Thus far 1 week out from the surgery last Monday I have confirmed the following things: 

1- I am really bad at staying on top of the Caring Bridge Site and posting updates as I should.

2- Major surgery and recovery are not for the faint of heart.

3- People really love my Mom!

I am sorry I am just sitting down to post a full week after surgery.  That was not my intentions as I know so many people care so much about Mom and all of us and want to know how things are going so that they can know exactly what we may need and how to pray.  I want to say I will promise to post more frequently, but I hate to break a promise.  I'll just say that I will do my best to keep the news coming as best I can either on here or on Facebook with quick posts.  

Mom was in the hospital from Surgery day (Monday) until Saturday AM.  Other than Wednesday night when she spiked a fever and all sorts of tests were run to rule out anything super worrisome, Mom did pretty well.  She walked her laps and tried to sip- sip and nibble-nibble as she was instructed.  She gradually increased from clear liquids to full liquids and finally to her soft mechanical low fiber/fat diet.  (Basically, the PA for her surgeon said soft mechanical low fiber/low fat diet means about what you might eat if you were just getting over the flu avoiding carbonation and ice cream).  Dad said more than anything the best medicine for her was getting to take a shower on Thursday AM and again Saturday before coming home.  And while we cannot begin to say enough about how amazing the doctors, nurses and team and Emory were, we were ready to bust out of Tower Room 720 on Saturday AM.  

For the most part, her time at home has involved continued rest.  She scared everyone on Sunday morning when she fell trying to get out of bed on her own instead of asking for help from anyone, but thank God, other than being sore from her fall- she seems to be doing okay.  She didn't feel great on Monday night (nausea, soreness, etc) and is trying to be really careful to only take medicine when she really needs it - so it really is a sort of balancing act.  

Please pray that Mom doesn't become discouraged.  Bless her heart, she obviously had major surgery, but she is ready to be feeling better! While we see progress everyday, she often times isn't seeing it as it comes in little/tiny things.  

Please pray that we/she can figure out the balancing act of pushing it without medicine vs. taking the medicine when it is really needed.  

Please pray for Dad.  Wow!! I have never been more proud to be his daughter as I have watched him throughout this journey with mom.  He is her constant compassionate caregiver, cheerleader and companion.  He is working so hard to care for her and her every need while also balancing the day to day of life.  He obviously needs love and support as well.  We are trying to help in this area, but it is a lot to deal with and he is understandably a bit overwhelmed I think.  

Thank y'all for loving and caring so much for our family during this ordeal.  Cancer isn't easy, but as always our prayer is: 

To God be the Glory!!