Cruisin, New England Style

September was very busy, but very fun! Gary and I headed for St. George, Utah. We love to go down there and watch the wonderful plays they put on at the Tuacahn Amphitheater. The stage is outside with the Red Hills of Southern Utah as the background. As the sun goes down the play begins. This year we saw Aida and Footloose. The productions were both spectacular. They hire professionals for the lead roles but everyone in the plays are so terrific its hard to tell who is the professionals. Its our three day get away, and we love it!

This year we had to hurry home because the next day we left on our cruise to see the Fall Colors. We went with our very good friends, Mike and Lanee Barajas from San Diego. It was one of the best cruises we have been on because we were with good friends and the cruise was relaxing. That is the only reason we decided to go. My health has not been very good this year so we needed some time to sit back and just relax. We left from New York City and stopped at Boston and Maine and then into Canada. In Boston we were able to see Allen & Beckki and have dinner with them. In New York we did all the sights including the 9/11 memorial. Since we hadn't seen that before, it was a very moving experience. Maine is beautiful, with all it's light houses and scenic coastal views, and of course Canada was quite lovely. The leaves were changing into brilliant hues of purple, gold, greens and reds. The quaint houses and farms were very enjoyable as were all the light houses. I would love to go back sometime.

A Month of Reflection

August has been a better month. I am beginning to feel better although not all days are good.The cannery is open again and I have gone to work some. They are very nice to me. If I'm not able to last the whole time they make me go home. I love being a Missionary and helping people learn more about the wonderful opportunities the gospel can bring into our lives. The Mormon Church is always the first to give help when it is needed. All of the Welfare items we can are sent to needy people all over the world. If there is a disaster, we are the first responders. Its wonderful to know that in some small way we are doing our part to help others in need.

August is also Education Week at BYU. I love Education Week. Gary and I have been going for years now. Long before we moved here to Utah. It has become our special week of togetherness and spiritual growth. Time set aside not only to renew our love for each other but to expand our spiritual grow and love for the Savior. Usually we see friends from home, but this year we only saw a few. Maybe because of the economy. But we enjoyed the classes and the wonderful speakers. Hopefully we will be able to remember what we have learned. I am also hopeful that I will continue to feel better and the Pancreatitis will also get better.

Rest & Relaxation in San Diego

Gary and I decided it was time for some rest now that the Reunion was over, so we headed back home to San Diego. The weather was lovely only in the mid 70's, which is terrific for thr 4th of July. We stayed with my sister Diane and her husband David, who is a Chiropractor. While I was there he adjusted me several times a day and put me on some vitamins and a green drink and checked my PH levels, which were very low. That wasn't good, so he helped me get them higher, which should help me fight the bacteria that has been causing me so much pain in my stomach. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this will be the answer to all my Pancreas pain.

HOLLINGSHEAD FAMILY REUNION 2009

After 3 years of planing it was finally time for the reunion. I decided Cherry Hill Water Park would be a great place for a reunion. Kids could play on the water slides & climb the rock wall or do the batting cages while the rest of us visited. After a delicious breakfast of Biscuits and Gravy with orange juice, moms & dads went swimming with the kids while grandma's and grandpa's rested, talked and snacked. It was so much fun!!

Family kept arriving throughout the day, some from Arizona others from California and the majority from Utah. We counted about 80 Hollingshead Family members who came. We talked and laughed and reminisced about the fun times we had when Grandma and Grandpa Hollingshead were alive and we were all just little kids. We had so much fun as cousins playing at grandma's house. The good old days. That's what we all wanted for our kids, but the family is getting bigger now and its hard to juggle that many schedules. But, we had lots there and it was fun just being together and talking about all memories and our own ailments & hurts.

After lunch we had a watermelon break and crafts and painting for the kids. Then lots of kids and some of us big kids decided to head back to the swimming slides. Oh, so much fun.

Some did crafts and other just kept right on having fun while others fell over totally exhausted from so much fun!


