Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family. We had a nice dinner at the Fisher House. A family provided us with a wonderful meal. This morning I was told that Rob was opening his mouth some. That's really great because he hasn't done that yet. The other day they loosened the rubberbands in his mouth so he would be able to do this. He didn't do it for me while I was there today but I'm excited he's made this little step. Even if he was able to, he wouldn't be able to speak right now. He has a trach in his neck. Eventually they'll switch it out and put in a different one that has a cap to put on so he can speak. But, he's not there yet. He's still not doing many commands. Right now I think he feels really yucky and doesn't want to do anything. I feel that since he's gotten this fever his progress with his commands has been put on hold. I don't want to push him too much right now. I know when I'm sick, the last thing I want is to have someone in my face telling me to do this or that. But in the next day or so I'm going to start working on it again. I don't want him to get too lazy! :) Rob's still fighting some fevers. They have been able to somewhat control them with icepacks and Tylenol. They took a bunch of cultures of his different fluids and we should get those results within the next 24 hours or so. Some good news is his bili count is down to 2.8!! That's so great. So here is the perfect example of baby steps forward, baby steps back, etc. Julia saw Rob again today and she did great. He looked at her the entire time. I know that it was so great for the both of them! Tomorrow is another surgery for washouts. Hopefully the legs still look good. Unfortunately my cell phone bit the dust today (well, I can still call out and receive calls but the screen is completely dead). So, of all days, I have to go out TOMORROW to buy a new cell phone!!! I'm going to try to do this while Rob is at surgery. Wish me luck. Hopefully I won't get run over by all the crowds out and about!!! I'm excited that the Nebraska football game is on TV tomorrow. I'm going to put it on for Rob and we'll watch it together. He hasn't been able to see a game since last season so hopefully that will boost his spirits some. I'm hoping he feels better tomorrow so he can enjoy it.

38 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dena,
Thank you for the updates. Your family is constantly in our thoughts and we appreciate the posts! Recovery is a long haul with steps forward and back, but it sounds as though Rob is working in a forward direction.
Hugs to Julia, tell her Trisha cannot wait to see her again. I am thrilled she is doing so well.
Don't forget to take care of yourself have another turkey sandwich and get some rest!

Anonymous said...

Rob,
It´s amazing how far you´ve come in just four weeks. That´s got to be your perseverance backed up by all the prayers from all over.
God is holding you close and showering you with His love, expressed through the prayers that we´re all saying for you.
Dena, you have my utmost respect and admiration.
Mónica

Paige Tyler said...

Dena

I think you should get the most unreasonable cell phone ever!! Like the iPhone or something...you deserve it!!

That is very cool that a family brought you all Thanksgiving dinner. The kids and I had dinner brought in from the Cracker Barrel and it wasn't too shabby! Lots of leftovers which is what I wanted. But the turkey wasn't the same, it was thick cut lunchmeat and not real turkey so I might have to go buy one of my own.

I hope that Husker game invigorates Rob, he has been through so much and hopefully that will add a little sunshine to his life. Seeing Julia will definitely help him in his fight for full recovery.

Take care Yllescas family! We miss you over here on Sulfur Spring.

Anonymous said...

Dena and Rob,

Happy Thanksgiving!! I'm so glad you got to spend this holiday with the girls. Just wanted to let y'all know that we are thinking about you both.

Take Care,

Ann, Tess and Tatum Brown

Anonymous said...

Dena, I have been thinking about you and your family all this Thanksgiving day. We will continue to pray for you. I can picture little Julia at Rob's bedside taking it all in. Your strength is an inspiration to us all. God bless all of you. Terri Haire

Anonymous said...

Still praying hard. You hang in there!

Carol Dzurenko

Unknown said...

Happy Thanksgiving! Glad to hear you had a good meal! I'm sure all of the other B troop guys will be very jealous of Rob for getting to watch football tomorrow! LOL SO glad you got to spend this holiday with your family close by! You all continue to be in our prayers everyday! God's Blessings!
Heather Sanchez

Anonymous said...

Dena: We are so glad you had a good Thanksgiving meal today. You both continue to amaze us - Rob, you are fighting so hard and Dena, you are an awesome support system. I bet Rob was so happy to have Julia there today. I'm sure the Husker game tomorrow will get his emotions going! We continue to pray for all of you.

