Merry Christmas

Hope everyone is having a Merry Christmas!

I’m sure if you are reading this you having been waiting at your mailbox wondering where your annual Baumgarten Family Christmas card was.  You then commented to yourself “Really?  It’s not like she has a job!” But I assure you that there is a good excuse as to why they still sit in a stack on the counter and have been since last Friday. So here goes…

Last Saturday (12/17), I had some horrible abdominal pain, and since this was my 4th bouth of this in as many months, my oncologist was convinced that it was my gall bladder.  She said that if it happened again, I needed to go to the ER.  So we did (50 miles north to Mayo Clinic). They gave me some IV pain meds, couldn’t find anything wrong and then sent me on my merry way.

Thus, your much anticipated card, letter and keepsake Nolan photo was delayed.

On Sunday (12/18), I still had pain and spent the day in bed. By Monday the pain remained and I started vomiting despite not having eaten very little since Friday night. I called the doctor and they said I needed to go back to ER, so we did (50 miles north to Mayo). They got me to a comfortable state and decided that I should be admitted so that more tests could be run. So I had an MRI, CT Scan, ultrasound, endoscopy w/ stomach biopsy and lastly a liver biopsy. The tests showed “sludge” in the gall bladder but no stones and stomach biopsy showed mild graft v. host disease (a complication of transplant). I was discharged on Friday (12/23) without the results of the liver biopsy and no hard diagnosis.
Except that my graft v. host disease whet from a previously acute condition to chronic.

Thus, your much anticipated card, letter and keepsake Nolan photo was delayed.

Additionally, While all this was going on, last Thursday (12/15) my Mom was diagnosed with uterine cancer. She is scheduled for a total hysterectomy this Tuesday (12/27). Perhaps, I have become cold and callused to the whole “cancer diagnosis” as I do not believe that is as bad as it sounds. It appears to only be stage 1 and contained within the uterus so the hysterectomy should remove all of the cancer. That means that she will not have to have any additional treatment (chemo, radiation, etc) plus it’s all done laparoscopically, so recovery time is very short and it’s only an overnight stay in the hospital.  Again, I have a VERY different perspective on cancer than most people. Despite that we do welcome and appreicate any and all prayers for healing.

Thus, your much anticipated card, letter and keepsake Nolan photo was delayed.

One last thought I took away from all of this is that a few people have commented that it sucks this is all happening around Christmas time but in reality what better time then during the celebration of our Savior? I got a little teary at Church on Saturday night but not out of self pity but out of joy and thanksgiving in knowing that one day later rather than sooner (as only the good die young and I am too much of a bitch to die young) that this world will end and a much better one awaits. I know it sounds bitter but I assure you, the only thing I was bitter about this Christmas was the doctor ordered kibosh on drinking.

Thus, your much anticipated card, letter and keepsake Nolan photo was delayed.

Merry Christmas!!!