I praise God for a flawless move; gentle transfers from and to bed, friendly and helpful ambulance crew, and a big homecoming upon reaching Baylor Specialty. We made the move around 1:00 which left plenty of time to get Chuck settled and comfortable. Thank you, God!

I am in San Antonio through Friday night. Pray for Chuck's continued healing. We are sooo ready to go home!

Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah...praise ye the Lord!!! Chuck is transferring today. Yippeee! We are both so thrilled. Please pray for a smooth transfer and a smooth transition.

I'm feeling like I need a BIG sedative right now. While I'm thrilled Chuck is moving today, I'm also anxious as I'm flying back to San Antonio today. Hopefully, the timing will work out so I can help with the move...and make sure he is comfortably settled before leaving.

Praise God, praise God, praise God!!!

Okay...not too much new today...which is excellent! Chuck's swelling has gone down even more, but this will be a slow process. It may be weeks before he is back to normal. He has been taken off full ventilator support and is taking some breaths on his own (this has to do with changes on the ventilator settings). He is still contected to the vent...and weaning will wait until the swelling is gone.

God has brought Chuck so very, very far! We praise our loving God! Chuck has fought and fought and fought...I praise God for molding Chuck into such a courageous man.

Chuck is continuing to improve. He finished his round of antibiotics for the pneumonia and his lungs are stable. His lab results are getting better each day. His swelling is decreasing. Once the fluid/swelling issue is resolved, he will start to wean off the ventilator. The plan is to return to Baylor Specialty sometime this week. (Don't I write that every Sunday????)

Chuck is steadily heading in the right direction. His lungs are stable; the lab results for his kidney funtion are improved; his spirits are up and he is alert. Who could ask for anything more???

John...drum roll please...the total from the jar o' love is $3533.20. The total from shirts (thus far) is $652.00. This makes a grand total (thus far) of $4185.20. God bless you! WOW. You must be pretty impressed with yourselves. Chuck is speechless...believe it or not. I am in awe...could I be any more George Bailey???

Now, as for the Picciuti clan...there is no price on the treasures they DAILY pour out on me. I love you Mom, Dad, Christy, Tony, Jonah, Heather, Lindsey, Matthew...and you too, Duncan. When Chuck gets out of the hospital, we're all going to San Antonio for a HUGE celebration!

THANK YOU SAN ANTONIO!!!!!!!!! (and Austin, and Kerrville, and Ingram, and Boerne, and Fair Oaks Ranch). What an amazing night...so much love. Chuck and I are blessed, blessed, blessed. We are loving all of you right back!

Okay, how to explain the evening?? I'll just take it chronologically...I walked into the Blue Cactus around 6:15 and it was already filled with friends...from church, camp, work, life! The food was DELICIOUS. By the time the music started, it was standing room only. The seating inside AND outside was filled! The Notorious Sinners (John, Jeff, Steve "Sin", Michael)opened...WOW. Wow, wow, wow. They ROCKED. (I know this full well, as my table was right by the stage.) Seriously, the boys were in rare form. Then Ruben V and his band (Val, Onel, Laurence) did their thang...how to describe their music? Joyfully bluesy. Ruben V is amazing! If you've never experienced him live...treat yourself. Go...be blessed! Finally, one of our favorite folks ever...Chris Taylor, sang for Chuck. It was one huge love fest for Chuck!

Thank you, Ruben for sharing your idea...calling John Condit at 2 in the morning..."Hey, John. I have an idea. Let's do a benefit for Chuck." THANK YOU.

Then there was the JAR. The JAR o' love money. I have not finished counting...I know everyone's anxious to know how much you raised. Janie and Charlotte were too cute...running around collecting money. Leslie provided "Chuck Love " sheets...for people to send get-well messages. Tod and Nicole sold T-shirts...way cool t-shirts designed by Mr. Davis! Who organized this thing? It was just incredible!

Friends, we love you. I brought all your love back to Dallas and poured it all over Chuck. Speaking of Chuck, he is doing quite well. His potassium levels are going down (praise God), his lungs are stable (praise God), and his swelling is going down.

To God be the glory, great things He hath done!

Chuck looks really great. It so encouraging...walking into his room...being greeted with a smile and a kiss. Thank you, God!

Chuck's lungs are stable. Currently, he has pneumonia and is on full-ventilator support. Until his swelling subsides, no changes will be made to the vent = no weaning. The swelling is being addressed with small doses of lasix (not enough to harm the kidneys).

As for the kidneys ... slow improvements. Chuck was on an antibiotic that was not good for the ol' kidneys. That antibiotic has been changed. We are still waiting for his numbers to come down (creatinine and B.U.N.). Also, his potassium level is a bit high. The doctors, nurses, and dieticians are juggling Chuck's intake in order to help the situation.

We are so thankful for Chuck's doctors ... for his nurses and techs ... for the chaplains. God has blessed us with the brilliance and gentleness of a great staff.

I am very excited about the benefit concert tonight. It will be so great to see everyone...to be a part of such an amazing evening. Thank you for loving Chuck...almost as much as I do!

Too bad for Chuck. I think he would have preferred it if I were more like Catwoman or Wonder Woman!

Your results:
You are Superman

Superman 100% Robin 87% Spider-Man 80% Supergirl 75% Green Lantern 70% Wonder Woman 55% The Flash 55% Hulk 45% Batman 40% Iron Man 40% Catwoman 35%

You are mild-mannered, good, strong and you love to help others.

Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz...

