. He said that if she were to have the baby now, it would be too early and the baby would have to stay in the hospital for an additional 3 weeks. 

We are praying that God would help her blood pressure to reduce and that she would be able to rest! It is very difficult for her to rest right now due to my health still being so limited and her having to attend to my needs as well as the kids.

She may need increased support with the kids and basic needs over the next three weeks. If you are interested in helping, please email Wendi Tuminello at doctorwendi@hotmail.com.

Please continue to pray for more Grace! Especially for the kids during this time, but also for Carla. She is in so much pain!

We love you all!

No Baby Yet

So, we went to the hospital per doctor's orders and they ran a series of tests and determined everything was okay.  No baby yet :)  Darn, but glad.  34 weeks is a little bit early.  I am running a fever today so we will just keep an eye on that.  Thanks for praying....

May Health Update...

Its time for the may update, and I everything has been such a whirlwind I'm not sure where to start, but here goes...

First of all we want to say "thank you"! Everyone who has helped out has been such a major blessing and help and we are so grateful for all you have done! We are still so humbled by how much you have surrounded us and are helping us through this difficult time. We have been so blessed by all the people who have come over to bring meals, clean, help with the kids, yard work, and just stop by to visit. 

Carla has progressed much further in the pregnancy and is 34 weeks along. The doctor has established a delivery date at 38 weeks. This means that we only have 4 weeks to go before Isaac Benjamin James is here to greet the world! Carla's health is fair. She is having severe contractions daily and with activity they form a rhythm. Last week we thought we were going to have to go to the hospital several different times. One day Carla fell, while trying to clean, and was certain that her water broke shortly after. We thought for sure we would be going in, but nothing happened. Then the next evening she started having hard contractions 5 minutes apart. That lasted for about 3 hours and we were preparing to go in when they stopped. However, one hour later, they started up again... 5 minutes apart. Thankfully they stopped after another two hours, or so. Carla is in tremendous pain each day and is really ready to have the baby, but wants to carry full-term if at all possible. Please pray that God would help her with the pain and her endurance through this process And that she would be able to carry to the end. There is a slight chance that her water may have broke last night and the doctor has requested us to come to the hospital today, so pray that God's will would be done!

My health has definitely amplified the issues. Carla is still having to care for me for just about every need. She is still giving me treatments every two hours, even through the night! This obviously doesn't allow her to rest. As you can imagine rest is one of the biggest things she needs, so please pray for Grace! Also the dinamic of having a newborn, and my care at the same time is something we have not quite figured out how to navigate.

Last week I was having a tremendous amount of pain in my left ankle. More than what was expected by the doctor. So the doctor called and had me go to the emergency room on Wednesday. He met us there, examined my foot and found that I had a hematoma on the bottom of my foot where the screws are located in the heal. He said that unfortunately this could take two months or more to absorb into the ankle. This is unfortunate for me because I can't walk on it until this is completely healed. Although the wound itself is healing well from surgery this hematoma is a source of constant ongoing pain. Unfortunately, it hurts often through the pain meds as well. 

We met with him again yesterday and we were supposed to start the process for being released to go back to work. However due to this hematoma, my foot must be elevated above my heart around the clock. If I lower it for more than 15 minutes or so, it simply starts to bleed even more and become much worse. As a result he will not release me to return to work at this time and is unlikely to release me before the hematoma is completely healed. 

This is VERY difficult because it makes things more and more complicated being away my job and my office. If I don't return by next week, they have the right to replace my position! I will technically still be employed for another three months, however, I may return to a situation where I have to start all over (if they have a position open). Many of my clients have been VERY loyal and gracious and are mostly willing to follow me anywhere, however I feel bad that they are having to wait for me during this time, AND that they are in such limbo as well! Please pray for the protection over them as well as the favor and grace with my employer. We simply need more time...

We NEED your urgent prayers on this issue. Please pray for favor with my supervisors! Please pray that God will not allow them to take my office and clients from me! Please pray that God will provide for us financially during this time as we are not receiving any income! And most of all, Please pray that His Will, will be done! Our dependence is COMPLETELY on God!

We definitely need to try everything we can to keep my employment! Even though I am not receiving an income right now, my medical insurance alone is of the most vital importance! My medical bills alone right now are running OVER $200,000 PER MONTH right now. This is just for me to survive! Without this treatment, this process would be fatal! 

"When if rains it pours"!
When we met with the doctor recently he informed me that my right elbow has ramped up its rate of deterioration significantly. I have had problems and surgeries on my right elbow in the past, however this has become such a problem that it is now hurting on a daily basis. Keep in mind that I am still taking a significant amount of pain medication related to my ankle recovery. After reviewing the x-ray's he established that I have less than 1/8" left of bone in my elbow. The doctor said that it is still deteriorating and he is very concerned that it will just break at ANY moment. Yesterday I got a brace for it and hopefully that will help hold it together so it won't just randomly break.

The answer to this is that I can have a "Total elbow replacement" done. However I have to FULLY recover from this surgery AND have surgery on my Right ankle and fully recover from that FIRST. Then I can have the total elbow replacement done. 

This was news that I definitely did not want to hear! We were hoping that day would be far away and that we would not need to have more surgeries for a while. However, according to the doctors we need to proceed with this as soon as possible in order to keep my right arm. Obviously, I want to keep my right arm if at all possible, therefore we want to do everything possible to keep that hope alive. 

PLEASE pray that God will stop this process of deterioration? Please pray that God will help me with the pain? Please pray that God will completely heal me of this situation all together? 

We still need help in almost EVERY area! Wendi Tuminello has been so gracious to volunteer to help schedule help with meals, cleaning, yard work, and child care. If you are interested in helping in any of these areas please email her at doctorwendi@hotmail.com.

We are in desperate need for God to do something amazing! Please stand with us, believe with us, pray with us, that God will do something amazing!

Thank you for your faithfulness to standing with us! Your prayers and support are keeping us during this very difficult time!

We love you all!
Headed to the hospital...

The James'

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Trip to the ER

The increase in Jonathan's pain over the past several days landed us back in the ER at Tulane on Wednesday afternoon. His doctor met us there and found upon removing his splint that he was hemorrhaging into the bottom of his foot. Basically the cast was too heavy and was putting a tremendous amount of pressure on his ankle, heel and foot. Soooo, we are back to 2 shots a day and medicine every 2 hours through the night, but at least we know what was going on :-) Back to healing.......