Slow going - Day 56

Jim IS getting stronger, but he struggles.  He feels he is always tired and sometimes when he is very tired, he gets frustrated and confused.  But don't we all?   He wants to do things, and we are doing things.  But then he doesn't understand why he is so tired.  He is tired of being tired.

Our second adopted grandson, James David Cook, was born Monday afternoon, July 6, at UIHC.  We were there with our family.  Jim loved being there, holding his new grandson, his namesake, when he was only 2 hours old.  A special feeling he has for this little boy, just like the special bond he and firstborn grandson, Austin Lee, share.  He is glad, we are glad God brought us all together. 

I am tired of not knowing what is going on with Jim.  He fails to share or when he finally does, I am nearing frustration myself.  I have told him we need to trust the Lord. Look to Him and not ourselves. When we only look at ourselves, we become discouraged and depressed, and we don't need to go there.  I know the Lord will take care of us;  He showed us so much during all that time Jim was in the hospital.  He will continue to show us, if we're paying attention to Him and following His instructions. 

We need to stop feeling sorry for where we are not and go with whatever God gives us.  God gives us every ounce of strength we need to face whatever comes.  We must rely on Him alone.

Isaiah 41:10 -- "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." 

I Chronicles 16:11 -- "Seek the LORD and His strength; see His presence continually!" 

Isaiah 40:28-31 -- "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." 

PHOTOS FROM JULY 6, 2015

Papa Jim and Grandma Cathy

with second adopted grandson, James.

Papa Jim and James

Our adopted grandsons, Austin and James

Today in the mail we received a check from Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield for use of the ambulance Jim required June 7.  The check was for $689, which we delivered to Area Ambulance Service.  We now owe them $413.  We plan to appeal the claim from Wellmark. 

Another thing that only adds to our frustration is the bill we received for the emergency room service at UnityPoint - St. Luke's on June 7. The bill went to Medicare instead of Blue Cross because UnityPoint - St. Luke's does not pay attention to what we have repeatedly told them. 

At supper tonight I asked Jim where his pain is that makes it necessary for him to take the pain medication. I said we had some narcotic meds that are not as strong as the hydromorphone, and he was all for taking them. The pain is primarily in his back. He said it burns. Sometimes his incisions hurt. He mostly lies on his back when sleeping. He tries to lie on his side, but then his incisions hurt, so he returns to his back. I don't know what causes the burning. 

Your continued prayers are appreciated. 

Recovery Continues - Day 54

Today was the first Sunday we made it to Sunday School and worship. We had planned it in weeks past, but it didn't pan out. It was nice to be there and to participate in the Lord's Supper as well.

Jim is getting stronger little by little and his voice is stronger as well. More of his preaching voice is returning.

I probably will not be posting daily updates going forward (I didn't post an update yesterday), unless there's something we think you all should know about.

He is still tired, but not as much so.  He still takes a narcotic pain med, but only needs it once a day. He is still having blood drawn .

I still work from home, but plan to start working weekday afternoons in the office beginning this coming Thursday.

Tomorrow we will meet our new grandson, James David Cook, who is to be born mid-morning in Iowa City at UIHC. Continued prayers for our adopted family, Christina, Rocky, Austin and James, appreciated.

Recovery Continues - Day 52

Today is Friday, but it seems like Saturday. Our house guest, Craig, left this morning. I made breakfast - eggs, bacon and toast - for the three of us, and then we took him to the bus depot out by The Eastern Iowa Airport. He is taking the bus to St. Louis and the train to Deming, N.M., with planned arrival at 3:18 p.m. Sunday.

Jim was energetic enough to work on a few projects, but soon tired after cleaning the lawn mower. Mind you, he didn't do any mowing. The Cooks had come over and Rocky mowed. Jim is resting now.

A tiring day - Day 51

Today Jim has been more tired. Perhaps it was all the activity of this week. He was often tired after just a few minutes of doing something and even when watching TV, would fall asleep.
So, outside of the extreme tiredness, he's been fine. No indigestion and no problems with regular bathroom duties.

Clinic Visit - Day 50

Today's Scripture readings were from Psalm 37:4-5.

Delight in Me, the Lord says
Commit your way to Me
Trust in Me.
His desires to become the desires of my heart
as I live in the light of His love
And He will give
And it shall be...
(c) CMOL


This morning Jim had blood drawn at MedLabs. Dr. Butler's office called at 12:40 p.m., with results - INR reading is 2.7. He is to take a 3 mg tab nightly the rest of the week and have it checked again on Monday.

