A long week with a great ending!

It feels so good to be writing this post and sharing these pictures of the week. On Monday, August 31st, Dad had open heart surgery at Baylor Hospital in Dallas. WOW! We are amazed at the work of our Lord. We know that HE is the one who healed Dad. It seemed like he was healed right before our eyes...each and every day getting a little stronger and in a little less pain. We are BEYOND impressed with the doctors, nurses, patient care technicians, respiratory therapists, and even the housekeepers at Baylor! Dad got the best care! Dad went into surgery about 7:30 on Monday morning...Dr. Hebeler found that his mitral valve was too far gone to repair, so he had to replace both his mitral and aortic valves. At about 12:30 we were in ICU talking to Dr. Hebeler and we got to see Dad for the first time about 1:00. NOTHING can prepare you for seeing your Dad, who has never had a broken bone, lying in an ICU room after heart surgery. It was a very emotional time but we were so very glad that the surgery was over and it was time for him to begin healing. Georgia Claire and I were able to stay the entire week with Mom...it was tiring for all of us, but I was SO glad we could do it! Georgia did INCREDIBLY well and made LOTS of friends at the hospital! They don't see many babies on the thoracic surgery floor! =)

My Dad is so strong...one of the toughest men I know. To hear him tell his nurse that his pain level was an "8" on a scale from 1-10 on Tuesday was very hard. I wanted so badly to help him! Because Dad was in pain, they did not make him walk, but he DID walk on Wednesday morning. Here he is on his first walk with his nurse Erich and Mom...he was only able to go about 3 doors down, and was in a lot of pain, but it produced great results! He still had his chest tube in and was on oxygen at this point. Dad told me later in the week that he was thinking to himself, "What have I done?!" during this first walk...

Georgia Claire helped with our stress level. Seeing her precious smiling face was really great for me, but ESPECIALLY for Mom & Dad. Here she is with Grandma stretching her legs in our room...

On Thursday Dad said, "I would walk if someone would bring me a walker." We sat there a minute or two longer and he said, "Push that stroller over here." So, I put Georgia Claire in her stroller and Dad walked pushing her, instead! Talk about PRECIOUS! Erich, Dad's nurse, came out in the hallway right after Dad and Georgia did and stopped and said, "OH MY GOSH! That's the cutest thing I have ever seen! I am going to remember this forever!" He called some people out into the hallway to see them and they got lots of smiles!

Here Dad is sitting in a chair, playing with Georgia on Friday...getting stronger and stronger!

We knew Dad was probably coming home on Monday so I decided to make a onesie for Georgia to celebrate the occasion! She definitely brought a smile to his face!

This picture brings tears to my eyes...this is what I prayed for! When Dad went into his surgery I was afraid that Georgia Claire might not get to grow up knowing her Paw Paw! I had faith that God was going to protect him through the surgery, but whenever you are talking about open heart surgery, it makes you think differently about the future and just how precious it is!

Here she is playing with silly Grandma...
Waiting...and sleeping to pass the time! Getting discharged from a hospital is never quick!
While Dad was in the hospital, he and Mom celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary! Mom was 18 and Dad was 19 when they married on September 1, 1962. By the end of the week they realized they could both fit in the bed...along with his buddy, his heart pillow. I found them like this more than once! Their love is stronger now more than ever! Here they are waiting to be discharged...it looks like Mom is giving him some serious instructions!
And here he is getting wheeled out...
And getting in the car to come home! It will be 6-8 weeks before Dad is able to do much, but he is so glad to be home. Thank you Lord! You have heard our cry and answered our prayers once again!