Hi Everyone and Happy Easter.
We spent all day Thursday in Iowa City at the hospital. We left the house at 4:45A and got home at 5:00P. It was a long day. Seth had a contrast study on his lower GI and test in the afternoon on the upper GI. In the middle we met with the surgeon and his nurses and residents. Seth's resection/pull down surgery is scheduled for Monday, April 28th. We don't have a time yet. We'll let you know. If all goes well we may be able to come home on Saturday, May 3. It all depends on when his "gut" wakes up and can tolerate food. It will have been asleep for 12+ weeks. They won't send us home too early, the doctors say. It is too hared to get back out there if something were to go wrong.
So all is good here. We heard from Noah today. He sounds great. He is having a lot of fun seeing family, shopping and dining out in California.
We don't see Nick very much. He is very busy with his new friend. Jeff and Seth got a glimpse of him at church last night. They (Aubrey) and he will be with us for Easter. We are excited about that.
I have been very busy along with my sis Mary getting ready to have an Estate sale at my mom's house on Friday April 4 and Saturday April 5. It is in Bradford from 10-4 both days. we are hopeful everything sells! If you need anything or just want to stop by, please do.
Love to all of you and again have a great Easter. Vic

Good Morning

Hi Everyone, the guys made it back from Bristol at 3:30 this morning. I hadn't expected them back until this afternoon. Jeff got the bug to just drive, so they drove all the way home. They are both exhausted. but had a great time.
Noah leaves today at 11:30 for CA. Please pray he gets tofeeling better and that all his flights are good.
I gotta get ready for work now. I just wanted to give you a quick update. Love, Vic

I've Not Forgotten You

Hi, so it has been a long time since I blogged. Sorry. things are truly going great here. Jeff and Seth are in Bristol Tennessee for the Nascar Races. I talked to them a couple of times today. the first time was at 8:15 this morning. They were already at the track. the race is at 3PM. They went last night too and got some souvenirs and watched some test racing or something. Anyway Seth said this morning it was clear sky but they were calling for rain this afternoon. I guess it poured and they (Jeff & Seth) got rained out. They watched the race from their hotel room. :( Seth sounded disappointed. I am sorry for them. They are looking forward to tomorrow's BIG race. I told them to layer up for the weather (snow flurries) and have a great time.
Noah is sick with a bad cold and sore throat. He leaves for California for 8 days on Monday. He is going to spend time with his two aunts and go to San Fran.
Nick is doing GREAT. He is dating a wonderful woman and they both seem VERY happy.
I have had a great time while the guys have been gone. I painted the den, I went over to Rick & Susan's Friday night and to church and dinner with Carla tonight and Carla is spending the night with me and we are staying up half the night watching Chick Flick's. I'm lovin' it.
Seth is on Spring Break all next week and we go back to Iowa city on Thursday ( leave at 5A) for the contrast study. I'll let you know the surgery date. Love to all. Vickie

Hi! We are up and at it again. Thank you, thank you. Seth went to school today ALL day long. It is the first time since January 28th. Now he and Jeff have gone to play a little Vball. Jeff is just going to watch (yea right). But our man Seth is goin' for the court. God love him.
Jeff went back to work today, he looked pretty tired when he got home. We all ate some of A. Mary's homemade soup and jello salad for dinner and we are feelin' good! It was delicious Mary, thanks. Hey Laura it was good to talk to you last night too. So Noah is coming for a visit. That's nice.. First I've heard of it. When is he coming? You guys will have fun together. How long is he staying?
I am going to work tomorrow, I really am feeling better. Just to prove it, I'm going in to take a hot bath and wash my hair, first time in a week. How's that sound!!!!?? Gross huh. How did they ever do it in the olden days?
Tomorrow is our good friend Ruthi's birthday. Happy B.day! We love ya lots. I'll think of you this weekend. I know it will be hard. We plan to have Mom's sale in a couple of weeks.
Please remember to pray for Seth's friends in Russia, and we have more little friends, Keenan and Kourtney are leaving for a missions trip to Oklahoma tomorrow. Brave kids. Be safe all.
My bathe is calling me. Love, Vic

