June 30, 2010

It is so hard to believe Friday is almost here. We are at the point where we are stopping medications for surgery, starting new ones just for surgery, and adjusting diet for surgery.....no more coumadin!!!!!

Tomorrow will be Bob's last occupational therapy appointment until Dr. Huber, his cardiac doctor, says he is released to return to therapy. Bob has lots on his "to do list"

Thank you to those of you who still pray for us and support us with cards and phone calls and a joke here and there.

Proverbs 3:5

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."

Starstruck

Bob and I had a delightful evening Sunday, at Starlight. We had planned for months to see Little House and were able to attend the last performance.
We were starstruck at Starlight.

A Hole in Bob's HEART, June 26

A hole in Bob’s heart, what does that mean? I have been thinking about it a lot recently. Yes, I understand that a hole in Bob’s heart let the blood clots out to cause a stroke. I understand that they can fix the hole in the heart. But what will happen then?
What happens to what was in the hole in his heart? What was in that hole? Was there something in that hole in his heart? Was it extra love for all his VHHS students, mankind, the down and out, the people in China and everywhere else where humanity is not respected? What if the hole in his heart held malice for all that is unjust and horrific in our world as well, to cause him to extend his generous spirit to make our world a better place? Was it extra love for his beloved daughters and son in law and me housed in the hole in his heart?
I know from experience, after my precious parents’ deaths, how it felt to have a broken heart. I believe it truly can feel like “broken”, so I believe it can feel other ways, what our minds dictate?
Bob has always has this hole in his heart, unlike most people. So, will it feel different? Will he be different? One thing I know for certain, as our Jesus instructed us, “Love the Lord your God with all your HEART and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and, Love your neighbor as yourself. “ Luke 10:27
That, I know, will never change in Bob’s heart.

A hole in Bob's heart, June 24

We have awaited this day for three weeks. Our newest doctor, Dr. Huber, is fantastic. We knew from the minute we met him that Bob would be better than new! He took a great interest in Bob and explained with his artwork on the white board every detail of the PFO, (Patent Foramen Ovale)how the clots moved through the heart, and how the surgery will proceed. Although 25% of us have a PFO, Dr. Huber actually does only about 50 annually. It takes an episode like Bob's to learn one has the PFO. Bob has an abnormally large PFO and a floppy septum. to be patched.
Surgery will take place next Friday, July 2. Bob will have another stay, at our new home, in the Heart Institute, St. Luke's. He will have rigid rules to follow for at least 2 weeks, for example, walking up stairs, how much weight to pick up, etc.
Bob will stop the coumadin Monday; that is exciting and scary for us. Just a couple more INR tests for him with those constant readjustments. We are grateful Bob will not live on coumadin the rest of his life!!!!
Physical Therapy released Bob this week, with instructions to continue the use of the Wii Fitness Program 30 minutes a day for balance. Occupational Therapy for his eyes continues.
We walk to the square and back every morning and Bob has lost a significant amount of weight.
Bob has been very kind to me with my driving, and it seems we drive all day, every day, getting to his appointments. I know how anxious he is to be able to drive again.
We depend on God, the great physician and healer, knowing He will take care of our every need.

Romans 15:13 "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope."

Father's Day

What a celebration today has been for us as a family. Cammie, Katie,Chris and I are so excited to be honoring Bob on this day. We had our usual early morning walk and a special baked french toast for breakfast. We did a little grocery shopping and rested this afternoon. We met Katie and Chris for dinner and and had dessert and presents at home. (Cammie in in PA working at a camp, planning to be home for Bob's heart procedure)
All in all, it was a simple, but fun and emotional day.
Please don't take anything for granted; life is so short. God is so very very good.

I will be posting a picture taken of Bob today in a shirt and hat given to him by Cammie. The shirt, purchased in a Chinese WalMart, in typically sometimes confusing English says this:"HAPPY DADDY'S LIKES FISHING; DELIGHTED MOTION OF DAD".