I know it has been a long time since I posted...

I have been in the hospital for the last week. It all started when I went to the ER Monday and they did a scan to see if I had a blood clot. Once it was determined that I did not have a clot, they gave me a muscle relaxant, told me that I just had a pulled muscle, and sent me home.

The next morning I was taking my daily medicine, when I passed out. I guess I was out for about 2 or 3 minutes. My wife said that she thought I was dead because my eyes were open, but I was not responsive. She immediately called 911 and they brought me to Knoxville hospital. Initially the ER thought I passed out because my heart rate dropped, but then they determined after many tests that I passed out from the pain in my leg. After many tests and a cardiologist that wanted to put in a pacemaker, they said that I was bleeding in my leg, which caused my heart rate to drop, resulting in my passing out.

I spent 5 days in the hospital, not knowing if I would need surgery or not. The problem was that I was on coumadin, which allowed me to bleed in my leg, but would complicate a surgery. First, they had to reverse the effects of coumadin to stop the bleeding in my leg, then they had to raise my hemoglobin, making sure that the bleeding had stopped. After several days of observation, they finally let me go home today, but I have to monitor my leg at home and I have to see my Dr. on Monday.

Other than that, I had a great week. I told my wife it may be the only time I leave the hospital weighing more than I did when I went in, because I could not eat on Monday until 5 p.m. and I did not eat on Tuesday until 5 p.m. So the rest of the week I ate BIG meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Ethan, again, filled in great for me. He did a funeral (at the time I did not know it would be his first funeral), visited several people in the hospital and visited me. I know that he tends to downplay how much he does for me, but it really is a comfort to know that I can go to the hospital and things will be taken care of in my absence.

My wife, who has been through a lot, really did a great job this time again. Unlike the first time in the hospital (which was life threatening) she saw me pass out and thought me to be dead. I appreciate all she does and maintaining things when I am in the hospital. My kids, too, have been a source of great pleasure, not grief. They have been through a lot the last couple of months, but continue to do things like any other kids. I have really come to appreciate my family, as if not before, in the last few months.

Tomorrow I should go back to church. I will have to go easy for a couple months. But, we'll see what develops over the weeks. I guess that is all that I have to write now. But I will write more later.