Not Again...

After being released from the hospital with Ryker and enjoying a wonderful week at  home with the family, the last thing I expected was to be back in the hospital. I was upset. I couldn't believe this. But it happened.

A week after Morgan was born I was admitted into hospital with Post Partum Pre-eclampsia. Well, a week after having Ryker I was also admitted to hospital with Post Partum Pre-eclampsia. The chances (statistically in Indiana) of developing post partum pre-eclampsia is less than 4%. I laughed at my doctor and asked her what the chances were of developing this a second time. My doctor and I had a good laugh because I had indeed developed it a second time.

Thursday, a week after leaving hospital the first time, I went ahead and called my doctor to be re-admitted. I had an ongoing headache for 3 days (with Morgan is was also 3 days). Why 3 days? Because the first day is just a very mild headache. The second day is a full blown headache. The third day...a full blown migraine that can't be touched with the powerful pain medication I had at my disposal. It just wouldn't stop. The pain was increasing and I couldn't even see straight anymore. I knew the second day something MAY be wrong but just couldn't believe it was THIS. The migraine is caused by high blood pressure. My blood pressure was absolutely through the roof. Without immediate treatment, I would start having seizures.

So, I was readmitted and this time treatment was fast. With my obvious history (having already been through this with Morgan)  I was tested right away, diagnosed right away and treated right away.

It was a...UGH...kind of hospital stay. I don't even want to recap the whole sha-bang. I was very thankful that Kale was able to take off work to be with me. I am also thankful that I delivered both Morgan and Ryker at a hospital that provided me with a private suite large enough for our entire family (if needed). I'm also thankful my delivering hospital allowed me to have the baby with me and any help I would need with him as well. Seriously. What a blessing.

After a few days I was able to go back home and snuggle back up with Ryker and Morgan.

I'm glad that this is over and I am also glad there isn't a chance of going through this again. 

On the bright side, I got a photo of Kale and Ryker snuggling while I was being looked over by the nurses. My heart was melting when I took this shot :) Kale still in his work clothes...a sleepy newborn almost a week old...

~ The Shank Family

This Crazy Foot of Mine

{ Catching up on the latest }

So you all remember my foot surgery? I will opt for showing you the gross photos again but if you don't remember... I had a bunionectomy in 2010. The surgeon opened my foot, surgically broke  my bone (the largest knuckle in the foot) and then reshaped it after placing 2 pins to hold it all together. This was supposed to free me of the pain and correct the tendon that ran along the top of my foot as well ( it was pulling my largest metatarsal in a direction that it was not meant to go).

Well... Things weren't going so smoothly. Ever since my surgery, I experienced pain and swelling in my foot. I continued to run despite the pain. I could only make it around 2 miles before I had to call it quits and run home.

 I finally had enough pain from running that I decided to go and see my doctor. 

So, 9 months ago, along to the doctor I went. He told me I had to wear my boot because I "possibly" a stress fracture. I completely ignored his advice...his medical opinion...and said ah ah. I am going to continue running and I am NOT wearing that boot again.

Well, I did myself a big fat favor. My stress fracture got so bad, I couldn't walk anymore. Am I seriously that hard headed?? Yes.

So I went back to my doctor in October and without a doubt, he scolded me. I asked him to fix it!

He placed me in a boot again.  I have had several x-rays and exams but I really couldn't get any answers. The one thing my doctor did tell me was that this may be permanent from the surgery. What does that mean? That means that the surgery performed changed the anatomy of my foot and the way it physically reacts to running and even walking.

:( HUGE SAD FACE!

How is it that I love to run and I will probably never get to run again.

Needless to say...I have gained well over 18 pounds from not being able to run. I am not really a gym kind of person. I ignored the weight gain completely until I hit 18 pounds. Then it hit me...I had to do something to take care of this foot and be able to keep my metabolism at its best.

So, wore the boot as directed for 2 months. I got the boot off December 11th. Unfortunately, I am still in pain even when walking. I will be seeing my doctor again today. I am really hoping for better news this time.