Dinner was terrific. We had chicken, pizza and all kinds of sides to round out the meal PLUS wonderful desserts. Did I mention desserts? That was the best part of the meal especially for all the kids. When we got done not a cookie or brownie was left!

All in all it was a super day. Cousins made many new friends and memories that won't be forgotten.

The evening was spent in a fun way of games, getting to know you, talents and a special tribute to our cute little Aunt Elaine. All of her children were there and each gave a special memory of her. Her health is not too good and we were disappointed when she couldn't be with us to celebrate her life.

We ended with a very fun auction to raise money to have more reunions.

When Over Is Not Really Over

I was VERY disappointed when several more painful attacks caught me off guard. I had been doing so much better. So I decided it was time to take matters into my own hands. I started with the Internet and lots of reading, it was then that I decided to try some natural remedies. After talking to my daughter in law, Beverly, I learned about Silver, which is very good for helping rid the body of bacteria. I also discovered that different types of food can have an adverse effect on the digestive system. Sugar and carbohydrates are very hard for the body to digest. They take a lot longer, and if you have extra bacteria it will feed on the carbs causing them to mold and stay in the digestive track longer, which in turn can cause much pain and can even attack the Pancreas.
So I am making some changes on how I eat. I am trying to eat proteins and vegetables separate from carbohydrates. Sometimes this is very hard to do since we have all grown up eating meat and potatoes together. But I have discovered that carbs eaten with proteins do cause pain, gas and bloating. Fruits should be eaten by themselves since they have sugar and carbs in them.
I am still working on this idea. Its been very hard to give up sugar but I am trying. I really feel that the silver is helping too. So, this is the approach for now. Wish me luck!

Can it really be Over?

I know it's been almost 2 months since I last wrote anything on my blog.
Besides not feeling well, there just wasn't anything new to say. More emergency room visits, many Doctor visits and many many more CT scans and MRI's. I did learn one thing. Don't ever have a full body scan. That only leads to more things that they think are wrong with you. After the cancer scare I decided I was never going back to any specialists and NEVER having any more CT scans. In all the "specialists still could not tell me why I have Pancreatitis, and how to get rid of it. They of course were very sorry for all the pain but couldn't tell me much.


The one good thing I learned was to trust your own Family Doctor. My doctor took the time to listen to me and what I had to say, and then do some research on his own. What he discovered was that there is a little known condition called Bacteria Overgrowth. It is very rare but when it happens it usually attacks the Pancreas, causing much pain, which in turn sends the enzymes levels sky high. The treatment for this is large doses of special antibiotics. When I asked the Specialist about this he told me that he did not feel this was the cause since it is so rare. About a month ago I got very sick with bronchitis and my family doctor gave me Zithromax or the Z Pak, 4 days worth. Within a week the pain in my stomach was feeling much better. After 8 days it was gone. I was over joyed not to be having all that pain, but wasn't sure what had happened. A week later the pain started again. I wondered if the medicine had anything to do with it.

At my next appointment with the specialist I asked him about it but was told that the antibiotics had nothing to do with it. He felt very strongly that I did not have Bacteria Over Growth, that I had a blockage some where that was causing the pain. A few weeks later at a visit with my family doctor I told him about it. He smiled and said, sometimes the specialist have trouble thinking out of the box. After more research on the Internet he said he wanted to try me on the antibiotics again. This time for 2 weeks and see if I got the same results. Well, I finished the meds 2 weeks ago and am still feeling good. No pain. I hope that this means that things are now on the up swing. Of course the specialist still doesn't believe that this is the answer, but I do! I am feeling so much better.
I know that all the prayers and family and friends putting my name on the prayer roles have helped. It has been almost 6 months of terrible pain, but I am thankful to my Father in Heaven for watching over me and for Gary taking such good care of me. Hopefully its over.

