Gwennaford's Journal

[Joyful Friend]

Gwen, so glad to read that you're still with us.  Looking forward to meeting you in SA.  Joyful Friend

[Gwennaford]

My faithful friends continue to inspire me. Thanks so much for checking in.

I lost my network connection and many of my saved messages since we've been in the hospital. Don't know what happened.

AAnnywaaayyyy...

Neil's doing well since having all that poisoned tissue removed. He feels a thousand times better and is getting his strength back. After returning to the hospital room from dialysis today, he jumped into his power chair and played with his new RC car until his dinner came. Then stayed up watching old Christmas movies with me.

My faith in the Lord's healing power is strong, but I was preparing my heart to lose him this time. He was really in bad shape.  But he just keeps bouncing right back. He's going to come through this with a powerful testimony. Maybe minus a few body parts, but strong in the Lord and ready for whatever comes!

[tprouty]

Isn't it amazing how the Lord made us! We can lose tissues and organ parts for various reasons, and we still function! And we can heal and repair! You and Neil have been in our prayers! I am so glad you're hanging in there!

God bless -- I know He has and is continuing to hold you close to His heart every moment.

Love, Terri

[Joyful Friend]

to you, Gwen, for your faith in Jesus's healing power and also for your positive attitude.  I will pray for you nd yours. Joyful Friend

[Bethann]

Gwennaford, Thinking of you!
Love and prayers 
from Bethann

[Gwennaford]

Successfully discharged last night. Trip home was uneventful. He ate a big Taco Bell burrito supreme, watched an old B&W Christmas movie and we crashed for 12 hours. Life is good.

Right foot is healing nicely, partly due to his improved appetite. It seems to have good blood flow. There is very little pain as long as he follows orders and puts NO weight on it. He will be getting physical therapy to learn how to maneuver himself around using adaptive equipment as he regains his strength. Eventually he will wear regular shoes with a spacer in the front of the right one.

Still waiting on the other surgeon to schedule day surgery on his left hand. I think they want to wait for his overall body strength to improve before incapacitating the hand again. It got a lot of hard use in the hospital and bothers him some.

All doctors are stunned and delighted with his progress. As usual, he has astonished everyone with his amazing ability to bounce back. We see the foot surgeon Tuesday and will hopefully get the okay to go back to work very soon. He needs to be fitted for a protective boot first.

He says "hi" to all and looks forward to hearing how everything is going with everyone.

Merry Christmas & Loves to All!

Gwen

[crickadoodle]

Gwen, he is so resilient!  That is amazing how well he is doing in body, mind and spirit.  God bless you both!

[Deborah D.]

Gwen wonderful that your both home and he is doing well.  lots of prayer has been going up for you both.

Gwen I would also like to ask you if you will join our 100 lb club...its on the general discussion message board and it anyone that has/had over a 100 lbs to lose...I noticed you have already lost 111 lbs and I think if others can hear how well your doing it will encourage them to keep on doing LDL...so if you like please drop into the 100 lb club and leave us a message.  Thanks

Deborah D.

[hopefull]

Gwen, So glad things are improving! and good to have you back on the msg boards. You are always such an inspiration for me and for me to encourage others to give this woe a try as it works even if you have lots of lbs to loose.

hugs,
Bobbi

[southernyankee]

Hi Gwen,
Just thought I'd pop in to say Hi and to thank you for staying strong...for yourself, for your husband, and for all of us here on the LDL boards. You are such positive testimony of the power of faith and that G-d blesses us by working in ways we can't begin to understand!

May you and all of us have a a happy and blessed Christmas!
southernyankee

[Gwennaford]

Many thanks to everyone for the words of support and encouragement!

I would be happy to join the 100 lb. Club. Send me a link. My computer's put away & the phone doesn't access the LDL menu very well.

[tprouty]

Hey Gweeeeeennnnnnnniiiiiiieeeeeee!

Haven't heard from you since before the holidays! Many of us have been praying for you and Neil, and we're all hoping things are going well and he is continuing to heal.

Now I know you've put the computer out of sight for the most part, and the blackberry isn't nearly as easy to use online, and you are busy getting on with life, but we would LOVE to know how you are doing, Gwennaford Grape.

Whatever the case may be, you will continue to be in our prayers!

God bless
Terri

[lifegoeson24n7]

Hi Gwen!

