Very Brief Update

Some tests were run yesterday and the source of the bleeding could not be found. However the bleeding did stop or at least slow considerably. Today they will try again to find the source. If he is not actively bleeding today it will make it difficult to find where he once was bleeding. The IMU stay doesn't seem so bad; hopefully it will be a short one. :) Thank you all for your prayers.

ENT turns into IMU

Louie went back to Houston to his ENT follow-up appointment.  The last procedure went well and they've scheduled the trach hole to be closed in another surgery (03/31/2010).  This will require an overnight stay, but sounds fairly simple.

That brings us to the here and now.  Louie has had some bleeding from the abdomen area that started this morning.  After his ENT visit he headed to the Hermann ER where Dr. Duke was paged.  Dr. Duke has put him in IMU to run some tests.  I don't believe this to be too alarming, but he needs to find the source of the bleeding and ultimately make it stop.  I'll try to post an update when I know a little more.  If anyone still reads this, send a short prayer up for him this afternoon. 

Out

He's out of surgery and all is well. He's currently sleeping in recovery.

#95

Thankfully it's been a while since we've had a numbered post. Today, however, remember Louie in your prayers as he goes to Houston for a day surgery (#95). An ENT will do some work where his trach previously was. I'll update later when he's out.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOUIE!

Putting 56 candles in Jello sounded a bit risky so we opted to go this route instead. We still had to sing rather quickly as dessert melted.

Appointment with an ENT

Add another Dr. to the list - an ENT.  The area where his trach once was has not closed.  This makes it it difficult for him to speak - hence why he puts a hankie (or folded pillowcase) over the opening when he talks.  This particular ENT was recomended by Denise, and today they headed to Houston for their first appointment.  The ENT saw some granulation in the area, so before they work on closing this area dad will have a short surgery.  This procedure will be on March 2nd, and then at a later date he'll possibly have a second procedure to close the hole if the steri-strip method does not work.

While they were in the Med-Center, a trip to Jones 6 was in order (the Pavillion and Floor where they resided for so long).  It was great to be back... JUST FOR A VISIT!  Of course everyone thought that dad looked amazing!  I have to agree... he does.  :)

Not a whole lot going on this week, but on the 28th Dad turns 56.  Since he slept through his 55th birthday, we'll have to really celebrate number 56!

KC Family of the Year

This weekend we were awarded K.C. Family of the Year.   The entire evening was quite amazing.  Bonnie, Suzanne, and I had been given some insight that this award was coming.  We came to El Campo to secretly be there when Mom and Dad's names were called.   The honor came as a complete surprise to them, but apparently Dad had another surprise of his own.  Upon receiving the award he motioned for a song to be played (something he'd arranged earlier in the evening).   The music started (That's the Way Love Goes - "their song" from when they were dating) and he asked mom to dance.   Who knew he was such a romantic?  :)  Being able to dance again is something that they talked about in the hospital (dating back as early as the ICU days).  They always said they would dance again, even when Dad was not yet able to even walk.  Saturday night was so sweet.  They danced, and they danced very well.   The K.C. officers and their wives circled around them as if it were the first dance of their wedding.  There weren't many dry eyes in the hall.