I am not sure if corrective surgery is a route that he will want to go. I believe orthotics will be the next step. I really don't want to have to wear special shoes but at this point, I am willing to do whatever it takes to be able to run again. I really hope to hear some answers.

At least I am back to wearing two shoes :)

~ The Shank Family

Marley (our 4th kiddo)

Our Shank Family is asking for your prayers through a hard time. We just got some news yesterday from our vet that saddened us into tears and heartbreak. Many of you know about what is going on because of our calls for comfort. Many of you love our dogs and are hearing about this for the first time.

A week ago, I saw Colten lift up on Marley's chin. Marley yelped in pain. I automatically thought "Oh no. What's wrong with his spine?"

Very shortly after the thoughts I had subsided after a little comfort from Kale. I thought I just overreacted as I usually do.

A few days later I realized he wasn't himself. He actually wasn't himself at all.

Marley is Dominant. He eats and then when he is done, Jackson has his turn. Well, for a few days I noticed that Jackson was eating and Marley was not interested. The night before last and yesterday morning Kale and I witnessed Marley fall to his right side a few times. That's when I really knew something was wrong.

I told Kale that I would be taking Marley to the Vet. With Christmas in sight and much money spent on gifts and all sorts of other expenses, Kale had asked me to just be careful. We have so much to take care of right now and he feared paying hundreds to a vet over a simple pulled muscle that will heal in time. I actually was convinced after seeing him stumble that he really did just have a pulled muscle.

So, along we go. The vet bill was supposed to be around $50. I even called to find out the charges. We do love our dogs but vets like to charge for anything and everything.

So, after she did an evaluation (which was actually a neurological evaluation) later finding this out.... she must have known the whole time....

she broke the news to me. Colten is sitting right beside me the entire time. She said that he had a spinal injury. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Did she really just say spinal injury. I wasn't alarmed or scared. But then she mentioned a surgical referral. I started getting scared. Humans have insurance for these things. Well, our pets do not. I knew that it would be big and that would be o.k. What I wasn't expecting was $3000 plus big right out of the gate. There is no way that we can put our family through a surgical procedure financially knowing that he will never be the same, he might now make it through and all the rest that goes along with one surgery after another.

I knew when she said this that our family just can't afford these type of expenses. I immediately lost it. I mean I lost it. Here I am so concerned over a pulled muscle sitting beside my oldest child (whom the dog was bought for in the first place as a gift) and I am being told that I have to euthanize my own dog.

So, the story begins.

I'm heart broken. I can't believe what is happening. Our pup and our LOVE is going to die at our hands? I know, he isn't a human but oh my goodness he is such an important part of our family.

Right now, we have him on medication. He takes a anti-inflammatory, a muscle relaxer and a pain killer twice a day. The other reality to this situation is that these meds are $150 every 7 days. How long can we budget this? How long can we watch our dog be in pain and then get relief knowing that it will never get better?

He will go on this way until the neurological damage is so severe he can't walk. That is not something I wish to put my dog through.

Marley goes back to the vet on December 28th for a follow up. This will be the time we get an x-ray to confirm and then make our decisions. I know that we will make the right decision and I know it will be what is best. I am not ready to say good-bye. Needless to say, he slept at my feet all night last night. ALL 100 pounds of soft, snuggly Marley! Love Love Love him!!

~Love

Our Shank Family

Foot Surgery {1}

I'm not really sure if all of you knew this but I had surgery November 2010 on my left foot. The procedure (medical terms) was a bunionectomy. I seriously thought that only only old people had bunions lol. No offense.

Well...as much as I hate to admit...I was so wrong. I had a bunion on (in) my left foot. 

Terrible pain. Right before I had surgery I had to stop wearing closed shoes. All I could wear where flip flops. It was terrible.

Here are some photos:

{they aren't that gruesome}

the x-ray that determined my fate... my bone shifted quite a bit to the right causing the pain

My poor foot!

They went in and surgically broke 3 bones and put in 2 pins. All better...NOT.

The pain from this surgery was so much worse than my c-sections.

The doctor told me it was normal for my foot to swell through the first year after surgery. Well..It's been more than a year. My foot is a little swollen everyday. Not noticeable but I can feel it throughout the bottom of my foot. This gets worse especially if I go running. I can only run a few miles right now. I fear any longer of a distance right now.

