Thank you all for your prayers and thank you Lord for the milestones!
Milestones:
ARDS cleared up, moved to an airbed, on regular respirator (sustained breathing machine) on 35% oxygen; moving all his limbs, a little strength, squeezes hands, opens eyes and watches family in the room, ties to talk but not able to yet; recognizes mom & oldest brother & medical staff; can nod head 'yes' and 'no' to picture prompts - asked for a fan for the room and some water (rcvd the fan, no water for now); was happy to see his friends; facial expressions; communicating and understanding verbal and nonverbal.
Some stomach issues (vomiting); has developed pancreatitus
The doctors are pulling the trache tube for small amounts of time everyday to increase lung strength. Paul will need to be in critical care for several months for rehabilitation, and then possibly longer in an assisted living facility.
There are still a lot of unknowns. The brain testing hasn't been done, we're not even sure if he has verbal language, or what the extent damage was done (if any) by going into cardiac arrest five times.
All being said - THANK YOU LORD! Paul's doctors are AMAZED at his progress over the past 2 weeks, and the prognosis gets more positive every day.
22 May 2008
21 May 2008
reason #598735 why happy loves hubby
Last night, while Happy slept, the sweet sweet Hubby defrosted the fridge.
Which was frozen over from last winter - as in Dec 2006
Hubby's Rationale? As temperatures increase, frozen fridge functionality decreases. We had resorted to 'adaptive refridgeration measures' (ie, putting necessities on the freezer side to stay cold) over the past year (or so).
Now, you might think I'd break down and defrost the 1 foot block of ice caking the inside of the freezer. Although for that much ice, defrost is putting it lightly. You have no idea how many fridges I've defrosted over the years, and no idea how much I detest this household chore. I would rather scrub toilets.
Which makes Hubby's late-night gift all that much sweeter.
Bottom Line? Hubby got tired of his beer competing for cold space in the freezer with the leftover seafood chowder, milk, meat, and other assorted 'must stay cold' items. Action had to be taken. So as I slept, he defrosted.
Happy hearts Hubby
Which was frozen over from last winter - as in Dec 2006
Hubby's Rationale? As temperatures increase, frozen fridge functionality decreases. We had resorted to 'adaptive refridgeration measures' (ie, putting necessities on the freezer side to stay cold) over the past year (or so).
Now, you might think I'd break down and defrost the 1 foot block of ice caking the inside of the freezer. Although for that much ice, defrost is putting it lightly. You have no idea how many fridges I've defrosted over the years, and no idea how much I detest this household chore. I would rather scrub toilets.
Which makes Hubby's late-night gift all that much sweeter.
Bottom Line? Hubby got tired of his beer competing for cold space in the freezer with the leftover seafood chowder, milk, meat, and other assorted 'must stay cold' items. Action had to be taken. So as I slept, he defrosted.
Happy hearts Hubby
16 May 2008
prayer request
If anyone stumbles upon this, please pray for my brother.
He is on full life support (1 wk now), and in severely critical condition. The prognosis is not good.
He is only 42, and the doctors can not figure out what caused his heart to stop 5 times.
Last night he developed 'acute respiratory distress syndrome' which is a virus that attacks the lungs and causes them to harden. He is on 80% oxygen.
Please join our family in praying for my brother.
He is on full life support (1 wk now), and in severely critical condition. The prognosis is not good.
He is only 42, and the doctors can not figure out what caused his heart to stop 5 times.
Last night he developed 'acute respiratory distress syndrome' which is a virus that attacks the lungs and causes them to harden. He is on 80% oxygen.
Please join our family in praying for my brother.
ValuesMenu - your soul is worth more than a buck
In Hillbillburbia:
Gas is now $3.65 reg / $3.85 premium
Milk is $4.99/gal
South about 90 miles - Asheville, NC:
Gas is $3.85 reg / $4.05 premium
Milk is $5.39/gal
Recently the topic of boycotting companies that support 'alternative lifestyle choices' surfaced in the blogosphere. This topic ties into a deeper issue that centers around values-based choices and reality.
The plethora of Fortune 500 companies who support and advocate 'alternative lifestyle choices' includes:
Disney
Microsoft
Proctor and Gamble
Kraft
Ford
Nissan
Anheiser Busch
IBM
Intel
JP Morgan Chase
Wells Fargo
Motorola
American Airlines
American Express
McDonalds
Pepsico
Recently, a Catholic mother recounted an anecdote on her blog about informing her kids 'no more Mcdonalds'. I read this blog daily. This woman is (in my humble opinion) an excellent mother. She's attentive, caring, goes the extra mile for her kids and family, and her love for her family is very evident in her blog writing. I like to read her because she is so positive and radiates joy.
