summer stuff

I am so far behind on editing photos ~ more important things came along ~

So these are just a few miscellaneous shots from our summer.

This female Red-winged Blackbird was really sassing me

as I was trying to photograph her nest-building in early summer.

Her husband did his part in trying to chase me away too.

~ Raccoon ~

We heard this varmint making such a racket outside our bedroom window one night.

I guess that birdfeeder will have to be put in storage ~ he cleaned it out in short order.

~ clouds reflected in our friends’ pond ~

~ a young walking stick perched on the church door ~

Do you see his eyes?

One morning, dh called me into the backyard and said, “Listen!”

Hundreds of these flies were having a reunion in one corner of the lawn,

buzzing loudly with all their latest gossip.

~ hosta raindrop ~

~ firefly on hosta leaf ~

Summer is officially over, I guess, but it may take me awhile to catch up

in my mind and consent to the fact that autumn is fast approaching.

“. . . the summer is ended . . .”

Jeremiah 8:20

TGBTG

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Dil’s mother was in surgery all day on Wednesday and most of yesterday for

skin grafting again.  They will let her rest now until the first of the week. 

She has a lot more skin grafting to get through, but is stable so far.

Her burns seem to be healing steadily, praise the Lord;

everyone is cautiously optimistic about her recovery.

P.S.  Dil’s mother was in surgery for 9½ hours on Monday for skin grafting. 

She did well and is scheduled for more skin grafting today.  We continue to pray for her, the family

and the medical staff ~ that they will all be strengthened and that God, in His great mercy,

will grant her continued healing and protection from further infections ~ a great risk for her. 

Blessings to all of you who are praying as well.

Her father and our little grandson  are doing very well.

TGBTG 

Rejoicing with Hope

Baby J's dressings have all been removed;

the doctor says there is no need for skin grafts

on his little hand.  He said to treat him like a normal

4-month old baby.  But best of all, when he saw the baby

for the first time since his dismissal a week earlier,

our dil said the doctor looked absolutely stunned as he said,

"This is a miraculous recovery!"

To God be the Glory!

~ ~ ~

Our dil's father was dismissed yesterday evening;

he will be staying with our son and his wife for awhile.

His expected hospitalization stay was cut in half,

just like Baby J's.  What a God we serve!

He will have redressings for awhile longer yet

on his back and arms ~ and some debriding on his ears ~ but he is

so much better and very grateful to be out of the hospital.

~ ~ ~

His wife's fungal infection has been eradicated, they feel.

She then contracted a bacterial infection, which has also

been treated; she is again fever-free.  She was in surgery another

5 hours on Friday to remove her breathing tube and put in

a temporary trach.  They plan to begin skin grafts on her

tomorrow if all goes well.  They were bringing her down off her

sedation meds, but now feel she needs to continue to be sedated

for awhile longer to cope with the pain and anxiety. 

She is beginning to make tiny responses, such as turning

her head toward voices or responding to touch.

The family is rejoicing over that with hope that

she will continue to progress and we all pray

that the Lord will bless her with swift healing and protect her

from more infections.  She has such a very long road ahead.

~ ~ ~

  ~ I just love baby feet ~ 

TGBTG

Brief Update

Dil's mother went through 5 more hours of surgery

yesterday ~ they had to remove more tissue

from one area ~ the inside of one knee.

Cadaver skin was temporarily placed over all the areas

where the doctor removed tissue until skin grafting

can be done.  More biopsies were taken, just to be safe.

Today, they will let her rest unless any of those show positive,

which is unexpected.  They hope to remove her respirator

on Friday and begin skin grafting on Monday.

Dil's father is progressing steadily ~ should find out

in a couple of days whether he needs skin grafting.

Baby J is doing so well ~ his scalp looks nearly normal

and his hand showed no drainage at all yesterday

during the redressing.  He returns to the doctor

today ~ we are praying he will say there is no need

for skin grafts on that tiny hand.  We have been

taking off the arm guard from his other arm so

he can stick those cute little fingers in his mouth

for awhile now and then.  He's such a joy ~

Blessings to all of you ~ Love, Fwren

TGBTG

Update

for our dil's mother.

The fungus had spread to both

arms and legs.  She was in surgery

for 7½ hours yesterday

having all the contaminated tissue plus

any suspicious-looking tissue

cut away.  They took 35 biopsies

and have results back from 14 so far.

One showed positive, so she is back

in surgery this afternoon

to work on cleaning that area

of her leg again.  As the rest of the

pathology reports come back,

they will clean more areas if necessary. 

She is stable so far.

We pray God will guide the doctor's

hands and guard her life.

Lots of waiting and seeing right now.

More later as I have time.

Thanking you for caring,

Fwren