Week 34- 1/11-17
	Jan 12th  Michael went into surgery around 10 am.  His doctor came out and talked to us around 1:45.  He said that the exploritory surgery in the belly area went really well.  All he could spot was dead tissue left over after the chemo.  He took a few lymphnodes to test just to be sure, but felt they would all be clean.  The urology surgeon removed the testicle and the spermatic cord.  They left what they call a marker in that area.  Since that area was still larger, they just want to be sure that they know exactly where the tumor was connected.  They are sending out the matter for biopsy.  If it has anything in it they would be able to find where they disconnected it.  The main surgeon said that Dr. Pan may or may not order some radiation.  We are obviously hoping that they don't.  What a sucky area to have to have radiated!   The surgeon said that Michael did very well during the surgery.  We didn't get to see him until about 4 pm.  They had moved him from recovery to his room and didn't tell us.  I only found out because I was getting impatient and went and asked for another update.  When we got to his room, he was asleep.  Chris talked to him and got him to wake up...groogy and out of it at first, but much better later.   They were to hook up a morphine drip in the recovery room, but they didn't do it.  As he was waking up, he was hurting.  I finally came home at 5:45.  At that time, they still hadn't hooked it up though.  They were having trouble with the pump.  Chris called me around 6:30 and told me they were giving him a shot of Demerol instead while they tried to get the morphine worked out.   The Dr. came in just after that and said things looked good.  He explained that during the exploritory surgery, they move around all of your organs.  He said that Michael will probably not get to eat even tomorrow.  The poor kid hasn't eaten anything since last night.  He can have ice chips and that is it for the rest of today.  They are going to get him up in the morning to walk.  He may get some other fluids, but no food... Well...I am going to bed now.  It was an awful long day sitting in the waiting room.  I have been laying down so often for the last few weeks...I've gotten lazy!   Michael can't have his cell phone in the hospital, but if you want to get a message to him, you can add them to the guestbook and I will print them out daily and take them to him.  Thanks to everyone that called us today while we were there to check in on us.  We appreciate it! Jan 13th  Michael was still asleep when I went to the hospital this morning.  I got there around 10:30.  I woke him up and then a bit later the nurse came in.  She wanted him to get up and sit in a chair while she changed his bedding.  It took a lot of prodding to get him up.  He wasn't happy about being made to get out of be at all.   She made him try to go to the bathroom and to wash his face and such.  He did it but was grumpy.  Then when he came out, she wasn't done with the bed and wanted him to sit up in a chair.  He was making faces at her when she wasn't looking.  He sat there though and then fell asleep.  I sat and watched him sleep for two hours.  Yeah.  When he woke up, he wanted to get back into bed.  I went to ask the nurse if that was ok and she said she said she'd like to see him walk first.  I told her that she needed to go in and tell him that if he wanted to get into bed, then he'd need to walk first.  She did and he walked up and down the hall way twice.   He was itching everywhere from the morphine, so she gave him a shot of Benedryl.  She said that would make him tired.  I don't know if it was that or being up and then finally walking wore him out.  He was falling asleep again on me, so I came home around 1:30.   Chris went over around 4 pm and was going to stay a few hours.  We think this time because he needs to be following directions that the nurses are giving him, maybe it's better that we aren't there the whole time.  If we are, he isn't as likely to do what they ask.  So, we are both spending less time there.  Also though, it is hard for me to be there any real length of time.  When I sit like that, I start having false labor again.  I've been having it off and on for 4 weeks now.  I am 36 weeks along now, so anytime from now on is fine...but would be better if it happens after we get Michael home and settled!  (Even though I would be glad to have it done!) Jan 15th  We slept in this morning.  No need getting up early as visiting hours don't start until 11 am.  Yesterday I went at 11 and stayed 2 hours.  Michael was asleep when I got there, so I asked the nurse if he had been up yet.   She told me no and that he had told them later cause he was tired.  I told her she needed to go in there and tell him it was time to get up and walk and sit in the chair.  Don't give him a choice.  She did that and he got up.  He did his walking and then sat in the chair.  He hadn't eaten anything they brought him and I can't blame him...it was gross.  He was on a liquid diet yesterday, so I went and got him some yogurt.  He doesn't like it, but he ate some anyway.  His poor lips were so chapped they were bleeding yesterday.  I left him so chap stick and told him he has to drink a lot more water to keep himself hydrated. Chris went over around 5:30 and stayed until 9 pm.  He was up when Chris got there.  He ate a little of the soup they brought him for dinner as well as some chocolate pudding.   They took off the constant drip of morphine and made it where the only time he gets it now is if he pushes the button.  Chris said he only pushed it once last night.  They made it where even if he pushed it a bunch of times, he is only getting a small amount though.  I'm happy about that.  Hopefully this will make him less drowsy and he will be more willing to be awake and up out of the bed. Chris and I are going to go over today together I think.  His doctor said he may get to go home on Monday, so we will see.  I know it depends on if he starts getting up and around and eating better.   1/15 UPDATE:  Michael was much better today when we went!  He was off the morphine completely and they even unhooked the iv completely when we were there.  He hadn't had any meds since last night.   He was awake and aware.  He was getting up to use the bathroom ok.  He was talkative.  In fact, he was laughing at Chris a lot.  He was begging Chris to stop making him laugh cause it hurt.  He ate a turkey sandwich and a cup of yogurt even.   His lips looked much better (which means he is drinking the water).  He was text messaging friends on his cell phone the whole time we were there.  He was a lot more active today. The Dr had said he might go home Monday or Tuesday, but didn't write anything in his chart.  So...after the Dr does his rounds in the morning, the nurse said they would call me and tell me if it's tomorrow or Tuesday.  So, tomorrow...I will update you again!  Hopefully with the news that I am bringing him home! 1/16  I got to bring Michael home first thing this morning.  He is doing really good.  He is much more comfy laying in his own bed.  He hadn't seen the incision after the surgery and was surprised when he did see it today.  There aren't any stitches or staples.  They glued it shut!!!  He was so worried about getting staples taken out because of something a nurse had told him several months ago about it hurting to get them out.  He can shower as of today as long as he covers the wound with plastic.  He can't lift or do anything strenuous for 4 weeks, but other than that...he can eat...move...etc..wtihout restrictions!  Yeah!  He has a follow up with the surgeon on Friday morning, so I will update again then!  Thank you for your prayers! 1/17  Well...here is an update on me and Hannah.  She flipped and is now breech.  To get her to turn over at this point is probably not going to happen.  So...I have to have her by c-section.  They are going to schedule it the first week of Feb.  So, unless I go into labor naturally before that, we have some kind of an idea when she will be here.   (And if I do go into labor before that, she will still have to be born by c-section.).   I'm a bit freaked out by this whole thing, but...it will all be good.  I've been complaining about not wanting to go through labor and delivery...so...I guess God is granting me another way of doing this!  Not what I expected though!  My sister-in-law, Erin, went through the whole thing and is making me feel better by telling me what happened to her.  She said that it wasn't bad for her. (Her son Camren flipped at 36 weeks, so she had the same situation).   Hannah will avoid having a "cone-head" also (I guess that's a good thing)...Sorry....just thinking outloud and looking for benefits!