Things I've learned in the past week (or two!)

Over the past two weeks as you know my husband has been recovering from a tonsillectomy. I went with him to his pre-op visit and heard the warnings given by the doctor...that if he (hubby) thinks he is going to work the next Monday (following surgery on previous Tuesday), he's wrong! And the doctor was right!

I've learned and been reminded of a few things over the past few days of caring for my husband.

~ It takes an adult a long time to heal after a tonsillectomy.

~ The first couple of days I missed his voice so much. He wrote me messages or used hand signs to tell me what he needed.

~ It's no fun to think about cooking a meal for just me and Caleb.

~ It's hard not to scoop myself a bowl of ice cream when fixing a dish for my patient.

~ It was very good my Mom was here for the first couple of days after surgery.

~ I'm thankful our couch is so comfortable and has two recliners. We slept there for over a week so he could keep his head elevated! It was a nice change from our bed actually to sleep in the living room. There was more space for one thing.

~ It's a blessing my husband is such a hard worker at his job. He has sick leave hours saved up that he's been able to use during this time. I know of some who squander their sick leave and don't have any saved up which doesn't seem wise in my opinion.

~ I'm also thankful for his understanding boss and coworker who emailed to check in on him from time to time.

~ I found out just how much my husband enjoys reading. He finished two books he already had started and read and finished another one after that. He's on his fourth now I think.

~ He also enjoys talk radio and I've learned a thing or two there as well.

~ I'm thankful for those who were concerned and asked about him during his recovery. It's nice to know people care.

~ Taking care of my son made me realize how much my husband helps out with him in the evenings with bath time and playing together. It made me appreciate those military wives and single moms who do this 24/7.

~ Even when he couldn't talk, he could still make me laugh. When I'd measure out his medication, he'd always turn it and look to see if it was up to the "2 tsp" line or over it before he took it. It made us laugh after I pointed out to him he did this every time as if he didn't trust me and thought I'd give him too much or too little!

~ Taking out the trash, putting the cans to the curb on Wednesday (when a grasshopper jumps on my back) and getting the recycling tub to the curb isn't my favorite chore!

~ I realized how deeply in love I am with my husband. Caring for him really made me feel connected to him.

~ My patient made me feel incredibly loved and beautiful as he whispered to me his love and appreciation as I'd give him his pudding, water, and medicine.

Thankfully, he is on the mend. He still has some pain and gets tired out easily. I'm thankful he did not have any complications from the procedure. I'm praying and believing that he won't have to use the CPAP, and he'll have restful nights of sleep now. We appreciate your prayers. Hope you have a great weekend!
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"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him." I John 5:14, 15

Update on my hubby

The appointment scheduler called Monday and told him to be at the surgery center at 7:30 this morning. My Mom stayed at home with Caleb and we left around 7:00 a.m. They got him back quickly for the pre-op stuff and then we just waited. I was glad they let me go back and talk to him while he waited. Then it was his turn so I went back to the waiting room. While I was waiting the fire alarm went off! Apparently it is a new building and something set it off by accident. It did make me think though what if it was real and they were in surgery! It was about an hour later when they called me to go back to be with him in recovery. He was shaking when I got to him, I thought he was cold. They told me that the anesthesia (did I spell that correctly? Spell check didn't highlight it!) does that though, and than after a bit he quit shaking. I gave him drinks of water and sat with him. The doctor came by and told us his tonsils were really enlarged and filled with some stuff (I can't remember what word he used). He said he should notice a big difference since they were so big. He also shaved off some of the uvula (the hang down thing in the back of the throat) and he said it was really long too. I got my Mom to come by and get the prescription for pain medicine and take it to the pharmacy. He was having some pain so the nurse gave him something in the IV so I didn't want him to have to wait when we got home. I was glad she could go get it. Caleb got to see Daddy and give him a kiss. They kept us about 2 hours, and we got home about 1:00 p.m. He has been resting and drinking lots of fluids. He's had some Jello and a Frosty. He's been writing me notes too since he can't talk very well either. Caleb loves being a little helper. He got the trash ready to take out and take to the curb for trash pick up day tomorrow. He gave Daddy a bell to ring if he needs anything. Please keep him in prayer over the next few days if you think about it as he heals. Thank you! I'm thankful I can be here to care for him.
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I'll close with this verse today. My husband mentioned it as we were talking and laughing before surgery.
"A cheerful heart is good medicine...." Proverbs 17:22