We arrived at UIHC for Jim's 4-week clinic with his surgeon, Dr. Parekh, a few minutes early for our 2:30 p.m. appointment.
Vitals:
weight - 133.6 pounds (without shoes)
blood pressure - 91/53
pulse - 63

Dr. Parekh gave us 10-15 minutes of his time, which is doing pretty good for a surgeon. We were satisfied with the answers he gave to our questions.

When Jim was having problems with severe indigestion late Saturday/Sunday/Monday, June 6-8, and we ended up calling the thoracic fellow on-call at UIHC early Sunday, we were told Jim needed to be on pantoprazole (Jim was on this medicine prior to the May 12 surgery.). The on-call doctor said pantoprazole helps with acid reflux.

Well, Dr. Parekh said Jim didn't need pantoprazole. With the esophagectomy, there should be no heartburn or acid reflux problems. I think he said the glands were taken out that produce acid, so there is no point in taking the medication.

So we asked him about dicyclomine, another medicine taken before but not continued after surgery. Dicyclomine is for irritable bowel syndrome. Dr. Parekh recommended he resume taking it.

Jim asked what he could eat. The on-call doctor said to avoid red sauces because of the acid it produces. Dr. Parekh said it's not the red sauces, but things like bread. He said to avoid high carb and high starch foods. Jim will have to experiment with foods over the next few months to determine what he can or can't eat without getting sick.

And then we asked about AFib, that lovely little problem he acquired after the first surgery, when he was put on Amiodarone and Coumadin. His heart has stayed in rhythm since the second surgery June 11 for the small bowel obstruction and was in rhythm today when checked. Dr. Parekh said to stop the Amiodarone. No need to take that. He also thought there was no need to take the coumadin either, since his heart was in rhythm, but ordered an EKG. Preliminary results showed sinus rhythm normal, but left anterior fascicular block was abnormal - whatever that means. We are to go with whatever the cardiologist thinks, but also said if we wanted to change doctors, we could come to UIHC.

I remember when Jim first started seeing Dr. Li, the cardiologist, on June 22, she said Amiodarone can affect the thyroid and liver and that with longterm use of the medication, side effects increase. My thinking was then why is he taking it?!

Dr. Parekh's nurse, Joan, will fax information to Dr. Li about changes in medication and EKG results. I think I will ask her to also send information to Jim's primary care doctor.

Also, on a side note, the doctor said some of his patients have lost as much as 30 to 40 pounds with this surgery -- Jim can't afford to lose that much! Pray he stops losing and starts gaining.

Jim is to come back in October for his three-month checkup.

Jim was able to produce No. 2 before bedtime.

A step forward, a step back - Day 49

Yesterday was a step back. Today appears to be a step forward. 

Jim went to bed with a headache, and after listening to the thunderstorm and watching the lightning flash across the sky for a while, we fell asleep.  When he woke at 7 a.m., he didn't have a tummy ache and he could do No. 1 of bathroom duties.  He hasn't felt sick all day. 

My devotional reading said to not worry about what was on the road up ahead, but to find your security in knowing Him. 

Jim's devotional reading was from 1 John 4:10, which says "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 

His thoughts ....

It is through joy and grace that one can experience Jesus' love that cannot ever be filled up but always overflows. This is indeed true love he has for us and you. Think about it for a moment -- His love cannot ever be exhausted -- His love is powerful! His love is everything. His love is greater than all of the stars in the heavens that cannot be counted. But the greatest fact of His love is it is free. All one has to do is to accept it by faith in the Lord Jesus as a free gift. Now there is no other love by which we are saved.

I worked till 1:30 p.m., then we had fun times with Austin until around 4. His mom had her last OB appointment before baby James David is born.

We went to Bever Park to see the animals - it is really a sad state of affairs at Old MacDonald Farm, nothing like when I was a kid or even when my nephew was young - of course, even that was nearly 20 years ago. I should have stayed with my memories and forgone revisiting it.

But Austin had fun ...and then on to the playground and later to a Splash Pad on 42nd Street NE. We took pictures - Jim took them all, because he was into sitting, and I was into playing. I'll try to post some of those pictures later. Jim was ready to go home and rest in the recliner.

Tonight Jim and I are going to the Voices of Hope Concert at New Covenant Bible Church. We invited our friends Bob and Lorraine and they accepted and then they offered to drive. Mighty nice of them.

