Dear Family and Friends,

We had one of those verrrrrry busy weeks with a lot of appointments.  Thursday Phil had his appointment with Dr. Kale.  He increased his remedy, and worked on Phil’s head.  We were only there for a little over an hour this time.  Phil has a new twitch in his upper lip and nose area.  He involuntarily pulls his lip up all the time.  Dr. Kale hopes it is a Magnesium deficiency, so we are trying that.  He also wanted us to see Dr. Brown about a number of other issues.

     We went to Dr. Brown yesterday.  He explained a lot of what is going on with Phil he said his brain is functioning at this time as if he has had 5 shots of scotch.  That is a new one for Phil’s brain since it has never experienced any shots of anything.  He said it will get better in time.  The brain stem is the part of Phil’s brain that needs prayer.  It seems to be damaged from the stroke and the brain stem nerves don’t like to heal once damaged.  It will take healing from God to get that baby better.  Dr. Brown doesn’t know what has happened with Phil’s speech and the cold nose and upper mouth stitch.  He put Phil on a muscle relaxer to help with the twitch.  He thinks it all has to do with the brain stem.  Dr. Brown had ordered a 5 hour test at Good Sam. he is also going to look into Phil’s hearing problem and nose drip.  It is possible that it is brain fluid so we need to catch is and take it to Dr. Ordonez to have it analyzed it doesn’t drip much so it is hard to catch enough of it.  He also ordered an exam from a Neurological Eye Doctor who is over in Clackamas.  He also wants to take some blood work to see if Phil is deficient in Magnesium and some other things he is looking into.  I thought the marathon was about to be over but I guess we are only halfway through with all these tests and Doctoring.

     Stacia his Physical therapist said Phil has met all the goals they set when he first came so she is setting a new set of goals for him.  The end goal will be that Phil is strong enough and balanced well enough to go back to work.  So on to the next set of goals. 

     Phil’s parents left this morning for a week they are going to Ed’s and then to some seminar with him and Joyce.   Then they will be back here for a few days.  This will give Sam some time to set up his room, as they have needed his bed.  Sam has cleaned and painted Matt’s old room so this weekend he can move all his furniture in there and we can hopefully get the family room set up back to more of a family room.  Sam has been using it as a bedroom all summer.  I am looking forward to getting things around here more functional and orderly.  This Stuff drives me nuttier than I already am.  I am not one of those naturally orderly people I have to work at it.  And with all that has been going on around here this summer I’ve had to just close my eyes and wade through it all.  You know when kids leave and come back from college or leave and then come back from having their own place a looooot of stuff comes with them that doesn’t really have a home in the house.  Finding homes for everything is a challenge for them.  But we have enjoyed having our boys both this summer.  Having them has been much better than having an orderly house.  We are blessed with great kids (adults).

     Last night I went through a stack of papers notes, and bills and receipts.  Yikes what a bunch of eye crossing mess.  I didn’t know where to begin.  So I got a garbage bag and filled it to burn.  I need to get a ledger or something to know what I have taken care of and what I haven’t.  I’ll make it one paper at a time.  When one is in the hospital and has Dr. Appointments for weeks and weeks and weeks a lot of paperwork comes with all that.

I have decided that I don’t like paperworkJ.

     Phil got his new bi-pap machine.  He has been able to sleep with it for 5 hour stretches at a time each night that is better than before.  He still hates it.:(!!!!   He is a tummy sleeper and this does not work sleeping that way.  Hope he can get to sleeping with it without the medication.  The less drugs the better.

       Well Matt is at the BIG U of O Football game today.  That will be fun for my social son.  He is still looking for work.  Please continue to pray for that with him.  God has a plan.  Matt hopes he will let him know what that is soon.  So many things to think and pray about.  We need to live this life one day at a time one prayer at a time.  Thank you all for praying for us.  I know it probably gets old hearing our life story.  But if we get some prayer going and some of Gods power flowing  we will continue to see God’s working in our lives.  Not always easy Gods working but easy isn’t  the promise.  Strength is the promise he gives, we need his healing and his strength.

 Thank you for praying.

 Love Donna and family