Giving True Thanks

Can you believe that almost 3 weeks have passed by...without a post here? What the heck have I been doing??? I've been giving thanks and celebrating.....and, oh yeah, sleeping through the night! I do apologize that my updating skills are falling short.....the good and thankful life has gotten in the way! Mark is doing great and we have been given the ultimate gift. He has had follow up appointments with both the Pulmonologist and the Thoracic Surgeon. Both have given a true and good report to get back to all activities....that is all Mark needed to hear to finalize his plans to take Gage and the ladies hunting this weekend! Unbelievable! Mark is already back to work at home and has the itch to get back on the road......next week! We don't have any final results back from Pathology but both the doctors are leaning towards believing this was a very bad smoldering infection and the "source of truth" has now been taken down! Thank you! Mark's favorite holiday is 2 weeks away and mine is just around the corner come December 25th. I know my prayers of Thanksgiving have already been answered and the beautiful new bling that could have been placed under the tree has arrived a few weeks early in a pathology report. I can't give thanks enough!!!!

Agency Nursing Care is Expensive!

Mark's nurses and caterers are taking good care of him on a daily basis serving him meals and drinks in bed and changing his dressing daily. Lucky for Mark! Of course, these individuals I speak of are Annie and Katie! Mark had a great night last night and we went to Gage's concert.....Mark did leave right after but I think it did him good to get out of the house. He was on the phone all day yesterday with friends and family and I know that did him good as well. His recovery, in my opinion as an Internet doctor, is going amazingly well! Now, I will just have to pay the bill to the nurses this weekend with a shopping trip, or two!

The Eagle Has Landed!

Seems like forever ago that Mark was home.....the neighborhood looked totally new to his eye and he enjoyed seeing the trees in their changing colors......I reminded him he has only been gone since Friday! All is well and Mark was released without objection today at 1 p.m. He is at home resting and I am still giving him preferential treatment.....give me a few weeks and all will be back to normal! Thank you all! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOOXXO

The Glass is Always Half Full!

I am most confident that the success of the last few days is partially based on the right attitude.....I had prepared for the worst but planned for the best. Mark is recovering amazingly well....I took him for a brief stroll around the floor tonight in his lovely gown and cape (since his dupa was hanging out due to his height) and I think that did him wonders! He did have his chest tube removed today and seems to be in great spirits. I do hope he gets some good sleep tonight! I was able to attend the girls soccer game today with our family and Friends and had Mark's best friend Rubble stay with Marky. Two good friends there commented that they were inspired by our positive outlook on things. I think Mark's recovery is due to his attitude and also from the superkalifragilistiexpealdocuious support system we have in place. The glass is always half full here in Fisherville! Did I tell you all thank you yet? THANK YOU!

Excellent News!

It's not Cancer! More to follow!!! Thankyou!!!

Mark's New Tatoo

Well, the doctor really did sign his site! Mark's right shoulder was autographed this morning by the doctor (making sure the right patient, right doctor and right LUNG) and went back into surgery at 10:30. The small waiting room has been taken over by the large family we have here with us! With 10 of us here, most of the rest of the family members waiting for their patients have moved out of our way!!! Thanks for all the messages, cookies, steaks, meals and mostly prayers. All will be good soon enough. Expandoman should be out to see us in the next 2-3 hours as the surgery should be 3-4 hours. Gage offered some humor to Mark last night (as did George--thank you!) and asked if while they were in there, might they also do some liposuction? Lipo and a Tatt....who would have imagined the day would be full of so much vanity!!!

Simon Says....

We need to be at the Hospital at 8 a.m. which is wonderful! I knew my day started off on the right note when I heard Def Leopard, James Taylor and my new fav, DOWN, by someone and Lil'Wayne, all on the same radio station back to back! Not having to arrive until 8 a.m. means the surgery probably won't start until 9 a.m. allowing Mark to hopefully get some additional rest tonight. I do think it will be a bit restless for him (and me) but honestly, I've been "sliced open" twice for a total of 18" with my 2 C-Sections so I don't want to hear any complaining! Mark, of course, thinks I may be exaggerating a bit but really, what is there to worry about!!! We will just listen to what Simon Says!

