July 4 - “Don’t have a cow”

Happy birthday, ‘Merica!

We started yesterday off with arm exercises. Chris did her rehab ones. I started on the PT ones she’s was doing before surgery. 

Why? Well, remember back about six weeks or so ago when I helped (read here, “did it myself”) carry those two big ol’ heavy plant pots up the stairs to the deck landing? (I know Diane or Lauren are probably the only ones who might actually remember). Well I did something to my shoulder that day. Didn’t really feel it at the time - adrenaline and all. 

But now it is pretty consistently aching. I’m convinced it’s just sympathy pains, but Chris wants me to tell my orthopedic PA when I see her next week for my thumbs. Maybe it will be all better by then …

“I didn’t know they used a Bovine Achilles tendon.” How often do you hear that in pleasant conversation? Chris just printed out the itemized charges for her surgery. And yes, she received a bovine Achilles tendon. Guess now when she gets worked up about something, I can’t say to her, “Don’t have a cow.” Too late. She already has one! 

Kel and his family braved the traffic and stopped by here on their way to see the big Battleship Texas/ U.S. 250th birthday celebration. We watched some soccer with them and had some sub sandwiches. 

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭14‬ says, Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness — without it no one will see the Lord.

Father, we have a new appreciation for those cows of yours. Thank you. Amen. 

July 3 - “A kid nonetheless”

We had some more visitors yesterday. Jachin and Micah came on their way to work. Well, sort of. Jachin had to be in an hour before Micah, so Micah hung out with us until time for him to depart. They both had time to grab a bite to eat here, too. 

Since Jachin left early, I was up to drive Micah. We chatted about school and his ice cream making job and his future in general. Good kid. As of July first, a 20-year old kid, but a kid nonetheless. 

When I got home, Chris and I spent some time on the back porch. We enjoyed the breeze, especially when it suddenly got cooler. Then we listened to the rain and watched for our resident bluejays to continue making use of the bird bath. Nice. 

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26‬:‭4‬ says, Trust in the Lord forever, because in Yah, the Lord, is an everlasting rock!

Father, thanks for those bluejays of yours. Beautiful. Amen. 

July 2 - “The next step”

We kept our morning activity level relatively mellow. Well, aside from Chris watering the plants in the backyard. And doing her exercises. And working through a shower (yes, that is kind of chore still).  Hey. We had to save energy for her PCP appointment. 

And that one went pretty well. The doc went over all the stuff that has happened, now focusing on the passing out, since the surgery is behind us. Apparently Chris has some kind of wild hybrid of POTS and vasovagal issues. But to make sure it’s not something else, they scheduled an ultrasound of her carotid arteries (neck) as the next step. Hey. We were just lamenting the lack of activities on the schedule for next week. 

Oh. The report finally came in on the CT scan of her chest. Aside from the well-known issues around her heart, they noticed quite a few of those tiny nodules (the x-ray just noted one). At this point, though, the doc assured us it was not time to take any kind of action there, oncological or otherwise. She will repeat the scan in a year unless Chris develops further symptoms. So good news, I guess. At least for now. 

We heard from our fishin’ family. Kel’s crew got to go out in a charter boat for the day. They reported a great catch. Even hooked into some sharks. I know the kids enjoyed that. Micah even mentioned a fish fry in the future. And that future arrived faster than we anticipated. They all came over last night, since their kitchen was “constructionally unavailable.” Good stuff. Fried fish tacos with all the fixin’s. 

Of course with all the activity and doctor-type stress, Chris overdid it. She was royally whooped. Even had me get her an ice bag while everyone was still here. When they all went home and things were back in order, she took some Tylenol and crashed. Well-earned. 

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭12‬ says, Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.

Father, thanks for the relatively good news from the doc. And thanks for the great catch on the boat. Amen. 

July 1 - “A mean old bear?”

Chris had her real physical therapy yesterday. Not that her home therapist isn’t a mean old bear. I’m just a bit scared of her. 

Come to find out, the one exercise she most dreads was officially discontinued. “You’re not supposed to cry during physical therapy.” Well, there’s your quote of the week. 

