So strong, yet so weak

Hello Friends!

I have enjoyed reading all of your insights on the Yes to God study! I'm just learning so much from all of you! Make sure to make the time to visit those who have more to say on their own blogs...you just won't be disappointed. Pop over to Lysa's sometime too and tell her how much you're enjoying her book for we all need encouragement don't we?

I don't have much time as I need to get back to my husband's side. Surgery was Thursday and took 2 hours longer than expected. This is what the doctor told me post-op, "Because your husband is so muscular it took me longer than I thought because of all the muscle I had to work through." Now what wife doesn't want to hear that about her man?? Friday morning when the doc's PA came to visit him her 1st words were, "Gene I heard your pretty muscular and gave Dr. Woodward quite the workout." Oh brother that's all he needed to hear. He's been flexing his muscles ever since.

I was so glad that they warned me that his face would be really swollen post-op. After lying face down for 6 hours, the man looked nothing like my husband. It looked as if he had been beaten up. I asked him if I could take a picture of him because I knew as drugged up as he was he wouldn't believe it if I told him. I would post it, but it would probably embarrass him, so I won't. Luckily the swelling went down within 24 hours and he once again had his handsome looks back.

Besides being long, surgery went well, but recovery has been a tough one. We're hoping by Monday morning we'll be headed back to Lincoln. As strong as he is, right now he is so weak. He's been running a consistent fever and for a few days had very high blood pressure, but the bp is now in normal range. I'm sure that's just his body reacting to everything it went through. He was so grossed out when he woke up and had a catheter in. Wouldn't even look at it. He knew they were going to insert one during surgery and asked if they could put him to sleep to remove it. The nurses just laughed. You know I had fun with this one.

UPDATE: It's 6:20pm & Gene just had a chest x-ray done. He's been running a fever & I've been questioning his nurses of the longevity of the fever since fever is usually a sign of infection. The doctor ordered an x-ray to be done today so please pray there isn't any pneumonia or anything else going on that shouldn't be. Thank you!

Another update: :) X-ray came back negative for pneumonia. Still running a fever, but is being dismissed today. Yeah! We are so sick of Omaha Nebraska right now! Lol...the nurses & doctors have all been wonderful to him. Thanks again for your prayers. I need to get over to the hospital & cheer him on during PT. Still no baby yet. :(

Miss Amiyah's due date was yesterday, but Amy you're right...little Princess is just taking her sweet time to make her entrance. Alyssa is having back pain and contractions...yah! Nothing consistent yet though. I think Little Girl is just waiting until Grandma and Grandpa are back home so we don't miss her. Monday Alyssa has an appointment where the doctor will check her cervix and talk about inducing her. We're praying she has it on the 10th...then Amiyah will share her birthday with her Aunt Ment who was Gene's sister who passed suddenly in 2000.

I haven't read through all of the comments you have left her on the Blog Baby Shower...I'm going to wait until my sister puts them into a book for her. You all are so sweet~thank you for loving on my family.

Last night we decided since Gene can now eat solid foods to have a romantic dinner from Applebee's. We love the Blondie dessert there and only get it maybe twice a year. So we were excited to have it. If you've never had it, let me explain. It's a maple brownie that you cover in this warm sauce, then you put the scoop of vanilla ice cream on top and the nuts. SO GOOD! So I get out my brownie, pour over my yummy sauce and open my ice cream container to see that my ice cream is melted. Bummer, but I pour it all over the brownie and sauce anyway. After the ice cream container is empty is when I realized that I just doused my once a year treat with the container of ranch dressing left over from my salad.

~Sigh~

The life of Lelia...always full of adventure.

These last few days I couldn't help but think of Gene's situation as how it must be for God with us at times. We invite the Holy Surgeon to come into our lives and make the changes necessary, but sometimes He really has His work cut out for Him. Maybe there are things our flesh doesn't want to get rid of and He is met with the muscle of pride. Or the muscle of fleshly desires. Whatever muscle of resistance we hold on to we just need to relax those muscles and let Him cut away and do His thing...Amen?

Because when He is given charge over our lives all that dross will be cut away and we'll wake up new and whole!

I love you all and appreciate your concerns and prayers over my family. We have been blessed beyond belief at the love that surrounds us here at home also. Our kids have been well taken care of...thanks Michelle, Mom & Dad, Ben & Julie and John & Charlene! Appreciate all the calls especially from Gene's brother in the Lord David Lewis :) and most coveted have been the prayers. Even Gene's boss Ben & our pastor Jerry & youth pastor Isaac came to pray & visit. Thanks seems so small here.

And of course, what a blessing my Blog sisters in Christ have been to us.

Well, back to my Macho Man...

~Many Blessings~

Lelia