What can I say? Miracles happen, again and again! Stepped up to the Thanksgiving spread, proceeded to place some of everything on my plate. Not much, mind you, but it was a plate full by the time ran the 10 feet of table. Every thing tasted like it was supposed to! I ended up eating it all and had a sliver of cherry pie with real whipped cream on it. This morning I had ham and a half piece of french toast.
Enough of my food intake. I did sleep on my right side some but still have some pain.
The even better of part of Thanksgiving. All my family were here. We all gathered at my brother Charles's (and sister in law Jackie's) ranch south of Stephenville. All of his family was there plus my sister Phyllis and her husband George. Total, 32. Just wish my Mom and Dad could have seen this beautiful bunch.
This week I begin to "eat in earnest." Want to get rid of this feeding tube but I've got to offset the 1500 calories that I get using it. Am looking forward to (and I'm fearful as to how it will taste) a greasy hamburger. Oh yeah, my mainstay before all this happened, mexican food. You know, if you take "going out to eat" away from the "things you do" you don't get to hang out with many of your friends!
Love you all and hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

You know, sometimes you need your caregiver to slap you up side the head when you begin think your not making progress fast enough. Sunday, I bemoaning the fact that I had hit a "plateau." "Only" able to eat a few solids and lots of fluids. Lynda looked me in the eye and said, "Leighton, what do you expect? You've only been out of the hospital one week, from major surgery! You expect to get better overnight?"
Sobered me up. Now, I'm rejoicing in the "onlys".
Good news on my right chest. It has really hurt. I guess since they had to deflate the lung, cut along below my shoulder blade, squeeze open a coupla ribs, stitch my esophagus and stomach together thru that hole, plus then sticking two drain tubes in it, I guess my chest had a right to hurt. Finally, the last two nights I can lay on my back without pain. Not that I had had a lot but there were only a coupla ways I could get "comfortable" at night so anything helps.
After laying on my back those 10 days needless to say I was really weak, but strength and stamina are slowly returning, but guess what, I have to "go out and get it" they just don't come back on their own.
Went to church yesterday, which was a blessing. Now looking forward to ALL my family coming in for Thanksgiving. God is good!
Love you all!

Thursday morning and it's beautiful. Have had a great week (after the fiasco getting my new feeding tube.) Finally, my right chest has began to not feel like a horse has kicked me. Getting more strength each day. My voice is getting stonger. I got up at 8 yesterday kept moving until 11:30 and then sat down for a nap. I'm sure there was something that happened yesterday that was negative but I sure don't remember it, thank the Lord. Am getting liquid down. Smoothie's, orange juice, apple juice, soups (without any stuff in them) but solid food with any consistencey to it does not taste good at all. Keeping on trying. Gained a pound in the last three days. Up to 132.6. If I stood sideways you could not get my imagine with a camera. Not to worry, Lynda keeps on the staight and narrow. Love you all.

Saturday I came home and I'm glad I did! Needless to say, it was exhausting. Was up and about more that day since I had been in the hospital. Came home, sat down and went to sleep. That evening started my tube feeding again (still working up to "real food.") Last night, in my real bed! Boy did it feel good. Looking forward to today to begin to move around, some. Well, my feeding tube decided, about 2 AM to start leaking. Got up and cleaned everything up. (Actually, I got up and Lynda cleaned everything up.) Same thing happened at 3! Then back to bed and we woke up at 7:30. Guess what, the feeding tube was clogged up and we could not get it to accept "food." So, we "cleaned up" for the third time.
At 11:30 we went to the emergency room at the hospital. I will not bore you with the all the drama that happened I will just tell you that I left the hospital, after watching almost all the Cowboy game, at 6:15. Now, let's say that tomorrow I begin my home recovery.
What I really hate about all this is that it makes you set everyone in your life aside (except those "doing stuff for you")and you get "selfish." It's all about me, me, me! That's not the way I operate and it feels like crap, but you don't seem to have a choice.
God is good and I have such a loving family and loving friends so I hope they forgive me. I will be back!

As in every Thanksgiving, the Lord gives me and family something extra to give thanks for. This year it's the special healing that He has directed my way.
As you know from my early posts the health insurance that we have just about "forced" us to the treatment plan that we embarked on, in our own hometown. We "ended up" with about 10 doctors that were all friends of my brother and were all well respected in their fields. We "ended up" in a hospital that has patient care and "caring" as it's primary focus. One of the "girls" who checked me in I taught in Sunday School 40 years ago. Looks like I will be dismissed tomorrow or Sunday and three of the nurses from ICU took the time to come down today and wished my God Speed. (I've been out of ICU since last Saturday afternoon).Oh yes, and all this is only 5 minutes from home! The Lord puts where you need to be, doesn't He?
I have been surrounded by prayer each step of the way. Three doctors came in today to say how they could not believe how well I'd healed. "Prayer", has always been my answer to them.
Walked a 100 yards twice today and am "chopping at the bits" to get out of here, but it will come when it's supposed to come.
Could not have done it without Lynda and all my family. Debbie, Angie, Sherie plus their respective familiess and friends. My brother Charles and sister Phyllis and their families and then all of you, our friends, literally worldwide, that have been praying for Lynda and I.
OK, enough of all that. Don't think this is the end of this process because until I run another foot race (and I have set April as the month) I'll still will not be "healed." Again, love you all and thanks for your prayers, cards, flowers and visits. ---- More to come.

Not a bad day.Started on a clear diet today. Food (liquid) now tastes close to the same. Drank about half of what they broght me, both times, which turned out to be good. But, I had to request "plastic ware." Regular old flatware turned my mouth to "tin" tasting. My stomach is still trying to figure out what's happening. Tomorrow I get to start "walking about." Each day, new milestones. Energy level moves up each day. One thing I will miss, when I go home, is that sometime each day pain decides to "pay a visit." When that happens I just call the nurse. With a shot in my port she "fixes it." Within two minutes it's gone. Oh well, a price to pay. Will let you know how "running down the hall" works out.

It's great when I don't feel like "posting" and Lynda steps to the plate and puts out the info. What she didn't tell is that in getting the baruim test I was also listenting to the dr that was conducting the test and it was my "assumption" that I had failed. Well, Mr. Optomism went into a spiral. "Woe is me" was my thoughts. When I got back to the room at 10:30 AM I was not a man to be spoken to. Lynda realized it, patted my hand and went home (after trying to pull me out of a funk that I didn't explain to her why I was in.) 2 PM arrived and one of Dr. Carter's associates come in and asked how I was. After the old batter "just fine" and all that stuff I asked about the barium swallow. "Oh, I don't know, You'll have to ask Dr. Carter." Well, have you ever had two doc from the same office visit you in the same day? Not me, so further into my funk I went. "I've lost a day and maybe two." I thought. So, I just rolled over and went to sleep. Awoke at four, clock slowly moved to 5, then 5:15, and then in walked Carter. "How you doing?" He asked. "How am I doing?" I asked. "Well you did well on the swallow test today." he sez. "Then, when do I get these tubes out?" I respond. "Oh, you mean like this one?" and pulled the one from my nose. And then proceded to pull the rest, except the cathater. Boy was I relieved and boy was I ashamed that I couldn't wait on the Lord. Then the doc came by yesterday and gave the orders to pull the cathater and now, when they say I can (and send some to walk with me) I can! Yea! Doc also told me that I would get a "liquid tray" for the next two days and then progress to a "jello and mashed potatoes" after that. And, maybe go home this coming weekend. Boy, did that sound good!
Considering at what happened at Ft. Hood my "journey" pales in importance. I know you all have added those survivors and the wounded to your prayers, and so have I. Love you all!