Great news

Today we went and saw the surgeon. The surgeon was so positive about the progress I was making and the information about the tumor. It is a very slow growing benign tumor (like we thought before but apparently wasn't fully diagnosed before). He is very confident that we will be able to treat it. (Unlike he can tell some of his other patients.) At this point, we aren't really sure how to treat it. We get to wait for the bruising to go down in my brain. (Did you know that your brain bruises the same way as your arm? Who knew?!) It'll take about 3 weeks for it to all go down. Then we'll go back to have another MRI and decide what to do then. We'll then be able to see just how much tumor was removed and how much of the fluid sack was taken out. There may be some other difficult stuff to treat it. There may not. We'll know then. But hard or not, it will be treatable.

It's kinda funny how such a benign tumor can be so invasive. But I'm very grateful for a surgeon who is so amazing. I took him cookies today. He seemed pretty delighted. I'm glad, because he's made a world of difference in my life.

The gross-est cool-est bodily fluid EVER!

Okay I really hope you can see this because it's so gross and cool. Right above my eye in the half circle there is like 2 tablespoons of bodily fluid. In the first pictures I'm showing you where it's at.



In the second pictures I'm pushing on it so hopefully you can see where it is.

Sooooooo gross. Sooooooo cool! Soooo supposed to go away.

Saying prayers and fastin for me.

I am so grateful for those of you who continue to say prayers and fast for me. It is such a neat thing being reminded that people you love continue to love you. They haven't forgotten and they want you to be better. It's equally as neat having friends of family who have not even met you pray for you as well. I feel an overwellming feeling of Heavenly love shared through each of you. Thank you for strengthening my faith.

First a ton of pictures then making fun of my posts. ;)

Head shots

Me in the hospital

Me and my wampy head for the last couple days

I'm pretty see if you click on them they get bigger.

Okay so now for the making fun of myself the last couple times where I was flying so fly I couldn't touch the sky. It's kinda funny making fun of yourself when you just got out the hospital and were all hopped up on pain pills and just wanted everyone else to see you were doing great! How funny!! I'm actually doing remarkably well this time compared to last time. (If you compared any of the pictures of last time you would see a remarkable difference.) Oh I didn't do a very good comparison to what pics Richards put up so I put them all up. Thought it would be more easy that way.

Today is Sunday and I dealt with my little emotionality today. I got understandably frustrated that healing will last longer than one week (which understandably I haven't even hit that stage yet.) Actually tomorrow night will be 1 week. Wow can you even believe that?! Last time after one week I just wanted to stay in bed all day and night. Now I feel great. Don't get me wrong it's hard but I feel good about it. Got to remind myself that I will do much better if I stay on the healing side.

Today 1.5 days at home

I'm in a lot of normal, necessary physical things to be a part of. I'm very very grateful to have the emotional to help me. I'm very grateful that I can take this opportunity to put together words now that I'm out of surgery. It's actually a little difficult. Sister Green said at church that she had some neat tools that she used after her stroke. I think I will get together with her.

I imagine it will take a few weeks for my speech to all come back. The blessing from the Bishop said that I will not lose any speech. There were a lot of other things the Lord promised me. It was a really really neat blessing. I am grateful to have been a part of it.

I'm grateful to share with you (& myself someday) how it feels to not really remember all your words. I still feel very smart just not all there.

Another one

I feel like I need something to do right now. I look like a Garbage Pail Kid. Pretty funny let's see if I can put one of me.

It's funny. I feel like this kid whose been through brain surgery 3 time. And none of you have. None of you even get is (except Sister Taylor who just went through it). The rest of you are just like oh brain surgery. It's really really weird for me. And it would be exactly the same if I were in your shoes.

I haven't been to work since January. Don't really have a calling (which don't get me wrong, is the right thing.)

Right now I'm flying fly on pain killers so I'm sure next time will be a little more making sure.

It's ME

This has been an amazing experience for me. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. Now I'm gonna go to sleep because I seriously sound retarded (and I not!!!)

Early morning express

Susan should be discharged tommorrow morning after an early morning CAT scan. We're coming home.

Out of the ICU. Finally.

We're out of the ICU and into a recovery room 521. Joy of joys.

That's just swell.

Here is a pic of Susan's swelling. If you don't look closely you might miss it.

Up and at 'em

Susan is awake this morning and sitting up for breakfast. She is doing well. but still in ICU because there are no rooms available in the recovery area. Mandy is right, she is one tough cookie.

40 staples and counting.

Pinball Wizard

I love my wife and she has recovered wonderfully. I'm so excited I can't even begin to describe it. It's kind of like in the movie Tommy where the blind guy becomes the pinball wizard. Only way cooler. She is still having some trouble with words and has some serious swelling, but she's doing amazing. If they messed with my brain like they did Susan's I'd be slobbering on myself. Thanks everyone for your support.

The Eagle has landed.

I just got home from the hospital. Susan is recovering from an exhausting surgery. She came out pretty good other than a minor speech problem, but she had that anyway. She'll be in the hospital this week. More to come tomorrow.

Houston, we have a problem...

Dr. Mickey, our brain surgeon, drained the cyst and doesn't know the new position of the tumor. He has ordered another MRI to figure out where it went. Not that he lost it, but it shifted after the cyst draining. Surgery was supposed to be completed at 5pm, but now its 8pm.

In the hospital again

Susan is on her way to get another MRI. Here is a photo of her and the green markers they placed on her head.

Sigh!

I'm getting so tired of posting about brain surgery!!!

I'm supposed to be going back to surgery next Monday April 19th and going up for "testing" tomorrow. Whoopee! I am hoping and praying to get all better by May 26th. (Because thats the last day of my short term disabillity.)

Oh so something fun in my life - my nephew has been emailing and calling me lately! It has been so fun!! I love it!