Home again, home again, jiggety jig!!

As I write this I am sitting in my favorite spot on our couch at HOME, with the windows open and blowing a cool breeze across the room at HOME, having slept in our own bed at HOME, having had supper with all of my family at HOME. Do you see a trend in this post? YES, we are finally at HOME, having departed Spartanburg late yesterday morning and arriving here just in time for supper. It is so good to be at home and be back with the kids!

I'll be spending the next few days mixing rest and relaxation with going through mail and email, and then moving on to working on the desperately late next edition of our ministry newsletter. Also during this time the doctor said I needed to work in a little "light exercise", so I could not resist the beautiful weather today and got out to help Heather get her garden in. Think this is what he meant? (PS Please note the pajama bottoms and slippers...I may be a little slow, but not THAT slow! LOL)

The next day

Today has been restful and quiet. We are hoping to get to head home to KY tomorrow, just have one last thing to check on with Dr. Kinard in the morning. We are SO missing Austin and Heather and SO ready to be home. Pray with us that God woould work it out that we can.

Thought you might enjoy seeing a couple of pictures from last week. The week before my surgery, our church (1st Baptist, Hindman) was doing the church directory photo thing, and although we just had some family pictures done, we went anyway so we could be a part pf the directory. After the pictures were done we had decided we did not want to waste all our dressing up, so we went in to Hazard to have Rachael's (belated) birthday dinner at Applebees. We had a great dinner and it was an enjoyable evening. In spite of myself, don't I have a great family?!?

Released from the hospital...now THAT'S an update!

Well, I guess you could consider this our last “surgery update”, as I have been released from the hospital and am now resting comfortably at the Smith’s home. Since Rachael last updated you yesterday, I made several more “trecs” around the track on the 3rd floor, Dr. Kinard came in yesterday afternoon and gave us the pathology report, which was great, and assured us that now all I have to worry about is getting over the surgery. This morning Dr. Atkins came in gave the final “OK” and we started packing to leave. By 1:00 his afternoon we were headed down the elevator. Best elevator ride I’ve had in years! LOL

Of course there’s still a few “housekeeping details”, like getting the staples out next week (which we can do in KY), and going back in a couple of weeks to see Dr. Kinard. Other than that, I’ll just have to get a CT scan or MRI in 6 months and 12 months and so on. This really has been an amazing journey, and while it’s certainly not over, I have to admit that I‘m glad we’re on the downhill side of it.

Many, many, many thanks for the phone calls, cards, letters, flowers, etc. While they weren’t expected, they certainly brightened up the last few days. Most especially we want to thank you for your prayers. We sensed constantly that we were being lifted up to the Lord continuously. So many times over the last few weeks and especially the last several days there have been occasions where things took just the right turn at just the right moment. We thank you so much for your prayers.

Just a little over four weeks ago when this all started, I wrote in this blog that the Lord had led me to a particular passage. Just to help me keep things in perspective, I’d like to share that with you again. It’s found in Psalm 39…

“LORD, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, and does not know who will gather them. “And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.

As I said that day, God has given me a new window to look through. He has given me the glorious blessing of being reminded once again that this life is Oh, so short. Whether we have 5, 20 or even 60 more years to live…or maybe just a few more minutes…how will we spend it? Will we make a greater difference with the rest of our lives than we have up until now?

The Lord has indeed made me to know my end and how utterly frail I am. From day one until now and for all time… Our hope is in the Lord. We rest in Him.

Surgery Update #4

Lots of progress since we last talked. Dr. Kinard came in yesterday while I was napping at the Smith’s house and talked more with Jamie. He checked him over said he was progressing well and doing fine. I think he hinted that Jamie needed to do more walking, because when I got back Jamie was ready to take a lap. He didn’t quite make it all the way around last night, but he did this morning.

Dr Dunn came by last night right before we went to sleep. Dr. Dunn is the doctor who did the colonoscopy back in February and referred us to Dr. Kinard when we knew that Jamie would need a urologist. He is a great Christian man and has checked in on Jamie’s progress through Dr. Kinard several times and even stopped by to see Jamie right before his surgery in the holding area. Last night he was checking to see if we needed anything and even offered for us to stay at his lake house after Jamie got out of the hospital if we were not able to go all the way home. How sweet is that?!

