I don't think I'll write enough to get you through an entire cup of coffee, but I do have some things to share with you and would appreciate your prayers too.
We just said "hasta luego" ("see you later") to our co-workers, the Prusia family, who spent the past week with us. It was a great week of fellowship and getting to know each other, seeing and hearing the kids play pretty well all week, sharing ministry ideas, and introducing them to the area a little. They're on their way home for next few hours so I'm sure they'd appreciate your prayer for a safe trip (it's about 3 hours).
The house is a mess and we're doing some cleaning and compiling and piling laundry. Tile floors are sticky and spotted with a weeks worth of fun and food and drink. I've heard it said, "This floor is so clean, you could eat off of it." We could edit that to "You could eat off our floor, but it isn't because it's clean, and I wouldn't advise it!"
I take Beth back to the orthopedic doctor in Queretaro in a couple hours for a follow-up. He said that today he would look at it and decide whether she should begin some low-resistant exercises (swimming/stationary bike) or schedule arthroscopic surgery. I figure we should be good at that kind of therapy. I have a low resistance for exercise already! Your prayer for a non-surgical outlook is appreciated.
Finally, my dad took ill last week with a UTI or something. He lost a lot of blood. He and Mom spent Christmas Eve (all night) sitting in an ER waiting room. By morning he was finally looked at and admitted. Surgery was scheduled on his urinary tract for Sunday morning. However, by Sunday morning he was having significant problems breathing. They canceled the surgery, put him in ICU and called in a heart doctor. The next diagnosis was aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aorta). This is a life threatening condition. Things sounded a bit confusing yesterday but by this morning the word was that Dad had suffered a heart attack, has a lot of fluid in his lungs, and the doctor gave him about a 50% chance of surviving the near future.
Dad is on oxygen and some IVs with antibiotic and diuretics. I presume they're trying to clear the lungs. The heart doctor said he wasn't concerned at this time with the urinary tract and that it wouldn't affect what he's working toward. If Dad survives the next few days, and if he's able to breathe on his own, they'll send him home (catheter in-place) to rest. Should he regain strength and get to the place where the heart doctor thinks Dad's body can handle surgery, he'll address the aorta problem. Dad has not been able to lie flat for nearly 2 years now. That has been misdiagnosed as a lung issue. It appears to be a symptom of the aortic stenosis. According to what I read on a medical website, once a heart attack takes place that is caused by aortic stenosis, the average life expectancy is between 6 and 24 months.
That's what I think I understand from here. It's always a challenge to be far from home during times like these. I'd appreciate your prayers for my dad, Art, and for my mom, Joeann, and for the Lord's will to be done. Dad and Mom know the Lord and are ready for whatever God has in store. Mom called me for a few minutes this morning from the hospital room and Dad was awake enough to hear me tell him we're praying for him. I heard him say something very softly in reply.
Thanks for your prayers.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Merry Mexican Christmas
Merry Christmas to you today. We've enjoyed our Mexico Christmas with our missionary and ministry family here today.
With our guests, the Prusia family, who have four boys, we began with a late morning reading of the Christmas story. I first asked everyone to think of one part of the Christmas story that they could think of and see if we could piece it together from what everyone mentioned. We had a little fun correcting a few of the common misconceptions (pun intended) that were mentioned and I was glad no one mentioned a small boy with a drum!
After just about killing off the little boys who could hardly wait to open up their presents, we finally had everyone open one gift each, all at the same time. We had enough for three rounds and it appears that transformers were the highlight with the youngest and most anxious gift-ripper-openers.
Chili, potato soup, and homemade bread provided a delicious lunch. I drove over and brought Jason, Kristin, and Justin to enjoy lunch and some games afterward. On our drive from their house, we found ourselves driving through a parade! See the photos below.
Co-workers, Paul and Grace Becker, joined us after lunch for the game time. The men weren't really all that interested in the game time so we took a drive to the other side of town to show our guests a bit of the area as well as the community center facilities. I haven't been over there in many months and was glad to see some new construction on the 2nd floor.
