February has been an interesting month down here on the farm. It all started on the first day of the month. Darrell hadn’t been feeling well, thought he might have a virus, but his group was supposed to sing that Thursday night. He had been looking forward to that, so he felt a little better, got ready and went. He even sang. Not well. His voice just wasn’t there, but he managed to hit some of the low notes. So I thought he’s getting better.
Then that night pain hit in full force. By morning he was really sick and off we went to Urgent Care, hoping for a quick cure, I suppose. You see, I had a big weekend planned. I was supposed to keep a couple of the grandkids for a few days while their parents and big sisters went on a trip. But the doctor at the urgent treatment place takes one look and says head straight to the emergency room. The grandkids are on the way. The parents and sisters have a plane to catch. But off we go. No choice there.
At the ER, they took him right in, did tests, found out what was wrong. Even though he’d had his gallbladder out last summer, he had a gallstone blocking his bile duct. Not good. Needed a surgical procedure to fix it, but no doctors available on a Friday afternoon at the hospital where we were. So even worse. Next step was to get an ambulance to take him to a different hospital with a doctor on call who could do the procedure. Pain meds had Darrell feeling some better. He had IVs to slow his heart rate. We waited. Ambulances all busy. Hours pass. Finally the nurse finds a different ambulance service and they show up in about an hour. By the time they get him to the bigger hospital, it’s nine o’clock at night. Everything has to wait for morning. And of course, the grandkids don’t get to come visit. Well, they do come visit with their dad who stayed behind with them. They spend the night at my house.
I stay at the hospital until I’m sure Darrell is going to be well cared for by the nurses. He’s dozing with the pain meds and nothing is happening until morning. I get home around midnight. The boys hear me and come out to give me a hug before going back to bed. I slip out of the house the next morning around daylight to get back to the hospital. The procedure is done. Machines are hooked up. More medicine is given. More doctors called in. He needs IVs for the infection. But things do start to improve and we eventually get to go home on the next Tuesday. Since then, until today, he’s had a doctor appointment every day. Most were for the continuing IV antibiotics that he needed for fourteen days. We thought that was bad until we met other people who had been coming every day for six weeks.
But Darrell got good news from all his doctors and all is well. No doctor appointments for a couple of weeks. Maybe I can even get back to writing my new story. The first of the month, I was thinking I’d miss a few writing days with the boys at my house, but that wouldn’t be a problem. Instead, I missed a couple of weeks. I was already struggling with the story and with my new dog Frankie who seems to need to walk or wants attention every time I sit down at the keyboard. So now I need to be super disciplined to work on this story, because sometimes life has a way of interfering with a person’s best laid plans.
I’m working on a list for early readers for my summer release, River to Redemption. I need five or six more people on my team. You would get a copy of the book sometime in late June. The book is a gift with no strings attached, but of course, the publishers, and me too, hope you would read the book and perhaps post some reviews online or tell your reading friends about the book. If you think that’s something you would like to do, let me know. If I get more than six volunteers, I’ll draw names out of my drawing hat.
Update: I’ve gotten more than enough volunteers for early readers. Thank you so much. But for any of you reading this now, I’ll have a drawing to send out a book to three of you. You can either choose a book of mine right now that would not be River to Redemption. Or you can choose to wait until July and get a copy of the new book. Sound fair?
Thanks, as always, for reading.
Comments 51
Author
Robin, you are so right about life sometimes upsetting plans made. We’re just glad Darrell is on the mend and hoping he never has that kind of attack again. But I guess if he does, we’ll know what it is the next time. Glad to put your name in my drawing hat.
Karen, glad you think it would be fun to get a book and do a review. And you are right about those gallstones not fun, and I didn’t even have one. Guess my husband had even less fun than I did. 🙂
Pam, thank you so much for reading some of my books. I’m happy you enjoyed the stories. Hearing from readers helps me keep my fingers on the keyboard even when the words are being stubborn. I’ve got you in the drawing. Odds may be good on this one.
So glad hubs is doing better! Life sure is funny sometimes. I’d love to put my name in your drawing hat. Thanks.
Wow! What an offer, one I can’t refuse! To read a book and do a review! Fun! Gallstones not fun. 🤔
I’m glad your husband is feeling better. Since I’m too late to be considered for one of your early readers, I’d love to be in the drawing for a chance at one of your books. I’ve read several of your books and enjoy them very much.
Glad to hear that Darrell is on the mend. Gosh, that sounds very painful. Which I know from experience, it is! I’m curious, was that a stone that was missed or one that formed after surgery? I know it doesn’t matter, really. I’m sure you guys are glad the worst is over!
Author
You know, Loretta, the doctors were never very clear about that. I guess they wanted to avoid saying the other surgeon didn’t get all the stones out, but at the same time they hinted you could form more stones. I need to look that up online and see what the universal mind says.
praying for your husband and for you. And yes, I love reading your stories. I had to go back to Summer of Joy to get Pastor David married off. And I really do love Jocie!
