Mike's Post-Op Visit #1

Today we went to Mike's first post-op visit 1 1/2 weeks after his surgery. He was supposed to get his staples removed, and get casted. When they took off his splint though, his foot was too swollen to cast and the doctor didn't feel comfortable taking out his staples yet. He also kept talking about what a bad fracture he had, and really stressed to absolutely put NO weight on it whatsoever for at least 6 weeks from today and possibly longer. I think this is going to be a longer recovery than anticipated.

Even though Mike is in a lot of pain still, and I mean - who WANTS to break a leg, we are finding some blessing in Mike being home for so long. It's actually really nice to be able to spend more time with him! Even though it's like having a third child sometimes ;-) it's nice to have the quantity of time that we didn't have before. It's also really nice to be able to leave Maddie at home and in bed still when I drive Jackson to school in the morning, and during her naptime when I pick him up after school. Mike's work is also having manditory vacation in February on Fridays, and want people to also cut their vacation bank in half by the end of the year. Since Mike is on short term disability right now, he's not having to waste his vacation days in February and will be able to use them later this year - hopefully if we are able to travel to Ethiopia later this year.

Things always work out for a reason, even if it's not how we would have chosen to have them work. We are also still being continually blessed by our family and friends! Thank you so much to my parents for ALL you have done with the kids over the last couple weeks! And also for being able to watch Maddie for Mike's doctor appointments; plus the kids have loved all the extra time they've been able to spend with you! And also to Lisa and Kevin for picking up Jackson for school all last week; and to everyone else in our small group, and church, and friends - for bringing meals, and cards, and prayers.

Mike's Leg Catastrophe Pictures

This is Mike's lovely ankle when we got to the ER.

The ER doctor doppling pulses in his foot and ankle, because he was having a very hard time feeling them - which is not a good thing.

This is Mike right when he got up to his room. He was very sedated from the general anesthesia and also the morphine PCA pump; pretty much only woke up for a while to throw up, then pass out again.

Mike walking with his Physical Therapist.

Mike sitting up in the chair for the first time after surgery.

Here was my hilarious attempt to wash Mike's hair after giving him a bed bath, using a bed pan for a 'water catcher'. Umm...yah.

The kids had so much fun playing with Mike's balloons!

Maddie really missed Mike! The first thing she did was crawl up for a snuggle!

Update

I've been doing most of my updates on facebook, since I have more friends read that then are on my blog. But just wanted to give an update from the hospital!

Mike's feeling a little better today, although the pain in his ankle/foot is still severe at times. He still has his Morphine PCA pump that he's using pretty regularly. We have had awesome nurses and techs here! I've known a few of them, since we're in the same hospital I work at. I helped give Mike a bed bath earlier, which is something I wouldn't have thought I'd do for another 50 some years! ;-) We still haven't seen his surgeon today, which I'm hoping that he will stop by before I leave to pick up the kids so we can talk to him. We're still not sure how long they think Mike will be in the hospital, but a "guess" was given to us that he wouldn't be released before Thursday. I'm still trying to figure out work coverage for me later this week, and possibly finding a babysitter to come and take care of the kids while I'm at work.

My parents have been home with the kids last night and today, which has been a life saver!! I'm really glad I could be at the hospital with Mike - especially his first couple nights when he was sick from the anesthesia and throwing up a lot. Luckily that has passed!

I'm planning on picking up Jackson from school today, then going back home to set out night time stuff for the kids. I'm going to bring the kids up for a while this evening to spend some time with Mike and have dinner, then I'm going to bring them back home tonight and help my parents do bath and bedtime before heading back to the hospital tonight.

Again, thanks to all our friends and family that have been able to help us during this time, and for all the words of encouragement and prayers!

Mike's Bum Leg

(Cut and pasted from my facebook note - this happened last night)

Tonight after our small group at church, Mike slipped on the ice and fell - breaking his leg/ankle in multiple places. (Thank you SOOOO MUCH!! to the Mitch and Regina for taking Mike to the hospital so I could go pack an overnight bag for the kids!! And to Kevin and Lisa for watching the kids for us tonight!! We seriously have the best friends ever!)

After a long time in the ER, and lots of x-rays and CT scans, they put Mike under sedation/anesthesia so they could move it into the right position again and splint it. He's at Methodist Hospital right now, in Powell 469. They are planning on doing surgery tomorrow, and we're not sure when he'll be able to go home. I'm spending the night here tonight with him and his Morphine PCA pump.

Tomorrow morning I will let Lisa know if the surgery is scheduled yet, and I'll come back and pick up Maddie (and grab some more stuff for Mike). Then I'm hoping my parents will be able to stay with Maddie and pick up Jackson from school so I will be able to be with Mike at the hospital for his surgery. I'm just taking it one step at a time, because none of the details are set yet.

I'll keep everyone posted! I also have some pictures to post as soon as I can get to my home computer to put them from my phone to the computer. (Yah yah, we're picture freaks)

We also ran into someone that Eileen Kurth knows (I already forget his name! Brian? He's a PA with Mike's ortho doctor) and also Sarah Copple's sister! Woo hoo! :-)

Oh yah...I gave Jackson a crazy haircut for Sparks tonight, and he'll still have that crazy hair tomorrow for school. Poor little buddy!! :-P

OK, that's all I can think of for now. Going to try to get some sleep!