Strong with HIS Power

Hey guys!

It's been a while since our last update...time has flown since Ron moved onto the regular floor! I've also been really busy with work and by the end of the day, I'm too tired to update. Work hasn't changed (other than semester tests time!) but I had gotten into a pretty good routine which has changed now that Ron's out of ICU. So I'm working a several hours in the morning, a couple in the afternoon and then again in the evening and really trying to cram in alot on the weekends when the kids are here with Ron. I'm not complaining...I'm so blessed to be able to work in this way!

Now that he doesn't have to have all his drains to wall suction, they've been able to get him up and walking. He walked to the nurses' station (across the hall from his room) on Saturday and today they actually had him walk down the hall a little ways (about 80 feet!) He's sitting up in a chair a couple of times a day for about an hour each time. During bathing he is able to do his upper body on his own as well as his own shaving and over the weekend, he was able to cut his fingernails! Seems like such little things, yet such huge accomplishments. This is all exhausting for him, so in between he's sleeping alot. Unfortunately, he doesn't get alot of uninterrupted sleep at night since they have to flush his drains every 4 hours and it seems alot of other things they have to do and it sounds as if the nurses are having a huge party each night! Dr. Shires says they wanted him across from the nurse's station because of his high needs but will move him further down the hall once his needs decrease, since he'll be here a while.

Blood pressure and heart rate are stable so they only have to monitor every 4 hours. He's had NO fever in over 3 weeks; hemoglobin (blood count) is 9.9; white blood count has remained in the 11,000-13,000 range the last couple of weeks (pretty good for him) and kidney function has stayed within normal range as well. Blood sugar levels fluctuate somewhat but he hasn't had any huge swings in a while.

He goes for a CT scan and Interventional Radiology tomorrow (Tuesday) morning. We're hoping he'll be able to have a tube (or maybe two?) removed. Nobody has said anything like this, but with the pockts of fluid getting smaller, we can always hope!

That's all to report for now!

Please pray for good results with tomorrow's CT scan and that he will continue to gain strength and energy, as well as get replenishing rest.

Much love,

Christie & gang

"I will make my people strong in My power, and they will go wherever they wish by my authority. I, the Lord, have spoken!" Zechariah 10:12 NLT

the Living Bible says ..."Wherever they go they will be under my personal care."

God promises to make us strong with HIS power!...and what a blessed reminder that He is always with us!