January 4, 2010

Well, it is official, the surgeon has released Jimmy to leave the state of Texas and follow up with physicians at home. Jimmy is ready to say the least. Today they removed the staples from the sternal incision. Since the groin incisions are more difficult to keep dry, the staples are still in place and should be removed in about another week.

The surgeon was pleased with how well Jimmy is doing. Of course, I have been charged with making sure that the infection clears up. Should it not completely clear up by the time Jimmy is finished with his antibiotic, I am to notify the docs here. So my fingers are crossed that all will be GREAT at the end of the next 7 days.

We have decided, with the doctor's blessings, to postpone the rest of the transplant work-up until March. The congenital heart specialist and the surgeon believe that it will be just fine to wait. Aside from being sore and a little winded with extra long walking distances,Jimmy is doing just as well as he was before surgery. Just a note of clarification. The transplant work-up is precautionary more than anything; Jimmy will be placed on the transplant list as inactive. Depending on what the decided course of action will be from here, they want to have all the ground work laid in case there should be a need for emergent transplant. Of course, we all hope that does not occur, but it is good to be prepared.

Unfortunately, we don't have definite plans for the future. For sure, there will be the testing and work up for the transplant. It is our understanding that when we come back in March we will be presented with the options that are available.

In the meantime, Jimmy and I have made a commitment to making a lifestyle change. As a lot of America, we have fallen into the habit of being sedentary. We have vowed to make changes in our lifestyle and not let excuses get in the way. It is vital, especially to Jimmy's health and I would be kidding myself if I didn't admit that it would also benefit me and Jake. Like I mentioned above, Jimmy does get winded easily at this time, so the surgeon suggested we start slow by just walking until he gets his strength back. I am excited about this change. It is truly going to be an investment in our future.

So what else has been going on? We went to the movies the other day and watched Sherlock Holmes, which we highly recommend if you like comedy, mystery, action and adventure. We have also been frequenting the local Blockbuster and have watched all three seasons of Dexter (a Showtime drama series). Due to sheer boredom we have found ourselves napping A LOT! SO we should be good and rested when we get home. We went to the Beer-Can House, which is house whose siding is literally old beer cans. Jimmy bought a shirt... Then we went to see the giant Presidential Heads. That was really neat. The artist has also made a giant sculpture of the Beatles. It was difficult to get good pictures, because these aren't really on display, instead they are in a fenced yard. We aren't really sure what this man does with his work, but it seems like he should put them on display somewhere...????

So this is where the adventure really slows down. We are leaving Houston tomorrow, hoping to miss all the precipitation on the way home. We are not going to take more than one day to get back home, unless Jimmy changes his mind while we are on the road. The plan is to meet up with Jimmy's friend in Dallas for a quick meal and head on home. We are sure looking forward to being back. Not so much to the weather that we are coming back to, but there is definitely truth in the saying "comforts of home".

I will continue to update the blog periodically to keep everyone up to date with the happenings. Thanks again for all your positive vibes, well wishes, prayers, and continued support. I don't feel that we will ever be able to express our gratitude. But we will certainly try. May you all have a fantastic and blessed 2010! We are sure hopeful this will be more productive and healthy than the last.