April 20.  That was the date of my last post.  Really?   Yes, Kolette.  Really.What have I been doing that could possibly keep me from jotting down a few lines in blogland?  As I started to write, I had to pause and think for a moment.Ah, yes.  That's right.  Hospitals.  Surgeries.  The usual.My dear Jason went in for a routine surgery about six weeks ago.  Three weeks later he had a raging infection brewing inside his belly at the surgical site.  Honestly, he looked terrible.  Terrible enough for even me to take notice.  After being admitted again to the hospital, they did two emergency surgeries on him, removing all the crazy infection and hooking him up to a heavy dose of IV antibiotics.I guess someone in the Hall family needs to have a PICC line at all times.It's been a little slow in recovering from this one but he is doing better and getting around more the last few days.  It came as no surprise to either of us that this drama all landed right smack in the middle of my one year anniversary of pancreatitis.  One year ago I went into organ failure.  One year ago my life and my body changed - probably forever.  One year ago our little family learned a little more about service and miracles and how to stick together to solve a problem.

I thought I would let you know where I am now that 12 months have passed.  Shockingly to me, life is not back to normal.  I assumed that pancreatitis would simply be a distant memory by now.  It's better, but not quite all the way better.

• I still have daily pain related to all the craziness that went on in my belly.
• My digestive system is a mess - but I am eating fairly normally.  The days of a meal consisting of four tiny bites are over!
• I "glisten" after I eat anything.  It's like my system just had a workout and I develop a lovely sheen for about 20 minutes.  The doctor is perplexed as to why that is still happening but it does seem to be getting better over time.  We're trying probiotics and other things to see if my body will respond better.
• I am off my enzyme pills.  I found that my body didn't seem to be in any better shape using them so they are a thing of the past.  This is good news because it means the 30% of my pancreas that is left is doing SOMETHING.
• I am still taking insulin each night to manage my diabetes but it's working so well that I only  have to check my blood sugar about every other day.  I'm a very low maintenance diabetic and we have a glimmer of hope that it will get even better in the future.  We'll see.
• My hair is growing back.  Hooray!  I thought it would but I couldn't help worrying that maybe it wouldn't.  This is yet another time in my life that I am grateful that my hair grows super fast.
• I still look pregnant.  I haven't really gained much weight back so my body looks skinny and my belly pops out like I've got a soccer ball tucked in there.  This is because my fascia layer (whatever that is) is stretched out and it will not get back to normal without surgery,
• I still take a nap almost every day but if I miss a day or only get to rest for an hour then I'm usually fine.  "Feeling bad" comes in waves instead of being constantly with me.

• I can chase Cole (onto the soccer field during our neighbor's game).  I can even toss him in the air and tickle him and do all the stuff a mom wants to do with her two-year-old.
• I have started working again - watch for my dollar stamps starting up again this Halloween!  I can't put in the hours I'm used to but I'm getting there.
• I even managed getting the planting done last weekend.  That was a big step for me to tackle the physical labor.
• I'll have a final surgery in about six months to deal with my belly.  It's all part of the process.  My surgical scar is the size of an avocado, I have a little hernia bubble poking out on my abdomen and that stretched fascia layer I mentioned earlier.  All of these things need to be dealt with surgically to try and get me closer to normal than I am right now.  The doctor wants me even more healed than I am right now before tackling that issue.
• I still love my doctor.  I still am in awe of the service and love and prayers that have been shared for me and my family.

Thank you for being there with me.  And for me.  It's nice to know that there are friends waiting for you on your journey back.I have high hopes.  The next 12 months are going to be great!  They certainly have to be better than the last 12, right?!  Here's to moving forward, baby step by baby step.  And loving the miracles and tender mercies that pave the way.