Love,
Aunt Jo, Uncle Steve, Brooke & Ashley

Anonymous said...

I am glad you had a nice Thanksgiving and that Rob and Julia were able to spend some time together. We all have a lot to be thankful for.

We will be thinking of you and praying. Hang in there

Love you
Shelly, Aaron and Megan

Erika said...

Glad to hear Rob is doing better and that you were able to have a nice Thanksgiving meal. I know the girls have your wonderful extended family, but I was wondering if we could help play Santa to assist you guys. Are there specific things the girls would like or are interested in? I just know you don't really have to time to shop and all and I know there at least a few on here that would like to help out. Just let us know!
Prayers and continued blessings,
The Smith Family

Anonymous said...

Dena-

Sorry to hear about your phone and having to shop tomorrow!!! Be careful out there, and drive carefully!!!

Glad to hear about Rob opening his mouth- that sounds like good progress!!!

Anonymous said...

Dena:
Thank your so much for letting all of us know how you are doing. I pray for your family daily... and I read some of your site to my husband in Afghanistan yesterday...another soldier praying...I know the holidays are tough, but I am believing next year will make this all worth it...Keep up your wonderful job with Rob and your family...He is a fighter....We will all keep praying!!
Hanging-on-mom

Chaotic Mom said...

I'm with Paige. Go for the best phone possible. You deserve it. Maybe get the insurance plan, too?

Man, we'll sure be praying for Rob and his fevers, too. I hope he enjoys the football game! ;)

Anonymous said...

Dena and Rob,

On this Thanksgiving Day, we are so thankful for both of you. The progress you have made in your recovery, Rob, is phenomenal. And, Dena, your unwavering faith is inspirational. We spent today with Grandpa Bert, Aunt JoAnne, Uncle Steve and Ashley (Kobe and Jesse, too). At lunch, the napkin at each place setting was imprinted with Psalm 100:4-5. "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever. His faithfulness continues through all generations." We certainly do thank God and praise His name for every positive step during the journey of your recovery, Rob. One of those steps was moving your mouth. Keep it up and soon you will be speaking to Dena, Julia and Eva. We will pray for the fever reduction. (Make sure the Tylenol is extra strength, Dena!)

Much love,
Aunt Joyce and Uncle Doug

Anonymous said...

{{{{{{{{Dena and Rob}}}}}}}}}}

Prayers ongoing, with absolute faith and love...

Long-time RN said...

How very thoughtful of you to update today. Super news on the liver numbers. You're most wise in having Rob rest while fighting this fever. Lifting prayers that the cultures provide the info for his docs to begin treatment to fight the cause of the fevers. So glad there was a Thanksgiving meal provided for you and the girls. Take very good care.

brittneyjackson said...

Hey Dena,

Just wanted to tell you I was thinking of you all. I'm so glad that the girls are there and that Julia's been able to see Rob. I so bet that game is going to lift his spirits!! What guy doesn't have a great time being able to watch his favorite team??? I miss you guys so much. Take care

Maggie Goff said...

From seeing the photos on the top of the page, I can just picture Rob looking at Julia the whole time they were together. Very touching. I'm still praying. Glad you were together for Thanksgiving. God bless your family. And Rob's soldiers and their families.

Anonymous said...

Hi Dena, I was gone for a few days with my mother. I'm glad that the girls are with you. I talked to Faye the two days I was gone so she kept me up on Rob. Hope you have a good vist with the girls.Tell Bev high.

Anonymous said...

Dena,
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. I am always reading your blogs, thanks for all the updates by the way. I can't imagine the courage it takes to be going through a long process like this, but you are doing great. Glad you get to finally have your little girls with you, again I can't imagine how much you must have missed them! We are always thinking of you and wish you the best in his recovery.

Chris, Trisha and Micah

cary said...

What an appropriate way to spend Thanksgiving!

Thank you for the updates, and for letting us know how you , Rob, and the family is doing.

Continued prayers for healing, and for your strength.

Anonymous said...

