Good News comes with Continued Frustration

Hi.

Today and tonight the kids went to the train tracks on several occasions and placed pennies on the track right before the train came. They had so much fun doing that and their "hot pennies" were flat as paper and they were all very excited. We did this again and again and again. I think we went through 100 pennies!

Well on to my Gary update.

I want you all to know something. After seeing Gary last night I was very down. I watched as they hooked Gary up to TPN (a nutrition bag that feeds Gary via IV) which drips continuously. Then, the TPN is full of so much sugar that they had to give him insulin shots to regulate it! He has NEVER had a problem with blood sugar. His blood pressure has been very high as well which is another thing he has NEVER had a problem with. He was so frustrated and just plain done with being in the hospital and having the NG tube up his nose! I came home and when I went to bed I spent so much time praying - it seemed like hours - for 2 things specifically. First and foremost, I wanted Gary to really feel like God was present in his life. Second, I asked God to somehow unobstruct the obstruction. As of last night, he was completely obstructed.

Well, everything changed this morning. Our prayers were answered and Gary is on the road to recovery. No more tube. They are weaning him from the TPN. His blood pressure is coming down. Things are looking up!!! He was eating Italian ice when we left.

As I drove home from the hospital tonight with Zach we were both excited that Gary was coming home. The nurse came in to tell Gary that he was going home Saturday! We had some contact with the nutritionist and got his diet requirements for the next week. I had the day planned tomorrow and we were ready to go!

Guess what? Gary's not coming home. I found out at 9 PM tonight that the surgeon will not release him so soon after taking the NG tube out. It looks like Monday will be the day unfortunately. We were so close and Gary was so excited.

To be honest I am sick to death of driving to Hoag every day. What a drag although Gary is more than worth it. Those of you who know me very well know that I HATE TO DRIVE PERIOD!!!!!

So, our evening ended on a good note with a disappointing twist. I am thankful that our prayers have been answered but I am sad we can't get him home yet!

He will have the lesion on his liver removed this coming week. It is outpatient which is great. Then, Barth will start him back on his chemo regimen. Back to the chemo grind for Gary.

Zach lost another tooth tonight! The second tooth since we have been here. I don't think he has many more baby teeth to lose. They seem to be literally falling out of his mouth.

Zach and I are sitting outside on the deck right now wrapped up in blankies watching the high tide crash against the rocks and splash up on to the deck. We have been hit a few times by the whitewash and Zach gets a kick out of it. Our Zach sits outside ALL day at the beach house. When he is not in the water he is looking at the water and studying the tides. He is most definitely our kid to the core. He loves the ocean and has the same appreciation we have for it. I love that! The other two love the ocean as well but aren't quite old enough yet to really LOVE it like we do. They will.

Well, I thank you for your continued prayers. We want them, need them and love them.
I will update you with prayer requests tomorrow. For tonight, please take time to thank God for his timing in answering our prayer for the obstruction to resolve itself.

Love,
Lisa