Happy Thanksgiving! Happy Birthday Nate!
We are home and it has been crazy ever since we have been here but we are doing good. It is a full time job taking care of Kars with all his meds and taking care of the drainage tube but the output is getting less and less so maybe we can get it out sometime soon. Yesterday afternoon I was trying to help Kars move from the couch to the recliner and Koen started whining (he thinks he needs moms full time attention too) Kars just looks at him and said "oh Ko would you be quite you don't have half as much wrong with you as I do" :):) I laughed so hard it was so cute. Kars is pretty demanding he thinks when he says something we should all jump. We have to take him back to Louisville tomorrow for a blood test so that will be a big day again. Joanna and Mom came to help me yesterday and last night Calvin & Karen brought supper up and Grandma & Grandpa Wittmer are bringing lunch and Kristen is bringing supper, Friday night Ang & Jay are bringing something. Do I have it made or what? I will try to get some pictures on some time today.

COMING HOME

WE ARE COMING HOME TODAY!!!!! The docs were in and thought everything looked great. We are packing everything up and getting ready to head out I would say he will be wore out until we get home. I will update later if I have time.

Monday night

What a day! We tried to get Kars to walk some distance today and he thought it was bad I'm sure it was not pleasant. We get to com home in the morning if his x ray and blood work turn out good, I hope we can I haven't been outside since last Tuesday but I also want to make sure he is ready. He has a long way to go but he has come a long way in a week too. He will come home with a drainage tube in is chest and I think once he can get that out he will be a different boy, I watched when they took the other tube out and I couldn't believe how much was up in there so its no wonder that he walks all bent over. He also will be on coumadin (blood thinner) and we will have to go get a blood test every other day until they can get it regulated. (sounds fun) He is sleeping right now that's one thing that is against the law is to sleep in the hospital every half hour I have to chase someone off :) :) I don't think I ever said yet how pink his toes and fingers are even his ears look different, we was used to seeing them as purple as as grape, even through it is very hard to watch what he is going through it makes us feel so happy when we see how pink he is now. Better try to get some rest now I'm sure it wont be long until someone else comes to do something. (I was proud of Nate today he even sent some on their way) :)

oxygen level at 96%

WOW 97%

marking off days until we go to disney world

working on a puzzle

Sunday night

I think we had a very good day so far I'm almost scared to say that cause its seems like every time we think we are getting over the hump something else comes up but it has only been 5 days since the operation and that's not very long if you stop and think what all he has been through.

Its seems a lot longer than that to us. If you haven't read the poem on this blog go back and read it, you can tell that lady has been there. When I read that it was like it was me talking and I'm sure there is a lot of other parents can identify with it too. As I'm typing Kars just said " you know what mom I would love to go tomorrow" that sure would be nice but I'm afraid we have some more bridges to cross but he has come a long way today so maybe we can by Wednesday. Tyson was here in the afternoon and he really enjoyed that. Kaitlyn, Kendrick, Austyn and Andre' we will be looking for you tomorrow. As I'm typing he is sitting here just a talking and Ash I hope you read this cause he just asked what if you guys are done shelling when he gets home and I told him it don't matter cause if you are you will get the combine out anyway and take him for a ride. Thanks to all our family and our church family for all you have done for us PLEASE keep praying for us. One more thing Kars just took about 30 steps HOORAY!!

Oh what a day!! We did get moved out to the floor only to get moved right back to ICU. He started having really severe pain in his stomach and because of his heart they are not equipped to handle much. When we got back to ICU they think its just severe gas pains so I hope that is all it is. Docs was in this morning and think that everything looks good so here we move again.They said he HAS TO WALK today. Boy that will be fun! He don't want to put weight on his right leg But they think its just that they damaged a nerve with the central line that was in his groin. They told him its time to toughen up. He has been really tough I think I wonder how strong we would be if it was us. Dr Arensman told him the only way to be tough when your 70 is to start being tough when you 4. Kars said " OK I think I can" Poor kid I just wish I could do it for him. PRAY for him today!!

Saturday morning

We had a great great night!!! We all slept like logs including Kars, its just unbelievable the change he has made in 24 hrs. His sats have been 95 over night with NO oxygen. Never thought we would ever see that high of a number. I'm so excited!!!!! The Docs have not been by yet so maybe I can give you all a report later. We are hoping we can get a lot of lines pulled today so it will probably be a busy day. One more thing KOEN IS COMING TODAY:) :)