Dad is on his way home from the hospital!!

Sorry we have not posted any updates lately, no news is good news I guess Grady and I spent Christmas back home in Vegas with our family since dad is doing so well. We left Trav and mom to spend it with Dad at the hospital.

Dad will probably be in the hospital a few more days. Nothing too serious there are just some corky things they need to get taken care of before he leaves (like one side of his head is 2 degrees warmer than the other)… and he is still in a lot of pain like before the surgery and they are finally seeing if they figure out some things before he goes home. It is a good thing for him to stay a bit longer if they can figure out some of these things to make him more comfortable at home for his recovery.

Hope all of you had a Very Merry Christmas and Have a wonderful upcoming New Year!

what amazing progress dad hasdone today.

He is out of ICU and into a room.

They have his pain under control for the moment and things are just really really looking good.

He still needs a lot of rest so for all of you anxiously waiting to see him it would be good to give him a day or so longer. he gets worn out with even short visits, altough he loves them!

We knew Lin was doing OK when he began arguing sports with Travis! They have him up and are starting to remove tubes. He is drinking water and eating jello. He realizes he is another miracle blessing from a mighty God! Looking forward to escaping ICU fairly soon and celebrating Christmas in a regular room!

dad has his tubes out, sitting up and talking!!!!!

we have left dad for the night, he is sedated and doing good. He nodded and sqeezed hands to say good night. Trav talked the nurse into putting on the utes game on, the nurse was releaved as they cant put the gameon without patients asking and he is a big fan. So nurse hand dad are happy (or so we hope dad is when he is alert enough to hear it)

Trav and I are hanging out at the hospital while the rest of the family is taking a break. I just want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has been praying and supporting our family with hugs and your presence – and especially to those of who who have opted to stay at home to take care of things for us while we are away. It is such a blessing to have all of you in our lives! I also want to thank Katie for keeping this blog up through thick and thin – especially yesterday as the hours wore on and nerves were frazzeled – she has done an awesome job! Thank you to my sister, Patti, who has let all of us invade her home, day and night whenever we need a “base camp”, shower or bed! Trav hasn’t left my side and Zoie has entertained us all and kept us laughing. Graydon, as always, is a rock we can all depend on. Rachel – you are so amazing – supporting your family both here and your dad in North Carolina – wishing you could be two places at once! And mom, thank you for all the love you pour out on all of us!

As always, our hearts and prayers go out to the people we are sharing the ICU waiting room with. Their needs are as diverse and desperate as can be imagined – a strange and surreal comradery where you all feel like family!

Lin is hanging tough. We are having to let the nurses and doctors minister to him as he deals with all the issues he is having to face. They are keeping him sedated so he doesn’t fight them, trying to pull tubes out and wanting to talk, but not able to. So the kids and I are staying close, but letting him rest. Probably not too much will happen in the next few days – they are talking 1-2 days before they even take the ventilator out, so if we are out of ICU before Christmas it will be a miracle. We will post at least once a day – more if anything eventful takes place.

Once more – thank all of you – I appreciate you more than you will know. Debbie

just talked to dr woodbury. He says dad is doing great. He is further along in recovery than he expected. he is happy with wherehe is at.

however, he doesnt antisipate taking him off the ventalater for another day or even 2. He has been throuh a lot and they need to take their time and pecautions,

he seems really happy with the progress but looks like it will be a few days in ICU.

I just left dads side in the ICU. He still has the breathing tube in but he could understand me. He trid talking but o course can not which frustrated him.
at this time they are very cautious about things because its his 4th surgery and being under for over 11 hours yesterday. They are giving him blood pressure meds, other than that things r looking good

they are waiting for the fluids to drain, which will just depend on his body. Could be anotherhour or most of the day. Adter this they will take the breathing tube out.

he squeezed my hand so tight and wouldnt let go. He didnt want me to leave. I didnt leave untl the nursegave him some sedation meds and he wasout.

he needs his rest, we will go eat and then be back.

Forgive me if this update andlast nights grammer is off, i am writing this using my phone! I am sure there r lots of erros, but u get the point!

Sorry this is late, but at 730 we got to go in and see dad. He was responsive enough to know he was in pain, but he could hear us that he made it through and we were there.

His oxygen level waslow, they are not too concerned but culd cause delay in getting tube out. We expected this and are not too worried. We will call ICU at 9pm to check in. As soon as he is awake and alert we will go back and see him.

Tomorrow we will stay in St George but be around town and stop by to give dad kisses. His recovery will be best left to the great nuses and lots of rest. We know this routine very well….

He is still in a critical state and pray that he takes his time to recover with no more hickups.

Good night everyone, i hope to not have an update until morning. No news is good news.