On the way home we made two stops. Academy, to see if they had any long underwear (for our trip to Alaska). They didn’t. And Walmart, for bananas and some dog food for Freddy. A few other things leapt into the basket, as Walmart merchandise has a tendency to do. 

And after all that, Chris was whooped. She broke out the ice pack and settled into her recliner for a long summer’s nap. 

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, Freddy sprang from her chair to see what was the matter. Away to the front door she flew like a flash, wagging her tail at the end of her dash. Yep. Company. 

Christina, Josiah, Noa and Ezra came over. They just wanted to hang out. Oh, and eat pizza. And stay out of their house while new floors were being installed. Not sure which reason was most pressing. 

Last night Cathy brought over a really tasty casserole that was kind of like one of those King Ranch ones. She followed that up with a lime pie. Strawberries and blueberries on top. Good stuff. She also left some chicken salad for lunch today.

‭‭Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭28‬ says, Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Father, bless Cathy and the LaMarque Vaughans - our bringers of food. Amen. 

June 30 - “The old Home PT”

We were back at the old Home PT again yesterday. And not only did Chris actually attempt the most difficult maneuver (sliding her arm back and forth across the table in a thumbs up position), she got farther than she did the day before. Success! Of course it was pretty painful, but I was really proud of my patient on that one. 

It was also Laundry Day again. Chris already had the dirty clothes separated and in neat little piles before I ever got there. She is doing everything she can to prove she is a tough, independent woman. I can’t convince her that no proof is necessary. Both adjectives have been and continue to be completely applicable to her … one arm or two. 

Along with the Astros, of course, we managed to fit in a bit of World Cup soccer. Paraguay versus Germany. Didn’t think anybody would ever win that one. Guess that’s what makes it interesting? Paraguay came through with the upset in penalty kicks at the end. 

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ says, I will both lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, Lord, make me live in safety.

Father, be with Chris at her regular physical therapy session today. Amen. 

June 29 - “Videoing the excitement”

We had 102 people in church Sunday. That pretty much fills the place up to the brim. Lots of new faces, many of them locals. We met a sharp looking young man named Dillon, who was very much into worship and especially the teaching. He lives in nearby Pirates Cove. Well, for the summer, anyway. He is a college student … West Point. 

 And to top off the Sunday experience, we had three baptisms at the beach. Dillon really enjoyed that. He told me he couldn’t remember the last time he saw a baptism. He also got a kick out of how the onlookers who just happened to be on the beach were videoing the excitement, not to mention how they joined in the clapping and cheering when the candidates came up out of the water. 

The Astros came through with a win again. This time in extra innings. Slowly creeping up on the division leaders. 

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ says, For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.

Father, be with Dillon as he searches for a summer church home. Amen. 

June 28 - “Sans Sling”

Early start for me yesterday. The grass was calling my name. Got it mowed and almost finished weed-eating when the unthinkable happened … 

It started raining. Not much. Just enough to cool things down. I didn’t stop. Chris came outside and quite patiently explained to me that when it is raining, one should stop operating electrical appliances. I assured her that it wasn’t really rain. I was just sweating. A lot. She didn’t buy it. I still finished, though. Even had to rip the broom out of her hand. Yep. She was trying her best to sweep one-handed. With her weaker hand. Wasn’t working. 

We finally finished up. I got all the tools put away.  Just in time to head back into the coolness of the house so Chris could once again tackle those exercises - sans sling. I like that word. “Sans.” I think it’s French. Best I can tell it means “without.”  So … Sans Sling. Sounds like a monicker right out of the Old West. 

But speaking of sling, we took the sling off so Chris could do her first round of arm exercises. She was clearly sore from the day before, so we cut the most difficult one. Gotta do them regularly to overcome the soreness, though. 

After watching the Astros pull out an exciting win over the Detroit Tigers, Chris did another round of the arm exercises. She didn’t have to do the really difficult ones. They are only once a day. The more she does, the more confident she gets without the sling. You’ll get there, Babe. 

Last night Lauren and Ed provided us some lasagna and salad for dinner. Thanks, guys. 

‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ says, Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.

Father, bless the Dawson’s for thinking of us. Amen. 