Chuck is continuing to improve. He must really want me to go to the benefit concert! My clever sister-in-law, Christy, was commenting on how glamorous my life is ... just like Regis and Kelly. Thursday evening I will catch a flight to a cool benefit concert; Friday morning I will catch a flight to Dallas for a hair appointment. And, uh ... that's about where the glamore ends!

So ... Chuck's lungs are stronger; his kidneys are better; and his wounds are doing great. Thank you, God!

I hope to see several of you tomorrow night at the concert!

Chuck seems to be on the road to recovery ... contrary to predictions made by his doctor. It was a ROUGH weekend ... failing lungs, failing kidneys ... now it all seems a distant memory. Chuck is breathing comfortably and his kidneys are working. Whew!

God is amazing! Recently, I've been shown the importance of worshipping God. I started it as a discipline ... not feeling much as I read some psalms and sang some hymns. Something happened inside me though ... a rush of adoration. Yes, I know and have known that God is in control of this whole thing. However, in worshipping him, I remembered who the God who-is-in-control is. Not only is he all-knowing and all-seeing, but he is also all powerful. He is the creator and the sustainer of life. Yep, I think God can handle this.

Today's post is for the lovely Eloise. Sadly for those she has left behind, she has gone home to be with the Lord. Our hearts are just broken for our friend, Chris Elgin. Now ... you know that to raise the likes of Chris Elgin, you've got to be something special. Eloise was a beautiful woman of God ... who adored her children ... and loved life.

We love you, Chris!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chuck's having a tough ol' time right now. His lungs have become very stiff, and he's having difficulty breathing. He was put on a steroid ... which greatly helped. Also, the doctor has changed the setting on his vent. This helped also. I'll keep you posted on any changes with his lungs.

His kidney output is questionable right now. As I mentioned, Chuck's body is having a tough time. Please pray.

Mindy has loaned me her computer! Yippee ... and good news for all of us as Chuck's wounds are doing great. He has LESS hardware showing ... praise God. Truly, this is the work of God ... as it is just impossible.

Chuck's kidneys are working, but his lab results are poor. This means there's still "junk" in his blood. The numbers are nowhere near needing dialysis ... praise God. Please pray for effective kidney filtering!

I've called Chuck's nurse and she says he looks good and has smiled a few times today. His kidney output is still good ... however, his lab results are still poor. This means his body is still full of junk. Please pray his kidneys filter more effectively.

There may be no posts until Sunday. No worries ... I'll just be without a computer for the next few days.

Be blessed!

Chuck's kidney function is slowly improving. He is still trying to round the corner ... not quite out of the woods. For those of you who can interpret such info (I have to check the internet), creatinine level is 2.3; hematocrit is 26.2; BUN is 72.

Chuck's a bit anemic today and will be receiving blood. This will also help with the swelling issue ... the new blood should help pull the fluid out of his tissues and into the blood stream. He will also get hit with a dose of lasix ... with the hopes of ridding his body of all the excess fluid.

Chuck's lungs have been gunky ... there may be an infection. However, the doctor feels confident that they bacteria is from a colony associated with the trache (which is apparently better than pneumonia). Still, he is starting a new antibiotic ... just to make sure.

Some good news: nutrition is excellent. The T.P.N. has been stopped (good), and Chuck's tube feed is up to 60! This is the highest in a very, very long time! He is having no nausea! They may take the nose tube out today.

My plan is to fly to San Antonio this evening. We'll see ... the weather's rough all around.

Chuck's still trying to round the corner on the kidney thang. His creatinine level is too high ... the doctor stopped the lasix. Now, we watch and wait ... praying for continued output.

Interesting situation: The last few days Cassie has been Chuck's nurse. We adore her! I told her about the Fix Up Chuck website ... and she realized she knows Chuck from Lions Camp! She was a camper back in 92 and 93. She recognized Tod, Nicole, Mindy, Christie! How cool is that?

Okay ... everyone agrees ... Chuck is doing much better! The plan for now is to continue watching and waiting. Once the kidney thing is fully resolved (who knows when??), we'll head back to Baylor Specialty. His creatinine and BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) numbers will need to be normal for a while. The numbers have been high ... but are slowly improving. Here's some info. I copied from the internet:

Hospitals and doctors routinely measure blood creatinine levels to determine kidney function. Creatine is broken down to creatinine, which is eliminated through the kidneys. High creatinine serum levels are thus an indication of renal failure.

The blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test is a measure of the amount of nitrogen in the blood that comes from urea. Urea is a substance secreted by the liver, and removed from the blood by the kidneys. (His nurse told me ... it is an indication of how much "junk" is being carried in Chuck's blood.)

This has been a frustrating speed bump ... now it's onward and upward!

Chuck's kidneys are still pumping out! Whew ... thank you, God!

And now ... for marathon #3 .... Greg ran the Houston marathon in 2:59:09!!!!!!!!! Truly amazing! We are so very, very proud of Greg and so thankful for what he is doing for Chuck.

I'll update once all doctors have visited. Have a beautiful day!

A love song to God:

How Great is Our God - Chris Tomlin

VERSE(1):
The splendor of the King,
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice,
All the earth rejoice
He wraps himself in light,
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at his voice,
And trembles at his voice

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
Sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

VERSE(2):
Age to age he stands
And time is in His Hands
Beginning and the End,
Beginning and the End
The Godhead, Three in one
Father, Spirit, Son
The Lion and the Lamb,
The Lion and the Lamb

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
Sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

CHORUS(2)
Name above all names
Worthy of our praise
My heart will sing how great
Is our God(x2)

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
Sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

Then sings my soul,
my savior, God to Thee
How great Thou art
How great Thou art(x2)

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
Sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God