Hi. The prayers are great. we are stating to feel better. Jeff even left the house today. He along with Seth and Noah went to the Verizon store. Seth is doing great too.
I have only been able to eat toast (4 pcs.) and drink tea for the past 5 days. I knew I needed my nutrition than that but I just couldn't eat (nausea). All 3 of the prescriptions can cause nausea and apparently are! I finally got up enough energy to get myself to the kitchen and I made some homemade Potato Soup just like my Mom used to made. We all three ate it for dinner and it really tasted good. I think of my mom so often and I miss her terribly. It really tasted just like hers, it was kinda comforting, kinda like she'd helped me make it to help me feel better. Enough of that. I start missing her so bad it hurts, it's really hard to type and cry at the same time. I have a hard enough time typing as it is. All for tonight. again thanks for your prayer. Love, Vickie
P.S.
Thanks to Dawn and Dave and Kenny and Mary for coming down today and praying!! We Love You.
P.S.S.
Please pray for all the kids on their way to Russia. Some of Seth's friends by name are Justin, Adam, Sarah and Evan.
Love to all, Vic

What Happened??

I had an entire page written and it only posted the last word??? Well here goes again. It will no doubt be shorter this time as I am already worn out and have to get back to bed.
Seth is much better. Actually his father and I at the suggestion of his A. Mary kicked his out of the house for the weekend. Seriously we are concerned for his health. We don't want him to catch this terrible flu! He went to his older brothers, Noah and Nick's home just 2 miles away. He must be having fun over there, it's 2:45 PM and we haven't heard a word from him. I love it when the guys hang out together.
As for the two old people left here at home, well that's a different story. Jeff said he is feeling some better, the doctor gave him a presc. for Tamiflu. It is effective on people who are just coming down with the flu virus. Jeff's started in the night Thursday and got the med's yesterday at noon. It is to shorten the duration and the severity of the symptoms. He had a rough night last night but says he is feeling some better today. It must work, I'm on day 5! I have the flu and Bronchitis. The doctor gave me antibiotics, pills for the cough and an inhaler. So far my cough has improved some. I just can't eat. I tried C/N soup last night and it made my very sick (all night). Then I tried a half of a piece of toast this morning and that made me sick. I guess I'll stay on the hot tea. I have been doing them a couple of times a day.
For those of you who really know me, you know that I usually go like "A House On Fire" most of the time. I like that speed. This laying in the bed is terrible!!! I am missing some really fun things. I missed the Women's Fellowship Breakfast at RCC this morning. My good friend Susan was the speaker and I wanted to be there in the worst way. Maybe she can share it with me over a smoothie one day soon. I also missed the Mom's Night Out at Chili's last night with the PCS/RCC gals. I can't stay down much longer, my social life will 0.
Before I sign off I want to tell all of Seth's good friends who are boarding a plane for Russia in the morning, that we love you all and that we will pray everyday for you. You are making difference for the Kingdom. God has opened this door for you to share Him to those who are lost. What a huge responsibility! God never makes mistakes so be sure, that you are each hand picked to do this assignment for Him. We are very proud of you. We will pray daily until your return! I ask those who read this blog to pray for these brave teenagers as well. Some of you remember the pictures of the kids who visited Seth in the hospital. Adam is one who is going, and Sarah who is faithful to pray for Seth and to post is another one going. Please pray for the whole team!
All for now, I going back to bed. Love, Vic

Seth Is Doing Much better

all.

I'm Back

Hi everyone ~ We are so thankful for your prayers. Seth is feeling better, but very weak. As Laura said he has lost 9 pounds since Tuesday afternoon when he saw his dr. Seth truly experienced the worst pain he has ever had in his life on Tuesday night. They gave him Fentenol through IV (that is the same pain killer they gave my mom at home with hospice when she was dying of cancer). Once the blockage passed he was relieved of the pain, but very weak, and the ostomy filled with blood tinged fluid. We are watching him closely. He has to eat very small amounts and chew his food very well. All he ate the day of the problem was French toast for breakfast. I know what some at my office would say "well it's FRENCH"! I know and that won't happen again.
Seth does have a partial blockage due to surgical complications and we are praying he can hold off until his resection to have everything corrected then. The last thing we want is an additional surgery thrown in. Seth is scheduled to see his surgeon in Iowa City on the 20 for a contrast study and to schedule the Resection, if he has any problems between now and Tuesday then they want him in the clinic on Tuesday in Iowa.
If Seth has another episode like Tuesday night we are to take him to ER, the doctors there will put an NG tube in his stomach and transport his out to Iowa City hospital by ambulance.
PRAY PLEASE!
To ad insult to injury here, I have come down with the flu! I came home Wed. morning from the ER got into bed at 4AM and have only set up in bed twice and had 2 cups of tea and 1 piece of toast since. I think I have to get better to die! My fever has been 101-102 most of the time. Once it breaks I'm sure I'll start feeling better.
Now Jeff started running a fever during the night but had to go into work. He has been in special training all week and has a big test for a certification today. Please pray for him.
Other than all that we are good! Praise be to God that Nick and Noah are fine. Nick is going to be traveling for work Sun-Wed. to Louisiana, please remember him in your prayers as well. We love you all. Vickie