My mother called to tell me that Dad spent the day in the hospital after spending about 8 hours in the ER awaiting attention. Dad will have surgery Sunday morning for a problem in his urinary tract. The problem is not totally understood, but the surgery probably will be able to resolve it as the surgeon will be able to explore the area where they think the problem is located. At least, that's the hope. He could be home by Monday or may need several days longer if there are complications or they discover a more complex problem. I'd appreciate your prayers for both my parents and that Dad's health issue resolves well with this surgery.
With our guests, the Prusia family, who have four boys, we began with a late morning reading of the Christmas story. I first asked everyone to think of one part of the Christmas story that they could think of and see if we could piece it together from what everyone mentioned. We had a little fun correcting a few of the common misconceptions (pun intended) that were mentioned and I was glad no one mentioned a small boy with a drum!
After just about killing off the little boys who could hardly wait to open up their presents, we finally had everyone open one gift each, all at the same time. We had enough for three rounds and it appears that transformers were the highlight with the youngest and most anxious gift-ripper-openers.
Chili, potato soup, and homemade bread provided a delicious lunch. I drove over and brought Jason, Kristin, and Justin to enjoy lunch and some games afterward. On our drive from their house, we found ourselves driving through a parade! See the photos below.
Co-workers, Paul and Grace Becker, joined us after lunch for the game time. The men weren't really all that interested in the game time so we took a drive to the other side of town to show our guests a bit of the area as well as the community center facilities. I haven't been over there in many months and was glad to see some new construction on the 2nd floor.
My mother called to tell me that Dad spent the day in the hospital after spending about 8 hours in the ER awaiting attention. Dad will have surgery Sunday morning for a problem in his urinary tract. The problem is not totally understood, but the surgery probably will be able to resolve it as the surgeon will be able to explore the area where they think the problem is located. At least, that's the hope. He could be home by Monday or may need several days longer if there are complications or they discover a more complex problem. I'd appreciate your prayers for both my parents and that Dad's health issue resolves well with this surgery.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Christmas Week & Pics
This past Monday we welcomed the Prusia family from Puebla to our home for a week of respite from their first months here in Mexico, the stresses of language study and culture shock, and being away from family for their first Christmas away from home in the USA.
On Tuesday the boys and I rode with them to Guanajuato which is a really neat city here in central Mexico. They had never been before so it was fun to guide them on a walk through some of the highlights of this colonial city. Beth and her mom stayed behind because Beth isn't supposed to be walking much and that's pretty much a requirement in Guanajuato. (We ended up not going to Puebla for the Coro Unido Christmas performance for the same reason...bummer!)
Yesterday, we just relaxed here at the house and in honor of Beth's birthday, we left the kids at home and went out for a nice lunch and a couple hours of adult conversation without kids. That was a nice treat. The kids didn't complain either! Hmmmm.
Today, we're planning on heading up to see the camp and to visit with missionary friends who live up there. At over 8,500 feet altitude, we probably should put on some jackets. Nothing unusual about that, we were them all the time in our cold house with indoor temps in the upper 50s and lower 60s during these cold months. It has been in the 20s at night. A bit nippy when there's no central heat and the house is made of concrete and tile. Brrrrr!
Here are some photos from our Tuesday walk around Guanajuato. Enjoy!
On Tuesday the boys and I rode with them to Guanajuato which is a really neat city here in central Mexico. They had never been before so it was fun to guide them on a walk through some of the highlights of this colonial city. Beth and her mom stayed behind because Beth isn't supposed to be walking much and that's pretty much a requirement in Guanajuato. (We ended up not going to Puebla for the Coro Unido Christmas performance for the same reason...bummer!)
Yesterday, we just relaxed here at the house and in honor of Beth's birthday, we left the kids at home and went out for a nice lunch and a couple hours of adult conversation without kids. That was a nice treat. The kids didn't complain either! Hmmmm.
