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December 14, 2005. Joseph had his follow up visit with the urologist today. The doctor is pleased with his “pictures,” and has given him permission to go back to work. When asked if he had any restrictions,he added perhaps Joseph ought to only lift up to 20 pounds for the first week. This is good news, and after we return from our “Christmas in Illinois” (December 16th-21st) he hopes to start working his way back into the manager position. Meanwhile, he has been gradually personalizing the trailer home, including “de-mousing,” installing his washing machine, removing some of the flowery wallpaper borders, etc. He has been given clearance to paint the pink rooms to a more neutral color. He hopes to move in some time in early January.

We are grateful to God for his healing power bestowed on Joseph through your prayers and thoughtfulness. A remaining health concern at this time is the continuation of high blood pressure readings. He is being referred to the family physician (incidentally, the first doctor to see him after his accident) for BP monitoring, and perhaps some medication, if indicated. We trust Him each step of the way.

O God, You are my God, and I will ever praise You.
I will seek You in the morning, and I will learn to walk in your ways;
And step by step You lead me, and I will follow You all of my days.
-Rich Mullins

Yesterday, November 28th, Joseph had his first follow-up visit with the trauma surgeon who had attended him at the hospital. He was very pleased with Joseph’s progress, especially the clear-sounding lungs, “soft” abdomen (it was quite hard in ICU) and good report that his patient had been behaving himself. He therefore dispensed with the X-ray and hemoglobin tests. The surgeon told Joseph that HE was “cutting him loose,” but that Joseph would still have to answer to the urologist he sees in a few weeks, Meanwhile, the restrictions placed on him by the latter still apply: no lifting above 10 lbs., no bending over, no shoveling and certainly no snowmobiling !

We had much to be thankful for this holiday season. Blessed be the LORD ,who daily bears our burdens!

We’re finally sitting down long enough to post an update!

Joseph has had a quiet first week out of the hospital; resting, reading, and walking, being careful not to bend over nor lift over 10 pounds. He’s really motivated not to revisit the hospital as a patient any time soon!
This time of convalesence has been a real challege, as he LOOKS completely healthy, but inside there’s still lots of mending up to do. Many of us still expect him to jump in and function just as he had before the accident, especially with respect to the use of his muscles to lift, carry, shove, etc. Joseph says he’s learned that his body is not his own. He hopes to learn a lot more at a Silent Retreat he still plans to attend this weekend. Our neighbor, who invited him, will do all the driving, and Joseph will have to be content with letting someone else carry his stuff! Whatta switch! We pray for safety and continued healing, as well as a the ability to hear God.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in God your body.
I Corinthians 6:19,20

8:00 PM

Nothing unlucky about this number! Joseph is now home and on a mission to behave himself. He is to see the surgeon in 20 days, and the urologist in 6 weeks. He can not lift more than 10 lbs. nor bend over, nor return to “work” during this time. (We will be asking the doctor later on if some lighter duty tasks are OK.)

We are happy to have him home again, and he expects to use this time to sort through a lot of things, both physically and spiritually. Again, we thank you for all your prayers and support. We are truly blest!

“Blessed be the LORD, for He has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me.” Psalm 31:21

PS The frequency of the blog posts will decrease, so feel free to “unsubscribe” if you so desire. Or, if you want to find out what the REST of the family is up to, stay tuned…:)

November 7, 2005 8:30 PM Joseph is making good progress. Some highlights:

We’ll let you know what really happens as it happens!

It occurred to me that I ,too, was guilty of a spiritual starvation diet this past week, yet concerned about others I thought were sliding into the same condition. Hmmm…first take the log out of your own eye,that you may see clearly to remove the speck in your neighbors’ eye…Matthew 7:5. May God grant us all clearer vision…!