Mr. Cracker, or as he is known around here, "Mr. Mark," went into surgery an hour ago. I'm relaxing in our room with the WiFi and my new pink Dell.
An administrator came in earlier and wanted to shoot the breeze with us regarding a wide raft of topics, including Obama (I canceled Mr. Mark out, as always) the avalanche of money coming to those getting in the ground floor of the carbon neutral business (cha-ching), and the birds roosting in the hospital skylight (they shouldn't be there).
We really haven't been able to find an adequate homestay, so I think we'll be coming home early, and then Mr. Cracker will return here to India by himself at the end of January or early February to take his radiation pill. We've got another week to see if our housing situation turns around, but if not, home we'll come.
UPDATE:
Out of surgery after 6 hours and A-OK. He'll be in recovery for a couple of hours then be brought back to our room for a good rest.
UPDATE II:
Mr. Mark is back in his bed, awake and OK. He says he's not stoned, but he doesn't feel any pain. I went to take a pic of him and our camera battery pack is dead. Under the Division of Labor Law, this is his thing to fix, but I'm afraid it'll have to wait until he's more mobile. I did get him to fix the phone though. :)
UPDATE III:
He says that in the recovery room the doctors came in and showed him his bloody removed thyroid and said, "You're a lot lighter now." I'm not really sure that actually happened.
What is true is that he has a lot of pretty and sweet-natured Indian nurses bringing him coconut water to sip and in general taking very good care of him.
Hey Donnah, Do you have the phone turned off? I can't get through to you and sure would like to hear that Mr. Mark is doing fine!
Hugs,
Becky
Turning off a cell phone would be beyond my technological capabilities, as I've only had my first one in my possession for a day. We bought it yesterday afternoon, maybe it needs to be charged? I hit green for "go" and nothing happens. ;)
Posted by: Donnah at December 23, 2009 07:14 AMDonnah:
Glad to hear Mr. Mark is doing well. We'll be following along and watching his progress as things get better and better.
Best Wishes for this, a most unusual Christmas,
Charlie and Peggy
Hi Donnah,
Sorry about your cell phone - maybe the hospital has cell phones blocked. When I call, I get a message saying the phone is off. So, this works - I'm sure everyone is anxious to hear about Mark's progress. How is he doing?
Hugs,
Becky
The phone should be working now, Becky.
Hey, Peggy and Charlie! Yes, a very unusual Christmas!
Posted by: Donnah at December 23, 2009 10:16 AMGreat news Donnah, hope the homestay situation is resolved so ya'll can relax and get some much needed rest. Merry Christmas to you both.
Posted by: cindy at December 23, 2009 12:31 PMThanks for the updates Donnah! I'm SO HAPPY to hear Mark is in bed, awake, OK, and feeling NO PAIN! That is wonderful! I started to call your cell phone, but it is 11 pm over there and I don't want to wake anyone up! I know this has been a long, eventful day! Even with such good news, there is that element of STRESS! So, I'm hoping that as I write this, you are both sleeping soundly and that sweet Mark continues to recover without pain!
Hugs,
Becky
Y'all be well and have a happy holiday season, and I have just popped in the Duane Allman Anthology Volume II in order to dedicate Delaney and Bonnie's "Come On In My Kitchen" to you both. I will hit "play" and then hit "post".
Thinking of you-
SJ
Posted by: Surfer Joe at December 23, 2009 01:42 PMHope the male force in the Cracker entourage
is feeling ok.. He has more brass than I do..
Merry Christmas ! I guess.. ;)
I hope you're ok, too, Donnah..but this is his moment.
Posted by: csason at December 23, 2009 01:50 PMThanks for more updates Donnah! It's great that he can joke about the weight loss and that he's being taken care of! Coconut water? I'll have to find some of that! In the meantime I'm looking for the recipe of jello jiggle things - those should feel good on his throat!
The girls are outside with Joe strolling along the lake. Actually, Lily is sitting by the patio with Billy and Sara and Shiloh and Joe are doing the lake stroll. Shiloh did start to get in the lake earlier today, but Joe threw a rock in the water and that discouraged her from pulling the Shiloh romp! Little Girl is snoozing at my feet while I read through your blog re-reading the good news about Mark.
I'm still needing to download my software so I can send pics of the girls by the Christmas tree. They clearly have visions of greenies dancing in their heads!
Hugs,
Becky