another great day!!!

hello all, things are going good here. Dad had a follow up appointment last Wednesday ( with lots of tests ) after scans, blood test, and a few other tests we met with Dr. Bible ( the oncologist ) after much discussion dad has decided to follow up with the radiation doctors and see what option the offer. Yes the tumor has grown more but Dr. Bible was very optimistic that radiation could help. So this Wednesday we're off to see yet another set of doctors. I'll keep you posted.
On a happier note...Jake is officially done with high school. His graduation ceremony is Thursday. We have been very busy with graduation parties of his friends and preparing for HIS grad party. Busy busy busy but fun.
The kids played softball last night ( Jake was unable to play because he was at Nicole's grad ceremony) The team is 3-0 kicking some butt they are. Shannon did awesome last night. She is so fun to watch!!!! Actually the whole team is, they could careless if they win or not they just want to have fun!!! That's probably why their winning!

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Jakes CHS prom

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here's some pics from the kids last softball game they have won their first two games!!!

Home at last

Well we have GOOD news dad was released from the hospital yesterday (Wednesday). Dr. Allen pulled his chest tube and told us the leak in the lung was no longer there. So out the door dad went!!!! He's super excited to be home. Sat on the back porch and soaked up the sun for a good part of the afternoon.
He is a little weak, woren out, and still has a little confusion. But overall looking good considering he spent the last 28 days in the hospital. Moms nervous because she doesn't want a repeat of the last time he was home but with all of us here to help her out things will be just fine.
I should take this time to apologize for my last post....I was trying to be very positive through all of this but after the mini stroke i kinda lost it and slumped into a depression and after rereading that post i realized how negative it sounded. Darrick said i was allowed (he he he's so funny!) to have a day or two of depression. But I'm more positive now and am ready to take on the next step. Looking at dad and seeing how strong he is I know we can make it through anything. ( It must be that 100% Norwegian blood of his)
Thanks again to all of you for your thoughts, prayers, and visits.

The long road to home

Well we had a set back with dad. After looking so good last wednesday after his procedere I got a call early thursday morning that i need to get to the hospital (not a call I want to get again). Dad had had a mini stroke that affected his right side, speech and had lots of confusion. By the time i got there he was pretty scared. Mom arrived shortly after me and togather we were able to calm his fears. The "stroke" doctor as mom calls him, came and visited him several times through out the day and dad asked for the chaplain to come.It was a long day but by early evening most of his strength was back on the right side. To make matters worse as the day wore on we started to notice he was getting puffy and sure enough the sub Q air was returning, which meant the leak in his lung was back. As of today he still has the sub Q air to the point that his chest, arms, and face are swollen. Meaning his eyes are swollen shut and he can't see anything. (sure doesn't help with the confuse part.) They took his Morphine pump away right after the mini stroke so he is back to only Tylenol for pain, and it isn't touching his pain at all!
I stayed Thursday night with him because of his confusion. I have to admit he was pretty funny. At one point i told him i was going to go get a pop and he said to be careful because the pop was in the river. He told me later in the night to get the horse out of the corner and saddle him up for a ride, and that him, his mom and Truman (his brother) needed to go into town. ( I know it doesn't sound funny but he was so cute!!!!)
His confusion is better, but he still has moments that he's not sure about things.
Keep him in your thoughts and prayers and I will keep you up dated with our LONG trip home!

dad

just an up date on dad. he had a procedure today, they took him down to surgery and put in a larger chest tube and used "Talc" in the lung. We had a chance to talk to his doctor ( Dr. Allen) and he said everything went well. Dad returned to the floor (Fr5C) and looked really good. He was given a morphine pump and was feeling very well when we left. (morphine is so much better than the Tylenol he was give the past 2 and a half weeks!) So with any luck we can get him home soon.

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Here's some photos from Nicoles Prom. Jake and Nicole ahad a very good time!!!

dad

dad was taken back to the hospital yesterday aftrernon ( wednesday). the chest tube had come displaced and was leaking air under his skin. (sub Q ??) while in the ER the swelling got to the point that it was putting pressure on his heart causing a few problems. He was taken down to altra sound and a new chest tube was placed. While down there the swelling got to the point where it was getting hard for him to breath. However the doctors and nurse gave him some medication to help with that and the chest tube was placed successfully. He is back up on Dom6B and will remain there for ???? unknown at this time.
He looks ( and this is moms words ) like the Pillsbury dough boy. But his heart and breathing are under control and we're back into a holding pattern with the lung. Once the swelling goes down we may beable to take him home again with the chest tube still in.