HEADING FOR THE BEACH!!!

We will be heading for the beach tomorrow. Lee is feeling fine and the Dr. doesn't want to see him until Dec. 3rd. So we will come home and rest until then. Lee still has the staples in but the Dr. said he could do whatever he felt like doing except drive and lift anything more than 5 lbs. He still has to stay away from crowds and also anyone who has a virus or cold or flu symptoms--which is a lot of people this time of year. We would appreciate anyone not visiting if anyone in the family is not feeling well. E-mails and phone calls after 10 AM would be fine. No phone calls after 9:30 PM please. He needs his rest. He is still weak and needs rest. We enjoyed supper at Red Lobster tonight with Russ and the boys. We will stop by Russ' house tomorrow to leave some of the duplicates we had to buy--like thermometer, blood pressure guage and scales. We have all at home but didn't know we would need them. Lee has developed ulcers in his mouth--which they say can come from the immuno-drugs. Pray they won't get any worse and will improve. God Bless you all. Thank you for your concerns and prayers.
IN HIS SERVICE
The Bullucks Sing
Carol B

DRAIN OUT!! WHAT A RELIEF!!

Lee had his clinic appt. today and Dr. Collins took his drain out. He was really happy to get that accomplished. He still has the staples in and will have them in for another two weeks. The Dr. said he could do what he felt like doing. When a new Dr. came in she starting asking "me" the questions like I was the patient and Lee was answering the questions and I finally said "he" is the patient not me. She apologized and starting talking with Lee. I told Lee later that he must have looked better than I did if she thought I was the patient--HA! HA! After his appt. we drove to Winston-Salem to be with our daughter Rhonda after she had her hysterectomy today. We waited 2 hrs in the recovery waiting room and Jerry said the Dr. said she did fine and in about an hour they would call him to see her. After two hrs I told Jerry that they must have forgot us and Rhonda was probably in her room. Sure nuf she was and had been for an hr and a half. We visited for a while and then went out to eat with Jerry and then came back to the hotel. I'm very tired so must close. Thanks for your prayers. Pray that all the germs we were near will not effect Lee badly. Also pray that the mouth ulcers will not develop any more and will go away. That is another side effect of the anti-rejection drugs. God bless you! Love to each!
IN HIS SERVICE
The Bullucks Sing
Carol B.

STATUS QUO

Just a few minutes to let you know the Status Quo. All things are going well. Yesterday Lee's temperature was a little elevated but went right down after a few minutes. Please pray specificly that he will not get an infection or fever. Also pray that his medicine will not continue to cause him high blood sugars. So far we are doing okay in a small space--pray for patience for both of us. So far we are doing fine. Lee still has his drain and it is a little painful. He also still has staples (26 of them)! I am managing to cook with a low watt microwave and 2 eyes on a stove top, Also have limited pot and pan--yes 1 pot (actually one big and one little pot) and a skillet that likes to stick. Tonight we had pork chops, collards, sweet potatoes and cornbread. And of course "sweet" tea not like Lee likes--it's sweetened with Splenda and not sugar! We are getting used to a lot of "New Norms" and that is okay! We can change what needs to be changed for Lee's benefit. We are finally getting to play a new game I bought last Dec. to have when he had his transplant in Jan. When that didn't happen I just saved it until now. He was impressed that I hid it from him almost a year. It is called Blockus and it is a stragedy game. Needless to say Lee usually wins. Of course we have just played one game and he won. We are going to play another game now and I have all ideas that he probably will win--but I'm going to try real hard to win. Don't worry if I don't blog each day our days are busy, busy. Lee will go back to clinic on Wed. and we will know more of what is going on then. Thanks for all your prayers and good wishes.
IN HIS SERVICE
THE BULLUCKS SING
Best wishes,
Carol B.

FIRST CLINIC APPOINTMENT AFTER SURGERY!

We went to the clinic appointment this morning. I dropped Lee off at the front door--they offered him a wheel chair and he said no (he didn't realize that the walk to the clinic was so far). He was tired when he got there. Needless to say we found a wheelchair to leave the clinic with. His labs were good. He still has his drain tube (which he was hoping to loose today). He also still has his staples (which he also was hoping to loose). The Dr. said at least another week and maybe two for the drain and the staples. The drain had some clogging and the surgeon took the drain apart and cleaned it out. It is not draining as much today. The progression for monitoring the drain is (it looks like tomato juice first--rather thick--then cranberry color and clear and then apple juice color). When it gets to the apple juice color and there isn't much of it they take the drain out. And that is really more information than you wanted to know! We are getting to know the new normal of measuring stuff. Temperature, blood pressure, blood sugar, weight, input and output. The kidney function is excellent!! PRAISE THE LORD!! We just thank the Lord for all the prayers you are praying--they are keeping us going! Keep those prayers going upward!! Keep those good thoughts going also! The telephone # here is 919-402-1700 ext 1799. Call us on that phone and we won't be using our cell phone minutes up.

IN HIS SERVICE
THE BULLUCKS SING
Carol B.

FINALLY HOME TO APT TODAY

Lee came home today and we are getting used to "the new normal". We are getting used to insulin shots and fixing new meds. It is a new ballgame and we are getting used to the new rules. We have a clinic appt. on Wed. Tomorrow we will walk around the neighborhood. His blood sugars are high and his other numbers are fairly okay. The cardiologist wants a stress test in 3 months. We thank all of you for your prayers and support--keep those prayers going upward. We are collectng a lot of data for the transplant team to evaluate.
In His Service
The Bullucks Sing
Carol B.

JUST HANGING OUT IN HOSPITAL!!!

We are patiently waiting to get the green light to go to our apartment. Lee's blood sugars are not stable yet. Some of the meds cause high blood sugar. They are giving him oral meds and also insulin. He had an Ear, Nose, and Throat Dr. consult this afternoon. He found that the oxygen had dried his nose and made it bleed--so he is treating that. He had an hr and a half treatment with inhaled antibotics this afternoon. His lab numbers were better today but the Dr. said nothing about when he might get to leave the hospital. So we are just hanging out and waiting. The address you can send cards to can be obtained from Ann Jordan. She also has the phone # for our apartment. Keep those prayers going upward.
Love to each
Carol B.

NO RELEASE FROM HOSPITAL TODAY!!

Lee's Drs decided to NOT release him today. His blood oxygen level is low. His heart enzymes are high. His blood sugar is high. So until they can get all the numbers to be in a good range they will keep him in the hospital. He is sleeping good. Today he walked around the circle 4 times doing 2 loops each time--without oxygen! He is eating good. Kidney function is excellent!! He is going to the bathroom well. He just has some bad numbers that have to be monitored so that he won't have some major problems. When he does get out of the hospital he probably will still have a drain in his incision and they have already started teaching me how to take care of that. It won't be too difficult. We will just do what we have to do. I'm doing fine. I must close and get some rest. Rhonda went home today and she will have surgery on the 19th of this month. She will have a hysterectomy. May God Bless you all real good!! Keep those prayers going. Be specific and ask the Lord to stabilize the numbers. Thanks!!
IN HIS SERVICE
THE BULLUCKS SING
Carol B.