a whimsical world, the Botanicle Gardens

We took an evening trip to the San Antonio Botanical Gardens. The landscaping and fun artistic garden decor made the trip really fun. Here are a few of my favorite pictures. :)

Surgeries, Leeches, and Politicians

We are back at BAMC after 30 days of leave. We had so much fun traveling around visiting family and friends in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Oklahoma. It was so good to see everyone and thank them personally for all they have done for us in the last six months. We still recieve cards often and LOVE reading them and writing back.

While it was good to be home and we can't wait to do it again, it was busy and we are glad to be back to a routine here in San Antonio. Last week was pretty laid back with only a few "check up" type apointments in preparation for surgery.

Ronnie was admitted into the hospital on Monday morning. He had discontinued the use of Coumadin blood thinner on Saturday and we eagerly awaited INR results to see if they were low enough for surgery on Tuesday. We were excited when results came back good and he was approved for surgery.

Pre-Op

Tuesday was a waiting game as Ronnie's surgery was later in the day. He did manage to enjoy himself a little by writing "Dr. L Rocks!" on his stomach for his surgeon to see. haha. He was taken back around 1pm and the surgery lasted about 2 and a half hours. The doctor was very happy with the results. The surgeon team released a large scar band on Ronnie's right shoulder. Before he could not lift his arm to 90 degrees and now he has full range of motion! They also amputated his right pinky down to the third joint. Dr. L thinks he will be really happy with the results. The last thing the doctors did in the surgery was take a skin graft from his right hip and place it on a chronic open wound on the back of his right knee and on a couple other open spots on his thigh. While the graft stings quite a bit, it will help SO much with these stubborn wounds.

before

After

Today Ronnie has been undergoing "Leech Therapy." Yes, it is what you think. They have been using leeches on the flaps of skin on Ronnie's shoulder. As the wound heals and revasculates, arteries grow back faster than veins meaning that more blood is brought to the area than is taken. This makes the blood start to pool under the skin. Leeches help take that extra blood away. Ronnie didn't seem to mind his new little "attachments" and even likened it to breast feeding. hahah.

Leech Therapy

On another note, we were able to meet First Lady, Michelle Obama today! She was very sweet and quite stylish. We were impressed at how kind and personable she was too. She gave Ronnie presidential and first lady coins for his collection and a box of presidential M&M's. What a treat!

Meeting the First Lady

A walk in the park

Ronnie and I have been enjoying our first weekend back in San Antonio. We are making the most of these few days before Ronnie's next surgery. It is Fiesta time here in SA. Fiesta is a thirteen day festival that celebrates the stand at the Alamo and raises money for charities. We were able to go to Fiesta at El Mercado, an art fair, and the Ft. Sam fireworks display as well as take a fun tour of downtown and discover some new favorite spots. We are learning that Fiesta involves a lot of food, activities, and color (like the bright headbands everyone wears... I had to buy one).

Japanese Sunken Gardens

El Mercado (early, before crowds)

Paparazzi

Ronnie and I have been in the spot light the last week or so. It is really a strange feeling. We had FOX59 in Indy interview Ronnie during a therapy session last week. The interviewer, Jamie was a lot of fun and everyone around the VA seemed to enjoy watching us all chat away with Ronnie while he worked.

Once we arrived in Oklahoma, we were greeted by a Tulsa World reporter who had a story written up by the next morning (see below). He stopped in again today (3/24) and interviewed us for a story to be in print on Saturday before the American Legion Honor Ceremony to be held for Ronnie in the afternoon. We have also gotten calls from newscasters hoping to get a line or two during Saturday's events.

In addition, we have been making our rounds to meetings, schools, churches, and groups to say a huge "thank you" to everyone who has been praying for us and supporting us over the last few months. We feel so loved and so blessed and so humbled by everyone.

Link to the Tulsa World story below:
Injured Owasso soldier returns to warm welcome


Photo: Ronnie speaking in a Tulsa Bible Church Awana Class

My Snuggle Bug

ZZzzzz...

Hair Chop!

Before: After:

Mia meets her GREAT-grandparents

We had so much fun spending time up in Ft. Wayne visiting my grandparents and so did Mia. She loved jumping around Grandma's feet and snuggling up on the couch with PawPaw.

It felt like we hadn't seen them in an eternity and had so much to catch up on. Ronnie and PawPaw spent tons of time talking about cars and going through PawPaw's military uniform collection while Grandma and I shopped till we dropped! What a fun, relaxing way to visit.

Visiting Shelby at Grove City College

Ronnie and I were so excited to visit Shelby at college in Grove City, PA. We drove with Mom and Mia to the land where snow still exists. Mia didnt know quite what to think, but with the help of her little winter coat, she quickly learned to love the yummy white stuff. We had so much fun touring GCC and wandering the little town she calls home. It was so great to see Shelby again especially in her element. It was a blast. :)

Home again in the hoosier state!

Being home in Indy has been EXACTLY what Ronnie and I needed after working so hard the past few months. It has been so great to spend time with family and friends and visit our home church Sanctuary. Even Mia got to join in the fun! She has loved her "grandma and grandpa" as well as "Aunt Cori and Aunt Shelby" and they get quite a kick out of her.

As a side note for those wondering, Ronnie has been going to the Indy VA hospital downtown a couple times a week for therapy and PICC line care as well as his INR lab draws. It really has been a great change of pace as each location does therapy a little different. Ronnie has really enjoyed it and really wants to try to be transferred back to Indy as soon as he is able.

Photo: Mia chillin' with her grandma. :)

Starting Convalescent Leave

So I have been scolded for not writing in so long. In my defense it has been a whirlwind few weeks and I don't even know where to start.

Ronnie and I were granted thirty days of leave away from BAMC to visit with family. We had been wanting to take leave for a while but once the paper work started on Friday, March 25th, it was only a matter of days before we were flying home to Indiana (I think we only had about a twelve hour heads up once we bought plane tickets!).

But before we could leave, we had to pack... and when I say pack, I mean THE WHOLE HOTEL ROOM that we have been living in for the past three months... That was an unexpected adventure in itself, but thanks to some amazing new friends, everything is safe in storage in San Antonio and the adventure could begin.