Time for LVRS

I have been holding off writing this blog.  The less I think about it, the less real it seems.  Nice that I picked now to be a scaredy cat!  

I'll get to the essentials first:

On the 19th we will drive 5 hours up to Portland.  We will make one pleasant stop along the way to meet one of my friends from the "Ex" smoking site that I belong to.  I am really looking forward to that.
The 19th we will just drive and get to the hotel and rest.  
I am finding that for long periods of time the vibration of the car on the road bothers my lungs and makes me cough.  This is a new condition, or maybe not?  I really haven't had many long trips in a car until recently.

The 20th I have a meeting with the surgical staff to go over the surgery and what to expect, what can happen, and answer any questions.

The 21st I will go back to the hospital to have a pre-op visit and have most likely blood work, maybe some testing like MRI or Ex-Rays or whatever.  Then I am told to go back to the hotel and relax, eat a good meal and get a good nights rest!!!  LOL  I am sure I will sleep like a baby.

The 22nd I am to shower, wash and do my hair and this will be the only time in at least a week that I can shave my legs.  This has to be done around 4:00 a.m. so I can be at the hospital in the surgical unit by 5:30 a.m..
Surgery is to last 3 to 6 hours.  They will put 3 holes from my arm pit down on my side.  They will repeat this on both sides, then put one hole either in my chest or in my back.  These holes is how they will do the surgery.  They will be using camera's, suction, a cutter that has a stapler attached.  Then they will remove what they need to.  Try and make sure there are no air leaks, which is common.  

I will be in ICU at least one day, then taken to a private room where there is a bed for Bill or Brittney.  I think they are planning on taking turns staying with me.  They will have me up walking the first day out of ICU and keep it going a little longer everyday.  I will be sitting in a chair a lot.  Many people get pneumonia while recovering from these surgeries.  So I will be upwards as much as possible.

I don't really have many comments about this, except to say if something were to happen to me... Jesus look after my family and give them strength.

I don't want to talk to much about fear.  Because I have been prayed over and have healing in the lord.  I also truly believe that either way "I" will be fine.  Either I go to be with Jesus... or I come home to my family. It's my family I worry about.  So... I won't go on any further.  

Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as well as my family and my doctor.