Monday, Dec 10 and all is good

Well, my pain is slowly fading back. I still hurt with certain movements, but a lot better than it was last week. I went to start my physical therapy today, but they can't take me back without approval from the doctor. I called the doctor last week and never got a call back and the therapist sent him a FAX this morning and have not heard anything either. Having a great doctor is two sided. You get the best for treatment but too busy for the extra stuff. It will probably be February before I get something saying I could start this week. My therapist is just being protective of my future. I can't be mad for someone looking out for me!
My next doctors appointment is tomorrow for the plastic surgeon. Today, the doctor I saw was for "internal medicine". He is great one to see for this. He explains everything in detail and is great to deal with. He was a little concerned about one of my levels he saw on a blood test but was concerned that my surgery may have caused it to look high. Another blood test today to tell him where I am and which way I need to go. He told me to stay on the anti-biotics until we know for sure. This test today will tell him if the current medicine is working or needs to changed out. The plastic surgeon I see tomorrow is good, too, but he has an accent and I can't understand everything he says. He is another one of the good ones that knows how to take care of his patients. I think the infection is under control or he would not have closed me up so fast. I am sure he is not ready to take out my stitches, but I can hope he is ready. I will know tomorrow for sure. I will also ask him while I am there about when I can return to work. He or my main doctor will make a decision on this soon. Most people want time off of work, but after six months off, I just want to go back.
I think this is enough for today. May God be with you if you need him. He is willing to help you if He is asked. He was a major part of me still being here. His actions and those doctors and nurses he put on me to make everything right, went well. If they were doing something questionable, my dear wife was there to help them fix it. Four days left until Tiffaney's graduation and 19 days until Megan's wedding. These are part of life's reasons why God left me here. I could not miss these things! I know there are more things in my future that I don't know about, yet, too.
I would like to say thank you to all of our friends that came by last weekend and a special thanks to Bruce Walters for the special gift he presented to me. Best friends are special friends to have. If you have one, let them know just how special they are in your life!
Love to you all,
Mark 12/10/07

Sunday. Dec 9 and all is Good

Well, our yearly party came and went well last night. We had a smaller than usual turn out, but with all we have had going this year, it was about what we expected. Many invitations went out last minute, so it is understandable. I got to see many people that I have not seen in a while and a few that were expected, never came. Do I feel any less because they did not come? No way. I feel bad to not see them, but this is one of those things you just take and move on. There were only three people from my work here and that is understandable, too. Many good friends came to see us and the girls all had friends here, too. Several people in that group I do not see much of anymore, but it was sure good to see them all. Thanks to all that did come to see us. It was appreciated greatly!
I am feeling OK this morning. I know my daily pain is getting better, but I am still sore and get tired pretty easily, too. I am hoping the doctor has good news for me tomorrow. It seems like I am moving along. I go back to see the main doctor the following week. One of them has to tell me where this journey is taking me and what my progress is looking like. The one that filled my hole is tomorrow and the one that took the metal out is next week.
Betty worked her butt off trying to get ready for last night and everything was great. I know for the past four days she worked on all of these details. Now this party is gone, the wedding will be moved up the list of things to do first. That is the way she is. She is a dedicated person to the project at hand. Tiffaney's graduation will be this Friday. A quick trip to San Marcos for that event. We are so excited about it. Somewhere in all of this, there is Christmas shopping to do, too. We are going to be one of the ones getting all of this done last minute! Too many other irons on this fire!!!

Saturday, Dec. 8 and all is Good

I guess you have to notice things around you better than I do. I was never very good at that, but now I am probably worse. I woke up this morning and I did notice that my pain is getting better or I have learned to tolerate it better. I think I is just getting less! I still have problems getting comfortable when I sit and I tired too quickly if I don't sit. My body has a long ways to go to get back to where it was, but don't give up on me. I am determined to do this over time!
Tonight is our adult Christmas party that we have every year. We started to not have it but we enjoy it so much seeing all of our family and friends from many times. We see people from present to past. Some of these people we only see this time of year and that is OK, too. They are still in our lives! This wife of mine has been busy for days getting everything just right for this. We will have a good time but she will be SO tired. I usually try to help but I am not much help this year. I try but a lot of the things I usually do, I can't do. Just wait my dear, I am coming back and will make your effort to keep me alive well worth it! Next week, we have Tiffaney's graduation. Another child of mine graduating from college. This is a great thing for us but more things to do to get ready for it. We are only weeks away from Megan's wedding, too. Betty will put so much time and effort in to this to make it all flow so well. I do not know where this woman gets so many minutes into every day. She is just one of those people.
So as you can all tell, it is busy around here, but it is also so well organized and planned to fall certain ways. I just thank you all for being there for us as we have had a difficult time this year but will come back like we should. I love everyone who reads this! May God be there for you as He has been for me.
Mark 12/8/07