Today, we're planning on heading up to see the camp and to visit with missionary friends who live up there. At over 8,500 feet altitude, we probably should put on some jackets. Nothing unusual about that, we were them all the time in our cold house with indoor temps in the upper 50s and lower 60s during these cold months. It has been in the 20s at night. A bit nippy when there's no central heat and the house is made of concrete and tile. Brrrrr!
Here are some photos from our Tuesday walk around Guanajuato. Enjoy!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
The Christmas Story (by kids)
Thanks to a Facebook friend for sharing this. Kids are always the best story tellers.
I remember telling a few when I was a kid! ;-)
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
First, the Good. The colonoscopy went well according to the doctor. The procedure lasted at least 35 minutes (I really don't know the length of time, but from the color photo still shots taken by the video camera, plus the video images on DVD, I can tell it was at least 35 minutes in length.) The doctor did find some polyps and removed them. Oh and the whole procedure and clinic cost came to about $325 (USD). Can't beat that!
The Bad & the Ugly are worth lumping together to get them over with. The nurse who prepped me had trouble putting the IV needle in my hand. She was going to put it in my left hand, but I told her I was left-handed. Actually, I told her I was deaf because I couldn't remember the Spanish word for "left-handed." So, I did the logical thing and told her I was deaf since I knew that word was close and at least she might stop to figure it out. She did, and I did get it across and she gave me the word I was looking for. I forgot it already. Give me a break, it was not a good morning, OK?
Next, she proceded to stick my right hand but couldn't figure out why the needle wasn't going into the vein. It sure felt like bone to me. It hurt. She pulled it out. Something broke. She got another one and went to the left-hand. Guess I didn't need that word after all. She couldn't get the needle in the vein. She tried twirling it around in my hand but it just wouldn't draw blood. Maybe I'm a vampire or something. I've never been able to nick my hand and not draw blood before, let alone stick a sharp object into my hand and grind it a bit and still not draw blood. Finally, she left it dangling, muttered something about "this has never happened before" and called for someone whom I took to be her supervisor. She must have been because in about a minute of searching with that needle, she managed to get some blood flowing. Whew! Not a vampire after all!
Aside from the bruised hands, it wasn't too bad. Except, I woke up in the middle of the thing and while I barely remember it, I guess it hurt pretty badly. I do remember that I was pretty groggy and thought it was cool that I was facing a TV screen with a view of my insides on live TV. Did you see it on cable where you were yesterday? Maybe it was just on local TV here. I'm not sure. Before I could ask, I was out again. Beth and our co-worker Brock, heard me from the waiting area a few rooms away but thought it couldn't have been me. Not until I told them about it later did they realize that it was. They were impressed. I did finally wake up for good a couple hours later but was doped up enough to need a few more hours of sleep, which I decided to forego because I didn't want to sleep in a deserted clinic recovery room. Just so you'll know because I'm sure you'll ask, I have never thrown up bile before, but now I can say from experience, "Yup, been there, done that." I slept hard for a couple more hours when we got home.
The doctor didn't record for us how many polyps he cut out, but the Spanish word on the report was plural and I think in our 30 seconds with him just before we left the clinic, he may have said "several." Some of which he sent in for biopsies. We return in a week to find out if these will be a problem or not. I don't know what all the options are at this point, but if they're "good" polyps, then I'm guessing I won't be needing more doctor visits. If any of them are "bad" polyps, I'll probably need to go back in and see how many IV needles I can break with my bare hands. My record is only one so I think I've got a good shot at it.
I am still very sore pretty much from the bottom of the rib cage down. I can walk, sit, lie down, and stand without feeling sick but am experiencing pain in all of those positions. I've discovered it's best not to do any one of them for very long.