Update on Seth and Vickie

Hi Folks,
This is Laura again. Sorry to keep all of you hanging. I finally just spoke to Vickie myself. She is really sick. When she got home from the hospital she crawled into bed and has just emerged for the first time for a cup of tea. She discovered numerous unreturned phone messages (10 of them were from me!) and called to give me the facts and ask me to update the blog so everyone knew what was going on. Seth's recent bout was due to a blockage. They believe that he has adhesions caused by scar tissue that formed as a result of the surgery. The adhesions will have to be removed surgically, however, the hope is that it can wait until the next already required surgery. In order for that to occur, Seth needs to be very careful about what he eats. Seth needs to eat soft foods and, probably, small amounts. He has lost 9 lbs since Monday. Seth said that he had the worst pain he has ever experienced Monday night. He actually blacked out. Now Vickie is very sick and she is concerned about Seth getting it. Vickie will return to blogging when she is better and my little stint will be over. Again, sorry for keeping all of you hanging. It wasn't intentional. Let's pray Seth through this so that he will not have to have an extra surgery. Thank you for all of your love and support. Vickie tells me all the time that your support has made a world of difference during this challenging time. Your prayers and friendships are treasured.

SETH IS AT HOME!!!

This is Seth's Aunt Laura again. Vickie is likely too exhausted to blog as she and Seth got home from the hospital about 3:00 AM. Noah says that he doesn't think it was what the doctors were worried about - he believes that it was another food blockage. I'm sure that Vickie will provide the details when she can. This might be a good time to pull out our "Pray for Seth" bracelets. We can't get comfortable. Seth is in jeopardy ALL of the time and we can't let up until he is totally healthy. It has been and will continue to be a long haul and he needs prayer covering 24/7. Please pass the word. Thanks for being wonderful friends and faithful prayer warriors!!

Seth at OSF Emergency Room

This is Seth's Aunt Laura again. Vickie just called to say that Seth is in x-ray. He is in a great deal of pain and is vomiting violently. He says that this is the worst thing that he has experienced so far and we all know that he has gone throuhg a great deal of pain and suffering due to the surgery. The doctors suspect that either his intestines are twisted or he has developed scar tissue in his intestines that is causing a blockage. He needs serious prayer and we are concerned that the word won't go out due to the late hour and the lack of traffic on the website. Please pass the word and pray!! Another update will be posted when we have more information. Thanks and God Bless!!

Seth is on his way to OSF Emergencyin Peoria!

Hello Everyone,
This is Seth's Aunt Laura. Vickie just called me on their way to the emergency room. She asked me to post so everyone would know what was going on. Seth has been in bad shape all day. He has had abdominal pain followed by nausea. He saw a new doctor today that advised they go to emergency in the event that the pain worsened or if Seth started vomiting. Both occurred. There is a possibility that Seth's intestines are twisted - if this is the case, surgery would be required to correct the situation. We need all the prayer we can get! Traffic has really died off the site so please pass the word however you can. Thanks! There will be an update when we have more information.

Oh NO!

Good Morning Everyone,
Seth woke up this morning SICK. Nothing to do with his stomach, but sore throat, cough and rattling and heaviness in his chest. He was up getting ready for school and I've sent him back to bed. He is to see a new doctor tomorrow at 1:30, so if it is anything we will know then.
This is one of the draw backs of being back to normal..he is around a lot of people and some of them must have a bug! Seth has a very weak immune system and is very vulnerable.
Thanks for prying for Noah, he is feeling some better. Love, Vickie
Thomas ~ It was so great to hear from you!!!