Hello everyone!   Yup, Nathaniel and I are still here in Anchorage, and Mom and Dani are still holding down the fort in Nome.   I just wanted to jump on and give a quick update, I know you all are praying for us and I am so grateful.  

Today is eleven days after surgery, and it has been a long road.   I was released Monday night, and recovery has been much slower than we had hoped, but at least it has been steady. 

My drain on the left side (with only two lymph nodes removed) came out pretty quick.   Ouch!   The right side drain is where I had all of the lymph nodes removed, and it is still causing some trouble.   I need it to drain less than 20 cc’s for two days straight before I can get it out (and go home!) and were at 30 cc’s today.  

I’ve done almost nothing because I have had a lot of pain.   But the last two days I’ve been feeling better, and last night I decided to try to scrapbook a little.   We’re talking scissors, a little glue... and while reaching to the trash can I succeeded in ripping out my stitches on one of the tubes going into my side, thus pulling out the drain tube about an inch.   WOW!   I didn’t know scrapbooking was dangerous.   It’s been very painful, but still seems to be draining.

I guess my prayer request is for the wounds to heal well and dry up so I can get the drains out, and for a decrease in the pain I am having.   Most of all, just for the clean bill of health to head home to Nome.   I have my herceptin infusion tomorrow, as well a few more doctor’s visits in the next days.

As far as our hearts, we’re swimming in some deep waters.   Please keep praying, we were blessed with a teaching series from James McDonald about suffering.   We’ve been going through it bit by bit, and the Lord is using it to strengthen our hearts.  

I know it’s just a short post, but my arms have a hard time holding typing position for too long just now.   May God be near and dear to you this Christmas!