Last night was kinda rough, with Jamie waking up about 3am with pretty bad pain and nausea. We got some meds in him and we both got back to sleep about 4:30 and slept pretty good until about 7:30 this morning. Dr. Kinard hasn’t been in yet this morning, so I am headed back to the Smith’s for a shower and a nap.

Thanks for your continued prayers… trust me, we are very aware that we are being lifted up to the Father. Don’t forget to pray for Austin and Heather back at the Campus with my parents, Jan and Earl Heath, and also Gil and Debbie Tomas. We appreciate them “holding the fort down” while we are away. Pray also for the RCDA (Rural Church Development Alliance) Men’s Retreat and Campout going on at the Campus tonight and tomorrow. Many blessings to you and yours!

Surgery Update #3

Well, this is the morning update – turned into noon update.  I have to admit, last night was not the most restful night we’ve ever had. Many trips to the restroom, but at least he’s getting his exercise. I’m going to go hide out at friends house to get a nap this afternoon. Dr. Kinard came in this morning and said that all of the lab work on the remaining kidney looked great. I didn’t realize that the remaining kidney will actually grow somewhat to compensate for the loss of the removed kidney. Everything else is looking good, just a matter now of going through the motions of taking his walks and working through the soreness and resting. Dr. Kinard said Saturday or Sunday we should be able to head home. Thanks so much for your continued prayers.

Surgery Update #2

We’re watching Gunsmoke right now. Well, at least I am. I don’t know why Jamie’s not up to a lot of action yet. He is doing very well today; just felt a little nauseated a couple of times. The doctor came in early this morning and was able to talk to both of us. Jamie really didn’t remember things from yesterday. Of course, I normally don’t remember much the first time either. He felt that everything went very well, and we’re just waiting on the pathology reports to come back to determine the type and stage of the cancer.

We’ve had just the right amount of visitors today, nothing overwhelming. Jamie’s “stash” now includes a Get Well Dad balloon from the kids, a large, beautiful Peace Lily, a get well balloon that sings, a basket full of goodies (chips, candy bars, lollipops) that I’m going to save for myself since he can’t have any. His loss will be my gain, literally. LOL

My parents got here yesterday afternoon before Jamie went to surgery. It’s been a couple of months since we’ve seen them, so they were a welcome sight. They took me and the kids to dinner to a Chinese restaurant (we don’t get much of that type of food). After they brought me back to the hospital, they took the kids with them to enjoy a restful night at a nice hotel. They all came by this morning to hug and kiss on us, then left out for Kentucky.

I actually started working on this earlier in the day, but we’ve had a few visitors and other things, so it is now a little after 6:00 PM. I’m headed to our “home away from home” for a shower and then back for another night here. Thank you so much for all your prayers. We know that we are firmly in the grip of an awesome Heavenly Father, and we also sense very dramatically that many people are lifting us to Him. We are so amazed at how this situation continues to be orchestrated by God and continues to bring Him glory.

We love you all!

Rachael and Jamie

Surgery Update #1

Well it has been a long day, but it has been full of many blessings. Due to some other surgeries that took a little longer than expected, Jamie's 1 PM surgery didn't happen until 4 PM. Dr. Kinard said that everything went extremely well and Jamie will be in the hospital for about 4-5 days. He did say that when he got in to the kidney area to take the tumor out, that part of the tumor was all the way inside of the kidney, and larger than expected, so he had to take the whole kidney out.

Praise the Lord that He gave us two kidneys! Jamie is doing very well tonight. Of course, the pain medication is making him speak a little funny. This time he does have an excuse for mumbling. LOL The kids and I are were also blessed with many people coming to visit and some surprise visits as well. Thank you for the phone calls and the many prayers. The Lord's presence has been felt all through this procedure. Thank you all for lifting us up in prayer.