Maybe I can upload the video for anyone who would really like to see it! Ha-ha...I don't know about that, but I suppose for a science student, I might do it! Hey, education never ends...even when knowledge has reached the end! (*ahem*)
Not really thinking about the results of the biopsies but it seems worth asking for your prayers. Would be great to have a negative reading on those things. Wouldn't mind asking prayer for a recovery from the internal wounds which hurt, and for Beth's knee which she injured while kicking a ball on Sunday. She actually injured her knee while NOT kicking a ball on Sunday because she missed the ball completely. That probably will do it. She wants to see an ortho doctor tomorrow if it isn't feeling much better than it has been today. I keep telling myself that these things are all normal for people in their 80s...and for us! I guess our bodies are just ahead of our time.
Needless to say, we have been a miserable pair today, but still managed to get laundry done (I didn't help), the boys ate (I didn't help with that either), and homeschool was done (I did my part on that one). Beth's mom helped with the food and laundry, and Cameron was a big help too. After over 2 days stuck in the house or in the clinic, I was anxious to get out of the house. I drove over to SAMs and made a slow trip around the store and picked up a few bargains. I came home with a whimper but glad to have at least completed something today. Sometimes you just have to make a gut call. And oh did it ever.
I guess this means I'll need to revisit this topic at least once more and let you know how the biopsies turn out. I'll let you know what those are next week if we have the results then. Until then, be sure to not let your mom see this photo:
The Bad & the Ugly are worth lumping together to get them over with. The nurse who prepped me had trouble putting the IV needle in my hand. She was going to put it in my left hand, but I told her I was left-handed. Actually, I told her I was deaf because I couldn't remember the Spanish word for "left-handed." So, I did the logical thing and told her I was deaf since I knew that word was close and at least she might stop to figure it out. She did, and I did get it across and she gave me the word I was looking for. I forgot it already. Give me a break, it was not a good morning, OK?
Next, she proceded to stick my right hand but couldn't figure out why the needle wasn't going into the vein. It sure felt like bone to me. It hurt. She pulled it out. Something broke. She got another one and went to the left-hand. Guess I didn't need that word after all. She couldn't get the needle in the vein. She tried twirling it around in my hand but it just wouldn't draw blood. Maybe I'm a vampire or something. I've never been able to nick my hand and not draw blood before, let alone stick a sharp object into my hand and grind it a bit and still not draw blood. Finally, she left it dangling, muttered something about "this has never happened before" and called for someone whom I took to be her supervisor. She must have been because in about a minute of searching with that needle, she managed to get some blood flowing. Whew! Not a vampire after all!
Aside from the bruised hands, it wasn't too bad. Except, I woke up in the middle of the thing and while I barely remember it, I guess it hurt pretty badly. I do remember that I was pretty groggy and thought it was cool that I was facing a TV screen with a view of my insides on live TV. Did you see it on cable where you were yesterday? Maybe it was just on local TV here. I'm not sure. Before I could ask, I was out again. Beth and our co-worker Brock, heard me from the waiting area a few rooms away but thought it couldn't have been me. Not until I told them about it later did they realize that it was. They were impressed. I did finally wake up for good a couple hours later but was doped up enough to need a few more hours of sleep, which I decided to forego because I didn't want to sleep in a deserted clinic recovery room. Just so you'll know because I'm sure you'll ask, I have never thrown up bile before, but now I can say from experience, "Yup, been there, done that." I slept hard for a couple more hours when we got home.
The doctor didn't record for us how many polyps he cut out, but the Spanish word on the report was plural and I think in our 30 seconds with him just before we left the clinic, he may have said "several." Some of which he sent in for biopsies. We return in a week to find out if these will be a problem or not. I don't know what all the options are at this point, but if they're "good" polyps, then I'm guessing I won't be needing more doctor visits. If any of them are "bad" polyps, I'll probably need to go back in and see how many IV needles I can break with my bare hands. My record is only one so I think I've got a good shot at it.