I thank God for such a hopeful and encouraging wife and mothers attending Rob. How blessed is Rob.
Keep holding tightly to faith in God's presence, as Jesus Himself has seen trouble and grief and knows yours and Rob's needs. He knows you intimately. Continue to entrust yourselves to Him. (Psalm 10:14)
Although Satan meant this for harm,
God meant it for good. It is exciting to think of how God is directly commisioning you all with direction that comes from what seems such a tragedy.
I continue to daily read your updates and to be encouraged to keep praying for you in specific ways. My prayers continue to petition God for Rob's relief from pain. I so desire that Rob and Dena are finding the Holy Spirit's daily rest in God's closenes as He HOLDS you and your family. He will deliver you! (Psalm 18:2-3)

Love,
1 LT Chad Lorenz's mom,
Mary Dell Lorenz

Anonymous said...

Love you guys!!! Annaka, Aaron, Aizlynn and Amarae

Unknown said...

Happy belated Thanksgiving to you, Rob and the girls. May God continue to bless and watch over your family.

Anonymous said...

Dena,
I am so glad you were able to spend Thanksgiving together as a family. We will keep praying for Rob's progress. I know that it seems to take forever, but each day his body is taking such important steps toward recovery. Enjoy your time together. Hopefully his first Husker game will be a Husker win! Go Big Red!! Also, thank you for your daily updates...we think of you guys all the time!

Heather and Derek Bothern

Storm'n Norm'n said...

I discovered this link at Cyber Pator's website.

Before finish reading all the comments I knew I had found yet another friend...by the time I got to the end, I knew I found a brother.

Norm
USAF, Retired...I wish that all my brothers could...

Anonymous said...

Rob,
You have battled against so much - the initial trauma, the problems with the leg wounds, the lung problems, the fevers, the elevated bili/BUN . . . Keep fighting!!!! We will keep praying for you and your family, and for the medical staff. The Great Physician will lead us all.
Hugs and prayers,
Mitch and Vicki :-)
PS GO HUSKERS!!!!!

Liz said...

It's so nice to hear of his progress. So thankful for our military and husbands. I hope the lines aren't too bad today. Maybe you can get a good deal on the phone though :)

Anonymous said...

Dena
My prayers are with Rob and you.

Anonymous said...

hey there rob keep hanging in there and rest plenty, all of us here are praying for you, i love you sooooooo much rob, i will see you again soon.
love
natalie yllescas

Anonymous said...

So glad that you had a nice thanksgiving and how awesome that Rob moved his mouth! We will just keep praying that all these infections get cleared up and that there are more steps forward then any other direction! :)
And, I am sure that the Husker game will give him a boost! And, so glad that you will be watching it with him! Dena, ....you are a FABULOUS Wife, Mommy, Daughter, daughter-in-law,sister, and niece...You are SPECIAL and an inspiration for so many! Enjoy the game!!

GOOOOOOO BIG RED!

Anonymous said...

Prayers and Blessings from MN. We continue to pray his body can fight those infections and have the rest it needs to move towards recovery. The journey continues for patience and perservence. He is always in our thoughts. Prayers go out to all of you as you keep the vigil at his bedside.

Love Aunt Julie(Schott)Davidson

pam h. said...

Dena, Happy Thanksgiving. Just got done watching the HUSKER game. That was a barn burner. Take care and we will continue to pray for you guys. Love, Pam

Anonymous said...

Our payers have not stopped for you, Rob and the girls. We are so happy that you were all together for Thanksgiving! I hope Rob starts to feel better soon. I'm sure the girls and you are his best medicine. Thanks for all the updates. Love Aunt Jeanne, and Uncle Doug.

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad you are all together. My prayers continue for all of you. May God Bless you!

Anonymous said...

I am crying with you. Although I don't know your family, I feel as though I've come to know you during this period. Words cannot convey how sad I am over your loss. I know that God will look after you. Never give up on that.
Give the girls a hug from an anonymous friend.

Anonymous said...

Dena,
I am so sorry to hear of Rob's passing. You don't know me, but I have been following his progress everyday. I have prayed for you all and continue to pray for you. He fought hard and you have fought harder. Know that God is with you and now he is healed where he is and being loved by his father. God Bless you all and don't give up. He may be gone, but he will never be forgotten. Keep moving forward as a way of honoring Rob. Thank you for sharing him with us all. You are incredible! Karen Michaliszyn, Washington State.

Anonymous said...

Dear Mrs. Yllescas,
Words cannot express our admiration and gratitude felt for your husband,you and your family.
God Bless.
Mahlon & June Moore