Soooooo glad You are posting again! 
Just started back up again (Well 30 days ago) and was sad to see that my friend Gwen was MIA.
We all know life sometimes trumps journaling. 

So happy you are on here! 

Bless you, I often wonder about you.

& Love,
Jill

[patsyfay]

Hi, Sweet Gwennie!!  It's nice to see you posting again.  I've been sticking my head in every now and again.  I've missed being here.  I've missed LDL!  I pray strength for you.

Pat

[Bethann]

Thinking of you, Gwennaford.

Love and prayers from Bethann

[Gwennaford]

Virgil Brinkman, back online!

Computer's out of storage.  I'm still here and spoiled rotten from all the typing shortcuts on the BBerry, so please forgive all the typos I'm going to be making.  Life it too short to be backspacing!

I have a fantastic BREAKFAST recipe discovery that was such a happy accident -- I'm still reeling from the feeling. It is the primary reason I dug out the 'puter -- so I could share.  You're not gonna belieeeeeeeve it --


READY???

OK -- DUHN duhn DUHN duhn DUHN ...

You REALLY ready????

Here it is . . .

WELL-DRAINED & SEASONED GARBANZOS, TOASTED IN A SINGLE LAYER UNTIL GOLDEN & NUTTY IN A MEDIUM-HOT SKILLET WITH A PAT OF WILLOW RUN SOY MARGARINE AND SOME DICED ONIONS . . .

[size=500]TASTE JUST LIKE POTATO HOME FRIES! ! ! [/size]

I like to have some sort of savory bean/lentil-type porridge with my scrambled egg for breakfast.  I'll spare you the boring details about how this came about, but I promise you that when I was eating these with my scrambled egg I kept on & on doing double-takes at my plate because my mouth absolutely could NOT believe I wasn't accidentally taking bites of someone's home fries by mistake. 

Don't get me wrong -- I don't miss potatoes AT ALL on LDL, but I used to really enjoy a big diner-style breakfast.  Sometimes I have missed that when I've virtuously ordered fresh fruit with my veggie omelet. 

I've had them three times and the only mistake I made was once getting some of the starchy cooking liquid into the skillet because it scorched very quickly.  If you just keep shaking the skillet to toast the drained beans they get all nutty and delicious.  And the BEST part (aside from the wonderful taste) is that the 'banzos don't absorb the butter like potatoes do.  I cooked them in a non-stick skillet and lifted them out with a spatula instead of pouring them onto the plate.  It looked to me like the same amount of butter I started with was left in the pan.

It is very good to be back with friends.  I'm going to be needing your loving support in the very near future.  Things are not looking good for Neil.  What IS looking good is that very soon he will be enjoying loving support in the arms of Jesus.  I have a difficult time being sorry about that.

Loves to all --
Gwennaford Grape

I may have to work Banzo into my signature line somehow.  Any suggestions?

[Joyful Friend]

Oh Gwen, I'm so sorry about Neil.  You have so much on you. You are right for a believer in Jesus, there will be complete healing when we are safely home in His bountiful arms.  I did not know he was that bad.  ,  , and prayers, JF

[Deborah D.]

Gwen, I'm so sorry about Neil too, I know how hard it is to lose the man you love, because I have been there also, but as you said about Neil being in the arms of Jesus, I know that's where my Joe is and that does help a lot.  Give Neil all the love and care you can while he is here, then when he is gone you will know you did all you could.  And when that day comes if you need to talk just send me a message and I will come running to talk or listen, and I know the people here on LDL will help you through, what will be one of the hardest times in your life, and I DO KNOW you will get through it with God's help and ours.

Know that I am praying for Neil and you.

Deborah D.

[Gwennaford]

Thanks, ladies.  He wasn't that bad.  After all his many hospitalizations he bounced right back, seemingly good as new.  Until one day, he didn't bounce back.  We noticed a trend that his crises were coming closer together, lasting longer, and were harder to overcome each time. 

I will need a lot of love and support in the next few weeks.  With all the kids gone, it is already starting to get very lonely. 

We are trusting our spirits to the Lord and have peace knowing He will take care of our physical needs. 

I'm also stocked up on beans, grapes & popcorn. 

[wendysgoodnews]

Gwen
I am so sorry to hear about Neil.  I wish you were where I could give you a big hug.  I will be praying for you and Neil during this time. We are all here for you whenever you need encouragment or just an ear.