I am still very sore pretty much from the bottom of the rib cage down. I can walk, sit, lie down, and stand without feeling sick but am experiencing pain in all of those positions. I've discovered it's best not to do any one of them for very long.
Maybe I can upload the video for anyone who would really like to see it! Ha-ha...I don't know about that, but I suppose for a science student, I might do it! Hey, education never ends...even when knowledge has reached the end! (*ahem*)
Not really thinking about the results of the biopsies but it seems worth asking for your prayers. Would be great to have a negative reading on those things. Wouldn't mind asking prayer for a recovery from the internal wounds which hurt, and for Beth's knee which she injured while kicking a ball on Sunday. She actually injured her knee while NOT kicking a ball on Sunday because she missed the ball completely. That probably will do it. She wants to see an ortho doctor tomorrow if it isn't feeling much better than it has been today. I keep telling myself that these things are all normal for people in their 80s...and for us! I guess our bodies are just ahead of our time.
Needless to say, we have been a miserable pair today, but still managed to get laundry done (I didn't help), the boys ate (I didn't help with that either), and homeschool was done (I did my part on that one). Beth's mom helped with the food and laundry, and Cameron was a big help too. After over 2 days stuck in the house or in the clinic, I was anxious to get out of the house. I drove over to SAMs and made a slow trip around the store and picked up a few bargains. I came home with a whimper but glad to have at least completed something today. Sometimes you just have to make a gut call. And oh did it ever.
I guess this means I'll need to revisit this topic at least once more and let you know how the biopsies turn out. I'll let you know what those are next week if we have the results then. Until then, be sure to not let your mom see this photo:
Sunday, December 05, 2010
Sunday Runnings
Sorry about the quiet blog these past few weeks. Always is a busy time of year and hard to keep up with the blog at times.
If you didn't get our latest email update a few days ago, we'd appreciate your prayers for a positive resolution to a health problem that has grown worse over the course of about 3 1/2 years. I've (Alan) been to a couple of doctors and the diagnosis have so far not been correct.
Tomorrow morning I'll be having a colonoscopy done to see if the problem can be determined. There seems to be a blockage in the large intestine. The doctor isn't sure what the situation really is but he hopes this procedure will allow him to see what's going on and then know what to do next.
Today was a good time of home Bible study in the morning with our little but growing group. I'm teaching 4 adults now, and Beth is teaching 7 kids (ages 12 down to 4), including our two boys. We're have a great time teaching. My group is working through Romans. I've tried to keep us on a one chapter per week clip and have done so from chapters 4 through 6; albeit, I teach for about 2 hours!
Beth has been teaching the attributes of God. She's probably going to move into a survey of the Bible or something like that next. Outside of our two boys, the kids don't know ANYTHING about the Bible and aren't familiar with any of the stories that kids often learn in Sunday school. Talk about reaching the unreached!
The afternoon was a different story as I had to drink four packets of medicine, each dissolved in a liter of water, and each taken 1 hour apart. The medicine forced my digestive tract to immediately evacuate the premises (DO NOT PASS GO, DO NOT COLLECT $200), and I can tell you that it was not a pleasant experience at all. As I contemplated the last of the nine 20 oz cups of watery, nasty-tasting yuck, I found myself praying, "Lord, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me...." To my surprise, He gave me the strength to down the whole cup in about 20 seconds! One of those cups in the middle took me about 30 minutes to finish!
It wasn't until I wrote the paragraph above that I double-checked the size of that cup and I was right. It was 20 oz. Problem is 1 liter is 33 oz...not 60 oz! Beth thought the little pitcher she filled for me was 1 liter but it was closer to 2! Oh well...no wonder this was such a challenge to drink. I drank nearly twice as much liquid than I was supposed to! Hope that didn't hurt anything...aside from the obvious! Ouch!
Appreciate your prayers for this procedure tomorrow. May the doctor figure out what the problem is and may my health be restored to a much better level. Thanks!
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