Happy Birthday Nate the Great..

What can I say about the sweetest, nicest, best son, ever, on his special day? Never complaining, always cheerful and upbeat, Nathan is an example to all of how to live in spite of adversity. Happy Birthday, dear son!

Behold, a turkey army...

We had fun this morning making "turkey" favors for our Thanksgiving table decorations. Our final total was 30, 24 for us and 6 for some friends. These are easy to make. Directions are as follows: Chocolate covered cherries for the body, burnt peanuts for the head, candy corn for the feathers, vanilla wafers for the base and the back, a can of chocolate frosting for the "glue".

He's getting better..

Nathan had his one week post-op visit to the surgeon this morning. He is doing well. The doctor pulled out the staples in two of the incisions. Everything appears to be healing well. The worst spot is where the surgeon repaired the old stomach-tube incision area, it had developed a large piece of hardened scar tissue that the doctor removed and then re-stitched the area to close it up, it had been open all these years (22) and looked like another belly button, we never realized that wasn't normal. The only place Nathan is feeling pain now is where that is healing. It's very tender. He's looking much better and his color is returning. He spent the summer being very pale from not feeling well. I'm so glad to see him feeling better and returning to his cheerful self.

Back in the saddle again...

Does anybody remember that old refrain from a song Gene Autry sang, or for that matter does anyone remember Gene Autry? Well, Nathan isn't exactly in a saddle, but he is back in his wheelchair and able to sit and play Wii. I put him back to bed at 3 this afternoon. This was his first day out of bed and sitting up. He did very well. His brother, Mike, came for a visit and played on the Wii with him. He is ready to take on Tiger Woods in golf anyday now (as long as they play a virtual game, that is). I was very pleased to see him doing so well. His appetite is returning too.

He's home..

Nathan is home and is in his own bed now. Still feeling really sore, but who wouldn't after having abdominal surgery? He was very drowsy today, the day nurse was bragging how she hadn't given him any pain meds on her shift. It turns out the night crew had shot him full of dilaudid followed by several percocets, no wonder he told the doc he wasn't feeling as much pain today. I think we can manage his pain just fine here at home. I don't know why I always think the hospital can do it better. Silly me.

Only a day away...

Nathan will be coming home tomorrow (Thursday). He is in a lot of pain and I just didn't feel that he was up to the trip home. So, I talked to the surgeon about my apprehension and he agreed to one more day. I think Nathan is feeling somewhat better because he had taken over control of the TV in his room. There is only one TV for 2 patients and Nathan had talked the guy in his room into letting him have control for today. Nathan promptly turned off the TV, which did not make his roommate very happy.

Surgery update..

Nathan's surgery took about 2 hours. He is spending the night at the hospital. We saw him this afternoon after surgery and he seemed to be doing as well as can be expected. The doctor removed many adhesions in his abdominal cavity and on his liver, high in his diaphragm. Hopefully, this will cure the pain. Although, the adhesions could return anytime. Surgery is both the cause and the cure. Some people are more prone to grow adhesions than others. Nathan may be one who has the tendency to grow adhesions. The doctor also removed his appendix and did a repair to the site where he had a stomach tube many years ago. The surgeon told us he stapled him back together in a few places. Nathan should be coming home tomorrow.

Surgery today

We're getting Nathan ready for his exploratory laparoscopy this morning. We need to be at the hospital by 8:45, so we'll leave here about 8 a.m. Surgery is scheduled for 11 a.m. We don't know if they will keep him overnight or not. His home teaching companion gave him a blessing last week, so we are feeling that everything will be okay. My dear sister-in-law is coming with me and so is Nathan's caregiver, we are like a small army, packed and ready for the invasion.

YES WE DID...

I love America! Let's pull together now and make this country strong and vibrant once again.

At last, election day is here!!

Please do your patriotic duty and vote today. It is wonderful to live in a free country and to be able to choose our leaders. Don't pass up this opportunity. God Bless America!