HOME AT LAST

Hi all.  We arrived home at about 4pm today.  We are both very happy to be back and to see friends and loved ones.  At Valerie's request, we made a quick stop at the beach so she could put her feet in the sand. (the pic)

We are getting settled into a more finished, put together and cleaner house than the one we left.  It's so much more conducive for health and healing... thank you Vanessa, more than words can say.  What a beautiful gift you've given your Aunt Val.

After a rough few days, Valerie ate about 3 pieces of pizza last night at the hotel (BAD pizza at that) and she ate 3 pancakes from Denny's this morning.  She is now eating a little plate of spaghetti and so far everything has stayed down.  WOO HOO!!

She's taking pain and nausea medicine that we got in Mexico - from a prescription the doctor wrote for us.  Her pain has been MUCH better managed with what they are giving her than the morphine prescribed by the docs here.  The nausea is still an off and on battle but it seems MUCH better.

Now she will begin the road to strength and health.  She is frail and weak but will become healthy and strong.  She is afraid and anxious but will become determined and certain.  She already looks and sounds better.

It was helpful to have a more objective pair of eyes in Vanessa when we got home.  She immediately commented on how much better Valerie looked - more color in her face; more vibrant looking; she walked up the stairs MUCH better than when she returned from the US hospital; she was able to twist and turn in getting around - which she couldn't do before we left; and she can reposition herself on the bed with MUCH less pain and effort than before.  With the struggles from day to day, it's been hard for us to see the steps of progress.  But there has absolutely been progress and there will be a LOT more!!