Happy Birthday

Just a small shout out to Ruthie on her birthday. I'd hate to publish her age, but as the lone writer a on this blog (anymore) I guess I can really publish whatever I want.  :) Happy Birthday Mom! We admire your courage and faithfulness through out this past year. May your 54th year be amazing!

The Next Step

We're eagar to hear it!  Dad will go back to see Dr. Duke at the end of this month.  1 year and 1 day after their unfortunate first meeting, we hope to here what trick Duke has up his sleeve next.  This is actually the 3 month follow-up visit since his release, but maybe there will be some discussion of the future surgeries, maybe there will be a timeline, or maybe we will not really learn anything at all.  I guess we'll see!

In other news, dad's TPN has been switched again.  We thought that base case scenario was 12 and 12 (I.V. TPN for 12 hours a day and off for the other 12 hours).  Previously he was at 14 and 10 and that actually proved to be quite nice.  Yesterday he started a new schedule and it was changed to 10 and 14. Who knew that was even a possibility?  The TPN will be able to run during the night and he will not have to  have it between 8:30 a.m and 10:30 p.m. 

With the weather warming up a bit he's been able to get out some.  He's been able to ride around with Greg, go with Tim to Shoppas, and attend to church regularly.  Next on the To-Do list (thanks to this great new 10:30 p.m."curfew"), a K.C. meeting next Tuesday night! 

Will This Cold Weather Ever End?

I hear it's about over, but soon we will just be trading ice for rain. The ridiculous cold, has turned dad into a prisioner of his own home. Physical Therapy (that consists of walking inside the house), has him really itching to get out. He's ready to walk the streets again, and possibly take more "field trips". (so far he's visited Shoppa's and R&M, but I'm sure there are more places he'd like to go)

The TPN schedule of 14 and 10 should continue for a couple more weeks and then he could possibly change to 12 and 12. 12 and 12 sounds great, but we're amazed at how wonderful 14 and 10 is.

I guess that's all for now. Things are going very well!

Changes

Things are changing - for the better!  Mom returned to work at the library yesterday.  Thankfully Dad has some really great friends and family who are willing to come hang out with him while she's at work.  I'm assuming the first day back to work went alright since they allowed her return today. 

Over the holidays Dad's TPN pump rate was increased where he'd get the same amount of nutrition in less time.  It was changed to 18 & 6, meaning he got to be unhooked between 8 and 2 (6 hours) and be "fed" the other 18 hours.  This made it a little easier for him to get out on Christmas to visit family and go to church this past Sunday.  Traveling with an IV pole can be a bit tricky.  Yesterday mom was able to unhook it before work and then come home on her lunch break to hang the new bag.  This past Monday they did the usual blood work (this is done every week), and everything looked good.  Today the pump rate was increased again; this time to 14 & 10.  He is able to be unhooked between 8:30 and 6:30 which is great!  Of course the ultimate goal is to be able to one day not have the TPN at all, but in the mean time our short-term TPN goal is to get to 12 & 12.  I'm under the impression that's the best it can get (12 on and 12 off). 

All is going well!

Merriest Christmas

We had an amazing Christmas. Christmas Eve started off a bit rocky when dad had some bleeding from the fistulas, but thankfully it stopped on it's own fairly quickly. The thought of having to return to Houston for Christmas was devastating. After the bleeding ceased we began our Christmas celebration and everything was perfect!

Opening Gifts At Home

Christmas with the Buzek Family at Aunt Connie's - playing cards with the guys

What a treat to add a couple ounces of strained chicken noodle soup to his minimal liquid diet.

I thought he'd probably used up his lifetime's worth of luck, but he did catch a few good hands and walked away from the poker table a full seven dollars richer.   :)

I didn't take nearly enough pictures to portray the wonderful time we all had.  Today dad was able to attend church for the first time.  We all were there together - what a perfect ending to our Christmas holidays.

Great Day at Shoppa's

Dad was feeling especially well today and wanted so badly to go visit his John Deere stomping ground.  It was an emotional return, but he was so happy to see all of the dear friends he's worked with so many years.  There were a few not at work today, so he will definitely have to go visit again soon. 

Our Christmas Message

As we approach the Christmas season we find ourselves full of gratitude for the many gifts we have received. Christmas, we have found, is not just a blessed season but a way of life - loving gifts given freely through out the year.

If you gave the gift of blood Louie and many like him, survived because of you.

If you gave the gift of medical care we are so grateful for your expertise and personal attention.

If you gave the gift of friendship, you reduced our stress and made us smile.

If you helped in any way with fundraising, we were overwhelmed by your generosity.

If gave labors of love by taking care of our home, yard, and pets; you eliminated this worry from our every day lives.

And most of all if you prayed Louie is spending this Christmas at home because of you.

We thank you so much. Our lives have been changed in ways we never imagined by people we will never forget.


Love to All, Louie, Ruthie, and Family