Visit from A-da (grandpa) & Joel's Health

Annie loved playing with A-da. He was so good with her. He taught her a couple of Chinese nursery rhyme songs.

Some of you have been wondering why haven't updated. (I've recieved a few calls from friends: "Are you guys ok? You haven't made a post in a while!") For those of you who didn't know, Joel got sick the day of Annie's birthday party and that week he was in the Emergency Room twice. Then, over the fourth of July, we spent three days in the hospital. The doctors diagnosed him with Ulcerative Colitis. He's doing so much better since we got home from the hospital. He's on medication, but the doctor is slowly tapering it off. Joel's friend had the same thing and went on a special diet that cured him for the most part. It's strict: no grains, no rice, bread or pasta. No starches or sugars. (Corn and potatoes are out.) Nothing from a can and no prepackaged foods. No dairy products except for hard cheeses. One thing you can eat and lots of it is homemade yogurt. It has to ferment for 24 hours. Our friend gave us his book and yogurt maker to get started. The good news is that you don't have to stay on the diet forever, just until the symptoms subside and then some.

It was great that my father was here while Joel was going through that rough time. He took Annie entertained Annie in the hospital library while I held Joel's hand in the ER. It was a difficult time. The second time Joel's mom called Baba and I while we were eating lunch and said, "Joel's in the emergency room again." It's scary to hear those words. It's scary to see your husband lose 20 pounds in one week. It was scary to see his hands deathly white.

But thank God, he is doing so much better. He's a new person. He's gained a lot of weight and got some color back. Things are looking normal. The diet is super strict but super nutritious, so maybe that's why he's got that healthy glow again.


Thank you all for your prayers for Joel.