October has been an interesting month to say the very least. Both good and bad things have happened but all in all the good out weigh the bad. The best news of the month was the birth of our 21st grandchild. Todd and Kailee had a baby boy and named him Ledger Jax. He's so darling. We went to the hospital the afternoon of his birth and got to snuggle on him. What a precious time for Todd and Kailee and their family. Aria and Avery absolutely love him. Lincoln isn't quite sure. In fact, since his birth, Lincoln has reverted back to a bottle at night and says he can't do anything by himself. A little jealousy we think. Lincoln does say he's a big boy but is not acting like it.
Now for the not go good. Paul was released from the hospital on Wednesday, October 2nd which was a good thing but he ended back in the hospital two other times within 10 days....not so good. Friday, after being released, Paul was not feeling very well. By that night, he was vomiting and continued vomiting all night and into the early morning. I was so worried about him that I called the surgeon and it was decided that I should take him back to the hospital. I called Todd and ask him to meet me there as I was a basket case and didn't want to handle this on my own. Paul was so weak that I also needed help getting him into the emergency room. After consulting with the assistant surgeon, it was decided to readmit Paul so they could rehydrate him and observe him. The next day was General Conference Sunday so I went to the hospital early so we could watch conference together. Paul slept through most of the talks and I had a hard time concentrating with all the continual visits of the nursing staff checking Paul's vitals. By late in the afternoon, Paul was feeling better so he was released to come home. That was a good thing but.......a week later he was back in the hospital. We had decided he was feeling good enough to go the the BYU football game on Friday night. We drove the Fullers and picked up the Bulkeleys in Provo. We drove onto the parking lot but by the time we got out of the car, Paul was really hurting. The pain kept getting worse no matter what he did. Ryan had brought his family to the game, so I called Ryan and asked him to meet me to help me decide what we needed to do with Dad. By this time, Paul was out laying on the lawn in more pain than I have ever seen him in. When even Paul suggested we go the the emergency room, we knew he was in trouble. Ryan went and got his car and drove us to the Provo emergency room. There they did a CT scan thinking this pain was due to a bowel blockage but that proved to not be the case. Because he was in so much pain, it was decided to admit him once again to the hospital and observe him. By the next morning, when I got there, he was feeling great. About 2 in the morning, the pain went away when he started passing gas. We were so grateful it was only gas....an expensive fart!!!! We was able to come home that morning.
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| Paul's last day in the hospital following his surgery |
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| Home at last...for the first time! |
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| Watching conference in Paul's hospital room |
We have seen many miracles throughout this whole experience and have felt the hand of the Lord helping us.
1. That I was prompted to call the surgeon when Paul was vomiting and was told to go to the emergency room
2. That the assistant surgeon was at the hospital on our first visit to the emergency room and knew our case history. We felt that was a blessing.
3. That we were in Provo when the pain became so intense and not in Heber. Had we been in Heber, I would have taken him to the Heber emergency room and then he probably would have been taken in an ambulance to the Provo hospital.
4. That Ryan was at that particular football game and available to take us to the emergency room. We had driven so the Fullers and Bulkeleys were counting on us to get them home. As it was, when Ryan returned to the game, he took our car keys to the Fullers so they could drive home in our car. Ryan, then, picked me up from the hospital after the game. He and his family were staying at our home so that worked out perfectly.
5. That the pain was only gas. Had it been a bowel blockage, it may have required emergency surgery, which would have set Paul's recovery back several weeks.
6. When we went to the oncologist after the surgery, we were told that the remaining carcinoid tumors in Paul's abdomen were of little concern. He wants Paul to have another Pet scan in January to establish a base to watch their growth. These tumors are grade 1 tumors and grow very slowly.
7. When the surgeon told me that this was a life threatening surgery, we knew the Lord was with Paul and the surgeons.
Before Paul's surgery, we had to get the garden totally harvested which we did except for the squash. We wanted to let the squash stay on the vine for as long as possible. It wasn't until after Paul's surgery that we felt it was time to harvest them. Because Paul was not allowed to lift anything for 6 weeks, we didn't feel he could pull the squash vines nor haul in the 24 pumpkin squash. We called Joey Hyer, who is always willing to give service. He came over immediately with his 4 wheeler and helped us pull the squash vines. He then loaded the squash into his 4 wheeler, drove it up to the garage and helped carry them into the garage. Such a great service to us. We had so many squash that we took some to the Food Pantry and then sent out a message to our neighbors in the Crossings that we had squash available for the taking. We gave away several and still have enough to last us through the winter. A great harvest.
When Paul could finally eat more types of food, we started having the college age grandchildren up for Sunday dinner. It had been a few weeks since the surgery that we felt we could do this. On one of those Sundays, Olivia and Braydon came. After dinner, Lincoln latched onto Braydon and together they played CARS for most of the evening before dessert. It we so sweet of Braydon to play with him. We love that our grandchildren still love to come to Grandpa and Grandma's home. Of course, good food is a great enticement.
On one of those Sundays we celebrated 2 birthdays. Charlotte's birthday was in September and Maggie's in October. I had made a cake for Charlotte for the Sunday after her birthday but we ended up having to cancel dinner in Heber. With Paul's surgery, we couldn't celebrate her birthday until into October so I made a matching cake for Maggie and we celebrated their birthdays together.
We went to a BYU luncheon where Coach Kevin Young spoke. He is the new basketball coach and had been able to recruit some really sought after players. We were excited to hear from him as we anticipated the starting of the basketball season. He was very up beat about the team and their potential. We went to the first basketball game this month and were very impressed with the talent shown. Of course, that was all preseason play so the real test will come when the Big 12 season actually starts in January.
October always brings Halloween and the ward trunk or treat party. Because of Paul's surgery, we suggested the Bishop find someone else to plan and carry out the Halloween party. He asked the Primary to do it and they decided that, instead of the usual potluck soup dinner, they would do the trunk or treat at the pond with cider and donuts. It turned out great and the children had a wonderful time. A headless horseman even made an appearance.
The next week was Halloween and, as we have done for the past several Halloweens, we went to Todd and Kailee's home to hand out candy so they could take their children trick or treating. This year we got the babysit little Ledger, too. We love sharing this holiday with them and seeing the kids excitement about costumes and candy.
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| The new addition to the Millar's Halloween yard display |
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| Their yard at night |
Two other things to make note of this month:
1. We were released from our calling as activity chairmen. It had been such a relief to not have to think about planning a Christmas party with Paul recovering from surgery. It's been harder then expected and to have the stress of a party to plan would have done us in. The bishop was inspired to release us. The new chairs are the Judy and Dick Gardener. They will be great. We met with them shortly after they were called and gave them all the supplies we had in our basement. We will now serve the Lord by going to the temple often, once Paul is fully recovered. We may even get more involved in Family History.
2. We attended the funeral of one of Paul's high school classmates. Dale Warburton was a good friend of Paul's so we wanted to attend. His wife was also a classmate of Paul's and was touched that we would come to honor her husband. A few of Paul's other classmates were at the funeral so he got to talk with them - including his high school girlfriend!
3. I have to record a statement from Lincoln. On one of the Sundays, when Todd and his family were getting ready to return home, I was holding Ledger. Lincoln came up to me and said, "Give him back. He's ours." So sweet.
Of course, I have to include some memes.......
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| This appeared on Facebook after Donald Trump worked at McDonalds as a slam on Harris. |
Now on a more spiritual note......
Florida was hit by two destructive hurricanes
this month.
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| A beautiful message in this most contentious election season. |
