Ear Update

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers! I just wanted to update you on my ear. The most excellent news is that my hearing has returned to nearly normal. I am so blessed! Hearing impairment is awful! I have a new respect for anyone who has hearing loss.

I went to an inner ear specialist in Fort Wayne last week and my lingering nerve damage to the tongue still is there. There really is nothing to do but sit and wait. Sensory nerves (which I damaged with the alcohol) are more sensitive and take longer to heal than motor nerves. It may take up to 6 months to heal. My tongue still tingles constantly, but I am used to it. All food tastes like cardboard on the right side of my mouth, but I still eat!

Life is good. I am attaching a picture to this post of two of my favorite things in the world!!!!

Light the Night - Leukemia/Lymphoma Society

A BIG THANK YOU to all who paticipated in Kendallville's Light the Night for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society! Our little town raised over $50,000.00!!!!!! That rocks!!! Thank you to everyone who walked and or donated cash! Your donations and time mean the world to me!!

Check out Chris' beard!

There were 900-1000 people walking!

Part of the Denton-Desper Crew

My best buddy Tricia and I

Miss Kayla Dian

First Day of Dance

In the spirit of catching up my blog here is "Sweetie" on her first day of dance. She is very excited that her cousin Mya is in her class!

Golf Camp

I'm relishing the times I can still beat Ryan in golf, because it isn't going to last much longer! I have been trying to play as much as possible to improve my game. He had fun this summer at golf camp at Noble Hawk. He won a runner-up trophy in the chipping contest. Maybe he can give me some pointers! I'm so ready for the weekend......... :) Jules

Remembering September 11th

Do you remember where you were? I know that I will never forget where I was when the airplanes hit the twin towers. I was working at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne working the acute inpatient area. I spent time going from one patient to another as we watched the TV in disbelief. Please take a moment to remember all the innocent people that died in New York, Washington, and PA that day.

Ear Update

First of all I would like to thank everyone for the prayers for my hearing to return. I'm happy to say that it has gotten MUCH better and now I have just a mild loss in that ear. This month I will see an inner-ear specialist to determine how to deal with the nerve damage that is affecting my tongue. I still don't have taste on 2/3 of my tongue on the right side and it tingles all the time. I really am okay with everything the way it is now and am so ever grateful that I can hear again. Again, I thank you for your prayers and concern! I'll be updating the blog hopefully again tomorrow. I have tons of things to post! Have a great weekend!

We (I) Survived!

I can't believe I'm posting about the first day of school already! The kids started on Wednesday, Aug 14th. I had been dreading this day all year. My baby was finally heading on the bus! She was so excited to be going to Kindergarten. Kayla ran onto the bus and didn't look back! I didn't cry until she was gone. She is there all day and boy is she tired when she gets home! Ryan didn't seem to mind starting school. He is in the 4th grade this year. It's funny the difference between the two kids. Kalya tells me every single detail from her day, from where she stood in line for what to who got in trouble in class. Ryan hasn't changed...he makes it seem like a painful inquisition just when I asked what the best part of his day was. :)

I would like to post a prayer request. On Aug 2nd I was hit in the head accidentally and injured by a water balloon. Seems harmless, doesn't it? When I got hit I had a little pain and then a considerable change in my hearing. The pain went away quickly and I resumed my day and spent about another 3 hours on the lake. Later I still felt like I had water in my ear and it was suggested that I put rubbing alcohol in it. I had heard that before so I went ahead and did it. Big mistake. I didn't realize that I had perforated my eardrum. So, I basically poured rubbing alcohol into an open wound in my ear and directly into my middle ear. Within 20 minutes I was on the bathroom floor hanging on the toilet vomiting. The room was spinning so badly I wasn't sure how I was going to ever get back up. Eventually, I got to the ER and was given a shot to stop the vomiting and medicine for the vertigo. The good news is that my ear is healed now. The bad news is that I have had no return in hearing and I also have lost the sense of taste on the right side of my tongue. I have had some nerve damage and that is why I can't taste well at the moment. I saw an ENT on the 12th and got a steroid shot. I start more steroids next week and are on antibiotics. Last Tuesday, I couldn't hear sounds in my right ear unless they were 70 decibels (sound level of a hair dryer, vacuum cleaner). I know it sounds cliche....but you don't appreciate things until they are gone! I really need my hearing for work and for everyday life! Please pray that my ear will heal and the damage is not permanent! I appreciate it!