This family (and many others, I discovered as I began to dig deeper into the McD's thing, which I did not know about before reading her blog) is boycotting McD's. Which is fine - I'm all for values-based choices. I make them all the time.
Here's the issue that bothered me:
Notice that Disney is on that list? This family's last vacation was to Disney.
What is one to do, in today's world? How can one possibly avoid every company on that list in a day to day reality, simply bc one does not agree with their position on 'alternative lifestyles' or some other issue? Because you know what? It doesn't matter anymore what the issue is - if you dig deeply enough into a company's profile, you will likely find something to offend you and your values.
It's complicated and there are no easy answers. As for us, Hubby and I continue to work daily towards sustainable living. An example of a values-based choice that makes life difficult for us, because we are self-employed in an industry that often requires travel: We are committed to leaving as small of a footprint on this earth as we can. Passionately committed to that.
And so what that means in terms of travel and our means of employment?
We will not fly. Not anywhere, not for any reason. A single flight across country uses more fuel and natural resources and leaves more pollution in the air than 288 15-min daily commutes over the course of a year.
So - if we can't drive it, we don't go. And when we drive it, we use the most gas-economical car we can - typically in the 28 - 33 mpg range - and travel as greenly as we can.
Sometimes clients understand. Sometimes they don't. Regardless, we don't fly.
It's a lot like the granola-crunchy who uses corn biofuel during a world food shortage, or the newly-minted 'green generation' who pass over used cars to purchase new hybrids. While the hybrids are good - they are economical - more natural resources are consumed destroying the used car that no one will ever buy than are saved by driving the new hybrid.
Gas is now $3.65 reg / $3.85 premium
Milk is $4.99/gal
South about 90 miles - Asheville, NC:
Gas is $3.85 reg / $4.05 premium
Milk is $5.39/gal
Recently the topic of boycotting companies that support 'alternative lifestyle choices' surfaced in the blogosphere. This topic ties into a deeper issue that centers around values-based choices and reality.
The plethora of Fortune 500 companies who support and advocate 'alternative lifestyle choices' includes:
Disney
Microsoft
Proctor and Gamble
Kraft
Ford
Nissan
Anheiser Busch
IBM
Intel
JP Morgan Chase
Wells Fargo
Motorola
American Airlines
American Express
McDonalds
Pepsico
Recently, a Catholic mother recounted an anecdote on her blog about informing her kids 'no more Mcdonalds'. I read this blog daily. This woman is (in my humble opinion) an excellent mother. She's attentive, caring, goes the extra mile for her kids and family, and her love for her family is very evident in her blog writing. I like to read her because she is so positive and radiates joy.
This family (and many others, I discovered as I began to dig deeper into the McD's thing, which I did not know about before reading her blog) is boycotting McD's. Which is fine - I'm all for values-based choices. I make them all the time.
Here's the issue that bothered me:
Notice that Disney is on that list? This family's last vacation was to Disney.
What is one to do, in today's world? How can one possibly avoid every company on that list in a day to day reality, simply bc one does not agree with their position on 'alternative lifestyles' or some other issue? Because you know what? It doesn't matter anymore what the issue is - if you dig deeply enough into a company's profile, you will likely find something to offend you and your values.
It's complicated and there are no easy answers. As for us, Hubby and I continue to work daily towards sustainable living. An example of a values-based choice that makes life difficult for us, because we are self-employed in an industry that often requires travel: We are committed to leaving as small of a footprint on this earth as we can. Passionately committed to that.
And so what that means in terms of travel and our means of employment?
We will not fly. Not anywhere, not for any reason. A single flight across country uses more fuel and natural resources and leaves more pollution in the air than 288 15-min daily commutes over the course of a year.
So - if we can't drive it, we don't go. And when we drive it, we use the most gas-economical car we can - typically in the 28 - 33 mpg range - and travel as greenly as we can.
Sometimes clients understand. Sometimes they don't. Regardless, we don't fly.
It's a lot like the granola-crunchy who uses corn biofuel during a world food shortage, or the newly-minted 'green generation' who pass over used cars to purchase new hybrids. While the hybrids are good - they are economical - more natural resources are consumed destroying the used car that no one will ever buy than are saved by driving the new hybrid.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)