More Hospital Stays

I know its been awhile but lots has been going on. I went to LDS Hospital for the next surgery on the 16th, I thought the Doctor would be going into the bile duct. The Dr. said that if the surgery went over 2 hours he would stop for my safety and of course that is what happened. After 2 hours he was finally getting to the bile duct opening, but decided to stop because it would take another 2 hours trying to go through the bile ducts. He said having me under that long would be too dangerous so he made the decision to stop.

When I woke up I was very disappointed to hear that. I was hoping that everything I had been going through would be over and an answer would be found. Gary took me home with more pain meds. The next few days
were very painful and I ended up back at the emergency room on Friday because of the pain. They hooked me up to an IV and gave me pain medication and did blood tests. The tests showed the enzyme level was high and they called my Doctor who gave me a choice of being admitted or going home and staying in bed on liquids. Of course I chose home, I really don't like being in the hospital. The following Monday I went to see the Doctor. He decided that I needed another specialist up at the U of U.

Well, I am still going upwards at least, now its at the University of Utah Medical Center. My appt in on April 2nd and we will see what they think.

ANOTHER HOSPITAL STAY

Tomorrow is another adventure for me in the on going saga of the mysterious Pancreas. I will be admitted to L.D.S. Hospital in Salt Lake City for another surgery. This time (I hope) they are going to look inside the bile ducts to see if there is something blocking them. If there is, that could be the reason why I have been so sick. My hope is that they will go ahead and take out what ever is blocking the ducts. I have been so sick this past week. I had to be back on pain pills and this is not how I want to live my life. I want to be up and going. So I hope tomorrow they will be able to find some answers for me. Keep me in your prayers, I know the Lord loves all of his children and wants the best for them.

Family Fun & Reunion

Stephen & Michelle flew down for a wedding, so we were all able to get together for Sunday dinner. What fun we had! There was 25 of us. Allen and his family are still living in MA. and Stephen's 5 kids didn't fly down with them. We missed not having everyone together but we had fun anyway.

I think they're trying
to tell you something
Is it time to come home
Allen? We Miss You.

No Way-- Rebecca
got you first James!

Brothers & Sisters--
I think someone is
missing.

Finally, A Family Picture
Well, almost--Where is
Allen? Time to come home!

MORE NEWS ABOUT PANCREATITS

For those of you who are following my slow and painful problems with Pancreatitis, the next round of news is good news (I think). My specialist here in Provo has moved me onward and upwards. He said my case was to complicated for him so he has asked another specialist to take over. This Dr. is in Salt Lake at LDS Hospital. Since Salt Lake is up from me I guess that is good? Only problem, he is soo busy that I couldn't get an appointment till March 16th. So I have 2 more weeks to wait and hopefully find out what is causing this problem. My hope is that he will go in side all the bile ducts and see if something is plugging them up. I know this will be be a much more complicated surgery. But after everything I've been though I still want this to happen. I'm hopping this will be the answer.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Today was our 45th wedding anniversary. It's hard to imagine that its been that long. It seems like only yesterday that Gary and I knelt at the alter of the Los Angeles Temple and were married for time and all eternity. I remember thinking that eternity seemed like a very long time, but now it's been 45 years. How did the time go so quickly. Six wonderful children came to our home and we loved and cared for each one . We had so much fun as our family grew. Sometimes we worried how we could buy shoes for so many, but the Lord blessed us continually. Now we look back and it seems like it was just yesterday. The house is still full of little ones only they are grandchildren. They bring us so much joy and so many blessings. We both look forward to spending Eternity with our family. What happiness that knowledge brings us.

WHAT GRANDMA NEEDS?

I found this idea on my daughters blog and thought I would see what happened if I punch in What Grandma Needs on google. Boy was I surprised! I know I don't need some of these things yet, although I have some sons who will tell you I do.

