Update (3/8/09 - 11:30 pm)

More progress made today, but more patience is required. As of now, Cindy still has the suction tube trying to pump the air out of her stomach. A 24 hour hope (hope of tube removal) has turned into at least a 48 hour reality. Cindy's bloating has decreased some, but not as significantly as we had hoped. The pain from the bloating has decreased, while her back pain seems to have increased. Because she is so nutritionally deprived, Cindy will have a "PIC line" inserted tomorrow (it's a type of catheter inserted into a vein) that will allow the doctors to feed her nutrition in addition to IVs and meds in the same line.
The good news is that Cindy was up and walking more today. Nick and the nurse took her on a stroll down the hall (using a walker) for the first time. She took the same stroll this evening with the nurse and me - without the walker. She was in a lot of pain in her back for the second stroll, but she wouldn't give up until she had walked the same distance as the first stroll. I continue to be amazed at her courage and determined spirit. The Lord is definitely honoring her efforts with supernatural strength. Cindy's humanity came through though a couple of times when the pain was too much and brought her to tears. For those of you that know Cindy well, you know that it takes a lot of pain to bring her to tears.
We capped off the day with Nick reading Cindy's devotional and all of the most recent comments and emails from many of you. The tears we shed during that time were tears of thankfulness. Please know how much your encouragement and prayers mean to both of us.
After the devotion, Nick played a couple programs from one of our favorite comedians - Gary Burbank from Cincinnati (his Gilbert Gnarley character for those of you familiar with his old radio talk show). We laughed until we cried. I think Cindy popped a couple of staples, but she said it was worth it. Thank you Nick for your healing prescription - laughter.
-Rick

"Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy." Ps. 126:5

Update (3/8/09 - 9:00 am)

Cindy slept pretty well last night, despite the tube. Her stomach is still very bloated this morning after 12 hours with the tube, but she has felt some relief. Still a long way to go, but that's progress.
This week and next are going to be a bit crazy for me. Please pray for my energy level. I have two phone interviews and three in person interviews, which is great activity in the job search process, but the Lord is going to have to provide my energy. Spending nights sleeping on a reclining chair in a hospital room isn't doing it. A minor battle though compared to Cindy's.
-Rick

"For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect." Ps. 18:31-32