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Dutch Wonderland!
Last week the four of us headed over to Dutch Wonderland for a summertime experience in the park. Dutch Wonderland is definitely kid-oriented, but small enough to not be nearly as overwhelming as...
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The layout that Wentworth binge-watching built
Finally, a much-overdo new layout for Jenn.nu – the last one had been up since April of last year! Now if only I could find where my blogging mojo went to… ? The layout that Wentworth binge-watching...
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Ryan needs a new iPad (can you help?)
As most of you know, Ryan is autistic (as of last year his diagnosis was “upgraded” to Asperger’s, but Asperger’s is still on the autism spectrum, so it’s just easier to say Ryan is autistic or that he...
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I have no tolerance for intolerance
We were given a kids’ book that — pun intended – preached about God, marriage between men and women, and babies. Lots of babies. And something about God’s “ideal plan”. I’m not one to discard books,...
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I am a drug seeker
(I am a drug seeker – for PAIN.) The last six months have been exhausting – physically more than anything else. I am getting a small taste of what it is like to live with chronic pain, and I have taken...
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All’s not fair in love and war
As I write this, Dan is sleeping off the side effects of the medications he is taking to manage the symptoms of the concussion my twenty year old brother, Yusef, gave him. Yes, concussion. And once...
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loyalties and strength
I keep waiting for a teary phone call or hastily-written email or text from my mother telling me Yusef has been arrested. Then again, it’s now Wednesday and so far, as far as I know, nothing has...
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German Shepherd: 1 | Jenn: 0
So last Wednesday was pretty sucktacular: Dash escaped his outdoor pen. We’ve been searching the woods behind our home every day, put up signs, and enlisted the help of neighborhood kids in our...
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Meet my new cankle
It hurts constantly, it’s oozing, and as this picture plainly shows the swelling and redness have both increased – my ankle is now a cankle. Tomorrow I’m going back to my useless “let’s wait and see”...
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No gross ankle pictures this time.
In typical Jenn’s Monday Morning fashion, I hit the ground running limping – first to ortho doctor #3 to discuss my shoulder MRI results and next steps (injections from pain management specialist, then...
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A summer of meltdowns
This Facebook post perfectly sums up not just yesterday, but most days this summer: Summer is always difficult for Ryan, due to the lack of structure and the unpredictability of many days, but this...
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Perforated ulcer redux
Status report as best as I can recall: The pain started at 7am at a 10 and stayed at a 10 until I went into surgery at 6pm. 3mm perforated ulcer w/ necrosis for a total damaged area of 25mm....
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I’m tired of rating my pain.
I was released from the hospital on Thursday evening, but even though I am tolerating fluids and food by mouth just fine, I’m stuck with this super-painful, super-gross feeding tube for at least...
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You don’t know pain until you’re dying from the inside out.
I am now one week and one day post-op, and feeling well enough to sit down and write about what happened last week. August 1st, 2015 – 6:55am Last Saturday morning (August 1st, 2015) began with me...
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2013 & 2015 ulcer perforations (comparison picture)
This is what an ulcer perforation looks like – dark-colored blobby masses (air and fluid) floating freely in the abdominal cavity. Those smallish masses cause a hell of a lot of a pain! ? 2013 &...
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Feeling better, thus feeling worse
I’m feeling better enough that I wish I was perfectly healed and up and about again. But I’m not. I’m still in a lot of pain. I can’t stand up straight. I can’t walk very far without additional pain....
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Summer, summarized in 10 sentences
Shut the door! Stop running in and out! Tell your friends to go away! Get off your sister! Get off your brother! Put that back! Clean that up! Be quiet! Go to bed! Thank god there are only [X] more...
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Band-aids don’t fix gastric feeding tube holes
After playing phone & online messaging tag with my surgeon’s office for a week and a half (and by tag I mean I called and messaged daily, and they only called back twice and messaged once), I gave...
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Everyday I’m strugglin’.
I’m not going to lie: I’m really struggling right now. Struggling to be comfortable. Productive. Calm. Relaxed. Two surgeries three months apart on top of a busy, stressful year have taken their toll....
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An open letter to the doctor who could have killed me
Dear Doctor, Do you remember the numerous visits I’ve had with you during the last eight months? Just about every visit was related to my back injury (bulging and degeneration of L5-S1, overall...
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