Foot Surgery, Day 1

Hello.  I wanted to give everyone an update on Jenny's surgery day.  I was going to post it on Facebook, but  figured this was better.

Our pastor came by the house last night to pray with us.  He had told me in advance that he was coming, but I thought he would be here for five minutes, pray and be on his way.  He wound up spending closer to an hour and learned a great deal about our family.

A medical helicopter outside Darnell Army Hospital on Fort Hood, TX

At 9:30 this morning, we took Jenny to the hospital.  After turning in her lab-work, she checked into the day surgery on the third floor.  (For those who may not know, Jenny's foot surgery was for a metatarsal that she broke in her left foot on our move to Central Texas in October last year.  Yes, it's been almost a year.  We blame socialized Army medicine, but I don't think I'm allowed to complain.)  I asked a few questions and left my number with the nurse's desk, but I had to leave when Kimberly started chasing Jonathan around the cramped waiting room like a monster.

Jenny, sitting with Ben, Beka and Jonathan in the "too-small-for-the-Snethen-Seven" waiting room in the outpatient clinic at Darnell.

The kids and I went to Wal-Mart while Jenny was prepped for her surgery.  We bought a few things we needed, like milk and flowers for Jenny's recovery.  By the time we left Wal-Mart, it was about 10:45, so we stopped at Chick-fil-A on the way home to pick up lunch.

While we were at Wal-Mart and Chick-fil-A, I had begun texting with Patti Kirkpatrick, a lady from our church who homeschools her youngest (of five) daughter, Rebekah, who is also our Rebekah's age.  (Yes, confusing!!  I know!!)  Patti started out by offering whatever we needed today, and I was speechless.  I asked if she could come over for a little bit while I went to pick Jenny up, thinking it would be in the next couple of hours, thinking I'd be gone an hour or two.  She agreed to meet us at 12:30.

We finished devouring the tray of nuggets --Yes, we get a small party platter because it is so much more affordable than getting everyone kids' meals; plus, I'm sure it fills them up better-- and Rebekah and Benjamin took our dogs, Chrissy and Easton, for a short walk around the block.  

Meanwhile, Patti and her daughter arrived closer to noon, fueling an increase in productivity around the house.  Rebekah and Rebekah made a good team, cleaning the dishes.  I enjoyed watching it happen.  We all pitched in cleaning the house, especially in the bedroom where Jenny will spend the majority of the next several weeks.  Ben took care of the dogs.  Patti watched the two younger boys.  Ben folded clothes.  It was a productive afternoon.

Rebekah carries flowers to the hospital for Jenny's recovery room, after her surgery.

 The hospital called at 2:31, telling me Jenny was out of surgery and that she would be in recovery for at least thirty minutes before they could release her.  My Rebekah and I came to the hospital, with a display of flowers for her.  When we got to the hospital, Jenny was extremely drowsy, so the nurse agreed to come back in half an hour. Rebekah and I read in Jenny's recovery room while she slept.  It was actually closer to an hour when a new nurse came in who decided it was time to wake Jenny up, change her out of her hospital gown and read us the discharge papers.  Before long, I was riding the elevator and bringing the car to the curb, just after the afternoon cannon fired at 1700.  (That's 5pm, if you don't speak Army.)

The nurse, Sonja, pushing Jenny to the van to go home from her surgery.

Jenny came home and we set her in bed.  While Rbekah and I were gone, two different people had brought us dinner.  We had to decide to keep the casserole (which needed to be warmed up) and eat the Bar-be-que for dinner.  (The casserole will still make a nice lunch tomorrow.)  We are extremely blessed and count it a privilege to have so many wonderful friends in this town!!  We want to say a special "thanks" to everyone who has helped this day be successful, including those who have signed up on Liz's calendar that she made, including those in my unit who have been flexible with my schedule over the next couple of weeks.

Jenny sitting in her bed at home, ready to rest for the next several weeks.

After dinner, we took the dogs for a walk.  We held our normal Bible time.  I let the kids each have one small brownie (provided with the casserole) and I put them to bed, with minimal issues once they'd settled.  Over all, we had a very good day!!