Saturday, January 23

By now you must know that things are either really good or really bad when I don't have time to post. Fortunately for us, Mark recovery has been phenomenal. He was kind of down and at home on Monday, but bounced back on Tuesday beautifully. He went to work the rest of the week and has done so well. He is not 100% in the diet category, but that will happen over time. He has progressed from liquids, but has stayed with soft foods that don't require a lot of breaking down. It is definitely a learning process, but he is so happy to feel more "himself" than he has in a while. Once again, GOD IS GOOD!!!!!!! He has a follow up appointment next wednesday. We are expecting it to be pretty uneventful!!

We're home!!!!

Well I'll have to catch up. I came home to work and be with the kids on Friday. I had plans to go back Friday night, but I kind of got too tired to drive back. Judy stayed with Mark Friday night. By 930 the next morning when I arrived, he was a different person. Obviously feeling much better, moving better and being ornery. Dr. Hurley came in to see him and advanced him to full liquids and made a plan for him to go home! Mark was ready and was fine with going home on liquids. Basically he will just have to take eating slowly and do what he can tolerate. Everyone seems to be different in how quickly they are able to eat again.

He was so glad to be home. And, just when I thought he was going to lay down and take a nap, he decided to go hog hunting! He looked out the back window, saw the hogs and just had to go. Never mind the gun got too heavy for him to carry, so he had to hand it off to me. I think a little adrenalin has been pretty good medicine! And at least we are one less hog anyway.

He had an okay night after about 330am and as we speak is watching the cowboys try to pull out another playoff game.

Many, many, many thanks to all of the help from everyone keeping things going at home. Donna did an awesome job with the kids and mom and dad were great to help her also. It means the world to us to know that the kids were in good hands.

Thanks to everyone following and praying, Missy

Did I really say that?

How many times do we preach to be careful what you ask for. All I wanted was a plan. But what I typed was "waiting on the doctor to come and maybe something will happen." Shhhaaammmee on me. So the doctor came at 2:00. He changed dressings, advanced his diet, removed his iv fluid, changed his medicine, and said we would negotiate the possibility of getting to go home tomorrow. I know that he was not off of the floor before Mark was telling me he didn't feel so good. I thought it might of been the sight of his open incision, but when it didn't subside with time, I knew something must be up. It really might have started earlier because he didn't have an appetite at lunch either (he thought he just couldn't stomach another pureed meal!)

He spent the next six hours feeling pretty poorly. I got them to give something for nausea, but he didn't get much relief until he was finally sick. Relief lasted a short time. Soooooo, he never got that regular diet that he wanted. He really hasn't eaten much since am and nothing since noon. He is back on an iv and iv meds for nausea and pain, had lab work done and is facing an NG tube down his nose if it persists. We have called on all the prayer warriors because he would really like to fore go the tube. At present he has been resting for about 30 min, so maybe it will continue.

And I promise not to mention our boredom again!!!! Much love, Missy.

Waiting

We are PATIENTLY waiting to see the Dr. this am. I thought this was going to be some nice downtime, but we are BORED to death. He has played cards some (of course he wants me to report that he beat me repeatedly), gone for walks, gotten cleaned up, eaten some more liquids, read magazines, slept, aaaaaahhhhh. Anxious for doctor to come and something to happen!
We'll let you know.

Good Morning

It's Wednesday morning now. The night wasn't too bad. We have certainly had worse. Vital signs and bathroom every couple of hours was about the extent of it. All of the nurses are very impressed with how well he is doing. Yes, he does have the big head over it! That is great with me. So glad he is recovering so well. The doctor was just in. While Mark thinks he is ready to come home, Dr Crim doesn't quite have the same plan for him. At any rate, he does get to have some full liquids today and got some of the wires and tubes off today. More later, Missy.

Midday on day of surgery.

We are in room 452 and Mark has been pretty sleepy. He has a morphine PCA for pain and is doing pretty well with that. He has had some liquids and has been up to bathroom. That wore him out considerably, so he is back asleep.

It is hard to believe that his first surgery was one year ago tomorrow. Quite a different picture we are seeing this time. He is already where we were on about day three last year. Thank goodness we left out the trip to ICU and the blood pressure problems, and the horrible pain and the morphine troubles. We are so blessed. He repeatedly does tell us that someone really big must have punched him the stomach though. Hoping for some good rest, but they have already prepared us for the vital signs every 2 hours! Missy.

Waiting on a room to be cleaned.

We haven't gotten to see him yet, but he has sent out word to tell us he loves us. All must be well. God is good. He will be going to room 452 as soon as they have it ready.
Missy

Woohoo!!!

Doctor just came out of surgery. All went very well. Will be in recovery an hour. Wooohoooo!!!!!
Missy

All is well.

Just called out from OR. All is going well. They have removed his port and they are into the second half of the ostomy procedure. She said it would be under an hour now. Thanks for the prayers. Missy

Good Morning

Well, everyone who is anxiously waiting, I apologize for the delay. I just can't keep up recently. But the county show is behind us and now we can focus on Mark again for a while. I guess we all just have to take turns.

They took Mark back to the operating room at 7:30. I love punctuality! The surgery is expected to take a couple of hours. They will be reversing his ileostomy and removing his infusaport. He is really excited to get rid of both of these.
He was also very excited about the new addition to the hospital this year. Warming gowns! Finally, an answer to frigid hospitals. They hook up to the wall unit and blow hot air under the gown. Even comes with remote control (must have been designed for the men!)

God is good and we are so blessed. I'll keep you posted.

Love to all, Missy