Tomorrow morning Jim has blood drawn again to see if INR readings have dropped. Then he has a 2:30 appointment - his 4-week clinic visit with Dr. Parekh, his surgeon, at UIHC.

SEE SOME OF THE PHOTOS OF OUR OUTING WITH AUSTIN, TAKEN BY JIM 

A step forward, a step back - Day 48

Jim woke intermittently, beginning at 2 a.m. I thought it should have been later. We finally got out of bed at 7 a.m. He said his tummy felt okay. No BM, but he did have gas. He wondered if discontinuation/completion of the antibiotic for urinary tract infection had anything to do with  why he couldn't do No. 1. He had been able to go on his own for a few days prior to Sunday, but then on Sunday, he couldn't do much - on his own or using the catheter. Today, it remained the same.

He had blood drawn today at MedLabs, then went to Klauer Optical to see what could be done about his buried contact - the contact was removed and he is to rest the eye, putting the contact in later today or possibly tomorrow.

While at Klauer, I called his friendly urologist's office to see if his appointment with Dr. Logan Hoxie on July 14 could be sooner. We are waiting for a call back to see if that is possible. The urology appointment has been rescheduled for Thursday, July 9, at 8 a.m.

We had like 30-35 minutes to get to Lemstone Christian bookstore, which is closing its doors Tuesday, because its owners were retiring. This is the first time we'd been able to get there all month and there wasn't much left, but we did find some good buys. Items were 50 percent off.

And then off to the dentist to get a permanent filling on the tooth that was repaired with root canal on May 4 and to do a cleaning. Jim still has another tooth that needs pulled, but that appointment hasn't yet been rescheduled.

Today's devotional reading had to do with anxiety and how we should and should not handle it.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)

My writings ...

Anxiety looms
and dooms us
Can I handle it?
Don't ask
Forget the me in you,
my child.
Focus on Me,
My Presence in you
for I AM with you always
and it is through Me
you are strengthened.

The question
to ask
is not
what you can handle
but instead,
what you and I
can handle
together

for without Me
you are weak

without Me
fear and uncertainty and anxiety
are your compass

Focus on Me
Be aware of Me
Remind yourself
of My Presence
with you always

You, My child,
and Me, your Lord and Savior,
we can accomplish great things
when we do it Together.
(c) CMOL

Dr. Butler's office called with INR readings, which are up quite a bit, at 4.7. Jim is not to take any coumadin tonight or Tuesday night and then have a recheck Wednesday morning.

In today's mail, we received a bill from Area Ambulance Service - for $1,102.31. Wow!
We received a letter from them as well indicating Wellmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield will send payment directly to us and we in turn pay the ambulance service. I hope there are no issues.

Indigestion - Day 47

Today at 4 a.m. I woke suddenly, then fell back asleep. Jim also woke up, went potty and came back to bed. Then he got up again (something I didn't realize) and moved to the recliner, where he managed to fall asleep. When I got up at 6:30, I discovered all this and that he took a pain pill for back pain and indigestion.

I told him he needed to tell me when things were not right, rather than just think he could deal with it himself.  We can pray together.

He had several BMs yesterday and one was loose, so decided last night not to take any Senna.

I called his sister, Dianne, the nurse. She said he needed to take 1 Senna nightly and that a call should be made to UIHC on-call. After all he has had 2 surgeries. Jim didn't want to call. He didn't want to return to the hospital. But he finally agreed to let me call.

In talking with the thoracic fellow on-call, we have come to find out that foods with red sauces, like pizza or pasta with tomato sauce or red wines (that's not a problem with us, considering we don't drink alcohol) can cause more indigestion.

He asked if Jim was taking omeprazole. Well, he was taking pantoprazole before surgery, but was taken off it and had not resumed it. The doctor said he should be on it, as it helps with acid.  He was taking 40 mg twice daily, 30 minutes before breakfast and supper meals.

So, we found a bottle and he has taken a pill before breakfast. It's 7:30 now, and he has had another BM, which is good. He feels a little bit better.

Yesterday, he was hoping to make it to Sunday School today, but now that today is here, that appears very unlikely. His goal is church.

He has been resting since 8. It is now nearly 10. We will leave soon.

I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU UNTIL ... 
Yesterday's devotional writings were a result of readings in Psalm 143:8 and Genesis 28:15.

Psalm 143:8 says ...
"Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning
For in You do I trust;
Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
For I lift up my soul to You." 

Genesis 28:15 says ...
"Behold, I AM with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to the land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you." 

This last part particularly caught my attention - "I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you."