June 27 - “ain’t for the faint … of heart”

Chris started her home exercises for that shoulder rehab. It was obviously painful, but she was determined to do them. And to do them right. I gotta say … I think I’m way better as a coach than I am as a nurse or hairdresser. Chris may disagree with that one. Perhaps I am just equally mediocre …

Sigh. Yes. She had yet another appointment yesterday. This one was with the sleep doctor. Just her yearly check-in so she can get supplies for her c-pap. 

We had a brief scare when we checked in. They had no record of her appointment. Didn’t even make the screen. Chris was desperately reaching for her purse to show them the email confirmation, when the clerk  finally located it on a different screen altogether. Whew. That would have been a 30 minute drive into Texas for nothing. 

Speaking of “for nothing,” all we ended up doing was re-filling out paperwork and chatting for a minute or two. But that’s all it took. Supplies renewed for another year. Check.

We stopped by the LaMarque Vaughan house on the way home. Jachin and Micah and Ezra were engaged in a hot game of TV golf when we arrived. At one point it magically transformed into bowling. Hmm. The joys of video gaming … I guess. Kel got home after a while. He had been at a training session for his Krav Maga (however you spell it) black belt. Guess it’s a good thing. Although he did get bit. Yep. Actually bit. With human teeth and everything. Krav Maga just ain’t for the faint … of heart. 

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬ says, Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth.

Father, be with Chris as she gets into her exercises. Ease the pain and spasms. Amen. 

June 26 - “Moments of obvious discomfort”

Back at it again. Chris had physical therapy this time. Actually it was technically the “initial visit,” even though she had the same therapist who had been working with her for several weeks  before the. “Big injury.” But I guessed there was another boatload of paperwork to get filled out and filed. 

Yep on the paperwork. But on a more progressive note, she showed us a series of exercises Chris needs to be doing. They looked a little tough, but Chris steeled herself and powered through. She had some moments of “obvious discomfort,” but she handled it. Now she gets to do those exercises every day. Oh, and before we left she made eight more appointments over the next few weeks to go back and see them again and again. Yay!

Food update over the last few days:

Bonnie and David made the long journey from the Mexican food place in Jamaica Beach. Messy nachos and chicken soup. 

Kel stopped by while we were gone and left a treat in the fridge. Christina had made them some taco soup and saved some back for us. 

Sandy brought over some Koop’s barbecue. Even let us taste a piece of her pork belly. Wait. I don’t mean Sandy has a pork belly. I mean she ordered some for herself and gave us a taste. It was really good. Best pig I’ve had in a long time. 

And now … not to be deterred … today we continue the doctor appointment array with the sleep doc. Gotta get some replacement parts for her c-pap machine, and they are insisting on a face-to-face first. Here we go. 

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭18‬ says, The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit.

Father, bless all of our food angels. Amen. 

June 25 - “Sympathy Stab”

Chris felt up to a walk again yesterday. In fact, she’s definitely, definitively, clinically stir-crazy. We added part of a street to our route this time, so half a mile. Point 55 / mile. Five tenths and a little bit. Whichever one sounds longest to you. I was just proud of her for finishing. 

Oh! I forgot to mention my sympathy stab. The other day I was trying to cut Freddy’s pills in half. We have one of those hotsy-totsy pill cutters, but it just wouldn’t work. In my efforts to repair it, my finger slipped and managed to find the cutting blade. It was the tip of my finger, so I didn’t really feel it (thanks, neuropathy), but boy did it bleed (thanks baby aspirin). We ended up wrapping it like I was a mummy or something just to stop the bleeding. 

And yes … it was my dominant hand. Hence, “The Sympathy Stab.” Now, between us we have full use of two left hands. Made it interesting when I had to tie everybody’s shoes. 

Yesterday afternoon was another doctor appointment. Well, there wasn’t exactly a doctor involved per se. It was the CT scan of her lungs. They were trying to locate and identify a rogue nodule that had appeared in the ER chest x-ray. She was not exactly excited about a scan anyway. Not only is she claustrophobic, but the spectre of cancer hovers over her.

And to have to do it with her arm all slinged up made it particularly scary. 

