2 Week Follow-Up

We are 2 weeks post surgery and Ross is doing very well and the rest of us at home are also doing just as well:):)!!  Last week Ross spent much of the time reclining on the couch, walking "laps" in the basement and sleeping.  We compared it to being like a newborn- he couldn't be in the same position for more than about 30min, had to eat and take his pain medicine every 4 hours and took a couple naps each day (I just didn't have to get up during the night!!!).  We did spend last weekend in Kalamazoo for our niece's baptism which was great, but Ross was tired by the end.  This week has been much better.  He can sit in a chair for almost an hour now, doesn't need as many naps during the day and can go much longer between meals and meds (and is off the strong pain stuff).  He was even able to go to his class in Grand Rapids this evening, which he said wasn't super comfortable, but it did feel good to get out of the house for a few hours!!!
  The kids have done very well understanding that dad can't do much for them, which has been just fine for 2 year old Clayton whose favorite phrase is "I do it myself"!!  Except for Alyssa's normal stubbornness, they have all responded well and it has gone very smoothly.  I had cleared much of my schedule over the past 2 weeks (I did work 1 day last week and 2 days this week) so I have been able to keep up with everything around the house and thanks to our wonderful church family and friends, I have not had to worry about meal prep which is a HUGE blessing!!!
  The staples come out tomorrow, which should help with some of the discomfort (there are 30 of them!)  Ross still has 2 weeks off of work to ensure complete healing of the incision- and to make sure he can sit at a desk for 8-10 hours:):)  He may start to go a little stir crazy these next couple weeks so if anyone is in the neighborhood, he would welcome the visitors!!!!
  We are well on the road to recovery and thank you to all of you for the prayers and support.  Starting next month Ross will have a chest xray and blood work done every other month for the first year and then every 4-5 months the following year just to ensure no return of the cancer cells.  We are still cancer free!