The Velvet Hammer

That's Me! The Velvet Hammer! Mark named me that years ago when he realized my parenting style might be a bit different than his! You know, he calls me this with a smile on his face because after 15 years of marriage, he has realized, there is no other style than mine! And now, he is thanking (I think) his lucky stars that I"M IN CHARGE!!! I have absolutely no time for delays in this process and I am trying to keep Marky on task with gaining information. He did talk with the Hospital (Botsford) yesterday and we are confirmed for next Friday in the morning. Mark and I have been so busy that we really have not had time to dwell on this upcoming event and I am treating it as just that--an event. It will be a life changing event but life changing in a good way. I know Mark is looking forward to doing a "Prairie Dog Shot" at an upcoming wedding, he is looking forward to finding out who wins the NYC Marathon as his initials will be on a good friend's shoes as well as he is REALLY looking forward to being out for Opening Day with Gage after all this is OVER!!! The Velvet Hammer also has no time for tears and I hope all of you are past that point as well! No need for tears, only positive energy please!!! The Velvet Hammer has spoken!!!!!

My Cup Runeth Over

I am overwhelmed and emotionally bloated! My cup has been overflowing since I hit the send message on my email last night. I can not tell you all how much I appreciate you love, support, offers of help and friendship. One of my best friends called at 5:02 and was concerned that she had missed something....a clue, a hint, a sign......I assured her that she missed nothing and that we intentionally decided that we wanted to keep this private. My prayer to the universe, per the book, went out to to masses in theory but the real prayer went out last night to all of you. We love you all and thank you truly. To the other "Fisher 5" who have experienced unbelievable healing, please add Mark to the prayer lists. To my aunts offering their nursing skills (knowing that mine are sub par), thank you and don't be surprised if we call you to action! Hugs to one and all and truly, our cups are running over with the love we feel and it makes me have to wear waterproof mascara for a different reason today......tears of joy!!!!

VAT Surgery

Well, for those of you reading this now....the jig is up! The cat is out of the bag! Mark is on his way back under! We had a great meeting today with the Thoracic Surgeon and have little Mark scheduled for a lung reduction on October 23 hopefully at 7 a.m. The news came as a total shock to Mark who lives the in same world where my dad does---a place where no weeds grow in the garden! Mark was surprised to hear the news today but we are both very confident in our doctors and their "emergent" need to get this ____ out of Mark. I won't have much to report between now and then but we are getting your prayers and thoughts--THANK YOU!!!

Who would have thunk it???

An Infection is Good News!!! Mark did have his procedure this morning and it took over 3 hours.....a long wait in the waiting room as it was to be over in 1.5 hours! Long story short we feel even more confident now that there is still an infection.....great news to us!!! More to follow later in the week with some aggressive antibiotics and then another CT scan. Thank you one and all for the thoughts and prayers! They clearly worked!

Prayer to the Universe

Thanks Kitten for the good words on reading the book Eat Pray Love. I have had it on my nightstand since I was in Batesville and have not gotten a chance to read it....I think my sister recommended it as well. I am only just getting started but last night I did send out my prayer to the universe and got a great response from all of Mark's supporters!!! I also am thankful to be talking with good friends about this as I continue to get great words of wisdom. Carrie shared some additional stories with me last night and this morning......My strength and optimism continues to get even better!

Whats In A Name

I love the name of this....I talked with my dad a few weeks back and mentioned that I had already switched to waterproof mascara and he replied "of course you have".....I like to think I'm ahead of the curve! Mark is too! Last night he found on line the scope that he is having done and we watched, on their website, a 3D video of what will happen. JK4, thanks so much for all your information yesterday as well. And indeed, it does appear that they will be doing a biopsy of the spot, testing the sputum as well as taking a sample of the lymph nodes too. We will be discussing the procedure with the doctor the day of so we will make sure all 3 samples are collected. Thanks to anyone that is following this as this is a great outlet for me and it makes me feel good to let some thoughts and feelings out!

Post Number Two

OK here is my second post......Mark will have a bronchioscope on Sept. 8th (Tuesday) at 7 am. I Mom and Dad will be here to get the posse on the bus for the first day of school. I am hopeful that we will have an appointment with the doctor on Monday, Sept. 14th to recieve the results of the biopsy.

OMG!!!

Did I really just create a blog? Worthy of an OMG from me......