Thankful

I never did 30 days of Thanksgiving on Facebook or anything, and even though I am behind Thanksgiving a few days, and Christmas is almost upon us, I am going to do a “Things I am Thankful For” list and hopefully in the process give you a little update.

 

1. I am thankful that Dad's latest test results came back positive. The nodules in his lungs are barely visible and the lesions in his bones haven't worsened.

 

2. I am thankful that Dad has such a strong work ethic, because he is working hard to get better. Every day he does his physical therapy to improve a little more. Now he can walk across the room with his walker.

 

3. I am thankful that Dad has such a strong will, because he and my Mom gave it to us and together we will get him through this.

 

4. I am thankful that Dad has a power chair, because even walking with a walker across the room takes a lot of effort and wears him out, so the power chair lets him get around more than he otherwise could. He can also take the babies for rides (Korben & Joleigh love it; I think Dad loves it just as much!)

 

5. I am thankful for Dad's doctors. They have the know-how to help him get better.

 

6. I am thankful to God for giving the doctors the knowledge and guiding the doctors to make the best decisions possible for my Dad.

 

7. I am thankful for four precious angels, who are helping work miracles too. I would so much rather they be here with us, but I am thankful that we were lucky enough to have them as family, and that Kellen had a cousin as a best friend like Jaydin. Each of them were unique, each of them were kind and each had their own individual personality that made them who they were. Brandy, Jaydin, Devian & Marvin we love each and every one of you and always will.

 

8. I am thankful for a Mom who pushes and pushes to get my Dad what he needs and gives and gets him the best care possible.

 

9. I am thankful for all of our family, friends, and strangers who have supported our entire family during this year in so many different ways.

 

10. I am thankful that doctors don't know everything, and that Dad is doing remarkably well given the diagnosis that he was given.

 

11. I am thankful that we all live relatively close together and can get together as a family a lot.

 

12. I am thankful that Dad has gotten strong enough to enjoy one of his favorite activities, deer hunting. He and Mom, or Paw-Paw, or Garrett, sometimes drive out to the lease for the evening hunt and Dad hunts out of the truck (yes, another thing to be thankful for, he is strong enough that he can get in the truck with some assistance).

 

There are a lot of other things I am thankful for too, but if I kept on it would make this post really long, so with that, I will close. My family and I wish you a very blessed Christmas Season and a Happy, Healthy & Prosperous New Year

 

Better Late Than Never

I have been completely behind in keeping the blog up to date, but I will try to catch you all up a bit.  For those of you who don't know, dad has been home about 4weeks!!!  Yea!!!  Dad is keeping up with the business end (paperwork, making calls, etc) of farming from home.  Thank you to everyone helping out in any way, we are truly blessed to call you family, friends & neighbors.  Dad is working so hard to get better and regain some of his strength and mobility.  Kellen really wants Mi-Ma & Pa-Pa to go out to eat with her at Gringos, so she can try to beat him at making the best biggest ice cream cone (for those of you who don't know, my Dad is an expert ice cream cone maker - it was his job at school when he was in school).  Dad didn't get to go for chemo on Friday because his counts were too low, but hopefully this week they will have bounced back.

A Quick Update

Just a quick update...last Friday (7/27/2012) we welcomed Langley Taylor Walton to our family, Kristi & Kyle had a healthy 8 lb 8 oz little girl, she is beautiful!!!  On Monday, Dad had to be transported from the downtown Methodist to Katy for an MRI because he had been having some neck pain, so Dad in the course of having an MRI, Dad also got to meet Langley for the first time.  On Tuesday morning the results from the MRI were available there are new lesions developing in the neck.  In response to this, radiation started on Wednesday morning on this area.  The spots are small so we hope this will do the trick.  He will have ten rounds of radiation and will continue with chemo.  Hopefully once the radiation is complete Dad will be able to come home again.

Surprise!

Since Dad was doing so well from the surgery on the leg Saturday, they bumped up the surgery on his arm to today. During the surgery they removed the tumor and put in two plates and several screws and packed e tumor site with cement. He is in recovery right now for at least an hour and then we will get to see him. The doctors did hold off on putting the rod in his other leg at this time.

Surgery Complete

Dad was taken in for surgery this morning right around 9:15, the surgery took about two hours. During this time they put the rod in his leg and pinned it. The doctor was pleased with the way it went he said he was able to pin it well. He was in recovery for several hours and is now back in his room. If all goes well over the next couple days the plan is to continue on to the arm on Tuesday. During this surgery they will remove the tumor from his arm and put plates in.

On Tap this Weekend...

The doctors have conferred and surgery on Dad's leg will be sometime tomorrow. Please say a prayer for everything to go smoothly as possible and the doctors do the best job they are capable of. I also ask that you say a prayer for my cousin Marvin, who was taken from us too soon. Also for our entire family to find peace and healing.

Not a good day...

To say today wasn't one of the best days ever would be an understatement. It started around 3:00 this morning when Dad woke up in severe pain. New pain meds didn't do anything to ease the pain much, so a mobile X-ray unit was sent to do X-rays. Late this evening they returned the results that Dad has a broken femur. This is not good. Right now they are loading Dad in the ambulance to head back to the hospital.