Praying to stay put

So, since last week, Dan has recovered well from his liver procedure. No complications, not much pain. We went to a wedding on Sunday and drove home on Monday morning. I've been finishing my NCLEX review to prepare for later in the month and applying to jobs. Dan's been playing lots of Madden football and eating :) Accordingly, I'd say things have been going well.

Until this morning.

Now, we aren't in any emergency or crisis as of yet, just preparing for one. Dan woke up with a bit of belly pain on his left side. Though it isn't nearly as bad as in March, the symptoms are pointing toward a possible bowel obstruction. Thankfully, he isn't feeling really sick, just a little pain and crampy. Rather than freak out, we talked to his surgeon who agreed that the symptoms sound like a very early, mild obstruction. So, Dan will be on clears at home today and tomorrow to see if it can resolve on its own. If it doesn't get completely better, we have an appointment on Monday at Stanford. If it gets worse, Dan needs to be admitted again.

Our biggest concern now is determining where to do the waiting. If it resolves, it'd be nice not to drive all the way back up. Yet, if Dan needs to be admitted, we want him to be at Stanford. So, by tomorrow, we'll decided whether or not to drive up north again. I don't want to wait too long and have Dan feeling miserable all the way up, but Dan doesn't want to jump the gun.

The timing of another bowel obstruction is not great. This is crunch time for me to study for NCLEX (nursing boards), so I can pass the first time. (Yes, I got great grades in college and am a good test taker. That does not imply that I will pass the boards. It is a different beast. Please, do not comment on my odds of "doing fine" right now). Having Dan in the hospital would be a rather large distraction from my focus. Additionally, we need to be preparing to move into another apartment. Once I know where I'm working, we can put a lease on an apartment and move. Yet, with Dan admitted, I'd be doing the looking, leasing and moving without a hubby.

All this to say, Dan needs prayer--a lot of it. God has been with us throughout Dan's suffering and trials. Our prayer is that God would intercede before everything turns bad this time. Pray that whatever obstruction there is would be able to clear on its own. Pray that Dan would be able to recover completely at home. Pray that there would be no need for another trip to Stanford. Pray that if (IF) Dan gets admitted, this hospital stay would be very very short. Better yet, pray that Dan doesn't even have an obstruction at all!
A prayer or two for me to be able to study intently and pass the boards the first time would also be appreciated.

I will obviously keep you all updated, though there may not be any news for a while.

Pray pray pray.

Rough day? A bit.

So, Dan's procedure went well and ended at about 7pm. He had to stay in recovery for a while to wake up, and the doctor decided to keep him overnight to watch for possible complications. Dan's still really tired, though he woke up long enough to eat some jello and crackers. He's not in a lot of pain, but his stomach is wobbly. He won't go so far as to say it's sick feeling, but he's not feeling great. Stupid anesthesia.
Tonight we watch for his ability to keep fluids and food down and make sure his liver isn't bleeding through the wound it got today. As long as Dan can eat breakfast well and isn't actively bleeding tonight, he'll be discharged in the morning.

Amazingly, Dan was given a private room AND I got a cot! What? The first day? Awesome.
I've been sitting here applying for nursing jobs, while he's asleep. The nursing job market is horrible to say the least. Several polite rejections after making it through the last interview process is getting old. You'd think graduating top of the class, having CNA experience and good communication skills would get you somewhere...not quite.

Dan and I are really beginning to feel the strain of the unknown. We need to know where I'm working before we can move, and we have to be out of our apt on June 19th. Prayers for guidance and a job are coveted. I know that God is guiding me to where He wants me, but this time period kinda sucks.

Prayer Requests:
* No bleeding or complications
* Dan's ability to eat and a hearty appetite
* Safe discharge tomorrow
* Continued health of bowels (no obstructions ever)
* Great re-growth of liver tissue
* A job for me...soon!
* Peace in yet another period of unknown

Another Procedure

I have to type this very quickly because the hospital has decided that they don't like people blogging on their wireless...thus, I am only allotted 10 minutes on our blog. Weird? Yes.
Anyway, we're back in Palo Alto (SHC) for Dan's embolization procedure. Things are running late, so Dan just got taken back to the preop phase. We have even spoken to the doctor yet. They will blocking off the right portal vein (blood supply to the right lobe of the liver) to allow for quicker regrowth of his liver. We have been told that this should be just an overnight stay, so we're really hoping and praying for no complications and a fast recovery.
I'll keep you posted when I can, but just be in prayer as the procedure should be starting in about an hour.

Prayer Requests:
* Successful procedure
* No complication
* Open and happy bowels without obstructions
* Safe discharge tomorrow as planned
* NO SURPRISES!!!
* Keeping Dan at home with me in SoCal for a lot longer :)