Author
Glad you went back to Hollyhill for the rest of the story, Birdie. Jocie is a favorite character of a lot of readers. I’m glad you enjoyed her stories. Hope the Jupiter stories made you smile. And thanks so much for the prayers.
Ann what a time you and your wonderful husband had. Prayers for him and you for staying true to his side in sickness and health.
Author
Thank you, Peggy. I know you have some health challenges from time to time too. I guess we have to expect some ups and downs along the way.
So glad your husband is better! And hopefully you’ll get to reschedule with your grandkids soon! Love your books.
Author
Thank you, Kathy. I really appreciate you reading my stories. And I’m sure we’ll work out something with the grandkids soon.
Hi Ann,
I’m glad Darrell is on the mend. Getting back to normal takes time.
Sometimes our attention gets diverted to allow us to refocus.
I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to be an early reader. Maybe I’ll get the chance to win River to Redemption. Your stories are comforting, intriguing, compelling. Your characters come to life. You bring readers to new understanding of history, of place, and of themselves. Thank you for finding time to write!
Author
That’s a good attitude way to look at plans that go awry. Perhaps that will allow me to get back to work on my new story with fresh enthusiasm, Rebecca.
I really appreciate your kind words about my stories. Those encouraging remarks are a wonderful help.
Author
Thank you so much, Donna and Margie and Connie. I do appreciate you considering being an early reader. I’m thinking of adding a few extra to the list and sending out some copies myself in late June or early July – whenever I get copies. So I’ll contact you all via e-mail to see what we can work out.
Both Darrell and I appreciate your prayers as well. Prayers are powerful!
I would greatly enjoy being on your early team! And I will keep you and your husband in my prayers
Ann, I’m so glad your husband is better! Hope things continue to improve. If you still need another reader, I would be glad to!
Prayers that Darrell continues to improve. I would be thrilled to be an early reader.
Blessings!
Oh, Ann. I am so sorry that your husband was so ill and you had to miss a weekend with your grandchildren! Life does throw us some curve balls! And—-the best laid plans!!! I am so glad he is better. I would love to be one of the readers and reviewers of your new book.
Author
Thanks so much, Karen. I’ll shoot you an e-mail and maybe we can work out you being an early reader. That weekend I did get some curve balls and I never was very good at hitting any kind of baseball. 🙂 One of the biggest problems was that I had no signal for my cell phone in the ER and had to keep going to the very front outside of the hospital to make calls to my children and to figure out what was going to happen about the grandkids and their parents’ trip.
Ann, praying for you! I’d love to be one of your readers! I love your books!
Author
Aww, thank you so much, Karen, for reading my books and liking my stories. I’ll shoot you an e-mail to see what we can work out.
I would enjoy being one of your early readers, and I promise to do reviews.
So glad your husband is getting better!
Author
Great, Margaret. I’ll send you an e-mail to get the information I’ll need to send my publisher. I’m glad Darrell is better too!
Oh my gosh what a frustrating ordeal you had to go through getting the help your husband needed! I am so happy for you all that everything turned out well! Praise the Lord!
Author
The ambulance delay was the only big problem, Diana. I should have pushed from them to go through a different service earlier. But they were very busy at the ER with flu and all sorts of problems coming in. I was favorably impressed with the doctor and with the nurse. Especially the nurse. He tried very hard to make Darrell comfortable and to control his symptoms. However, if we need to go to an ER in the future I’ll go somewhere different.
I would be interested in reading “River to Redemption ” and in writing a review. Glad your husband is better and that you are home even though having to have out patient treatment. Just one person sick changes everything.
Author
Thanks so much, Carol. I appreciate your interest. I’ll send you an e-mail.
Hospital stays do disrupt things, especially when the person is as sick as my husband was. He didn’t need someone there every minute as was the case at times when my mother was in the hospital, but he did need somebody there to hear what the doctors were saying since he meds made him a little fuzzy.
I would be interested in reading “River to Redemption ” and write a review. Glad your husband is better and that you are home even though having to have out patient treatment. Just one person sick changes everything.
You sure have been through it, Ann! I know how it feels when your husband is down very ill. It makes it all the more precious when God brings healing. So happy Darrell is doing well.
Author
It was a crazy couple of weeks, Susan. Thank goodness I had family willing to come take care of Frankie since I didn’t really have time to work all that out before we ended up in the ER and then the hospital. I thought maybe I wouldn’t have a house left after Frankie had to stay by himself so many hours, but he did okay since my granddaughter took him on walks. He hasn’t learned boundaries yet about where he lives and where he’s supposed to stay. Has a tendency to run off. I still haven’t gotten any kind of fence. But now we’re mostly home and I’m trying to teach him. But I think I still need a fence! And yes, the Lord blessed Darrell with quick healing.