Friday, Dec. 7 and all is OK

Another day is upon us and I am still here, alive and kicking. My pain is still here but after a while, you just get used to it. I get a little strong with my comments with my new condition upon me. My mind gets going and before you know it, it's all written down. I hope I did not make anybody upset with my "inside" comments I made yesterday. I did not want people to think that because I have not heard much from them that I did not like them. That was not my intention at all. I know people have their own lives to keep them busy and just keeping me in their thoughts is great. I don't have to hear from you, as long as God does. I sometimes get caught in my own little world. I am sorry I act like that, but it did open my e-mails up.
Love you all and thanks for pulling for me, today and yesterday.
May God be with you as he is needed. All you have to do is ask Him to help and He will.
Thanks to all,
Mark 11/7/07

Thursday, Dec 6 and all is good

It is so good to be home again. I have had two nights now sleeping in my own bed and it is great. I am doing OK now, walking with a limp on my right side. My pain is still there and HOPEFULLY will start dissappearing soon. I am only hopeful that this last surgery will do that for me. I got a note from Megan that one of my cousins, Shellie, was trying to post on this site and could not get it to work right. Megan sent me the note. It is good to hear the comments she made towards my recovery. It is always nice to hear that people are behind you! It is always a positive. Thanks Shellie for keeping up with me and my progress. It always makes me feel better to hear from everybody. I get messages from family on both sides and that is wonderful to me. I was told yesterday in an e-mail that is it sad that I had to go through something like this accident to wake people up as to what is important in life. As sad as it sounds, it is a true touch to your feelings. But, accident or not, family is family and always mean the world to each of us. You love each of them as a part of you because they are a part of you. That is what makes families so important in our lives. The sad part is, you really find the depth of friendship in your friends. Some people I always considered a friend have really stepped up during this crisis and others that I thought were real close have just disappeared. I know a lot of people that throw in verbal sayings and that always mean so much. And others don't express themselves so well, but mean well. I understand this, too. I am one of those types of people in a lot of ways. This accident makes you learn a lot of things about people in general. It also makes you realize what is important in life. Family is family and they mean the world to each of us. We are not always as close as we could be because of distance, time and other matters, but they are still family and you always have love in your heart for them. And friends are friends and always will be friends. It is just you can learn a lot about them during a time like I had. It is God's way of teaching us what is important in life. He has taught me so much and I thank Him for holding my hand through all of this, to help me heal and be there for others. I hope I never know anyone who has to go through what I went through or what it put my family and friends through. It is sure a hard way to learn what is important.
Sorry I got so wordy this morning, but this situation has made me that way.
I love each of you for who you are and what you are to me.
If anyone needs it, Betty's e-mail is "bradbet@gmail.com" and I read notes that are sent to it for me or about me. They always mean so much!
God will be there for you, as he has been there for me, if you ask Him for his help. He helps me in so many ways to become the person I am. I am still here for all of you to talk with anytime. Love to all of you!!!
Mark 12/6/07

Tuesday, Dec 4 and Mark is home!!!