I thought on it yesterday periodically and again last night when we watched the Christian movie, "End of the Harvest."  God said this to Jacob in a dream. This is a promise made. ...

Is this also a promise to those of us who follow His Son in the current age? What do you think it means? Does it have to do with callings received from the Lord ... like being called to write a book,
to be a teacher, to preach His word ... in season, out of season, when it is convenient, when it is not. Or is it something else?

Today's devotional read was a reminder from Isaiah 55:8 -- "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord." 

and my writings ...

Do not doubt
Do not give in
to "me" thoughts and "me" ways
Do not give up
being aware of Me

Along every road block
I AM with you
whatever this life throws at you
I AM your protector
your refuge
your confidante

See Me
in the midst
of your pain-full days
and pain-free days
I will bring you
through it all

My Ways, My Thoughts
Do not doubt

Live and Love
and Proclaim My Truths
I WILL guide you.
(c) CMOL

GOD'S SIGN
I return to Saturday's devotional reading and read it again.

Rest in the Lord for a while
for you have journeyed along a path
steep and rugged
in days not long ago.

The days ahead,
the way,
is covered with uncertainty.

Wow, it dawned on me -
God was giving me a sign
we, Jim and I
we were to rest in Him
and not get caught up
in all that which draws us down
and away from Him.

The indigestion -
all the discomfort it brings -
and whatever else in its wake
is the uncertainty.
Trust Jesus in every step
He will lead us
through the valley
up and down the hills.
Pick us up Lord
Pick us up and carry us.
Give us strength
through every life moment.
Come to his aid Lord.
In your name I pray.
(c) CMOL

FIFTH SUNDAY FELLOWSHIP 
Through the Lord's intervention, I managed to get done with work shortly after 4:30 p.m., so Jim and I could go with friends Bob and Lorraine to the Fifth Sunday Fellowship at First Baptist Church, Dunkerton. We hadn't been up there since mid-February. The program started at 5 and we arrived at 5:30 p.m. Many FBC members we'd hoped to see were absent, but it was good to visit with those present.

Tummy ache problems erupted again for Jim and he wanted me to call UIHC on-call around 10. The doctor said he needed to give the pantoprazole time to work - a few days.

Jim also is having urinary problems again - not voiding very much and not getting intended results when self-cathing. The UIHC doctor said to drink water more frequently throughout the day.

And, when getting ready for bed, taking out his hearing aids and contacts, he had problems again with the left contact being up high behind his eye. This problem arose the last day he was in the hospital - June 17 - and was corrected with a visit to the eye clinic. This time, he went to sleep with the problem, hoping to get it corrected in the morning.

Recovery Continues - Day 46

Today must be a sleepy day. We got up and had Bible study and breakfast. Jim checked his email and soon after, said he was tired. So he has spent most of the morning in his recliner zonked out.

It is interesting.
Today's devotional read said this to me ...

Rest in the Lord for a while
for you have journeyed along a path
steep and rugged
in days not long ago.

The days ahead,
the way,
is covered with uncertainty.

The journey ... Jim's journey, our journey together?

Aren't most days uncertain

Only death is certain
and
Only if you be a child of the Holy King,
is it certain
He, the Lord, is with you.

Plans are made
We pray what we hope will be
will be the Lord's will as well
He directs our steps

The uncertainty
will not make us fearful
if we keep the Lord
close to us
Being aware of Him
Listening for
and hearing
His song of lovingkindness
in the morning Light
Knowing
and understanding
deep within our soul
the way, the steps
to be taken.

In You, Lord
we place our trust.
(c) CMOL

Recovery Continues - Day 45

The morning was uneventful.  Bathroom duties continue to have good results. Blood was drawn this morning and later in the day, Dr. Butler's office called with INR readings - which are up again at 3.3. Another recheck on Monday morning. A weekend reprieve.

Dizziness struck mid-afternoon, the first time soon after he talked to his sister and then again, about an hour later. I thought maybe his blood pressure was low, but when he took it, the reading was 90/59, which is normal for him. He thought maybe he just got up from the recliner too fast. Don't know. Hasn't happened since.

We had pasta for supper with cheese bread. At some point, Jimmy got a tummy ache. I think he might have ate too fast. He said it didn't feel the same as before when his tummy was cramping. I drink ginger tea when digestion gets the best of me. Perhaps we should get some ginger ale for him - he doesn't like tea. Pray the tummy ache eases and he can get a good night's sleep.

It appears Craig, our house guest, did not leave today. He doesn't quite have everything done he needs done before his departure.