Emily Update and Grandfather Sir Update

Emily went for her first post-hospital checkup today and the pediatrician said she was doing "perfect." She weighs 5 lbs, 13 oz which is fantastic news! (She was born at 6 lbs and went down to 5 lbs, 7 oz when she left the hospital - that might sound scary but it is very normal to lose up to 15% body weight after delivery and then the baby should regain that weight in 10-14 days.) She's right on track! (Of course we have to realize that all the scales could be slightly different so the real measure will be when she goes for another checkup next week.)

Also, the "substitute" pediatrician (our regular pediatrician is on maternity leave) said that it is so good that the hospital does the Car Seat Tolerance Test because there are many "miracle" babies that are born at 2 lbs or whatever and finally get released from the hospital after doing so well and then die on the way home from the hospital because of the car seat! Who knows what might have happened had they not tested Emily and sent her home earlier or in a different car seat! We're glad she is in a better car seat. The pediatrician also said that when Emily gets to the age where she would have been "full-term" we no longer have to worry about her breathing/oxygen levels in the car seat. Until then we will limit her trips strictly to the doctor's office and back. She is just too fragile although you can't tell by looking at her - she looks and acts like a normal newborn! We were so happy to get a good report from the doctor. The doctor was very pleased at how much Emily is eating and says she's right on track. The "substitute" doctor was not the same doctor we saw in the hospital but she will see her again next week for consistency. We have been so pleased with the pediatrician's practice that we have - they are always better than we expect. Either we have low expectations or they really stand out in the health care industry.

Grandfather, Sir has finished his radiation treatments! He is in San Antonio with us for the weekend and then will be returning to Midland on Sunday. The doctors have warned him that this next week will be the hardest on him and he is already starting to feel that today. He is extremely tired and in physical pain at the site of the radiation. The radiation actually burned the hair off on the side of his head and his neck and shoulder look like they have been badly burned as well. The skin looks almost raw - I can't imagine the pain associated with that. He said it is a burning sensation. In addition, his tastebuds have been dramatically effected. Nothing tastes good, even water is almost unbearable. But he has to drink more water than usual because he had one salivary gland removed in surgery a few months ago and the other has been "blitzed" by the radiation. We take saliva for granted - you NEED saliva to be able to chew and swallow and digest food properly. Think of eating a biscuit that is already dry by itself and then not being able to produce enough saliva to break it down. It would be a big doughy ball in your mouth. Everything feels like eating a big doughy ball. Except most things taste really really bad. He says the best thing to eat is anything with some kind of broth base like wonton soup. How much wonton soup can one person eat? I don't know. I can't imagine going through this if he was a picky eater. I'm sure picky eaters would automatically have to get a feeding tube just to get enough energy to make it through the day. Thankfully he hasn't had to have a feeding tube but this has been really really hard on him. His discipline and faith I'm sure have helped him through his worst days - I hope they continue to support him in what lies ahead.

My mom is planning to go back to Midland with Dad (if Ryan will let her go - he's pretty attached - probably because he sees a pair of arms that are not too busy or too tired to pick him up!) for this most challenging week and then hopefully will be back here to help take care of us next week when Shane gets back to work. She is going to be SO EXHAUSTED by the time this is all said and done - she's going to need a vacation! (But she'll probably want to take a vacation in her own home where she can sleep in her own bed! It's been a long time since she's had much time there! Her golfing buddies miss her a lot I'm sure! Margaret?! Margaret who??!) We'd like to keep her for the rest of the summer but we'd settle for anything she wants to give. There's nothing like having your mommy to take care of you.

Anyway, I'm recovering as well as possible, I guess. I had a regular delivery with Ryan so I don't have anything to compare this c-section to. I hoped recovery would be quicker and less painful - shows how much I know. I don't know what those celebrities are thinking when they "elect" a c-section. IDIOTS! Abdominal surgery is right up there with medieval torture for me! (Okay, in medieval torture they probably don't offer pain pills afterward or a spinal or epidural of which I had both - but you get my drift.)

Mom and I want to thank everyone (again) for all of your prayers and thoughts and time and everything else that you all have been so generous with. Our friends and family have helped us through this very difficult time (you know who you are) so thank you thank you. I hope that we will recognize the opportunities to "pay-it-forward" to you or to other people that need us as much as we have needed you all. Thanks again. We are truly blessed. We will keep adding to this blog - hopefully with all things light and cheery from here on out. No more dangerous pregnancies, no more cancer or radiation, no more sadness. It will be all things bright and beautiful. :) Much love...