This morning I noticed it was swollen throughout the top of my foot. Which is no good. I went for an 8 mile bike ride today and came home to an even more swollen foot. I figured if I wasn't running it would be alright. Wrong again.

I called the doctor and they want to see me on Friday.

Please pray for my foot as weird as that sounds. I seriously just had two major surgeries in two years!

Well. I am crossing my fingers that this will be an easy fix.

Love you all!

Very Sick Shanks

I wanted to briefly send out a post about our health.

It's nothing threatening by any means but it's not so great either.

Week of March 26 - 30

 Kale started feeling sick. That Tuesday he came home from work sick.  I sent him to Urgent Care. He was sent home with some medication. Kale is the kind of person - for him to miss work - it must be pretty bad. He just doesn't miss work.

He slept things off that day and night and returned to work the next day. Still not feeling that great he duked it out and went on.

April 5

By the weekend he was o.k and seeing little Morgan and myself off to Florida on a plane. He felt great over the weekend and so did the boys.

We thought it was just a small bug he got and it's gone and over.

When we got to Florida Morgan started acted really weird. We { my family and I } assumed she was tired from the trip. She was spitting up a lot more than usual. Her poo's were also a lot more loose than normal. Then out to eat at Olive Garden and she projectile vomits across the table. I mean seriously. You think I would have gotten the hint my daughter was sick. I so didn't. She also just went through a formula brand change. So with all those factors involved I didn't really get alarmed.

April 8

Well the morning I was to fly home with Morgan wasn't so good for me. I woke up and had this incredible headache that covered my skull, down my neck and some of my spine. I was in a lot of discomfort.

By that night I was in bed. I sort of just slept. Then it got worse. I was in tears. My stomach pain was just so overwhelming I couldn't do anything but cry. I did take a few of the pills Kale had for stomach cramps.

The day I found out I was sick two of my family members from Florida were also sick.  I also found out the little boy {2 yrs old} that I babysit during the week was sick too.

April 10


I  kept Tyler home from school Tuesday because he said he wasn't feeling well. I though I better keep him home so I don't have to get in a car and drive to get him from school. 

So this lasts { for me } from Sunday through today. I am feeling better besides this headache I can't get to go away and slight nausea.

Morgan is feeling much better. She is active, playful, and smiling away. She is a little irritable but other than that she is eating well.

Kale is running around the house taking care of everyone. Feeding everyone. Dishes. Baseball Practice.  Poor Guy!

April 11

The day I start feeling better Kale texts me and tells me to add him to the list of sick people. I said Oh No! He came home vomiting. Poor guy. He took care of me while I was sick this whole time and thankfully I am well enough to take care of him again.

April 12

Kale ended up being too sick to return to work. He was in bad shape!

TODAY:


Kale went back to work this morning. He isn't up to par but isn't bedridden anymore. I am o.k. besides my stomach being in knots from this flu. Tyler is o.k. to return to school again. I don't believe he was ever sick actually. No symptoms. He was just being a mama's boy. I was too sick to really mind if he stayed home and snuggled with us.

Christian { the 2 year old I watch } is also better.

This has been a VERY rough week!

All-a-while Colten actually survived! He never got sick. He's a lucky little man.

I know this is strange but when a slight minute passed that things were calm in this house I did get some pictures because I am little miss picture taker.

Morgan's bloated Tummy :(

Pancakes from Kale. I got served in bed. Any other time this would be at treat but I actually disliked the fact I was confined to my bed.

Christian and Tyler being snuggle bugs

Morgan finally falls asleep after a fussy episode of not feeling very well

And finally she is feeling a little better



I am so glad this is over. I am crossing my fingers that this is over. An entire week spent in bed very ill for our whole family is enough for me.

I am still praying for Colten's health to remain good. I really can't handle anymore.

I guess I know what my weekend looks like:

Cleaning. Scrubbing. Washing & disinfecting EVERYTHING.  My efforts might help. I pray that no one else gets sick and that my family starts getting back to normal again.