Getting closer...

My 25th birthday came and went yesterday (Friday) with relative ease compared to the two days before. Let me just tell you that Wednesday and Thursday were absolutely MISERABLE. I barely slept because I was in and out of the bathroom all day and night. I was in pain and also throwing up quite a bit, which is a symptom I never really had before. Once I'm sleep deprived it only makes things worse because I get upset easily and I'm irritable. So it was a nice change of pace to get a decent sleep the night before my birthday and be able to lay in bed all day with minimal pain. Being as sick as I am, that's all I could really ask for. This isn't the first birthday I've spent in bed so I wasn't really upset. My sister and I have already made plans to celebrate my birthday after all this madness is over and I can really enjoy myself.

I've received lots of well wishes for my surgery this past week in addition to the usual birthday stuff. I guess what's good about being sick is everyone tends to make a bigger deal out of your birthday because they feel bad that you are stuck inside on a day when you should be out. My brother, Liam, got me a Cliff Lee t-shirt jersey which I'm quite excited about. Liam has promised me I'll get to wear it at a game in September. Hopefully he is right. I haven't been to a game all summer!

On another note, I'm getting excited and nervous for surgery next week. On the one hand I know it is going to improve my quality of life but I am not looking forward to the pain. It's quite a recovery process when you have a large incision in your belly. You don't realize how much you use your stomach to move, cough, laugh, etc...And when you do, OUCH! Not to mention getting used to having an ostomy.

I'm really lucky to be surrounded by amazing people. As I write this, my sister Nora and her husband Ryan will be waking up in a half hour to drive to Ocean City for a Crohn's and Colitis 5K. Even more amazing is that when they mentioned it on the 4th of July, a lot of their friends jumped to join them. They are all driving 2 hours just to do this walk in support of me and for that I am very grateful. So Lisa, Andi, Claire...if you happen to read this you guys are awesome!

Well I'm sure I'll update before surgery and hopefully I can steal some wireless internet somewhere while I'm in there. Can you believe they don't have internet or Comcast Sports Net!?!?!?