July 9 - Rounding third and heading home

The bulk of our emotions these days is over Barbara's homecoming tomorrow. Though she's been home on several occasions now (she spent both Saturday and Sunday here), tomorrow will signify the cutting of the cord with the nursing facility that has been her home away from home for several months. She will be just a few days short of having spent 8 months in various hospitals and care facilities. Barbara has always been very emotional, but she's been especially so of late as we've considered how far we've come. This next step will not be easy. Neither of us are jaded as to what this will mean. I realize I'm not fully prepared to be her full time nurse! However, God has been faithful to bless us and care for us in every step of this journey, and we have no reason to believe that will change now. In fact, Barbara just recently told me how emotional she got when we sang "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" on her first Sunday back at church over a month ago. While we certainly have had to deal with many ugly things, there has always been more blessings than anything else.

This past week Barbara has been assisted in walking across the therapy room at Miller's. They are halting steps, but progressive nonetheless. Her nurses and aids are continually amazed at how far she has come since entering Miller's. We both agree that the selection of Miller's Merry Manor in Hobart was exactly the right choice. Her nurses have been outstanding for the most part, as have her aides. In fact, I've come to realize that the aides are the backbone of the facility. They have been such wonderful caregivers, and I can plainly see that they truly care about Barbara. I'm especially thankful for Lisa, one of Barbara's nurses, who I think was a part of saving Barbara's life once again. She was diligent about getting the care needed to solve the fact that Barbara wasn't eating at all. Thanks to her compassionate care, Barbara got the attention that she needed at a point where doctors said she was once again in a dire situation. I wish I could start naming all the significant names and tell what they've done but time and space would now allow it.

So how can you pray for us as I bring Barbara home tomorrow?

Pray that she will continue to progress and not have any setbacks,

That she will walk better everyday,

That the daytime rehab program will work out,

That Medicaid will come through,

That I will have both the physical and emotional strength for the challenges ahead,

That help will be available when needed,

That finances will work out,

And that Barbara will be able to live a joyous, full life.

We plan to go to Columbus this Saturday for Jackie's family/local church shower to be held there (it was too difficult to get in all these showers before the wedding). Pray that will go well. Also, we still have it as a goal to go to family camp together (our Wabash Conference Free Methodist friends will know what that is all about). We still need a decent queen size or even one twin size mattress for the cabin to make it more comfortable for her. Pray that will work out for us.

Wow, that's a lot of prayer requests! Thanks so much for all your kinds responses to this blog. I plan to keep it up for a while longer.

In order to help pay our overwhelming hospital bills, I am beginning a small photography/digital media business. If you know of someone in my area that is getting married, or that would like photographic services for a special occasion, please have them give me a call. I will have a website up soon to advertise my services.

I'm including a picture that, while not a photographic art piece by any stretch, will give you a glimpse at Barbara returning to semi-normalcy. This was taken at a church cook-out this past Sunday.