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Mary Lenaburg

Writer, Speaker, Woman of God

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put on a happy face…

8 Apr


Apparently this is my week for unexpected challenges. Yesterday it was all about the boots. Today it was all about the poop. I know, I know, it’s indelicate and unladylike to discuss such things, especially throwing it out into the interwebs. There are so many other things to write about why write about this? 


Well, I promised myself that I would always tell the truth about my life here in this space. This is daily life with a young adult with special needs. This is daily life with a daughter who cannot communicate her needs to the world. This is daily life with a suffering saint. This is the good, the bad and the poopy. 


Putting on my happy face and diving in…


before the day went to the toilet…

This morning Miss Courtney had a gastroenterology appointment as well as a G-tube clinic consult. She get’s weighed, sees the Nurse Practitioner who checks her G-tube site and goes over all her feeding needs. We meet with her dietician, check her G-tube formula to make sure she is getting all the nutrients she needs, make any tweaks we need to and discuss any feeding issues she may be having. 


We did find a parking spot at this facility right away and it wasn’t raining. That was a nice way to start the day. Once we got all the paperwork done, Miss Courtney was weighed. 


5’6″ and 96 pounds. Not good. Too thin. 


She is losing muscle. Not good at all.

Once I get that news it’s into the exam room we go. We talk about how well she is doing in PT, how she has learned how to roll over since her last visit here and all the other good things happening. The NP starts her exam and all of a sudden it’s quiet. She poking and prodding and the conversation turns to constipation and a possible impacted bowel. Then we move onto a possible enlarged thyroid and this Mama’s heart begins to beat a little faster. 


sonogram heaven…

We make several changes to her G-tube formula to help with the constipation. We add in another dose of lactulose to assist with this as well. Then she listed the fun stuff. We had to have an X-ray, today. We needed to get a sonogram on her thyroid, today. We had to begin a “cleanse”, today. 


There are times when being the mother of a special needs child who doesn’t walk and doesn’t speak is really challenging. Today was one of those days. 


I wish Courtney could tell me her tummy is hurting and she needs to go potty. I wish she could walk so she could “work it out”. I wish she didn’t have such a high tolerance for pain so I would know to help sooner. It is THE most frustrating part of parenting a non verbal special one.  


So what started as a 60 minute regularly scheduled check-up turned into a six hour hospital marathon. 


We got the X-ray taken. No bowel obstruction (thank you Jesus) BUT she was way backed up. When I say my daughter is full of s***, I mean it literally. We moved onto the blood work. Thank goodness the technician was a good one and got the blood draw in one stick. That is always this Mama’s prayer with blood work. Get it in one. Thank you Blessed Mary, he did. Then we were off to have a sonogram on her thyroid. All clear. It’s deviated to the right side of her throat because of the way she holds her head but it looked “beautiful”. Thanks Doc. I like a beautiful thyroid. 


hospital gown couture…

Now comes the fun part. The “cleanse”. For the next 48 hours Miss Courtney will only have bone broth and homemade pedialyte while undergoing two Miralax bombs a day AND Exlax at night. This is how it’s done without taking the nasty stuff I have to drink before a colonoscopy. Sweet Molly McGee…my life has become a big poop party. BTW, she is on day number three of her monthly. Still two more left of that great gift. 


Now this. 


Can you hear my joy? 


I mean seriously?


Dancing here? Bowel dancing for sure…


OK bad joke. Really bad joke. But we are talking poop here. I’ve got nothing.  


Now, I can complain all I want but all I have to do is make her comfortable and clean up the results. My poor Courtney has to go through this lovely experience. I feel so bad for her. I suppose on the positive side she will feel ever so much better when it’s all done. At least I hope so. 


So no PT again tomorrow. No dinner with friends on Thursday. It will be me and my daughter Courtney the Pooh. 


Let the party begin.  

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Comments:
7 Comments
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Courtney's World

« the tale of two boots…
coffee for your heart #13 ~ you were made for this… »

Comments

  1. Jessica says

    April 8, 2014 at 9:19 pm

    Aww, Mary. I will be praying for you and Courtney, though I have to say you have a way with words and put a smile on my face. (Which was desperately neeeded!)

    Reply
  2. Beth (A Mom's Life) says

    April 8, 2014 at 11:37 pm

    Praying for you both!!

    Reply
  3. Beth in the City says

    April 9, 2014 at 1:08 am

    Ah Mary, I feel for ya. It can't be easy, cleaning up the results! It's got to be brutal going in for "routine" and finding out scary things are possible. I'm thanking Jesus with you, while knowing this is no picnic either.

    Reply
  4. Susan A-C says

    April 9, 2014 at 4:10 am

    I'm so impressed that you are managing to keep a happy face through it all! True, Courtney can't be feeling that good if she's so backed up, but being the one who has to clean the result is no fun either. Offering up tonight's heartburn for you! Keep smiling… Piglet? (Since Courtney is Pooh… my lame attempt at humour.)

    Reply
  5. Nancy says

    April 9, 2014 at 12:08 pm

    on foot in front of the other, or is it one diaper after another? You encourage me so much. As a nurse, I totally understand what you are experiencing, over and over. I know the saying " this, too, shall pass" is sometimes trite and shallow and oh so appropriate to this instance, but it will pass and others will see that you do have passionate perseverance and they can know that it's possible for them, too, to have it in whatever they are going through in their lives too! You are a daughter of the High King, Mary and being His obedient servant in caring for Courtney whom He's entrusted to your care! May your day be filled with Joy today!

