We're home

We came home last night and Brad is doing great! It all started on Friday when we ate lunch at the school cafeteria (for the last time, we agreed). I introduced Brad to the delicacy that is a corn dog, and we both remembered after one bite why we don't eat them regularly. We had family night that night at Ralph and Chris's house, and Brad was feeling a bit funky-in-the-tummy, so he passed on ice cream and cake. By the time we got home he was in a bad way and went to bed early. At 2 a.m. he woke me up writhing in pain, but thought perhaps it would just pass.

By 6 a.m., when I woke to pack up the car for the craft show, he was hurting even worse. But he insisted that I go to my show, with the promise that he would go into the ER when Shelley got on duty at 10 a.m. So I packed things up and headed over to the fair, and called Jeff just to verify the time that Shelley was working. Turns out it was 7 a.m. when she started, so I called Brad and he went over immediately.

I got to the show and got some people to help me set up the tent. Chris arrived minutes later and we set up the tables and our goods, and goodness, the thing looked really great. Brad called just as we finished to let me know they were going to run some tests, do some scans, etc., and that he'd keep me posted. About a half hour later he texted me to say that the doctor was thinking it was his appendix, and that he might be getting surgery that day.

Ten minutes later Shelley called to say, "Come now." Ten minutes after that we were on our way-- what had taken us over an hour to set up took us less than ten minutes to pack up, with the help of the crafters around us. I was terribly touched and encouraged by their kindness.

When we got to the hospital Brad was just signing the necessary papers and was shortly wheeled into surgery. About a half hour later, he was done. The surgeon came out and told us that it was uneventful and that Brad had come at a good time-- the appendix had not ruptured but was definitely inflamed, and the surgery was a success. Ralph and Chris and I went to go get some lunch while Brad recovered a bit.

When we got back Brad was already upstairs in his room. He was somewhat coherent and his usual kind and cordial self, thanking us for coming and thanking the nursing staff for their help. He had some nausea from the anesthetic but was mostly just groggy, so he slept for a while. I stayed until about 8 p.m. when I couldn't stay awake any longer.

When I got back on Sunday morning about 9 a.m. the old Brad was back! He looked great and was his normal perky self! He had some pain at the incision site but the nausea was minimal and his energy was pretty good! We watched some tv, talked about the weekend, and just hung out, waiting for the doctor to come. He finally came around 3 p.m. and sent us home.

So we're home now, and Brad will be home for the week. I'll be here at least until Thursday and will see how Brad's feeling then. Today he is nausea-free, not dizzy at all, and just doing wonderfully, and hasn't even taken any pain meds today!

Thank you all for your prayers and well-wishes. It means more than you know to have you there for use. On top of the surgery it was a realllllly rough weekend for me family-wise. I don't want to say any more about it here, but please keep me in your prayers. It was hellish on Saturday, especially, on top of having my husband in surgery. But one neat thing happened: As I drove home from the hospital on Saturday night I was just feeling the weight of everything. I stopped at the grocery to pick up a few things and was having a hard time keeping it together. As I strolled up the cereal aisle I cried out in my heart, "Lord, I need a touch from you!" I turned the corner, and there was my brother-in-law, Jeff, with a warm smile and listening ear. I was doubly encouraged, to see Jeff, and also that God had heard me and was close to me. Praise him for his goodness.

Love to you all.