WHAT GRANDMA NEEDS
1. Grandma needs a bailout. Isn't that what the President said?
2. Grandma needs a friend. I can always use more friends.
3. Grandma needs therapy. Well, after 6 kids & 22 grandkids?
4. Grandma needs a Job (no way!)
5. Grandma needs a lift chair. Not Yet!
6. Grandma needs to know about babies. Is someone trying to tell me something?
7. Grandma needs new glasses. O.K. that ones right.
8. Grandma needs a Visa. Alright, where am I going?
9. Grandma needs a new home. That's so I don't need the lift chair.
10. Grandma needs to be in a home. Very Funny, Ha Ha
I think I can come up with a better Grandma Needs list by myself then what google said. But I'm willing to keep an opening mind (about some things).

MY SWEETHEART

I know its past Valentines Day but I just want to say how grateful I am for such a wonderful husband. He has been there through our whole married life helping me and taking care of me. The one problem I've had through out our married life is health problems. He never complains he just takes care of me. This has been another unusual health problem. If there's one thing I'm known for its that I always get the different" kinds of problems. He is such a caring husband and father, always there if anyone needs help. Of course we couldn't go out to celebrate but he made sure I felt loved with these beautiful flowers.

GOOD NEWS

I am sorry it has taken so long to post this. The news is wonderful, I do not have CANCER. The Doctor did the scope last week and I am so happy that I don't have to worry any more about cancer. The Lord has really blessed me, and I am so grateful. I have so many more things I have to accomplish in this life time. But, the first thing we have to do is find out WHY I have Pancreatitis and WHAT is causing it. I am still in a lot of pain and have to be very careful about what I eat. I am getting a little tired of Diet Jello, turkey and chicken, but that's ok, I am learning not to complain.

MANY BLESSINGS

It's been 6 weeks now since I was admitted to the hospital and was diagnosed with pancreasitis. It has been a long and painful experience. In a week I will go to the hospital again so they can do another procedure where they will put a scope inside me to see if they can find out what caused this problem. They had to wait this long to try and give my pancreases time to get some of the inflamation healed.Tthey told me there is a good chance that going inside with a scope will cause the pancreases to become inflamed again and we will start this all over again. But as long as they have a chance to find out the cause and fix it, I figure it's worth all that pain again.

The Lord has blessed me so much. My wonderful husband has never let my side. He is always there taking such good care of me. I can't eat anything with fat, sugar or spicy, so he spends hours looking for things for me to try. Then he fixes it and brings it to me. I am so grateful I have such a loving and caring person. I love him very much. I am thankful for my family who call and check on me. Rebecca lives 2 hrs away and Allen and Stephen live on opposite side of the U.S. but they call to see how I am. Brian couldn't get us on the phone last week so he kept leaving messages until I remembered to check the answering machine. James couldn't reach us last Friday so he and Bev spent their Friday date night in our living room checking to see that everything was O.K. I have to learn to listen or check the machine, but at least I know that they care about me.

I have been blessed so much. So many friends who call or stop by. Everyone wanting to do something for me. Wonderful home teacher who is either over at the house or calling on the phone. A visiting teacher who called everyday when I got home from the hospital to see how I was. She tried so hard to find things for me that I could eat, and she even made me some pumpkin soup to try. Dianna Brown our neighbor sent dinner over for Gary last Sunday because she was worried about him too. Our other neighbor whose father is dying in the hospital came over to apologize for not doing anything for me and wanting to know what she can do. The Bishop calling and checking every week and even stopping by to visit. The boys who brought the sacrament in to me for 3 weeks when I was too sick to go to church. The Relief Society President who got her feelings hurt because I told her not to bring dinner in because I couldn't eat. She had it all set up for dinners for several weeks. I finally told her to bring dinner in for Gary one night then she was happy. So many wonderful people who love and care and just want to help. So many wonderful, wonderful friends. I am so blessed. I am so thankful.

IT"S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY

This is what I saw as I looked out from my hospital room and from my bedroom. SNOW!

It's been a long cold month, but I am starting to feel a little better. The pain isn't quite as bad, but I am still very weak. I still cannot eat much food. I am on a fat free, sugar free and very soft diet. I saw the specialist Thurs and because they can't figure out why this happened I have to have more test done. Sounds like fun. I hope they will be able to figure it out soon.