July 9 - Nate Update

The last couple days have been busy doctor days. Nate had his 6 week post-op check up with Dr. Riddle (although it was really like 5 1/2 weeks... but who's counting??!!) and things look good. He's still struggling with some swelling that keeps flaring up so we are actually waiting to hear from the doctor today to see what he wants to do about it. Of course, it wouldn't present itself until AFTER our appointment! In 6 months to a year Nate and Dr. Riddle may consider doing some "touch-up" surgery, but we'll see how everything heals and looks then. Nate also has been having some problems with his wrist. I think he tries to hide things from me for a while, but then eventually spills the beans. What a little stink! He has started working again and says any lifting, drilling and even writing hurt it. He got it x-rayed and there are no fractures so it's either tendons or ligaments. Instead of getting another MRI the doctor put him in a splint for 4 weeks and we'll see if resting it will solve the problem. The only problem I see is it HAS been resting for 5 weeks now so let's hope the splint does the trick. The splint is basically a cast that they made to fit him exactly then they cut it down the back, applied velcro and WALLAH! He can take it on and off to shower and wash his hands, but he's suppose to keep it on for the most part. We also met with the oral surgeon and yep... it's surgery for Nate again to fix his jaw. Probably sooner than later. He'll get braces on his teeth then they'll use those to do the wiring instead of the arch bars they use in trauma cases that go through the gums... ouch! That made Nate feel better about it all. He says those arch bars KILL. Originally the orthodontist said braces for a year then the surgery, but the oral surgeon said with Nate he wants to get in there soon while things are kind of fresh. I know a lot of you are probably wondering (like I did) why his jaw wasn't put in the right place the first time... well.... when you have a major trauma like Nate had (a LeFort 3 fracture, for those of you who know what that means), there's so much damage and they're trying to piece together things that aren't exactly broken or cut straight. So it's hard to put things exactly where they belong. Dr. Riddle did his best and we know that. We have been very happy with him. With the next surgery they will cut through his jaw and have a clean cut to work with and manipulate. As horrible as it sounds it's the right thing to do. Nate's too young to go through the rest of his life with problems stemming from a wrong bite. So that's the most recent news. Nate plans to start traveling with work next week... I am going to miss him! I hope I don't get too much anxiety. The first couple times he went somewhere without me (like the store or something) I had a hard time. Not that I didn't want him to go, it was the thought of getting that same kind of call I got May 29th... I am doing better though and I'm sure he's glad to get out from under my (probably overbearing) wing! Eventually life will feel normal again and we'll think back to the summer of 2010 and hopefully remember all the wonderful things we have felt, learned and been blessed with. We know our Father in Heaven is ever so mindful of each and every one of us. We have truly felt of his love for us. It's so true how our adversity is really what "saves" us from ourselves IF we let it teach us and allow it to help us grow. Thank you for your continued love and prayers.