As it turned out, the whole thing only took about ten minutes. I mean from the time we checked in to the time we were almost back to the car. Amazing. Now we wait for results. 

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭18‬ says, For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.

Father, thank you for that blessing of a ten minute CT. Amen. 

June 24 - “In stitches”

Yesterday was Chris’ big follow-up appointment with the surgeon. And in a nutshell, all looked good to him. He told her to do the physical therapy he ordered (passive only for four weeks), and then come back in a month to check in. Oh, and he said he would handle her knee, but only after we get done with the whole shoulder “experience.”

The nurse (at least I think he was a nurse) was a real hoot. He came in to take out the stitches. And he had us “in stitches.” He also adjusted the sling so that it is a lot more comfortable. I would call it a successful visit. 

Speaking of successful visits, we stopped by Nathan’s on the way home. Of course April was at work, but he and Cailyn were both there. Nathan was interested in all the goings-on with the surgeon. And through a text message (not sure who initiated it), April wanted to know what we knew about the CT scan today on Chris’ chest to check out that nodule that appeared on the ER x-ray. I really appreciate the way those kiddos of ours show they care.

So, here we go. Next phase. Chest CT. Deep breath …

‭‭Amos‬ ‭5‬:‭24‬ says, But let justice flow like water, and righteousness, like an unfailing stream.

Father, thanks for those kids of ours and the way they care for us. Bless them. And be with us at this next test today. Amen. 

June 23 - “The Winged One”

I had a lesson from my winged charge yesterday. (That would be winged in the sense of injured in the arm, not in the angelic sense. Although she is certainly pretty close to angelic).  

Anyway … Chris oversaw my separation of the dirty clothes into piles. Yep. See, I had in my mind that I could probably get all of them into three loads, at the most. Two if I really packaged them carefully. Hey. It worked when I was in college. Saved on quarters, too.  But no. She wasn’t having that. Ended up with six. Wow.

While the first load was cookin’, Chris got really brave. She decided she wanted to walk around the block. And even the heat did not deter her. I think she just wanted to be able to tell the surgeon that she has been walking half a mile. Gotta hand it to that gal. 

Glenn and Anita brought us over some dinner. Taco salad with all the fixin’s. And ice cream with fresh strawberries for dessert. Thanks for spoiling us, guys. 

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭33‬ says, But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

Father, bless Glenn and Anita for their ministry heart. Give them a great time with family coming up. Amen. 

June 22 - “Unimpeachable Evidence”

We took a big step yesterday. We celebrated Father’s Day by going to church. Always a good place to start out a Sunday.  And to top it off, it was dinner on the grounds day. Lots of good grub. 

Early in the service I got a Happy Father’s Day text from Nathan. He found a meme of a guy doing a rather interesting dance. I asked how he found one of me dancing. Without missing a beat he replied, “We have plenty of footage we can use.”  What can I say? I’m popular. 

After a text from April, one came in from Cailyn. Hers was quite entertaining as well: 

“HAPPEEE FATHER’s DAY!! i hope you have a great day daddad. love you lots!”

Sweet, right? It was followed in rapid succession with this:

“-your favorite.” 

Gotta love that girl. 

Kel and his gang came by after church. Kel gave me some kind of miracle supplement that will guarantee to get rid of all my aches and pains. There was also a book entitled: “There are Dads Way Worse Than You: Unimpeachable Evidence of your Excellence as a Father.”

There you go. 

Josh and Nathan both called and wished me well. As always, it was great to hear about their day. Especially since they are both fathers. Josh’s boys convinced him that they needed him for a basketball game (read between the lines here, “You have the keys to the gym, Dad.”). Nathan and his girls are spending every spare moment engrossed in World Cup Soccer. 

Chris took a long nap after her church outing. We spent the evening relaxing. Watching TV and working on the latest jigsaw puzzle (it’s pretty much finished). 

Today is Chris’ last “free day.” Tomorrow is the follow-up appointment with the surgeon. The next day she has a CT scan on her lungs to check out that nodules. Then comes physical therapy. Then her sleep doc. Quite a week ahead. 

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭103‬:‭13‬ says, As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.

Father, thanks for my boys. I love them. I know you do, too. Amen.