[JustAmy]

Jim Update #3 ....

As someone said, Jim had lots of visitors today. I will try not to repeat what others have said.

I stopped by the PO and picked up a card to deliver to Jim.

PrissyMissy and I were getting on the elevator as Notpoliticallycorewrecked was getting off. She advised me that Jim was having tummy problems.

Marissa walked into Jim's room in front of me and Jim's eyes lit up as he said Well hi there Marissa. I think the first thing she asked was if it hurt when they cut his leg off. She and Jim talked some while Syncro told me who had sent the beautiful new bouquet and the delicious "edible arrangement". Jim said he had some fruit earlier and then offered some to us. Well .... she took him up on that offer. She ate 3 strawberries, some grapes and a piece of cantaloupe. Then she visited with Syncro while I talked to Jim.

Chris stayed with Jim last night. Jim said he and Chris sat up late eating some of the goodies that were packed in the gift bag from MamaBear and JKphoto. Chris gave Jim a shave this morning. He no longer looks like a grizzly bear. ;^ )

Jim said the only problem he is having is with his tummy and some phantom feeling in his former leg. He told me his toes were hurting as he grinned that huge grin. Then later, he said ohhh, my toe hurts. I asked if he was talking about the big black toe and he grinned again as he said "yeahhh, thats the one.

The discharge nurse came in and asked questions about equipment that he had at home. Jim assured her that he had everything he needed except a portable potty with a drop down arm. He told her that he is ready to go home. She said she would check with the docs.

Then a mental health person came in and talked to Jim. Jim told him the same thing ..... 'I would rest much better in my own bed'. He asked about pain medication and Jim told them he had no pain, except a little tenderness at the wound site.

The home health nurse will continue to come to the house to check the dressings and to monitor his blood sugar.

Jim volunteered to come in everyday if he needed to but please let him go home. Poor Guy.

When I got home, I called to see if Jim was still in the hospital. He said the word is Maybe Tomorrow.

I told Jim that I would check with the mail room tomorrow to see how they handle mail that arrives after he is discharged.

I couldn't decide which picture to post and Marissa wasn't much help ... she thinks Jim looks so cute in both. So you get both!!

.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

GET WELL SOON, BIG GUY!!!!!!!!!!! ;)

[IMissPresidentReagan]

Thank you so much for the update!

Continued prayers for Jim and everyone! Happy all seems to be going well.

[jaycee]

I found them Amy! Very, very good. Marissa is precious....I have seen her before but she gets cuter! Jim looks really good, I think!

[Miss Didi]

Wonderful news and pics! Jim, you look fabulous...hurry home, we miss you!

[stevio]

Go bless you Jim.

[Marysecretary]

Great pictures, JustAmy. Love, M

[hiredhand]

Well how about this! ...and just ten minutes ago Jim got a “segment” in our morning prayers here at the house! I hope you get to go home SOON Jim!

[LibertyRocks]

Thanks so much Amy for the updates, and photos! Thanks to EVERYONE who posted the photos and updates! LOL It’s wonderful to see him smiling!

Praise the Lord that he is feeling better - it’s too bad about the tummy ache though. Probably a mixture of things, including wanting to go home! I really feel for him, that’s for sure.

Prayers continue for you, Jim. As well as prayers for all family, friends, and caregivers! God bless all of you!

[SwatTeam]

Thanks for the updates. This is the first thing I look for when I get on line each morning.
And Jim, we are still praying for you and also giving thanks to God that you have
been doing so well. Attitude is a huge contributing factor.
God bless.

[JZelle]

Free Jim NOW! Great news! Continued prayers!

[SoldierDad]

Great Pictures of Jim and Missy. Jim, you look great. Our prayers continue for your healing.

SoldierDad & Family.

[Dante3]

Jim looks good. And such a pretty girl with him.

[firewalk]

Oh JustAmy thank you for posting those pictures.
Marissa is growing up sooo fast.
(been reading your posts about her while lurking & almost feel like I've met her)
(:

I can't thank you & the others enough for these updates
(Glad Mr. Robinson has the patience for them also)

Sorry to hear about the upset stomach, & hope you feel better very soon.

I'm pretty sure that going home will help immensely (:

Best wishes & thanks again

[afnamvet]

Good Morning Amy. Great pics of Jim and Prissy Missy. Our prayers continue for you Jim and your recovery. You look really good.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

phantom feeling in his former leg.

I was fascinated by:

The Mind and the Brain: Neuroplasticity and the Power of Mental Force

by Jeffrey M. Schwartz and Sharon Begley

It's a big tome, and not everyone would be interested in everything in it - but it is germane in part to phantom pain - which has to be a weird phenomenon to contend with. Basically it models the brain as a self-adapting mechanism. If you study something intensively - he uses the example of aspiring taxi drivers studying to pass the exam for a license to carry passengers in London (which requires that you know the geography of London cold) - that can produce observable physical changes in your brain.

According to the book, what happens when something gets amputated is that the portion of the brain which is used to processing signals from that member no longer gets stimulated by the nerves from than member. Obviously. But what happens next is that the brain cells which don't get stimulated normally start reconnecting themselves - and in the process, begin to pay attention to activity in its neighborhood of the brain. And that means that stimulation of members connected to anywhere in that neighborhood of the brain can produce what the portion of the brain previously dedicated to signals from the missing member interprets as sensation of some sort in the the no-longer-extant member.

Which sounds just about as creepy as Jim must think "feeling" his missing toe is. But if it makes any sense in Jim's experience, it might ameliorate the frustration just a bit.

[grellis]

Again, my apologies to any of you who have been called to this thread earlier from a different ping list. Just wanted to make sure everyone was in the loop and praying for Jim! Update at #2,092.

[trisham]

Looking good! Thanks so much, Amy!

[Joya]

Wow, he looks even better in your pictures. So glad he’s on the mend. Hopefully this is his last day in hospital.

Thanks JustAmy for the update. (What an adorable little girl! I think she and I have the same favorite color, pink!)

= = =
Quix, ping to post #2092.

[lolhelp]

Marissa is adorable and Jim is kinda of cute also! Thanks for the update and the pictures.

[tajgirvan]

Marissa is a doll! Jim looks great. Thank you, for all you have done for Jim, Sheila ,Chris and John and for the Freepers that cannot be there.
You, Amy and your precious Marissa are Just Angels! Hugs to all.