Pre-op and CT Angio

Hello world!

I feel I can say that as we've received so many well wishes and promises of prayer -- thanks to every one of you! The big stuff starts tomorrow, so turn up the volume on your prayers!!

Jimmy and I spent the whole morning at the hospital doing his pre-op testing and CT angio for Dr. Fiorella tomorrow. The good news is that he passed! Dr. Staman, the internist, said that other than his poor walking, dizziness, headaches, nausea, and newly diagnosed diabetes, he is the picture of health -- yeah. Anyway, he's good to go for tomorrow.

Jimmy was his usual smart-alecky self while struggling to get his underwear on this morning ... he noted that I was dressed in a black shirt, dark jeans, and black boots. He looked me over and mentioned that he would prefer if I would refrain from wearing black for the next couple of days as it was making him nervous. I answered by adding my hot pink scarf to my attire -- that cheered him up! We then grabbed a shuttle from our hotel to the hospital as it is difficult for him to make the one block walk right now. About a hundred yards from the entrance, we had to have the driver pull over so he could 'toss his cookies' (actually he had to skip breakfast, so I'm not sure what it was) all over the curb. At least we got him out of the car first. The poor baby just looked at me and we both said, "that's why we're here". Last night we were watching TV and he had to stumble across the room and grab the bag that the newspaper came in to do the same. The nausea just comes on him in an instant, and he hardly has time to react. He's learned to scope out every room we enter for the nearest bathrooms, sinks, and waste baskets. Today, the nice nurses gave him an official 'puke bucket' that I intend to carry with us everywhere we go. I also have some extra garbage bags that I keep in my purse. He's been amazingly neat so far! Neither one of us will ever second guess ourselves on the decision to go through this surgery at this time and place.

Tomorrow is a VERY big day. We have to be at the hospital at 7:00am. They only want him to take one of his blood pressure meds and his aspirin that morning. I'm planning to wait until we get settled over there before he takes them, so there is less risk of him vomiting them up. We are on pins and needles as to how the day will turn out. This is the start of everything where we find out whether he can tolerate a total occlusion or not during the balloon angiogram. If so, they may decide to coil it right then and there, and then he will be done with surgery. Or they may decide to wait and do a clip with open surgery the next day. Or he may not pass the balloon test, and then we will know that he will have a much bigger hurdle to leap on Friday with a bypass and clip. It will be a HUGE relief if he passes the test, but we are prepared for anything and everything. Of course, I would love to hear the news that he passed and they decided to install the coil, and that he seems to be doing well; but I know that if they decide to do the clip the next day, that it would have been contemplated very diligently and the decision made with good reason. So....we just wait and see!

Jim and I have really enjoyed having these few days alone together and are looking forward to the kids joining us tomorrow. We haven't been able to go out and tear up the town, but we cherish every moment spent outside of a hospital room -- we're going to have plenty of those ahead. Jim has been amazingly calm, even as the reality is setting in. He even remarked that he felt better being in the hospital today because he knew he was going to be taken care of. Everyone treated us so kindly, and our confidence in the facility and the doctors continues to thrive. The hospital is a 'teaching hospital', so we will always have a doctor there and available. That is very comforting when you are going through something as critical as this. Jim is still napping, and as soon as he gets up, we are going to go have dinner and get to bed early tonight. We might try a mexican place that a cabbie recommended. I think I could use a margarita -- but just one! I don't think Jimmy is quite up to babysitting me!

As I seem to keep repeating: pray, pray, pray!!! God is with us. And just to make sure, I have the holy water that Judy McStott sent, the Mary medallions from the St. Clare Sisters, Judy Larson's prayer charm, his brother, Steve's, prayer bead bracelet, and the cross necklace that I gave him for Christmas. I also have a crystal cross from Judy McStott that we will set up in his room as he recovers. In turn, I have the 'Build-A-Bear' that Jim and Jenna made for me for Christmas with the cute little green doctor scrubs that says, "I love you, I love you," when I squeeze its paw to keep me secure while he is away from me. Along with all of that, we have the love that we feel from each and every one of you -- thank you so much for your support!

I hope to have good news for all of you tomorrow, but if not, we will hope for a good day on Friday! Take care, God bless, and thank you.

Love from,
Jim and Kris

P.S. Jimmy said that I should remind all of those who are asking if we need anything, that there is a lot of dog poop to be picked up at home! I hope his humor is as good over the next few weeks and months! xoxoxox