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.