    Reply
  6. The Lysser says

    April 10, 2014 at 8:17 pm

    Hey Mary, just wanted to let you know I was praying for you and Courtney while I was walking around Machu Picchu yesterday. Not quite the same as lighting a candle, but I wanted you to know 🙂

    Reply
  7. mami mumy says

    June 4, 2014 at 4:22 pm

    I will be praying for you and Courtney vimax canada , though I have to say you have a way with words and put a smile on my face. (Which was desperately neeeded!)

    Reply

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Writer, speaker, woman of God. Chasing the dream of the perfect cup of coffee with a side of laughter. Read More…

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Instagram post 2189521883971719485_19538962 Advent, a time of preparation as we wait for the Infant Jesus to come, bringing with Him our Hope and Salvation. .
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Advent also brings with it a powerhouse of emotions in our home. Grief, joy, anticipation and dread as we walk toward December 27, the day our sweet Courtney went home to Heaven. .
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Joy and Sorrow go hand in hand in this life my friends and as we walk toward the fifth anniversary of Courtney’s death, we would like to offer our grief and suffering for you and those you love. .
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So beginning today, through this season of Advent and Christmastide, our family would love to intercede for you, also asking our beautiful saint to intercede for you as well, bringing your needs before the Lord in this time of waiting. .
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We will write down every prayer request received between now and Epiphany, placing it Courtney’s Stocking, praying for those intentions each day. On the Feast of the Epiphany, we will burn those prayers collected, allowing the smoke to rise to Heaven like incense. .
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This is our way of reclaiming this season that was once devastatingly hard to walk, offering joy and praise to the ONE who gave us the gift of our daughter Courtney to begin with🎄❤️
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Today begins Operation Courtney’s Prayer Stocking. You can DM me, email me at lenaburgmary@gmail.com or write them below this photo. PLEASE pass this along to anyone you know could use the prayer assist. ALL prayers requests are welcome friends. .
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Time to put our girl to work interceding for ALL. I know she’s ready and waiting...
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Filled with hand me downs, yard sale finds, Goodwill treasures and even a few new pieces. The walls covered with photographs with so many stories to tell. It’s a place where many memories have been made, some good and some not so good, but either way, they belong to us as a family. .
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Hospitality in my home is not about making it Pinterest Perfect, it’s about keeping the door open and a seat at the table for who ever needs a safe place to land. It’s a place of warmth and welcome, a place of faith and fun, a place where the weary are always welcome. .
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Instagram post 2188160468216390508_19538962 I have been on quite the journey when it comes to my skincare. I have had rosacea my entire life but it was post-baby when things really got out of hand. .
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As I began my book tour back in May, which included an intense fall speaking schedule, I started wearing makeup everyday. I tried the @beautycounter makeup line and was thrilled with its coverage and wearability as well as the ease with which I could remove it without irritation. So important for sensitive skin. I was very happy with the results. .
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So happy that last week, I made the decision to become a consultant for @beautycounter!! I know...insane right? But I really do believe in the product, the company that makes it and their message of clean beauty. .
I know you have so many options when it comes to purchasing your personal care items my friends and I do appreciate your encouragement and support with this new venture of mine. .
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#betterbeauty #cleanbeauty #twitter #rosaceaskincare #irishskincare #sensitiveskincareproducts #beautycounterforthewin #newconsultant
Instagram post 2186768205091273253_19538962 Thanksgiving 2019 🦃🍽🍁
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The ENTIRE Lenaburg Clan gathered for the first time since the summer of 2015, when Don and Eleanor celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary. .
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We are missing Courtney and Grandpa Don so much, yet they have made their way into every conversation. .
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Family. Complicated and Beautiful 💛
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Instagram post 2186762108871654525_19538962 Early Thanksgiving is how we rolled this year. With a two day drive to and from Oklahoma for us, a drive to and from Texas for my BIL and SIL, we knew we would need to make adjustments.
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I have a PhD in adjusting. .
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So we set the table with family China and silverware, got up early to roast the turkey and play oven Tetris to make sure everything got done on time. .
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There was peeling and mashing and roasting. There were Dominoes played and Rook (which is complicated as all heck). There was teasing and joshing and storytelling. .
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Instagram post 2186729430613196956_19538962 Family.
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Although sometimes complicated, to be part of a family is a gift. .
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A gift, that if I’m being completely honest, I have not always been grateful for. .
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But this week I feel exceedingly blessed. We surprised Jerry’s (@grouchy_historian ) 85 year old mother, Eleanor, by spending Thanksgiving in Oklahoma. We have not been back since Jerry’s Dad passed in December 2016.
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To watch her with her son and grandson has been pure gift. We honor time in a different way these days and have come to appreciate any opportunity to be with those we have been given by God to love and care for. I have not always done that well, but everyday is a new day with another chance to get it right. .
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This moment will be with me for quite some time. It’s a lesson in letting go of expectations and past grievances and being fully present and receive the gift God prepared. .
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