My trip of the hospital is over AGAIN. Surgery went longer than expected, but that is OK if they got all of my infections out before closing. I am in a lot my pain now that I was in before but they took a big piece of metal out of me. This took a big hole to do and I will survive this too. The doctor told me I would be in on Monday and out on Tuesday but he never thought about the doctor that had to fill in this hole. This doctor had to make sure the infection was cleared out. As long as this was done, I am going to be OK. I will suffer a little more pain to get better. They will let me know how I am doing overall next week at my doctor's appointment.
I had some visitors come see me while I was at the hospital. My nephew, Jake, came and stayed for a few hours and my parents came early in the week and contacted by phone after that to make sure all was going well. Two guys from my Dutch oven group came by on Friday and it was a good surprise to see them there. I was waiting on surgery call and looked and they were there (Jerry and Jerry). Thanks to ALL of you that came. My family all took their turn to see me, too. That makes everything better!!! Plus my 2nd cousin, Sara, came from Dallas and spent Saturday with me with her daughter, Nicolette. It was good to see them again, too. I also had several good friends take the time and call me, too. It means so much to know that so many people care about how I am.
There were several replies to Betty's input that meant a lot to me. Sallie sent one in from her family. They are always keeping us in their hearts and that means so much to me. Jenn also sent me one. I am SO LOOKING FORWARD to seeing you later this month. I am sorry I was in such bad shape last time you were here, but thanks for coming when you did. I don't remember seeing you but to know you were here, still means a lot to me. Three special cousins also replied! This means they are still looking out for me. Debra Jo sent a lot of special words to me and Betty, showing that she still is pulling for me. Karen also sent a lot of words to say that I will be OK and to keep pushing myself. She also gives a lot of good words to my wonderful wife, too. Then, Janet had to add to wonderful thoughts for us all, too. She seem to understand what Betty is going through with me. I know this is not an easy thing to deal with me like this, but this wonderful woman just keeps on going. I am sure thankful I have her on my side through all of this. She keeps my head on straight and moves me in the right direction to get better. Without her, my reason for being here would be lost. She is the most important thing in the world to me and I need to tell her that MORE often.
Well, December is finally here and what an exciting month this is around here. We have our Christmas party this weekend. It starts at 7PM for adults only. Then, about a week later, we have Tiffaney's graduation. I think it is Friday the 15th. Then we have the BIG HOLIDAY and then less than a week later, Megan is getting married. I have to be walking good by then and have to dance with her, too. Watch a month around here!!! My wife is trying her best to stay on top of it all, but this will really be a test for her. If this weren't enough, I had to be sick during this time, too. I am hoping the doctor will let me go back to work soon, but only time will tell on this!!!
My God be with you all and ask him for His help if you need it. He has been there for me so many times that I know He will help you too if asked. I love you all and sorry I get so wordy. I just have so much to say to everyone!
Love you, Mark

December1

Mark had surgery on Friday as planned. It did not come until 4:30 PM. All day without eating.....the morphine was the only thing keeping him company!!!! I went to decorating the hall, at the place where Megan's wedding will be held in 20+ day's. One less thing on my plate!!!! Mark's surgery went as planned. They reattached his muscle and what little fat he has on his hiney and then used staples to join all the skin together. Then put a little temporary blood vacuum inside the wound that will come out Monday. If everything looks good on Monday he will be able to come home. I'm sure they will give him something to replace the morphine since he has become quite fond of it. At least he was able to move a little more today than yesterday. Progress,one day at a time. Matt is a district play off soccer tournament this weekend and Mark sure wanted to attend, so I went to 2 games today (missing 1) to pick up our wonderful friends Ian & Liz from Scotland (Andrew's parents)at Hobby Airport and transport them to the other airport. Andrew is the soccer trainer for Crosby that lived with us the last two years that we have kinda adopted. He was very helpful with Matt, when school started and Mark was still in the Hospital. Tomorrow, one more game in Sugarland. (1 tie, 2 losses- still proud that they made it to district). I helped Mark get ready for bed tonight- he has no patience, he was washing his hair in the sink when I got there......It really make you appreciate a good old shower when you can not take one!!!! I got home about midnight....This Thanksgiving meant so much to me. I am so blessed. I had all my wonderful family Mark's parents and Andrew(this was his first Thanksgiving)at the house and the girls all helped cook. I usually don't say the blessing, but I had so much to be Thankful for. The kid's argued, Mark had to get on to Matt, Tiff's turtle walking around the house, all the dogs. The simplest things, I enjoyed just watching, my family. I wasn't stressed trying to keep every thing hot, or worried about my cooking not coming out right. Because, I know, that God has blessed us, and what is important in life. As we all start the Holiday season.....take time to count our blessing and remember to tell your family and friends how much they mean to you. Just, as I am right now. Thank you, ALL for being here for me and my family.....for Mark. We sure are blessed!!!!